Although there were some twists and turns, the visit was relatively successful on the whole. The Queen Mother was quite satisfied with the final fight, saying that the other party's martial arts theory was indeed interesting and worth pondering.

As for the strategic issue, she also agreed, saying that since what Guo Kang said was the Tao, and Wang Da Lama and others also felt that it was feasible, then she could support it. When she goes back, she will tell her son and daughter-in-law to let them think about it too.

The Queen Mother had to go to another convent in the afternoon to visit the orphans there, and the schedule was very tight, so everyone got her promise, thanked them for a while, and then took their leave.

The Great Lama Wang and the old sea urchin were going to meet with other scholars and priests, and they were separated from everyone at the door. Dehuan is also ready to go back.

"That's it for today. Brother Kang, I'll go to the workshop tomorrow to see what you and Zhu Da are messing with. Tuhuan jumped on the horse and said to Guo Kang.

Guo Kang nodded, and turned his head to greet Theodora: "Sister, get in the car, let's just go all the way." ”

However, Theodora shook his head and said, "Go back by yourself, I will go to the Guo Mansion with Brother Kang." ”

"Huh?" Tuhuan didn't seem to know about her arrangement, but he didn't care too much, and nodded: "Then I'll tell my mother, I won't wait for you for lunch." ”

"I don't have to wait for a few days." Theodora told him: "I told the queen mother that I have something to do with the Guo family's mansion and have no time to go back and forth, so I should stay there for the next few days and not go back to the palace." ”

Tuohuan half opened his mouth and was stunned for a moment.

"What's the fuss?" Theodora whispered, "Go back!" ”

"It's not...... You're going to send it to the door? Tuohuan was a little surprised, and lowered his voice, bent over from the horse, leaned over and said, "I'm not against it." I just look at you like an ascetic nun all day long, and I think you can't do this......"

Theodora, who had just gained courage, was a little shy by what he said, and was angry for a moment, glared at him fiercely.

"Okay, okay, don't worry, I'll tell my mother when I go back!" Tuohuan hurriedly sat up straight, patted his chest and reassured.

With that, he kicked his horse and walked away quickly.

The two Serbian followers who were dehuan were waiting at the entrance of the alley, and when they saw him running out in a panic, they didn't know what was going on. Tuhuan didn't care about explaining, so they hurried to follow. The two of them turned on their horses with uncertain expressions, and quickly followed him, and ran away in a puff of smoke.

Guo Kang himself actually didn't react, but Tuhuan ran away so directly, and he didn't know how to deal with it. Of the people present, only the Queen Mother and the nuns were still there.

"You can take her with you." The Queen Mother also spoke: "Are all the young people like this now? Actually, don't think too much, I was back then......"

"Queen Mother, it's time for us to have lunch." The nun named Zoe reminded in time to interrupt the Queen Mother's nagging.

"Alright, alright, then we'll go back. Have fun with the two of you! The Queen Mother nodded repeatedly, waved her hand at them, and left.

Guo Kang looked around, and saw one of the young nuns and made a "come on" gesture to him.

Guo Kang was a little helpless, so he had to nod as well. He was about to turn around and get on his horse, but Theodora stopped him: "Get into my car." Your horse, just let Grandma go back and send it back. ”

After that, she pulled Guo Kang into the car.

The carriage started slowly, and the two faced each other in silence. In the end, Theodora couldn't help it, and spoke first: "Do you think everyone thinks I'm in the way?" ”

"What does that mean?" Guo Kang was a little surprised.

"Every time I say something, my brother is often dissatisfied, but the same meaning, you say it, he doesn't care." Theodora shook his head and said, "In addition to him, so is Li Xuanying." The last time I said I could help my parents with work, he looked like I was going to eat him. ”

"He's normal like this." Guo Kang explained: "His grandfather was miserable by the Empress Dowager Helena, and the whole family remembers it. If you say that, they will definitely suspect that you are also going to interfere in politics. You think they think you're in the way, but they're afraid of you. ”

Theodora nodded.

"I can only tell you these words." She sighed, "I've always felt like I'm doing good. I'm not like snatching the inheritance, and you know, it's impossible. My wisdom is not yet blinded by this illusory power. ”

"But if you look at their reactions, it's like they've seen a thief. However, if I don't help, I'll get rid of that rough character, and I won't know if I'm cheated in the future. You say, what should I do? ”

"You don't have to underestimate him too much." Guo Kang comforted: "He doesn't look like he has any heart, but he understands the key things very well." After all, he also studied with us, so you have to have faith in him. ”

"If you want to help, you have to respect people first, so that everyone can feel your heart. With the attitude of taking care of fools, of course everyone will be disgusted, because they are not really stupid. ”

"Then they always don't believe me, what should I do?" Theodora grumbled and continued: "Could it be that if I am exposed to power, I will surely become one of those noble ladies in Roman history?" ”

Guo Kang pondered for a moment.

"You have heard what the old sea urchin said just now, it is the geographical environment that will determine the civilization characteristics of the local residents." "Actually, not only geographically, but also in the social environment," he said. ”

"Once these noblewomen aspire to supreme power, their own character no longer matters. In the face of political interests, only the most determined people can control their desires, and most people do not have the ability to do so. ”

"They crave power, but their power is not stable. Didn't we say before why usurping regimes like the Sima clan often have unstable foundations? It's the same for them. ”

"Because power is less secure than that of a male monarch, it can only be compensated for by other means – such as widespread compromise with the nobility, unprincipled compromise with foreigners, and unnecessary slaughter of would-be opponents...... Etcetera. It is only through these radical ways that power can be maintained and a sense of security maintained. ”

From this point of view, Wu Zetian, whom they often use as a metaphor, is actually more dangerous than Sima Yi. Because her ascension is less regarded as the 'right path', her military prestige is shallower, and she has fewer followers. Therefore, her behavior should also be more radical. ”

"If this rare opportunity had been given to a more capable and moral woman, perhaps our world would have been different. But unfortunately, there were too few opportunities to try, and everyone's luck was not good. As a result, as you can see, both Rome and Seris were sinned by this, and the people naturally objected to it. ”

"When Tang Gaozong was here, the 'Empress Wu' could help him very well and deal with all kinds of things. But after Gaozong's death, it didn't take long for the 'Empress Wu' to get out of control. When she finally became the 'Emperor of Zetian', it was as if she had completely lost her previous skills and political wisdom. I think that's the main reason. ”

"Isn't that a paradox?" Theodora asks rhetorically, "If a noblewoman is in pursuit of supreme power, then she will be forced by the situation to become distorted and depraved. But if she didn't want to gain supreme power, she wouldn't have pursued this status and title at all. In this way, is it impossible to have a female monarch at all? ”

"If it's solid." Guo Kang corrected: "Didn't you find out? As long as everyone thinks that the way she acquires power is not a big problem, then it is easy for qualified or even excellent female rulers to emerge in such an environment. ”

"Although the female emperor of Seris is very speechless, the queen mother over there is much more normal than Rome. Although many people are not good at personal morality, they are indeed commendable leaders for the country. When it comes to power, these queen mothers can be called and preside over sacrifices, and there is not much difference between them and the emperor in terms of power and legal theory, but the actual performance is much more normal. I think that's the effect of Seris customary law. ”

"If you want to be a good leader, I suggest that you should focus on the habit itself, not the position first." Guo Kang said: "This kind of thing, it's best to come down-to-earth." You have the time and the ability, so why rush? ”

"Will you support me?" Theodora asked.

"If you believe me, I can support you." Guo Kang said without thinking: "If I don't have this kind of trust, what can I do?" I can find a thousand people chasing power purely for the sake of power on the streets of the capital, what is the peculiarity of these people? My support is meaningless. ”

"So, how do you prove it to me?"

Theodora hesitated. A moment later, she pounced on Guo Kang and kissed him.

Guo Kang was stupid.

It was a moment before she let go. looked at Guo Kang, and his face turned red, as if he was not mentally prepared.

Back in her seat, she and Guo Kang glanced at each other, and quickly avoided their gaze. After looking left and right, he simply got up again and sat next to Guo Kang, leaning his back against him.

"That's it." She whispered.

"Ah......" Guo Kang originally wanted to discuss with her the importance of political mutual trust and potential tacit understanding, but Theodora suddenly bumped into him and knocked all the lines he had thought of flying.

"By the way, you are not allowed to have a special relationship with those people on the streets of Dadu. Those Greeks are weird, you know? Theodora didn't forget to advise.

Guo Kang didn't know how to answer, so he had to nod.

The two didn't talk again. When he arrived at the door of the Guo family's house, the coachman shouted twice before he reacted.

Yang Wenxian, who was standing guard at the door, greeted them, glanced at them curiously, and asked the guards to open the door and welcome the two in.

When the two of them entered, he closed the door again. When there was still a crack left, everyone looked at it a few more times, and deliberately looked at anyone on the roof. Seeing that they had already entered the lobby, they closed the door again.

"What's going on today?" Yang Wenxian asked strangely.

"Hey, young man, I haven't looked for a daughter-in-law." The coachman is familiar with this: "I have been driving for nobles for more than ten years, and these two are the most shy couple I have ever pulled." It's rare to see such a gentle young man......"

"What about them?" Yang Wenxian suddenly realized and said to himself: "No wonder, I'll just say what's wrong." It's not the first time the princess has come, and I've never seen them with such expressions before......"

"What was it like before?" The driver became more and more curious.

"What are you doing here?" Another guard stepped forward and said in a frightened manner, "Don't ask too much about the affairs of the marshal son." ”

"Hey, what are you telling me to keep it secret." The coachman was not only not afraid, but showed off: "These young people are also new, right?" Ask your big brother Bu Lei, he knows me. ”

"Do you know, all kinds of so-called 'secrets' inside and outside the palace, we coachmen know the fastest. The nobles in the court often have to talk from us. ”

"It's not a big deal." Yang Wenxian, who was in the lead, stopped them and asked, "Old man, you must know that although our son is not a woman, he is also very popular. Every time the princess came, she had to quarrel with the other girls! ”

"However, Gongzi has a good way of governing the family, and these girls are also bickering, but they are actually very united." He boasted: "I didn't know why last time, but I swarmed up and beat the visiting Li Gongzi." ”

"Huh? I've heard this from the Li family's coachman. I see. The old coachman also looked suddenly realized: "That must be a good thing that Li Gongzi broke them, and everyone was embarrassed for a while, so they took him out." ”

"Yes. You must know that Li Gongzi never walked through the main entrance, but went through the wall. ”

"We haven't reported it, and we don't know what's going on inside."

"yes, yes. That's too abrupt......"

Everyone discussed it and came to a conclusion that everyone could accept.

Someone took out the tea and asked the old coachman to tell his story, and the old coachman also took the lead and told several secrets of the Greek noblewoman's palace secrets, which surprised everyone. At the end, he said that he had to rush back to change shifts, so he hugged his fists at the guards, and said that he would talk again next time, just to bring some food along the way.

When he drove away, the people went back satisfied.

Of course, Guo Kang and Theodora don't know the "little things" done by these "little people" for the time being.

At this moment, Guo Kang was hurriedly taking Theodora to the living room and asked her to sit for a while.

Although he knows a lot of messy knowledge, and the "internal force" of this world seems to have deepened his memory, Guo Kangwei is really inexperienced in dealing with relationships with the opposite sex.

Until now, he didn't dare to guarantee what kind of calculation Theodora had made, or how far he was going to go.

And the known experience is that when a person does not know what to do, it is the safest way to follow the rules step by step. In this way, even if there is a problem, it can be said that it is a problem of the rules, not a problem of oneself, and it will generally not be overly pursued.

So, it's better to be mechanical than to make your own decisions – one of the most practical of the many lessons that Seris's long history has bringed.

So, Guo Kang, whose brain was already a little empty, began to arrange a guest room for her in accordance with the usual practice of receiving guests. Wait for Daddy to come back and talk about the rest.

However, as soon as Guo Kang walked out of the living room, he saw his father-in-law walking through the back door with a large stack of books.

The father-in-law looked left and right, and saw that there was no one, so he hurried into the house in the same hurry. Halfway through, he suddenly saw Guo Kang appear, which made him a little surprised.

"Kang'er? Are you back so early? He greeted first.

"The Queen Mother had something to do in the afternoon, so we left separately." Guo Kang said, looking up and down: "This book is ......"

"I just got someone to borrow it." The father-in-law beckoned, "Come, do me a favor, put all these books in my room, and arrange them in a sorted manner." ”

Guo Kang was confused, so he had to help him move the book again. On the way, he said tentatively, "By the way, Dad, Theodora has come to our house, and she is in the living room......"

"Oh, that girl." The stepfather nodded: "It's good." She's here for you, right? Don't worry, you don't have to stay busy for too long, just help me get these books ready. ”

"What's going on?" Guo Kang was still puzzled.

"Your mother is coming back. She asked me to read more books before she left, but I didn't have that skill. The father-in-law said with a sad face: "I originally wanted to take your book, but Lao Li said that I was stupid." Your book, can your mother know it? So he helped, got other people to scrape together, and borrowed so much, so that it seemed that I was at least reading. ”

Guo Kang felt that these stacks of books were not too much, and it really didn't take much effort. Although he doubted that this could deceive his stepmother, it seemed that he could only help deal with it.

He clicked three times and two times, and put the books in order of category. Speaking of the topic of concern again: "Dad, Theodora said she wanted to stay with us for a few days, and I let her stay in the guest room?" ”

"If you don't live in a guest room, you can still live in a stable!" The stepfather said in passing, but after a moment he reacted: "No...... Did you kid coax other girls home? ”

"Well, I didn't coax her, she had to come." Guo Kang found that he spent the whole day correcting other people's misunderstandings.

"It's not all the same." The father-in-law shook his head and admonished, "She's a good girl, I know it." If you like her, tell them that if you can negotiate, I'll go back to a matchmaker. If you really don't like it, you have to judge it, otherwise, you will ...... Hey, don't mention it. ”

He shook his head helplessly: "Whoever you like, my father supports it, but you have to treat others well." ”

"Ah, I know......" Seeing his father-in-law was not very surprised, and even directly considered the issue of marriage, Guo Kang had no choice.

"So where the hell am I going to let her live? Do you want Zhang's mother to come and clean the guest room? People are still waiting. Although he feels that his stepfather is not very reliable, he can only ask the other party now.

"Our family still makes people see people like this? Of course, she lived wherever she wanted. Without hesitation, the father-in-law said, "Ask her, as long as she is in the right place, she can live wherever she wants." I'll let Yang Wenxian call someone to clean up. ”

"Huh? Right. Or Dad, you're smart. Guo Kang reacted immediately: "Okay, then I'll ask her if I got it." ”

Given a chance to kick the ball back, Guo Kang happily stuffed the last few books casually, and then trotted back.

(End of chapter)