The sunlight outside the lobby was filled with dust and mist, and the sound of horse hooves was filled with noise and excitement.
Zan Jurun rubbed his sore shoulder and talked enthusiastically. Guo Shao's interested and focused eyes encouraged him, and Zan Jurun spoke eloquently.
Guo Shao listened while flipping through the files and drawings in his hand, and after a while he stretched out his hand again. Zan Jurun subconsciously wanted to hide, but after a moment he gritted his teeth and stood there; Guo Shao saw this and changed the direction of his hand to stroke his back, saying kindly: "Zan Jurun provided these things with great care, and I was wrong for not realizing your talent before."
I dare not, I dare not call you a wise man, Zan Jurun said hurriedly.
Guo Shao put away the paper in his hand and said: "Just as Envoy Zan said, Han Tong led the navy southward from the Bian River, which made a lot of noise. Everyone knows that he attacked the Southern Tang. I want to set up a marching shogunate for this battle, and I would like to ask the Privy Councilor Wang Pu to preside over it."
After hearing this, Zan Jurun murmured and said: "I have always admired Marshal Guo.
The two men looked at each other, and Guo Shao smiled and said: Let’s not talk about personal relationship for now, I have something else I would like to ask Envoy Zan for help.
Please give me your instructions, Marshal Guo. Zan Jurun bowed and said.
Guo Shao said: A few years ago, I was ordered to attack Qinfeng, and I submitted a topographic map and battle strategy. The map has dimensions and strategies and intelligence has classification, which is convenient for use and reference. The things should be stored in the Privy Council now. Envoy Zan went to the Privy Council to find Envoy Wang to borrow the things in my name, and re-arrange the topography of Caishiji and Dajiang in the same way. This will save me a lot of trouble. I wonder if Envoy Zan is willing to do it for me.
Zan Jurun thought for a while and said: I will try it first.
Guo Shao handed the stack of papers in his hand back to him and said: Envoy Zan definitely has that talent.
As usual, Guo Shao's activities were limited to the military camp in front of the palace, and then he went straight home. It was still early today, so he asked Lu Chengyong to go to the weaving shop in the East Market to ask if the clothes he had ordered a few days ago were ready; after getting the things, he carried the two packages home.
There have been rumors of war everywhere in Tokyo recently, and they cannot be concealed. A large number of warships sailed south on the Bian River half a month ago. Anyone with a little knowledge can guess with their toes what the court is going to do. If it is not to attack Southern Tang, there is no need to mobilize so many naval forces from the central government.
But Guo Shao was still calm and showed no signs of panic or nervousness. His daily routine was very regular. He would get up in the morning to exercise and go straight home. He did not make friends with ordinary people and did almost nothing concrete. However, his thoughts and actions were very sharp and careful. It was like the state of mind after a bath and fast.
When he just returned to the living room on the south bank of the nameless lake in the back garden, there was no one here; because Guo Shao came back early today, the family members had their own things to do during the day. But soon Fu Ermei and others came over one after another, helping Guo Shao take off his leather armor and change into loose and comfortable clothes. Fu Ermei was the hostess, but she was not a strict woman, so Guo Shao didn't care about family style and etiquette, so the rules in the mansion were very loose; but people would take some care in front of others, and naturally pay attention to their words and deeds, so that they would look more decent, so no one played around for a while.
Just then Fu Ermei picked up the package that Guo Shao had placed on the table and asked: "What did my husband bring back? Let me help you pack it."
Guo Shao said calmly: I bought you some clothes, do they fit you
After hearing this, Fu Ermei opened the package with surprise, took out two sets of clothes from it, and unfolded them to look at them. Li Yuaner, Yang Yue'e and others also looked at the light red clothes in Fu Ermei's hand with great interest.
Oh, Fu Ermei smiled and said, "It's so loose, my husband bought it specially for me and Li Yuaner."
Guo Shaodao: These are clothes for pregnant women. I see your bellies are gradually getting bigger, and the clothes you wore before might be too tight for you.
Fu Ermei's face flushed. She looked up at him, pursed her lips, and said happily: I'll go in and change it for you to see.
Wait, the one that my second sister took is for Yuan'er, and the clothes in the other package are yours, Guo Shao said.
Fu Ermei smiled and said: We are different
Of course they are different. Guo Shao turned around and looked at Li Yuaner, and said seriously, "They are all loose clothes anyway, so you don't have to worry too much about the size. But I think Yuaner looks rounder and her temperament is more elegant. She may like to wear light and simple clothes."
Li Yuaner's eyes flickered, she lowered her brows and said embarrassedly: Thank you, Alang, for giving me the clothes.
Haha, Guo Shao laughed, we are a family, why are you being so polite
Seeing Fu Ermei go to get another package, Guo Shao said: Madam has fair skin and beautiful facial features, so it is better for her to wear darker colors to create a contrasting effect. There is a set of clothes with alternating blue and red colors. This is my opinion, so I bought it according to my own idea.
Fu Ermei was so happy that she forgot herself a little. She said in a sweet voice: I'm wearing it for you to see anyway. Then she picked up the package and ran to the bedroom.
Not long after, Fu Ermei returned from the bedroom. She had changed into her loose jacket and skirt. The top was not put under the skirt and looked very wide. Her waist had indeed become a little clumsy and not as slender as before. But her movements were still light and flexible. She smiled and turned around in front of Guo Shao: "My husband chose it. Look at how I look in it."
You should go slower and more steadily. Guo Shaodao, it's pretty good-looking. In fact, good-looking people are not picky about clothes.
Fu Ermei covered her face and said: How embarrassing it is for you to say this to others in public
The atmosphere, which was originally quite calm, gradually became noisy. When Fu Ermei was in a good mood, she didn't care about her status and steadiness, and played around in front of Guo Shao. Guo Shao just smiled, watching them joking and talking, and was in a good mood. A good woman will make people feel that everything is beautiful.
At this time Yulian said: I'll go to the kitchen first. Alang and his wife are happy today, so I'll go cook.
Guo Shao nodded.
Fu Ermei happily praised: "Yulian is skillful and the dishes she cooks are delicious." After she said that, she sat down at the table, took a sip of tea, and finally calmed down.
Guo Shao then said: I will go to war again in a while.
Fu Ermei and Li Yuaner stopped talking.
Guo Shaodao: Second sister, you should go to the palace. Your eldest sister can accompany you and take care of your Yuaner. How about you go back to the Li family for a while? This is what I think. I am not in Tokyo, and your relatives from your mother's side are closer and more familiar to you, so it would be better.
Li Yuan'er said softly: I will follow Alang's arrangements.
Guo Shao pondered and said: If the battle to attack Southern Tang can be ended within half a year, I will return to Beijing before you give birth, hoping to win the battle quickly.
Fu Ermei said: My husband, please don’t worry too much about your family’s private affairs. I know what is important and what is not.
With me here, you and your son will not suffer. Guo Shaodao, I will be able to stabilize the situation soon.
The three talked for a while, and Guo Shao pretended to be alone thinking about something and paced by the lake. Then he quietly walked to the kitchen in the east, where Yu Lian was busy cutting meat and a stout woman was washing vegetables in a wooden barrel next to her. The woman noticed Guo Shao first and stood up immediately, her face flushed and she couldn't say a word for a long time. These people were not good at talking, and she didn't know what to say unless they asked her questions.
Alang Yulian turned and looked at Guo Shao with a look of surprise.
Guo Shao nodded towards the door, and the sturdy woman stood up and went out.
Yulian said: Why are you in the kitchen? What do you want to tell me
Guo Shaodao: In a month or two, please help me take care of someone.
Seeing that Guo Shao's tone was calm, Yu Lian went back to her work and asked casually.
Guo Shao pondered and said: When the time comes, Jingniang will tell you why you always wear old clothes. I remember buying you clothes and some silk fabrics.
Yu Lian said softly: I have to work all the time, and it is a pity that silk and satin are easy to get dirty. I keep those good clothes to wear during the New Year and other festivals or when meeting guests.
Guo Shao suddenly remembered that when he went to Longjinfang to pick up Yulian and brought her to this courtyard a few years ago, she barely had enough to eat, but she had decent clothes. She was not a woman who didn't care about her face.
You don’t have to work. I hired a cook for you. Guo Shaodao.
Yu Lian said: I am not as good at playing music, chess, calligraphy and painting as Sister Yang, so it would be easier for me to live if I did some work.
She turned her head and glanced at Guo Shao, smiling: I know what you are thinking. I am really satisfied and I cherish my life now. It is not like before, when I had to keep my head down when I went out. There were always people scolding me behind my back. I was so cautious that I didn't know when someone would bully me. I was so angry. Now I am a concubine, so what? I am the concubine of the Guodu Inspector, and no one will look down on me.
Guo Shao was not polite and replied: That's true, let alone concubines, Madam Huarui just has a little relationship with me by chance, and no one dares to do anything to her.
He thought for a moment, then whispered: Before long, I will make you more respectable and gain a truly legitimate and noble status.
Yulian stopped using the kitchen knife after hearing this. After a while, she lowered her head and said without turning back: "I know Alang knows his limits and won't do anything he's not sure of. I'm just a woman and can't help you with big things. I just want you to be well and be careful."
Yulian, don't worry, just wait. Guo Shao paced a few steps in the kitchen with his hands behind his back. I am clear-headed now and in a good state. There is nothing in this world that cannot be obtained.
Yulian didn't even know many words, but from her performance, she should have understood what Guo Shao wanted to do. Guo Shao had known her for a long time, so of course he trusted her.
A maid with a rough life, when she knew she might become an imperial concubine, she was speechless.
I wish all my book lovers a happy new year.
I also want to apologize to you. This book has received unremitting support from book friends. Xifeng is deeply moved, but I have not been able to update it recently. It is really not intentional. I have no choice. There are so many things to do during the Chinese New Year, which makes me feel impatient. I have been stuck in writing for the past few days. I hope to get out of it as soon as possible so that everyone can read it more happily. . . It is still the Chinese New Year, I hope you can all be happy.