After being divorced, my identity as a poet was exposed

Duke Xia's mansion.

Main courtyard, study.

Old Duke Xia Mochou teased the thrush in the cage, and told the old butler standing behind him:
"It's snowing, it's getting cold, the bird is afraid of the cold, remember to light a pot of charcoal fire in the bird's house."

The old housekeeper, Chen Chun, bowed and said, "This old slave knows."

Xia Mochou turned around, handed the birdcage to Chen Chun, and asked, "Where has that general been in the past ten days since he returned to Kyoto?"

Chen Chun took the birdcage and replied: "The second day after he came back, he was summoned by the emperor to go to the palace."

"On the third day, the prince held a banquet in the East Palace, and he went to the East Palace."

"On the fifth day, I went to Qiu Zhuang and stayed in the study for a long time with Qiu Zhu, the master of the Qiu family, and also had dinner in Qiu Zhuang."

"On the seventh day, he went to the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion. He played chess with Che Chi, the eldest son of Marquis Wu'an, for half a day, and also had dinner together."

"Yesterday early in the morning, he went to the Uncle Guo's mansion...he only stayed for a while before he came out, but Uncle Qi personally sent him outside the gate."

"In the evening, Empress Qi's guard of honor went back to the uncle's mansion."

"That's about it."

Xia Mochou nodded slightly, "Go down, and call my two unworthy sons!"

Chen Chun left the study with the birdcage, Xia Mochou stood in front of the window, looking at the newly blooming plum tree outside the window.

A smile suddenly appeared on his old face.

"Paper can't contain fire after all!"

"This eagle also seems to know the news about Wu Ya Pass, it's urgent!"

The smile on his face gradually subsided, showing a deep expression: "It's good to be in a hurry, but you don't have wings to fly to Zhaohua City!"

"The news of the fall of Zhaohua City should be sent to the capital soon!"

"The [-]th birthday should be more lively!"

There were footsteps outside the door, Xia Mochou's face returned to normal, he turned around, Xia Liu and Xia Li bowed and stood in front of him.

"Father!"

"sit!"

"Thank you father!"

The father and son sat down, and Xia Liu took the Huozhezi and made a pot of tea.

Xia Guogong stroked his long beard and said kindly: "How long has it been since the three of us, father and son, have been cooking tea around the stove like this?"

Xia Li pondered for three breaths, "I remember the last time I sat here making tea was in the winter eight years ago."

"Oh, it's been eight years, it's rare that we can still sit together today."

"Xia Liu,"

"Ah, the baby is here!"

"Are you still indignant because you didn't get the prince's invitation?"

Xia Liu's hands paused slightly, and then she took a tea pot and took a pinch of tea and put it in the teapot, then said:
"Hail thinks that he is conscientious in the position of minister of the Ministry of War...at least he didn't reach out for a penny in the purchase of military supplies."

"Instead, it's Hubu..."

Xia Guogong interrupted Xia Liu's words with a wave of his hand, "The household department is none of your business!"

"Do you think it's better to spend your birthday with the emperor in the palace? Or drink tea with me at home?"

Xia Liu was stunned, thinking that he could drink tea with you at any time at home, but the emperor's [-]th birthday is only this time, how can this be compared?

Xia Guogong's face turned dark immediately, "You heartless bastard!"

"No, Dad..."

"Father, I'm not your father!"

Xia Li took a look, the older the father, the more difficult to figure out his temper, why does he take out his anger on his elder brother every day?

He quickly smoothed things over: "Father calm down, brother, isn't it for our Xia family!"

"Brother is standing firmly in the court. After the prince ascends the throne, our Xia family will be able to live better!"

Xia Guogong glared at Xia Liu fiercely: "There's a use for him standing still!"

"In the state of Wu, if you want to stand firm, you must have military power!"

"It sounds good to say that you are a Minister of the Ministry of War, but it sounds bad to say that you are just doing miscellaneous work for the frontier troops!"

"Forget it,"

Xia Guogong waved his hand again, but looked at Xia Li, his words became much gentler:

"Xia Li,"

"Ah, father!"

"It seems that His Highness the Crown Prince has forgotten about you. Father originally thought he would let you be a general in the city guard army... It seems that he is really worried about our Xia family."

"But the opportunity has come, you are ready to prepare these days."

Xia Li was startled, "Where are you going?"

"Where else can I go? Go to your old place...Xiayuanzhou!"

Xia Li looked at his father suspiciously, "Isn't Gou Kuo in Xiayuan Prefecture?"

Xia Guogong grinned: "He is running for his life!"

Xia Li and Xia Liu were stunned, "...Wu Ya Pass lost?"

Xia Guogong raised his eyebrows: "Not only Wuya Pass, but the entire Xiayuan Prefecture is lost!"

"Seven Walled Cities is over? Zhaohua City is gone?"

"Seven Walled City is definitely over, as for Zhaohua City...it should be gone too!"

Xia Li swallowed in disbelief, "The Red Flame Army has occupied Xiayuan Prefecture?"

"No, the Red Flame Army just captured the Wuya Pass and wiped out the main force of the Seven Cities Village by the way. Zhaohua City was left in the hands of the Divine Guard Army."

The water was boiling and the tea was ready, but brothers Xia Liu and Xia Li were confused by the news that old Duke Xia said.

Gou Kuo lost Wuya Pass, and even the entire Xiayuan Prefecture...

This is a big event that the sky is falling!
But there was no news about this matter in Kyoto.

Xia Liu couldn't believe it, so she asked again:
"Father, how do you know?"

"Pour tea!"

"……Yes!"

Xia Liu was pouring tea, but Xia Guogong didn't tell him how he knew the news.

He looked at Xia Liu: "To rebuild the Seven City Walls, we need to recruit hundreds of thousands of soldiers!"

"You are the Minister of the Ministry of War, please remember to me, Xiayuan Prefecture is the Xia family's reliance on the court!"

"Soldiers in Qichengzhai need the best soldiers! The best horses! And the best weapons and armor!"

"If you can't do this little thing well... I will smash your ass!"

Xia Liu nodded quickly, "As long as the second brother returns to Xiayuan Prefecture, these things will be handled properly by the boy!"

"Well, Xia An has been in Beifu for three years in a blink of an eye. After the matter of the second child is confirmed, Xia An will be transferred to Xiayuanzhou... You can ask Qiuqin after you go back later to see if the Miao Mansion can still get it." How much money will you pay?"

Xia Liu was stunned again: "The money for recruiting soldiers and horses is the treasury expenditure!"

"You know shit!"

"Don't ask, just do what I tell you!"

Xia Liu shrank her neck and didn't dare to make another sound.

At this moment, Xia Li asked very solemnly: "Father, Zhaohua City is a mighty city!"

"Back then you built the walls of Zhaohua City so high and so strong... Now that it has fallen into the hands of the Divine Guard, if you want to get it back, you will have to pay a huge price!"

Xia Guogong smiled indifferently: "You will know when you go."

"...Why is father so sure that the emperor will use the child?"

"Because no one can take back Zhaohua City except you!"

Xia Li was stunned again, the meaning of his father's words was a bit deep.

He looked at Xia Guogong, and thought... he didn't dare to think about it!
At this moment, the old housekeeper Chen Chun hurried over again.

"Master, Eunuch Zhang, the chief eunuch in charge of the palace, please see me!" (End of this chapter)