In the wing room of Chen's mansion at night, Li Yu clasped his hands behind his back and pondered: In the eyes of the Zhou Dynasty's monarchs and ministers, if Li Hongji were to inherit the throne of Southern Tang, he would be much more difficult than me.
When Zhou Xian heard this, a gentle smile appeared in her clear and bright eyes. She leaned gently on Li Yu's back and said softly: My husband is far-sighted and can't be compared with Li Hongji.
Li Yu sighed again, unable to conceal his sorrow. Even though he was not in front of others, this sigh seemed to come from the bottom of his heart.
Zhou Xian hurriedly comforted him gently, with a gentleness as gentle as water, which he wanted to fully display in front of this man.
Zhou Xian has been well-read in history books since she was a child, and has been exposed to the power struggles of the royal family for a long time; she is ignorant of the world but is very familiar with the games between the nobles, and her father was once very successful in his high position. She is also a very resilient woman, and her mastery of dance rhythm is like calligraphy. Without strength, there is no soul. To master a dance or any skill, it is impossible without hardship. She has worked no less than those military generals from noble families.
But in front of Li Yu, she was unwilling to show herself too strong. She admired her man for his ambition, talent and strength, and was willing to be protected and taken care of by him behind his back.
What could be better than the sincere and obedient love of a strong man for a woman? Zhou Xian enjoyed the deep and unforgettable love and felt that everything was worth it.
You, my cousin, are not very reliable. Li Yu shook his head and said, let's go back to Zhou Chaoli Hall tomorrow.
Well, I will listen to you, my husband. Zhou Xian said softly, and then said coquettishly, Chen Jiali was also famous in the past, and she was a very proud person, but she couldn't compare to me in anything. It's normal for women to be jealous. My husband, don't bother with me.
Li Yu whispered: "No matter what, I am the fish in the chopping block now; Zhou Chao will not help Li Hongji for no reason, but they don't think too much of Li Hongji, and what to do is just a word from the powerful. Chen Jiali has a relationship with Guo Shao, so don't offend her."
Zhou Xian looked at Li Yu's worried expression and felt a lot of sympathy and pity in his heart. The melancholy and talented man looked so poetic when he was worried.
I'm tired. Li Yu sat down on the bed.
The spoiled Zhou Xian was willing to serve him like a servant, helping him undress and go to bed to rest.
However, as soon as Li Yu got on the bed, he turned sideways to face inside, with his back to Zhou Xian and said nothing. Zhou Xian was not angry when he saw this, but said softly like coaxing a child: Whatever my husband wants, I am willing to do it for you.
Li Yu's tone suddenly turned cold: I want power
There was a hint of hidden madness in his cold tone. Zhou Xian was not afraid, but felt more distressed for him.
She recalled the coup d'état not long ago. Li Hongji actually led his troops directly into the palace. Li Jing was in the palace at the time. In the chaos, he was injured in the lower body by Li Hongji's subordinates and almost died. His life was saved, but he became a eunuch. This was too cruel for Li Yu. Zhou Xian understood how a man felt like this, and felt that he was more sad than Li Yu. This thing not only hurt his body, but mainly hurt his face and dignity as a man.
A man with real talent and knowledge must have great ambitions. Li Bai was famous for his talent during his lifetime in the Tang Dynasty, but he was never satisfied with his literary talent or writing poems. He always took it as his duty to assist the king to clarify the world and save the people. Later, he continued to work as a staff member for warlords. However, he did not succeed in his life and only left behind hundreds of poems and drinking. Li Bai himself felt very regretful.
Zhou Xian knows Li Yu, and Li Yu is also such a person. But the physical injury has greatly hit his self-esteem and mind. Now, what else can he pursue except power
So even if Li Yu was indifferent to her at this time, it would only arouse her greater sympathy.
She tried her best to help Li Yu regain his self-esteem as a man, and took care of his fragile heart everywhere. For example, during the day, she deliberately made Chen Jiali jealous, so that Li Yu could feel the dignity of being a man. Seeing beautiful women fighting for him, he would probably be secretly happy. Zhou Xian knew the thoughts of these noble men very well.
At this moment, Li Yu suddenly turned around and said sadly and gently: Ehuang is so beautiful and charming, but I can't give you anything.
He reached out and held Zhou Xian's hand tenderly, and their fingers were entangled and pressed tightly together.
Zhou Xian's heart suddenly felt sour and sweet, and the tenderness was like a warm current, flowing directly from her fingers to her heart. She thought to herself: My husband is so uncomfortable, but he still treats me like this. It's really not easy for him. He must love me so much and love me deeply to do this.
My husband Zhou Xian leaned on him like a little bird, and I was so moved that I shed tears. What I want is my husband's heart, and those mundane matters are not that important. It doesn't matter.
Li Yu still had doubts whether Ehuang would really not change her mind.
Zhou Xian's tone was firm: I will never change my mind because of this. No matter what kind of person you become, you are the most powerful man in my heart. My husband is so talented, don't you understand what women value
Li Yu asked hurriedly what he valued.
Zhou Xian said gently, "Compared to that, the things in the bedroom are not worth mentioning. In fact, I felt very painful at first, but later I was only disgusted. If it wasn't for my husband's happiness, I wouldn't have been interested in it."
Li Yu said: Other women seem to enjoy it.
Zhou Xian disagreed and said: Because they are frivolous, lascivious and lowly women. My mother has warned me thousands of times since I was a child how lowly and despicable those fickle women are. I will never become such a vulgar person. My heart is only loyal to one man, a real man with a strong heart, and that is you, my husband.
Li Yu still worriedly asked: Are you speaking from the heart? Are you not trying to please me
Her husband has become more and more suspicious recently, but Zhou Xian doesn't care. She said seriously: It's all true. How could I bear to deceive my husband? I love you more than I love you. I am willing to do anything for you.
After hearing this, Li Yu held Zhou Xian's hand tightly, and his tone suddenly became urgent: "Then you must help me with ideas. I want to be the ruler of Southern Tang at all costs." He may feel that his desire for power is too strong, and then he said that the current Southern Tang can only wait for the right opportunity. If Li Hongji becomes the ruler of Southern Tang, the foundation will be destroyed faster. I am helping the ancestors of the Li family. The country can only be preserved in my hands.
My husband, you are already very capable, not much less than Liu Bei of the Eastern Han Dynasty. I believe you are the wisest person in the Southern Tang Kingdom. Zhou Xian said softly, don’t underestimate Li Hongji’s success. In fact, as long as we get through the current difficulties, we will have a sure victory.
Zhou Xian never showed that she was smarter than her husband, and she didn't want to steal his limelight. She was willing to be in a weak position. Zhou Xian's mind was so meticulous that Li Yu felt that all the previous plans were his own wisdom. Because Li Yu was originally a smart person, Zhou Xian only needed to hint and guide his thinking, and he would figure it out.
Li Hongji's approach was very clumsy. He not only disappointed the ministers and generals of the aristocratic families in the country and made them feel uneasy, but also made the violent and powerful Zhou in the north feel uneasy. Mencius said that those who are in the right way will have many supporters, while those who are in the wrong way will have few supporters. Such an approach would not work in the Southern Tang Dynasty.
Li Yu was the complete opposite. From his father to most of the ministers of the noble families, they all thought he was a man who was indifferent to fame and fortune and was honest. Even Li Hongji, who dared to poison his uncle, was unwilling to kill Li Yu and hurt him only by accident. Li Yu was passionate about landscapes and literary talent, and Zhong Yin Lianfeng was his image.
Zhou Xian thought: If he took a step back, perhaps the road would be wider.
The next morning, Zhou Xian was about to say goodbye, but before she could say it, Chen Jiali invited her to talk alone.
In a quiet and elegant piano room, Chen Jiali looked apologetic and in a bad mood. She said softly: Cousin, I thought about it all night last night and felt that I should tell you the truth since I should help the insiders and not the outsiders.
Zhou Xian said innocently: What happened to my cousin? What's the truth
I know you will blame me, Chen Jiali sighed softly, but I was forced to do so.
What’s going on? You’re making me so anxious, Zhou Xian urged in a tender voice.
Chen Jiali frowned and asked: Were you seen by anyone on your way to Tokyo
Zhou Xian lowered his head and recalled.
Chen Jiali said: "My cousin's beauty has reached Guo Shao's ears. He is a lustful man. You know Yang Yue'e from Yangzhou, right?"
Zhou Xian said calmly: I know. Before the Battle of Huainan, we often exchanged letters and discussed the research of ancient music.
Yang was presented to Zhao Kuangyin, who did not dare to accept the beauty he had obtained from Huainan, and presented her to Emperor Zhou, pushing it back and forth. As a result, when Guo Shao saw her, he was immediately bewitched and accepted her, even disregarding his life. Such people are very bold for beauty. Chen Jiali frowned and said, he heard about my cousin's beauty, so he came to force me, and gave me an idea to use the repatriation of the Sixth Prince as a means of coercion to threaten my cousin.
Chen Jiali said with a sad face: You will definitely hate me. I also feel that I have gone too far, so I told you the truth.
Zhou Xian's heart sank when he heard this, and he immediately thought: Could it be that she secretly overheard what she said to her husband in the private room last night and took the opportunity to put the blame on Guo Shao
But it was unlikely. Zhou Xian was also a careful person. He had noticed that there was another room outside the bedroom, and the doors and windows were closed tightly. It was impossible to hear the noise in the bedroom from such a distance. Besides, they spoke in a very low voice.
Zhou Xian thought about it over and over again, and was skeptical about what Chen Jiali said.
But he couldn't and didn't want to offend his best friend at this time, so Zhou Xian quickly said kindly: How could I hate my cousin? You must have had no choice but to do that; now you take the risk to tell me, I am grateful to you.
Chen Jiali hurriedly hugged her arms, almost in tears, and said softly: I knew that we will always be good sisters.