Tibet

Pei Sanniang has been extremely busy these past few months. More than two months ago, her daughter-in-law Dugu Xinyue was pregnant in October and successfully gave birth to a baby girl. Pei Sanniang was officially promoted to grandmother, and Li Dai also became grandfather. The couple was happy I can't even close my mouth.

Pei Sanniang even moved to her son's official residence and carefully served her daughter-in-law during the confinement period. She also spent a lot of money to hire two wet nurses to take care of the child day and night.

Although it was not a grandson, the couple felt a little disappointed, but the moment they saw the child's little face, they no longer had any thoughts of grandchildren, and they couldn't wait to take the child into their mouths.

The granddaughter is two months old, and Pei Sanniang has moved back to her home, but she comes here every morning and doesn't go back until her husband comes home in the afternoon. Sometimes she comes over to see the child in the evening.

Early that morning, Pei Sanniang came to her son's official residence as usual and walked to the backyard. Several maids quickly saluted her.

Pei Sanniang smiled and asked, "Is your mistress up?"

"Mother-in-law, I'm already up." Dugu Xinyue's voice came from the room.

Pei Sanniang opened the curtain and walked into the room. Although there were many pavilions and pavilions in the new house, Pei Sanniang still insisted that her daughter-in-law live in an old courtyard. The outside looked no different from the courtyards of ordinary people's homes, with blue bricks and black tiles. It has a sense of age.

Although the outside is a bit old, the inside of the room is very comfortable. It is cool in summer and warm in winter. Living inside will make you feel very peaceful.

Dugu Xinyue gradually fell in love with the feeling of this old house.

In the room, Dugu Xinyue was playing with her daughter in front of the cradle. Her daughter was fair and fat, with big round eyes, fat and tender little arms and legs, and everyone loved her.

Regarding the naming of the child, Li Dai and Dugu Lie argued for a long time, and finally the two reached a compromise. If it was a girl, Dugu's grandmother would name it, and if it was a boy, Li Dai would name it.

She gave birth to a daughter, and Dugu's grandmother named her Yusha, whose baby name is Xingguan. This is the tradition of the Dugu family. Girls are named after constellations, and Yusha is another name for a star.

Pei Sanniang walked in with a smile, her face suddenly blossomed, "Xiaobao is awake! Let grandma give her a kiss."

She held the child's head, carefully picked it up, and kissed the delicate little face.

Pei Sanniang carefully put the child back into the cradle. Three months ago, the child's neck was soft and had not yet grown up. When holding the child, the back of the head had to be held carefully. Usually, the child was placed on the mother's shoulder, and the mother held her little head. When a child feels her mother's breath, she will feel comfortable.

Pei Sanniang kissed the child's little feet again, making the little one giggle. She had just learned to laugh.

"Xinyue, it's getting cold in the morning and evening now, so I have to cover her with a quilt."

Dugu Xinyue nodded, "I've prepared it for Xiaobao and I'm about to change her diaper."

"Where's Aunt Zhang?"

Aunt Zhang is a wet nurse and is responsible for taking care of the children at night. The other Aunt Wang is also a wet nurse and is responsible for taking care of the children during the day.

"Aunt Zhang stayed up all night. I asked her to go to bed first. Aunt Wang will be here soon."

Pei Sanniang smiled again and asked, "Has the child been fed?"

"I just fed it."

Dugu Xinyue skillfully changed the child's diaper, picked her up, placed her on her shoulder, and hummed softly to her.

Pei Sanniang poured herself a glass of water, took a sip of hot water and smiled: "I came here in a hurry. I have good news to tell you. Aye may be back soon."

Dugu Xinyue's eyes lit up, "Really, when?"

"I don't know exactly when. Yesterday, I heard from Ye'er's father that the emperor had decreed that all military governors should come to Beijing to report on their duties, but they would definitely not come together, but in batches."

Dugu Xinyue immediately said anxiously: "Then I'll ask dad, he will definitely know."

"Write a letter! Let the maid come over."

Pei Sanniang saw that her daughter-in-law was looking forward to her son's return. She hesitated and said, "Xinyue, don't be angry with him again about that matter."

When Pei Sanniang was in confinement in Dugu Xinyue, she kept her mouth shut and spilled the beans about her son having a woman in Suiye.

Dugu Xinyue was so angry that she didn't speak for several days, but as time passed, Dugu Xinyue focused on her child, and the matter gradually faded away.

Dugu Xinyue smiled and said: "Actually, I feel the same way. If he comes back and explains to me honestly and has a good attitude, I will let him go for Xiaobao's sake. If his attitude is bad, I will deal with him slowly. "

"Call me when you're cleaning him up. I have experience in how to clean him up."

Dugu Xinyue sighed and said: "Actually, it's normal for him to have a woman by his side to take care of his daily life. I can understand and agree, but he can't hide it from me. That's why I'm actually angry."

Pei Sanniang shook her head and said, "That woman didn't take care of his daily life. It's rare for them to see her."

"Who is she?"

"She seems to be some Sogdian Zoroastrian saint. I don't know much about it. Aye said she was in Samarkand and I haven't seen her for several years. I guess it was just a chance encounter. She doesn't even have a name. .”

Dugu Xinyue nodded lightly, "It turns out she is a barbarian woman!"

"Yes! What I'm most afraid of is that he will bring some kind of barbarian princess back. If he gives birth to a son who is a barbarian from the Western Regions in the future, it will kill me."

At this time, the maid outside the door said: "Mrs. Wang is here!"

It turned out that her biological mother was here, and Pei Sanniang hurriedly welcomed her out. After a while, Mrs. Wang was ushered in. When she entered the door and was about to speak, Dugu Xinyue shushed and pointed to the child on her shoulder.

Mrs. Wang understood, the child had just fallen asleep.

Dugu Xinyue carefully put the child into the cradle, covered her with a quilt, and rocked her gently.

Mrs. Wang and Pei Sanniang sat aside, looking at the child's little face lovingly.

Mrs. Wang whispered: "Your husband is coming back, you know it, right?"

Dugu Xinyue nodded, "My mother-in-law told me, but I don't know the specific time."

"Your father said that they are sorted by rank. He and your third uncle are the fourth batch to come back to report on their work. The time will be at the end of this year or the beginning of next year."

“It’s mid-September, so that’s two and a half months away.”

"About two or three months."

"But it's winter! Can they come back?"

"Your father said that if you come back from Anxi, it's fine. I'm afraid Suiye can't. I think he can make arrangements."

Dugu Xinyue said she was angry, but in her heart she was looking forward to her husband's return.

In the afternoon, Pei Sanniang returned home, her home was diagonally opposite, and rode back on her donkey.

Although she is the wife of a minister, she still maintains the true character of a lower-class person. She is not extravagant, not flashy, not delicate and pretentious, and is very down-to-earth.

She could have asked the carriage from her residence to pick her up, but she felt that it was so close, only over a hundred steps away, that it was not necessary at all.

So he rode a little donkey back and forth every day, without even a maid following him. Of course, Pei Sanniang was very skilled in martial arts and carried a sword with her.

When I walked to the door, I saw a tall and thin young man wandering at the door. He was about twenty years old, about the same age as his son, and he was also wearing a Tang Army uniform.

Pei Sanniang saw that he looked familiar, but she couldn't remember him for a moment.

"Who are you and what's the matter?"

"I just came to say goodbye," the young man said hesitantly.

Pei Sanniang suddenly remembered that this person was Li Huai, her husband's other son.

"I know who you are, what do you want to say goodbye to?" Pei Sanniang was very alert and held the hilt of the sword in her hand.

Li Huai said sadly: "I went to Fanyang to join the army. I just wanted to say it, there is no other meaning."

"If you go to Fanyang to join the army, what will your mother do?"

"She's fine. She gave birth to another son and is doing okay now."

Pei Sanniang felt a pity in her heart. This child had no father or mother.

"Come in and sit down!"

"No, madam, tell him for me. Now I am also an upright General of the Tang Army."

After saying that, he bowed to Pei Sanniang, got on his horse, and galloped away.