There was a large and gorgeous bed in the palace, with long curtains that dragged to the floor. There was a little smoke from the cave tripod, and the spices were carefully blended to not only make the air smell good, but also to repel mosquitoes. There were no mosquitoes in the bedroom, and everything was very comfortable.
But if Zhou Xian could do what she wanted, she didn't want to sleep here at all. But she had to sleep with Li Yu every night so that he would have an excuse not to visit other concubines. Therefore, some women in the palace still slandered Zhou Xian behind her back, thinking that she was the king's exclusive favorite.
She was really getting a little tired of it.
Before going to bed, Li Yu was still talking about his political schemes: Han Xizai looked down on me and the Southern Tang. He thought I would definitely fail, so he was unwilling to give me advice. He was afraid that he would be laughed at by the northern scholars if I failed, so he pretended to be a bohemian and spent his time at home. It really made me very sad that this man, who was an official in the Southern Tang and took my salary, actually had such thoughts.
Han Xizai was born in a noble family, and perhaps he was originally a person who was greedy for pleasure. Zhou Xian replied quietly, "Why don't you meet him and ask him what he thinks in person?"
Although her voice was pleasant, her emotions were flat and straightforward, without any ripples, and she even felt bored. Perhaps in the past, when she heard Li Yu talk about political schemes in detail, she would be very interested in talking to him, because she felt that her husband was very smart and powerful, which aroused her enthusiasm; but now she really couldn't muster up interest.
Li Yu said coldly: People's hearts are hard to predict. I will ask him like this and he will tell me what's in his heart.
Li Yu had obtained the power he had always dreamed of. First, the crown prince succeeded to the throne and sat on the throne of the huge Southern Tang Kingdom. Everything went quickly and smoothly. However, Zhou Xian was confused. What was the point of getting all this? Was it just to be worried and anxious every day? Zhou Xian understood herself. She was not interested in power, but only in affection.
Zhou Xian now spends her days in such boring days, and has no interest in anything. Sometimes she feels that everything in the world is the same color, gray and black, without any brilliance.
She turned over and lay flat on the bed. Her breasts, which had become fuller since she came back, naturally spread out to both sides, and the height of her clothes was much lower, but she was still very plump and prominent in the thin clothes, and her abdomen was very smooth. She inadvertently put her hand on her belly, but her fingers were blocked by a bone when she moved, and she quickly withdrew her hand.
Subconsciously, she wanted to turn over and sigh again, but she immediately realized that such a behavior might arouse Li Yu's suspicion, so she lay there without moving or making a sound.
In the dim light, Zhou Xian looked depressed, with sadness between her brows. She didn't know how it turned out like this. Maybe she should resent the former crown prince Li Hongji, who made Li Yu disabled, but Li Hongji was already dead, and hating him was useless. Li Yu's body was like this before he came to Tokyo last year, but Zhou Xian didn't feel the same way now. She felt that she should also blame Guo Shao, because he made her fall into this joyless life.
She said lazily: The king shouldn't send people to spy on Han Xizai. If Han Xizai knew about it, he would be unhappy.
I am not happy either. Li Yu said angrily, he is not on the same page with me, and no one in the world is on the same page with me, I am about to become a lonely person.
Zhou Xian opened his mouth, unable to describe the unpleasantness that peeping brought to others.
At this moment, Li Yu tilted his head, his eyes swept from Zhou Xian up and down, and paused for a moment on her face. Zhou Xian noticed Li Yu's gaze, and after a moment, she calmly took her hands from her abdomen one by one.
Li Yu turned over, smiled and whispered: There are many ways to satisfy a woman.
What do you mean, Your Majesty? Who do you think I am? Zhou Xian subconsciously scolded him sternly.
Li Yu asked softly: Ehuang really never wanted to
That kind of desire was always shameful in Zhou Xian's eyes. When it was mentioned, she would naturally want to protect herself and cover herself up, so she immediately reacted like that without thinking much. However, Zhou Xian quickly came to her senses and had to recall one thing.
When she and Li Yu were still living in the East Palace, there was a hole on the wall of the bedroom through which one could peek inside. Before she discovered the hole, she had secretly done some things that were all private, and she thought no one knew about them, but Li Yu might have seen them all.
Zhou Xian thought of that incident and felt ashamed and annoyed, but he was too embarrassed to say anything. He could only answer: I did think about it a little bit before.
When did you stop thinking about it now? Li Yu asked hurriedly.
Zhou Xian said helplessly: "Before the king ascended the throne. Later, I had other things to worry about, and I didn't think about it for a long time. When it was mentioned again, I felt disgusted. I am not interested anymore, so there is no need to mention it again."
After hearing this, Li Yu said nothing more.
Zhou Xian observed his face calmly, knowing that he had passed the test again. If he had said that he never wanted to, he would definitely suspect that he was lying and told him that he never wanted to, so how could he do such a shameful thing secretly in the East Palace
Li Yu pondered and said: "Just tell me what Ehuang wants, and I will do my best to treat you well."
Zhou Xian said softly: I thank the king for his favor.
The two talked for a while and then fell asleep as usual.
The next day, Li Yu got up very early. When Gao Ji, the eunuch beside him, was helping him to dress, he whispered: I have asked someone and found out that Liu Liuyao, who performed sword dance at Han Xizai's house last night, is a very important person. She is the daughter of Liu Renzhan.
Liu Renzhan and Li Yu suddenly became thoughtful.
The eunuch Gao Ji thought he was wondering who Liu Renzhan was, so he explained: During the Battle of Huainan, Liu Renzhan was the general defending Shouzhou. When Guo Shao broke through the city, he and his son led more than 20,000 elite soldiers of the Southern Tang Kingdom to surrender without a fight. The emperor blamed him and seized his mansion in Jinling; his fertile land and property in Huainan had been occupied by the Zhou army, and all his concubines fled. Liu Liuyao therefore ended up in Jinling, but somehow ended up in Han Xizai's mansion.
Liu Renzhan was a very famous general in the Southern Tang Dynasty. Li Yu certainly knew who he was, but he was thinking about other things.
Li Yu thought for a while and said: You go to Han Xizai's house and invite Liu Liuyao to the palace. I will see her when I come back from court.
Yes. The eunuch replied hastily.
Li Yu first went to the court to meet the ministers, and then waited for the person he wanted to meet in a pavilion in the imperial garden. After walking out of the palace, the sun was shining and the grass was lush. After breathing a breath of fresh air, Li Yu felt much more relaxed.
He waited in the pavilion, sipping tea. After a long time, the eunuch finally came along the road with a pretty girl. Li Yu observed for a while and found that the girl had fair skin, but her gestures lacked the gentleness of other girls. She was very free and decisive. Li Yu thought: Even the girls in the general's family have a bit of toughness.
There were some palace maids around Li Yu, and they were curious when they saw him meeting a strange young lady. It was difficult for Li Yu to get close to women other than the queen, and everyone couldn't help but go to see what the young lady looked like.
The eunuch reminded the young lady softly, and the woman stepped forward, knelt on the ground and bowed, saying: "I am Liu Liuyao, paying my respects to Your Majesty."
Please stand up quickly. Li Yu personally stepped forward to support Liu Liuyao. He did not just make a gesture, but actually supported Liu Liuyao's hand. Her cheeks immediately turned slightly red.
Li Yu glanced sideways, and the eunuch Gao Ji immediately told the attendants to leave the pavilion.
I have just ascended the throne and have little leisure time. I just heard that Liu Renzhan's daughter is in Jinling, and I finally got to see her. Li Yu said.
Liu Liuyao had stood up and was standing in front respectfully, saying: I am the daughter of a guilty general, and I am honored to be summoned by the king today.
Li Yu shook his head and said: Liu Renzhan is a meritorious official of the Southern Tang Dynasty, how can he be called a criminal general
The king overturned Liu Renzhan's verdict with just one sentence, and Liu Liuyao was immediately surprised.
Li Yu said seriously: Huainan was defeated, the morale of the country was low, and my father only took away a courtyard of the Liu family in Jinling as a punishment. In fact, we all don't blame Liu Renzhan, he has done his best. But I didn't expect that Liu Renzhan's daughter would fall into this state. I was negligent and really treated you badly.
I dare not. Liu Liuyao hurriedly said, "I would like to thank the king for his grace."
My father Li Yu frowned and said, "Do you think Liu Gong is still alive?"
Liu Liuyao was surprised and asked: Has my father passed away
Li Yu looked at her expression calmly and asked: What do you know about Liu Gong
Liu Liuyao said: "After my father lost Shouzhou, my father and brother were captured by the Zhou army. I heard that they were escorted to Tokyo. I know nothing about what happened afterwards."
After hearing this, Li Yu said: "You have been in Jiangnan all the time, no wonder you didn't know. Last year, the Southern Tang Kingdom was in turmoil, and I stayed in Tokyo for a while. It is said that Liu Gong has passed away. I heard from a good friend that Liu Gong was humiliated by the Zhou Dynasty's monarchs and ministers and died in anger. It is a pity. I know that although Liu Gong surrendered, it was to protect the people of Shouzhou City. He has always been loyal and unyielding and refused to accept an official position in the Zhou Dynasty. No wonder he was treated like this."
Father Liu Liuyao's expression changed and he knelt on the ground again with a pale face.
Li Yu observed Liu Liuyao and felt that she believed it. After all, a king would not speak without thinking. Li Yu looked sad and advised: Madam Liu, please accept my condolences.
As soon as she said "expressing her condolences", tears started streaming down Liu Liuyao's cheeks. She didn't burst into tears, she just sobbed.
Li Yu sighed and said: The country is in decline, and my subjects are humiliated. I am also to blame.
I dare not let the king blame himself. Our Liu family has not fulfilled its duty to defend the land for the king. Liu Liuyao cried.
Li Yu helped the tearful young lady up, pointed to the bench next to her and asked her to sit down. He gave her some gentle advice and said: "Mr. Liu is a good minister of the Southern Tang. I cannot sit by and watch his descendants fall into poverty. You should stay in the palace." He also reminded her that there are many gossipers in the palace, so she should not reveal her origins for the time being.