0089 Guanyin Swallow (Part Two)
——Her Royal Highness the Queen!
A thunderbolt flashed through Shu Fu's mind, blinding her and making her limbs go weak. Before she could react, Li Miao grabbed her hand and led her to kneel down. The two of them bowed together to the figure in the distance.
Although it was her first time experiencing such an occasion, she knew that one should not look directly at the emperor's face.
Shufu lowered her head, trying to focus her gaze on the floor screen.
At first, she was completely lost, almost frozen in place, until she gradually heard some rustling sounds coming from afar.
It should be the hem of her skirt brushing the ground—
That's Empress Sun's skirt!
Shu Fu was pulled back to her senses by this thought, her breathing slowing involuntarily. A glimpse of a green dress swept across her vision, vaguely revealing a pair of brocade shoes with crimson feathers, their vibrant color like a splash of vermilion. (Red Whistle Group II 0)
At first, that little bit of red was just an ordinary little spot, but once it started moving, everything came alive.
It resembled a pair of reddish-brown geese, suddenly gliding across the clear blue sky, their movements steady and swift, unlike the graceful, delicate steps and ethereal movements advocated by Madam Li and Madam Luo in the past.
After Empress Sun passed by, Shu Fu couldn't help but secretly glance ahead.
Although she only saw a tall, slender figure from behind in front of the crowd, it was enough for her to associate this person with that legendary woman.
Her Majesty the Empress, Lady Sun Yaoji, was the youngest daughter of a pillar of the previous dynasty. She lived with her maternal uncle's family in Longyou during her childhood. She and the current emperor were childhood sweethearts and married young, and their friendship was exceptionally deep.
At the end of the previous dynasty, the world was in chaos, and rebels from all sides gathered their troops and rose up in rebellion. Your Majesty's Li family also rose up in response to the times, with each of the family's sons leading troops to fight against the rebellion.
The most meritorious were the factions led by Emperor Chongde and Empress Sun. They first forced the last emperor to commit suicide in Jiangling, and then seized Chang'an from the treacherous minister who was plotting against them. Only then did they welcome the then head of the Li family to the capital to receive the abdication and become emperor.
However, Emperor Gaozu passed away after only two years on the throne, and none of the other emperors could match Emperor Chongde in terms of military achievements. Thus, Emperor Chongde naturally succeeded to the throne.
However, after the new emperor ascended the throne, he was not in a hurry to enfeoff meritorious officials. Instead, he personally appointed the empress and ordered all officials to refer to the emperor and empress as the "Two Saints".
At the same time, he personally presided over the revision of the laws, so that Her Majesty the current Empress, and all future Empresses, would have the power to stand alongside the Emperor in the court and jointly manage state affairs, in accordance with the law.
By this point, both new and old officials knew that the present was different from the past.
A large group of people entered the main hall. Empress Sun sat at the head of the table in a teak armchair in the center of the room, and the others lined up around her and took their seats in turn.
Shufu also sat down on a crescent-shaped stool at the end, and almost uncontrollably, she once again looked at Her Majesty the Queen, who was sitting on the high seat.
This time, she finally saw His Highness's true face.
Her Majesty the Empress has a beautiful oval face, with two arched eyebrows that resemble distant mountains. Beneath them lie a pair of extremely mysterious eyes. As she glances at the crowd, it is as if the white dust covering the sun has been blown away, instantly revealing a clear and bright light that makes people's hearts tremble.
Shu Fu sat quietly on the stool, but her heart was pounding, and an indescribable excitement surged in her chest, gradually rising to her cheeks.
She finally understood Zhan Yaoguang a little; generally speaking, when people are excited, their eyes really do uncontrollably overflow with tears.
Sun Yaoji sat in the main seat. Seeing that everyone else was seated in turn, he picked up the teapot on the table, poured some water and wine into the cup, and smiled at everyone, saying, "I said earlier that I would meet with you all when I had time, but I was troubled by various political affairs until now. Today, I only managed to steal a moment of leisure thanks to the banquet at Huayang. Please forgive any inconvenience caused."
With that, she downed the wine in her glass in one gulp.
The women below did not seem surprised. They followed the empress's example and poured themselves tea or wine, drinking it fluently and gracefully.
Shu Fu had drunk quite a bit of sweet buttermilk when she was with Lin Shuangyu earlier, and she couldn't drink any more. But in order not to seem too abrupt, she followed suit and poured some fragrant tea, just to dip her lips in it.
At the same time, she subtly pondered the current situation in her heart—
Despite being of the highest rank, the Empress showed no sign of superiority, and the ladies in the hall did not act servilely. The two sides were as harmonious and at ease as close friends chatting.
“Speaking of which, the last time we gathered together like this was the year before last, when Yuting returned to the capital to report on his duties. When he returned, we held a farewell party for him,” Sun Yaoji put down his cup and looked at Qin Yuting, who was seated at the head of the left. “Liangzhou is bitterly cold, and Yuting has troubled us a lot these past few years.”
Qin Yuting was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then laughed heartily and said, "I don't find it troublesome at all. Although Liangzhou is bitterly cold, the people are simple and kind. Spending these years with them has actually made me feel happy and content."
Shu Fu followed the Empress's gaze to look at the renowned Liangzhou Governor Qin Yuting. She saw a woman dressed in plain clothes, with a lithe figure and supple limbs. When she stood up to return the Empress's greeting, she was like the bright moon embracing her, elegant and dashing, even more vivid and moving than the image of a female general she had previously imagined.
She suddenly remembered that before she was twelve years old, when her family still had a tutor to teach her and her sisters, he talked about several famous generals who had served the court, and General Qin Yuting was among them.
Legend has it that General Qin was originally a child bride in a military family in Mingzhou, and was often abused by her husband and in-laws when she was young.
At the end of the fourteenth year of the reign of Emperor Yitai of the previous dynasty, His Majesty and Empress Sun's army marched to the vicinity of Mingzhou. At that time, the Li family's army was already known for its benevolence and virtue, and Qin Yuting, upon hearing of the army's arrival, had the idea of surrendering.
While maintaining good relations with her husband's family, she secretly sent a letter of surrender to Empress Sun's entourage. When the time was right, she set fire to her husband's entire family and the official residence in Mingzhou. Taking advantage of the chaos in the city, she sneaked into the governor's private residence, stole the token, and personally opened the city gates to welcome Empress Sun inside.
From then on, she followed the emperor and empress on their campaigns, achieving unparalleled merit.
After the establishment of the court, she was among the officials who were enfeoffed. As a woman, she inherited the title of Marquis of Rongguo and also held the title of Governor of Liangzhou.
After hearing the story for the first time, Shu Yin whispered to her that General Qin was too ruthless. She was clearly pregnant, but she set fire to her husband and burned him to death, so that Miss Qin Mi was born without a father.
Although she knew that Qin Mi lived in Liangzhou all year round and had never met them, she was still a few years older than them, which made Shu Yin feel some empathy for him.
Shuf was somewhat dismissive of it at the time.
She always felt that with such a mother, what did it matter whether she had a father or not?
Seeing General Qin's true face today only strengthened her conviction, and she looked forward even more to Li Miao's promise to take her to meet Qin Mi.
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