Zhou Xian couldn't hide the surprise in his tone that Li Hongji was dead. This was the news Zhou Duan sent from Xuzhou.
Li Yu put down the book in his hand, stood up immediately, took a look at the letter in Zhou Xian's hand, walked over and took it without caring about etiquette. Li Yu's face turned sickly red, he seemed very happy, but after all, the dead person was his own brother, so he didn't laugh, but frowned seriously.
He quickly read through it, looked up and said: Died of a sudden illness. I remember that Li Hongji was in very good health. Three months ago, he was still able to ride a horse and lead troops. He was not like a sick person. The information about Zhou Duan is reliable.
He is a member of the clan, and his blood relationship with my family is relatively distant, but he used to come to my house often to borrow books, and he is a very diligent and studious scholar. Zhou Xian pondered, others also commented on his good character, and now he has become an official in the Zhou Dynasty, so he doesn't seem like a person who talks nonsense.
Li Yu pondered and said: But his death was indeed a bit strange.
Zhou Xian's cheeks suddenly turned slightly red, and he said in a serious voice: Since Li Hongji has passed away, Grandfather Li Jing should be restored to the throne, and we can return to the Southern Tang Kingdom.
Li Jing was good to Zhou Xian. Zhou Xian was first favored by Li Jing. Then Li Jing admired her very much and married her to his favorite son Li Yu. As long as Li Jing was in power, Zhou Xian and her husband lived well in the Southern Tang Kingdom.
But the cause of Li Hongji's death made Zhou Xian have to guess: he might have been eliminated. Even if he had become the king, if everyone in the court abandoned him, it would not be difficult for him to die of a sudden illness, and no one was willing to investigate the responsibility.
As expected, Li Yu also said: He did not get sick earlier, but he got sick and died suddenly because of the threat from Zhou Dynasty. He was stubborn and self-willed, and was not tolerated by people inside and outside. He actually brought about his own destruction.
Zhou Xian was a little distracted, and Guo Shao's words in the hall seemed to ring in his ears: The ministers of the Southern Tang Kingdom are following the traitor, which is like a rebellion. If you don't restore Li Jing's position, I will ask for permission to lead a large army to attack the border one day, and you will regret it forever.
Zhou Xian thought of this and was afraid that Li Yu would notice that he was distracted, so he said quietly: The Zhou Dynasty is temporarily stable at home, and they need to go to war to establish their prestige and authority. Most of the ministers from the aristocratic families in the Southern Tang Kingdom are people with far-sighted insights, and it is impossible for them not to think of such a thing; they are afraid that the Zhou Dynasty will use this excuse to launch a war and take the lead in attacking the Southern Tang.
Ehuang's words make sense. Li Yu said, I don't know who took the lead in doing this, it's really courageous.
Zhou Xian suddenly felt a bit suffocated, as if some huge mysterious power was covering him. It was not the strength to draw a bow or lift a tripod, but an invisible and intangible will. His will could influence a country, and his every word and every action was full of great power.
A few days later, an envoy from the Southern Tang Dynasty arrived in Tokyo and delivered a personal letter from Li Jing to the Liguan. Zhou Xian and his wife were now completely sure of the major event that had taken place in Jinling: Li Hongji had indeed died suddenly.
King Li Jing wrote a letter personally, stating that the envoys were sent specifically to welcome Li Yu and others back to the country, and asked them to make some preparations.
Li Yu's attention shifted, and he was immersed in the joy of returning home. He didn't pay much attention to Zhou Xian in the past few days. Zhou Xian could fully understand his excitement: Li Jing had seven sons in total. The second son had died a few years ago, and now Li Hongji was also dead. Among the remaining five sons, Li Jing's favorite was the sixth son Li Yu; and after Li Hongji's mutiny, Li Yu would rather flee than follow Li Hongji as the king, showing his support for his father with his actions. As long as her husband returned to the country, it was very likely that he would be made the crown prince.
Power is what Li Yu said he wanted. Being the ruler of Southern Tang was the greatest power he could obtain.
The ruler of a country, at least in Southern Tang, was highly respected. But Zhou Xian couldn't explain why, he always felt that the ruler of Southern Tang didn't have the aura of awe, because someone was riding on his head and bullying and intimidating him at will; from a broader perspective, he had no dignity at all.
Zhou Xian didn't have much respect in her heart, but she thought: at least her husband has the most power in the Southern Tang Kingdom, which is enough to intimidate local tyrants and ensure the safety of the Zhou family.
That afternoon, someone came to the rites hall to deliver a letter, claiming to be sent by Zhou Duan, and only gave it to Zhou Xian. Zhou Xian came out to get the letter, and when he entered the house, he opened the envelope to see what news Zhou Duan had.
Li Yu hasn't asked her much recently, which makes Zhou Xian feel a little relieved for some reason. She doesn't have to pay attention to her words and actions all the time.
As soon as she opened the envelope, her brows slightly frowned, because the handwriting was really not very good. After looking at the content, the neat small characters Zhou Xian immediately stood up and gently closed the door, and walked into the warm room. Guo Shao's letter
The letter asked her if she was willing to stay in Tokyo. If she was willing, she should send someone to contact him today. If she was not willing, she didn't need to bother.
Zhou Xian's chest suddenly rose and fell, and he read it again. He thought that Guo Shao might have written with his left hand to avoid the handwritten letter falling into the hands of others, so the strokes were deliberately a little unfamiliar.
Staying in Tokyo, Zhou Xian was indeed a little impulsive for a while
Guo Shao's tone in the letter remained the same: Madam, please take a long-term view. The unification of the world is the general trend, and the Southern Tang will eventually cease to exist. Instead of being captured later, why not stay in Tokyo now? If you stay now, your status will be very different.
Although he wrote this, he still asked her if she was willing in the end, showing her enough respect.
Zhou Xian did think that Guo Shao was a very special person. If it was someone else, if he fell in love with her and had a chance, would he care whether she was willing? Even Li Yu never asked her whether she was willing or not. Of course, Zhou Xian didn't think that a husband should ask, but Guo Shao made her think about her own wishes.
She quietly walked back and forth in the bedroom for a long time, feeling a little conflicted. But she already had the answer: if she could choose, she would certainly not stay in Tokyo.
Because some considerations are very obvious: if she stays in Tokyo, she will be blamed, and the Zhou family in Southern Tang will also be affected. Not only will her conscience be condemned, but Li Yu and the monarchs and ministers of Southern Tang will openly accuse her of abandoning her husband and joining others, which is a bit too much.
Moreover, the Southern Tang Kingdom would not necessarily perish immediately. If it were that easy, the Southern Tang Kingdom would not have survived for decades in this war-torn world. Zhou Xian admitted that she was still not immune to the world and cared about face and status. As long as Li Yu became the king, she would be the queen; what was wrong with having an open and honest identity
However, Zhou Xian was a little worried about whether Guo Shao was really willing to let the person go. If he really forced her, she suddenly didn't want to die to prove her loyalty. If it were two months ago, she would probably rather die than serve someone she hated.
If she was forced to stay, she once cursed and swore in front of her husband that she would die to prove her loyalty. Zhou Xian felt very ashamed. Why were those vows of never parting so fragile? If her husband had betrayed her, she could have complained sadly, but now she always felt that she would be betrayed.
Only Zhou Xian himself could understand the feeling of shame and self-blame.