novelAbuy Chapter 134 The Prince Consort's Attempt to Meet the Prince Consort Was Humiliated
Chapter 134 The Prince Consort's Attempt to Meet the Prince Consort Was Humiliated
"Didn't they say the imperial court had already sent reinforcements? Why are they still holding back?"
Just a month later, Madam Gao was no longer the composed lady she once was. She lost her appetite and could not sleep well. Her full cheeks became thin and sunken, and her fists were clenched tightly.
Due to her anxiety, her tone was also a few decibels higher than usual.
Gao Huaixuan also looked haggard. She gently held her mother's hand and slowly pried open her clenched, white fingers.
Madam Gao's fingernails dug into her palm, breaking the skin and causing bleeding, but she was unaware of it.
"Mother, my brother doesn't know why either."
Gao Huaide remained silent. He had told his family about the reinforcements sent by the imperial court, and he felt a sense of responsibility on his shoulders, which made him feel quite guilty.
Experiencing such a sudden change for the first time in his life, the young boy was at a loss as to how to cope.
"Brother, should we go and ask Uncle Fu again?"
Gao Huaide slowly shook his head.
During their most recent meeting, he could sense that Fu Yanrao's words were perfunctory, containing a hint of impatience and annoyance. This subtle change in attitude made him not want to have any more contact with this Uncle Fu.
Moreover, Fu Yanrao was not someone who could make decisions.
Since Zhao Yanshou arrived in Luzhou, all the officials in the prefecture have followed his lead. He said he needed to provide Zhao Dejun with troops and provisions, and with a single order, the treasury was opened wide, and money and grain were transported out like water.
"My father is the military governor of Zhaoyi Army!"
Gao Huaide was extremely indignant, but what could he, a mere child, do?
After a long pause, he spat out a sentence through gritted teeth: "If you want to see someone, go see Zhao Yanshou!"
"Prime Minister Zhao? Will he receive you, brother?"
Even a mere military officer, barely ten years old, could be seen by the current Grand Councilor of the court at will.
Gao Huaide had only said it casually, but his younger brother's questioning of him aroused his rebellious spirit and made him even more determined to make up his mind.
"What's so special about the Privy Councilor? I've met the Emperor and the Prince of Yong; aren't they more esteemed than the Imperial Son-in-Law?"
The next sentence revealed Gao Huaide's true thoughts: "Zhao Yanshou is on my turf, and everything he eats and uses is provided by Luzhou. What reason does he have to not see me?"
He always did whatever came to mind. He asked Lu Qian to write a visiting card, and without even leaving the government office, he handed it out while taking a stroll. Zhao Yanshou and the Gao family were only separated by a courtyard wall.
Whether it was out of consideration for Gao Xingzhou's feelings, or as Gao Huaide said, Zhao Yanshou actually agreed to the meeting.
On the appointed day, Madam Gao prepared a new scarlet outfit for her son, Gao Huaide, who looked quite dashing in it.
Before leaving, Gao Huaixuan reminded her younger brother not to be impolite, and Gao Huaide readily agreed.
Gao Huailiang asked his elder brother if he was nervous, only to be met with a sneer.
"We all have two shoulders and one head, why should I be nervous?"
Passing through a crescent-shaped archway leads to Zhao Yanshou's residence, where several burly soldiers stand guard, their demeanor remarkably similar to that of the Gao family's personal guards.
The steward checked the name card and summoned a maid to take Gao Huaide inside, while Lu Qian, Fu An, and other attendants were kept outside.
The maid led Gao Huaide to a side room to wait. Remembering his sister's instructions, Gao Huaide obediently found a chair and sat down in the row of guest seats on the west side.
He thought Zhao Yanshou would come to see him soon, but after waiting for a long time, no one came. When he asked the maid, she knew nothing and only said to ask Gao Yanei to wait patiently.
As time passed, Gao Huaide's temper slowly flared up. This Privy Councilor was far too unreliable in keeping his promises.
From as far back as he could remember, everyone Gao Huaide saw in the government office was below Gao Xingzhou—who was more powerful than the military governor? And everyone treated him with kindness and gentleness.
Even though the emperor was traveling incognito, the atmosphere was more like old friends catching up, and Gao Huaide did not feel that his dignity had been compromised.
Even the emperor, the most supreme ruler, is so humble. Zhao Yanshou, even if you have a noble status, why do you put on such an arrogant air?
Gao Huaide considered getting up and leaving, but remembering his sister's instructions, he forced himself to hold back.
If Zhao Yanshou was willing to send troops to rescue his father, what did it matter if he suffered a little grievance? Although he comforted himself with this thought, he couldn't help but feel aggrieved.
After waiting for a long time, Zhao Yanshou finally arrived and made his appearance.
Gao Huaide looked closely at his handsome face and found it displeasing. He swallowed his anger, stepped back, bowed four times, sang the roadside hymns, and stood up to one side.
Zhao Yanshou showed no remorse for being late. He put his hands in his sleeves, nodded, and sat down in the main seat in the center.
"So you are the son of Grand Tutor Gao. Truly a son of a military family."
His words were casual and nonchalant, even a ten-year-old could tell.
"What brings you to see me today, Your Excellency?"
"I have a question for you, Commander."
Zhao Yanshou was appointed Grand Tutor, concurrently serving as Attendant-in-Ordinary, and enfeoffed as Duke of Lu. He could be addressed as Grand Chancellor, Grand Tutor, Attendant-in-Ordinary, Duke, or Imperial Son-in-Law. However, Gao Huaide specifically addressed him by his military title of Commander-in-Chief of the Armies accompanying the Emperor, just to remind him not to forget his duties.
Unfortunately, Zhao Yanshou paid no heed to this subtle hint, and calmly replied, "You want to ask when this Duke will send troops, right?"
"Indeed, the soldiers at the front are eagerly awaiting our return..."
Before the visit, Gao Huaide's mother, sister, and Lu Qian had all taught him how to speak.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Yanshou interrupted him, choking back what he was about to say.
"Military secrets must not be leaked. Grand Tutor Gao must have taught you this principle."
Zhao Yanshou's voice was melancholic and gentle, clear and warm, but Gao Huaide found it effeminate, and his tone made him sound like a child.
"Major military matters should naturally be decided by the Grand Councilor. This humble general should not interfere, but..."
"Since you know it's something you shouldn't ask, then don't ask."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Yanshou coldly interrupted him again: "Considering that Grand Tutor Gao and the Duke of Guo are both ministers in the same court, and that you and the Duke of Guo are both from Changshan Zhen Ding, I have taken the time to meet you and say so much."
His face darkened: "How could a child like you understand matters of state? Step down!"
Father and tens of thousands of soldiers are fighting against the formidable Khitan enemy on the front lines, and you're making such a sour face?
Gao Huaide clenched his fist, thankfully managing to control his emotions and refraining from smashing it into that handsome face.
As he hesitated whether to swallow his pride and beg or throw a tantrum, a maid came to see the guest off, and a young man appeared at the door.
"Father, I've written a new poem, and I told the Vice Minister that it captured the essence of Tang poetry. Would you like to listen to it?"
Zhao Yanshou, who had just been wearing a stern face, immediately put on a kind father's expression and said gently, "Zan'er is really great. It's no wonder your maternal grandfather bestowed upon you the title of 'Childhood Scholar'. Your father is coming right now." (Note 1)
He glanced at Gao Huaide, as if surprised that he hadn't left yet.
Gao Huaide also loved music and opera, but at this critical moment when help was urgently needed, Zhao Yanshou and his son were still showing off their refined tastes, which was really unacceptable.
He felt his blood rush to his head, and he vaguely remembered how he left. As he brushed past the boy at the door, he seemed to hear a soft laugh, as if it was mocking him.
Okay, I've got it.
On his way back, Gao Huaide's anger cooled down, and his mood gradually turned into fear.
How should I tell my mother, sister, and brother about this outcome? I can imagine their extremely disappointed expressions after hearing it.
"It's all my fault. I lacked presence, which allowed that bastard Zhao Yanshou to take control of the situation."
Since it concerned his father's safety, after returning home, Gao Huaide gritted his teeth and recounted the humiliating process of Zhao Yanshou dismissing him with a few words.
"De'er, you don't need to blame yourself. Your father fought on the battlefield for more than 30 years, and he always returned safely."
"Yes, brother, I don't believe that Father couldn't break through without Zhao Yanshou."
"Brother De, don't take it too seriously. You've already done very well. Since Chancellor Zhao is unwilling to come to our aid, it's pointless to ask him for help."
Instead of blaming him, his family comforted him. The helplessness and sadness revealed in their comforting words pained Gao Huaide.
"I took a few men to the front and came back with some solid information."
Gao Huaide could not bear the days of doing nothing and just waiting. No matter how useful it was, he had to do something.
Upon hearing this, Madam Gao became anxious: "Your father is missing, what can you possibly do there?"
Gao Huaide tried his best to persuade his mother, but he couldn't reason with her.
"In short, you're not allowed to go!"
Gao Huaide reluctantly agreed, but before he had gone far from the room, Gao Huaixuan hurriedly caught up with him, pressed his shoulder and gave him some instructions.
"At this point, you must not worry your mother anymore. You must discuss anything you want to do with your family. You cannot act on your own."
She knew her younger brother's temperament well, and that forcibly restraining or prohibiting him would mostly backfire, so she gave him a few special instructions.
"Young Master, when the Khitans wage war, their scouts are spread over a hundred miles. Otherwise, how could tens of thousands of troops not even be able to send out a single messenger?"
Upon hearing the news, Lu Qian rushed over to dissuade him: "The communication must have been cut off, which is why the general has disappeared. Only the imperial army can lift the siege now. A few people are useless; it's too dangerous."
In fact, Yelü Pode, the Southern Court's Yilijin, led a light cavalry force intending to attack Luzhou, but abandoned his plan upon seeing the Tang army's arrival. This army roamed between Taiyuan and Luzhou, blocking the supply route. If Gao Huaide had gone there unattended, he would surely have become bait. (Note 2)
Gao Huaide acted on impulse, but knowing that Lu Qian's words made sense, he was still able to listen to his sister's advice, so he forcibly suppressed the thought that had arisen, and fortunately escaped a disaster.
Gao Huaixuan knew that her younger brother was feeling down, so she gently hugged him and patted his back to comfort him.
"There's no use in rushing, let's wait and see."
But neither the Gao siblings knew how long they would have to wait.