In the middle of the banquet, according to the rituals of the clan, members of the clan took the lead and congratulated the emperor on the occasion of the Lantern Festival.
Zhou Jun was sitting in the main seat, with Queen Yin Yu next to him.
All the relatives of the emperor, including the prince and princess, saluted the emperor in the palace and called out to Shangyuan Ankang.
Zhou Jun nodded with a smile and asked everyone to stand up.
Immediately afterwards, a group of ministers and their families came forward to pay homage.
Zhou Jun smiled and talked to all the ministers. At the end, his eldest brother Zhou Ze was left alone with his family.
Zhou Jun waved to Zhou Ze: "As a family, come and talk to me."
Hearing this, Zhou Ze quickly called his son Zhou Shang and his wife Yu Junniang, came to the throne, and bowed to say hello.
Zhou Jun first looked back and cast his gaze on his nephew Zhou Shang, then turned to look at Zhou Ze and said: "I have heard about the affairs of the Anbei Protectorate."
Zhou Ze heard this, his body trembled, and he knelt down quickly and said: "My incompetence caused chaos in Anbei and almost ruined your majesty's plan."
Zhou Jun: "There are so many things about Anbei, including commercial banks, private companies and public institutions. This is an unprecedented attempt in ancient and modern times. It is inevitable that various problems will arise. You failed to foresee it in time. Although you were wrong, you can only
It’s considered an oversight, but it’s not a big mistake.”
Hearing Zhou Jun say this, Zhou Ze secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhou Jun looked at Zhou Shang and said with a smile: "Besides, you have a good son. He stepped forward in times of crisis and made peace between the tribe and the government, which turned the whole situation around."
When Zhou Ze heard this, he felt quite proud, with a smile on his face, and subconsciously replied yes.
Madam Yu Jun on the side gently pulled the corner of Zhou Ze's clothes, signaling the latter to pay attention to his words and deeds.
Queen Yin Yu, sitting in the side seat, listened to this conversation from beginning to end with a faint smile on her face. However, only those who observe carefully can read a hint of coldness in her eyes.
Zhou Jun asked Zhou Shang: "The situation was tense at that time. If you were not careful, you would be dead. Where did you get the courage to go to the tribe alone to persuade peace?"
Zhou Shang said without thinking: "Reporting to your majesty, I had no other thoughts at that time and only had one thought, and that was to keep my word."
Zhou Jun: "Keep your word?"
week
I used my official position as a guarantee to ensure that the tribe could get what was promised. Over time, the humble ministers gained a reputation of being trustworthy among the tribe. That day, the leader of the Mobei tribe who received me was none other than Mr. Su, whom I was familiar with.
Only then can I believe that I will keep my promise.”
When Zhou Jun heard this, he first recalled and then said with emotion: "If I remember correctly, when Shang'er was a child, Uncle Zhou once took him to the market and met a friend on the way. The friend saw that the jade pendant around Shang'er's neck was very special.
It was expensive, so he asked for it jokingly, and Uncle Zhou agreed as a joke. However, Shang'er took off his jade pendant and wanted to give it to his friend in public. If I remember correctly, Shang'er said at the time that a gentleman trusts others and then wins others' trust, and promise is greater than promise.
Heaven is indestructible?"
Zhou Ze nodded: "Your Majesty remembers it exactly. It's really easy to remember."
Zhou Jun looked at Zhou Shang and said: "Although Shang'er is young, he is quite like a gentleman in ancient times, which is really rare."
After Zhou Shang heard this, he kowtowed again and spoke modestly.
After Zhou Ze and his family left, Zhou Jun closed his eyes and said to Yin Yu beside him: "Let Xiaoer come over. I have something to say to him."
Yin Yu was stunned for a moment, then turned to say a few words to the palace maid beside him.
Not long after, Zhou Xiao, who was feeling anxious, came to his parents' side and bowed respectfully.
Zhou Jun slowly opened his eyes and said to Zhou Xiao: "Your mother and I were very angry when we heard that you went to the Anbei Protector's Mansion and did not think about government affairs but only traveled around.
The envoy to the north and Sun Duhu are fighting against the Uighurs at the front again. At this juncture, where do you have the thought to go out and have fun?"
After hearing Zhou Jun's words, Zhou Xiao had cold sweat on his forehead, his legs softened, and he knelt in front of the throne and said in a trembling voice: "I know I was wrong."
Yin Yu pursed her lips on the side, exerted force on her hands unconsciously, and dug her nails into her palms without even realizing it.
Zhou Jun looked down at Zhou Xiao and said slowly: "When you were born, the world was in turmoil. I had to leave my family behind and go to Anxi to fight. Over the years, our father and son have seen each other less and apart, and I have become alienated from you.
It's because of discipline that you like to have fun and don't think about government affairs. This is not only your fault, but also my fault."
Hearing this, Yin Yu could no longer sit still, walked to Zhou Xiao, stood facing the throne and said: "Erlang taught you very well, Xiao'er's fault is also the mother's fault."
Zhou Jun looked at Yin Yu and sighed softly: "You and I are husband and wife, and I know that you dote on your son. It's just that Xiao'er is old and he is the prince. Aren't you afraid that you will protect him blindly?"
Made a mistake?"
Hearing this, Yin Yu had tears in her eyes slightly: "When Xiao'er was born, it was a time of war and chaos. Luo Gongyuan, Taoist priest, gave him a fortune teller and only said that he had a bad fate. I love my son very much and have protected him closely these years.
, I made a lot of mistakes and took many detours in the process, and now I am slowly waking up. From now on, I will definitely change my past mistakes and train Xiaoer, so that I will not disappoint Erlang."
Zhou Jun looked at the panicked Zhou Xiao, and then at the sad-looking Yin Yu. He sighed softly, then stood up from the throne and said: "After the end of the first month, the capital was moved from Liangcheng to Chang'an, so Xiao
My son also moved from the East Palace to the Zhengshan Palace. There is a library and a garden there, and I will personally take him to organize the government affairs."
Hearing this, Yin Yu was overjoyed, kowtowed to Zhou Jun and said, "I thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhou Jun waved his hand, left the main hall and walked to the back corridor.
On the way, an official who had been waiting for a long time bowed and saluted when he saw His Majesty approaching.
Zhou Jun continued to walk forward and said, "Wang Hong, please forgive me. Let's talk as we walk."
Wang Hong, who was the governor of the North Town of Jinyiwei, followed Zhou Jun's steps and whispered: "Your Majesty, the investigation into Anbei's affairs has already begun."
Zhou Jun: "I'm listening."
Wang Hong: "After the riots in Anbei subsided, the chief official of Egu Town and several leaders of the tribe who took the lead in making trouble have all died in accidents in the recent period."
Zhou Jun: "Accident?"
Wang Hong: "Drunk people who fell into the river and died, riding horses who were frightened and fell to death, bedsores that caused serious illness and died suddenly, etc., were all accidental deaths."
Zhou Jun: "Has anything been found out about these people's accidental deaths?"
Wang Hong looked ashamed, raised his hands and said: "No matter who is behind the scenes, this person is extremely skilled in killing people and making plots. No matter how hard Jin Yiwei investigates, they have not been able to find any flaws."
Zhou Jun stopped and said nothing.
When Wang Hong saw this, he quickly said: "The timing of the Anbei riot, the bizarre behavior of the officials, and the subsequent rumors spread, there must be something fishy behind this matter. Please give me another half month, your majesty, I will be sure."
Find out the truth about this matter!"
Zhou Jun thought for a moment and said softly to Wang Hong: "The investigation on the Anbei incident has come to an end for the time being."
Wang Hong was stunned: "What does your Majesty mean...?"
Zhou Jun: "I generally know the ins and outs of this matter, so there is no need to investigate further."
When Wang Hong heard this, he wanted to say something else, but in the end he just nodded helplessly and said "I obey the order."