From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 534

The lunch was not luxurious, with two people and five or six dishes, but they were all hard dishes, and the wine was also strong. The taste alone made Zhou Yuan frown.

Song Shan'ao did not pretend to be majestic, but sat down directly and pointed at the chair.

Zhou Yuan also sat down and poured him a glass of wine, then asked in confusion: "Old Duke, did you call me here this time to tell me something?"

Song Shan'ao raised his head, his eyes were very sharp, but soon calmed down again.

He said slowly: "Must I ask you to come for a drink only if there is something going on?"

Zhou Yuan smiled and said: "That's not the case, but the old Duke is obviously not such a leisurely person."

Song Shan'ao shook his head and said: "You are wrong, I am actually very leisurely, I almost don't care about anything, I exercise every day, there is nothing else to do."

"You have made extraordinary achievements in the past two years, and you were named Duke at the age of 20. People outside say that you are my successor."

"In this situation, if I don't invite you to dinner, wouldn't it be narrow-minded."

Zhou Yuan was stunned, then smiled bitterly: "The old Duke should not care about the gossip outside, your prestige is there, who can replace you."

Song Shan'ao smiled, picked up the wine glass, and said: "Let's drink three first."

He didn't wait for Zhou Yuan to answer, and started drinking directly.

This wine is really spicy. After drinking it, Zhou Yuan felt like his stomach was on fire.

Song Shan'ao narrowed his eyes and said, "Such strong wine is usually only available at the border. Guarding the border is too hard, and the soldiers need such wine to relieve their worries."

"I have been in Shenjing for these years, but I still only drink such wine to remind myself that I am a soldier."

At this point, he looked at Zhou Yuan and said, "So, now you can take back your polite words, two soldiers, why are you so polite."

Zhou Yuan swallowed and gritted his teeth and said, "It's too strong. Maybe only the men at the border need it."

Song Shan'ao said, "Song Wu Going to Sanbian, you should know that he will be incorporated into Wen Tieli's team, but he is still your soldier. I hope you don't hold a grudge against this. We are all serving the country. "

Zhou Yuan nodded and said, "I'm not that petty. As long as he doesn't embarrass me, it's fine."

Song Shan'ao smiled and grinned, "Zhou Yuan, I didn't ask you to come here this time for this matter."

"I want to say a few serious words to you."

Zhou Yuan said, "Old Duke, just speak frankly."

Song Shan'ao said, "Do you know why I haven't asked about political affairs in these years?"

Zhou Yuan thought for a moment before saying, "Rumor has it that there is no more title to be given to him, and he dares not make any more achievements, so he retreated to the second line."

"Bullshit!"

Song Shan'ao smiled coldly and said disdainfully, "Those boring people in the outside world like to create gods. If you win a battle, they will blow you up to the sky, saying that you are the reincarnation of Han and Bai, and that you are the reincarnation of Wei and Huo..."

"But if you lose a battle, they will want to trample you into the ground and send you to hell."

"Human nature is like this, admiring the strong and unreasonable."

At this point, he He sighed and said, "Actually... the reason is very simple. I am over 80 years old. I am old and can't fight anymore. Don't think I practice martial arts every day. In fact, even my grandson can beat me to a pulp."

"The last time I went to the battlefield, I couldn't even memorize the map. I can't remember what happened yesterday. My mind is confused and my thoughts are not clear."

"Everyone will get old. I know I can't fight anymore, so I retired."

Zhou Yuan frowned. Hearing these words, he couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

Song Shanao said: "People like to brag about my achievements, but they don't think that those achievements are all things of the past. People can't defeat the years. Old is old, and no good is no good."

"I say these words to you in the hope that you... guard against arrogance and impatience, and catch up. I hope that you can truly take on the responsibility of the Grand Marshal of the Great Jin Army before I die."

"It is important for people to know themselves. I know myself, and you should also know what you want to do."

He picked up the wine glass and smiled slowly: "Know yourself, accept yourself, and move forward."

"I'm tired, and it's time to hand it all over to you, just... when you return to Beijing next time."

"I'm tired... I'm really tired..."

Zhou Yuan was silent and speechless, but he could only pick up the wine glass and drink it all in one gulp.

...

It seems that everything is developing in the most appropriate direction, and everything persuades Zhou Yuan to leave as soon as possible.

He was still a little worried, but... with the return of Li Yu'an, it seems that it is really time to leave.

She was sitting in the reception room of the Duke's Mansion, wearing a very ordinary dress, with her hair casually draped, leaning loosely on the chair, with a calm and confused expression.

Jianjia and NingYue was talking to her, but she obviously had no desire to talk.

Seeing Zhou Yuan coming back, she stood up and said, "Walk around?"

"The back garden."

Zhou Yuan took her to the back slowly. The sun was bright, but it seemed that it could not illuminate her face.

The atmosphere was a bit dull. Zhou Yuan could not help looking at her and whispered, "What happened? You seem to be in a bad mood."

Li Yu'an did not look back, but continued to walk forward.

After a moment, she slowly said: "I'm glad that you didn't ask Cai Ni directly this time, but asked me first."

Her tone was full of desolation: "Actually, nothing happened. I just went to Shenzhou, met Wanyan Daichan, and cured her injuries."

"She was very haggard and looked heartbroken. Cai Ni was very good. She has been taking care of Wanyan."

"I cured her and came back, that's all."

Zhou Yuan nodded and said: "But you are obviously not in a good mood."

Li Yu'an said: "Well, because I feel tired."

She couldn't help shaking her head and laughing, self-deprecatingly said: "It's really strange. I went over mountains and ridges with you in the Central Plains before, and escorted supplies with you in the ice and snow. It was as hard as it could be, but I didn't feel tired."

"I went to Shenzhou, nothing happened, but I felt tired."

Zhou Yuan said: "It seems that some Things make you tired and depressed. "

Li Yu'an waved her hand and said, "I can't say I'm depressed, but I just feel tired."

She then looked at Zhou Yuan, her eyes shining, and whispered, "Zhou Yuan, do you know? Wanyan and I actually have a very good relationship. She has followed me since the early days of the Wusheng Sect. We work together, struggle together, discuss martial arts, and discuss life. We are almost like sisters."

"I can't control her conflict with you, but when I see her like that, I just feel sad."

"Did she do anything wrong? She is filial to her parents, respects her brothers, cares about the old and the young, and protects her people."

"She worked hard for her nation, even put herself in danger many times, and almost gave everything."

"The only wrong thing she did was probably loving the wrong person."

"But this one thing almost ruined her."

Zhou Yuan was silent.

He understood what Li Yu'an said, and he also understood Wanyan Daichan, but this was the position, and no one could change it.

Li Yu'an sighed and said, "Even if Zhuang Xuanpu didn't use his full strength, that palm strike almost killed her."

"When I went there, she was already very ill. She coughed up blood all day, had severe pain all over her body, was listless, and couldn't sleep."

"If it weren't for me, she would have to endure this kind of life for at least half a year."

"But all this is nothing compared to the harm you have done to her. She was heartbroken and had suicidal tendencies. If it weren't for Cai Ni taking care of her, she might have died."

Zhou Yuan agreed with this fact, but he didn't take the blame for the so-called harm.

Objectively speaking, each serves his own master, so who is responsible for hurting whom?

Li Yu'an said: "I helped her heal her wounds and comforted her, but it was of little use..."

At this point, she smiled bitterly and said: "I don't mean to blame you, Zhou Yuan, I'm not blaming you, because I know you didn't do anything wrong..."

"I just feel sad for Wanyan, and for me."

"She did everything she could, but now she has ended up like this."

"I also did what I should do, but now I'm homeless."

"Maybe it's because the rabbit dies and the fox mourns, or maybe it's because we share the same suffering. I don't know the specific reason, I just feel... How can we women live happier in the face of such national hatred and family feuds?"

"Zhou Yuan, tell me, what should Wanyan do? What should I do?"

"Can't we really end this?"