The next day, Guo Kang and Theodora took a carriage to Cao's mansion.

Guo Kang leaned on the car and closed his eyes to recuperate, while Theodora simply leaned on him, holding the invitation letter of the Cao family in his hand, pondering the meaning of the words.

The letter was sent in the name of the old head of the Cao family, Cao Xun. He said that Queen Elizabeth came to her and wanted to talk about recent events. Therefore, he brought his wife Cao Lian and grandson Cao Jian to invite Guo Kang and the princess to visit.

"This letter was written two days ago. How does Grandma know that we must have been together for the past few days. She muttered, "Look at it like this, it seems that I told them the same......

"After all, people have brought so many juniors, so I guess they already have experience." Guo Kang is no exception. After all, not participating in political affairs does not mean that Queen Elizabeth does not understand human nature. Even if she was known for her upright temperament back then, she had already had a wealth of experience over the years.

"It seems to be. She is probably helping you with these things these days. Theodora thought for a moment and said, "Madame Cao also likes to practice martial arts, and has a very close relationship with her grandmother, and often sees them together. If grandma pulls the strings and asks her to come forward, the effect will indeed be much better. ”

The Mrs. Cao she is talking about is Cao Xun's wife Cao Lian, and Rose's name is Elena - that is, the one who rushed into the palace with an axe decades ago to find the Empress Dowager Helena. It was precisely because of her sudden action that the Queen Mother's plan was disrupted, causing a backlash from the ministers, and she failed to continue to hold her accountable.

Therefore, she not only has a reputation in the Cao family, but also the Li family and other wealthy families who have been hit by the Empress Dowager Helena, so they are very grateful to her.

What's more, before the fall of Queen Helena, the story of Lady Elena was widely spread because it was too dramatic. The Greeks regarded this incident as one of the common topics in dramas, and the Queen Mother herself couldn't control it, making her a star-like figure among the people.

Later, in order to prevent the recurrence of such a thing as the Empress Dowager Helena, the Purple Tent official has always been willing to treat her as a model, which made her reputation even more famous.

"In today's Rome, General Cao Lao is the oldest important minister with the most qualifications." Theodora added, "He's older than my grandfather." A few years ago, the old man Guo Xian and General Maimaitinikus died one after another. He was the only one left in the group of nobles from the south and north back then. ”

"Although he no longer holds the official position of the imperial court and has handed over various affairs to his children and nephews, we in Rome have always paid attention to military merits and resumes. General Cao Lao still has a high right to speak in the legion. ”

Guo Kang nodded.

As Theodora said, the Queen Mother should have found his house because of the influence of their older generation. If Guo Kang can convince them, then the probability of success will be higher when the formal discussion is held later.

"The biggest problem with your plan may be that you are too ...... It's a fantasy. Theodora put away the letter, sat up straight, and said to Guo Kang: "General Cao is a very open-minded person, and he doesn't care much about religious issues. But Grandma Yelena had a good relationship with the Kyiv church. ”

"If it's usual, this will be a great help to you and Patriarch Wang, but I don't know if this plan will make her feel resistant." She raised possible questions.

"Then I can only do my best." Guo Kang is actually a little bottomless.

Unlike Li Xuanying's family, Guo Kang's family is not so close to the Cao family. Back then, Guo Gai turned a blind eye to the Empress Dowager's persecution of Cao Xun, although he said that he was prioritizing the country, but it was impossible for the Cao family to have no mustard in his heart.

At that time, Guo Gai's eldest son, Guo Shuai, and Li Yinglin were inseparable friends. When Li Yinglin went out, he should have helped a lot, and later the Queen Mother's power was unstable, and he took the lead in secretly sending people to pick up Li Yinglin's return and plot big things.

But Cao Xun's situation was much worse, he had been hiding in the Rus principality in the Don River valley, and finally settled down under the protection of the Grand Duke of Ryazan. After the complete fall of the Empress Dowager Helena, the brothers Guo Shuai and Guo Di, who were temporarily in power, took him back.

Cao Xun himself did not publicly blame them, but the two sides did not have much contact. After his eldest son died in battle, the second son Cao Zhonglin is now in charge of the Cao family, and in addition to his early experience in the war, he spent most of his time presiding over diplomatic affairs, and he is even less familiar with Guo.

Cao Zhonglin and his wife had only one child, and they died early. Now there is only one adopted son, Cao Jian, and several illegitimate children. But Cao Jian has a withdrawn personality, even if Cao Xun intends to let him go to school with others, he is not particularly familiar with Li Xuanying, Guo Kang and others.

On the contrary, Guo Kang doesn't care much about other people's bloodlines because he is easy-going, and he gets along well with Cao Zhonglin's several illegitimate children. Those people call him Brother Guo every day, thinking that he is the most honest and fair person among the upper-class children of the Khan court in this generation.

But that might not be a good thing either. is also an adopted son, Cao Jian has always had a vague comparison psychology with Guo Kang. Seeing that he and everyone can get along, it is inevitable that there will be other thoughts.

Over the years, Guo Kang has also known some of the situation, and Theodora is more sensitive than him in this regard, so he must also know.

"When I get to the place, I'll deal with Cao Jian. With me opening my mouth, the atmosphere of the dialogue should be better. Theodora said to Guo Kang, "What you have to do is to think carefully about how to make your words clear." ”

"Okay." Guo Kang nodded.

"Don't be too nervous. If we really can't talk about it, they won't invite us to go; If it is a particularly important decision, then you should also find Uncle Guo first. Theodora analyzed.

"I guess they're going to offer you some chips to trade. This kind of exchange should not touch on the sensitive aspects, but just test your attitude as the proposer of the plan to see if they can offer a higher price. So, we should just show the prospects of the plan well, and that's it. ”

"Leave it all to me." Hearing her say this, Guo Kang took the initiative to say: "This is my plan, and I will definitely be responsible." ”

"Now it's 'our' plan." Theodora poked him: "I'll be responsible for it, and you'll be responsible for me." Got it? ”

"Good ......"

The Cao family's mansion is also in the aristocratic district, which is not too far away. The two chatted briefly for a while, and then arrived at the place.

The carriage stopped steadily, and Guo Kang didn't wait for the servants to come up to serve, so he opened the door of the carriage and jumped down directly. The servants who followed the chariot were also accustomed to it, but they saluted according to their custom.

He looked up and saw Cao Jian with a serious face, meticulously dressed in formal clothes, standing in front of the gate like a straight tree, waiting for him. His appearance was too serious, so that Guo Kang, who was used to being casual, couldn't help but stand up and get serious.

Under the eaves of the gate, the Queen Mother and another old lady were laughing and chatting about something. The old woman was taller than her, and although she had white hair, she was still straight, which made Guo Kang wonder if Cao Jian had learned from her every day. This is Lady Elena.

Inside the gate, there were several other people, also chatting.

Guo Kang just glanced at it twice, and was about to observe, when in the carriage behind him, Theodora knocked on the wooden board: "Hey! ”

Guo Kang then remembered, turned around, and helped her out of the carriage.

Theodora was wearing a very gorgeous satin dress, the material was just bought from Sun Shiwan, she was usually reluctant to wear it, and this time it was specially brought out of the palace.

This dress is indeed not very convenient to move, but given that she has also practiced kung fu, Guo Kang suspects that she did it on purpose and wanted to take advantage of herself......

"Hey, I said it all, just wear it simply." He reached out to help Theodora out of the car, and muttered, "This dress looks like it sweeps the floor at someone's house." ”

"If you don't dress up, how can you let people look up to you." Theodora, however, had a different idea.

"Huh?" Guo Kang didn't react for a while.

However, Theodora did not continue to explain - seeing her get out of the car, the two old ladies did not care about etiquette at all, waved at her and Guo Kang, and strode over.

"Oh, I haven't seen you for half a month, little Diodora is more beautiful." Lady Elena smiled and praised her loudly: "Look at your look, you are very satisfied with this kid?" ”

Theodora, who had been thinking about how to talk after meeting all the way, was really shy this time. She stuttered for a long time, and she didn't say why. The two old ladies didn't ask, just laughed.

Guo Kang didn't know how to help her play a round, after all, answering "yes" or "no" on this question didn't seem right...... He looked at Cao Jian, who was about to be greeted a few steps away by strict etiquette, and found that he had a self-defeating expression.

It seems that this is not the first time that the old lady has done this.

"Come, come, come. My husband, they're still waiting there. Lady Elena beckoned to them: "I told them, there is no need to put up such a big shelf, they have to do this - Jian'er, you can come too, don't stand stupidly." ”

Guo Kang and Theodora followed her to the door, and Cao Jian also greeted each other with them and followed.

Inside the gate, Old Man Cao Xun and Cao Zhonglin looked over here, saw them coming, and greeted the two of them. It stands to reason that they are waiting in the living room for Cao Jian to bring someone over. However, the Queen Mother and the old lady ran out on their own, ignoring the already very loose etiquette rules of the Purple Horde, and they probably didn't know what to do.

So, everyone greeted each other and walked into the living room in a hurry.

Cao Jian walked through the hall, playing the role of master of ceremonies, guiding everyone to sit down.

It can be seen that he has worked hard in this regard.

He first led the Queen Mother and Cao Xun and his wife to sit at the top of the host and guest. As for the others, because the banquet had not yet started, they were all walking around and talking on their own. However, the seats in the room are already lined up, and it looks very formal.

If the Queen Mother hadn't run out without permission just now, it would have been more formal......

Theodora and her grandmother were chatting, as if they were exchanging something important, but Guo Kang didn't care. He walked towards Cao Jian, ready to take the opportunity to set up a close.

"It's hard work, Brother Cao has arranged it." He arched his hand and said.

Cao Jian waved his hand, saying that it didn't matter: "Brother Guo has won the award, and our family is doing this." Careful preparation is also reasonable. ”

Guo Kang nodded.

"It's a pity, the Queen Mother said that the relationship between Brother Guo and the princess is ...... Extraordinary. But this, the etiquette is not explained, I am shallow, and I don't know how to arrange the position of the princess and Brother Guo......" Cao Jian looked a little self-blaming, and really felt that he had not done a good job.

Guo Kang could also see that Cao Jian had tried hard to arrange the seats for everyone, but unfortunately, the etiquette rules of the Purple Horde might not support such a delicate operation.

"It's generally in line with etiquette, just satisfy the queen mother and the host." Guo Kang said it was understandable.

He and Theodora are not married now, so they shouldn't need to be too particular. But Cao Jian is right, if Theodora really agrees, then he will face a question of which of them is the highest.

"Hey, I don't know if the two of you are engaged to talk about matchmaking, so it's arranged in a hurry." Cao Jian was still shaking his head: "We, the Roman Khanate, have borrowed a lot of Seris systems, especially the vacant and imperfect parts of ancient Roman etiquette. But everyone really can't say whether the identity of the princess is important or the identity of the husband is important. ”

"This ......" Guo Kang felt that he was too serious.

""White Tiger Pass" said that monarchs and ministers, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives are called 'Three Gangs'." Cao Jian discussed it himself: "The king's family should be higher than the courtier's family, although the husband is also higher than the wife, but the relationship between the monarch and the minister comes before the relationship between husband and wife, so the former should be the priority, so that the princess is higher than her husband." ”

But the Book of Rites says that husband and wife are the beginning of human relations, and weddings are the foundation of etiquette. The Book of Changes also says that there are husbands and wives and then there are fathers and sons, and there are fathers and sons and then there are kings and ministers. Looking at it this way, it is time to put the relationship between husband and wife first, and let the princess live under her husband. ”

"On our side, books are scarce and etiquette is not perfect, so I can only do my best. Guo Gongzi is well-informed, please don't laugh at it. He also arched his hand and apologized to Guo Kang.

Guo Kang wondered if he was worried that he knew more, so he took the opportunity to accuse him of not being professional enough, so he deliberately said so much. But Guo Kang really doesn't know these things - Cao Jiancai knows much better than him.

"Then don't think about it so carefully, the princess is also a knowledgeable and polite person, let her see for herself." Guo Kang said.

"Just what I want." Cao Jianru was relieved by the amnesty, and then hurriedly left.

Not long after, Guo Kang saw that he had said a few words to his father Cao Zhonglin, and then went to Cao Xun and others to say something, and then nodded.

"Ladies and gentlemen." He straightened up and beckoned everyone, "Please take your seats." ”

Cao Xun and Lady Elena also stood up, greeted each other with the Queen Mother and Theodora, and invited them to sit down. Guo Kang and Cao Jian glanced at each other and pointed at Theodora.

Theodora didn't seem to think too much, and walked straight over, and sure enough, he didn't leave a higher position to Guo Kang.

Guo Kang shrugged at him, and Cao Jian looked acceptable, sighed, and nodded.

He asked Guo Kang to sit next to Theodora, and arranged for several other family members to sit down, and finally he came to the last seat and sat down in a precarious position.

As soon as his ass fell on the chair, the Queen Mother, who was arguing with Lady Elena from afar, suddenly stood up, lifted the chair directly, placed it next to her, and then sat down and began to continue talking to her.

“……”

Guo Kang glanced at Cao Jian sympathetically.

I can't help it, I pay attention to these, and the requirements seem to be too high......

(End of chapter)