Since the Accounting: A Chronicle of the Roman Khanate

Chapter 183 Theodora's Borrowing Requirements (5k, 476 Monthly Pass Plus Updates)

Although there were some twists and turns, this visit was relatively successful overall.The queen mother was quite satisfied with the final fight, and said that the martial arts theory of the other party was really interesting and worth pondering.

As for the issue of strategy, she also readily agreed, saying that since what Guo Kang said was sound, and Wang Da Lama and others thought it was feasible, then she could support it.Later, she will tell her son and daughter-in-law to think about it.

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 her for a while, and then left.

Lama Wang and the old sea urchin were going to meet with other scholars and priests, so they separated from everyone at the gate.Huanhuan 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 Dajia have been tinkering with." Tuo Huan jumped on his horse and said to Guo Kang.

Guo Kang nodded, and turned to greet Theodora again: "Sister, get in the car, we just go all the way."

But Theodora shook her head and said, "Go back by yourself first, I want to go to the Guo family's mansion with Brother Kang."

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

"There is no need to wait for these few days." Theodora told him: "You told the queen mother that I have something to do in the Guo family's mansion and I don't have time to go back and forth. I should stay there for a few days and not go back to the palace. inside."

Tuo Huan opened his mouth halfway, and was stunned for a while.

"Why are you in a daze?" Theodora urged in a low voice, "Go back!"

"No... you're just sending it to your door?" Tuo Huan was a little surprised, but also lowered his voice, bent over from his horse, leaned over his head and said, "I'm not against it. I just want to see you spend all day with a penance nun It seems that you don't know how to do this..."

Theodora was brave enough at first, but she was a little shy at what he said, so she was short of breath and gave him a hard look.

"All right, all right, don't worry, I'll tell mom when I get back!" Tuo Huan sat up straight quickly, patted his chest and promised.

After all, he kicked his horse and left quickly.

The two Serbian servants who were in love were waiting at the entrance of the alley. When they saw him running out in a panic, they didn't know what was going on.Tuo Huan didn't bother to explain, and asked the two of them to follow quickly.The two got on their horses with puzzled faces, followed him quickly, and ran away in a hurry.

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

"You can take her with you." The queen mother also said, "Are all the young people now like this? In fact, you don't need to think too much about it. Back then..."

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

"Okay, okay, then we'll go back. You two have fun!" The Queen Mother nodded, waved to them, and left.

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

Guo Kang was a little helpless, so he nodded too.He was about to turn around and get on the horse, but Theodora stopped him: "Get in my carriage. Your horse, just ask grandma to send it back."

After all, she pulled Guo Kang into the car.

The carriage started slowly, and the two faced each other silently.Finally, Theodora couldn't help it, and said first, "Do you think everyone thinks I'm in the way?"

"How do you say that?" Guo Kang was a little surprised.

"Every time I say something, my brother is often dissatisfied, but the same meaning, he doesn't care if you say it." Theodora shook her head and said, "Except for him, Li Xuanying is also. I said last time that I can help my parents Handling work, he looks like I'm going to eat him."

"It's normal for him to be like this." Guo Kang explained: "His grandfather was messed up by the Queen Mother Helena back then, and the whole family remembers it. If you say that, they will definitely suspect that you are also involved in politics. You think they think you are in the way. In fact, they are afraid of you."

Theodora nodded.

"These words, I can only tell you." She sighed: "I always feel that I am doing good things with all my heart. I don't want to fight for the inheritance of Huan, and you also know that this is impossible. My wisdom is not yet blinded by this illusory power."

"But look at their reactions, all of them seem to have seen a thief. But if I don't help, I will let go of that careless temperament, and I won't know if I am tricked in the future. Tell me, what should I do?" ?”

"You don't have to underestimate him." Guo Kang comforted: "He doesn't seem to have a heart, but he understands the key things very well. After all, he has also studied with us. You have to have confidence in him."

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

"Then they always don't believe me, what should I do?" Theodora complained, and continued to ask: "Could it be that if I get in touch with power, I will definitely become one of those messy ladies in Roman history Is it?"

Guo Kang thought for a moment.

"You heard what the old sea urchin said just now, that is, the geographical environment will determine the civilization characteristics of the local residents." He said: "In fact, not only the geographical environment, but also the social environment."

"Once these ladies aspire to the highest power, their personalities don't matter anymore. In the face of political interests, only very determined people can control their desires, and most people do not have this ability."

"They yearn for power, but their power is not stable. Didn't we say before why the usurper regime like Sima's is often unstable? It's the same for them."

"Because power is not as stable as a male monarch, it can only be compensated by other means-such as extensive compromises with nobles, unprincipled compromises with foreigners, unnecessary massacres of possible opponents... and so on. Only through these radical Only in this way can we maintain power and maintain a sense of security.”

"From this point of view, the Wu Zetian they often use as a metaphor is actually more dangerous than Sima Yi. Because her way of ascension is not regarded as the 'right way', her military prestige is shallower, and her followers are fewer. Therefore, her Behavior must be more aggressive."

"If this rare opportunity were given to a more capable and moral woman, maybe our world would be different. But unfortunately, there are too few opportunities to try, and everyone's luck is not very good. As a result, As you can see, both Rome and Seris suffered for this, and people would naturally object to such an act."

"When Tang Gaozong was around, the 'Empress Wu' was able to help him and deal with various things. But after Gaozong's death, not long after, the 'Empress Wu' got out of control. When she finally became the 'Emperor Zetian' , It seems that I have completely lost my previous skills and political wisdom. I think the main reason is this."

"Isn't this a paradox?" Theodora asked rhetorically, "If a lady is pursuing the highest power, she will be forced by the situation to become distorted and depraved. But if she does not want to obtain the highest power, then He would never pursue this status and title at all. In this way, is it impossible to have a female monarch at all?"

"It's fine if the status is stable." Guo Kang corrected: "Didn't you notice? As long as everyone thinks that the way she gained power is not a big problem, then in such an environment, it is easy to have qualified or even excellent female rulers."

"Although the female emperor of Seris is very speechless, the queen dowager over there is much more normal than the one in Rome. Although many people are not good at personal morality, they are indeed commendable leaders for the country. When it comes to power, these The empress dowager is able to control and preside over sacrifices, and she is not much different from the emperor in terms of power and legal principles, but her actual performance is much more normal. I think this is the effect of Seris' customary law."

"If you want to be a good leader, I suggest that you should first focus on the habit itself, not the position first." Guo Kang said: "This kind of thing, it's best to do it in a down-to-earth way. You have time and ability, then Why are you in a hurry?"

"Then will you support me?" Theodora asked.

"If you trust me, I can support you." Guo Kang said without hesitation: "If there is no such trust, what can I do? I can find a thousand people on the streets of Dadu who are chasing power purely for power, What is so special about these people? My support is meaningless."

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

Theodora hesitated.After a while, she pounced on Guo Kang and kissed him.

Guo Kang was completely dumbfounded.

After a while, she let go of her hand.Looking at Guo Kang, he blushed, as if he wasn't mentally prepared.

Back in their seats, she and Guo Kang looked at each other, and then quickly avoided their eyes.After looking around, he simply got up again, sat next to Guo Kang, and leaned against him.

"That's all right," she whispered.

"Ah..." Guo Kang originally wanted to discuss the importance of political mutual trust and potential tacit understanding with her, but Theodora suddenly bumped into her for promiscuity, knocking all the lines he had planned into the air.

"By the way, you are not allowed to seek special relationships with those people on the streets of Dadu. Those Greeks are very strange, do you understand?" Theodora did not forget to remind.

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

The two of them didn't speak any more.When they arrived in front of Guo's house, the coachman yelled twice before he realized it.

Yang Wenxian, who was standing guard at the gate, came up to greet them, glanced at them both curiously, and asked the guards to open the gate to welcome them in.

When the two entered, he closed the door again.When there was still a gap left, everyone looked around again, and made a point of checking to see if there was anyone on the roof.Seeing that the two of them had already entered the lobby, they closed the door again.

"What happened today?" Yang Wenxian asked strangely.

"Hey, young man, you haven't found a wife before." The coachman looked familiar with this: "I have driven the nobles for more than ten years, and these two are the shyest couple I have ever pulled. Such gentle Young people, it's really rare..."

"Then the two of them?" Yang Wenxian suddenly realized, and said to himself: "No wonder, I just said something is wrong. This is not the first time the princess has come, and I have never seen their expressions before..."

"What was it like before?" the coachman became more and more curious.

"Why are you asking this?" Another guard stepped forward and threatened, "Don't ask too many questions about Mr. Warmaster."

"Hey, what did you tell me to keep secret." Not only was the coachman not afraid, but he showed off: "These young people are also new here, right? Ask your brother Bu Lei, he knows me."

"You know, we coachmen are the quickest to know all kinds of so-called 'secrets' inside and outside the palace. The nobles in the court often have to use clichés from us."

"It's not a big deal." Yang Wenxian, the leader, stopped them and asked, "Old man, you have to know that although our son is not a womanizer, he is very popular. Every time the princess came, she had to follow him The other girls are fighting!"

"However, the young master manages the family well, and these girls are bickering, but they are actually very united." He boasted: "Last time, I don't know why, but they rushed up and beat the visiting young master Li."

"Hey? I heard about this from the coachman of the Li family. It turned out to be like this." The old coachman also suddenly realized: "It must be Mr. Li who broke their good deed. Take it out on him."

"Yes. You know, Mr. Li never walks through the main entrance. He always climbs over the wall to get in."

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

"Yeah, yeah. That's too abrupt..."

Everyone talked and discussed, and came to a conclusion that everyone can accept.

Someone took out tea and asked the old coachman to tell his story, and the old coachman did his part, telling the secrets of several Greek ladies in the palace, which amazed everyone.In the end, he said that he had to rush back to change shifts, so he hugged the guards and said that we would talk next time, just in time to bring some food along the way.

When he drove away, everyone went back contentedly.

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

At this moment, Guo Kang was hurriedly bringing Theodora to the living room, and asked her to sit down 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 Kang is really inexperienced only in dealing with relationships with the opposite sex.

Up to now, he actually can't guarantee what kind of calculation Theodora is planning, or what step he is going to take.

The known experience is that when a person does not know what to do, it is the safest way to follow the steps and follow the rules.In this way, even if there is a problem, it can be said to be a problem with the rules, not a problem with oneself, and generally it will not be overly investigated.

Therefore, it is better to be more mechanical than to make up your own mind when encountering problems-among the countless experiences brought by Seris's long history, this can also be classified as the most practical category.

Therefore, Guo Kang, whose mind was already a little empty, began to arrange a guest room for her in accordance with the practice of receiving guests.Let's talk about other things when Dad comes back.

However, just as Guo Kang walked out of the living room, he saw his adoptive father walking over from the back door with a stack of books in his arms.

The adoptive father looked around and saw that there was no one there, so he rushed to the house in a hurry.Halfway there, he was surprised to see Guo Kang appearing suddenly.

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

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

"I just asked someone to borrow it." The adoptive father greeted: "Come on, do me a favor, put all these books in my room, and sort them out."

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

"Oh, that girl." The father-in-law nodded: "It's good. She came to see you, right? Don't worry, you don't need to be busy for too long, just help me get these books done."

"What's the matter?" Guo Kang was still puzzled.

"Your mother is coming back. She asked me to read more books before she left, but I don't have the time." The adoptive father said with a sad face: "I wanted to take your book, but Lao Li said I was stupid. Your book, Does your mother not know? So he helped, found other people to make up, and borrowed so much, so it seemed that I was at least reading."

Guo Kang feels that these stacks of books are not too many, and it really doesn't take much effort.Although he wondered if he could fool his adoptive mother, but it seemed like he could only help him deal with it.

With two clicks, he put the books away by category.Talking about the topic of concern again: "Father, Theodora said that she wants to stay with us for a few days, and I will let her live in the guest room?"

"If you don't live in the guest room, you can still live in the stable!" The adoptive father said casually, but after a while, he realized: "No...you kid coaxed other girls into the house?"

"Uh, I didn't coax her, she insisted on coming." Guo Kang found that he spent the whole day correcting other people's misunderstandings.

"It's not all the same." The adoptive father shook his head and said: "She is a good girl, I know it. If you like her, tell her clearly. If you can negotiate, I will go to a matchmaker later. If it is true If you don't like it, you have to stop it, otherwise, just... hey, don't mention it."

He shook his head helplessly: "Father will support whoever you like, but you have to treat them well."

"Ah, I see..." Seeing his adoptive father was not very surprising, and he had even directly considered the issue of marriage, so Guo Kang had no choice.

"Then where should I let her live? Do you want Mama Zhang to come and clean the guest room? She's still waiting." Although he felt that his adoptive father was not very reliable, he could only ask him now.

"Our family still looks like this? Of course, she can live wherever she wants." The adoptive father said without hesitation: "Ask her, as long as it fits her status, she can live wherever she wants. I'll let Yang Wenxian call for someone to clean it up."

"Huh? Yes. Daddy, you are smart." Guo Kang immediately realized: "Okay, then I can ask her myself."

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

(End of this chapter)