Chapter 534: Beating
Seeing Sun Shaozong's back disappearing outside the door, the expression on Emperor Guangde's face gradually faded, and his cold eyes slanted towards Dai Quan, who hurriedly said, "I'll go and see him off."
As he spoke, he bowed and backed out of the hall.
Emperor Guangde then rolled up his sleeves behind his back with an expressionless face, put his hands behind his back, pushed open the Xiang curtain, and walked leisurely into the inner room.
However, as he walked around the four-season screen in front of the door, his calm expression suddenly shattered into pieces.
In the northwest corner, in front of a half-person-high glass mirror, there was a woman in red and white, with her voluptuous body bent backward and folded in half, her hands and one foot supported on the ground, trying her best to lift one of her long and well-proportioned legs high into the air.
This posture was obviously not easy to maintain. Even though the woman held a strand of black hair tightly in her mouth, her jade-like feet without stockings were still teetering in the air, like white porcelain, with a jade halo rippling out.
And those five tightly clasped toes, in that bright light, pinched out a rosy red tip...
This scene is already a feast for the eyes, and the glass mirror reflects another identical shadow, which complements each other like a pair of lotus flowers!
Even Emperor Guangde, who was used to seeing all the beauties in the palace, couldn't help feeling dry and restless in his throat. Without using any elixir, he awakened his spirit.
He swallowed subconsciously, but immediately 'alarmed' the woman in front of the mirror.
The woman stood up calmly, bowed, and said softly, "Your Majesty, why don't you say anything? You just watch me make a fool of myself."
As she spoke, most of her loose black hair fell out of her mouth and fluttered on her bulging collar, but a few strands were still stuck to the corners of her mouth.
That shiny black hair, coupled with her slightly opened cherry lips and flushed cheeks, makes one's appetite soar that one can't wait to pluck that hair out and replace it with something else.
If this is considered embarrassing, then what else in the world can be described as "beautiful"?
It was because Emperor Guangde was old. If it were in his earlier years, he would have rushed up to her and expressed his true feelings to her!
Emperor Guangde placed his right hand across his body, shook off his bright yellow robe sleeves, and said with a smile, "My beloved concubine has become more and more proficient in the 'Child-Seeking Technique'. Rong Fei and the others are still stuck at the first twelve moves, but my beloved concubine has practiced the second move."
The woman did not dare to respond, and hurriedly said modestly: "Your Majesty, please do not praise me. I am just biting off more than I can chew. How can I compare to Sister Rongfei's steady and cautious approach?"
Emperor Guangde smiled again and stopped nagging about the topic. He asked, "Just now I heard you laughing behind the door, but why are you practicing this 'Child-Seeking Technique' again?"
When he first saw the woman in such a seductive posture, he suspected that she was cramming for the exam. But when he looked closer, he saw that her eyebrows and temples were covered with sweat, which did not appear to be something that could be aroused in a short period of time.
The woman smiled sweetly, led Emperor Guangde to sit on the low couch, and then said: "At first, Your Majesty did not ask about food and daily life, so why not listen to me? Later, he talked about military and national affairs, which is not something a woman in the harem should be concerned about. It happened that I remembered that this 'Decision to Seek a Child' was proposed by Erlang of the Sun family, so I practiced it."
These words were neither too hot nor too cold, and they made sense. Even though Emperor Guangde knew very well that all powerful concubines in the palace were inextricably linked to the government, he still couldn't help feeling comforted.
Then he stretched out his hand and took the girl into his arms, saying with a smile: "No wonder the Queen always said that you are the only one in the palace who is knowledgeable and interesting."
After a pause, he could not help but sigh, "It is also the legacy of Duke Rong. Although he raised a few good-for-nothings, he also raised a girl like you and married you to Wang, Sun, Zhen, and Shi."
As he spoke, his shriveled hands were already on the woman's belly, and he said quietly, "If you can give birth to a dragon for me, I won't have to bother selecting someone to assist him."
This woman was naturally the eldest daughter of Rongguo Mansion, Jia Yuanchun.
But after hearing what Emperor Guangde said, she neither dared to agree nor wanted to make false pretenses to decline, so she had to pretend to be shy and happy and buried her head in Emperor Guangde's chest.
At the same time, she was thinking in her heart: among her family's several in-laws, the Sun family is ranked before the Zhen family and the Shi family, which shows how much the emperor values the Sun brothers - it seems that she will have to remind her family in the future to have closer contacts with the Sun family.
Two flowers bloom, each showing its own beauty.
Sun Shaozong left the courtyard and was wondering whether to go along the corridor to look for Eunuch Li or wait for the palace maid who had led the way. Suddenly, Dai Quan followed him out with a smile, pointed to the northwest corner, and said, "Come on, follow us to rest a little."
Sun Shaozong was just wondering why Emperor Guangde didn't ask a single question about the White Lotus Sect, and even forgot his original purpose - it seemed that he had asked Dai Quan to talk to him about it.
So he hurriedly responded respectfully and followed Dai Quan, who stood with his back straight, to the pavilion in the northwest corner.
Dai Quan first chose a corner away from the wind and sat lazily leaning against a pillar. He then pointed to the long stone bench across from him and said, "Sit down and talk. We are not in front of His Majesty, so there is no need to be so restrained."
He said it casually, but how could Sun Shaozong take it seriously?
He half-knelt and saluted, and said solemnly: "I, Sun, am grateful for your kindness, and I must show you this courtesy. Your Excellency, Sun Shaozong, greets you, the commander-in-chief!"
Dai Quan's smile suddenly became warmer, and he pointed at Sun Shaozong and said, "You are such a well-behaved monkey. No wonder His Majesty and the Crown Prince are so fond of you."
As he spoke, he narrowed his eyes slightly and asked casually, "I heard that the Crown Princess's family is planning to form an alliance with your family recently?"
Sun Shaozong's heart suddenly trembled. Although the prince had revealed this intention at the beginning , there had been no rumors in the past few days. Now it was suddenly pointed out by Dai Quan. Could it be that the emperor was dissatisfied with his closeness to the prince? !
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but Sun Shaozong did not dare to be negligent in his words. He quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince did mention this matter of clan union, but I am really ashamed to accept such a mistaken love."
"What is there to be ashamed of?"
Dai Quan smiled again and said, "It is a great achievement to persuade His Highness to get close to the Emperor, and win over those anxious nobles. It is enough to exchange for the grace of a clan alliance."
I'll go~
They were clearly talking in an open area in the garden at the time, so how come even the idea of "fulfilling filial piety and building up power" fell into Dai Quan's ears?
wrong!
It shouldn't be what was said that day that was overheard by someone.
It was probably because the prince acted too hastily and revealed his true colors in front of others, allowing Dai Quan and the emperor to trace the case back to him - after all, there were only a few people who had the opportunity to give advice to the prince in these days.
What a stupid teammate! What a stupid teammate!
Cursing in his heart, Sun Shaozong quickly knelt on the ground and said, "Commander, please allow me to report. I am your humble servant..."
"Okay, okay."
Dai Quan raised his hands a few times without paying any attention, and waited until Sun Shaozong got up carefully from the ground before he smiled and said, "Filial piety is the most important virtue. As a subject, you are advising His Highness to be kind. What is there to be afraid of?"
But then, his smile faded away , and he said with a half-smile: "But everything should be done in moderation. If you exceed your duty as a subject, then disaster will probably not be far away."
Who is this girl trying to scare by jumping around so fast? !
Sun Shaozong couldn't help cursing in his heart, but he said respectfully with a look of trepidation: "I will follow your instructions, sir!"
"I'm just trying to give you some advice. The fact that you took the initiative to mention going to Huguang to quell the rebellion today shows that you haven't completely lost your mind!"
As Dai Quan spoke, he stood up from the stone bench, stretched himself, and took out a snuff bottle from his sleeve pocket. He poured out some powder, rubbed it into his nose, and took a few deep puffs.
"Ah...A-choo!"
He sneezed loudly, and seemed to feel much more relaxed. He paced lazily in the pavilion and said casually, "Since you want to go to the south, don't get involved in the affairs of the capital. Just take care of your own two piles of things."
Sun Shaozong responded respectfully, and Dai Quan threw something over to him: "Go, those White Lotus thieves should be awake by now. You are better at investigating the case. If there is any important news, remember to send someone to inform me."
Sun Shaozong took the object in his hand, but it turned out to be a badge of an imperial guard - was this a slap in the face followed by a sweet reward?
Sun Shaozong was about to leave this place quickly, complaining in his heart, when a graceful voice like a lark suddenly sounded outside: "Hey~ Why is there an outsider here?"
Sun Shaozong subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound, and the first thing that caught his eye was a pair of 'weapons'!
It turned out that outside the pavilion, a group of women had appeared. The leader was wearing a Tang Dynasty palace costume, tied up like a coke bottle. She was not too tall, but her bust was comparable to Siqi's.
As soon as you see this outfit, you can tell that she is definitely not a palace maid!
Sun Shaozong didn't even dare to look at the face carefully. He quickly moved his eyes away from the chest, bowed and shrank back, waiting to step forward and answer.
"Please forgive me, Empress Rong."
Dai Quan came up to greet him with a smile, bowed and said, "This Captain Sun is here on a summons. Since I am also in charge of the Northern Pacification Division, I chatted with him in the pavilion for a few words, but I didn't want to disturb the queen."
Concubine Rong?
Could it be that this title comes from "greatness comes from tolerance"?
Sun Shaozong was daydreaming here, when Concubine Rong had already diligently helped Dai Quan up, and even said, "Dai, why are you so polite?", but she didn't even look at him again.
It seems that this person is coming for Dai Quan.
Fortunately, Dai Quan had not forgotten that Sun Shaozong was beside him. He turned around and asked him to come forward and greet Concubine Rong, and then instructed: "This is an important place in the palace. As an outsider, it is not convenient for you to stay for long. Li Zhong, take Captain Sun out of the palace."
Following Dai Quan's call, the eunuch Li appeared from nowhere, walked forward to greet Concubine Rong politely, and then led Sun Shaozong out.
