Chapter 50 Self-Recommendation for Bedchamber
The Yan people were defeated, and the officials hurriedly carried the young emperor back to the capital.
Guan Zhiwei had made a great contribution, so the emperor and his officials naturally held a banquet to entertain him.
The officials and ministers were also hosting a banquet for a young girl for the first time, and they were unsure how to arrange it. They argued about whether there should be women dancing to entertain the guests and whether or not to decorate the banquet with flowers and plants. In the end, it was the young emperor who said, "Let's hold this banquet to welcome the heroes' triumphant return."
So the banquet was quite ordinary; there were still dancers performing and music played.
These were all just background props; Guan Zhiwei didn't have time to appreciate the song and dance performances.
The high-ranking officials came up one after another to offer a toast, without putting on any airs.
The old man stroked his beard and said, "The Vice Commander-in-Chief is loyal and devoted to serving the emperor and the country; she is truly a female Han Xin."
The old man raised his wine glass and said, "In this time of national crisis, only the female general led the army to serve the country and relieve its suffering. She is truly loyal and righteous. Whether it is loyalty to the emperor or righteousness to the people, you have done it all. I admire you greatly."
"Heroic, loyal, and talented, they will surely be remembered by history." This is what historians say.
"A man of exceptional talent and true hero deserves a fine horse to match him." This is a saying of horse breeders.
"Commander-in-Chief, are you married? I have a son who is quite capable and handsome." This was his drinking prowess.
"Your Majesty, I would like to compose a poem—'With unwavering loyalty, she charts the battle plan; with the military tally hidden in her sleeves, she holds the talisman. Women have always willingly accepted this task; why must a general be a man?'" Liu Zhihua was very pleased with his masterpiece and quickly asked the eunuch behind him to find a pen to write it down. His masterpiece would become famous throughout the world with this banquet.
The young emperor nodded: "This poem is well written. I also have a line: 'A woman of extraordinary birth, even the treacherous would fall at the mere mention of her name.'"
Guan Zhiwei listened to their flattery with great pleasure and engaged in a lively conversation with them.
Gao Huan sat beside her with a cold eye the whole time, and said in a low voice, "You've been working your way up in the streets and interacting with ordinary people. I thought you despised those wealthy families."
"Powerful clans will never disappear. The resources of the entire country will eventually be concentrated in the hands of a few through various means. This is an inevitable law of human social system that can never be avoided."
Guan Zhiwei asked naturally, "Why should I hate something that is bound to exist?"
Gao Huan looked at her with a suspicious gaze.
She surrendered: "Okay, okay, I just think that people who have been to school are different. They speak so nicely, like the song of a lark. It sounds nice, so who cares what it says? Just listen to it."
Gao Huan smiled coldly: "My father quelled Wang Yong's rebellion and was praised even more highly than you."
Gao Yang was praised to death, and he was afraid that Guan Zhiwei would follow in his footsteps.
Guan Zhiwei was unconvinced and whispered in his ear, "How tall?"
Gao Huan said meaningfully, "A baby longs for its parents."
"ha?"
"Poverty breeds filial piety, and turmoil reveals loyal ministers. I long for the assistance of virtuous ministers, just as an infant longs for its parents." Amidst the clinking of cups, the young emperor personally poured a cup of wine, his robes fluttering, and had the chief eunuch present it to Guan Zhiwei, showing how highly he regarded her.
He smiled warmly, his eyes filled with Guan Zhiwei, and invited her in a calm and unhurried tone: "Minister Guan, would you like to stay and have a long talk with me, to discuss the important affairs of the state?"
Guan Zhiwei nodded: "Okay."
Gao Huan whispered a reminder: "Han Xin's later fate was not good. If you're going to do something, do something like Emperor Gaozu of Han."
Guan Zhiwei raised a slight brow with her intoxicated eyes and glanced at him.
This guy, while the emperor was still up there, he was secretly encouraging himself to rebel.
Guan Zhiwei was invited into the Liangyi Hall.
She thought the emperor wanted to discuss things like the military with her, and she was prepared to give him a perfunctory answer, just to get close to the young emperor and see if he had any of the so-called aura of a true dragon emperor.
As a result, the young emperor went in and changed his clothes, taking off his black imperial robes.
He wore a golden crown and a pale yellow straight robe that trailed on the ground as he walked. The right-fastening collar was embroidered with intricate ruyi patterns, and the cuffs were tapered, with the sleeves forming a downward arc. The wide robe and sleeves gave him a majestic and imposing appearance, yet also a sense of graceful elegance.
At this moment, he didn't seem like a distant emperor, but more like a noble scion who was close to a young girl.
Guan Zhiwei was surprised by his attire and looked at him several times.
Eunuch Mei quickly reminded him, "My lord, you should bow to His Majesty."
Guan Zhiwei immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "I forgot about Your Majesty."
The young emperor was not angry. He reached out and pressed her hand down as she bowed, and said with a smile, "Minister Guan sat there calmly and composedly, displaying an elegant demeanor. I forgot everything else."
Guan Zhiwei savored the taste, noticing a hint of eroticism.
The young emperor pulled her hand and sat her down. "From the first moment I saw Minister Guan, I felt that she was as beautiful as a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without any artifice, and completely different from ordinary women."
Guan Zhiwei looked at him strangely: "Your Majesty and I have different ideas."
"I am not as weak as the rumors say. It's just that I have never had children, so they think I am weak." The young emperor winked at her, somewhat playfully: "I am also intentionally letting them spread rumors, so that the strong and healthy emperor won't bother anyone."
Guan Zhiwei felt that from the moment this emperor appeared, he was conveying only one meaning—to offer himself as a concubine.
The night was deep, the candlelight was so bright, and Eunuch Mei had already made the bed.
He's not young at all; he's already twenty, two years older than Gao Huan.
She said with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, my relationship with Gao Silang is completely innocent, unlike what is rumored outside."
The emperor withdrew his hand, placed it on his lap, and nodded thoughtfully. "I see. I was presumptuous."
Guan Zhiwei waved her hand: "Not really, it's my blessing to be able to see a beauty under the lamp."
The emperor had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes; when he looked at people with those eyes, they were both affectionate and calm.
"Then, shall I marry Minister Guan?"
"..."
Guan Zhiwei suddenly realized that she had made another mistake.
She emphasized that her relationship with Gao Huan was innocent, as if she were telling the emperor, "You cannot use anything improper against me; you must treat me with respect." In other words, she was saying, "I don't want a short-term relationship; I want a long-term one."
So the emperor presented the long selection with both hands.
"Rest assured, Guan Qing, even if you become Empress, you will still have the authority to lead troops. The entire court will never find a general as brave as you."
"If I remember correctly, His Majesty has an Empress."
“Yes.” The emperor remained calm, merely gesturing to Eunuch Mei.
Eunuch Mei immediately arranged for two junior eunuchs to go out. Before long, a woman wearing a cloak came quickly in the thick of the night, so eager that she almost threw off the maid behind her.
It was Empress Jiang of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com