In late autumn and early winter, Hebei was dry and cold, and the trees were bare. Even the carved dragons and painted buildings of Prince Wei's Palace lacked vitality in this dull season.
Guo Shao said to Fu Zhaoxu who was sitting opposite him: I just mentioned a small matter casually that day, but unexpectedly Brother Fu took it to heart and dealt with it as a major event. Thank you so much, Brother Fu.
Perhaps Fu Zhaoxu could also see that although Guo Shao spoke politely, it was only out of politeness. Guo Shao's mind was not here at all, and he could not hide the absent-mindedness in his words.
Fu Zhaoxu also smiled and responded casually, waiting with him.
Guo Shao kept glancing outside, and the more he looked, the longer time seemed. Because most of the time people don't pay attention to how time passes; but once they have expectations, waiting for every minute, every snap of a finger, even every day and every month, time seems particularly long. Guo Shao finally realized: waiting is indeed very tiring, and three months is actually very long; it's just that he has various things to pay attention to every day, so he didn't pay attention. Thinking about the word "torn" that Fu Ermei said in the letter, Guo Shao admitted that he might not love her as much as she loves him.
No matter how many times I looked at it, there were still those dead trees facing the door, a few lifeless leaves on the ground, and even the sunlight seemed pale and cold.
Guo Shao took another look and then turned his gaze to Fu Zhaoxu's face. He felt a little apologetic because Zhaoxu seemed to have said something just now, and he had no idea what he said, so he was speechless.
At this moment, a hint of light red suddenly appeared in his sight. Guo Shao turned his head and saw Fu Ermei at the door. Guo Shao stood up subconsciously.
Fu Ermei leaned on the door with one white jade hand and gently pressed her chest with the other hand. She stood there breathing heavily, looking at Guo Shao and smiling. She was out of breath and didn't have time to speak. She glanced at Fu Zhaoxu's back again.
Fu Zhaoxu also turned around and said: Second sister, we are waiting for you.
"Yeah." Fu Ermei could only respond, took a deep breath, and gently covered her mouth and nose with her hands on her chest, then laughed at Guo Shao, and the warmth of spring seemed to bloom in her curved eyes.
Fu Zhaoxu stood up, bowed to Guo Shao and said: I'll take my leave first.
Guo Shao clasped his fists and bowed, his attention still on Fu Ermei.
As soon as Fu Zhaoxu left, Fu Ermei quickly walked up to him and threw herself into Guo Shao's arms, hugging him tightly. She hugged him so tightly that Guo Shao even worried that the erect and straight jade rabbit in her clothes would be crushed.
My husband Fu Ermei rubbed his face on Guo Shao's neck and said with a sob, "Thank God for giving you back to me."
At this moment, two maids passed by the door. When they turned around, they saw Guo Shao and his wife hugging each other. One of them immediately lowered her head and whispered: Go away, don't look.
Fu Ermei also heard the conversation. After a while, she stood on tiptoe and whispered softly in Guo Shao's ear: This place is next to the gatehouse, with people coming and going. Let's go to the inner palace first.
The two of them left the room, and Fu Ermei turned her head to look at Guo Shao from time to time.
She suddenly lifted her skirt and took a few quick steps forward, then walked backwards in front of Guo Shao, looking at Guo Shao's face with a spring-like gaze, her eyes wet but she burst into laughter, and said while covering her mouth with her hands and laughing: I didn't expect you to come today, no wonder I felt today was a little special when I got up in the morning.
The warm sunlight shining on Guo Shao gave him the illusion that it was the first month of the lunar year. Although the branches had not yet sprouted, they were full of vitality, and the wind brought warmth. Perhaps it was the illusion caused by Fu Ermei's light red jacket and her bright eyes, white teeth, and rosy face.
For a moment, Guo Shao forgot that he was a military general who killed people like crazy. He seemed to have turned into a sunny young man, and his steps became lighter.
When I see the moon, I think of the beauty of the moon that we share thousands of miles apart; when I see the clouds and raindrops, I think of the morning and evening together. Under the balcony, Fu Ermei ran briskly to Guo Shao's side and whispered, "Do you miss me as much as you wrote in the letter?"
From time to time, slaves would come towards them on the road, and they would bend over with their hands folded on their sides, waiting for them to pass.
Guo Shao said: As soon as I returned to our home, I always felt that something was missing in that yard. I was not used to it. It was a little hard to imagine how I had lived in that yard for several years without you. It was like waking up from a dream. He suddenly felt that he had become gentle, and all the hostility was gone with the wind.
Fu Ermei savored his words very carefully.
She asked again: I was worried all day long a while ago, and whenever I had time, I would listen to my father talk about what happened in Tokyo. I finally got through it. Is Tokyo safe now
It's hard to say that there are many unstable factors without talking about the specifics. The experience since the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms is that every time the founding emperor dies, there will be problems. Even the second generation of emperors who can smoothly take over power and stabilize the situation like Chai Rong are rare. But Guo Shao didn't want to mention those depressing words in front of Fu Ermei.
He then said: Now your sister is the empress dowager and regent, I am the inspector general of the palace, and Zhao Kuangyin has been driven away by us, so it should not be so dangerous.
Fu Ermei let out a breath and said quietly: It's finally over. Tokyo is really too dangerous, with dynasties changing from time to time. Our Fu family has its share of storms but they are not that scary.
Guo Shao said in a joking tone: You were supposed to be the late emperor's empress, but I got there first.
My brother-in-law Fu Ermei frowned.
Guo Shaodao: When the Huainan Campaign just started, your sister got seriously ill and almost lost her life. If your sister hadn't survived that time, would you have taken over her position
Fu Ermei pondered for a moment and said with a smile: If that's the case, the emperor must continue to marry women from the Fu family to maintain the relationship, and my father must be willing to marry another daughter to be the queen. However, even if I become the queen, I will still laugh with you secretly.
Second sister is really brave, Guo Shao said with a smile.
Fu Ermei said: We were just joking quietly. If that were the case, I might not even recognize you, and I wouldn't know what kind of person you are. Isn't this world weird
Guo Shao smiled and said: "There are more strange things. If you take over your sister's position, as soon as the previous emperor passes away, the storm similar to the one a while ago will fall on you. Second sister thinks that her ability is comparable to your sister's. Can she stabilize the situation?"
Fu Ermei made a face: How dare I compete with her? Don’t you know that my eldest sister is a shrewd person? Before she got married, no one could outsmart her at home.
My eldest sister is the Queen Mother. Guo Shaodao, you have no respect at all.
Fu Ermei said: "I don't care what she is, the person she loves the most is me. Oh, don't mention the late emperor. Fortunately, God arranged it this way. If I really hadn't met you, this life would be so boring and meaningless. It's hard to imagine."
Guo Shao smiled and said: Just like I can hardly imagine what the courtyard in Tokyo Mansion looked like before you, and how we got through it. But those days will still pass.
For a moment he felt as if he was in a dream.
Fu Ermei said softly: "No matter what, my husband made me experience so much for the first time. My joy and sorrow are all related to you. My husband is all my joy. I have never had it and will never have it again. It was all taken away by you."
Alas, the second sister Guo Shao sighed softly as if she was moaning in her heart.