Wang Zeng died. He did not eat or drink for three days, and he starved to death.
When Kou Ji heard the news, it was like a bolt from the blue and he couldn't believe it.
When he rushed to the palace on horseback, what he saw was white snow.
Kou Ji barbarically broke into the palace, grabbed Wang Yi by the collar and asked sternly, "Why did a good man die suddenly?"
Wang Yi cried bitterly, his eyes were swollen like peaches, and he couldn't say a word.
On the contrary, Wang Zeng's old wife, Mrs. Wang Li, sat calmly aside, neither crying nor making a fuss. She probably had finished crying and her tears had dried up.
Her voice was hoarse and she answered for Wang Yi, "I'm here to remonstrate you to death!"
"Death advice?!"
Kou Ji couldn't believe it.
In an instant, he turned into full of anger, "Kill yourself to death just for the sake of remonstrance?!"
After saying this, Kou Ji grabbed Wang Yi's collar fiercely and asked angrily: "Why didn't you stop him? If he is stupid, you are stupid too!"
"Kou Ji! That's enough! Wang Zeng's body is still cold, are you going to bully an orphan and a widowed mother?!"
Chen Yaozuo's voice sounded behind Kou Ji.
Kou Ji clenched his fist tightly several times and loosened Wang Yi's collar.
When he turned around, he saw Chen Yaozuo standing behind him holding a roll of imperial edict.
When Chen Yaozuo saw that Kou Ji was focusing on the imperial edict in his hand, he sighed and said: "The officials have already read Wang Zeng's death memorial.
The official family has ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare for the canonization ceremony.
Order me to come and read out the decree to the palace."
Kou Ji gritted his teeth, pointed at the place where Wang Zeng's coffin was placed, and yelled, "Idiot!"
Chen Yaozuo sighed: "Everyone is dead, so why bother?"
Kou Ji looked at Chen Yaozuo fiercely and asked, "Isn't it?"
Chen Yaozuo only sighed and said nothing.
Kou Ji gritted his teeth and left the palace angrily.
What Wang Zeng did was really too extreme.
Kou Ji couldn't bear it.
Kou Ji rushed back to the Zhuyuan in a furious manner, ran all the way to the study, grabbed Zhao Run who was writing, and asked angrily with Zhao Run's confused expression, "Do you want to be the emperor?"
Zhao Run looked stunned.
Wang Anshi, Zeng Gong, Su Jingxian, and Su Shi looked horrified.
Zhao Ze and Di Yong were stroking each other's bellies and playing with each other as if nothing was wrong.
Seeing Kou Ji's unprecedented anger, Zhao Run swallowed his saliva and whispered: "I...I don't know either..."
Kou Ji asked again, "Then what do you want to do?"
Zhao Run shook his head crazily.
Kou Ji clenched his hands and yelled at Zhao Run, "Should I say you have no ambition! Or should I say those two people are selfish! Stupid?!
You obviously don't know what you want, why would they risk their lives to push you forward!
Did you have no choice? Or did they force it on you?!"
Zhao Run stared at Kou Ji in horror, with his mouth open and unable to say a word.
Seeing this, Kou Ji angrily threw Zhao Run out of the study door, pointed at Zhao Run who was sitting outside, and said angrily: "Go back to your palace! Think about what you want before you come here again! Think about it!"
If you don’t know, you should never come!”
"Master Kou, are you too powerful? Even the prince dares to throw you down!"
Chen Lin didn't know when she appeared in front of Kou Ji's study, staring at Kou Ji sadly.
Kou Ji looked at him angrily, "Get out of here too, or I'll have someone hack you to death!"
Chen Lin opened her mouth, wanting to retort, but it could be seen that Kou Ji was so angry as never before, so he swallowed the words.
He knew that if Kou Ji dared to say it, he would definitely do it.
Chen Lin didn't say another word and hurriedly left the Zhuyuan with Zhao Run.
Even Zhao Zhen's oral instruction to summon Kou Ji to the palace was not conveyed by Chen Lin.
Kou Ji arbitrarily kept all the students in his house and had the door sealed so that no one could be seen.
When Wang Zeng was awarded the highest posthumous title of Wen Zhenggong among civil servants, Kou Ji did not go.
When Wang Zeng was laid to rest, Kou Ji did not go either.
When Zhao Run was granted the title of King of Qi, Kou Ji did not go.
When Zhao Run was awarded the title of crown prince, Kou Ji did not go either.
When someone accused Kou Ji of being domineering, Kou Ji ignored him.
Someone came to see him, but Kou Ji still ignored him.
Kou Ji was bored at home for a month.
…
In the bamboo courtyard.
Kou Ji was wrapped in fur and lying on a recliner with a brazier in front of him. There was a low table beside the recliner. There was a small red clay stove on the low table. The fire in the small stove was strong and made a puffing sound from time to time.
, there was an earthenware pot on the fire, and a pot of wine was warming in the pot.
Kou Ji lay on the deck chair and slept soundly.
Wang Anshi, Zeng Gong, Su Jingxian, and Su Shi were all sitting at their desks, writing the mathematical problems assigned by Kou Ji.
Even Di Yong and Zhao Ze, who usually like to be naughty and mischievous, are now sitting neatly at their desks, copying the Fei Bai style that Song people loved most.
Zhao Ze's palm was a little swollen, and it hurt when he held the pen. With tears in his eyes, he gritted his teeth and held the pen, writing each and every character like a dog crawling.
This morning, Zhao Ze didn't want to write and was acting like a child with Kou Ji. Kou Ji grabbed Zhao Ze's hand and slapped it like two rulers.
The two palace maids wanted to stop them, but now they were put on the book by Liu Heng.
Liu Heng and Xiang Yan walked past the study door from time to time, wanting to enter, but they hesitated many times and still did not dare to step in.
Kou Ji stayed at home for a month.
He has lost weight, his beard has grown a bit longer, and his temper has become a bit louder.
Kou Ji, who rarely punished people in the past, now also wields a stick.
Many maids and servants in the house were beaten by him.
"Uncle, you'd better go and persuade me..."
Xiang Yan whispered to Liu Heng with a sad face.
Liu Heng said with a grimace: "I'm afraid..."
Xiang Yan said hurriedly: "His martial arts skills are not as good as yours, and he can't beat you."
Liu Heng's expression became even more bitter, "The problem is that he hit me and I didn't know how to fight back. It's like I've forgotten all my martial arts skills and I can't show them off."
"I'd better go and persuade you..."
The two of them were only concerned about Kou Ji and did not pay attention to the yard, nor did they notice that Zhao Zhen had arrived at the door of the study.
Xiang Yan and Liu Heng saw Zhao Zhen and hurriedly saluted.
"The destined woman meets the official family..."
"The common people meet the officials..."
Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said sadly: "Forget it..."
Xiang Yan and Liu Heng stood up, and Zhao Zhen whispered to Empress Cao, Zhao Run, and Chen Lin behind them, "Just wait outside..."
Queen Cao, Zhao Run, and Chen Lin quickly agreed.
Zhao Zhen stepped into the study.
Wang Anshi, Zeng Gong, Su Jingxian and Su Shi were a little confused.
They wanted to salute, but looking at Kou Ji who was lying on the recliner with his eyes closed and concentrating, they couldn't move. For a while, they could only stand there awkwardly with a pen in hand, looking at Zhao Zhen with a bitter look on his face.
Zhao Zhen waved his hand, indicating for them to continue studying.
Di Yong looked at Zhao Zhen in confusion. When Zhao Ze saw Zhao Ze, there were more tears in his eyes. He moved his feet and threw himself into Zhao Zhen's arms to accuse Kou Ji of his atrocities.
Kou Ji snorted with his eyes closed.
Zhao Ze stiffened and stood there with tears in his eyes and continued writing.
Zhao Zhen walked to Kou Ji, pulled out a seat, and sat next to Kou Ji.
"Fourth brother..."
Kou Ji turned over and pretended not to hear Zhao Zhen's call, pretending that he was still asleep.
Zhao Zhen looked bitter when he saw this.
Zhao Zhen said to Wang Anshi and others: "You go down first."
Wang Anshi and others looked hesitant and looked at Kou Ji who was lying on the couch.
Wang Anshi keenly noticed that the cattail leaf fan in Kou Ji's hand was shaking slightly, and quickly ordered Su Jingxian and Su Shi to take Zhao Ze and Di Yong and leave the study together.
Zhao Zhen shouted toward the door, "Queen, bring Run'er in."
Queen Cao led Zhao Run into the study.
Zhao Zhen sat next to Kou Ji with a golden sword, stared at Queen Cao and Zhao Run and said: "Respecting the teacher and respecting the teachings is the foundation of being a disciple. In the past, I annoyed my husband, and my husband would also criticize me.
Run'er has angered Fourth Brother, so he should be punished."
Zhao Run gritted his teeth and stretched out his hand. Queen Cao pulled out a ruler from her sleeve and hit Zhao Run's hand hard.
There was a crisp sound and the sound was heard in the study.
When Queen Cao saw that Kou Ji was unmoved, she gritted her teeth and waved the ruler.
Zhao Run's palms were slapped loudly.
"Hey...that's enough..."
Kou Ji knew that he couldn't pretend anymore, so he sighed, opened his eyes, and stood up.
"Kou Ji, please see the official family, see the Queen, see His Highness the Crown Prince..."
Kou Ji bowed and saluted the three of them.
Zhao Zhen forcefully pulled Kou Ji to sit down and said, "You and I are brothers, so don't talk about the etiquette of a monarch and his ministers in private."
Kou Ji held the cattail leaf fan and said nothing.
Zhao Zhen sighed and said: "I did not force Wang Zeng to death, and I never thought that Wang Zeng would die."
Kou Ji slowly closed his eyes and said: "I know...no one forced Wang Zeng. Wang Zeng died of his own stupidity."
Zhao Zhen sighed: "If I knew that Wang Zeng was so strong, I would not be angry with him."
Kou Ji said quietly: "I don't have many elders, Wang Zeng is one of them..."
Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "I am too..."
Kou Ji opened his eyes and looked at Zhao Run, and asked calmly: "I remember I said, you can only enter this door after you have figured out what you want.
Now that you have entered this door, you must already know what you want?"
Zhao Run gritted his teeth and nodded.
Kou Ji let out a long sigh, "Because of you, the two pillars of the country are gone. What you want should best satisfy them."
Zhao Run stared at Kou Ji and said in a heavy voice: "I want to be the prince!"
Kou Ji also didn't mind Zhao Zhen being by his side. He narrowed his eyes with a smile and asked, "Is it just the prince?"
Zhao Run pursed his lips and said nothing.
Kou Ji continued to smile and said: "It doesn't matter how ambitious you are, your father will not blame you, and no one will spread this matter.
As long as you tell me, I can help you.
Your father can testify that what I said will definitely be fulfilled.
I said that I would assist your father to achieve great success, so I will assist your father to achieve great success."
Kou Ji's words were obviously rebellious, but no one present refuted them.
Everyone's eyes are on Zhao Run.
Zhao Run felt three blazing gazes and felt uncomfortable all over.
Under the gaze of three people, he gritted his teeth and said word by word: "I! Want! to be! Prince!"
Zhao Zhen smiled indifferently, and Queen Cao also smiled indifferently.
Only Kou Ji still squinted his eyes and said, "Then if you are the prince for the rest of your life, would you be willing?"
Zhao Zhen and Queen Cao were stunned.
Zhao Zhen was thoughtful, while Queen Cao looked puzzled.
Zhao Run nodded solemnly.
Kou Ji asked for a cattail leaf fan, and said with a smile: "You are already a prince, and you are still clamoring to be a prince. It is really nonsense."
Zhao Run was a little confused.
Zhao Zhen and Empress Cao looked at each other and smiled bitterly.
Kou Ji bowed his hand to Empress Cao and said, "Excuse me, the empress, please take the prince to wait outside the study. I and the officials have important matters to discuss."
Queen Cao nodded and left the study with Zhao Run.
As soon as the two left, Kou Ji slumped down on the recliner.
"Can't his ambition be bigger? It was a waste of the lives of two pillars of the country. Before Wang Zeng died, he wrote me a letter asking me to help him at the critical moment."
Zhao Zhen spread his hands, sat there with a carefree attitude, curled his lips and said: "My body is still strong now. If he wants to be the emperor, what will I do?"
Speaking of this, Zhao Zhen glanced at Kou Ji and said: "You can't lead him to remonstrate with him, can you?"
Kou Ji shook his head and said bluntly: "As long as you want to sit in that position, no one in the world can shake you, and I will kill anyone who shakes you.
Therefore, things like military remonstrance cannot happen.
I will only advise you to abdicate the throne when you are old and frail.
The euphemistic name is: Help the horse and give it a ride.
I've thought about my words.
In order to ensure the long-term peace and stability of the Song Dynasty, to ensure that the country of the Song Dynasty has been inherited for thousands of years, to ensure that the person sitting on the dragon throne is always the British Lord, to keep the Song Dynasty motivated, to ensure that the throne of the Song Dynasty is replaced without weapons...
…”
Kou Ji said a lot of "for".
Zhao Zhen was stunned when he heard this.
After Kou Ji finished speaking, he stared at Zhao Zhen and said with a smile, "What, are you excited?"
Zhao Zhen did not hide anything, nodded and said: "When I get old, if my brain is not confused, I will definitely give up my position after hearing what you said.
Just the fact that the throne of the Song Dynasty can be replaced without weapons is enough to make my heart move.
Not to mention others.
In the past, the Eight Emperors rebelled, and the First Emperor burned down his palace, which is still vivid in my mind.
I still can't forget it.
So if there is a way to prevent blood in the palace, I don’t mind giving it a try.”
Kou Ji stared at Zhao Zhen and said with a smile: "Others hold great power and refuse to let it go, life or death. How can you be so open-minded?"
Zhao Zhen shook his head and said with a smile: "I saw loyal ministers and good generals giving up their power, life and reputation for my country. What can I be reluctant to give up?
If it weren't for them supporting my backbone, I would have collapsed long ago.
I am just afraid of being sorry for them, so I don't dare to get angry easily when they give advice.
I am just afraid of being sorry to them, so I work conscientiously in handling state affairs.
I am just afraid of being sorry to them, so I work hard to be a good emperor.
If I were not an emperor, I would be more comfortable than being an emperor.
I no longer have to worry about drinking one more bowl of mutton soup, and the people will squeeze out one more piece of people's fat.
I don’t have to work day and night for the country of Song Dynasty.
There are no burdens on my body, no worries in my heart, and I feel so uncomfortable every day in the fields.
More importantly, I can go wherever I want without being locked in a palace like a canary."
Speaking of this, Zhao Zhen looked at Kou Ji and said with emotion: "You just know that being an emperor is too tiring, too difficult, and too painful, so when I wanted to pass the throne to you, you not only were not tempted, but also slapped me
A slap, right?"
Kou Ji nodded without hesitation, "The most stupid thing in the world is to rush to be the emperor. It seems that you have gained great power, but you have lost even more."
Zhao Zhen sighed: "But the emperor's power is really great!"
Kou Jixiao asked: "Can you take care of people outside the Song Dynasty?"
Zhao Zhen looked stunned.
Kou Ji continued to smile and said: "The Great Song Dynasty is very big, and the outside of the Great Song Dynasty is even bigger. Outside the Great Song Dynasty, there are many unclaimed lands. You can occupy any piece of land and be a mountain king, which is far more comfortable than being an emperor."
Zhao Zhen didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "It seems that I made the right decision by naming you the King of Han."
Kou Ji curled his lips and said: "The title of a king is not bad, but it is just like a fief. When I get old, I won't be able to go out and grab a piece of land."
Zhao Zhen laughed.
"It's like I want to keep you by my side. I just want to be able to see you anytime and anywhere, so I sealed you in Han Di."
Kou Ji rolled his eyes, "I'm not your royal slave."
Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "But you are my closest brother!"
Kou Ji sighed, "Are you convinced of me?"
Zhao Zhen said with a bright smile: "This is what I discovered, the only benefit of being an emperor."
Kou Ji sighed again.
Zhao Zhen laughed for a long time, then slowly stopped his smile, and then said to Kou Ji with great interest: "Fourth brother, in one month, it will be the New Year's Day.
I plan to take advantage of the New Year's Day, when all the government and government offices are closed, to release the remaining laws.
Wait until spring next year, so all the laws and regulations will be finalized.
It’s a done deal, and no one can object even if they want to.”
Kou Ji pondered and asked: "How much is left?"
Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "Less than one-tenth..."
Kou Ji said in surprise: "So few?"
Zhao Zhen said with a smile: "This is all thanks to you and your disciples. Your disciples are all talented. After realizing my intention, they frantically helped me find the omissions in the law.
I enforce the law.
Of course, the most important thing is you, fourth brother. You can stay at home without leaving home.
Everyone in the government and the public knows that your anger reaches Tianling Gai.
No one dares to touch your brow at this time, for fear that you will rush out of the house in anger and kill everyone."
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows, "Am I that scary?"
Zhao Zhen nodded seriously: "Yes!"
Kou Ji pondered and said: "That shouldn't be the case! I've always felt that I'm quite kind to people."
Zhao Zhen said with a smile: "Ding Wei, the Eight Emperors, Li Deming, Li Yuanhao, Yelu Longxu, and Yelu Zong will probably cry when they hear what you say."
Kou Ji smiled dryly and said: "If I am so terrible, then why are there still people in the court impeaching me?"
Zhao Zhen sighed: "It was Chen Yaozuo who impeached you. The old man handed over the memorial to impeach you and the memorial to beg for your bones. There is nothing I can do."
Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "It seems that he sincerely begs to go."
Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "He wants to use your hand to leave the court."
Kou Ji sighed: "As soon as he left, the only veterans in the court were Song Itch, Chen Yaozi, and Wang De. Among the three of them, the eldest was probably Fan Zhongyan..."
Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "Song Chu and the others also want to go."
Kou Ji frowned and said, "Did we discuss it?"
Zhao Zhen hesitated for a moment and said: "It doesn't look like it... It should be that Fan Zhongyan and others put pressure on them. Then Wang Zeng passed away and Chen Yaozuo begged for his remains, which made them want to quit."
Kou Ji sighed quietly, "Every generation has talents, and a new generation replaces the old ones."
Zhao Zhen said with emotion: "We will also be replaced one day."
Kou Ji said calmly: "Everyone has that day."
Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "It will take a long time for you and me to be replaced."
Kou Ji nodded and smiled: "So we must seize the time to finish everything we have to do."
Zhao Zhen nodded.
The monarch and his ministers looked at each other and laughed loudly.
Zhao Zhen entered the bamboo courtyard with a sad face and left the bamboo courtyard with a smile on his face.
Zhao Run was left in Zhuyuan.
Everyone thought that if Zhao Zhen took action, Kou Ji would definitely appear in the court.
But since Zhao Zhen left Kou Ji's Bamboo Garden, until the New Year's Day, Kou Ji did not appear in the court, or even left the Bamboo Garden.
When the New Year is approaching.
Zhao Zhen summoned Fan Zhongyan and others to Zishi Hall and handed them the remaining laws to be revised.
When Fan Zhongyan and others saw the new version of the law, they knew that Zhao Zhen's reform of the law was coming to an end. They also knew that Zhao Zhen had let go of his wariness towards them and completely regarded them as his own.
Jane is in the emperor's heart, which is the greatest encouragement to them.
So they took advantage of a few days before the New Year holiday to quickly implement the new version of the law that Zhao Zhen gave them.
Everything was done quietly and without any fanfare.
On the contrary, the vassal kings who came to pay tribute were a little fanciful.
Cao Li presented twelve snow-white elephants, each wearing a golden armor, like a war elephant.
When he entered the city, thousands of people gathered to watch.
The Liuqiu Cao family sent people to deliver three giant whales, each of which was extremely huge.
Zhu Neng sent someone to deliver a golden Buddha that was 10 feet high.
What Yuanshan sent to him was a huge golden sculpture, inlaid with gems, which was so dazzling in the sun that it made people unable to open their eyes.
The gifts given by Li Zhaoliang were relatively elegant, including a finger bone relic of Buddha from Tianzhu and three copies of the Bay-leaf Sutra.
The gift given by Gao Weizhao was a bit simple, six bloody horses, which seemed a bit drab, but it was worth a lot of money.
The gift given by Zhong Shiheng was rather vulgar, one hundred and eight carefully trained Japanese women.
Kou Tianci and Liu Boxu sent a large ship together.
A large ship that far surpassed all the large ships of the Song Dynasty.
The big ship has broken away from the category of ship, which shows how big it is.
The big ship docked outside Dengzhou, and what was sent to Bianjing City was only a model made of ivory.
All gifts arrive in Beijing with great fanfare.
All gifts that arrive in Beijing are eye-catching, attracting tens of thousands of people to watch.
"Your Majesty and others must ask for something... But they really picked a good time... Wang Zeng, it's not the right time for you to die..."
Kou Ji sighed after learning that the vassal kings had given him heavy gifts.
The reason why Kou Ji praised them for giving gifts at a good time was because Zhao Zhen turned 30 this year. They missed Zhao Zhen's birthday, but at the end of the year, they all gave generous gifts.
In this way, as long as the request is not excessive, Zhao Zhen should be able to comply.