As Tomb Sweeping Day approaches, Tokyo’s many days of sunny weather seem to be coming to an end.
Guo Xin sat on the stone steps in front of the house, looking above his head through the newly grown branches and leaves of the pear tree in the yard. All he could see was the gray sky. The dark clouds were so low that no sunlight could penetrate at all. Not a single bird was seen. It was about to rain, and the whole world was as quiet as death.
"Brother Yi." Guo Pu's voice came from outside the courtyard. Guo Xin responded, and Guo Pu's figure hurried in. "Wang Shiliang is here and waiting outside."
Guo Xin nodded, and just as he was about to stand up, another foot came in from outside the courtyard door: "Why is Guo Lang sitting on the ground?"
Yuniang came in with a food box on her arm. When she saw Guo Xin, she said angrily: "The weather is cold, and the stones are even colder. Guo Lang just fell off his horse. If he doesn't stay in the house, he will stay here to get cold." As he said this, he caught a glimpse of confusion. Guo Pu, who was standing aside, said kindly: "If you want to do something, you should have dinner before going."
Guo Pu received the signal and hurriedly bowed and said: "I'll go outside and wait for Brother Yi first."
"No," Guo Xin smiled and stood up on the stone steps. He stepped forward to take the food box from Yu Niang's hand and comforted: "Yu Niang is too protective of me. It may rain in this bad weather. Yu Niang goes back to the house first." Come in, I'll eat outside."
Guo Xin met Wang Shiliang in a side room next to the gatehouse where the handymen and grooms rested. As he had just been promoted by Guo Xin as a general of the personal army, he was not worthy of being introduced to the privy envoy's home to wait for guests. hall.
"I've seen Commander Guo." Wang Shiliang saluted with clasped fists.
"No need to be polite." Guo Xin waved his hand disapprovingly.
The weather outside was gloomy, and even the cabin was not very bright. Guo Pu took out a firebrand and lit the only lamp in the room, which made the room appear slightly brighter. Guo Xin sat down on a bench by the wall, then opened the food box and raised his chopsticks without hesitation. Seeing Wang Shiliang standing there in shock because of his actions, he asked with a smile: "You haven't eaten yet? "
Wang Shiliang shook his head quickly: "I'm humble enough to eat."
Guo Xin looked at Wang Shiliang: "Then sit down and talk."
Wang Shiliang: "I am no more humble than a general. I dare not be rude in front of the commander."
Guo Xin wanted to say that he was also a Dutou last year, but he immediately thought that not everyone had such a background and opportunities, so he changed his mind and said: "Since Wang Dutou is my old subordinate in Taiyuan, he can still occupy a mere seat. I'm here. Tell me about the errand I gave you earlier."
Wang Shiliang sat down as he was told, and while Guo Xin picked up his chopsticks, he started talking about business: "According to Commander Guo's instructions, our people have been staring at the Li Mansion, and Li Shouzhen got a stick on the court. Although I have announced that I am ill in the past few days, I occasionally drive to visit several other commander-in-chief's mansions where people are visiting the court...yesterday it was Qiguo Gong's mansion."
The Duke of Qi State is also the Fu family. Wang Shiliang said while carefully observing Guo Xin's expression. Although the two people were talking at the same time, one was reporting and the other was eating. Even if Guo Xin nodded occasionally, Wang Shiliang would not I couldn't tell whether I was satisfied with the errands I ran or the food in my food box.
It wasn't until he heard about Qi Guogong's residence that Guo Xin stopped his chopsticks and asked, "How long has Li Shouzhen stayed in the Fu family's residence?"
Wang Shiliang: "Less than a moment."
"Oh..." Guo Xin pondered for a moment, "It seems that the agreement has not been reached."
Neither Wang Shiliang nor Guo Pu knew how to answer the call, and the room fell into silence for a while, leaving only the flickering candle shadow. Guo Xin stood up quickly: "Go and prepare the horse, I'll go to Fu's house."
...The Duke of Qi's Mansion is in the northeast corner of the inner city. A moment after handing over the name card, the servants of the mansion ushered Guo Xin in. The Fu family is not small in size, and there are many hidden courtyards. Occasionally, there are exquisite pavilions appearing in and out of the houses. Outside the verandah, you can see carefully designed small pools, flowing water, flowers and gardening. It is still cold in the season. , presumably the landscape will be more pleasing to the eye in the summer - it doesn't look like the Takeo family's mansion anyway.
Fu Zhaoxu walked out of the palace to greet Guo Xin, with a solemn expression on his face: "I've heard General Guo's name for a long time. I made a mistake at the racecourse a few days ago and bumped into General Guo. I didn't have time to come to accuse General Guo. I didn't expect General Guo. But he came first.”
"Dalang of the Fu family. What happened that day was caused by a villain, and Dalang Fu is not to blame." Guo Xin returned the greeting with fists in his hands, and in two words he revealed the incident on the court, and said with a smile: "Dalang of the Fu family, don't you?" Do you think I'm here to punish you? I was out for a stroll and passed by this place. I looked up and saw the Fu family, so I wanted to come in and say hello. It's rude and impolite to come here rashly."
Fu Zhaoxu glanced at the dark clouds above his head and was speechless: Is there anyone going to hang out in this weather? However, there was a friendly smile on his face, and he made an inviting gesture toward Guo Xin: "General Guo, please."
Guo Xin followed him in: "If you don't care what General Guo calls you, Fu Lang, just call me brother Yi like Shi Dejun and others."
Fu Zhaoxu didn't hesitate: "That's fine."
The two sat down separately, and when the servants served hot tea, Fu Zhaoxu spoke first: "That day, Guo... Yi Ge was so heroic when he was on the court. If it hadn't been for that accident, I thought the Red Team would really turn defeat into victory. ”
The two of them were not familiar with each other yet, so seeing that Fu Zhaoxu was still talking about polo, Guo Xin also answered: "It's just to save some face for my imperial army. I don't dare to say that we can turn defeat into victory. But if you ride my eight-treasure unicorn, , there may be something to be said for this.”
"Eight-treasure unicorn!" Fu Zhaoxu's eyes lit up: "Is it the one that the former King of Wei gave to Brother Yi?"
"Oh? Fu Lang also knows about this?"
"It just so happens that when I first entered the palace to meet the Holy Spirit, I was given a horse by the official family and ordered me to choose a royal horse in the Tiansi Prison. The inner prisoner in the royal stable once said that the best royal horse will be chosen first. The King of Wei gave it to the second son of Privy Guo's family. At that time, I felt a pity that I could not see the eight-treasure unicorn. Now that I know that Yi Ge'er's equestrian skills are very exquisite, I think that the unicorn horse will not be buried."
After saying that, Fu Zhaoxu stroked the tea bowl and took a sip. This action further made Guo Xin feel that the Fu family was different from other martial arts families. For example, when Shi Dejun drank tea, he always poured it into his mouth after raising the cup.
"It seems that Fu Lang is also a horse lover," Guo Xin nodded, "Horses are just like people, they need opportunity and appreciation to make a difference. The official gave Fu Lang a royal horse, which shows that the family is deeply attached to him."
Fu Zhaoxu nodded with deep understanding: "My father often said at home that the Fu family has been favored in this life, and I feel deeply guilty. The only way to do this is to serve the country with sincerity."
Guo Xin also said: "Who says it's not the case? If all the generals are as loyal and loyal to the country as Duke Qi, how can the court worry less! In my opinion, seeing Fu Lang, it can already be seen that Duke Qi is a As a loyal and filial person, it is right to be unfailingly kind and honorable. And looking at Li Chongxun's appearance, it is clear that the rumors that the Li family was tyrannical and cruel in Hezhong Mansion are not false."
At this moment, there was a sudden flash of light in the house, and then there was a sudden loud bang - thunder was happening outside the house.
