HCB Chapter 234 Marriage Grant
Chapter 234 Marriage Grant
"Good! Good! Good!" The emperor said good three times in a row. He held the compound bow and looked at it over and over again. The emperor was also proficient in riding and shooting. He felt the unusualness of this bow as soon as he touched it. He even tried the bow with great interest.
Song Chunlin handed over an arrow in a servile manner. The emperor took the arrow and aimed at the palace lantern as well, but not the one outside the palace, but inside the palace.
The bow and arrow flew through the air and shot down the palace lantern, hitting the head of the civil servant who had just questioned Song Chunlin. The civil servant didn't even dare to hide and was burned by the hot wax inside and grimaced.
The emperor put down his bow and stared at the people on the ground with cold eyes: "Everyone, do you still think that Brother Song can't sit here?"
Without waiting for those people to reply, the emperor quickly shot another arrow, which whizzed into the table of the person in front. The arrow was still trembling on the wooden table, telling them that the emperor was really angry this time.
"Twelve-year-old children are fighting in battle, what about you? You are old enough to be someone's father, but you can only scheme and bicker here. How can you bring a piece of trash to me? Why do you think it doesn't matter if this person dies?"
Seeing that the emperor was so angry that he wanted to kill someone, the ministers in the front hurried forward and opened their mouths to make an explanation, but the emperor didn't want to listen at all and directly called the imperial guards.
"Come here, drag this person who trespassed into the palace banquet away and beat him to death."
When the word "beaten to death" was uttered, the minor official was so frightened that his legs went limp and he felt a warm current in his lower body. He actually wet his pants.
The hall was immediately filled with an unpleasant smell of urine. Several people who were close to it covered their mouths and noses. The man still wanted to struggle, and the moment he was caught, he began to shout:
"Your Majesty, please spare my life! Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I will never dare to do it again! Your Majesty, please revoke your order!"
As the people were dragged away, the shouting became farther and farther away. The palace servants were very tactful and came forward with rags and buckets to wipe the dirty areas clean.
Although the spoilsport had been dragged away, the emperor's mood had been completely ruined. He still felt an unpleasant smell lingering at the tip of his nose, and he could not eat any of the delicacies.
It was a wonderful palace banquet and everyone ate half full. In the second half, the palace servants took away the cold food and replaced it with new food. However, everyone had lost their appetite and didn't even have the heart to watch the dancers' performance.
However, Song Chunlin was not affected at all. He didn't eat, but the dance was still very beautiful. He held his chin up and watched with great interest.
Just as he was lost in thought, the emperor spoke again: "General Gu, you just said you wanted three wishes. Tell me, what do you want? A promotion or gold, silver, or jewelry?"
Gu Fengyue was delighted. He turned his head to look at Song Chunlin, then walked to the center with a determined look, knelt down and shouted to the emperor:
"Your Majesty, I would like to seek a marriage."
"Marriage?" The emperor was stunned. He never expected that Gu Fengyue would use this rare opportunity to seek a marriage. He couldn't help but feel curious.
"I wonder whose child General Gu likes, and are there any family members at the banquet today?"
Gu Fengyue raised his head slightly, glanced at Song Chunlin, and then quickly lowered his head: "Your Majesty, I would like Your Majesty to grant me a marriage with this young man from the Song family, Song Chunlin."
"I have long been attracted to the young man of the Song family. I beg Your Majesty to fulfill my wish and establish a close relationship with the Song family, and live together till old age."
Song Chunlin is very dazed now. From the time he came back from the palace banquet until he got on the carriage, he was a little distracted. He was so distracted that he didn't react when Gu Fengyue kissed him on the face.
"..."
Gu Fengyue pinched his cheek, and Song Chunlin felt pain and turned around to glare at her.
Gu Fengyue smiled and kissed the place where he had pinched and corrected it again: "What's wrong?"
Song Chunlin felt a little aggrieved: "I'm still young..."
It turned out that he was worried about this. Gu Fengyue held him in his arms and pulled his hair. Mm, it was soft and quite fun.
"My brother said that we should get engaged first, and then we can get married when you grow up. Besides, there are many things to prepare for marriage, so we should take our time."
Actually, what Gu Fengyue was thinking was that he should settle down with someone first, in case he really gets abducted by other wild men when he grows up. He would have no place to cry then.
In fact, Song Chunlin didn't feel disgusted in his heart, but he subconsciously felt that it was a little too fast. If this were applied to modern times, getting engaged after just three months of dating, and not knowing each other well, there would be too many variables.
But he and Gu Fengyue have known each other for several years, so they should understand each other, right?
The carriage stopped in front of the Song family's door. After being in the palace for most of the day, it was already evening when they got home. The whole family of Song was looking forward to it at home. After waiting for a long time, Song Chunlin finally came back.
"It's a carriage! Mother, it's a carriage! My second brother came back in a carriage!" Song Chunxiao ran back to the house first and told the adults.
The Song family members ran out with joy on their faces, just in time to see Gu Fengyue reaching out to pick up Song Chunlin from the carriage. This action was actually not ambiguous at all, but the key point was that he was the one who picked up Song Chunlin!
When had the Song family ever seen Song Chunlin being carried down from the carriage? He always jumped down by himself.
What’s even more unbelievable is that Song Chunlin didn’t object.
Song Dazhuang's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. If Song Chunlin and Gu Fengyue had not separated quickly, he would have rushed up and torn them apart without hesitation.
When Song Chunlin saw his long-lost family, he jumped into Song Qin's arms, and then acted coquettishly in the arms of his elders one by one. When it was Song Dazhuang's turn, Song Chunlin stuck out his tongue, hugged Song Dazhuang gently, and then quickly let go.
Aunt Song looked at her grandson with pity. She felt that the child had become thinner and darker after being outside for so long. His cheeks were red, which was caused by sunburn due to the strong ultraviolet rays.
Song Qin touched her son's red face, and her eyes immediately filled with tears: "He has suffered so much. Look at his little face, it has become much rougher from the sun."
Song Chunlin said nonchalantly: "My skin is in good condition and will recover soon. Don't be sad, mom."
In order to prevent them from continuing to be sad, Song Chunlin took Song Qinshi and Song Amo's hands and skipped towards home.
"Little Grandpa, I'm so hungry, is there any food at home?"
"Yes, yes, yes. I've specially prepared roast duck, roast chicken, and your favorite spareribs for you. They're all in the oven. Ask your dad to get them for you."
Several people were talking and laughing in front. Song Dazhuang walked up to Gu Fengyue and said respectfully, "General Gu, there may be someone waiting at home. We won't keep your meal."
Gu Fengyue pursed his lips, sensing Song Dazhuang's hostility towards him. He was about to say something with the imperial edict in his hand, when Song Chunlin turned back and asked him to come in for dinner.
"Dad, Gu Fengyue, what are you doing? Gu Fengyue, come in quickly, dinner is about to start!"
Song Dazhuang didn't know what to say at this point, so he could only follow the two of them in depressed.
In the main room, Grandpa Song and his colleagues were setting the table. When they saw Gu Fengyue come in, his eyes immediately fell on the imperial edict.
"General Gu, this is..."
Gu Fengyue presented the imperial edict with both hands: "This is the imperial edict from His Majesty to Chunlin, which appoints Chunlin as the Protector of the Nation Archer and allows him to be in charge of the 3,000 archers in the Cavalry Archery Battalion."
After he finished speaking, all the Song family members fell silent, their eyes widened. The younger ones didn't know what this meant. Song Chunming looked at the imperial edict, his lips moving, but in the end he said nothing.
Grandpa Song was a little at a loss. He wiped his hands on his clothes again and again before taking the imperial edict with trembling hands.
As the bright yellow imperial edict was slowly opened, Grandpa Song read out the words one by one. The words on the imperial edict were a bit difficult to understand, but the general meaning was similar. Song Chunlin was indeed named the National Protector Archer and was in charge of the 3,000 archers in the Cavalry and Archery Battalion. This meant that Song Chunlin now had the right to mobilize these 3,000 archers to do anything. Although the National Protector Archer had no rank, the word "Protect the Country" was its rank.
Looking back over the more than two hundred years since the founding of Dajing, the person who could be worthy of the title of Protector of the Country was, apart from the Princess Protector of the Country who followed Emperor Shengzu in expanding the territory, the second person who could be worthy of the title of Protector of the Country was Zhu Zhao, the grandfather of the current Grand Marshal Zhu Chengyu. Zhu Zhao was initially named the Duke of Protecting the Country. After he and his son Zhu Xianque drove the Turks to the other side of the Altai Mountains when he was old, the previous emperor named him the Duke of Zhenguo.
There have only been two great men of the national defense level in two hundred years. Grandpa Song never dreamed that the third one would come from their small peasant family.
The stimulation from the National Sharpshooter was too great. Grandpa Song felt dizzy for the first time in a long time. His body swayed a few times and he almost fell to the ground. He was supported by Gu Fengyue and Song Chunlin. Song Chunlin immediately took out the spiritual spring water from the space and fed it to Grandpa Song.
After taking a sip of the spiritual spring water, Grandpa Song recovered. He solemnly put away the imperial edict and then instructed the Song family:
"As long as there are people, the imperial edict will be there."
The Song family members nodded one after another. Grandpa Song turned around and looked at Song Chunlin with satisfaction: "Good boy, our Song family has also been honored. Chunlin, since His Majesty has given you this position, you must not be too proud. Three thousand archers may not be a lot, but it is also a considerable force. Grandpa only asks you to do your job well and never abuse your power for personal gain or bully others."
"Grandson understands. Grandson will not let grandpa down."
Grandpa Song looked at his grandson with clear and firm eyes, and said "OK" with satisfaction. At the end, he looked at everyone in the Song family and said seriously: "You too, although Chunlin was named the sharpshooter who protects the country, if I hear you using Chunlin's name to cause trouble, I will definitely expel you from the family and remove you from the family tree."
In ancient times, family was the most important thing. Being removed from the family tree was a very severe punishment. A person without a family would be isolated and bullied wherever he went.
Everyone in the Song family understood the importance of the matter, so they repeatedly assured Grandpa Song that they would never use Song Chunlin's power to seek personal gain outside.
After getting everyone's assurance, Grandpa Song felt relieved. He knew his own children. The brothers Song Dazhuang and Song Dahao were not such villains. As for Song Qin and Chen Yuer, that was even more impossible. It was just that his grandchildren were still young and needed to be taught well. Grandpa Song was not afraid that they would do bad things, but he was afraid that they would be taken advantage of by bad people.
Gu Fengyue saw that the matter of the imperial edict was over, and then he bowed shyly to Grandpa Song again.
"Grandpa, today the Holy Mountain has given Chunlin another decree, which is about my marriage with Chunlin. I have already petitioned His Majesty to grant me and Chunlin a marriage. The imperial decree will be delivered to our home tomorrow."
The one who reacted the most this time was not Grandpa Song, but Song Dazhuang. His eyes almost widened.
"A marriage granted? You actually asked the emperor for a marriage granted?"
"Yes, Uncle Song."
Song Dazhuang felt his eyes go dark. Oh my god, this marriage is now a done deal. No matter how he struggles, it is useless.
Song Qin looked at Song Dazhuang with a suppressed smile, she was quite satisfied with Gu Fengyue as her son-in-law, he had a good family background, great abilities, and was handsome. The key point was his feelings for Song Chunlin. Song Qin was not blind, she could see the affection Gu Fengyue had for her second son, and now there was no distance between their family backgrounds. His Majesty had bestowed Song Chunlin the title of National Protector Archer, although he had no real power except for the three thousand archers, the weight of the word "protecting the country" was not much lighter than that of the Marquis of Yongyi's Mansion.
Song Qin came forward and pulled Gu Fengyue and Song Chunlin to sit down together, with a smile on her face: "Let's eat first. You have been away from home for so many days and haven't eaten home for a long time. Come on, the world is big, but eating is the most important thing. Don't go back after you are full. It's just right to rest at home for a night."
Gu Fengyue couldn't refuse the kindness, and with Song Qinshi's intentional feeding, she ate until she was full.
Song Chunlin was even more of a whirlwind. God knows what he missed most when he was away from home was his grandfather's roast meat, the dishes made by Song Qin, and even the snacks made by Chen Yuer.
Song Dazhuang looked at his son who looked like a starving ghost reincarnated, and then looked at Gu Fengyue who ate in a very polite manner. Well, he found another mismatch.
After the meal, Aunt Song specially cut a big watermelon.
"This is what we grew in our own fields this year. Try it and see if there is any difference in the taste."
Song Chunlin: "Wow, it's really grown!" He couldn't wait to take a piece of watermelon. It had green skin and red flesh, was juicy and sweet, and he ate it with great praise.
"Not bad, not bad. It's worthy of the seeds I specially saved. The melon is really sweet. You should try it too." As Song Chunlin spoke, he stuffed the watermelon he had eaten a few bites of into Gu Fengyue's mouth.
Gu Fengyue took the watermelon and started eating. Song Chunlin smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed. Gu Fengyue guessed that he must not be able to eat anymore. Her eyes couldn't help but fall on his stomach, which was slightly bulging, and it was obvious that he was full.
Song Chunlin, who was full, covered his stomach in embarrassment, while Song Dazhuang, who was standing next to him, watched with twitching eyes.
"It's true that children cannot be kept when they grow up." Song Dazhuang thought angrily. He ate the watermelon with a clenched teeth and as expected, he ate too much in the end.