With the temperament of the two eldest princesses, they couldn't help but become completely shaken after seeing Zhao Zhen depose a first-class duke for them. At that time, they would inevitably use the name of the royal family to do more outrageous things. .
When the resentment between the ruling and opposition parties forms a wave, Zhao Zhen will be able to take advantage of the situation and deal with them.
Zhong Shiheng figured out the connection, without saying much, he cupped his hands and left the Kou Mansion.
On the day Zhong Shiheng left the Kou Mansion, a major event happened in the Xingqing Mansion.
Shi Heng, a newly promoted first-class male, ran wildly on the street astride his horse and collided with the carriages of the two eldest princesses.
The two eldest princesses scolded Zhong Shiheng, and Zhong Shiheng replied.
Then the two eldest princesses brought the matter to the imperial court in tears and asked Zhao Zhen to make the decision.
Xingqing Palace Harem.
The two eldest princesses covered their faces with tears and accused Zhong Shiheng of his crimes in front of Zhao Zhen.
Zhao Zhen couldn't bear the sound of the two of them crying. He rubbed his eyebrows and threw them to Queen Cao for comfort. He left the harem and went to the main hall.
Inside the main hall.
Zhong Shiheng stood with a bow.
After seeing Zhao Zhen, he quickly bowed and saluted. Zhao Zhen glanced at him, said nothing, and left the main hall again.
Zhong Shiheng froze on the spot, muttering in his heart.
"Could it be...that I was deceived by Kou Ji?"
For a moment, Zhong Shiheng felt a little panicked.
My mind started to have random thoughts.
Zhao Zhen didn't know what Zhong Shiheng was thinking. Zhao Zhen left the main hall with a gloomy face. Not long after leaving, he heard Chen Lin report that Kou Ji had entered the palace.
Zhao Zhen immediately ordered Chen Lin to call Kou Ji in front of him.
Kou Ji saw Zhao Zhen, and after saluting him, before Zhao Zhen could speak, he whispered to Zhao Zhen: "Zhong Shiheng has softened..."
Zhao Zhen was stunned for a moment, stared at Kou Ji and said, "Is it your idea to let him collide with the two eldest princesses?"
Kou Ji nodded slowly.
The gloom on Zhao Zhen's face disappeared and was replaced by a smile, "Even if Zhong Shiheng is still a little loyal, if he waits until I return to the court before relenting, I will not agree.
I will make him miserable for the rest of his life."
Speaking of this, Zhao Zhen stared at Kou Ji and said, "The stairs you helped him build are also very wonderful."
Kou Ji smiled and said: "Since the two eldest princesses feel that the official family has not given them enough prestige, then we will give them enough prestige at once."
"Achieve two birds with one stone..."
Zhao Zhen nodded with a smile and asked, "What conditions did Zhong Shiheng put forward?"
Kou Ji said frankly: "I didn't put any conditions, but I agreed to him and transferred him to the third government office as the palace commander."
Zhao Zhen nodded slowly and said: "He is free and easy. When it is time to let go, he lets go decisively. He is not sloppy at all, which saves me trouble. Not bad."
"Fourth brother, please wait in the side hall for a while until I finish dealing with Zhong Shiheng and the two eldest princesses, and then come over and make arrangements with fourth brother."
"..."
Kou Ji bowed, and Zhao Zhen left Chen Lin to look after Kou Ji. He returned to the main hall of Xingqing Palace alone.
Seeing Zhong Shiheng again, Zhao Zhen's face showed no indifference as before. Instead, there was a hint of smile. He stared at Zhong Shiheng who was thinking wildly, nodded and praised.
"You're pretty good..."
Zhong Shiheng, who was thinking wildly, suddenly settled down when he heard Zhao Zhen's words.
"But... Privy Kou has entered the palace?"
Zhong Shiheng bowed and asked.
Zhao Zhen didn't hide anything and nodded with a smile.
Zhong Shiheng was completely relieved and no longer had random thoughts in his mind. He bowed deeply to Zhao Zhen and solemnly said: "It is my duty to share the worries of the official family."
Zhao Zhen nodded and said with a smile: "I am very relieved. I will wrong you a little later, and I hope you won't blame me."
Zhong Shiheng said quickly: "I understand..."
Zhao Zhen nodded, put away his smile, and ordered the two eldest princesses to be invited to the main hall of Xingqing Palace.
Then, in front of the two eldest princesses, he demoted Zhong Shiheng's first-class Duke to the second-class, and ordered Zhong Shiheng to return to Beijing to report on his duties.
Zhong Shiheng's face was naturally pale, matching Zhao Zhen's performance.
When the two eldest princesses saw how Zhao Zhen dealt with Zhong Shiheng, they stopped crying and making trouble, and each of them was very proud of themselves.
After the two eldest princesses left Xingqing Palace, they publicized the matter.
They felt that Zhao Zhen was their nephew after all, and he still protected them. For them, he took the risk of being demoted to the title of a first-class duke.
They just wanted to use this to tell the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty that they should be more respectful when meeting them in the future.
Whoever they want to extort money from should submit it obediently.
For example, Kou someone.
After the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty learned about this, they were in an uproar.
They sent servants from the palace to verify the matter.
After getting the affirmative answer, everyone's thoughts were very complicated.
Each of them knew that Zhong Shiheng was going to die, but they didn't expect that Zhong Shiheng would die so quickly.
If Zhong Shiheng fell into other major issues, they might be able to understand.
But Zhong Shiheng fell into the hands of the two eldest princesses, so they couldn't understand it.
For the sake of the face of the two eldest princesses, Zhao Zhen demoted the title of a first-class duke. What Zhao Zhen did can be said to be very ridiculous.
However, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty had no intention of writing a letter of remonstrance.
Because Zhao Zhen's move was only aimed at Zhong Shiheng, not against the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty.
Zhao Zhen targeted Zhong Shiheng, and everyone in the civil and military dynasties knew about it.
Zhao Zhen demoted the title of Zhong Shiheng with a small trouble, and the civil and military officials of the entire court could understand.
In the final analysis, Zhong Shiheng himself is ignorant.
Zhao Zhen's intentions towards him have become obvious to everyone. Zhong Shiheng still refuses to give in. If you don't punish him, who will you punish?
In addition to secretly gloating about the misfortune of Shi Heng, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty also had some thoughts on Zhao Zhen's protection of the two eldest princesses.
The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty felt that Zhao Zhen might have plans to reuse the royal family.
really.
Within two days, the two eldest princesses came to the palace to apply for jobs for their husbands, children and grandchildren. Zhao Zhen readily agreed and transferred them to important positions in the army.
Seeing this, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty had a bad premonition in their hearts.
The royal family and relatives were furious because of this.
There are two eldest princesses who entered the palace to apply for jobs. Other relatives of the emperor also entered the palace one after another to seek employment from Zhao Zhen.
Zhao Zhen agreed one by one.
Zhao Zhen's actions completely confirmed the speculations of the Manchu Dynasty's civil and military officials.
Zhao Zhen is really reusing the royal family.
Ever since, the royal family and relatives became arrogant again.
They began to test some low-level officials and officials under Zhao Zhen's nose.
When the matter reached the imperial court, Zhao Zhen took action to beat up the minor officials and officials to protect the royal family.
The emperor's relatives tried again and again, and after succeeding every time, they began to act domineering one by one.
By the time Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji had arranged all the affairs of the Xingqing Mansion and were preparing to return to the court with the civil and military officials and relatives of the emperor, the emperor's relatives had already made a lot of complaints.
On the occasion of parting.
Zhu Neng, Liu Heng, Wang Kai and others ran to the Kou Mansion in a panic.
The reason why they went to the Kou Mansion was related to the relatives of the emperor.
Zhao Zhen arranged many relatives of the emperor to work under them, and they naturally felt uneasy.
Kou Mansion.
After Zhu Neng, Liu Heng, Wang Kai and others got together, they all looked sad.
Kou Ji was still in the palace reorganizing the roster of northwest soldiers and horses with Zhao Zhen, but he was not at the house.
So Zhu Neng and others could only wait.
Several people waited and started chatting.
Guo Yi said with a sad face: "Tell me, what do the officials think? It is very difficult for the Song Dynasty to be what it is today. The officials do not think about how to govern the world, but instead let those relatives of the emperor come out to harm people.
This made the government and the public very angry and resentful.
Isn't this...isn't this...just fooling around?"
Wang Kai frowned and said: "You are just the son of a county lord. Even if it harms people, it will not harm anything. I have the consorts of three princesses in my hands."
Liu Heng sighed and said, "I'm almost the same as you."
Zhu Neng shouted: "Can you compete with me? Among the royal family, the most vicious one, the consort of Princess Deng, is all under my control."
Wang Kai looked sideways and said: "Chai Zongqing... I heard that this person is very unbearable..."
Zhu Neng said in a deep voice: "It's not just unbearable, it's simply unbearable to look at. He is a terrible disaster under my hands. When the time comes, I will inevitably have to fill the tank for him."
Liu Heng took a deep breath and said in a low voice: "Actually, we are pretty good. The worst situation is Zhong Shiheng. He was transferred to the third government office. There are the most royal relatives in the third government office.
Li Zunxu, the consort of the eldest princess of Hebei, and their heirs were all put into the Sanya by the officials.
The legitimate sons of the Shi, Wei, and Wang families have also entered the three yamen."
Liu Heng mentioned the three families of Shi, Wei, and Wang, respectively the husband's families of the late Princess Xianjing, the late Princess Gonghui, and the late Princess Xiansu, the biological daughters of Emperor Taizu.
Xianjing, Gonghui and Xiansu are the posthumous titles of the three deceased princesses, rather than their titles.
Liu Heng mentioned the legitimate sons of the Shi, Wei, and Wang families, referring to the children and grandchildren of the three princesses.
Zhu Neng, Liu Heng and others had already given them a headache by arranging one or two relatives of the emperor.
A large number of the emperor's relatives and relatives under Zhong Shiheng's command were not yet eaten alive.
Wang Kai said in a deep voice: "The officials are protecting them now, and they won't torment us to death when they come under our command. We have to find a way to transfer them away."
Zhu Neng nodded in agreement.
Liu Heng stared at Zhu Neng and said, "Logically speaking, you should not have such thoughts."
Zhu Neng said dissatisfied: "Why can't I have it?"
Liu Heng said frankly: "Chai Zongqing went to the Privy Council to do things, and he was guarded by the Privy Council, so he didn't dare to mess around."
Zhu Neng glared at Liu Heng and said: "Chai Zongqing entered the Privy Council as an assistant officer who followed me. If he acts recklessly based on his status, and the officials convict him, do you think he will be convicted on Privy Council Kou, or will he be punished?
On my head."
Liu Heng was stunned for a moment and felt that Zhu Neng was right.
If Chai Zongqing really made a mistake and Zhao Zhen wanted to find someone to top up the tank, the most likely person would be Zhu Neng.
It is impossible for Zhao Zhen to ask Kou Ji to help others.
"We have to find a way to get them away as soon as possible...otherwise our career will be over..."
Wang Kai said solemnly.
Zhu Neng said in a deep voice: "She is a relative of the emperor and is protected by officials. What can we do? Let's see if Privy Kou can do anything. If Privy Kou can't do anything, then we should retire as soon as possible.
The province has been harmed by a group of them and its reputation has been tarnished."
Guo Yi muttered in a low voice, "What reputation do we have?"
They are just a bunch of murderers, and they have killed countless people. Clearing their names has nothing to do with them.
Zhu Neng glared at Guo Yi and shouted: "That's better than them!"
Guo Yi nodded in agreement and said: "That's true..."
Just when Zhu Neng and others were looking gloomy, Kou Zhun put Kou Tianci on his neck and staggered over.
When Zhu Neng and others saw Kou Zhun, they all quickly stood up and saluted.
As he walked, Kou Zhun looked them over and said in a gentle voice: "What are you doing here in Kou's house with disheveled people? Are they scary?"
When Zhu Neng and others heard this, they all looked at each other, and there was indeed someone who was disheveled.
Zhu Neng smiled bitterly at Kou Zhun and said, "Mr. Kou, we are too anxious and have lost our sense of proportion."
Kou Zhun said suspiciously: "Urgent? What's the urgent matter? The Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu tore up the just-signed covenant and called here?"
Zhu Neng said dumbfounded: "It has nothing to do with the war, it's a matter in the court."
Kou Zhun was taken aback for a moment and then said thoughtfully: "I have heard a little bit about some of the recent events in the Xingqing Mansion. You must be worried about the relatives of the emperor who have been transferred to your command, right?"
Zhu Neng and others nodded vigorously as if they had met their close friends.
Kou Zhun muttered: "What's the rush... When they come under your charge and act recklessly, just let them act recklessly. Just tell them the truth."
When it's time to take care of them, someone will naturally take care of them, so you don't have to worry about it."
Zhu Neng and others smiled bitterly and said: "The officials are protecting them, who can do anything to get them."
Kou Zhun glanced at Zhu Neng and others with disdain, and said to Kou Tianci who was riding on his neck: "Be good, great grandson, let's go play somewhere else, don't talk to idiots... bother yourself..."
Kou Zhun led Kou Tianci away, leaving Zhu Neng and others looking at each other.
Zhu Neng and others look at me and I don’t know what to say.
After a long time.
Guo Yi hesitated and said: "Listen to Kou Gong, I'm afraid this matter is not as simple as we thought."
Wang Kai pondered: "Then what should we do?"
Zhu Neng said in a deep voice: "Kou Gong has no reason to harm us. We will do as Kou Gong said. Kou Gong has been up and down in the court for decades. He naturally saw something and gave us a few words. It's just our understanding."
Not enough, can't guess.
Since Mr. Kou is unwilling to tell the truth, it means that this matter can only be understood and cannot be expressed in words."
Liu Heng, Wang Kai and others pondered for a while and nodded slowly.
Since you can't guess, you can only do what Kou Zhun said.
After Kou Zhun's reminder, they all realized that there must be a big story behind this matter, and it was definitely not as simple as they saw.
Kou Zhun is unwilling to speak out about this matter, so if they find Kou Ji, Kou Ji probably won't speak out about it. It is very likely that he will tell the same story as Kou Zhun.
Even so, there was no need for them to wait for Kou Ji at Kou's house.
Zhu Neng and others found Kou Zhun immediately. After thanking Kou Zhun for his advice, they left Kou's house one after another.
After Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji settled the millions of soldiers and civilians surrounding Xingqing Mansion, they ordered the civil and military officials of the court and the emperor's relatives to pack their things and prepare to return to the capital.
As Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji had expected, they, the monarch and his ministers, made minor changes to the military system in Xingqing Mansion and other places, but it did not cause anyone's dissatisfaction.
One is the special reasons for Xingqing Mansion and other places.
The second reason is that the royal relatives attracted everyone's attention.
After the royal family members who had been suppressed for a long time were released in one breath, the ferocity was beyond everyone's imagination.
Even Zhao Zhen, the instigator, was filled with emotion every day after reading the investigation documents of Wude Division handed over by Chen Lin.
The twentieth day of the first lunar month.
Zhao Zhen put up the guard of honor, led the civil and military officials of the court, the emperor's relatives, the Tianwu Army, and the Tiger Wing Army, and left Xingqing Mansion and headed for Bianjing City.
Along the official road, passing through prefectures and counties, after more than half a month, we arrived at Suide City.
When they arrived at Suide City, Zhao Zhen and others had to stop.
Because a bunch of ordinary people risked their lives to rush into the country.
If Zhao Zhen hadn't ordered the Imperial Guards, Yulong Twelve Zhi, Tianwu Army and other generals not to hurt the people without permission when he saw the people rushing over, I'm afraid the people would have been chopped into pieces thousands of feet away from Long Chu.
mud.
The common people risked their lives and rushed to Zhao Zhen's dragon banquet, and all knelt on the ground.
One by one they loudly accused the consort Chai Zongqing of his crimes.
Chai Zongqing had been summoned before and had been riding with him on the way back to Beijing.
Along the way, he often led his servants to make chaos.
Many civilian fields were destroyed along the way.
When in Xiazhou and other places.
He led people to destroy people's fields, and the people did not say anything.
Because most of the civilian fields were distributed by Kou Ji to the soldiers.
The soldiers received great favors from the imperial court and were unwilling to cause trouble to the imperial court.
The soldiers were allocated enough fertile land, so even if Chai Zongqing led his men to destroy one or two acres of crops, the soldiers would not say anything.
But after arriving in Suide City, things were different.
There are many mountains and forests near Suide City and not much fertile farmland.
Many people only have three or two acres of land at home, and their families live on the crops on the three or two acres of land.
Chai Zongqing and his servants destroyed their crops and destroyed their lives. Naturally, they couldn't tolerate it.
The complaints from the common people spread all around Zhao Zhen, and the civil and military officials of the court, as well as the emperor's relatives and relatives, all gathered around, ready to see how Zhao Zhen would handle the matter.
After Zhao Zhen patiently listened to the complaints from the people, he scolded Chai Zongqing a few words, and then asked Chen Lin to distribute some money to the people to compensate for their losses, and issued an order to the local government in public to exempt the people.
They pay taxes every year.
After the people got the money, they thanked Zhao Zhen for his kindness and left with their heads hanging down.
Zhao Zhen gave money, which compensated for their losses, but they were still unhappy.
Because the evildoers who destroyed their crops did not receive the punishment they deserved.
Money can make up for their economic losses, but it cannot make up for their psychological losses.
After the people left, everyone thought that the matter had been revealed so lightly.
Chai Zongqing thought so too.
While he breathed a sigh of relief, he secretly rejoiced, feeling that Zhao Zhen was really protecting the royal family now. With Zhao Zhen irradiating him in the future, he would be able to do whatever he wanted without restraint.
He once again thought of blackmailing the Kou government.
The annual harvest of steel forging workshops and textile workshops makes everyone in Bianjing jealous.
But, he didn't wait for him to make up his mind.
Before Man Chao Wen and Wu could leave with complicated thoughts, someone spoke up.
"I, the Imperial Censor, the Prime Minister has followed me, and I have something to report!"
Wang Sui, who is nearly fifty years old, is from Henan, with the courtesy name Zizheng. He is a Jinshi of the Zhenzong Dynasty. He likes Buddhism. He is currently the Censor Zhongcheng of the Yushitai of the Song Dynasty, and is also a bachelor of Hanlin Dynasty. He once served as Zhao Zhen's husband.
This person had some friendship with Zhou Huaizheng. After Zhou Huaizheng rebelled, he was implicated and demoted from Bianjing City.
After Zhao Zhen ascended the throne, he remembered his husband and promoted him successively, and finally promoted him to the position of Yushi Zhongcheng.
Wang Sui opened his mouth and naturally attracted everyone's attention.
The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty and the royal family members who were about to leave stopped one after another and looked at Wang Sui.
The king, who was the censor Zhongcheng, spoke at this time. Everyone knew what he was going to say.
Zhao Zhen, who stood on the dragon with his hands behind his back, knew it in his heart.
Zhao Zhen took a deep look at Wang Sui and said in a deep voice: "Wang Sui, I am tired and have to rest. Please step back."
Zhao Zhen still admired Wang Sui very much.
When Wang Sui served as his teacher, he did not read from the book like other teachers, but often told some short stories in Buddhism to instill in him some principles of life.
Part of the kindness in Zhao Zhen's heart originated from Wang Sui's teachings.
Wang Sui rarely formed any cliques, nor did he have many old disciples. Most of his close friends were Zen masters with profound Buddhist teachings. Although he was in the court, he lived more like a hermit.
Therefore, Wang Sui taught Zhao Zhen to be kind-hearted. He did not have many other thoughts, but simply felt that everyone should be kind.
It is precisely because of this that Zhao Zhen is quite kind to Wang Sui.
He didn't want Wang Sui to be involved in this matter, and he didn't want Wang Sui to go through this muddy water.
So he didn't want Wang Sui to speak.
But the king, as the censor, watched the royal relatives oppressing the people, but did not receive the punishment they deserved. How could he pretend that nothing happened?
Wang Sui stared at Zhao Zhen and shouted loudly: "This is not the first time that the official, the consort Chai Zongqing, has indulged his servants and destroyed people's fields. When the late emperor was in court, he had been punished for this.
However, he refused to change despite repeated admonitions and once again committed the crime of destroying people's fields.
Do the officials want to spare him lightly?"
Chai Zongqing gritted his teeth and wished he could eat Wang Sui alive, but he did not speak because he knew that someone would speak for him.
That woman who is extremely controlling will definitely speak up.
really.
As soon as Wang Sui finished speaking, the eldest princess of Deng State shouted coldly: "Wang Sui, the prince-in-law just accidentally destroyed some crops, and the officials have already repaid the people's money.
The government officials gave them more than they could grow in their fields.
The officials had already scolded the consort, which was regarded as punishment.
You stand up now, stir up trouble, and delay the official's return to Beijing. What are your intentions?"