Chen Xiliang, a half-hermit official, was actually not good at painting in the war, but after the war, the Yongzhou area was a blank slate, and the heavy reconstruction and resettlement work was just right for him. Therefore, from the second day of recovering Yongzhou City, Di Qing appointed him as the Anmin Official within the city, responsible for all civil affairs, busy all day long.

  Chen Ke didn't idle around either. In order to prevent an epidemic after the war, he proposed a set of preventive measures to his father. Chen Xiliang listened to the report and was very supportive, then assigned him to be in charge of this matter... Helpless, Chen Ke had no choice but to lead people to work hard for over ten days. As the period most prone to epidemics passed, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

  That night at dinner, Chen Xiliang also rarely came back to eat, Chen Ke thought for a moment and felt it was time to talk to him about his little sister.

  "Are you done eating?" Chen Ke gave a nod to Song Duanping and Wu Lang, saying: "If you're done eating, go out for a walk."

  "We still have to eat another bowl." Wulang didn't notice his eyes, and continued to hold the rice bowl, scooping rice from the pot. But was hit by Chen Ke with a chopstick on the back of his hand: "Eat less and exercise more at night!"

  "Oh." Gorō put down his bowl with a gloomy expression, muttering under his breath: "What a bother..." He reluctantly got up.

  Song Duanping whispered a few words in his ear, and he looked surprised, then the two of them went to Chen Ke together, chuckling.

  "Get out of here quickly!" Chen Ke made a gesture to hit, and only then did he drive the two out of the house. He didn't forget to instruct: "Take Xuan Yu with you too, at least let him leave for a mile!" Otherwise, this guy's ears are too useful.

  "What are you doing?" Seeing him drive away his brothers, Chen Xiliang asked in surprise: "This is too abnormal."

  "It's mainly because their mouths are too damaging." Chen Ke smiled and coughed, saying: "Dad, look at our old Chen family, even the mice are male, shouldn't we balance yin and yang a bit?"

  "Finally, someone has joined me in being anxious." Chen Xiliang smiled and said: "You think I'm not worried? Your second brother swore that if he didn't pass the imperial examination, he wouldn't get married. If he doesn't pass this time, won't it be another four years of delay? If you can change his mind, it would really alleviate your father's worries."

  "He didn't want to marry, it's just that the other family didn't agree." Chen Qian pouted: "I'm not talking about him."

  "Are you talking about me?" Chen Xiliang suddenly became evasive and said: "Don't worry about your father's affairs."

  Chen Ke heard this and thought, "Something's up!" Normally, he would have pried further, but today, he didn't feel like it: "I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about myself."

  "Ah..." Chen Xiliang was somewhat surprised, and immediately burst out laughing: "It seems my son can't wait any longer." He patted his shoulder and said: "Focus on your studies for now, I have a plan for your marriage." With a mysterious smile, he continued: "I had planned to mention it in two years' time, but since you asked, I'll tell you - I've already arranged a marriage for you. I've discussed it with your future in-laws, and we'll finalize the arrangements when you go to Beijing for the imperial examination."

  "Ah......" Chen Ke was shocked and his mouth was wide open.

  "Didn't think so, young man?" Chen Xiliang said with a smile.

  "...". It's really unthinkable. Chen Ke rubbed his face hard and stared at his father, "Such a big thing, why didn't you say something earlier?"

  "What's there to discuss?" Chen Xiliang laughed and said, "Besides, at that time I was in Bianliang and you were in Meizhou. It took almost half a year for letters to come and go, and the yellow flowers had already wilted. Moreover, what use would it be even if you knew? Would you grow wings and fly over to take a look at your fiancée?" He patted his son's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, who would deceive you, your father wouldn't deceive you."

  "Not that matter!" Chen Ke said with a sullen face: "I also promised Uncle Su to marry Little Sister..."

  "Su, Little Su?" Chen Xiliang was stunned, turned around, and the smile on his face disappeared: "I remember someone saying that they would rather die than marry such a clever wife... Who said that?"

  "It's what I said." Chen Ke sighed and said: "But this is one time, that is another time, who let the situation change in these few years?"

  "What a load of crap?!" Chen Xiliang wasn't one to have a good temper either, and he furiously waved his sleeves, saying: "You yourself change your mind every day, but you let others sit on pins and needles!"

  "What's wrong with you? If you were a prophet, would you have told me beforehand and how could I have sat on the wax?" Chen Ke also said angrily.

  "Marriage is a big deal, it's the order of one's parents and the words of the matchmaker, do you understand?!" Chen Xiliang slammed his hand on the table and glared: "Get to the corner of the wall for me!"

  "Old feudalism." Chen Ke knew he was in the wrong and muttered a sentence, still obediently got up and went to face the wall at the corner.

  In the room, Chen Xiliang, who had been in a bad mood for half a day, was finally allowed to turn his head and asked, "You guys haven't overstepped your bounds, have you?"

  "Of course not!" Chen Ke vehemently denied, "I regard her as my own sister!"

  "Oh, that's easy." Chen Xiliang's face relaxed greatly as he said: "I'll write a letter to Aunt Su for you and explain the situation clearly."

  "It's absolutely unbearable, especially for Aunt Su's family. Chen Ke waved his hand repeatedly: "Moreover, I also can't bear the thought of Little Sister marrying someone else." "Aren't you treating her like a little sister?"

  "Feelings can be cultivated slowly, but once a person is married out, they cannot return." Chen Xiao sighed and said with deep feeling that the experience of Eighth Girl had a great impact on the Chen family.

  "What nonsense." Chen Xiliang muttered, picked up his official hat, and stood up somewhat annoyed: "I'm very busy now, I don't have time to deal with your endless chatter, let's talk about it later." After saying that, he pushed the door and left.

  "Ah yo......" His swift and fierce movements startled Song Duanping and Wulang, who were eavesdropping at the door, and they tumbled in unprepared.

  "This is unbelievable! It's really unbelievable!" Chen Xiliang shook his head and stormed off, looking at the chaotic scene of ghosts and monsters.

  "Sanlang, you can't be irresponsible from start to finish." As soon as Chen Xiliang left, Song Duanping jumped up and approached Chen Ke, saying: "We will despise you for the rest of our lives."

  "Maybe I don't know." Chen Ke sneered and grabbed him, saying: "But I do know that you will soon be unable to take care of yourself!"

  Two men were wrestling, and Di Yan appeared at the door with a smile: "San Lang, my father is inviting you."

  Chen Ke only then let go of Song Duanping: "I'll deal with you when I get back". He tidied up his clothes and followed Di Yong to the commander's tent.

  "Marshal, you're looking for me?" Chen Ke asked with a slight bow.

  "Ah." Di Qing wore a blue Taoist robe, with a carefree headscarf, sitting leisurely on a rattan chair, reading a book of "Spring and Autumn Annals". Seeing him come in, he closed the book and said: "Come over and sit down."

  Chen Ke then moved a zither and sat down under Di Qing's window.

  "Did your father say you have to go back?" Di Qing asked.

  "I was going to leave after taking that preventive measure." Chen Qian said in a low voice, "But my dad sent someone again today. The weather has turned cool and the possibility of an epidemic is extremely low, so I thought I'd go back..."

  "It's better to go back." Di Qing said lightly: "The commander also wants to dismiss the troops."

  "Are you going back?" Chen Ke was surprised and said: "Nan Zhi Gao's life or death is uncertain, let alone his two younger brothers are still alive."

  How can we get back to class on time?

  "Hehe...". Di Qing's handsome face flashed a hint of self-mockery: "After all, we have to leave some opportunities for others to make achievements." He paused and said: "That Sun Si, has already arrived in Binzhou..."

  "Shameless!" Chen Ke spat and said: "After a good beating, his illness will be cured!"

  Yu Jing is indeed dull, jealous and narrow-minded, but he does everything openly and cannot be considered shameless. Speaking of Sun He, he is the epitome of a scholar's shamelessness. This person usually likes to talk about military affairs, speaking with great eloquence, but when the rebellion broke out, he was supposed to go to Qin state, thinking that he would not be sent to the south, so he boasted loudly, who knew that the imperial court was in urgent need of a doctor and unexpectedly issued an edict appointing him as the pacification commissioner of Guangnan West Road.

  Sun Gong was blinded at the time, but he had boasted too much and it was impossible to take back. He again made various unreasonable demands to the imperial court, who knew that they were all satisfied, and could only cry and head south. Dragging his feet, he arrived in Changsha, where he heard the news of Yang Zheng's defeat, and was thoroughly frightened out of his wits. He submitted a memorial saying that he was "seriously ill and bedridden", and lingered in Changsha, pretending to be sick.

  This illness lasted for several months, until he heard about the great victory at Zhennan Pass, and his illness was suddenly cured. He rushed day and night to Yongzhou, fearing that he would not be able to share in the merit of pacifying the rebellion.

  Chen Kepeng was not angry with the evil gang, but hated this kind of shameless people. He indignantly said: "Those masters are really blind!"

  "Never mind, no Sun He, there's still Li He..." Di Qing's gaze drifted out the window, and after a long while, he let out a sigh: "It seems that, Your Honors still don't trust me."

  "Marshal..." Chen Ke couldn't bear the sight of a hero in decline, so he raised his head and said: "No one will suspect your loyalty! I think those who are on guard against you are all just pretending to be drunk!"

  "He also cares about mountains and rivers." Di Qing heard this and felt a sense of nostalgia, saying: "Every time I think of Ouyang Gong's 'Drunken Old Man Pavilion Record', I always feel like I'm experiencing it myself." But after all, he wasn't a pedantic scholar, so after feeling nostalgic for a moment, he perked up and said: "That request of yours, if you don't bring it up again, there won't be another chance."

  "Yes." Chen Ke gazed deeply at Di Qing, enunciating each word: "After returning to the capital, if the imperial court asks you to be the Commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guards, I implore the General to decline!"

  Di Qing was taken aback for a moment, then gradually turned back into that ruthless and decisive Grand Marshal: "Whose idea is this?"

  "My intention," Chen Ke sighed inwardly, after all, he was a minor figure with little to say, so he dragged Old Ouyang into it: "It's also Master Ouyang's intention."

  "Ouyang Gong?" Di Qing stared at Chen Ke and asked: "What makes you say that?"

  "One is full and one is empty." Chen Xiao said in a low voice: "Two, this is a great taboo for military strategists!"

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