Sitting on her knees in the attic of Lingzhi Hall, turning her head to look out the north window, Queen Mother Guo often had the illusion of looking at a painting. The scenery was not as beautiful as a painting, but rather motionless. She rarely looked to the south to look at the scenery, because
It's even more boring over there, you can only see a row of palace walls and towers, and the tallest hall of Tai Chi Hall.
Instead, she likes rainy or snowy weather, where she can at least see something moving.
Otherwise, a bright sunny day will do, and you can see farther. You can see the Baichi Tower outside the palace, the Zongzhang Temple, and the pavilions and pavilions of Hualin Garden (originally called Fanglin Garden, to avoid changing it), and you can see farther.
The mountain shape of Mang Mountain is also within sight.
But on this cloudy winter day, there are no birds, no insects, just lifelessness.
Man Chong has passed away recently, and the court is very nervous. Empress Dowager Guo is also very nervous, but her nervousness is just because she is afraid of saying the wrong thing, and she can't do anything. She doesn't have the final say who wins and who loses, and she has so many worries.
do what?
At this time, the visitor from the middle palace of Changqiu ordered Zhang Huan to go up to the attic and said: "Your Highness the Queen Mother, Mrs. Zhen has come into the palace. I asked someone to bring her in directly. Now I guess she has
Enter the West Garden."
A trace of vitality suddenly appeared in Queen Mother Guo's eyes, and she nodded: "Okay."
Zhang Huan bent down and backed away.
Zhen was outside the palace. After she became a widow, almost no one cared about her. She could always say some interesting and strange things, which made Queen Mother Guo feel interesting besides reading the documents and books. Besides the first time, the most interesting person was Zhen.
Li Cang, the palace visitor, was the eunuch who could describe everything in Luoyang vividly and with facial expressions.
Thinking about it this way, life in the palace seems to be pretty good, and you can often go to the court to receive worship services and listen to important affairs of the court.
Sure enough, as soon as Mrs. Zhen came in, her mood immediately changed. She actually knelt down and took Empress Dowager Guo's arm affectionately. Then she remembered and stood up quickly to bow. Seeing this, Empress Dowager Guo raised her sleeves and gently bowed.
With a wave, the remaining maids also retreated.
The first words Zhen whispered made Queen Mother Guo stunned. Zhen whispered: "We did that on the street."
"What?" Queen Mother Guo stared at Zhen in disbelief.
Zhen quickly covered her mouth, shook her head and said, "I'm wrong, it's on a carriage, but the carriage is driving on the street."
Queen Mother Guo frowned and said, "Isn't that just doing casual things in the wilderness?"
Zhen's expression gradually changed and she said, "Sister, it seems that's what happened, but why does it sound weird?"
Queen Mother Guo's voice had a dignified feel in the court, "Your courage is getting bigger and bigger, are you not afraid of being noticed?"
Zhen silently took out a piece of cloth from her arms.
Empress Dowager Guo took it over and observed it for a while. There was a schematic diagram drawn with lines on it. The words Dong Cao, Xicao, Staff Cao, Du Zhi, Bing Cao, etc. were framed with lines and connected up and down. Empress Dowager Guo remembered two
Days ago, Qin Liang submitted a letter and said: "This seems to be a draft of the official position of the school affairs office. Do you want to be his lobbyist? Didn't I say that I have no objection."
"What do you mean?" Mrs. Zhen glanced at the cloth again in confusion, then made a gesture of putting it in her mouth, "I use the cloth like this to avoid making any noise. Although there are sounds, they can't be heard outside, such as the wheels and wooden boards.
There is shaking and sound."
Empress Dowager Guo was speechless and suddenly felt a very complex and absurd feeling in her heart. The cloth with the image of the government was placed in the woman's mouth during the wild ride, as if it had a huge thorn in the wind. Qin Liang was simply humiliating her on purpose.
Something grand.
But Queen Mother Guo actually felt an inexplicable sense of comfort. She asked in a low voice: "How did you do it when the carriage is cold and hard?"
Mrs. Zhen seemed to have discovered that Mrs. Guo was interested, so she began to describe the detailed process. Mrs. Zhen also said that she was in a hurry because of the tight time, so Qin Zhongming moved very quickly, which was completely different from the last time. She almost fainted because she was afraid
I was very nervous after being discovered, I was fast but I didn't dare to say anything, and my nails are still hurting now.
Queen Mother Guo's face could already feel the heat and she couldn't say a word at the moment. Madam Zhen whispered again: "Remember what I told my sister about the imperial doctor's pulse diagnosis? Just take out the necessary parts. It's really cold on the carriage.
, we are like that too. But when our backs are turned, we can put our hands into our clothes to keep warm. If we are hugging each other, we can open our lapels and not be afraid of the cold."
"You are serious." Queen Mother Guo seemed to see a painting-like scene, and she could not finish her sentence for a while.
At this time, Mrs. Zhen bowed her head and whispered: "The method that my sister and I thought of last time may be the same as this time. I am scared and nervous. I feel quite panicked. I may move very quickly, but I don't dare to do it."
It’s really unbearable if I make any noise, and I might faint if I’m not careful.”
Mrs. Guo finally stopped holding it, and said in a low voice with a calm face: "What will it be like when the time comes? Why don't you tell me more carefully."
So Zhen continued to narrate in a low voice.
After a long time, Mrs. Guo let out a long sigh, but she did not feel at ease. Instead, she seemed to have something pressing in her heart, and she could not find an outlet no matter what, making her very depressed and uncomfortable.
Mrs. Zhen suddenly said: "It seems that I felt a little sorry for the girl in the car with me. I probably didn't pay attention and scratched her."
Guo said in shock: "Is there anyone watching next to you?"
Zhen was a little embarrassed and said: "Qin Zhongming said he was his man and he was very reliable. It's freezing outside and it's getting late. The carriage is moving and we can't drive people off."
She looked thoughtful, and after a while she said softly: "The girl has been silent, but I know that she can feel my feelings, my voice, the strength of my hands, and my expression. She is right next to her, and she will definitely be able to feel it.
you got me."
Guo said deliberately: "You are too lonely and always want someone to accompany you, so why not find someone to marry again."
Mrs. Zhen said with a smile: "If Qin Zhongming is not married, I will be willing to marry again. Otherwise, life may be boring, and I have to take the trouble to do the etiquette of submission every day."
Guo said: "It's simply deviant. No wonder others don't say good things about you."
Mrs. Zhen looked helpless. After a moment, she sighed again: "When we first met this time, Qin Zhongming was polite and courteous, but seemed reluctant. Alas, although my reputation is not very good, how many people covet me?
, I delivered it to my door myself, but he was unwilling, which made me so angry."
Mrs. Guo thought for a moment and then comforted her with words: "It's not that you are not beautiful, it's that he is not lacking."
Mrs. Zhen thought for a moment and nodded in agreement, then continued: "Later I mentioned that I had convinced His Highness about the strategy of making salt. He immediately changed his mind and made an appointment to meet at my villa the next day. In any case, Qin Zhongming is at least a benefactor.
The person who wanted to retaliate. But he was already in front of me, so I was not willing to wait for another day, so the wild boar incident happened."
Guo asked softly: "Can't you wait even a day?"
Mrs. Zhen glanced at her and said, "You will know if you try it."
Mrs. Guo bit her red lips lightly and said nothing.
Madam Zhen would not stay overnight in the palace, so she accompanied Queen Mother Guo out of Lingzhi Hall, walked around the Westward Journey Garden for a while, and then went back. The weather was quite cold, and it was really uncomfortable to stay outside.
The next day was October 25th, and Qin Zhongming happened to be coming to court.
The matter of Jiang Ji's promotion to Taiwei was mentioned again at the court meeting today. It is basically impossible to change it. Because of Jiang Ji's qualifications, prestige and merits, his promotion to Taiwei is a natural thing. Even Sima Yi could not object. Before, Sima Yi could only delay.
The only one who could refuse was Jiang Ji, but Jiang Ji remained silent, so there was no doubt about the matter.
It was quite a big thing, but Queen Mother Guo didn't care too much, because she couldn't change anything, she could only let it develop, and just pay attention and observe it.
She was behind the curtain and wanted to see Qin Zhongming again. Unfortunately, Qin Zhongming was standing too far away and there were many people blocking him in front of him. Queen Mother Guo could not see clearly at all and could only roughly see where Qin Zhongming was standing.
It was impossible for Queen Mother Guo to hear what Qin Liang said. Qin Liang came to court several times and never spoke.
When the court meeting was over, Mr. Guo asked the visitors in the middle palace to stay with Qin Liang, saying that he had something to summon him.
After waiting for a while, almost everyone in the east hall had left, and the emperor had also left, leaving only the eunuchs and maids. Qin Liang followed the visitor from the middle palace back to the east hall. He walked into the door and walked towards the curtain.
Although the sky is overcast, there are ten gates in the east hall, and the front wall is almost an open door, so the light in the hall is very bright.
The eunuchs and maids were all outside the curtain, and no one dared to look directly at the Queen Mother's face, so as long as Mrs. Guo sat upright and knelt without moving, no one could know what her eyes were looking at. Although there was a curtain, Mrs. Guo
She was very close to the curtain, so she could see outside more clearly, but she couldn't be seen clearly outside.
"Chen Liang, pay homage to His Highness, Your Highness, His Majesty." Qin Liang knelt down in front of him and performed a great salute.
Other ministers did not often salute in front of Guo, but Qin Liang's etiquette was very respectful both times. Seeing how he straightened up after bowing, Guo suddenly thought of what Zhen said, on the carriage.
He was sitting on his knees. Guo seemed to hear Zhen's voice again in her ears. She could turn her back to him or hug him. Guo suddenly seemed to see a painting, and the person in the painting
It's very literally right in front of you.
But Mrs. Guo did not dare to be distracted and quickly said in a dignified and calm voice: "Ping Shen."
Qin Liang said: "I thank you, Your Highness." Then he cautiously got up from the ground, still holding the bamboo sign in both hands.
The bamboo sign did not block Qin Liang's face, because Guo was in a higher position and could overlook his face. It was exactly as Zhen described in detail. Even the shallow goatee was exactly the same, and the palms and fingers seemed to be similar, but
At this time, Guo could not see clearly.
Empress Dowager Guo said: "Previously, you proposed a strategy for making salt. After I thought about it, I thought that this strategy would benefit the country and I can implement it according to your strategy."
Qin Liang's expression did not change, but his eyes seemed brighter, and he was obviously very happy. He held the bamboo sign and said: "Your Highness is really wise in his decision. If the palace manages the salt recipe and makes tribute salt, it can be sold at a higher price."
, the imperial court has made great profits, and as His Highness said, it is beneficial to the country."
Guo was a little amused and thought to herself: I can make decisions wisely.
But Qin Zhongming's serious look is pretty good-looking. As Zhen said, his eyes do have a kind of loyalty, openness and sincerity. His whole person looks handsome and clean. This kind of handsomeness is not arrogant, but
It gives people a sense of closeness, trust and peace of mind.
Seeing Qin Zhongming's temperament and conduct, and thinking that he was quite strategic, Guo suddenly had an impulsive thought in her heart: If I really had the power to appoint and remove him, I would definitely appoint this man as my prime minister.
"Let Zhang Huan discuss the specific matters with Qing." Guo did not dare to talk to Qin Liang for too long.
Qin Liang was indeed a wise man. He immediately bowed and said, "Please excuse me."
Before he retreated and turned around, Queen Mother Guo stared at him greedily for a few more times. Zhen said that after being combined with this handsome and kind body, it felt very intimate and integrated, as if she was no longer alone in the world.
What does it feel like? I can only listen to Zhen's words, but words cannot fully explain it.