Zhou Xian braved the rain to welcome the imperial carriage at the palace gate. After Guo Shao came down, he took the umbrella from Wang Zhong's hand and covered her head with it before asking her to help him up.
Although it was a trivial matter, Zhou Xian was immediately moved. When Zhou Duan was convicted of a serious crime and she failed to replace him as the virtuous concubine, some people in the palace talked about her falling out of favor, but Zhou Xian still often felt cared for.
Wang Zhong, you can go back now. Guo Shao said.
After he finished speaking, he went into the house with Zhou Xian silently, without saying anything extra, but his expression was normal. Guo Shao was not a talkative person, but Zhou Xian knew that he was not very old-fashioned. He looked a little listless today.
After Guo Shao sat down in the hall, Zhou Xian poured a cup of brewed tea and handed it to Guo Shao, saying softly: "I dare not interfere in government affairs, and I cannot understand everything. But since I am serving Your Majesty, if I can make Your Majesty feel better, I have done my duty."
Oh, Guo Shao looked at her expectantly, and after a moment he said directly, "I want to do something big, to stop Jiaozhi from becoming independent in time. I thought it would be a great achievement for future generations, but no one seemed to agree. They just thought that I was acting on impulse, arrogant and greedy for merit."
He forced a smile and said, "It doesn't matter if you think about it, it's done anyway. Since I am doing this for the long-term benefit of the country, why do I have to make people understand it?"
Zhou Xian had the same thoughts as Guo Shao at the beginning. But seeing him sitting there like this, with the sound of rain as if he were alone, Zhou Xian felt sorry for this big man in front of him. He was not a pure-hearted person who was indifferent to fame and wealth, but his music was too high to be appreciated by the public. Zhou Xian suddenly thought of his own loss when no one appreciated him.
She pursed her lips and said: If an ordinary person did a good deed, the neighbors and villagers would not understand and it would probably be forgotten; but Your Majesty is different. You are the founding emperor of Daxu, you unified the country, recovered Youyun, and used force to force the Liao Kingdom to cede land and seek peace, forming a brotherly alliance with the enemy country. You are destined to be recorded in history.
This means that many people will know what Your Majesty has done. Even if there is not one person in the world today who understands Your Majesty's long-term and great achievements, is it possible that no one has understood it for thousands of years
There are many knowledgeable people in the world. Your Majesty's good intentions will surely be praised if it is truly a great achievement.
Guo Shao was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but clapped his hands and laughed: Well said, what a great achievement!
Guo Shao agreed with this statement very much. If you want to be famous and praised by people, wouldn't the descendants of ten or a hundred generations be more than the present generation? I remember Zhou Xian's words were thorny, soft but hard, and quite provocative. But Guo Shao liked her feeling. She was not a submissive person. A thorn raised her insight to the same level.
Guo Shao did not blame him, but was instead intrigued. He picked up the cup of warm tea and took a sip.
Zhou Xian stood up, took down the pipa, bowed politely and said: I will play and sing a song for Your Majesty to comfort your hard work.
At this time, Guo Shao couldn't help but think that Li Yu was a famous talent and a bosom friend throughout the ages, while he was very vulgar and only understood the body of a beautiful woman, so he sighed: It's a pity that I am just a military man and know nothing about music. I can only listen roughly.
Zhou Xian smiled and said: "I think that although Your Majesty does not understand the rules of poetry, he is very good at appreciating it. I am different from Your Majesty. Your Majesty wants the praise of all the people, but I only want one person to know my goodness.
When Guo Shao heard that he could actually appreciate classical music, which was said by the most accomplished artist in the world today, he became even happier. He thought to himself that if it was a good classical Chinese article, illiterate people would definitely be completely confused; but music and dance are different, no matter what, they can always feel something.
All he could do was sit there seriously, put aside all distractions, and appreciate Zhou Xian's performance.
Zhou Xian plucked the pipa, glanced at Guo Shao who was concentrating and serious, and then began to play and sing. Guo Shao didn't even understand the words very well, it was just a casual little song.
However, when Zhou Xian sang a little song, his Jiangnan accent was gentle and his pronunciation was clear and round, without any sense of weakness. In addition, his posture and expression were just right, his eyes followed the melody, and his fair and beautiful appearance was integrated with his passionate and gentle singing.
Even though Guo Shao didn't understand the tricks, the fact that he could sing any little tune like this showed his skill. It was completely different from the singing and dancing at ordinary banquets or court banquets.
After the song, Guo Shao immediately clapped his hands in praise. He did not applaud, but said: If it is a difficult song, with a high pitch, tricky changes or a long exhalation, it is easy to show the singing skills; and some of the big dances in the palace, the body movements are beyond the reach of ordinary people, and you can tell at a glance that they are amazing. But I think that those who can make people obsessed with just a casual move of their hands are the real talents.
He said seriously:
Zhou Xian didn't wait for Guo Shao to finish speaking, she was already laughing so hard that her body was shaking and she seemed to be out of breath. "Your Majesty," he kept saying, "I am a warrior," and he kept praising her so much that people couldn't tell what to do.
Guo Shao didn't smile at all, he was a bit dazed. He thought that singing and dancing can really increase a woman's charm. When he saw girls singing and dancing in school, his mind was full of random thoughts. He also thought of the emperors in ancient times. Those who were truly proficient in literature and music were not necessarily lustful. On the contrary, those incompetent emperors who knew nothing liked to watch singing and dancing the most, and indulged in music and sex. It can be seen that this thing, in addition to its artistic value, is a temptation in itself.
Guo Shao leaned forward, stretched out his long arm, gently grabbed Zhou Xian's wrist and pulled it back. His palm was already burning hot. He said shamelessly: After listening to the highbrow literature, I was thinking about the lowbrow tastes. However, the most instinctive happiness is the most direct.
Unexpectedly, Zhou Xian's body was flexible and slippery, and Guo Shao was reluctant to use force. She turned around and slipped away two steps, blushing and laughing softly, saying: "I didn't get any news all day, and thought that His Majesty would not come tonight. It rained again today, so I didn't take a bath. Even if we can't have dinner first, you should wait for a while, and I will go take a bath first."
Guo Shao was stunned and said: I don't think it's necessary
Zhou Xian smiled and said: You can't eat hot tofu in a hurry.
She has always been like this, not very obedient anyway. Guo Shao had no choice but to be patient and wait for a while.
At this moment, Guo Shao called Zhou Xian again: Wait a minute, I thought of something and want to tell you first.
What does Your Majesty want to say? Zhou Xian turned around and walked back.
Guo Shao pondered and said: There are several people in the palace who I have always wanted to confer titles on. However, there are no vacancies for the four wives below the queen, and I can't bear to give them too low a rank, so I have been delaying it.
Zhou Xian listened quietly without saying a word.
Guo Shao paused and said: I have rethought it recently. Talented people in the court must have a way to advance in order to maintain the vitality of the country. Appropriate competition is beneficial and has no disadvantages; but the palace is different from the court. If I indulge concubines to fight for fame and fortune, it is definitely not a good thing.
Although I like Ehuang, I cannot let you get into trouble just because I love you, which will only increase your jealousy and troubles. Therefore, I decided to confer Ehuang the title of Zhaoyi, Huarui the title of Zhaoyuan, and Lu Lan the title of Wanyi, so that they can have a legitimate status.
After hearing this, Zhou Xian knelt down and saluted, saying with a happy face: Thank you, Your Majesty, for the grace and honor.
Guo Shao gestured for her to stand up. Zhou Xian stood up and said softly: "Then I'll go take a shower first."
After she left the hall, Guo Shao opened the wooden door to take a breath and let the cool breeze from the rain blow in.
Zhou Xian's palace was a separate palace, with maids and eunuchs serving her. She had no title, but was well paid. In summer, the palace was full of flowers and plants, and there were pavilions, terraces, corridors and weeds scattered around. The environment was quite good.
Guo Shao stood at the door, looking across a corridor, and saw a beautiful young woman standing under the pavilion at the end of the corridor. Guo Shao looked for a while before recognizing that it was Zhou Xian's second sister Zhou Jiamin. No wonder he felt that she looked a bit like Zhou Xian at first glance.
Guo Shao almost forgot about Xiao Zhou. When he saw her again, he felt that she had grown up so fast, as if she had grown into a big girl in a short time.
At this time, Xiao Zhou was indeed easily forgotten. She was just the second daughter of the once prominent Zhou family and the sister of the queen of the already extinct Southern Tang. She was two levels away from being a famous person.
She might never be famous again. But Guo Shao thought that maybe for her, living a quiet life was better than the fame she should have had.
Zhou Jiamin seemed to have noticed Guo Shao standing at the door, but she remained motionless across the corridor. She lay there listlessly with her arms on the railing, and seemed unhappy.
Guo Shao couldn't help but walk out the door and walk along the corridor towards the pavilion.
Zhou Jiamin turned around and looked at Guo Shao for a while, then stood up straight, squatted down slightly, and saluted Guo Shao with his hands clasped together.
His Majesty.
Guo Shao walked to the bottom of the pavilion, waved his hand and looked at her face. Who bullied you
Zhou Jiamin stood up and leaned on the railing again. Compared with anyone Guo Shao had seen in the palace, she looked very unserious, which reminded Guo Shao of a rebellious girl. She shook her head and said, "It's nothing. Anyway, everyone will laugh at me for moaning and being ignorant."
She spoke in a delicate voice, as pleasant as her sister's, but a little more delicate. Her face was spotless and very pure, and her body had developed into a certain shape. Guo Shao smelled a faint scent. Could it be the legendary fragrance? He thought it might be a hormone smell emitted by the girl during her development.
Guo Shao suddenly did not think she was childish at all, and immediately leaned on the railing and said seriously: I don't think so. Perhaps those who claim to be sensible have lost the sensitivity to perceive everything, and instead think everything is simple and vulgar.
Zhou Jiamin looked at Guo Shao in surprise. Guo Shao remained calm and serious, but he thought it would be easy to make friends with this ignorant girl, as long as he put down his old-fashioned attitude.
At this moment, Zhou Jiamin suddenly said: My eldest sister is out, Your Majesty, please go over quickly.
Guo Shao turned around and saw a piece of light red silk floating past the door.