Guo Bing was still sitting quietly in the boat hall, scanning the familiar streets on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. He hadn't been in Hangzhou for a few months, and everything here felt so familiar. Compared with the capital he had just left, the atmosphere here was so disappointing.
Guo Bing is more comfortable. If we talk about the prosperity of the market, Bianliang is even more prosperous than Hangzhou. But in Bianliang, Liang Wang always feels that the market buildings have a cold feeling and a somewhat overbearing feeling. Where can it be as friendly and comfortable as Hangzhou?
.
However, this is Hangzhou, not Bianliang City after all.
From the time he went to the capital to celebrate the Queen Mother's birthday in early November last year to the day he returned today, he stayed in the capital for a full three months. This was the longest period of time he had stayed in the capital as an adult. More than 20 years ago,
He has made Hangzhou his home. Since the emperor's brother came to the throne, he has deliberately avoided staying in the capital for too long. Every time he comes and goes in a hurry, he will stay in the old house in the capital for no more than one month at most before rushing back to Hangzhou. It has been a long time.
He used to think Bianliang City was very good, but for some reason he later felt that Bianliang City was not good. He always felt a little uncomfortable staying there.
But this time, he had to stay for more than three months for the Queen Mother's birthday. The Queen Mother's birthday last year was very successful, at least on the surface, there was no flaw. The atmosphere on that birthday was very good, two things
When the baby was displayed in public, the Queen Mother's happiness was obviously from the bottom of her heart. She also saw the praise in the eyes of the emperor, which made Guo Bing let out a long sigh of relief.
Guo Bing was glad that this matter could finally come to an end, because only he knew how much effort he had spent on these two birthday gifts, and there were even almost irreparable mistakes in the process. Fortunately, Lin Jue helped at the critical moment.
With his own help, or perhaps because of his great blessings, he completed the almost impossible task, so that he had that flawless birthday ceremony, and that made this trip to the capital the best.
As a result. Otherwise, not only will his birthday be ruined, but the emperor's brother will also be angered by Lei Lei. Taking this incident as a trigger may lead to many extremely bad consequences. Just thinking about it makes Guo Bing shudder.
After his birthday, because of the cold weather, Guo Bing had to stay in the capital until the canal thawed before he could return to Hangzhou. Although this was very uncomfortable, Guo Bing could only endure the discomfort. But the emperor's brother was also
Friendly, he invited himself to join us for the New Year's Eve dinner. There was also a hint of brotherly friendship in his words, recalling the interesting stories of the two brothers when they were young. Guo Bing did not say a word to answer the question, because he understood that the past was the past and the present was.
It was now. In the past, the emperor was not the emperor, but his elder brother, but now the person sitting in front of him was the emperor. He could mention the so-called brotherhood, but he could not mention it. Even if he just revealed something about the emperor's childhood,
All may cause unnecessary disasters.
No one knows his royal brother better than him. A long time ago, this royal brother was a kind and wise prince in the eyes of the world. Now he is a wise and powerful emperor. Everyone in the world of the Great Zhou Dynasty is grateful to have this wise emperor.
Although he was overjoyed, King Liang, who had lived with his brother for more than ten years as a teenager, knew that his brother was far from being as kind and charitable as the world thought. He knew many of his secrets, but he only
Don't dare to say even a word.
During the days he stayed in the capital, Guo Bing tried to be careful and stayed in his mansion in the capital as much as possible. He did not attend banquets invited by anyone, and he never inquired about any information that he should not know. Because he
Understand that in fact, every move he makes is under the eyes and ears of the emperor. In fact, not only himself, but everyone in the court is also under the eyes and ears. Although there may not be any unfavorable intentions for him, his identity is sensitive and his status is special.
, even a small thing would trigger strange speculations. So he had to guard against it.
But even if he kept a low profile, he still knew many, many things in the long three months. Some things he knew already, and some things he knew for the first time. There were a few things that he had to pay attention to.
Yes, because those are several major events concerning the imperial court.
One is the rumor that the emperor's brother wants to establish a crown prince. Although the sources of the news are scattered, they are very consistent when combined. That is, the emperor's brother seems to have begun to decide to establish the crown prince. The emperor's brother is five years older than himself.
, I am forty-six years old this year, and the emperor's brother is fifty-one this year. This age is actually not too old. But when it comes to establishing a prince, it is also time. The emperor's brother has been the crown prince for twenty-eight years before he ascends the throne as the emperor. He should
The late emperor was only forty-seven years old when he became the crown prince. Therefore, even though he has only been on the throne for three years, it is not surprising that he wants to establish a crown prince.
The problem is that although it is normal to establish a crown prince, the key point is who is the suitable candidate. In terms of the rule of establishing the eldest son first, it seems that Jin Wang Guo Mian is the best candidate. Because Jin Wang Guo Mian is the queen
His son, and the oldest among all the princes. It seems that who should be appointed as the prince is not a problem that people worry about.
However, it would be nice if things were so simple. Although King Jin is not the eldest son, his reputation is average. Rumors about his bad conduct, greed for sex and wine, and exaggerated achievements have been circulating secretly. King Jin is especially fond of feasting and hunting.
, he gathered a large number of literati and talented people in the capital to gather for drinking and entertainment, and then wrote poems and poems together. It is said that someone once showed the poems written by him and the talented people to the emperor's brother, because those poems were full of dissatisfaction.
and rebellion. As a result, the King of Jin was severely reprimanded by the emperor, and several talented people were imprisoned. It is said that some of them died in prison.
Compared with the King of Jin, the reputation of Huai Wang Guo Xu, the second prince born to Concubine Mei, is much better than that of Guo Mian. Guo Xu can be said to be both civil and military, he has a virtuous reputation, and he is smart and knows etiquette. He is still in the Zhou and Zhou Dynasties.
He led troops and fought battles on the border of the Liao Kingdom, and won high praise and reputation. The Holy Emperor also liked him very much, and often took him with him to accompany him and gave him some personal teachings.
That's all. The more important point is that Concubine Mei is the daughter of the current prime minister Lu Zhongtian. Huai Wang Guo Xu is the grandson of Lu Zhongtian. This is the real problem.
Anyone with some common sense will understand that the matter of establishing a prince is actually not simple. If this matter is not brought up, everyone can pretend not to know anything and don't have to worry about anything. But once the matter of establishing a prince is raised,
It is not a matter of course who will be the prince. In fact, many people have secretly begun to compete and take sides secretly. In fact, there are very few people with ambiguous attitudes on this matter, because this is a matter that the two factions of the DPRK and China are competing for.
Focus. The neutral person will be abandoned by both parties, and he will never get ahead. Everyone understands this. Therefore, no one can stay out of this gamble.
However, Liang Wang Guo Bing is an exception. Because of his special status, it is not easy to express an opinion on who should be the prince between Jin Wang and Huai Wang. And no matter who becomes the prince, it has nothing to do with Guo Bing, because after all, the throne is not his.
However, Guo Bing could not help but pay attention to this matter, because this matter was not only a matter between the two princes, but also related to the future of Prince Liang's palace. In other words, it was because of one person that Prince Liang had to be here.
He took a stand on the matter. That person was Lu Zhongtian.
Lu Zhongtian, a veteran of the two dynasties, was deeply entrenched in the dynasty. He rose and fell without falling. He held the power of the Zhengshitang for a total of twenty-seven years. Although he went through various storms, he remained firm and was known as the "roly-poly man". On
In terms of means and ability to govern, this person is by no means an ordinary person. The prosperity and glory of the Zhou Dynasty in the past few decades can be attributed to him, Lu Zhongtian.
However, Guo Bing doesn't care about his ability and measures to govern. Even if you are a saint, once this saint slanders you in the emperor's ears all day long, Guo Bing will regard him as his enemy.
It was this Lu Zhongtian who told the emperor's brother more than once that "it is difficult to restrain the vassal king when he is away", "the lessons of past dynasties are in our eyes and must be guarded against."
Waiting for words like this, he kept asking the emperor to call him back from Hangzhou to live in the capital, and put him under restraint under his eyes.
Anyone with some brains will understand how much impact these words will have on themselves. After hearing Lu Zhongtian’s words for a long time, how could he not have any thoughts in his mind? Moreover, guarding Hangzhou by himself is an unethical thing.
.At the beginning of the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, rules were established that vassal kings were not allowed to leave the capital. Even if they had actual duties, they mostly held official positions remotely. In a word, nip it in the bud.
As the prime minister, there is nothing wrong with what Lu Zhongtian said. After all, he is loyal to the Holy Emperor and works for the Zhou Dynasty. He has the right to say anything that goes against the stability of the Zhou Dynasty. But from Guo Bing's perspective
Judging from the above, Lu Zhongtian's words were not out of public motives, but a despicable slander and revenge, an act of taking advantage of the public for personal gain. It was due to the long-standing personal grudge between the two.
Speaking of the grievances between the two people, it actually goes back a long time, and the cause is actually not big. It was just a small dispute at a banquet. That was almost thirty years ago. At that time, Lu Zhongtian had just taken office as the counselor.
Lu Zhongtian held the position of Deputy Prime Minister for political affairs, and Guo Bing was only an eighteen-year-old young prince. At a banquet in the palace of Wang Xin, the imperial censor, Lu Zhongtian talked arrogantly and became the center of attention. He talked loudly and eloquently.
Hengfei almost stole the limelight. It was also at that time that Guo Bing was young and vigorous, but as a noble prince, he was ignored and was stolen from the limelight by this Lu Zhongtian, so he felt unhappy.
As a result, the royal boy publicly humiliated Lu Zhongtian with his drinking power. He knew that Lu Zhongtian was not strong enough to drink, but he brought a huge bowl full of wine to Lu Zhongtian. Of course Lu Zhongtian refused to drink it, so Guo Bing poured the whole bowl of wine.
They all fell on Lu Zhongtian's head. From then on, Lu Zhongtian got the first nickname in his life "Lu Luo Tang". It was to describe his embarrassing appearance after being drenched in wine that night.
Lu Zhongtian did not dare to be rude to Guo Bing at that time, and he behaved very calmly. Afterwards, when his father learned about this, he called Guo Bing and Lu Zhongtian to the palace, scolded Guo Bing severely in front of Lu Zhongtian, and ordered him to
Lu Zhongtian should not take it to heart. Lu Zhongtian said generously with a smile that he was not angry at all, but Guo Bing could see from his cold eyes that Lu Zhongtian held a grudge. He was always a grudge-bearing person.
