Madam Huarui always believed that a woman's appearance was not only a condition, but her clothes were also very important. She was busy looking for her clothes in the closet. Jingniang told her to change clothes in an incense stick of time, which made her hurried and anxious.
Entering the palace to cook is not to attend a ceremonial banquet, so it is not appropriate to wear a formal dress; but it is too casual to dress casually, after all, it is to meet the emperor. She has not yet thought about what kind of jewelry to decorate, and the number of clothes she has is always limited. Even if she has a general idea in her mind, she may not be able to find the right clothes at the last minute; she can only choose from the existing clothes.
Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Meng Chang asked: "Why did you bolt the door in broad daylight?"
Madam Huarui was already panicking, and when she heard the voice, she became annoyed and said in a bad tone: "I am changing my clothes."
You are my woman, why are you hiding from me when you change clothes? Meng Chang said. After a while, he became a little annoyed. Since I came to Tokyo, I haven't even seen you dress. Are you still a member of Meng's family
Madam Huarui said: Can we talk later? I'm busy.
Meng Chang said: What are you busy with? Are you busy meeting other men
When Lady Huarui heard this, she felt upset and confused. She didn't know how to answer, so she just picked up her ruqun and put it on.
At this moment, Meng Chang started banging on the door angrily, as if he was going to break it down if the door wasn't opened.
Madam Huarui opened the door and frowned: I don't want to argue with you, and I don't want to argue with you now.
Meng Chang strode in.
Madam Huarui said helplessly: What are you looking at? Can I hide someone in my house? I'm telling you, I'm changing my clothes.
Meng Chang's face was as red as pig liver, with shame and anger all over his face, and his emotions were very complicated.
Madam Huarui whispered: Jingniang is waiting outside. Can we not give her face and disobey her and then have dirty things with Jingniang
Meng Chang gritted his teeth and paced a few steps. Madam Huarui looked at him for a while, then hurried to sit in front of the dressing table, combing her hair and putting on jewelry in front of the bronze mirror. Unexpectedly, Meng Chang's voice choked with sobs: When I was the emperor of Shu, how did I treat you? I obeyed you in every way. Have you forgotten all those kindnesses, Madam
Lady Huarui was also very conflicted when she heard this, but she was still very annoyed at this time. She had nothing nice to say when she was angry: You favor more than just me. There are so many women who are lining up to get shopping money from you, and you can choose whatever you want.
Meng Chang said: But you are the one I love the most.
Madam Huarui said: "I just don't understand, given our current situation, why do you bother to dwell on these things? I've seen two of the girls in your room who are pretty. They were still virgins when they were with you, how could they be any worse than me?"
Meng Chang choked up and said: But what I can't bear to part with the most is that your Guo Shao also has three thousand concubines in his harem, and he doesn't even take my wife seriously. If we don't provoke him, he won't do anything to us. Unless, unless you want to throw yourself at him
How could Alang speak like that? Madam Huarui was ashamed and angry. Well, you mean I am shameless and not a good person, so I am not worth your attention.
Meng Chang said sadly: We have enough food and clothing now, what's wrong with staying in the Qin Mansion? Why do we have to go to the palace
Madam Huarui said: It's not my own decision to enter the palace. Ah Lang didn't think about it. This is not the capital of Shu, but Tokyo.
Meng Chang was angry and sad, and gritted his teeth and said: I know you can't bear loneliness, do you think Qin Guogong Mansion is too boring
Madam Huarui sighed, frowned, looked at the bronze mirror angrily and said nothing.
Meng Chang's words made more and more sense: Your heart is not in it anymore, you just want to climb up the ladder
The more Meng Chang criticized her, the angrier Lady Huarui felt. She felt irritated, as if she had fallen into a mud pit, and everything was dirty. But she couldn't get rid of it, because she knew in her heart that Meng Chang had done her a favor. If it weren't for Meng Chang, she would still be stuck in the lowest level of romantic occasions.
Madam Huarui said with a pale and depressed face: Alang, calm down. You are the Duke of Qin. As long as you manage your business prudently, you can still have a foothold. Jingniang remembers my old kindness, and the current emperor also has some friendship with me. This is not a bad thing. Don't you understand
Meng Chang just kept sighing and grumbling: It was my fault that my country was destroyed.
Alas, Alang has played with so many women, but he just doesn't understand women's hearts. Lady Huarui dropped the bracelet in her hand, stood up and examined herself in the bronze mirror. She always felt that something was wrong and was in a very bad mood.
Meng Chang saw her looking left and right, concentrating on dressing up. He looked at Madam Huarui and said in an almost pleading tone: "Don't come to the palace, okay?"
When Lady Huarui heard this, her heart softened, but then she thought of the various things Meng Chang had done to disappoint her in the past, and she bit her teeth and said softly: I have to go.
She went out to the living room and met Jingniang. They left the mansion together and got on the carriage from the palace. Lady Huarui was always smiling when she was with Jingniang, but now she sat there in silence, feeling depressed.
Madam Huarui gently lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and stared outside in a daze, her eyes dull and lifeless, but in those lifeless eyes there was a hint of deep-hidden sadness and helplessness.
Jingniang, who was not a talkative person, sat there expressionlessly. She would not speak if no one else spoke. Jingniang would only occasionally glance at Madam Huarui's expression without any expression.
There are too many grievances entangled in Madam Huarui's heart. She is not an unreasonable person; otherwise, she would not care so much.
Madam Huarui felt physically and mentally exhausted and felt that she was already a broken person.
The bustling city scene before my eyes is like a fleeting glimpse, just like the past events passing through my mind like clouds of smoke.
Now, listening to the creaking sound of the carriage and looking at the prosperity of this northern metropolis, everything seems to be happening again.
She felt that she should try to get Guo Shao's attention. He was the most powerful and influential person she had ever met. But, somehow, she felt a little unmotivated.
The past and experiences cannot be erased. People not only gain something, but also lose something, leaving behind various traces that cannot be escaped.
When entering the Great Zhou Imperial City, Madam Huarui was still very nervous and hesitant. She didn't know how she managed to get through that section of the journey. She tried to cheer herself up because men didn't like to see a woman tired and reluctant. But she couldn't be happy.
After walking through a monotonous corridor between red walls, they met a fat white eunuch waiting there. The eunuch glanced at Madam Huarui and then looked at Jingniang.
The eunuch's posture and expression are quite dignified, and he must be a eunuch of high status and power.
Jingniang snorted and didn't look happy at all to him.
The eunuch did not take it seriously. He looked Madam Huarui up and down, as if examining her appearance, and said, "My name is Wang Zhong, and I am from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Madam, please come with me."
Jingniang's sister, Madam Huarui, turned around and looked at Jingniang.
Jingniang looked at her, said nothing, and turned away.
Lady Huarui followed Wang Zhong into a courtyard with a plaque on it: Xu'en Hall. It was a very quiet and tidy courtyard, but a little tidy, because there were few flowers, plants and trees, only a few lonely trees.
Your Majesty has returned. Please wait here. I will go and report first. Wang Zhong said.
Wang Zhong lifted the thin bamboo curtain and walked into a room next to it. Madam Huarui looked inside from behind the bamboo curtain and vaguely saw bookshelves and piles of books, guessing that it should be a study.
The man inside, wearing a purple robe and with no hat on his bun, was Guo Shao, but he could not be seen clearly because of the bamboo curtain.
Wang Zhong's voice said: Your Majesty, I have invited Madam Huarui into the palace, and she will prepare meals for Your Majesty tonight.
Guo Shao's voice was filled with surprise: Who told you to do this
After hearing this, Madam Huarui thought to herself: So this is not what Guo Shao meant.
Wang Zhong fell to his knees and said in a trembling voice: "I did not forge the imperial edict. I saw that your Majesty ate little in the afternoon and was very worried about your health. I heard that Madam Huarui's cooking skills were very famous, so I told Jingniang about it." Jingniang invited Madam Huarui to the palace.
Guo Shaodao: Just because of this matter
Wang Zhong hurriedly said: "The affairs of the government are all important matters. If I do something wrong, I will be beaten and scolded by the government.
Madam Huarui recalled that the eunuch had a very prestigious demeanor outside the courtyard, but now he looked like this. The contrast in his performance was only a moment, and the impression was quite deep. However, what the eunuch said was not wrong. No one dared to neglect the emperor's affairs. The emperor was originally a person who held the power of life and death, and a word could cost many lives.
Guo Shao's voice said: Get up. Where are the people
Wang Zhongdao: It’s in the room outside.
Madam Huarui was at the door and saw the figure coming towards her. She suddenly became nervous and clasped her hands tightly in front of her stomach.
Sure enough, Guo Shao came out a moment later. He looked over and said, "I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Madam. I hope you are well."
When Lady Huarui heard him say this, it was as if he was an old friend. He was quite gentle, polite, and casual. Her feelings were completely different from what she had thought before they met. She knelt hurriedly and bowed, "I pay my respects to Your Majesty. I am grateful to Your Majesty for your grace. Everything is going well for me in Tokyo."
Guo Shao glanced sideways, and Wang Zhong quickly and quietly left the room.
Guo Shao said: No need to be polite, please come to the study and sit down.
He walked in first, and when Madam Huarui followed him, he actually held the bamboo curtain for her. Madam Huarui's face immediately turned red, and she observed Guo Shao quietly, but she didn't find anything unusual in his expression. That casual look, as if everything was normal and natural, and there was no special enthusiasm.
Lady Huarui seemed to have suddenly entered another world: very relaxed.