The Queen Mother offered a reward for training horses because she was worried about Guo Shao's safety.
Guo Shao had obviously become a powerful official, not only the highest-ranking military commander of the Palace Front Department, but also interfered with national policy; at least the two prime ministers of the Privy Council and the Political Affairs Hall had close relations with him. However, he had no suspicion of the royal family. The Queen Mother not only showed no signs of threatening him, but also protected him at all times. This was very rare in the past.
At this time, Guo Shao asked to try it himself. He said: If I, a warrior, dare not even ride a horse, wouldn't that be like throwing away the food with the bathwater
So Guo Shao, with the help of the imperial guards, took off his crown, put on an iron helmet and a breastplate to protect his vital parts. Everyone looked sideways, expecting a good show like a bullfight. This kind of fierce horse would shake hard to throw the person off when someone rode on its back.
Guo Shao walked over and Du Chenggui offered him a whip, but he waved his hand and refused. The black horse pawed the grass and then hid from Guo Shao, as if it understood human nature and knew what Guo Shao was going to do.
Unexpectedly, Guo Shao stepped forward and said to the horse: You are a rare good horse, very valuable. Now that you have been caught, people will definitely not let you go; even if they let you go, there will be many people who want to catch you again.
Fu Ermei was amused when she heard Guo Shao's voice. She covered her mouth and laughed so hard that her shoulders trembled: "My husband thinks that horses can understand what people say."
Guo Shao ignored him and continued seriously: You either have to be locked up like this, and be conquered and teased by different people, or become a mount now, and like all tamed war horses, return to gallop in the wilderness.
Everyone listened to Guo Shao's nonsense in silence.
Guo Shao took the reins, touched the horse's mane and said: "Maybe we can be friends." Then he stepped on the stirrup and climbed onto the horse's back nimbly.
The black horse immediately raised its front hooves high, neighed, and rushed forward suddenly, like a black arrow shot from a bow. Fu Jinzhan was startled and stood up from the couch.
Du Chenggui, the commander of the imperial guards, shouted hastily and led a group of cavalrymen to rush over. However, the troops could not even touch the edge and could not catch up with the wild horse at all.
Fu Jinzhan looked towards the northeast, covered his brow with his palm, and looked over there. He saw a black dot moving at a very obvious speed on the green grassland, and everyone was immediately shocked.
Soon, the black spot climbed up a grass slope and disappeared from sight.
Fu Jinzhan clenched the silk handkerchief in her hand and waited for a long time. Finally, she saw the black spot return to her sight, gradually approaching from far away. The sound of horse hooves became louder and louder. The black horse finally returned to the palace gate and gradually slowed down.
A panting sound came from Guo Shao's mouth, and the horse slowly stopped and walked towards this side slowly.
Fu Ermei also exclaimed in surprise: It's amazing that the horse can understand what my husband is saying
At this time Guo Shao rolled down from the horse's back, stroked the horse's shoulders, and praised loudly: It is indeed a magical horse. He led the horse to the front of the screen, turned around and said excitedly: You may not understand, but this kind of good horse is very human.
Guo Shao took out a handful of beans from his arms, touched the horse's mouth, and looked at it expectantly. The horse sniffed Guo Shao's hand, licked the beans into its mouth and chewed them. Guo Shao was overjoyed when he saw this, and turned around and said: "Someone change the saddle for it, second sister, do you want to try it?"
Fu Ermei looked fearful. After a slight hesitation, she stood up and ran over briskly.
After a while, Guo Shao carried her to the horse's back, and then he jumped on it, shook the reins, and galloped away on the grassland again with great enthusiasm. Suddenly, a scream came from the air, and a fu hat floated down. The two of them rode on black horses and galloped on the grassland. Fu Ermei shouted and yelled, and didn't care about any etiquette.
At this time, the palace maids brought tea, snacks and fruits. Fu Jinzhan saw that the horse was no longer struggling and shaking, and felt relieved. She and the palace maids watched the two people riding horses on the grass.
Gradually she felt bored. The sun had risen higher, the bright sunlight was dazzling, and the surroundings were getting hotter and hotter. But Fu Ermei was still shouting excitedly, and Fu Jinzhan didn't want to affect their interest, so she picked up the teacup and sipped the tea. There was a light lip print on the teacup. Fu Jinzhan had specially made up in the morning, with rouge on her red lips.
Her eyes showed fatigue, but she still kept smiling and tilted her head slightly. Eunuch Cao Tai immediately reacted and bent over. Fu Jinzhan said: It's a rare happy day today. Prepare a meal in the Imperial Garden and invite General Guo and his family to have dinner later.
I will send someone to prepare it immediately, Cao Tai said.
Although the umbrella can block the sun, it is getting hotter and hotter. Fu Jinzhan doesn't know why she is so irritated. Yesterday, she thought of watching the horses and didn't prepare to receive Fu Ermei and others. So now she can only watch the couple having fun, which makes her feel dissatisfied.
After a long time, they finally came back. Fu Ermei was taken down from the horse. Her body softened immediately and she sat down on the grass, holding her chest and retching for a while. Guo Shao hurriedly supported her and stroked her back: What happened
Fu Ermei panted, put her hand on her full forehead, and said pitifully: I feel dizzy and the world is spinning.
Guo Shao took off the helmet and held it in his arms, then helped her to the couch where Fu Jinzhan was sitting, and carefully let her lean on it to rest. Jinzhan reached out and held Fu Ermei's hand, and said with a smile: "You want to make trouble, but you can't stand it. Isn't it asking for trouble?" Then he picked up the teacup and fed it to Fu Ermei's mouth.
Fu Jinzhan looked at Guo Shao calmly. He was in a hurry to help his second sister over and was very close to him. His skin was rough. The sunlight penetrated through the umbrella cover. In the bright light, even the pores were clearly visible. There was even a small scar on his forehead. The light beard was from the philtrum to the chin. It can be seen that his face was rough and often exposed to the sun and rain. But Fu Jinzhan loved to look at this familiar face, with its well-proportioned and coordinated shape, rough but strong and reliable, and his vigorous and powerful movements reminded Fu Jinzhan of that fierce and strong horse.
Guo Shao was sweating profusely, and the breeze blew a smell of sweat towards him. Of course, it didn't smell good, and it even made people feel dirty. But Fu Jinzhan didn't know why, but she was used to this smell and felt a little moved.
Have a drink of water, are you feeling better? Guo Shao looked at Fu Ermei with concern. His rough big hand touched her smooth, white and plump forehead, and the veins on the back of his hand were thick and strong.
Fu Ermei said coquettishly: Let me rest for a while, it's running too fast.
At this moment, Guo Shao seemed to come back to his senses and looked at Fu Jinzhan, but Fu Jinzhan's eyes moved away from his face very sharply. Guo Shao's voice said: "I am rude, please punish me, Queen Mother."
Fu Jinzhan looked at his firm lips when he spoke, and she pursed her smooth light red lips gently, gently picked up her cup of tea, put it to her lips and took a sip. With such trivial actions and a little silence, Guo Shao seemed to become a little nervous, took a step back, lowered his head and raised his fists above his head.
In this kind of dog days, it is only cool in the morning, and it is getting hotter and hotter. Let's stop here for today. Fu Jinzhan did not sound angry at all, and a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. I asked Cao Tai to prepare lunch and invite my second sister and General Guo to have lunch in the Imperial Garden.
Guo Shaodao: Thank you, Queen Mother, for the banquet.
Fu Jinzhan stood up after saying this, and Concubine Du came up to hold her wrist and left the imperial bed. The palace maid also went to help Fu Ermei and got in the same carriage with Fu Jinzhan. Guo Shao came up with the black horse and rode along, while Li Yuaner and the others took the carriage they came in and followed a large group of ceremonial guards into the palace.
Deep in the lush garden, a magnificent palace came into view. The group walked in, and it was quiet and elegant, completely different from the environment of the front hall, the Jinxiang Hall. Fu Jinzhan took her second sister and her husband to a palace room to rest as relatives. The other women were not here because of their different status, and the palace servants arranged their own entertainment.
Fu Jinzhan waved her sleeves lightly, and the attendants left. The spacious palace seemed empty, but very quiet. It was not even noon yet, and the three of them sat in front of a table and talked.
I heard that General Guo won a great victory in Shu, and all the soldiers shouted "Long live General Guo", Fu Jinzhan said softly.
Guo Shao was stunned for a moment and looked around, as if to confirm that only the Fu sisters were here. He hesitated to speak, not knowing how to answer.
Fu Ermei also looked up. She had stopped playing and said in a trembling voice: "Sister, this matter is very serious."
Fu Jinzhan said: Of course, this is the most serious thing in the world.
Guo Shao no longer looked relaxed. He sat upright and said: It was because of the Queen Mother's trust that the Imperial Guards did not have to set up checks and balances. The Great Zhou Army was able to quickly free itself from internal friction, concentrate military power, and immediately gain the achievement of conquering Shu. The power of the ministers was also given by the Queen Mother, otherwise they would not even have the opportunity to make merit.
The second sister said: "Sister, do you think the Queen Mother has great power, or that we are sisters
Fu Jinzhan smiled charmingly, but said nothing. She thought: How foolish! If I was just my brother-in-law based on the marriage, I would dare to do that. It's as if the imperial power is something that can be given away casually. I have done so much for you, you can't just abandon me and ignore me.
Fu Ermei stood up, left Guo Shao and sat next to Jinzhan, saying softly: "Sister, you must trust my husband. He will not have any rebellious intentions. I am with him all day long. Don't you know that our honor and disgrace have always been linked together? Don't go through the storm like last year again."
Of course I trust him. Second sister, don’t you understand how I did it? Jinzhan said kindly.
Only then did Fu Ermei breathe a sigh of relief.
The visitor Fu Jinzhan suddenly shouted loudly, and immediately saw Cao Tai appear in the palace gate. She said: General Guo is sweaty and smells bad, you should arrange for him to take a bath and change clothes.
Guo Shao turned around and smelled his clothes, then said with a smile: I can’t smell it myself, but my vest is already cold, and I have indeed sweated a lot.
Fu Jinzhan stood up and said: "When it's noon, please ask General Guo to accompany me for lunch." She took the second sister's hand, touched her messy hair and said softly, "Look at you, come with me and I'll clean you up."