"We've caught them!" Guo Hong's voice was heard outside the window early in the morning. Guo Shao put the silver spoon in his hand into the porcelain bowl of porridge, walked over and looked outside, and saw two children jumping and running towards a basket. Guo Hong was overjoyed and lay on the ground to look at the frightened sparrows fluttering inside.
Seeing this, Guo Shao thought that the two kids were quite capable. Guo Shao had done this kind of thing more than once when he was a child, and it had a profound impact on him. He tried many times but only caught one once, because the sparrows were very alert and it depended on luck whether they would go in to eat the rice; and the waiting time was really too long.
I think they can do it, Guo Shao praised in front of Jinzhan.
Jinzhan hadn't combed her hair yet, and came out in casual clothes. She helped Guo Shao dress up, and smiled softly as if she was still sleepy, saying that it takes talent to be playful.
Guo Shao said seriously: It is really difficult to catch sparrows like this. I definitely can't catch it now. I don't have the patience.
Jinzhan said: What should the children do with the sparrows they catch
Guo Shao said: Jinzhan will ask them later, I have to go to the Council Hall.
Fu Jinzhan put her arms around Guo Shao's waist and leaned her body against his chest. She pulled the ribbon over from behind and buckled it for him. She then reached out and smoothed the silk on his shoulders. She said, "It's easier since your hair hasn't grown long yet. You don't have to comb it."
Guo Shao smiled and said: The monks in the temple are the easiest
Fu Jinzhan whispered, I heard that Wang Zhong sent Xiao Siwen's daughter to Wansui Palace the night before last, why did His Majesty drive her away? She stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear: You can have anyone you want.
Guo Shao was speechless. Seeing that it was getting late, he said goodbye to Jinzhan and left Zide Hall.
As soon as he reached the steps, the eunuch Cao Tai stepped forward and said: Your Majesty, Li Yiyin has been escorted to the capital.
Guo Shao paused, turned around and asked: When did it happen
Cao Tai said: I just arrived in Tokyo last night. After I heard about it, I just waited to report it this morning.
I understand. Guo Shao walked down the stone steps.
The imperial chariot was surrounded by people and drove south along the straight and wide central axis. After passing Xuanyou Gate, the majestic and familiar Jinxiang Palace complex was seen. As soon as Guo Shao got off the chariot, he saw a woman standing far away on the roadside. It was Li Yueji.
Guo Shao was slightly startled, then turned to look at Cao Tai. Cao Tai said: "I was on duty these two days, and Concubine Li condescended to ask for help, so I dared to let her go out of Xuanyou Gate because His Majesty was going to Jinxiang Palace today."
Perhaps she was pleading for her father again, so he said calmly, "It's almost time for the meeting. Ask Concubine Li to come to Yangde Hall."
I obey your order. Cao Tai bowed.
Guo Shao first arrived at Yangde Hall. It was still early. The sky was already bright, but the sun had not yet risen. The light in the palace was dim in the early morning. The layout of the outer court of the imperial palace was magnificent and formal. The overall atmosphere was quite grand, with few bright red and green colors, which made it look more simple at this time. Guo Shao walked over to the wooden floor of Yangde Hall and sat down on a couch to wait.
A palace maid came in first and brought two cups of tea. Guo Shao smelled the fragrance of the tea and prepared to start the day.
After a while, the eunuch Cao Tai brought Li Yueji in. She stood in front of the desk, clasped her hands in front of her stomach, bent her knees and said: "I pay my respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live a long life."
She was wearing a light purple skirt and a red scarf. Her fair skin was carefully made up with rouge and powder, which made her look even more gorgeous. The long skirt made her figure look even more slender, and the softness of the silk made her curves more prominent. Guo Shao looked at her and felt that Li Yueji was actually quite pretty and elegant. When he thought of her being a famous beauty in the Tanguts, he suddenly realized that she was no longer as eye-catching as before in this palace full of beauties.
"Please sit down, Concubine Li. Look, the palace servants have brought two cups of tea," Guo Shao said calmly.
Thank you, Your Majesty. Li Yueji carefully sat down on the couch next to the table.
Guo Shao's health improved and he was in good spirits. He looked at her with a lively look. He spoke quickly, but his tone was gentle and direct. General Li Yiyin had arrived in Tokyo.
Unexpectedly, Li Yueji said, I want to talk to Your Majesty about Lingzhou today.
When Guo Shao heard this, he immediately stopped talking and looked at her face seriously, as if he wanted to listen patiently. He was not very interested, but just wanted to practice his skills.
Li Yueji's eyes drooped and her voice gradually became lower. "I really know I was wrong. Your Majesty cannot be blamed for the death of Mei Zang's brother. If you must blame someone, then only blame me for my recklessness. If I hadn't been confused, I would not have agreed to let Mei take me away privately."
Guo Shao said in a magnanimous tone: It's over, let's not talk about it.
Li Yueji raised her head, with a complicated expression, but looked at Guo Shao sincerely, "I am ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth, and I treat the marriage as a joke. The road to escape was difficult and dangerous, and I almost lost my life in the mouth of a wild beast. Fortunately, Your Majesty rescued me in time. I should not have any resentment towards Your Majesty, and I should be grateful for saving my life."
Guo Shao nodded slightly, thinking. He thought that no matter what the purpose of both parties was at that time, the marriage was something that both families agreed to, and this matter really cannot be blamed on me. But he also knew that if it were not for the situation and power, Li Yueji would say this now.
Li Yueji asked softly again: Your Majesty, will you no longer blame me
Guo Shaodao: I won’t care about it anymore.
Your Majesty is truly magnanimous and broad-minded. She pursed her lips and smiled at Guo Shao. Although the smile in her eyes was a little forced, she felt a lot more relaxed.
Guo Shao glanced at her thick and smooth lips casually, picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip of water.
After a short silence, Li Yueji also picked up the teacup and put it to her lips, but did not drink. At this time, the teacup between her fingertips slightly swayed, and the tea slowly flowed onto her chest, and the soft silk material was immediately wet.
Guo Shao was stunned for a moment, staring at the scene in front of him. Li Yueji was also looking at him, and the two of them looked at each other in bewilderment.
Not long after, Guo Shao thought about Li Yiyin's matter over and over again, put down his teacup, looked up at the eunuch Cao Tai at the door of Yangde Hall, and said: Go and convey the order, I will not go to the Council Hall today, and tell everyone to disperse.
Xiao Siwen was in a very bad mood. He gave up Yunzhou and led his army to Fengzhou first, and then returned to Shangjing.
Countless troops of Xu's army gathered in Hedong, while most of the Liao army mobilized by Xiao Siwen had been trapped in Yanmen Pass and suffered heavy losses; it was meaningless to fight with Xu's army for Yunzhou at this time. So Xiao Siwen lost the city again just a few days after he recovered it.
It was already dusk when Xiao Siwen arrived in the capital. He immediately received an imperial edict from the Liao emperor, ordering all important ministers and nobles in the capital to enter the palace early the next morning to discuss matters.
Xiao Siwen didn't even have time to rest. He immediately contacted Yelu Xizhen and Xiao's confidants to come to his house to discuss the matter overnight.
Tomorrow morning in the palace, they will definitely talk about the Liao army's heavy losses and defeat in Hedong. The most important thing is, who is responsible
When Xiao Siwen saw Yelu Xizhen, he said: Fan Zhongyi and Yang Gun misled us and are the culprits of the siege of Yanmen.
Yelu Xizhen obviously knew about the defeat in Hedong a long time ago, and was not surprised to hear this. He frowned and said: Fan Zhongyi swore a solemn oath in front of the Khan and all the officials, but now he has ruined such a big thing, he deserves the punishment, but Yang Gun is somewhat wronged.
"Oh," Xiao Siwen said casually. He thought about the reason why Yelu Xizhen pleaded for Yang Gun. One reason was that Yang Gun listened to Yelu Xizhen's opinion and came to persuade Xiao Siwen. The other reason was probably because Yang Gun saved Yelu Xizhen's brother Yelu Huer.
Yelu Xizhen and Yelu Huer are half brothers, and their brotherly relationship doesn't seem to be very good. However, Yelu Xizhen must repay Yang Gun's kindness for his brother's sake.
Yelu Xizhen murmured and said: Yang Gun wanted to dissuade this matter from the beginning. I heard that after he and Fan Zhongyi returned to Yunzhou from Hedong, although they did not find any concrete evidence that the Xu people had deceived and lured the enemy, they still persuaded Xiao Gong and did not recommend the Liao army to rashly enter the pass.
Xiao Siwen said calmly: If the King's North Court believes that Yang Gun is not guilty, of course I will consider your feelings.
Yelu Xizhen frowned and said: Yang Gun’s matter is not important, he doesn’t even have an official position, and Fan Zhongyi is not important either. These people do not have high enough status, and I am afraid they cannot shoulder this responsibility.
"What does the king mean?" Xiao Siwen asked.
Yelu Xizhen said in a deep voice: If we only blame the two villains, and let such a great defeat go unresolved, many people will be dissatisfied. Rather than letting Taizong's people take the opportunity to threaten us, it is better to retreat in order to advance. Lord Xiao, I am afraid you are not immune from this matter.
Xiao Siwen really couldn't deny it. Everyone knew that if it weren't for his full support, this major event would definitely not have been accomplished with Fan Zhongyi and others alone. Xiao Siwen kept silent.
Yelu Xizhen sighed again and said kindly: I have always supported Lord Xiao, and Lord Xiao must be clear about this. But the Liao Dynasty suffered heavy losses in this matter, and so many people died. If Lord Xiao is still in charge of the court, there will definitely be many people who are dissatisfied. What I mean is that as long as Lord Xiao steps down from the chair of the Northern Court Privy Councilor, and everyone nominates another person to preside over state affairs, the situation can be eased.
Yelu Xizhen paused and said meaningfully, even if the Privy Councilor of the Northern Court is not Lord Xiao, at least he is still one of ours.
"Your Majesty, what you said makes sense," Xiao Siwen replied softly, but did not comment.
He paced back and forth in the room, with a very bad premonition looming over his heart.
Xiao Siwen has never been obsessed with power and status, but sometimes he dare not let go of power easily. In the past, many people did not dare to act rashly against him because of his great power. If he were attacked, the risk to his opponents would also be great. If he did not have power and the power of revenge, what would those hidden enemies under the waves have to worry about
It is too easy to say that we should retreat in order to advance.
Xiao Siwen racked his brains and thought hard, is there a better way now