Chapter 4: Seize fate by the throat

PreviousBack to directoryNext
Zhao Xu's first breakfast after returning to Yuanfeng for eight years was ordered by himself.

A piece of cheese, two hard-boiled eggs, and a small bowl of porridge and rice.

Just when we were finishing eating, Feng Jing came back.

Zhao Xu no longer hesitated and immediately ordered Feng Jingyan to spread paper with ink and copy it on a table in the palace that was specially used for writing.

However, when Zhao Xu saw the two volumes of Buddhist scriptures brought back by Feng Jing, he was lost for a moment.

"Is this God's will?" he whispered softly.

Memories from a previous life flashed back in my mind.

In the Funing Hall, the ministers gathered.

The curtain has been lowered, and the mother-in-law is in charge.

Young Zhao Xu was hugged and walked out of the curtain.

The ministers of the two governments all bowed their hands, bowed, and called His Highness.

At this time, the voice of the mother-in-law came from the curtain: "The prince is handsome and eager to learn. He has recited seven volumes of the Analects of Confucius. It is a little difficult to read, so he only reads. Since the emperor took medicine, he handwritten two volumes of Buddhist scriptures to pray for blessings!"

"

At that time, Zhao Xu, who was young, turned around in surprise and saw Zhang Maoze, the chamberlain, sending two volumes of Buddhist scriptures out of the curtain and delivering them to the ministers.

After the officials circulated it one by one, they all paid homage: "The emperor of the Song Dynasty has a queen, and the country is lucky!"

At that time, Zhang Maoze passed the Buddhist scriptures from the curtain.

It happened to be the Buddhist scripture that Feng Jing took from Zishan Hall in front of him.

One said: eliminate disasters, the other said: extend life.

Zhao Xu recalled that the hand holding the pen had already left words on the Yuan calligraphy paper.

Zhao Xu did not adopt the ostentatious writing methods he used in modern times.

Instead, it was transcribed in standard Guange regular script, stroke by stroke.

Word by word, line by line, from left to right.

Although he is only a child, his hands are small and weak, and his handwriting is shallow.

However, the handwriting is neat and clear, and the size and format of each character are almost the same.

This shocked the ministers serving nearby.

"Your Highness's penmanship is so handsome. Even when Wang Youjun was a young man, he was probably nothing more than this!" Feng Jing praised half sincerely, half as an imam.

Zhao Xu did not answer, but just copied it on his own.

In my mind, those memories that were only fleeting began to flash back.

Father's unsmiling face slowly became colored.

The royal portraits enshrined in Gyeongbokgung Palace gradually became more realistic and warmer.

In my ears, there seems to be a faint sound of meandering water drinking wine, and the sound of silk, bamboo and elegant music.

The candlelight began to shine, and among the halls, the figures of ministers wearing purple robes, hairpins and fish were reflected in their pupils.

"Brother Six, come with me, don't be afraid!" His father held his hand, a small, thin hand, and walked out from behind the curtain.

This is Jiying Palace!

"This is the sixth servant of my son, the Emperor!" Emperor Father smiled and introduced to the ministers who filled the entire Jiying Hall: "I have made the prince of Yan'an County, and I want to make him come out of the cabinet next spring. By then, I still need you.

I wish you my blessing!"

The ministers were then divided into two classes, civil and military. They came forward in separate classes and bowed to their father and the small and thin Zhao Xu who was standing next to his father with the courtesy of ministers.

Many years later, Zhao Xu learned that his father had made elaborate arrangements for the banquet at Jiying Palace that night.

Not only the ministers at the imperial level and above, but also the generals at the level and above who were serving in the capital, all were summoned.

Even more in advance, many important ministers who were away were recalled, and complex personnel arrangements were made at the same time.

After the Gyeongbokgung Palace envoy, Wu Xinjun stayed, he entered the capital and knew that Xihe Lanhui Road was planned to pacify the system. Li Xian, a trusted minister with a large number of soldiers, was recalled by the imperial decree to attend the palace banquet that night.

There was another person who followed Li Xian back to Beijing.

Hebei Road transfer envoy Lu Shengqing.

Lu Shengqing is not important, what is important is his elder brother Lu Huiqing, who was a bachelor of Zizheng Palace, knew Taiyuan Prefecture, and was also the envoy of Linyan Road Economics and Strategy.

Most of the Western Army was under the command of Lu Huiqing, and most of the generals under him were military officials who had expanded the border since Xining.

In addition, Minister Youcheng of Jiangning and Wang Anli, minister of Zhongshu, were also specially arranged to sit next to the two prime ministers so that Wang Anli could see Zhao Xu clearly.

Wang Anli was Wang Anshi's younger brother, and the Jiangning where he was appointed was exactly where Wang Anshi lived in seclusion after he left.

These people, plus all serving ministers in Beijing and military ministers above the horizontal class, attended the night banquet at Jiying Hall at the same time.

It is equivalent to announcing to the world that the Prince of Yan'an County is already the crown prince!

It is also equivalent to giving Zhao Xu an insurance.

If something unexpected happens, the armies of Li Xian and Lu Huiqing, plus the call of brothers Wang Anshi and Wang Anli, are enough to reverse everything.

not only that.

A few days later, Zhao Xu's father publicly announced something in Yanhe Hall in front of the governors.

"The Prince of Yan'an County will leave the cabinet next spring, and he should take Sima Guang and Lu Gongzhu as his mentors!"

This is double insurance.

With this decision, the old party entrenched in Luoyang was also united.

"The beloved son of his parents must have a long-term plan for it!" Zhao Xu couldn't help but sigh with emotion when he thought of this.

The hand holding the pen couldn't help but tremble slightly, and a few ink marks spread on the paper, and the entire word turned into an ink ball.

Zhao Xu stretched out his hand, and Feng Jing, who was serving next to him, had already handed a piece of Yuan Shu paper cut to the size of one character in time and handed it into Zhao Xu's hand.

There were no pencils or erasers in the Song Dynasty.

What should I do if I make a typo?

The answer is very simple, use a piece of paper, stick it on the wrong place, and just write it again.

Zhao Xu pasted the paper on the typo.

In his memory, almost all the impressions about his father's health remained on that night in Jiying Hall.

The remaining ones that I can still remember are the father lying on the hospital bed with a thin face and a pale complexion.

In his mind, those things that he only learned about after he took office began to swirl.

"I have a headache after falling down!"

"I'm so lonely!"

This is the confession of the internal minister Yan Shouqin. According to Yan Shouqin, these are the words his father said to him when he came out of Yanchun Pavilion in December of the seventh year of Yuanfeng.

The cold words turned into painful and lonely moans in Zhao Xu's heart.

As a king, you are the supreme king in the world.

But in the twelfth lunar month of winter, a man came to the Yanchun Pavilion in the lonely and cold palace.

He had a headache, dropped his feet, and felt chills all over his body.

He already knew that he didn't have much time.

But looking around, there was no one in the entire Ouchi Imperial City who could comfort him or give him warmth.

In the huge palace city, he could only face the whole world alone.

Just like after Xining, he could only carry the banner of reform and preside over the reform situation alone.

So, in loneliness and despair, he came to Yanchun Pavilion.

There is the warmth and support he once had.

The relics and portraits of the only relative who understood him, encouraged him, and supported him are enshrined in Yanchun Pavilion.

The Merciful Holy Light is presented to Queen Cao!

And based on the confessions of other ministers.

More than once, in the December of the seventh year of Yuanfeng and the first month of the eighth year of Yuanfeng, they met the official family and sobbed in Yanchun Pavilion.

Thinking of his father sobbing in the Yanchun Pavilion, thinking of his father, even if he fell down and had a headache, he still persisted, arranging and laying out for him, Zhao Xu's hand holding the pen began to exert force, and tears began to well up in his eyes.

The handwriting started to deform.

But Zhao Xu kept copying, took it seriously, and copied it in a disciplined manner.

In my mind, more memories rushed out like a flood.

Father lying on the hospital bed.

Within the curtain, the father kept nodding his head.

I saw with my own eyes that my father was betrayed by his once close ministers.

Zhao Xu's tear glands were moistened, and tears flowed down one by one.

Because, he remembered him in his previous life.

At this moment, at that time, he knew nothing.

Even when he was taken to the Funing Hall and saw his father lying on the royal bed, having lost the ability to speak, he only knew fear, only fear, and only panic.

He had no idea what his father had done for him and the pain he had endured.

Tears flowed down my cheeks one by one.

Zhao Xu was completely immersed in his own emotions, completely forgetting himself.

"Father, oh, father..."

"My son was unworthy in his previous life, and later on, his family and country were destroyed, and the country was overthrown. You have worked hard all your life, only to be trampled on by others, and even more slandered and slandered for hundreds of years!"

"God has mercy on me and gave my son a chance to start over again!"

"My son will definitely carry forward your career and revitalize your foundation in this lifetime!"

"Make our Emperor Song Chongguang and revitalize our country!"



After copying a volume of Buddhist scriptures, Zhao Xu dipped his pen in ink and wrote respectfully after the Buddhist scriptures: I, the servant of the prince of Yan'an County, have been taking medicine for my father, the emperor, for a long time. I respectfully wrote the "Disaster Elimination Sutra" and prayed for recovery.

Then next to this word, he wrote: May my mother-in-law live a long life, my queen may live forever, and my concubine may be happy forever.

After writing, Zhao Xu wiped away his tears and said to the side: "Feng Jing, come and study ink with me!"

But he didn't hear Feng Jing's answer, nor did he see Feng Jing step forward.

Zhao Xu looked back.

Then he saw the two women appearing behind him who had changed his destiny in his previous life and also shaped him in his previous life.

Empress Dowager Gao, Xiang Huang.

One is his grandmother and the other is his legal mother.

Even though he was prepared, Zhao Xu still couldn't hide the throbbing in his heart.

His lips trembled slightly, his eyelids twitched, his mouth and tongue became dry, and his voice stuttered.

"Mother...mother, mother...mother...empress..." Zhao Xu tried hard to calm down and control his emotions.

However, his legs and feet were still shaking uncontrollably.

Especially when Zhao Xu saw Empress Dowager Gao.

His body had an instinctive conditioned reflex.

It is a reaction engraved on the soul.

In new century terms: ptsd!

Ten years! In his last life, Zhao Xu struggled and feared under the shadow of his grandmother for nearly ten years!

It lasted from the eighth year of Yuanfeng to the ninth year of Yuanyou!

It wasn't until the grandmother in front of him reached immortality that Zhao Xu finally let go of his worries and finally got back what he deserved.

Taking a deep breath quietly, Zhao Xu jumped forward and threw himself into Queen Xiang's arms.

Then, he choked up and started sobbing.

"Wuwuwu...Mother...Mother...wuwuwu..."

"Mukuro is so scared!"

This made Queen Xiang suddenly confused.

Empress Xiang is not like Empress Dowager Gao. Empress Dowager Gao was raised by Cisheng Guangxian since she was a child, and she and Yingmiao were childhood sweethearts. However, before Empress Xiang married into the royal family, she had no relationship with the official Zhao family.

After getting married, they just treat each other with respect.

The officials respect her very much, but they just don't like her.

She also understands why?

Empress Xiang is two years older than Guan Jia. When they got married, Guan Jia was still King Ying, who was less than eighteen years old, but she was already over twenty.

In addition, Queen Xiang's appearance can only be regarded as average.

She was able to marry into an official family simply because the Empress Dowager Cisheng Guangxian liked her and named her.

Officials have always been filial and kind, and were unwilling to refute the Queen Mother's good wishes.

After nineteen years of ups and downs in this palace, after experiencing the early deaths of two children born to him.

Queen Xiang has also looked away and has no desires or desires.

To be honest, the fault is not that the official family is seriously ill and the country is in turmoil, but there are strange movements among the clan, ministers, and the inner circle.

Queen Xiang would rather eat food, chant Buddha's name, and pray for her poor children in Kunning Hall than go out.

In previous years, unless it was a festival, none of the concubines, princes, and princesses in the palace could see Queen Xiang, their legal legitimate mother.

Therefore, Queen Xiang was really at a loss at this moment.

It took a long time to regain consciousness, and reached out to hug the sixth prince who suddenly threw himself into his arms.

He comforted softly: "Sixth brother, don't be afraid! Sixth brother, don't be afraid! The queen is here! The queen is here!"

His eyes couldn't help but turn a little red.

Holding the child in her arms, Xiang Queen thought of her child who died young.

The son who hasn't had time to open his eyes yet.

He was still so little, in his infancy, so pitiful!

"If my son were here, I'm afraid he would be like my sixth brother, crying in my arms. Please pray for my protection!"

"Mother...Mother..." The child in her arms hugged her tightly, and her chest was wet with tears.

Empress Xiang couldn't help but shed tears. She hugged the child and said, "Sixth brother, the queen is here! The queen is here!"

Everyone around looked at this scene with blank eyes, and then they all shed tears.

Queen Mother Gao couldn't help but wet her eyes.

She recalled the story between the emperor and his aunt, the empress dowager Ci Sheng Guangxian.

The Empress Dowager and the Emperor are not biological grandparents.

But far better than his biological grandparents!

The emperor's pure filial piety and sincerity in serving the Empress Dowager in the past were praised by everyone in the empire.

After the Empress Dowager became immortal, the emperor would come to Yanchun Pavilion to offer incense and tribute to the Empress Dowager on every birthday and death anniversary of the Empress Dowager.

On weekdays, I would also go to Yanchun Pavilion, and I would often shed tears when I saw the relics of the Empress Dowager.

"What a good boy!" Empress Dowager Gao couldn't help but say.

She stepped forward and looked at the Buddhist scriptures that had been copied.

Especially the text at the end of the Buddhist scriptures.

"I, the servant of the prince of Yan'an County, have been taking medicine for a long time for my father, the emperor. I respectfully write the "Disaster Elimination Sutra" and pray for recovery!"

"May my mother-in-law live a long life, my queen may live forever, and my concubine may be happy forever!"

Others can be taught by someone.

But who taught this filial piety and intention?

Moreover, just now, Empress Dowager Gao was watching her grandson copying Buddhist scriptures while shedding tears.

Although tears were streaming down my face, I never stopped transcribing the words.

This can only mean one thing: the emperor and Sixth Brother are equally filial!

No one knew that at this moment, the corners of Yan'an County Prince's mouth were slightly raised as he was sobbing into the Queen's arms.

His plan.

When I opened my eyes in Qingning Palace and returned to my youth, the plan that had already emerged took a solid and reliable step!

He grabbed his own fate by the throat!

Queen!

Queen Mother Gao can hang the curtains.

Can’t you do it to Queen Xiang?

Only when the two saints hang the curtain can there be checks and balances!

The best thing is that Queen Xiang has no desire for power at all.




This chapter has been completed!
PreviousBack to directoryNext