Zhao Xu let out a slight breath, and a stone fell to the ground in his heart.
Feng Jing's loyalty has been proven.
In his previous life, he would rather be banished to death in Guangnan than reveal a word of what Zhao Xu said in private.
Zhao Xu was only worried that he had despised and neglected his instructions.
Now that Feng Jing has taken a stand, he will naturally take this matter seriously as a person.
"Now, everything is ready and all we need is the east wind..." Zhao Xu murmured in a low voice and looked in the direction of Kunning Hall.
Kunning Hall is the middle palace, where the queen lives!
Memories from a previous life flashed back in my mind.
Within the curtain, the mother-in-law (Empress Dowager Gao) and the queen mother (Empress Xiang) stood like sculptures, relatively speechless, but choking alone.
The father, who was seriously ill and dying, was lying on the royal bed. He no longer had the majesty of the past. He could only look at Zhao Xu quietly with his eyes.
The young Zhao Xu looked at his father at a loss.
Outside the curtain, the voices of the ministers sounded in unison.
"Last winter last year, the three provinces issued an imperial edict from His Majesty: the Prince of Yan'an County will come out of the imperial palace this spring... I was so frightened that I asked him to establish a crown prince to unite the world!"
The ministers played three times in a row.
But inside the curtain, except for the sounds of crying and sobbing, no one spoke.
Zhao Xu, who was young and ignorant at that time, watched helplessly as his father lay on the bed, nodding his head to express his approval of the ministers' memorial.
but……
Within the curtain, there was no other sound except choking and sobbing.
Everyone pretended not to see Zhao Xu's father nod.
My father is the Son of Heaven!
At that time, no one noticed Zhao Xu.
No one would spend their precious energy on a little prince who was surrounded by others and was at a loss during such an exciting power struggle.
Just a kid.
Don't understand anything, don't know anything.
No need to worry!
But they would not have thought that at that time, Zhao Xu seemed ignorant and didn't understand anything.
In fact, he is already sensible.
He remembered everything that happened that day in his heart and engraved it in his bones.
Every day and night after that, while lying on the royal bed in Funing Hall, he would think of everything that happened that day.
He remembered what everyone said and did at that time.
Naturally, I also remembered how the silence in the curtain was broken.
"Please ask the Empress Dowager to listen to the government together until she recovers!"
The speaker is Wang Gui!
At that time, he was the minister Zuo Pushe and his servant, the so-called left prime minister!
That day was Guisi, the 29th day of February in the eighth year of Yuanfeng!
The location is the inner bedroom of the East Pavilion of Funing Hall!
…
Kunning Hall.
The residence of the Empress of the Song Dynasty is located behind Funing Hall, which is called the Middle Palace.
According to ancient rituals, the walls were painted with pepper, so it was called "Jiao Fang".
At this moment, Queen Xiang, the owner of Kunning Hall, was kneeling in front of the statue of Medicine Master Buddha, reciting Buddhist sutras.
Queen Xiang is not yet forty this year, but she is already showing her age and has a sad look on her face.
She couldn't help but worry.
It has been nineteen years since Queen Xiang married into the royal family. Although she gave birth to children for the official family, they all died young.
Now, even the official family is about to leave her.
The weight of fate is like a heavy burden.
It was so heavy that she couldn't breathe or breathe.
But there is nothing she can do!
There seems to be no other way except praying to gods and Buddhas!
After reciting a scroll of Buddhist scriptures, he put down the Buddhist scriptures to the queen.
The chamberlain Yan Shouqin, who had been standing behind him, finally took a step forward and called out in a low voice: "Saint!"
Queen Xiang did not look back. She looked at the statue of Medicine Master enshrined in the Buddhist niche and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Feng Jing was involved in Qingning Palace and just went to Zishan Hall..."
"Oh?" Queen Xiang bowed to the Buddha statue of Medicine Master King and apologized, then stood up and walked towards the curtain of the inner chamber of Kunning Hall.
As she walked, she asked: "Didn't all the gentlemen from Zishan Hall go to Gongyuan?"
"Why did Feng Jing go to Zishan Hall?"
"I heard that Feng Jing went to Zishan Hall in compliance with the order of the Prince of Yan'an County to look for pens, ink, paper, inkstones and Buddhist scriptures!"
Queen Xiang stopped, turned around, and looked at Song Yongchen: "Sixth brother wants pen, ink, paper and inkstone. What do you want to do with Buddhist scriptures?"
"I don't know!" Yan Shouqin lowered his head, not daring to look directly at the Queen.
He pondered to the queen for a moment, hesitated for a while, and asked again: "Does Baoci Palace know about this?"
After thinking about it for a moment, Queen Xiang answered her own question: "Since I know it, how can Baoci Palace not know about it?"
Baoci Palace is the residence of the Empress Dowager. It is to the west of Funing Palace. It is closer to the inner court than the empress who lives deep in the palace, and she can hear the news better.
Now that she knows everything, Bao Cigong will naturally know too.
So Queen Xiang no longer hesitated and told Yan Shouqin: "I am going to Qingning Palace, you can make arrangements!"
…
Just as Queen Xiang expected.
Empress Dowager Gao in Baoci Palace also learned about Feng Jing's behavior from the mouth of her minister Liang Weijian.
"Brother Six is a filial son!" Empress Dowager Gao said, gently stroking the raccoon slave in her arms.
Liang Weijian lowered his head deeply and did not dare to answer.
He understood the meaning of Empress Dowager Gao's words.
How old is the Prince of Yan'an County?
How could a child, even if he was really filial, think of copying Buddhist scriptures to pray for officials?
Even if you can think of it, how can you put it into action?
Someone must have taught me.
Liang Weijian knew that since he could think of this section, it was impossible for the Queen Mother not to think of it.
Empress Dowager Gao continued to caress the soft hair of the slave in her arms, and mentioned another thing: "The emperor said last year that when the sixth brother comes out of the cabinet, Sima Guang and Lu Gongzhu must be the guardians..."
"Is there such a thing?" Empress Dowager Gao looked at Liang Weijian.
Liang Weijian remained silent.
But silence is the answer.
"But Zishantang already has two direct lecturers..." Empress Dowager Gao said leisurely: "Find a way to send those two direct lecturers to local prefectures and counties!"
"The emperor sometimes does things like this, looking forward and backward, hesitating!"
"Now that we have decided to let veterans like Sima Guang and Mr. Lu come to escort the prince, how can we continue to let Wang Anshi's heretical ideas confuse the prince?"
The Queen Mother, who lives deep in the palace, does not know anything about financial economics.
I don't understand why my son insists on pursuing reform.
In the palace, all she heard, saw and knew were the complaints, dissatisfaction and resentment of noble officials, relatives and princesses.
In particular, Wang Anshi expelled all descendants of the clan except Wufu in one go.
Taizu, the descendants of Taizong, not only one or two came to complain to her.
The Market Change Law caused a great stir in Bianjing City.
There was an endless stream of ministers and relatives complaining in front of her.
Why compete with the people for profit? Excessive exploitation!
Or maybe it's the Han Dynasty's method, nothing better than this!
Therefore, Empress Dowager Gao has been persuading her son.
However, although today's officials are filial, they are unwilling to listen to her persuasion on this matter.
Liang Weijian listened quietly to Empress Dowager Gao's words, still silent, but wrote down the matter in her heart.
Empress Dowager Gao had already put down the raccoon slave in her hand.
"Go and see the emperor!" Empress Dowager Gao said, her tone somewhat lonely.
No matter what, he is her son.
She was conceived for ten months and gave birth to the flesh and bones she worked so hard for.
Nowadays, the emperor is getting sicker and sicker day by day. Seeing the emperor lose weight day by day, Empress Dowager Gao naturally feels very uncomfortable.
Liang Weijian then answered and said: "Empress, the ministers of the two palaces have just entered the palace, and they are currently in the Funing Hall asking for the Holy Eucharist..."
Empress Dowager Gao hesitated for a moment and then said: "In that case, I'll wait until the ministers leave before going to visit the emperor!"
Empress Dowager Gao was a person who respected the system very much.
This is related to her life experience.
She was born into a family of generals. Her great-grandfather Gao Qiong and grandfather Gao Jixun were both famous generals.
Although her biological father, Gao Zunfu, lost the reputation of his father-in-law, her mother came from another family of famous Song Dynasty generals, the Zhending Cao family.
Another daughter of the Cao family later married into the royal family and became the Queen of Renmiao. She was the Queen of Cishengguangxian.
Empress Ci Sheng Guangxian had no children, so she brought Empress Dowager Gao to the palace to raise her. She taught her in person, and she was very favored.
Empress Dowager Cisheng Guangxian's respect for the system deeply influenced Empress Dowager Gao.
Therefore, although Empress Dowager Gao did not like the so-called new law introduced by her son.
But it was just persuasion and never real intervention.
The son is the emperor, and he has his own way to deal with the affairs of the world.
On the other hand, most of Empress Dowager Gao's dissatisfaction with the new law also originated from this.
The ancestral system and Jiayou's government are flawless.
How can you destroy it casually?
What's more, Empress Dowager Gao always remembered that her husband's successful accession to the throne was due to the persistence of Jiayou ministers back then.
Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, Sima Guang, Lu Gongzhu, Li Chun...
They are all loyal ministers!
But the emperor believed Wang Anshi's heresy and abandoned these people.
Isn't this confusing?
Destroy the city wall!
Nowadays, the emperor is seriously ill and the medicine has no effect.
But the loyal ministers are far away from all over the world, and they are all treacherous ministers and rebels in the court!
Once there is a change, what should the Sheji Ancestral Temple do?
Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Gao's face inevitably started to become worried again.
Liang Weijian looked at Empress Dowager Gao's expression, raised her head calmly, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, there is one more thing I don't know whether I should say..."
"Say it!" Empress Dowager Gao sighed leisurely.
"I heard that a few days ago, during the long autumn period in the palace, people were ordered to set up a fast in the Daxiangguo Temple to pray for blessings. The prayer said: The prince of Yan'an County prays. Now, many people have heard about it!"
After hearing this, Queen Mother Gao suddenly turned pale and her body trembled slightly.
After a long time, she said: "Why is the queen like this?"
Liang Weijian didn't dare to answer the conversation at all, but bowed her head deeply.
Empress Dowager Gao sighed and said to herself: "How can I harm my grandson?"
The queen asked people to fast and pray, especially in the name of the Prince of Yan'an in the prayer.
This tells the world: The official family has a son!
And he has grown up!
The subtext is: everyone should be more careful!
Who is the backstabbing referring to?
People who are thoughtful will naturally think of it.
The legend of the sound of the ax and the shadow of the candle was known to everyone in the country.
The story of the Golden Chamber Alliance is even more vivid in my mind.
"Did the two ministers have anything to say?" Empress Dowager Gao thought for a moment and then asked Liang Weijian.
Liang Weijian lowered his head and replied: "I have not heard about this!"
Empress Dowager Gao's expression suddenly darkened as she listened.
Sometimes, no discussion is the biggest discussion!
Because they all went underground.
Empress Dowager Gao remembered that since the emperor became seriously ill, the ministers of the two palaces had visited the palace almost every morning and evening to pay their respects.
After greetings, they would all go to the capital hall or the Privy Council in the imperial city for a meeting.
During the meeting, the ministers often ordered the hall to be locked and only people from the Zhongshu House were allowed to be present to take notes.
The relevant record of the meeting can only be read by people in Zhongshushe.
Liang Weijian carefully observed Empress Dowager Gao's expression and reported cautiously: "However, I heard that the mother of Right Prime Minister Cai Gong once came to the palace to pay an audience according to the order of the Central Palace!"
"Cai Chizheng's mother? Ming family?" Empress Dowager Gao immediately became alert: "What did she do in the palace? Why did the queen call her into the palace?"
Liang Weijian shook his head: "This minister doesn't know anything!"
Empress Dowager Gao's vigilance was immediately heightened.
Liang Weijian was a member of the inner chamber, serving as a provincial escort and promoted to Baoci Palace, so he always had good news.
In addition, Liang Weijian also had close contacts with high-ranking ministers such as Chen Yan and Zhang Shiliang.
Even Liang Weijian didn't know what Ming and the Queen were talking about when they met?
This only shows that what the Queen and Ming discussed was extremely sensitive. I am afraid they discussed it in private and avoided others when talking about it.
Then I thought about the fact that the queen ordered people to go to Daxiangguo Temple to pray, but she pretended to be the Prince of Yan'an in her prayers. Unfortunately, everyone knows about this now.
Empress Dowager Gao had to suspect that this matter was the result of Cai Que's discussion with the empress!
This is knocking the mountain and shaking the tiger!
Queen Mother Gao took a deep breath.
She remembered again that Feng Jing, who was reported by Liang Weijian, went to Zishan Hall to get pens, ink, paper and inkstones, saying that "the prince of Yan'an County wants to copy Buddhist scriptures and pray for the officials."
How old is the Prince of Yan'an County?
Copying Buddhist scriptures?
Can he recognize all the characters in the Buddhist scriptures? Even if he recognizes them all, can he write them? Has he written them?
So, who taught it?
Why teach this way?
What is the purpose?
A word suddenly popped into Empress Dowager Gao's mind: Xiangzhuang's sword dance was intended for Pei Gong!
So, she couldn't sit still anymore and said to Liang Weijian: "Pass the decree, move to Qingning Palace!"
"I want to go and see how pure and filial my Zhao family's Qilin'er is!"
Although Empress Dowager Gao was a female, she had grown up in a palace since she was a child and had never experienced any complex human heart.
But she has already been strong!
When Yingmiao was alive, there was not a single concubine in the entire imperial city!
Her aunt, Empress Ci Shengguangxian, even scolded her for this and asked her to take the initiative to choose a concubine for Yingzong.
Empress Dowager Gao directly silenced Empress Ci Sheng Guangxian's accusation with one sentence.
“I’m telling you, my dear, the bride is married to the ‘Thirteenth Regiment Training’ and not to any official family!”
During these many years in this palace, Empress Dowager Gao never allowed herself to be at a disadvantage.
She has always taken the initiative.
…
Xiang Huang's ceremonial guard exits from Kunning Hall, passes through Chongzheng Hall, and goes to Qingning Palace under Donghua Gate.
However, just after leaving the side door of Chongzheng Hall, I heard the sound of the ministers singing and cleaning the streets.
"When the Queen Mother is lucky, all ministers avoid her, and hundreds of officials welcome her!"
Xiang Queen was stunned for a moment, then quickly led the others to one side of the road and respectfully waited for the Queen Mother's ceremonial guards.
After a while, I saw a group of ceremonial guards, holding yellow umbrellas, with royal equipment on the left and right, and guarding with military staffs. There were ministers in front and behind who responded with fans, coming all the way.
When he got close, he took a step forward to the queen and bowed: "The bride wishes to ask how your queen is doing!"
Empress Dowager Gao, who was sitting on the chariot, still hugging Li Nu, looked at Empress Xiang who was waiting for her. After deliberately waiting for a while, she said with a smile on her face: "Everything is well with me!"
Then he asked, "The queen is going to Qingning Palace?"
He bowed to the queen again: "Hui, empress, it's true!"
Empress Dowager Gao nodded and said: "The emperor is ill, and everything in the harem will be hard on you!"
"Don't dare!" He bowed his head to the queen and replied, "This is the bride's duty!"
Empress Dowager Gao smiled and said to the Queen: "What a coincidence, I also want to go to Qingning Palace to visit my sixth brother! Queen, please go with me!"
"I sincerely obey your Majesty's will!" Bow to the Queen again.
…
Note: In the Tang and Song Dynasties, parents-in-law were called uncles and aunts.
Wait until Xiaotang to pay homage to my uncle!
The empress generally refers to the empress dowager, the empress dowager, and the empress is called a "saint". This is a palace rule passed down from the Tang Dynasty.
Regardless of whether one dies as the Queen Mother or the Grand Empress Dowager, she will always be called a certain Queen after her death. This is because the god will attach the temple and her identity will become the Queen again.
Note 2: There are different opinions about Shenzong's serious illness and the establishment of a reserve. Moreover, Shenzong's actual records have been revised three times and have been completely changed beyond recognition. The version revised by Zhezong Shaosheng during his reign is adopted here. Although this version is almost destroyed, it is still intact.
When Li Tao wrote "The Long Continuation of Zizhi Tongjian", he quoted a lot of them in order to refute Zhe Zong's version!
