Although Guo Kang himself felt that these views were far-fetched, the benefits of the new military mansion clearly attracted everyone in the Cao family.
At this point in the introduction, the main issues have almost been explained. He doesn't need to worry about the rest of the matter. Cao, Wang Da Lama and others will continue to promote this matter.
Guo Kang and Theodora ate something, said goodbye to everyone in the Cao family, and prepared to leave. The Queen Mother Elizabeth was unwilling to go together, saying that since she was already here, she had to compete with Cao and his wife, otherwise the trip would be in vain.
Guo Kang felt that he should stay and take a look and show more enthusiasm. But Theodora showed no interest and pulled him away. The elders just laughed without saying anything and asked Cao Jian to send them out.
The carriage left again, but Guo Kang felt a little regretful, feeling that everything was not done well.
"I see that Cao Jian didn't speak from the beginning to the end." He said to Theodora: "I should find a way to appease him, or at least find a job to do together. He won't think that I am excluding him."
"That's not your place to say." Theodora retorted: "He is so depressed because he compares himself with you every day. If you go to comfort him, won't you add fuel to the fire?"
"This person is very clear when analyzing which force needs what, but when facing a single person, he can't see the person's mind clearly." She sighed: "You don't have to worry about the matter here, I will help you deal with it. .”
"Why can't I see clearly? Isn't this just a problem on my mind?" Guo Kang said unconvinced.
"Then do you know what I'm thinking about right now?" Theodora asked.
"Ah?" Guo Kang really couldn't think of it for a moment.
"I want to go home! Do you understand?" Theodora said angrily.
"Why are you shouting so loudly..." Guo Kang was speechless.
Theodora rushed up to pinch his face, but Guo Kang resisted and questioned why she suddenly went crazy. The two of them got into a fight while in the carriage.
Outside the carriage, the old coachman grinned when he heard the sound of bumping.
"This is like a normal young man." He sighed with emotion as he deliberately let the horse move at full pace.
However, the distance between the Cao family and the Guo family's residence was not too long after all. After arriving at the place, he parked the car, thought for a while, and still didn't knock on the door. He just took out a box from under his seat.
The guards gathered around them curiously, but the old coachman waved them away, took out snacks from the box, and invited everyone to eat together.
Guo Kang and Theodora got out of the car after a while, only to find that all the guards at the door were gone. Looking around, he found Bu Lei standing at the entrance of the alley, pacing left and right with a long knife on his shoulder. Seeing them looking here, they immediately disappeared behind the corner.
Theodora quickly pulled Guo Kang and rushed into the yard.
But not long after, the adoptive father also returned home in a hurry. This time he did not let the two of them continue to hide in the house, but told them to hurry up and prepare. Bansai Khan has arrived at the city gate, and now everyone is organizing a triumphal ceremony, and they must also participate.
Theodora had no choice but to say goodbye to him and return to the palace.
Guo Kang helped his adoptive father until night. The next day, I rushed to Lama Wang to help him transport the lamp and adjust it.
On the day of the triumphal ceremony, Zhu Wenkui's family also came to see the ceremony, and Princess Ma also went to a public place for the first time in a long time. The family wanted Guo Kang, whom they knew well, to serve as a guide, so the official who received them came to inform their adoptive father. As a result, Guo Kang, who had no official position yet and was only a "civilian scholar employed by the church," was kicked to their side again.
Although he was very tired, there was nothing Guo Kang could do.
Zhu Wenkui's family almost went out en masse. Princess Ma, the princess, and little Jeanne all visited the parade, and Zhu Wenkui himself was brought back from the blacksmith shop to try on new clothes.
These clothes were brought by Monk Daoyan, but they have never been worn before. Guo Kang waited at the door for a while and saw him wearing a red robe, a black gauze crown on his head, a jade belt on his waist, and leather boots. He walked out carefully surrounded by several servants.
Judging from the design of this dress, I guess he can't ride a horse. But Guo Kang specially brought a two-wheeled carriage. He jumped out of the car, opened the left door, and helped Zhu Wenkui, who was obviously too nervous, get in.
"Be careful, be careful." Zhu Wenkui held his belt with one hand and picked up the hem of his clothes with the other, constantly telling Guo Kang and others: "This is the only one, don't damage it..."
"It's okay, it's okay, I'm keeping an eye on it." Guo Kang comforted helplessly.
At the door, Monk Daoyan was still wearing plain monk clothes, but he also put on the precious cassock. Seeing Guo Kang's gaze, the old monk clasped his hands together and asked him with a smile to take good care of the prince. Guo Kang also bowed quickly, made the sign of the cross again, and agreed. Then, he returned to the right, turned over, and jumped up.
Immediately afterwards, several other female family members also filed out.
The princess wore a crown, decorated with many jewels and two gold hairpins. It's a pity that Guo Kang has never learned it and can't understand the meaning at all. He only thinks that there are so many gold beads that they are worth a lot of money at a glance.
He was wearing a bright red double-breasted gown with green ribbons on his shoulders. The belt was also embroidered with patterns that Guo Kang couldn't understand at all. They were densely packed and colorful, and they were already worth money at a glance.
The princess still looks a little weak and her face is slightly pale, but her steps are steady and her manners are dignified. Guo Kang, an outsider, can see the propriety between her actions and actions. She has obviously been cultivated over the years - she looks more noble than her son. too much.
Along with Guo Kang, there were also several maids from the palace. They welcomed Princess Ma and boarded a four-wheeled cart decorated with purple ribbons.
This was specially sent by Queen Anna. The two of them knew each other very well, and this was not the first time that the car had come to pick her up.
"Is the princess feeling well?" Guo Kang looked away.
"Not bad." Zhu Wenkui said: "Master Daoyan suggested that we all go, and she was ready to participate."
"Oh..." Guo Kang nodded: "But the scene of the triumphal ceremony has always been extremely noisy. I told them to keep the car ready at all times. If you feel uncomfortable, leave at any time."
Zhu Wenkui nodded in agreement. At this time, little Jeanne also came out.
She was also dressed in red, and the golden crown on her head was similar to her mother's - of course, logically speaking, there must be differences. It's just that in Guo Kang's view, apart from being very valuable, both of them seem to have no more obvious characteristics.
Little Jeanne also looked serious, but her eyes kept looking around. When she saw her brother and Guo Kang in the car, she turned her head and hesitated, but in the end she didn't say anything and walked straight onto the carriage.
"Look, is she quite elegant this time?" Zhu Wenkui was quite proud: "This is what a princess looks like. Are you right?"
"Ah, yes." Guo Kang could only nod.
"Don't be so perfunctory." Zhu Wenkui smiled.
"I really don't understand." Guo Kang waved his hands repeatedly: "The uniform is too complicated for me. I think it's very valuable... and I know a lot about the East here. I guess other people don’t understand it either.”
"Actually, I think so too, but Master Daoyan insists that we dress like this..." Zhu Wenkui said helplessly: "What do you think of this outfit? Others won't find it too funny and weird."
"That's not the case." Guo Kang looked at the bright red body and judged. "This dress is quite Roman."
"That's good, I passed the test." Zhu Wenkui sighed.
Just as she was talking, Princess Jeanne also walked out.
She also wore the same gold crown, and her long dark brown hair was combed up and fixed with hairpins. The dresses are similar to the previous two. She also walked towards the carriage calmly and calmly.
"Does the princess adapt to this dress?" Guo Kang asked in a low voice.
"It's not difficult for her." Zhu Wenkui replied: "French ladies also wear wide robes and long sleeves. Their hats and skirts are more difficult to wear than phoenix crowns and coats."
"She came in a hurry this time. She didn't even bring the dress and hat from before, so she just used the one we prepared before."
Guo Kang was actually a little curious about how to distinguish her and Princess Ma's identities and levels in terms of clothing. But after thinking about it, even if I told him, he wouldn't understand. So this idea passed through his mind and was thrown aside by him.
After the princess also got into the car, the maid closed the door, climbed onto the platform behind the car, and grabbed the armrest. Monk Dao Yan boarded a car further behind. And the heroine Jeanna also appeared at this time.
She wore a green robe, her golden hair was tied into a bun, and she wore a black gauze hat. There was also a patch on the chest with a white bird painted on it, and he walked out like this.
Seeing Guo Kang, she waved happily and said hello. Because the robe was too wide, it fell directly on her shoulders, exposing the linen long-sleeved shirt underneath. She had to hurriedly shake out her sleeves and straighten the clothes.
"What is this? This is..." Guo Kang, who knew almost nothing about uniforms, couldn't stand it anymore.
"This is the official uniform of the fifth-grade prince's chief minister." Zhu Wenkui was also quite embarrassed: "Her father randomly promised her an official position, but she really took care of it and made her own suit..."
"So that white bird means fifth rank?" Guo Kang nodded and decided not to dwell on the question of why he could give a woman a rank. Maybe when Zhu Yunwen was bragging and trying to win people over, he didn't even think about it...
"It's not called White Bird, it's called White Pheasant." Zhu Wenkui, who was standing next to him, couldn't bear it and corrected him.
"Alright alright."
Just as Guo Kang was thinking about how to appease him and ask him not to worry too much about this group of grass-roots team members, Captain Jashka walked out from behind the courtyard wall, leading two horses.
He was also wearing a blue official uniform and a black gauze hat, with a cheerful look on his face. There is also a patch hanging on the chest, with a bear painted on it.
"Is this also an official uniform? Was it granted by King Wu?" Guo Kang had already guessed the situation.
"Yes, he promised to protect thousands of households." Zhu Wenkui was too lazy to use honorifics and explained seriously.
The heroine Jeanna walked over, thanked him, turned over and jumped on her mount. Jessica also got on the horse and congratulated each other. She must have just learned it recently.
"Oh...their animals are different." Guo Kang responded.
"It's different. The grades are different, and the image is also different. But civil servants are all birds, and military officers are all beasts." Zhu Wenkui explained.
"So this is where the 'dressed beast' comes from..." Guo Kang muttered, and then stared at the patches on Jashka's official uniform: "Where have I seen this bear before?"
"The patchwork was originally embroidered. They made it on the spur of the moment. They were too busy, so they found a piece of cloth and asked the painter to draw it on casually." Zhu Wenkui said in a dumbfounded way: "It's normal that he looks familiar. That bear just let people take care of him. Drawn by Kita..."
As soon as they talked about Nikita, the two saw old Ivan coming out.
Nurhachi followed him, wearing the hat of a Ming Dynasty officer on his head; Nikita also followed, still wearing the robe of a Greek politician.
"These two are both civilized and military, dressed like beasts." Guo Kang commented.
Zhu Wenkui turned away without comment.
Heroine Jeanne and Captain Jessica seem to feel very fresh about this outfit. The surrounding servants and passers-by had never seen this kind of dress before. Many people stopped to watch and marveled, and there were more people than those who cared about the Queen's carriage.
The two of them were very satisfied with the attention from the crowd and kept giving in to the cheering audience around them. Zhu Wenkui couldn't stand it anymore and began to urge Guo Kang to leave quickly.
Seeing that everyone was almost ready, Guo Kang waved his hand behind and asked everyone to set off. The few soldiers he brought rode in front to clear the way, followed by three carriages, with Lady Jeanne and Captain Jessica following at the end.
Zhu Wenkui took a long breath and looked quite tired. But then he quickly straightened up, held on to his hat, and tried to maintain a straight posture.
"Where are we going this time?" he asked proactively.
Guo Kang guessed that he wanted to take the opportunity to relieve the pressure, so he explained: "The triumphal ceremony starts from the city gate and ends at the Empress Temple. In fact, it is a carnival celebrating victory."
"So, you don't need to be too nervous. This is originally a place for everyone to celebrate and relax after a fierce war. Today, let alone the nobles, ordinary people can be more casual and enjoy the joy of victory together."
"Since you have come to Rome, just follow the Romans and do as the Romans do." He advised: "As for the etiquette, it just needs to be in a certain way, and there is no need to get too entangled. In our triumphal ceremony, even if we are sarcastic or mocking the commander-in-chief, it is customary to do so. It’s not considered a violation of etiquette, and you won’t be held accountable.”
"Is there such a rule?" Zhu Wenkui was a little surprised.
"Yes, we believe that a victory worthy of a great triumph is an extremely glorious thing that will even eclipse the gods. The gods will be jealous of the victor and cause him suffering. In order to avoid this situation, everyone Say anything derogatory about him, let the gods hear it. After hearing so many accusations and sarcasm, the jealousy of the gods will disappear, and the victor will be safe."
"This custom is quite interesting." Zhu Wenkui pondered for a moment.
"Actually, it's just to give soldiers and citizens a chance to vent." Guo Kang said: "After all, they risked their lives and risked their lives to fight such a big war. They also have reason to complain."
(End of chapter)
