Amid the sound of drums, the chimes also played a powerful piece of music. In the main hall of Jinxiang Palace, a group of graceful dancers actually wore Xu Jun's military uniforms and performed the shield dance, but the clothes were made of thick silk and leather.
After all, the dancers' costumes lacked a heavy and imposing aura, let alone a murderous aura. However, they had good figures and looked heroic, which was more interesting than ordinary dances. As soon as Guo Shaogang sat on the dragon throne, he saw that this dance was innovative.
A sound of some kind of percussion instrument rang out, and a row of dancers raised their shields and wooden spears in unison. The dancers in front and behind alternated in complex formations. From the overall perspective, the movements of the shields and wooden spears varied in variety, yet there was no sense of disorder.
Guo Shao immediately thought of the three-stage attack tactics of the Daxu Army, and this dance was quite similar. And it was much more enjoyable to watch. If we only talk about the formation and changes, Guo Shao felt that the most elite soldiers could not compare to this group of dancers.
As soon as he turned his head, the eunuch Wang Zhong came up to him and whispered to him. Guo Shao asked: "Is this dance composed by Zhou Xian?"
Wang Zhong bowed and said: Your Majesty, it is Lu Qiongxian.
Lu Qiongxian and Guo Shao blurted out and repeated the sentence.
Wang Zhongdao: She is the female prime minister of the Southern Han Kingdom.
Oh, I remember now. Guo Shao suddenly realized and said with a smile, "The female prime minister
Wang Zhong also smiled and said: A prime minister must also be good at singing and dancing, otherwise how could the ruler of Southern Han become a king who lost his country.
Guo Shao nodded after hearing this, and when he turned around, he saw Fu Ermei, who was dressed in a formal dress, paying attention to him. Fu Ermei blinked when she saw him turn around, and Guo Shao smiled at her. He then looked at the women sitting at one side of the hall. There was a large group of people, and they were a little far away, so Guo Shao couldn't tell who was who at once.
Those who attended the banquet included civil and military officials, all dressed the same as when they went to court; on the other side were the palace ladies and the wives of ministers, who were women of rank and salary, and were the most prestigious women in the world.
The platform was between the imperial throne and the seats of the ministers. In the hall, there were music and singing and dancing, and the atmosphere was joyful. After the shield dance, the ministers came forward to congratulate the victory in the Pingxia War. Guo Shao also rewarded the meritorious civil and military officials with some clothes, belts and other things in public.
Everyone celebrate together. Guo Shao picked up the golden cup and said. Everyone in the hall immediately said: "Your Majesty, may you live forever!"
At this time, a group of palace maids filed in and put more delicacies on the banquet. Another group of dancers also came on stage, and the cheerful music continued to play. With wine to cheer them up, the ministers at the table started talking excitedly, and the atmosphere became even more lively.
Guo Shao stood up and left the table. Jinzhan and Ermei immediately looked at him. Guo Shao said: I'm going to change my clothes.
Jinxiang Hall was a complex of buildings. There was no toilet in the main hall, so he went to the back hall. The eunuch Wang Zhong and several other people followed him. Anyway, Guo Shao usually had people around him wherever he went.
When he returned, he met Zhang at the end of a corridor. Zhang hurriedly made way for him, knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I am here to see you."
Guo Shao was a little surprised. When he looked at her, he saw that her face was flushed, and she looked shy and embarrassed. She looked down and kept her knees bent. Although Zhang was a concubine of the previous dynasty, she was not very old, and should be younger than Jinzhan. This noble lady in the palace was not exposed to the sun and wind. Although her face was flushed, the skin on her forehead was tender and white, and her single eyelids made her look young.
Guo Shao was surprised and turned to look at Wang Zhong. Wang Zhong said nothing, bowed, and backed away. But Guo Shao didn't mean to ask Wang Zhong to leave. He was thinking, he had talked to Wang Zhong for a few words at first, and he was obviously asking about the choreographer, so why did he happen to meet Zhang here? Maybe Lu Qiongxian's foundation in this palace is still a little shallow.
Zhang Shang Gong stood up. Guo Shao said in a gentle tone.
Zhang said softly: I smudged my rouge when I was drinking, so I came in and didn’t expect to meet Your Majesty.
Guo Shao remembered what she had said before, maybe it would take several years to meet again. Since they met today, he did not leave immediately, and immediately found a topic to talk about: I can see that the songs, dances and dishes of this celebration banquet are very thoughtful.
Zhang said: Is your Majesty satisfied
Guo Shao laughed and said: "In such an occasion, there are many people, noisy and impatient. Many carefully choreographed songs and dances are like Zhu Bajie eating ginseng fruit. It is really a waste. I have to be in a good mood. Maybe I just returned to Beijing and I am impatient."
Zhang said softly: If Your Majesty is tired and wants to calm down, Sanqing Palace is a good place to go.
She had been keeping her head down and could not look directly at the emperor, but now she raised her head and looked at Guo Shao. Her eyes were lively and seemed to be able to speak, but they expressed things that words could not describe, complex emotions, entangled with courage.
Guo Shao was stung by her look, but he suddenly said in a joking tone: I am afraid of the Sanqing Palace, and it is not a place for meditation.
Zhang said softly: If you really want to calm your mind, the only way is to give up.
Guo Shao pondered for a moment and said: "There are so many people at the banquet in Jinxiang Hall. Let's not talk about this for now. I will leave first, and Zhang Shanggong will leave later."
Zhang also showed a playful expression. Is your majesty guilty
Guo Shao was speechless when he heard the woman say this.
Unexpectedly, Zhang, who usually seemed very polite, whispered: "I heard that the more guilty you are about something, the more you want to do it. At the hour of You, if Your Majesty is guilty and does not come, then listen to the sound of the bells and drums on the tower."
Guo Shao asked: I listen to it every day, why do I have to listen to it today
Zhang's face turned red and she bit her teeth. Your Majesty could hear the bells and drums and feel the frustration and sadness of the weak woman at that moment.
Guo Shao opened his mouth, but felt that if he continued talking like this he would not know how long, so he said nothing and left Zhang's side.
Back on the throne, the singing, dancing and feasting continued, but his feelings were different from before and he was often a little distracted.
After a long while, Guo Shao saw Zhang, who was wearing a light red top and a moon-white skirt, enter the hall from the side door alone and stand behind the group of women.
When Guo Shao looked at Jinzhan again, Jinzhan's gaze inadvertently turned over there.
This matter certainly could not be hidden from Jinzhan's eyes and ears. Guo Shao was already distracted by the performance on the stage, thinking that Zhang was so bold because Cao Bin was highly valued. However, if he wanted to show favor to Cao Bin, he really didn't need to touch Zhang. Cao Bin knew that as long as his aunt didn't get into trouble in the palace, it would be fine.
After the celebration banquet, Guo Shao left Jinxiang Hall early. He did not go anywhere but stayed in his own bedroom in Wansui Hall.
After a long time, the sound of bells and drums from the palace city tower came from afar. The teacup in Guo Shao's hand suddenly froze in mid-air. He raised his head and listened to the sound for a moment.
Guo Shao was not someone who would take Zhang too seriously, but for some reason he felt uneasy today because of her.
Guo Shao has never been good at rejecting women, but after pacing for a while, he gave up the idea.
It was not because he felt sorry for Jinzhan, as he already had three wives and four concubines and countless beauties in the harem. It was just because Zhang was someone close to Jinzhan, and if Guo Shao got involved with her at this time, Jinzhan might find it very difficult and uncomfortable. There were rules everywhere.
Wang Zhong. Guo Shao shouted.
The eunuch came over in a hurry, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, what do you want me to do?"
Guo Shao said: Go to Zide Hall to see Queen Dafu and ask her who choreographed the shield dance today.
Wang Zhong was stunned because Guo Shao had asked him before and he had answered that it was Lu Qiongxian. But Wang Zhong said nothing and just bowed and said: "I obey your order."
He waited for a while, and sure enough, Lu Qiongxian was brought by Wang Zhong after a while.
A beautiful girl with a graceful and light figure, he forgot about her after Guo Shao's army abducted her from the Southern Han Kingdom. He thought of her today, first because of the shield dance, and second because he guessed that Zhang had done something behind the scenes.
Guo Shao had no experience with these little tricks, but he was able to figure out many things in such a big country, and he could guess most of these little tricks. Lu Qiongxian was looking for an opportunity for her attack, but the opportunity was taken away by Zhang, and their private grudge was formed; and Zhang was a person who had taken refuge with Jinzhan, but she teased Guo Shao behind Jinzhan's back.
So Guo Shao wanted to summon Lu Qiongxian tonight.
Because between Jinzhan and Zhang, Guo Shao will definitely consider Jinzhan first. If he wants Jinzhan to manage the complicated harem and then destroy her, isn't that asking her to do something difficult
After Lu Qiongxian finished her ceremony, she said nothing more. Guo Shao remembered that this woman was quite charming, but today she was able to keep her composure, so he looked her up and down.
She finally spoke: Your Majesty, I feel embarrassed for looking at you.
Her accent is very different from Mandarin and has a special timbre from Southern Han.
Guo Shaodao: Look at the shield dance choreographed by Madam Lu. Are you also interested in battle formations
Lu Qiongxian said softly: I have little interest in battle formations, but I admire the heroes who are proficient in battle formations very much.
Haha Guo Shao laughed loudly, and saw Lu Qiongxian also smiling. This woman, being able to be a prime minister under a tyrant emperor, seems to be no ordinary person.
Lu Qiongxian said softly: "Women have always loved heroes. Your Majesty is so powerful and has traveled thousands of miles across the country. I admire your courage and ambition from the bottom of my heart."
The three-stage attack technique was invented by Xu Jun. Guo Shao nodded and said: Madam Lu, you have put a lot of thought into it. You are living in the Tokyo Imperial Palace where you are unfamiliar with the place, but you can still understand so many things.
Lu Qiongxian said: "I admire your majesty and would like to help you. How can I do this without putting my heart into it?"
She added in a casual tone: “Your Majesty, the old land of Southern Han has been engaged in maritime trade for many years, and there are people who are skilled in shipbuilding.
Guo Shao disagreed. What kind of female prime minister is this? The ruler of Southern Han believed her, and Guo Shao also believed that she could govern the country.
Besides, in this era, the most advanced ships in the world should be the ships of Arab merchants. The reason is simple. They sailed from the Persian Gulf to East Asia. Objective facts are the most credible evidence. And Guo Shao has already obtained Arab shipbuilding technology.