Two days later, it rained. It was late spring and early summer, and the weather had been getting hotter and hotter, but the rain made it even cooler, as if it had delayed the arrival of summer.
But no matter it was windy or rainy, as long as there was no rain of knives, the grand court on the 15th of this month would not be affected. The main hall of the imperial city, the Jinxiang Hall, was much more lively than usual.
The etiquette was also more solemn than usual, like a pre-arranged performance, with the sound of bells and drums and the lyrics coming one after another.
Guo Shao was wearing a yellow dragon robe and sitting upright on the throne. He didn't pay much attention to the lyrics and memorials below. They were all nonsense anyway, and the key point was that one couldn't understand all of them unless there was something extreme. Moreover, those who could only appear before the emperor in the grand court would not criticize others and generally would not talk about important matters in such a public occasion. If there were real matters, they would be reported privately. Therefore, there was no transparency in the governance of the country at that time.
Generally, the court would talk about auspicious signs such as a good harvest, peace and prosperity for the country, and foreign guests submitting letters to the court.
Although there were noises in the court, Guo Shao actually noticed the rustling sound of rain outside the palace. On rainy days, even in the house, there is a different feeling.
When the ministers had almost finished speaking, before the eunuch sang his lyrics, Guo Shao seized this opportunity and said:
The eunuch hurriedly stopped talking and stood by to listen. Guo Shao had to find opportunities to speak in public, mainly because according to custom, the emperor rarely said anything, and at most gave a brief response to the ministers.
He immediately paid attention to his tone and said: "In the future, memorials will still be approved by me and the government hall and other government offices. In today's world, chaos has been eliminated and prosperity is approaching. I hope that you will be of one mind with me, think of the public good, govern the world together, and benefit the people."
After he finished speaking, he couldn't help but look at Fan Zhi who was standing in the front row and observed him. Guo Shao sat in a high position and could look down at everyone, but the ministers could not look up at the emperor and could not rely on the emperor's expression to guess his intentions.
After a few days, Guo Shao's anger towards Fan Zhi had dissipated, but at this time another very secret feeling came to his mind. This time, Fan Zhi gave Guo Shao some more insights into the scholar-officials. If Fan Zhi impeached Fu Jinzhan for his own selfish reasons, even Guo Shao himself did not believe it, but if he said he was noble, Guo Shao always felt that it was not the case.
He remained calm and had no intention of specifically taking revenge on Fan Zhi.
At this time, all the ministers knelt on the ground and shouted: We will follow your majesty's orders.
My dear ministers, please excuse me.
After a while, the eunuch sang in a long voice: If you have something to say, please report it. If not, please leave the court.
The ministers who had just stood up knelt down again to express their gratitude. Guo Shao stepped down from the dragon chair and left the hall first.
As they were leaving the main hall, the eunuch Wang Zhong came forward and whispered behind Guo Shao: “Your Majesty, General Yang, the deputy commander-in-chief of the palace, has also entered the imperial city today. He told me that his legs and feet are not very convenient and it would be against etiquette for him to attend court, so he is waiting outside the Jinxiang Hall.”
Guo Shao stopped immediately after hearing this. He wanted to go out of the hall to pick up Yang Biao himself, but this impulse was immediately suppressed. In the past, Li Chuyun and others were still brothers to him. Now, if he showed too much intimacy with someone, it would not be a good thing. He and Yang Biao were first the monarch and his subject, and then brothers in life and death.
Guo Shaodao: Summon Yang Biao to the East Hall to meet him.
Yes. Wang Zhong bowed and stepped back.
Guo Shao was waiting in the study, and then he saw Wang Zhong leading Yang Biao in. Yang Biao was wearing a military uniform and holding a wooden stick. He was not much thinner. As soon as he came in, he knelt on the ground with the wooden stick in his hand: Your Majesty, I am here to see you.
Guo Shao hurriedly stood up from his chair, walked over to Yang Biao and helped him up, holding Yang Biao's arm tightly, the strength of his hand seemed to convey Guo Shao's emotions at the moment. Wang Zhong tactfully picked up the stick and handed it to Yang Biao.
Please take a seat. Guo Shaodao.
Yang Biao said: Thank you, Your Majesty.
Guo Shaodao: General Yang's leg was seriously injured.
Yang Biao said: Your Majesty, the doctor said that my hamstring has been injured and it has not recovered yet. My left leg is a bit weak. I don't know how to recover after a while.
Yang Biao seemed to be in a bad mood: I can't even walk steadily now, and I'm afraid I won't be able to fight in battle for Your Majesty in the future.
Guo Shao thought to himself: As long as you are alive, that’s enough.
He said kindly: General Yang was seriously injured in the Youzhou battlefield and cannot be healed in a hurry. Moreover, a general who commands a large army mainly relies on the method of using troops, and does not need to charge into the enemy in person.
Yang Biao said: Your Majesty is right. One leg is nothing compared to my third brother.
Guo Shao felt as if a wave of anger sank in his heart, and said: My third brother's funeral arrangements have been completed.
For a while, neither of them said anything, and the atmosphere was a little depressed. In the silence, the sound of rain outside the window became more obvious. The rain wet everything, and the rain curtain blocked the sight and heart like smoke. This kind of weather will affect the mood, and a tangled and slightly sad atmosphere surged into my heart. Luo Mengzi has been with him through life and death for many years, and Guo Shao will naturally miss him after his death.
At this time, Guo Shao said: General Yang, please follow me to Luo Mansion today to see Luo Mengzi's family.
Yang Biao said: I obey your order.
Guo Shao turned his head to look at the eunuch Wang Zhong: We are here for private matters, so we asked Lu Chengyong to lead the guards to protect you, and there is no need to use the emperor's ceremonial guard.
“Yes.” Wang Zhong bowed.
After a while, Jingniang came in and asked for permission: Your Majesty, please allow me to leave the palace. Those cavalrymen were like long weapons on the battlefield, and they had to use short swords to protect themselves when they were close.
Guo Shao said: Don't be too nervous. I decided to leave the palace on a whim. If there really were assassins, there would be no time to deploy them. How could it be so easy? He waved his hand and said, "Forget it, just follow me."
Guo Shao went inside and went to the rest suite. He asked the palace servants to change out of the dragon robe he wore to court and put on a purple round-necked robe and a black gauze hat.
After the carriage was ready, he and Yang Biao took the big carriage from the palace and left the imperial city in the rain.
Lu Chengyong rode his horse beside the carriage and clasped his fists, saying: "Your Majesty, the Luo Mansion built with the money of the court has not been completed yet, and General Luo's wife and children still live in the old house. The route led by me also goes to the old house of the Luo family, and I have sent people to inform the Luo family."
Guo Shao nodded after hearing this. The rain outside had not stopped yet. Lu Chengyong and other soldiers were soaked. The rain was running down the brim of his iron helmet. They did not bring any rain protection equipment, but they still maintained strict military discipline in the rain. This team of guards was the emperor's guard, and they were a relatively elite force.
Guo Shao lowered the curtain and spoke to Yang Biao who was sitting opposite him. The emperor and his subject maintained courtesy throughout.