I bow to thank the Queen Mother for her great grace. A woman prostrated herself on the ground. She was none other than Lady Du, the elder sister of Du Chenggui, the commander of the inner palace.
Fu Jinzhan smiled and helped her up. She had a fair round face and good-looking features. She was probably in her twenties. Fu Jinzhan said, "Du Mei is at a good age. It would be a pity to send you to the cold palace to waste your youth. Life there is boring. No one cares what happens. So I asked Cao Tai to pick you up quietly."
Lady Du's tears immediately flowed down her face and she choked up, saying: The Queen Mother has always taken good care of me. Now she has made me the Emperor's stepmother. I don't know how I can repay her for her great kindness. I am willing to serve her as a slave.
Well, it was supposed to be a happy occasion, but your crying makes me feel uncomfortable. Fu Jinzhan comforted him kindly, saying that your father was loyal and devoted, and he risked his life for Taizu. The descendants of the Du family are also loyal and brave, so how can I treat them badly
Lady Du immediately said: "My brother has received great favor from the court, and I took care of him and he listens to me very much. If he has any intention of disobeying the Queen Mother, I will break his legs."
Fu Jinzhan smiled and said: I think Du Chenggui is a well-educated and good boy, so you can rest assured about him.
Just then the palace maid brought in tea. Concubine Du hurriedly walked up and said softly: I'll do it.
Fu Jinzhan's beautiful curved eyes smiled, but she turned a deaf ear and picked up a memorial on the table and read it again. Li Yu's memorial asked the Zhou Dynasty to protect him; he said that if he became the ruler in the future, he would recognize the Great Zhou as the suzerain in the name of the ruler of Jiangnan, and pay a tribute of 1.2 million strings of money at one time and 800,000 strings of money every year in the future.
I heard that Zhou Ehuang was good at dancing, so I invited her to the palace to perform. Fu Jinzhan murmured, picked up the red pen and wrote it down.
Zhou Xian was soon taken to the ceremonial hall in the south of the imperial city to meet Li Yu.
Zhou Xian asked hurriedly: "Has the court responded to your husband's memorial?" Li Yu handed the memorial over and said: "I don't say anything, but I don't know what the purpose of letting Ehuang enter the palace to dance is."
It should be a secret test of the husband's submissive attitude. Zhou Xian said softly, it is also a kind of humiliation. The husband is a noble of the Southern Tang Kingdom, but he wants his wife to dance for the Queen Mother of the Zhou Dynasty. It is not a face-saving thing.
Li Yu pondered and said: Living under someone else's roof, it's okay to suffer a little. I'm afraid it's more than just dancing.
When Zhou Xian heard this, he remembered what happened that day and hurriedly said: The previous emperor of the Zhou Dynasty passed away, and the current monarch is a child of a few years old, and there are no men in the harem.
Li Yu said: The Queen Mother can summon ministers into the palace, such as her brother-in-law Guo Shao.
Zhou Xian's heart was pounding when she heard this, and her legs were so weak from fear that she gritted her teeth and resisted showing any suspicious behavior. She thought for a moment and said:
How do you know? Li Yu frowned.
Zhou Xian said kindly: Guo Shao is the Queen Mother's brother-in-law, how could he do such a thing? Seeing Li Yu's painful expression, she whispered, "Why don't we not go?"
I couldn't even see the Queen Mother before. Li Yu gritted his teeth and said, "You have to go. You have to go. You have to get ready and go to the palace in the afternoon."
Zhou Xian entered the inner room, randomly picked a dance that he was familiar with in Southern Tang, and prepared his clothes. He thought that Guo Shao had succeeded, and he seemed to be a sincere person, so he would not go back on his word and continue to pester him. He immediately recalled Guo Shao's behavior that night, and immediately thought that this matter should be just the Queen Mother's intention to suppress Li Yu and deliberately humiliate him.
Why was Guo Shao mentioned again? Zhou Xian wanted to forget this person and never see him again, but countless details emerged in his mind. Every temperature and every inch of touch of his lips and fingers on his skin were very deep. Zhou Xian suddenly felt his face very hot.
She put the dance dress in her hand back into the box, sat back on the chair, and took a deep breath before realizing that her skirt was very uncomfortable. She wanted to take a shower first, but there was no time left, so she could only change into a small dress.
Zhou Xian silently said to himself: He is a demon. He will destroy my self-esteem, my noble status, my comfortable life. I am a noble of the Southern Tang Kingdom, a royal concubine, in a foreign land in Tokyo. What else do I have? Who am I? I will fall into the abyss. Forget him and stay away from him.
A deep and powerful voice seemed to ring in my ears immediately: Beautiful women should not be hurt. I cherish you with great admiration. Don't be afraid. I will slowly be very, very gentle. Relax, don't be nervous.
Zhou Xian suddenly covered his ears and bit his teeth, almost making a sound: The Zhou Dynasty was a country that had experienced countless turmoil, with dynasties changing every ten years, countless fights and mutinies. This was a violent, turbulent and evil place, and the people here were all evil and barbaric people who only knew how to prey on the weak. He was just a warrior and an executioner. I despise him and hate everything about him.
But Zhou Xian seemed to smell a light and soul-deep scent, clean and pleasant, as if it was imprinted in her heart, lingering, lingering around that clear and compassionate gaze, like a brush caressing her trembling and timid soul.
She hardened her heart and shook her head vigorously: I have only met him once, and it is nothing more than lust. I am a well-educated nobleman. People have emotions and wisdom, not beasts, and they do not live for a little desire.
Besides, how could a warrior be compared with the talented Li Yu? Zhou Xian firmly believed that she was a woman who valued love and friendship, and immediately recalled her love and oath with Li Yu.
At this time, Li Yu suddenly walked in and saw Zhou Xian sitting in a chair in a daze, so he said: "Ehuang, what are you doing? Hurry up. Now we have something to ask of you, so we can't be late."
Zhou Xian walked up, hugged Li Yu's waist tightly, and choked up and said: My husband, why don't you go
The woman's expression changes faster than the sky. "Didn't we agree on this? What's wrong with you?" Li Yu asked hurriedly.
Zhou Xian said in a trembling voice: I just recalled the vows we made to each other. Now, only my husband's sincerity can keep me going. What you said, that we will live and die together, all came from the bottom of your heart.
Li Yu said: "Of course, you don't have to doubt my feelings for Ehuang. I am in this state now. I can't even do human ethics. How can I change my heart?"
Zhou Xian said: It doesn’t matter, I am not a lewd woman, I only care about my husband’s love for me.
Then stop imagining. After this difficulty, I may be able to become the ruler of Southern Tang. I will dote on you even more in the future and let you enjoy endless wealth and glory. Li Yu patted her back gently.
Zhou Xian let out a long sigh and burst into laughter: It’s so good to have a husband who loves me wholeheartedly. I will help you and will not offend the Queen Mother.
The two of them packed up and waited, and then heard the report that the official who was to receive Zhou Ting had arrived. Li Yu straightened his hat, took his wife to the carriage, and left the ceremonial hall.
He got off the carriage and wanted to meet the reception officials, but he saw rows of armored cavalry and infantry outside. Li Yu was startled. A young general with regular features on a tall horse bowed and clasped his fists and said: "I am the commander of the inner palace, Du Chenggui, and I am ordered to escort the distinguished guest from the Southern Tang Kingdom to the palace for an audience."
Li Yu hurriedly and elegantly bowed in return: Thank you, Queen Mother, for your grace.
Du Chenggui shouted, "Please
A tall and strong man near the door drew his sword with a swish, and two neat rows of men in iron armor turned around, raised their spears with a click, and faced the road, without moving a muscle.
Li Yu was startled and his shoulders trembled slightly when he heard the powerful footsteps.
The atmosphere suddenly became full of threats and violence. Zhou Xian gently lifted the curtain and peeked at the scene outside. She saw soldiers standing like iron, all elite and fierce. This kind of battle seemed to show off military power. She also realized that the Southern Tang Kingdom could not easily become an enemy of the Great Zhou.
After Li Yu got on the carriage, the group was escorted by elite soldiers and entered the gate of the imperial city safely. The guards inside and outside the palace were solemn and dignified, not like there had just been a riot. The generals who checked the seals and military orders were very disciplined, and the soldiers standing with their legs apart on both sides held their heads high and their chests puffed out, and the ranks were neat and tight.
Xuan, the envoy of Southern Tang, Li Yu and others came to the court with a long voice shouting.
Zhou Xian, wearing a veiled hat, was helped down the carriage by Li Yu. She looked up and saw the broad and majestic palace towering in the clouds. The monotonous and majestic building was much grander than the palace of Southern Tang, but it looked a bit dull and boring. There were no flowers or plants around, and the only few trees were bare.
It is indeed a violent country that does not care about culture at all and only advocates force and grandeur.
Led by the eunuchs, the two did not enter the main hall, but went directly to the rear hall of Jinxiang Hall from the corridor. Finally, they entered a spacious palace. Zhou Xian took off his veil and followed Li Yu in.
There was a curtain hanging over the upper throne, and a person was sitting inside it; behind the curtain was a huge screen, and in front of it was a wooden platform. The palace servants on both sides were very respectful.
Li Yu knelt on the ground first, and Zhou Xian followed suit. There was no other way. The Southern Tang Kingdom was a vassal, and the Great Zhou was the suzerain state. The Queen Mother was now the common ruler of the world.
Li Yu, your humble servant, pays respect to the Queen Mother, wishing her a long and healthy life. Zhou Xian follows Li Yu in paying respect.
The person behind the curtain said: "Stand up and take a seat."
Zhou Xian heard a very gentle and quiet voice, and felt that the Queen Mother of Zhou Dynasty was not very old and was very likely a beauty. According to Zhou Xian's experience, a woman with a nice voice is not necessarily beautiful, but her tone and demeanor can show her self-recognition. The Queen Mother must be very beautiful to be so confident, and her domineering tone carries an indescribable charm.
Zhou Xian thought to himself: Even if you are powerful and beautiful, you are still a widow at a young age. At least I still have someone who loves me.
After thinking about it this way, she felt a little more balanced and no longer felt that she was inferior to the Queen Mother of Zhou Dynasty.