Gao Yanchou said goodbye, and Guo Shao stood up to see him out. He passed by Madam Huarui and turned around and said, "Madam, please sit here for a while. I will go and see General Gao off."
He spoke in a very casual tone and his eyes passed by in a hurry, but just this one sentence made Madam Huarui inexplicably feel a sense of care and concern. It was like family and close friends, who would usually say hello when they were about to do something, very casual and natural.
Just one sentence, Guo Shao really has some unspeakable meaning towards people. No wonder Gao Yanchou and Guo Shao get along so well.
"Yes." Madam Huarui responded softly. At this moment, she did not feel inferior or fearful at all, and seemed to have forgotten her situation. It was amazing that before meeting Guo Shao, Madam Huarui still felt that she was a person who might become homeless at any time, had no trust in the world, and was full of uncertainty about the future; but for a moment, she suddenly felt very relieved.
Guo Shao disappeared outside the door, and Madam Huarui sat in the living room waiting, a little bored.
She couldn't help but reach out and touch her cheek. The wound from a few days ago was almost healed, so there shouldn't be any flaws. But before coming here today, she was in a bad mood and had no interest in anything. She didn't dress up, didn't even put on a little makeup, and didn't really choose her clothes. Now, would she look a little embarrassed? Madam Huarui was a little annoyed.
Not long after, Guo Shao returned to the living room. Madam Huarui lowered her eyes. They were the only two left. She suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
Guo Shao sat down on the chair next to her, and there was a coffee table between them. He said: After the fall of Shu, the court was quite kind to the rulers and ministers of Shu. It is really regrettable that Duke Qin wrote a secret letter, but as long as he does not do that again in the future, safety can be guaranteed. Madam, don't worry.
Madam Huarui hurriedly said: Alang is very regretful and scared now.
After saying that, she recalled Meng Chang's cheerful expression this morning when he went out with great enthusiasm, forgetting all dangers, and her face felt slightly hot.
Since Duke Qin regrets it, there is still a chance. Guo Shao said gently, Madam, please believe my sincerity. There are many monarchs in the world. Apart from Northern Han, only the Lord of Shu is unwilling to give up the throne. If the court can tolerate the Lord of Shu, other monarchs will not be so worried, especially the Lord of Wuyue.
Madam Huarui immediately believed his words, because it was indeed true. Even she had never thought of this kind of consideration, Guo Shao thought further than her.
She observed Guo Shao calmly and felt that his appearance was not that attractive, probably because he was a little tanned and his skin was relatively rough. He was not someone that a woman would like at first sight. He was very ordinary. But if she stayed with him for a while longer and paid attention, Madam Huarui could feel a kind of clean and comfortable aura about him. Maybe it was because of his white teeth when he spoke. Although his face was a little dark, his teeth were very clean; maybe it was because of his upright sitting posture, his humble and gentle restrained temperament; or maybe it was because of his old but clean and tidy clothes.
In short, Madam Huarui felt that the man in front of her had no worldly smell at all, and had no aura of power at all. Although she was born in a low family, she had indeed seen many powerful people, and women's intuition was also very sensitive. She had indeed never seen someone like Guo Shao.
Just then, a young general walked in and said with a fist salute: My lord, Cao Bin requests to see you.
Cao Bin has returned to Tokyo, Guo Shaodao, you go and welcome him in.
Yes, the general replied.
Madam Huarui said hurriedly: I will delay the work of the inspector Guo Du if I stay here.
Haha, I don't know what happened today, the guests who wanted to see me were all the people I wanted to see. Guo Shao smiled and said, "I don't usually have so many guests at home. For most people, I don't have to show up in person. There is a screen inside. Madam, please sit in the back for a while. Cao Bin may not stay for long. I am not very familiar with him."
Madam Huarui got up and moved to another place. At this time, Guo Shao also walked out of the living room and waited outside the door.
Voices were heard outside. Guo Shao and the man named Cao Bin were discussing the affairs of Shu Kingdom. It could be heard that Cao Bin had been stationed in Shu Kingdom with Lady Huarui alone, but he did not find it boring. It was still quite interesting to listen to their conversation. This was probably why Guo Shao did not let her leave the living room. If she was waiting for Jingniang in a room, it would be very unbearable to sit there doing nothing.
The official business of military generals doesn't sound particularly interesting. It's like reading classics or history books. It's a bit boring, but it's quite interesting as long as you can calm down and read it.
Guo Shao's voice said: "We originally planned to send an envoy to Wuyue, but it's too early and the timing is not right. Li Chuyun has been making good progress in Wuping recently, and the timing is almost right. I will write a letter to recommend candidates soon. I think it would be better to send a military general, and there is no need to rush back to the country after the mission. Is General Cao interested in this trip?"
Cao Bin's voice said: We have entered the government to serve the country. If there is a place where we can use our talents, we will do our best.
Very good, Xiang Gong was right about this person, Guo Shao praised.
The two talked for a while, then fell silent and went out.
Lady Huarui pondered their conversation and guessed that the Great Zhou Dynasty was already deploying troops against the Southern Tang Kingdom. She thought that the Southern Tang Kingdom might not exist for long. Her judgment was not based on an analysis of the military strength and deployment of both sides, but was entirely based on intuition because she believed in Guo Shao's ability.
At this time, Lady Huarui suddenly had an idea. If Guo Shao was the emperor of Shu, she might not have been captured and brought to Tokyo yet, and she would not be worried about being caught.
Guo Shao came behind the screen. Madam Huarui stood up hurriedly and said a little stiffly: "I am sorry to bother you, Inspector Guo."
Guo Shao ignored her politeness and just muttered: "It's almost noon, Jing Niang hasn't come back yet, I guess she's going to have lunch at the Taoist temple. If Madam has nothing important to do, I wonder if I can invite you to have lunch with me."
Inspector Guo Du treated Madam Huarui with great courtesy and was reluctant to refuse, and was reluctant to even say polite words of refusal.
Guo Shao said bluntly: It's just a casual meal, Madam, please don't be polite.
Madam Huarui felt a little hot on her face and didn't say anything for a while. She did like this place a little bit, staying by Guo Shao's side.
Guo Shao said again: Jingniang lives in the second courtyard. I will take you there. Madam can come to see her often when she is free. I told the servants to prepare some simple wine and food for lunch. We just got a cook this year. Her cooking skills are not bad. It is said that her family specializes in preparing banquets for weddings and funerals. This is a family-inherited skill.
Madam Huarui followed Guo Shao out of the living room and into a gatehouse. She was a little dizzy, and only after entering did she realize that if Guo Shao wanted to do anything to her, she would be walking into a trap. But she was not afraid at all. She knew herself very well. In fact, it was difficult for her to trust others. Her strong sense of vigilance was related to her experience. But somehow, Guo Shao, a warrior who was almost a stranger, made her not worried at all after just a few meetings.
Madam Huarui thought to herself that for someone of his status, it was pointless to be on guard against him. She was probably looked down upon if she threw herself into his arms. She was rejected last time, which was really embarrassing.
Walking to the north, a gatehouse further inside attracted Madam Huarui's attention. The arc-shaped bridge corridor in the air was indeed a bit special, with a touch of the Qin and Han styles. The two walked and talked for a while, then came to a dining room and sat down. There was no one else, only Guo Shao invited her to dinner, and it was indeed a very casual banquet.
Guo Shao smiled and said: "It only takes a short while to walk around my yard. There is also a back garden inside, which is not much bigger than this second yard. This place is nothing compared to the Shu Imperial Palace. I have been to the Shu Imperial Palace, and it would take a whole day to walk around it."
Madam Huarui said casually: "Your mansion is naturally much smaller than the imperial palace, but no matter how big the imperial palace is, it does not belong to me, and this is General Guo's own mansion." It is also beautifully decorated, and the gatehouse on the north side is as round as a rainbow.
Guo Shaodao: That's true. Not to mention humans, it is said that a certain kind of bird will also choose beautiful flowers and plants to decorate its nest to make it look beautiful, and then attract female birds to come.
Lady Huarui blushed and said: I have never heard of such a thing.
At this time, two middle-aged women with ordinary looks came in with food boxes to set the table. Several exquisite white porcelain plates with dishes were placed on the table, and there was a steamed fish. The purple-red wine in the glass wine pot was crystal clear and very beautiful. There were not many dishes, but they were cooked very attentively. Madam Huarui felt very comfortable.
The sound of a zither came faintly from the north, floating in the quiet air. The sound of the zither was far away, obviously not for the meal here, but probably one of Guo Shao's wives, concubines or prostitutes was still practicing music, but it inadvertently added a bit of elegance to the place.
The sound was just right. When they were talking, it didn't affect the conversation because it was far away; when it was quiet, it could affect the atmosphere, and people could listen attentively without feeling awkward. In this way, Guo Shao and Madam Huarui didn't have to talk all the time. They could speak only when they wanted to, which made them feel very relaxed and casual.
Guo Shao took the glass cup, poured the wine himself, and handed a cup to Madam Huarui. He said: "I usually don't drink at noon, but Madam is a guest, and I always feel that it is a little less interesting if I don't drink some wine when inviting you to dinner. Maybe this is the reason why there is no feast without wine."
Madam Huarui picked up the glass cup, and Guo Shao took the initiative to toast. Madam Huarui said softly: "Thank you for your hospitality, General Guo." After that, she took a sip.
The taste was not very good. Lady Huarui remembered that wine was usually sweet. But this wine was not very sweet, and lacked the mellow aroma of white wine and yellow wine, so it was really hard to get used to it. But of course Lady Huarui did not say anything, otherwise it would seem like she disliked other people's wine, which was a bit rude.
Guo Shao glanced at her and said: "My wife made sweet wine, but I think drinking sweet wine with a meal doesn't go well with salty dishes. This kind of wine made from fruits may not taste good at first, but after getting used to it, you will find it quite smooth. Madam, try it and you will know."
When Madam Huarui heard this, she felt that this wine was a bit like her own feelings.
... ...