The New Year is approaching, and everyone inside and outside the palace is busy.
For example, the Daqing Hall in the outer dynasty was a place for holding court meetings. It was nine rooms wide, with five east and west corridors on both sides, and sixty east and west corridors. Such a vast palace could accommodate tens of thousands of people at one time.
The scale is indeed grand, but such a place needs to be cleaned spotlessly and all the furnishings must comply with etiquette. It is obviously a huge project. As early as a month ago, the housekeepers and ministers have been busy working on it and dare not slack off at all.
The Wende Hall to the west of the Daqing Hall is the main place for official government activities. For a period of time just after the death of the Empress Dowager, there were almost no official figures here. Only recently can we often see diligent officials.
The Zichen Hall on the north side is a place for large-scale festival activities. The Chui Gong Hall on the south side is used to receive foreign ministers. In addition, the Jiying Hall for summoning Jinshi and the Xuyun Hall for watching plays and banquets form the outer structure.
The main palace complex of the dynasty.
Of course, Zhao Ji's favorite place is Yanfu Palace. Under his urging, the area has been expanded very quickly. It is believed that in a few months, he will be able to enjoy the luxurious palace.
Zhao Ji, who had recently become interested in strange stones, was thinking about whether to carve out an area and cast stones into mountains, when he heard the servant report: "Guan family, Gao Tiju is waiting outside the palace."
The Imperial City Secretary Xu Zhida heard the memorial and could enter the palace at any time to request an audience. Zhao Ji didn't care and nodded: "Let him come in!"
Zhao Ji was quite satisfied with this former minister of Qiandi, and his merits were secondary. The key was that this man gained power, which made civil servants extremely dissatisfied. Recently, there have been endless criticisms.
Zhao Ji is most afraid that his ministers will unite and drive him out of power. Naturally, he is happy to see Gao Qiu attract firepower and mediate himself. In addition, the eradication of the Mingzun cult is indeed a good thing to stabilize the rule of the court. What emperor can do such a close minister?
What about rejection?
Therefore, before Gao Qiu arrived, Zhao Ji asked the palace maid to move a square stool to the side to show his favor.
Gao Qiu followed the chamberlain into the palace. When he saw this small stool, he was immediately excited. He even felt that a scholar would die as a confidant. He came to the front and bowed: "I, Gao Qiu, pay my respects to the official!"
Zhao Ji smiled and said: "No courtesy at Gaoqing's house! Sit down!"
I can't ask for anything else, but I am good at welcoming the officials. My eyes suddenly turned red, and I kowtowed: "I am only able to get to where I am today if I get the appreciation of the officials. I should do my best to repay the divine grace!"
Thinking that this person was originally a ruffian in the market, but he had to be valued by himself to achieve what he has achieved today. It is true that horses with a thousand miles of horses are common, but bole is not common. Zhao Ji became more and more pleased: "How can I not know the loyalty of the Gaoqing family?
Bar!"
Gao Qiu then sat down cautiously: "I'm reporting to the officials that I have arrested a group of Xixia spies!"
Zhao Ji was originally leaning on the dragon chair with his body relaxed. The moment he heard these words, his smile froze and his back straightened subconsciously: "Xixia?"
Gao Qiu said: "Yes, the leader is named Renduo Weizhong. He is the brother of the Xixia general Renduo Baozhong. He was sent deep into the capital of our Song Dynasty in an attempt to steal key information, but was captured by the minister."
If Zhao Ji had any extravagant hopes before, maybe it was another group of Xixia thieves who suddenly lost their luck when they heard this.
How could it be such a coincidence?
But he didn't know what to say to this confidant who came to report excitedly, so he could only say yes.
The expression on Gao Qiu's face was inexplicably difficult to see, which was not surprising. After all, the enemy's secret spies had penetrated deep into the capital and were operating under their noses, which would not be easy for anyone.
Fortunately, I have the blue sky to protect me from the wind and rain, and make the officials feel at ease: "The Western thieves are in turmoil in the country and their military strength is declining. They have long been no match for our Song Dynasty. I don't know where these spies learned that the former internal affairs
The eunuch Li Xian has evidence of a military general's crime, and he wants to use it to control the front line and conspire to instigate rebellion. If this person succeeds, the consequences will be disastrous..."
Zhao Ji didn't care about the war in Xixia at all. After all, the losses on the northwest front were only the front and could not threaten Bianjing. And if the charge of matricide was not cleared, his throne would be unstable, so he directly asked: "This Xixia
I'm a spy. Is there anyone who is secretly communicating with you?"
"Nothing is more sage than an official!"
Gao Qiuhong said in a loud voice: "The leader of the thief confessed that it was Jia Xiang, the imperial guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who secretly colluded with this person. The Imperial City Department has already dispatched to arrest Jia Xiang's cronies outside the palace!"
Zhao Ji's hands trembled violently, his heart sank completely, and he said sternly: "Back off! Everyone, back off!"
Not to mention that Gao Qiu was startled and hurriedly left the stool and knelt down. The servants and maids around him were even more silent. Feeling that the official family had returned to the moody mood of the previous period, they hurriedly left.
When there were only two people left in the hall, Zhao Ji looked at Gao Qiu who was lying on the ground without knowing what he meant, with hesitation in his eyes.
He was thinking about whether to tell this confidant about his plan.
"This person is my old minister after all. Others may betray me, but he will not betray me..."
"No! You can't tell him that Gao Qiu is no longer just a lucky minister..."
An incompetent Gao Qiu will never betray himself, because his ministers are often unmatched in virtue, and all their power comes from the emperor who favors him, so he will naturally be loyal.
But if you have the ability, you really can't say for sure. According to this person's ability, if he changes to another emperor, he can still have a prosperous life. The so-called loyalty will be greatly reduced!
So Zhao Ji took a deep breath and suppressed his anger and absurdity: "This matter is of great importance. You Imperial City Secretary should not act rashly..."
Gao Qiu was stunned. Even if a mere eunuch had some influence in the palace, he would not be imprisoned casually if the official said something. What's the point of not acting rashly?
Zhao Ji also realized that his order was unreasonable, and he became increasingly irritated: "I told you to ignore it, don't you understand?"
Gao Qiu's mind was in a state of confusion. He just wanted to go back and ask Mr. Lin what the official's arrangement was. After hearing the obviously unhappy voice, he was so frightened that he responded repeatedly: "I understand! I understand!"
Seeing Gao Qiu's silence, and Jia Xiang's exposure, how to end it is also a mess, Zhao Ji also felt guilty, took a deep breath, came to Gao Qiu, bent down and helped him up: "Gao Xiaoyi, you are my best
Someone you trust!"
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! Gao Qiu is the eldest in the family. When they were playing Cuju in Prince Duan's Mansion, Zhao Ji called him this. Hearing this, his heart warmed and he quickly expressed his loyalty: "Guan Family
Don’t worry, I have the ministers and the Imperial City Secretary here, and we will never allow traitors to run rampant, let alone harm the official dragon body in the slightest, and endanger our chance of making the Great Song Dynasty!”
Looking at this upright and loyal minister of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Ji opened his mouth and could only say: "How could I not know your loyalty? What you did this time..."
Hearing this, Gao Qiu raised his head slightly, showing an expectant expression. Zhao Ji's cheek muscles twitched violently, and he squeezed out four words: "Well done!"
Gao Qiu always felt that Guan Jia's tone was not right, but after thinking about it carefully, Guan Jia had no reason to blame himself and immediately said: "This is my duty!"
Zhao Ji's temples were twitching, and he knew that he could not say any more, otherwise he would be furious, so he gritted his teeth and said, "I'm a little tired today, please step back, remember this and don't act rashly!"
Gao Qiu accepted the order: "Yes! I resign!"
Watching the confidant retreat respectfully, until the other person's footsteps completely left the hall, Zhao Ji suddenly took a few steps forward and kicked the stool away, shaking with anger.
If it's someone who is against him and ruins things, that's fine!
He could even accept that King Jian and Zhao seemed to be unwilling to take the throne and not be fooled. If he stayed in the palace and became a prince, there was really nothing he could do to him.
But not now...
Why the high demands? This is his cronies! His cronies have demolished him, yet he still praises the other party for what he has done!
There is nothing more ridiculous than this in the world!
The only good news is that Gao Qiu dare not disobey, Jia Xiang will not be arrested for the time being, and the plan can still be implemented.
But how to deal with the eunuch afterwards is also a problem.
Silencing him directly would have great consequences, because that night the Empress Dowager Xiang made too much noise, and the palace witnessed him being driven out covered in blood, and the Funing Palace was set on fire at that time. Too many people, and so on.
In addition to word of mouth, it was still up to Yang Jian, Lan Congxi, Jia Xiang and other high eunuchs to suppress the rumor afterwards.
If the palace cannot be completely bloodbathed, in order to stabilize the throne, Zhao Ji is willing to share power with the eunuchs. The two parties maintain a tacit understanding. Once Jia Xiang is killed, all the remaining eunuchs will be in danger, and the situation will not be guaranteed to get out of control!
Zhao Ji kept circling in the hall. The more he thought about it, the more headache he got. He didn't even know when night would fall.
After a tasteless dinner, he did not care to favor other concubines and asked the Queen Wang to come and sleep with him.
Queen Wang is his first wife, the princess of Prince Duan's Mansion. She gave birth to the prince Zhao Huan not long ago and has a gentle temperament.
Seeing that the officials were in an extremely bad mood, Queen Wang did not dare to say anything other than the most basic comfort.
Zhao Ji just wanted to find a quiet place where he could think for a long time without being disturbed. Late at night, he was really tired and fell asleep.
But before he had slept for half an hour, he was woken up by the noisy sound outside, and then he saw Yang Jian rushing in, with a panicked look on his face: "Guan family, something bad has happened, Prince Jian's palace is on fire!"
Zhao Ji was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stood up, rushed outside the palace, looked at the faintly red sky in the distance, jumped to his feet and said: "Quickly put out the fire! Quickly put out the fire! Nothing will happen to King Jian!"
After hearing this extremely sincere and anxious voice, the chamberlain and the palace maid were very surprised. They all said that there is no family affection in the Tian family. Does this person care so much about his younger brother?
Queen Wang, who was awakened, also hurried over, put on clothes for him, and said softly: "I admire the love and care of the brothers for the officials, but you must take care of the dragon body!"
Zhao Ji ignored him and kept shouting at the top of his lungs: "Put out the fire! Put out the fire——!"
"
Not to mention the chaos in the palace, the soldiers from all the streets in the palace came to put out the fire with skillful fire extinguishers.
What surprised them was that the fire seemed to be raging and overwhelming, but it only gathered in Prince Jian's Mansion and did not spread to the surrounding residences.
Judging from the disgraced servants who escaped, there were also very few people caught in the fire. The soldiers had dealt with many fires in Beijing, but they had never seen such a controlled fire.
So after more than an hour, the fire was extinguished. Facing the palace that had been burnt to white, a large number of Ban Zhi and internal servants rushed in.
Less than half an hour later, Lan Congxi, who was good at putting out fires, came to Zhao Ji and knelt down in front of Zhao Ji with trepidation: "Reporting to the officials, the fire in Prince Jian's Mansion has been put out, and the Prince's Mansion is almost destroyed. His Highness Prince Jian and several personal servants are unknown.
I'm afraid it's going to be a disaster..."
Zhao Ji's eyes darkened.
King Jian is gone?
Whether he died or saw through his plan and set fire to escape, King Jian's disappearance means that the coup plan was stillborn.
As a result, after suppressing the rumors and diverting attention, the third plan to blame others also failed.
"Besides these methods, is there any other way to make the people of the world stop talking about me killing my mother?"
"I can't think of it...I can't think of it!"
"Is it possible that the reputation of being a mother-killer and a foolish king will follow me for the rest of my life?"
Finally, this official, who was named Ji and had always been physically strong, became furious under the continuous blows. With a sound, a mouthful of blood spurted out from his mouth. Amid the screams of everyone, he fell backwards.