Warrior in Turbulent Han Dynasty

(I'm really sorry everyone, I was too drunk the night before yesterday. I slept too long yesterday and my head hurts, so...)

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It was just dawn, and there was a dim light in a room in the quaint Sanqing Hall. The person who woke up early was the imperial concubine Zhang, who was slowly copying the words and sentences of Zhuangzi. Only by following the wonderful ideas left by the ancients, can she escape the sky.

The night was too long, and Zhang had nothing to do and went to bed early. If the sleep time was too long, her head would be dizzy, and it would also cause difficulties in falling asleep; so she got up very early.

A middle-aged woman knocked on the door and came in, whispering: "Last night, Concubine Li summoned her servants to meet. It is not easy for us to go in and out of the Wanfu Palace. Fortunately, my servants often come and go to do some chores; it was already night, and my servants did not have time to tell my mother. This morning, my servants rushed to report..."

This woman was by Zhang's side during Taizu's time, and she was loyal, but very wordy. Mrs. Zhang interrupted her immediately: "Why did Mrs. Li see you?"

The woman said: "She wants to see you, and says she has something to talk to the empress."

"Oh..." Mrs. Zhang held a brush in her hand and repeatedly dipped it back and forth on the ink in the inkstone, just like a bored child playing with mud, doing some trivial and useless things.

After a while, Mrs. Zhang asked again: "What does she want to talk about?"

The woman said: "The servants don't know, and Concubine Li didn't say either."

Mrs. Zhang felt that there was nothing to talk about with this person, and there had been grudges for many years. How the grievances started in the first place, even Mrs. Zhang can't remember clearly, anyway, the root cause is competition for favor, that person thinks that she is not pregnant with the dragon species and it is all the fault of Mrs. Zhang; Later, there are too many grievances, big and small, and this is how the accumulated grievances are. But Mrs. Zhang couldn't help but want to meet her to see what she really wanted to do, otherwise she would be thinking about this matter in her heart, jealous and worried...

"I'm not afraid of her, so what if I meet her?" Zhang Shi said, "You go back with me, I will change my clothes later, you go and let our people prepare, and follow me to see Li Shi."

It is easier for eunuchs and court ladies with some responsibilities to enter and exit Wanfu Palace. Once concubines live in, they generally cannot come out. Mrs. Zhang was able to come out entirely because of the will of the superior to allow her to go to the Sanqing Hall to practice.

Not long after, when Mrs. Zhang returned to Wanfu Palace from Sanqing Palace, she felt a sudden chill in her heart. Sanqing Palace is even colder than here, but for some reason, Mrs. Zhang feels that Wanfu Palace is even more terrifying.

She went back to tidy up, and brought a dozen or so court ladies who were usually close to her to meet Concubine Li.

Concubine Li went to the door to welcome her. Seeing Mrs. Zhang leading so many people, her expression changed slightly. She was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly bent her knees and clasped her hands at her waist and made a blessing, looked at Zhang's toes and said, "Welcome to the Empress Dowager."

Concubine Li's actions made Mrs. Zhang very surprised. Although there are some women who have gaps and are polite on the surface, most of them don't have deep grievances; Mrs. Zhang is different from this woman, and the two of them did not have good words in front of each other.

Mrs. Zhang looked at Concubine Li for a while, but from her demeanor, there was no sign of hostility. This person is still young, but his body is wide and plump, and he doesn't look slender at all.

Mrs. Zhang said coldly: "Concubine Li is too polite."

Concubine Li invited her to take a seat on the couch, looked back at the dozen or so people she had brought over, and gently asked: "Empress, can you take a step to speak?"

Mrs. Zhang immediately responded: "Is there something that can't be said now? We are standing upright, so we have nothing to say? Why whisper, I don't know, I think we are discussing some secret conspiracy, and people suspect it for no reason. Don't you think so?"

Concubine Li's face turned blue and white after hearing this, and she was silent for a long time. Seeing this, Mrs. Zhang was also wary of her having an attack on the spot, but she endured it and showed a flattering smile.

Mrs. Zhang guessed in her heart that this woman must have heard from somewhere that her nephew was reused by the new king. In addition, Mrs. Zhang was able to go to the Sanqing Palace to clean up... It is not so easy to become a monk, just like many years of experience, once the concubine lives in, it is almost impossible to get out. Even if she goes to the Sanqing Palace, there is at least a chance to contact people outside. Unless it is with the permission of someone with real power in the palace, which is the case with the Zhang family.

Concubine Li may have guessed from various signs that Mrs. Zhang has climbed back to power; maybe the meeting of the new emperor at the Sanqing Palace has been leaked. Otherwise, can Concubine Li make a downcast expression in front of her?

Thinking of all the previous grievances, sulking, and slander behind her back, Mrs. Zhang couldn't help feeling a surge of joy at this moment, as if suddenly feeling a cool breeze in a stuffy room, transparent and refreshing.

But following it, there was a chill. Because Mrs. Zhang understands that no matter how sincere Concubine Li is, she has no choice but to be patient and seek perfection; once she has the chance, she definitely wants to get revenge!

Sure enough, after being silent for a long time, Concubine Li whispered in public: "Today I saw the empress dowager, I just want to apologize..." She blushed when she said that, she was subdued in front of so many people, her voice was as soft as a mosquito flapping its wings.

Mrs. Zhang looked at her coldly, feeling sorry for her, and she knew it was not easy to speak out from that voice. But Mrs. Zhang held her breath, looked directly at her, and thought: Anyway, the grievances are deep enough, I'm afraid she's useless.

Concubine Li hesitantly said: "There was some misunderstanding in the past, the empress dowager does not remember villains, how about we get back together?"

Mrs. Zhang remained calm, and slowly said: "Where is there any misunderstanding? I have never had any prejudice against Concubine Li."

Concubine Li murmured: "That's good, that's good..."

Zhang did not give in and agreed to reconcile, because it was impossible; nor did he go too far if he failed.

She was neither afraid of Concubine Li, nor was she arrogant. I have really experienced ups and downs, and I understand that I can't be proud all the time. Especially women, who are dependent on others...

Cao Bin, who is on the field, is naturally one of the reasons why Fu Jinzhan, Guo Shao, etc. are more tolerant of themselves; but Zhang is very clear-headed, and she can't use Cao Bin as a bargaining chip for herself. Cao Bin is not her son, and will never affect his loyalty because of his aunt; besides, even if Mrs. Zhang continues to live in the cold palace, it is a matter of course, and Cao Bin is unwilling to take care of it. Mrs. Zhang was able to consider a situation in a very specific way: if the rich and powerful listened to some slander and disliked him, then there was no need to be tolerant.

And the new emperor Guo Shao just met him, what will happen? Mrs. Zhang is not sure. The most favorable situation, of course, is that Guo Shao has a good impression of him, and he can decide his own fate with one word.

This is also the reason why Zhang tried every means to get close to Guo Shao. Of course, her motives were not pure, and there were too many realities and schemes in it... However, Zhang recalled that the smallest places were inexplicably warm, and those details were not tricks.

In her mind, a pair of big rough hands were placed on his ribbon. At that moment, he didn't know whether he should undress or not. She seemed to feel the hesitation of that moment.

...

Inside the Jinxiang Hall, Guo Shao picked up a piece of jade paperweight with his rough hands protruding from the veins, and placed it on a piece of paper with wet ink. The gentle and smooth Hetian jade formed a sharp contrast with his hand.

This is a set of several rooms located in the north of the office and study, as a resting place. However, it is still very spacious, especially as the hall in the center of several warm pavilions, it occupies a large area. It is very quiet and tidy here, and it is very comfortable to sit here. Even the people in the palace specially opened the windows to consider ventilation. All the furnishings and expenses are made of expensive materials and the workmanship is fine; even the handkerchief with which he covers his mouth when he coughs is made of high-quality silk cotton, which is breathable and soft to hold in his hand.

Guo Shao had a bit of a cold these two days, but it was not serious, mainly coughing.

He is a warrior who eats and sleeps in the open, but now he is sitting here, feeling like he is enjoying himself in a greenhouse. However, such an environment is still very beneficial. It is easier to concentrate when thinking about things, because all the details are smooth, and it is not easy to cause inexplicable and subtle irritability.

At this moment, Li Shanggong walked in, politely said: "Your Majesty, the person you want to summon has arrived. The servant brought her here, or..."

"Call her in," Guo Shao said.

Not long after, I saw a young lady in a light red skirt carrying a heavy box walk in. She is Lu Xiaoniang, and Guo Shao asked someone to bring her into the palace to prescribe medicine for him.

Lu Xiaoniang put the box on the wooden floor, knelt down in the tunnel and said, "My concubine kowtows to Your Majesty."

"Get up quickly, there is a stool next to you. Cough..." Guo Shao said, "I'm actually fine, but King Wei and the others will come to Beijing in a few days, and it's hard to see them coughing, and I want to get well soon. I still believe in Miss Lu's medical skills. I have personally experienced that you are very effective in curing wind and cold." Guo Shao said with a smile.

Lu Xiaoniang blushed, and looked back, the palace lady had already left the door, and there were only the two of them in the huge palace. Lu Lan said in a low voice: "I came to face the saint. I was quite scared just now, but His Majesty is still the same."

Guo Shao said with a smile: "The identity can change, but the person will not."

Lu Lan took a bold look at Guo Shao's face and said, "Stick out your tongue and take a look."

After a while, she glanced at it, bit her lower lip lightly to keep from laughing, and said, "Stretch out your left hand."

Lu Lan gently lifted up Guo Shao's yellow satin sleeves, and stretched out her fingers to put on Guo Shao's veins. Guo Shao asked her to feel her pulse without saying a word, but felt an indescribable comfort when the girl's hand touched her skin.

Unexpectedly, Lu Lan didn't let go for a while, and suddenly blushed and said, "Your Majesty, don't look at me, it makes my heart flustered, and I can't feel the pulse..."

Guo Shao said in astonishment: "Okay, okay, I'll turn my head away."

!!