Guo Shao said: Jinzhan is certainly different from other women and cannot be compared.
Unexpectedly, she immediately asked: What's the difference
Guo Shao was startled, and found that she was still looking at him with a smile, expecting an answer. Guo Shao thought that such words were unnecessary, especially to a wise person like Fu Jinzhan. If she was not the most trusted person in his heart, would he hand over the military and political power of the country to her when he went on a personal expedition? Moreover, the palace was full of her people, and Guo Shao had no intention of moving.
But she is still a woman, and perhaps she just wants to hear Guo Shao say those pleasant words.
Guo Shao pondered for a moment, his eyes swept over her graceful figure covered by soft clothes, and his tone softened a lot: Gratitude and trust, no matter what happens, cannot be changed, of course it is not just that.
Don't worry about the favor. Fu Jinzhan said softly, it's enough for you to know that I'm good to you.
Guo Shao nodded without hesitation.
Fu Jinzhan raised her head and looked at the end of the wide view. The afternoon sun was shining in her eyes, and her eyes gradually became blurred. She murmured: The Fu family no longer needs me, and I am redundant to the royal family. I only have you.
Guo Shao felt a little uncomfortable when he heard this. Seeing that Jinzhan was about to speak but stopped talking, he pondered for a moment and said: I think the achievement of recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun will not last too long. As long as the great achievements of this dynasty are established, I will find a way to make Jinzhan legitimate.
Fu Jinzhan turned and looked at him: Didn't you say that Liao was difficult to defeat
Guo Shao said seriously: The combat effectiveness of the Imperial Army in the battle against Northern Han exceeded expectations. We have underestimated the Great Zhou Army in the past, especially its ability in siege and capture of strongholds. I have considered it repeatedly and carefully. There is a way to defeat the Liao Army in Youyun. As long as we capture Youzhou City in time, our chances of winning a decisive battle with the Liao Army will be very high.
Fu Jinzhan hurriedly advised: Since the Later Jin Dynasty, the strength of the Liao Kingdom has been stronger than that of the Central Plains dynasties of China, so you must not be anxious.
Guo Shao frowned and said: I can't stop.
You Fu Jinzhan looked at his face.
Guo Shao exhaled: Not only for Jinzhan, but also for many other reasons. The current power system lacks checks and balances and is extremely unstable. It is also to maximize the combat effectiveness. This situation cannot last too long and a new system is needed. However, as long as the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun are not recovered, we will not dare to weaken our military strength. Otherwise, we will not be willing to give up.
And I couldn't control my thoughts. I couldn't stop them. How could I describe the powerful Great Zhou army? Under my control, it was like my hands and feet extending my power. The man couldn't resist the desire for power. I couldn't help but want to verify it.
Fu Jinzhan advised gently: You should discuss more with the ministers and listen to other people's opinions.
That's natural. Guo Shao nodded, took a deep breath, and said softly, "Golden candids have never been superfluous to me. No matter how difficult it was before or how smooth it is now, I can't forget my original intention. Everything I have worked hard for, how much meaning does it have if I don't share it with people who are close to me and care about me?"
After hearing this, Fu Jinzhan pursed her soft and smooth red lips and was speechless.
After the banquet in Jinxiang Hall ended, the ministers and nobles made friends with each other in the imperial city before leaving the city one after another. Some went through Donghua Gate and Xihua Gate, while others went through Xuande Gate facing south.
Duke Qin Mengchang and Madam Huarui walked towards Donghua Gate, preparing to return home.
Meng Chang walked halfway, suddenly looked back at the towering Jinxiang Palace and sighed: I thought the Northern Han was a strong country. When the relationship between Shu and the Central Plains became tense, the first thing Shu did was to contact the Northern Han in the north to respond and contain the Central Plains' military power. Unexpectedly, the capital was captured in half a month. When Shu was conquered, we could only accept our fate.
After a while, Meng Chang said casually: By the way, Xiaohe, the palace maid we brought from Shu, wants to get married and came to ask me for mercy. I have already promised her.
Xiao He didn't tell me. Madam Hua Rui said. She was familiar with that maid. When she first arrived in Tokyo, her life was difficult and she didn't have as many slaves as now. There were only a few people around her. Xiao He was the maid who was infected with syphilis by Meng Chang. Madam Hua Rui still remembered that incident.
Meng Chang said: I have the final say in the Qin Mansion, so of course she asked me for help first.
Madam Huarui asked softly: Who shall I marry
Meng Chang said: It’s Fu Er who runs errands and buys things in the front yard.
Madam Huarui frowned and said: That man is lazy and greedy for small profits. If it weren't for the eunuch Wei Zhong, I would have sent him away. What's the good of him? Why did Xiaohe marry him
Meng Chang smiled disapprovingly and said: "Do you think Xiao He is a lady from a famous family or something like that? It's good enough that Fu Er is willing to marry her. For him, he has some family background and can get money from the Qin Mansion every month. How can he not marry a wife?"
Madam Huarui remained silent, but in her heart she had to admit that Mengchang was telling the truth.
Because she definitely looked down on people like Fu Er, she felt a little sympathy for Xiao He for a moment, and a kind of sadness like the death of a rabbit and the grief of a fox; her original background was not much different from Xiao He, except that she was more beautiful. Madam Huarui also thought that she would not end up like Xiao He, and she still had a position now.
At this moment, a tall woman in a purple robe quickly caught up with him.
Madam Huarui of Jingniang called out softly, and the dull expression on her face changed to become very affectionate.
Jingniang came over, clasped her fists and said: “Greetings to Lady Huarui, Duke of Qin.”
Meng Chang said hurriedly: No need to be so polite, no need to be so polite.
In terms of hierarchy, Mengchang's status as a duke is a very high title, so Jingniang has to perform the ceremony, but the actual strength is very obvious, because Jingniang is a close confidant of the emperor.
Jingniang had a cold expression on her face, but Madam Huarui looked at her with a smile: We haven't seen each other for a long time.
I heard that you guys are coming to the banquet today, so I came to see you off after we left, Jing Niang said.
Madam Huarui said softly: Sister Jingniang, why are you being so polite? It’s just that I haven’t seen you for several months. I really want to see you and talk.
Madam Huarui understood Jingniang. This woman seemed very difficult to get close to, but she was a person who clearly distinguished between gratitude and resentment, and always remembered the help she had given her in the past.
Madam, if you have anything to say, you don't have to be so polite to me, Jingniang said calmly.
Madam Huarui said: "Alas, I am about to leave the imperial city, and I just met you now. Why don't we find a place to talk, otherwise we will have to separate again after meeting once."
Jingniang didn't say anything and looked at Mengchang. Madam Huarui said, "Alang, go back home first. Jingniang will take me back later."
Meng Chang looked a little embarrassed. He was very wary of the palace because Guo Shao lived here. This kind of thinking was probably a man's instinct. Madam Huarui had not been close to Meng Chang since she arrived in Tokyo, but she felt that Meng Chang still regarded her as his, after all, the status was still there.
Madam Huarui gave her a look and thought: Mengchang should understand that our friendship with Jingniang is a rare relationship in Tokyo.
Sure enough, Meng Chang then said without any embarrassment: You are all women, it is inconvenient for me to keep you any longer, so I will take my leave first.
After Meng Chang left, Jingniang looked around. This was the front office area of the imperial city. There were many government officials around, which was really inconvenient. Madam Huarui saw this and asked: Where does Jingniang live
Jingniang said from inside Xuanyou Gate, and after a pause, said, "Come with me."
The two walked for a long time, one in front and one behind. The imperial city was very large, and most people could not ride horses or carriages, so most people walked. Fortunately, Jingniang was there, so the two of them walked freely without any hindrance.