After the morning meeting, it was still dark. Guo Shao sent Cao Tai to invite Fu Jinzhan, and he decided to meet her in the outer court.
A group of officials in the outer hall of the study were already sitting at their desks, concentrating on writing. They always looked busy and serious, but Guo Shao always felt that these people who were responsible for conveying government orders, liaising with various government offices and central government agencies, etc. should not be so busy, otherwise they would not want to go off duty as soon as the hour of You arrived every day.
Inside was the study and the offices of several cabinet ministers. Guo Shao also often submitted memorials here. However, no one had paid attention to the memorials of the past two days. They were piled on the imperial desk covered with yellow silk. Only Huang Binglian was categorizing them. Zuo You had just returned to Beijing yesterday and was just talking to Guo Shao in the archive room.
Guo Shao walked into a hall at the back, found a place to sit down, flipped through some files and waited.
After a long time, an eunuch bowed and said: Your Majesty, Empress Duanci has arrived.
Guo Shao stood up and saw Fu Jinzhan, wearing a phoenix crown and robes, coming in from the north palace gate. The two greeted each other. Fu Jinzhan waved her hand lightly, and the group of women in purple round collars who followed her in backed away quietly.
The two sat down beside a table, and the maid brought tea. Guo Shao asked politely: "How is the emperor's sister-in-law these days?"
Fu Jinzhan said softly: Two months have passed very slowly.
What she said was very appropriate and light, but it was not a common cliché. Guo Shao felt something was special and thought for a moment: time is slow because of waiting and anticipation. Just now when he was waiting for someone, he felt that time was slow.
Guo Shao couldn't help but look at her expression. Sure enough, Fu Jinzhan's eyes flickered at this time, and she looked a little embarrassed. She was a generous and dignified person. With just one sentence, Guo Shao's heart was like a ripple.
Some simple words were easy for him to ignore or he would only understand them when he suddenly remembered them. Guo Shao suddenly remembered what Li Yuaner said last night: The country belongs to your Majesty, but your Majesty has a successor.
Li Yuan'er didn't modestly say that the legitimate son should be the heir, but that sentence didn't make Guo Shao feel uncomfortable at the time, on the contrary, it was very pleasing to the ear. He thought that the country of an emperor really belonged to the prince, but there was a prerequisite, that was, he had to wait until he died, and others couldn't think about it while he was alive.
Your Majesty. Fu Jinzhan's voice reached his ears.
Guo Shao looked up at her and said what he had thought of before: I have a plan to clean up the side hall on the west side, and the emperor's sister-in-law will help deal with state affairs in the west hall. It just so happens that the Political Affairs Hall is on the west side and the Privy Council is on the east side.
Fu Jinzhan looked surprised: "Your Majesty has returned to the capital. You are the legitimate emperor and in your prime. It is inappropriate for a woman like me to interfere in government affairs."
Guo Shaodao: Since the reign of Emperor Xuanren, the emperor's sister-in-law has been in power twice. The ministers are convinced that the country is peaceful and the people are safe. The emperor's sister-in-law is virtuous and talented. Now the war is not over yet, I need you.
Fu Jinzhan pondered for a long time and did not answer.
Guo Shao did not say this on a whim, he had thought about it over and over again. First of all, he has always had a wish, to repay Jinzhan after he has made a name for himself. She has done him so much good and treated him like a real sister. Now Guo Shao has even become the emperor, which can be considered as a name for himself, but he always feels that he can't give Jinzhan anything. The original plan was to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun and establish a great cause, and then give her a status so that she can share all this legitimately, but now Youzhou has not been conquered, and it is unknown when it will be.
Power is very important to palace women. Guo Shao wanted to give her power. If she had real power, both the officials in the outer court and the harem would sing her praises and at least dare not make her suffer because her fate and future were in the hands of the superiors.
Secondly, it is also a way to share the fruits. Jinzhan played a key role in Guo Shao's becoming emperor; now that he owns the world, he says that the world belongs to him alone, and Jinzhan stays in the harem as the former queen.
Guo Shao sighed slightly, turned his head and observed calmly that there were no palace maids or eunuchs around, and then whispered: I didn't expect the Northern Expedition to have such an outcome.
Fu Jinzhan's bright eyes swept across his face and said: I was very worried about Shao Ge'er, but I am relieved to hear about what you did after you came back.
Guo Shao listened silently.
Fu Jinzhan was silent for a moment, and then said softly: "I am fine now, you don't have to worry about it. You and the ministers have given me a title, I already have a place in the palace, you trust and care about me so much, and my second sister is the queen. There is nothing wrong with me now."
After she finished speaking, she smiled, her eyes curved, her forehead full and round, her skin white and smooth, she looked very beautiful. And her words and thoughts, Guo Shao unconsciously felt a bright feeling in his heart, as if the surroundings were full of sunshine.
At this time, a ray of morning sun shone into the hall through the east window. Guo Shao turned around and looked at the bright light, saying: I am afraid that even a wicked person would be obsessed with the scenery at this moment.
He came back to his senses and said: Fortunately, Jinzhan comforted me.
Fu Jinzhan murmured: I am also lucky to have Shao Ge'er, you are
Guo Shao didn't hear what she said next, so he looked at her, waiting for the second half of the sentence. Fu Jinzhan's face turned red, she pursed her smooth red lips, and said in a trembling voice: You are my support.
The court quickly decided to posthumously confer the title of Duke of Yan on Luo Mengzi, grant Luo's mother and wife the title of noble ladies, and select a site in Tokyo to build the Duke of Yan's Mansion for the Luo family.
Yang Ye was summoned by the emperor and rewarded for his contribution in capturing the son of the rebel general. He was also given a mansion in Tokyo and rewarded with gold, silver, saddles and other items.
Many ministers were present when the award was conferred. Guo Shao then retreated to his study and summoned Yang Ye alone.
The king and his ministers were very happy to talk about some military strategies. But Guo Shao really wanted him to mention Zhe Dejian here, but unfortunately Yang Ye never mentioned it.
Such a long time has passed, Guo Shao calculated that if Li Yun had ever contacted Zhe Dejian, Zhe Dejian should have gone to Tokyo to submit a letter. But the fact is that Zhe Dejian not only did not come to Tokyo in person, he did not even submit a letter.
Guo Shao couldn't help but think: It is possible that Li Yun did not contact Zhe Dejian. But as the son-in-law of the Zhe family, Yang Ye should definitely contact the Zhe family on such an important matter.
Guo Shao chatted with Yang Ye while thinking about this matter. Yang Ye came to Tokyo by himself and pretended not to know what it meant.
General Yang has quite a lot of insights on marching and deploying troops, Guo Shao praised, but then he seemed to be hesitant to speak and began to ponder.
Yang Ye also waited for the second half of the sentence reflexively.
But Guo Shao didn't say it, thinking that he seemed to lack understanding in political communication.
After a while, Guo Shao didn't say anything, so Yang Ye hurriedly said: I dare not show off my skills in front of an expert.
Guo Shao gave up. Anyway, he didn't dare to touch Yang Ye at this time unless he wanted to immediately turn the Northwest Jingnan Army into a mess due to fear and worry. Guo Shao didn't intend to give up trying to win over and trust Yang Ye immediately. After all, the Yang family generals left a deep impression on him.
Moreover, Guo Shao thought from another perspective that it might be a good thing for a general with military talent to be not very shrewd in the court bureaucracy.
But there was a little sigh in his heart. If a mountain wants to attract talents, it is not enough to give benefits. For example, Yang Ye was originally just a surrendered general of the Northern Han Dynasty. Guo Shao's sincerity in winning him over was enough, but he had not yet developed a sense of belonging and trust in the circle of the central government.
Guo Shao immediately said: Military affairs in Hedong are important, so I will not keep General Yang in Tokyo for long. I will never forget your loyalty to the court.
Yang Ye bowed and said: I will live up to your majesty's trust and guard the Hedong Pass carefully.
Guo Shao pondered for a moment and suddenly said: You go back to Hedong to reorganize military affairs first. The court will deploy new military strategies in a while, and General Yang can come to Tokyo to discuss important matters.
After hearing this, Yang Ye was pleasantly surprised and quickly knelt down and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
Seeing that he was not suspicious at all, Guo Shao calmly helped him up and gave him some kind advice.