During the spring equinox, the weather in Tokyo gradually began to get warmer, and the current situation in the Central Plains was gradually showing signs of stability. Shortly after the Bianhe River in the city thawed, boats of all sizes loaded with grain and merchant goods re-opened the canal. It's getting busy. This is the first time since the founding of the new dynasty that Tokyo has become peaceful and prosperous.
The young official Liu Chengyou allowed Yang Bin, Su Fengji and other important ministers to act according to their own convenience. Therefore, the entire court revolved around the two centers of the Political Affairs Hall and the Privy Council, slowly but effectively maintaining operations as before.
There is another major event for the court recently, that is, Hou Yi, the military governor of Fengxiang who joined forces with Zhao Kuangzan to invade Guanzhong at the beginning of the year, has also rushed from the distant Fengxiang Mansion to Tokyo to plead guilty to the court. So far, both Zhao Kuangzan and Hou Yi have entered the court, and Wang Jingchong, who was appointed by Liu Zhiyuan before his death, has also led his army to repel the invasion of the Shu army. The situation in Kansai that had made the court quite upset at the beginning of the year was finally alleviated.
The time for Hou Yi to report to the court and officials was scheduled for the court meeting on the last day of February. This time was arranged to coincide with the meeting. The "envoys" of the vassal towns who came from all over the country to express their loyalty to the court had gathered in Tokyo at this time. They took out Hou Yi's petition to plead guilty and put on a show in front of the ministers. This undoubtedly became the court's direction. The actions of the towns to demonstrate their strength showed that although the Han Dynasty was established not long ago, it still had enough power to control the situation under its rule.
After the court meeting at the end of February, the palace continued to hold banquets to celebrate the peace of the war, and invited all the important civil and military ministers in the court and envoys from the vassal towns to Beijing. There were many people attending the banquet. In addition to Guo Wei, the two brothers Guo Tong and Guo Xin and the eldest brother Guo Rong were naturally qualified to be present.
The hall where the banquet was held was filled with all the ministers of the dynasty, and there were also many female relatives present. However, the four members of the Guo family did not sit together. Guo Wei, who had just been promoted to Privy Council envoy not long ago, was sitting near the throne with Yang Bin and others, chatting and laughing with Liu Chengyou, while Guo Tong was chatting with his wife Wang Shilin, who had just joined the family. Sitting in another circle not far from my father-in-law Wang Zhang.
Guo Xin sat close to his eldest brother Guo Rong. Guo Rong was very popular among the mid-level generals of the Forbidden Army. Guo Xin wanted to sit with Guo Rong and get to know the Forbidden Army warriors in front of him, but he was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Shi. Dejun pulled them to sit together.
"Why is Shi Lang coming out?" Guo Xin was a little surprised to see Shi Dejuan because the old lady of the Shi family - Shi Hongzhao's mother and Shi Dejun's grandmother had just passed away not long ago. The Shi family should still be in mourning period now. Shi Dejun should also be mourning at home with Shi Hongzhao.
Seemingly sensing Guo Xin's doubts, Shi Dejun just gently raised his chin in the direction of the throne. Guo Xin looked along and saw two eunuchs setting up seats beside the throne for Shi Hongzhao, who had just arrived.
Shi Dejun laughed softly and said: "Brother Yi, don't feel weird, this is not the way of the world to care about such things."
Guo Xin followed with a noncommittal smile. Not to mention that Shi Hongzhao, as an important minister of the imperial court, casually ignored these etiquettes. Even Liu Chengyou, an official who sat on the high throne and was nominally the most respected among the people, also did the same after the death of the late emperor. But two months later, I'm having fun with the ministers?
Guo Xin is not a traditional defender, and he has no intention of maintaining these ethical systems. However, when he is in them, he will inevitably feel the coldness and chill of something outside the rules.
The banquet started soon, and the hall was noisy with people singing and dancing. Although the outside world is far from a peaceful and prosperous age, the dark clouds brought by the Khitans have long since dissipated. The Shu army that invaded before has now returned in defeat. Everyone is very happy, not to mention being able to participate in the banquet of the inner court. For those in the palace, For many people, it is a great honor in itself.
A group of palace maids in the palace were twisting their waists to the accompaniment of musical instruments. Guo Xin couldn't understand it. He just felt that it didn't look like the style of the Han family. The spinning around was more like some kind of Hu dance. At that moment, he felt that it was meaningless and thought to himself. Might as well go home and listen to Yu Niang singing.
Shi Dejun on the side also seemed to be uninterested, and leisurely talked to Guo Xin about the rumors he heard somewhere: "I heard that Xiao Han, the bald donkey, abducted many maids from the previous dynasty before he left. Now these are the ones left. I’m afraid they are all things that even the Khitans would look down upon.”
"Is there such a thing?" Guo Xinwei frowned. He felt unhappy no matter how much he thought about the Han court ladies being taken away to the grasslands to serve those bald barbarians.
"What's so strange about a country being destroyed and a family being destroyed?" Shi Dejun didn't seem to mind, patting Guo Xin on the shoulder and said: "One day we will get the Khitan to go to the capital, and we will also capture some Khitan girls to play with. I heard that those girls who grew up on the grasslands are used to riding horses, and their bodies are tighter than those of us girls from the Central Plains..."
Guo Xin said nothing, just picked up a glass of sake and drank it.
Seeing that Guo Xin didn't speak, Shi Dejun didn't feel bored, and continued to say with a smile: "This palace banquet is just for a meal, and playing polo is more serious. I have been in the city all winter and my hands are itchy. Brother Shiyi joins my team, and let those handsome officials see the majesty of our children."
Guo Xin asked with great interest: "I wonder who is playing over there?"
Shi Dejun was on duty in the palace every day, so he naturally knew more about the affairs in the palace: "Of course, most of the people entering the court these days are children from various families, especially Fu Zhaoxu, the eldest son of Duke Qi who came to Beijing a while ago. He was quite popular among the officials. The family valued him so much that he was asked to select a royal horse in the prison."
Shi Dejun's head turned as he said this, and he quickly caught a glimpse of something, and hurriedly pointed it out to Guo Xin: "Isn't that the eldest son of the Fu family?"
Guo Xin looked around, and sure enough, surrounded by a group of people, he saw the young man of similar age to himself that he had seen before in front of Fengqiu Gate.
Next to the Dalang of the Fu family was another equally young man, who was chatting over wine with Fu Zhaoxu. They seemed to be very familiar with each other.
Guo Xin asked curiously: "Who is next to the Fu family's elder brother?"
"Li Chongxun from Li Shouzhen's family in the river is not a good guy. The girl next to her is also from the Fu family. What does she call Jinlu?"
It wasn't until Shi Dejun mentioned it that Guo Xin noticed that there was a girl beside Fu Zhaoxu. But it's not surprising that Guo Xin didn't notice it just now. It was because from his perspective, half of Fu Zhaoxu's body seemed to be hidden behind him. In addition, The girl's dress was too low-key, and her cyan skirt would hardly attract attention if she was far away from the crowd.
But then Guo Xin noticed the girl, and after taking a closer look, he found that the girl from the Fu family was very beautiful! Although there was a wide hall and theater crowds between him and his wife, it still could not prevent Guo Xin's eyes from being attracted to that charming and charming face. Even in Guo Xin's view, ordinary beauty can no longer be used to describe such a beauty - it seems that the girl's face has not yet been put on makeup.
In the hall, drums were playing and colorful sleeves were dancing. Guo Xin suddenly had a strange feeling that the sun, moon and time were flowing here, which only caused a confusing illusion in his mind.
At this moment, Shi Dejun clicked his tongue inappropriately: "But I heard that Li Shouzhen intends to marry the Fu family. I'm afraid such a beautiful woman will be worthy of the Li family's bear."
By some strange coincidence, Guo Xin followed Shi Dejun's words and muttered in a low voice: "It's hard to find a beautiful woman again."
Shi Dejun turned around: "What did Brother Yi say?"
Guo Xin shook his head: "I didn't say anything."
