I studied in modern times

Chapter 3 Two Houses
He watched Feng Jing leave the bedroom gate.

Zhao Xu let out a slight breath, and a stone fell from his heart.

Feng Jing's loyalty has been proven.

In his previous life, he would rather be demoted to death in Guangnan than to confide a word of what Zhao Xu said in private.

Zhao Xu was only worried that he underestimated and neglected his instructions.

Now that Feng Jing has made his statement, as a human being, he will naturally take this matter seriously.

"Now, everything is ready and it's only due to the east wind..." Zhao Xu murmured in a low voice, looking in the direction of Kunning Palace.

Kunning Hall is the middle palace, where the empress lives!
The memories of the previous life flashed back in my mind.

In the curtain, the mother-in-law (Queen Gao) and queen mother (Queen Xiang) stood like sculptures, relatively speechless, but choked up alone.

The dying father, lying on the imperial bed, has lost the majesty of the past, and can only look at Zhao Xu quietly with his eyes.

The young Zhao Xu looked at his father in bewilderment.

Outside the curtain, the voices of the officials rang out in unison.

"In the winter of last year, the three provinces jointly issued an imperial decree: the prince of Yan'an County will leave the court this spring...The ministers are panicking, please build a prince to tie the world!"

The officials played three times in a row.

But in the curtain, apart from the sound of crying and whimpering, no one spoke.

Zhao Xu, who was young at that time and was still ignorant, watched helplessly as his father, the emperor, was lying on the sickbed, nodding his head incessantly, expressing his approval of the ministers' proposal.

but……

In the curtain, apart from choking and sobbing, there was no other sound.

Everyone pretended not to see Father Zhao Xu's nod.

Father is the Son of Heaven!
At that time, no one noticed Zhao Xu.

No one would spend their precious energy on such a tense and exciting power struggle on a little prince who was at a loss and was surrounded by him.

Just a child.

Know nothing, know nothing.

Don't worry!

But they would not have thought that at that time, Zhao Xu seemed to be ignorant and didn't understand anything.

Actually already sensible.

He remembered everything that happened that day in his heart and engraved it in his bones.

From then on, every day and every night, he would think of everything that happened that day when he lay on the imperial bed in Funing Hall.

He remembered what everyone said and did at that time.

Naturally, I also remembered how the silence in the curtain was broken.

"The empress dowager, please listen to the government together, so as to recover!"

The person who spoke was Wang Gui!

At that time, he was Shangshu Zuo Pushe and the door servant, the so-called Zuoxiang!

That day was Guisi, February 29th in the eighth year of Yuanfeng!

The location is the inner bedroom of the East Pavilion of Funing Hall!

……

Kunning Hall.

The empress of the Song Dynasty lived behind Funing Hall, which is called Zhonggong.

According to the ancient ritual, the wall is painted with pepper, so it is called: pepper room.

At this moment, Queen Xiang, the owner of Kunning Hall, is kneeling in front of the Buddha statue of Medicine Master King, reciting Buddhist scriptures.

Empress Xiang is not yet forty this year, but she is already showing her old age and her face is full of sadness.

She couldn't help but not worry.

It has been 19 years since Xiang Queen married into the royal family. Although she gave birth to children for the official family, all of them 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, couldn't breathe.

But she has nothing to do!

There seems to be no other way but to pray to the gods and Buddhas!
After reading a volume of Buddhist scriptures, he put down the Buddhist scriptures to the queen.

The courtier Yan Shouqin who had been standing behind him finally took a step forward and called out in a low voice, "Saint!"

Queen Xiang didn't look back, she looked at the statue of Medicine Master King enshrined in the altar, and asked, "What's the matter?"

"As Feng Jing of Qingning Palace, I just went to Zishantang..."

"Oh?" Empress Xiang bowed to the Buddha statue of Medicine Master King and apologized, then got up and walked towards the inner curtain of Kunning Hall.

As she walked, she asked, "Didn't all the straight-talking gentlemen of Zishantang go to the Gongyuan?"

"What is Feng Jing doing at Zi Shan Tang?"

"I heard that Feng Jing went to Zishantang to look for pens, inks, papers and inkstones as well as Buddhist scriptures under the order of the king of Yan'an County!"

Empress Xiang stopped in her tracks, turned her head, and looked at Song Yongchen: "What do you want, pen, ink, paper, inkstone, and Buddhist scriptures?"

"I don't know!" Yan Shouqin lowered his head, not daring to look directly at the queen.

Xiang Huang pondered 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?"

Baoci Palace is the residence of the Empress Dowager, in the west of the Funing Palace, it is closer to the inner court than the empress who lives in the deep palace, and can hear the wind better.

Now that she knew everything, Baoci Palace would naturally know too.

So, Empress Xiang didn't hesitate anymore, and told Yan Shouqin: "I'm going to Qingning Palace, and you can arrange it!"

……

As expected from the Queen.

The Empress Dowager Gao in Baoci Palace also learned about Feng Jing's behavior from her minister Liang Weijian.

"Brother Six is ​​a dutiful son!" Empress Dowager Gao said as she gently stroked the liu slave in her arms.

Liang Weijian bowed her head deeply, not daring to answer.

He understood the meaning of Empress Dowager Gao's words.

How old is Yan'an County King?
Even if a child is really filial, how would he think of copying Buddhist scriptures to pray for officials?

Even if you want it, how do you put it into action?

Someone must have taught it.

Liang Weijian knew that since he could think of this episode, it was impossible for the Queen Mother to miss it.

Empress Dowager Gao continued to caress the soft hair of the raccoon slave in her arms, and mentioned another matter: "The emperor said last year that when the sixth elder brother leaves the cabinet, he must use the works of Sima Guang and Lu Gong as his teachers..."

"Is there such a thing?" Empress Dowager Gao looked at Liang Weijian.

Liang Weijian remained silent.

But silence is the answer.

"But Zishantang, there are already two people who have spoken directly..." Empress Dowager Gao said leisurely: "Think of a way, let those two speak directly to the local prefectures and counties!"

"The emperor sometimes does things, that's how it is, looking forward and backward, hesitating!"

"Since we have decided to let veteran ministers like Sima Guang and Duke Lu come to escort the prince, how can we continue to let Wang Anshi's heresy talk and confuse the prince?"

The empress dowager, who lives deep in the palace, doesn't know much about money and economy.

I also don't understand why my son wants to go his own way to reform.

In the palace, all she heard, saw, and knew were the complaints, dissatisfaction, and resentment of noble officials, relatives, clans, and princesses.

In particular, Wang Anshi expelled all the descendants of the clan other than the five clothes in one breath.

Not one or two descendants of Taizu and Taizong came to her to complain.

Shi Yifa is even more troublesome in Bianjing.

There was an endless stream of courtiers and relatives complaining in front of her.

What is competing with the people for profit, exploiting too much!

Or the method of Han Wu, nothing better than this!

Therefore, Empress Dowager Gao has been persuading her son.

However, although today's officials are filial, they refuse 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, somewhat lonely in her tone.

Anyway, that was her son.

Conceived in October, the flesh and blood born through hard work.

Now, the emperor is getting more and more ill. Seeing the emperor getting thinner and thinner, Empress Dowager Gao is naturally feeling very sad.

Only then did Liang Weijian reply, saying: "Your Majesty, the ministers of the two mansions have just entered the palace, and at this moment they are respectfully inquiring about the Eucharist in the Funing Hall..."

Empress Dowager Gao hesitated for a moment, then said: "Since that's the case, I will wait for the ministers to leave, and then go to visit the emperor!"

Empress Dowager Gao is a person who respects the system very much.

This is related to her life experience.

She was born in a family of generals, and her great-grandfather Gao Qiong and grandfather Gao Jixun were both famous generals.

Although her biological father, Gao Zunfu, did not have the prestige of her father and grandfather, her mother came from another family of famous generals in the Song Dynasty, the Zhending Cao family.

And another daughter of the Cao family, who later married into the royal family, became the queen of Renmiao.

Empress Cishengguangxian had no children, so she brought Empress Dowager Gao to the palace to raise her, and taught her empress by ear, which was very gracious.

The kindness, holiness, and dedication to the queen, the respect for the system, has deeply affected the empress dowager Gao.

That's why, although Empress Dowager Gao doesn't like the so-called new law created by her son.

But it was just persuasion, never really intervening.

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 came from this.

The ancestral system and the government of Jiayou are perfect.

How can it be destroyed casually?

What's more, Empress Dowager Gao always remembered that her husband's success in ascension to the throne was due to the persistence of Jiayou's ministers back then.

Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, Sima Guang, Lu Gong, 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!
Now, the emperor is seriously ill, and the medicine stone is useless.

Loyal ministers are far away from all corners of the country, above the court, full of treacherous ministers and chaotic parties!

Once there is a change, what should be done for the Sheji Ancestral Temple?

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Gao inevitably became worried again.

Liang Weijian looked at Empress Dowager Gao's expression, raised her head calmly, and said in a low voice, "Mother, there is one more thing, I don't know whether I should say it..."

"Speak!" Empress Dowager Gao sighed leisurely.

"I heard that a few days ago, the Changqiu of the Zhonggong ordered people to set up a fast in the Daxiangguo Temple to pray for blessings. His prayer said: Yan'an County King prays. Many people have heard of this now!"

When Empress Dowager Gao heard this, her face turned livid and her body trembled slightly.

After a long time, she said: "Why is the queen here!"

Liang Weijian didn't dare to answer at all, but just bowed her head deeply.

Empress Dowager Gao let out a long sigh, and said to herself, "How can I harm my grandson?"

The queen ordered people to set up a fast and pray, especially in the prayers, praying in the name of the king of Yan'an.

This is to tell the world: the official family has a son!
And it has grown up!
The subtext is: let's all grow snacks!
Who are you referring to secretly?

Those who are interested will naturally associate it.

The legend of the sound of the ax and the shadow of the candle is known to everyone in the country.

The story of the Golden Chamber Alliance is even more vivid.

"The ministers of the two governments, did you say anything?" After thinking for a while, Empress Dowager Gao asked Liang Weijian.

Liang Weijian lowered his head and replied, "I have not heard of this matter!"

Empress Dowager Gao's expression darkened when she heard this.

Sometimes, no discussion is the biggest discussion!

Because they all went underground.

Empress Dowager Gao remembered that ever since the emperor became seriously ill, the ministers of the two governments had to enter the palace to greet him almost every morning and evening.

After paying their respects, they will all go to the capital hall or the Privy Council in the imperial city for a meeting.

During the meeting, the chancellors often ordered the hall to be locked, and only Zhongshu Scheeren were allowed to be present to record.

The records of related meetings can only be read by people from Zhongshushe.

Liang Weijian carefully observed Empress Dowager Gao's expression, and reported cautiously: "However, I heard that the mother of Mrs. Cai, the Prime Minister of the Right, was ordered to enter the palace to have an audience with her!"

"Cai Chizheng's mother? The Ming family?" Empress Dowager Gao immediately became alert: "What is she doing in the palace? What is the queen calling her to do in the palace?"

Liang Weijian shook his head: "This minister doesn't know anything!"

Empress Dowager Gao's vigilance was immediately full.

Liang Weijian was in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and promoted Baoci Palace, and the news was always well-informed.

In addition, Liang Weijian also had close contacts with high-ranking officials such as Chen Yan and Zhang Shiliang.

Even Liang Weijian didn't know what the Ming family and the queen were talking about when they met?
This can only show that what the empress and the Ming family talked about is extremely sensitive, and I'm afraid they talked about it in private, and when they said it, they avoided other people.

Thinking of the queen ordering people to go to Daxiangguo Temple to pray for blessings, but pretending to be the king of Yan'an County in the prayers, this matter is now well known.

Empress Dowager Gao had to suspect that this matter was the result of discussions between Cai Que and the queen!
This is knocking the mountain and shaking the tiger!

Empress Dowager Gao took a deep breath.

She remembered again that Feng Jing, who Liang Weijian reported, went to Zishantang to get pens, inks, papers and inkstones, saying that "the king of Yan'an County wants to transcribe Buddhist scriptures for the officials to pray for blessings".

How old is Yan'an County King?
Copying Buddhist scriptures?

Can he recognize the characters in the entire Buddhist scriptures?Even if he knows everything, can he write it?Have you written it?

So, who taught it?

Why teach it this way?
What is the purpose?
In Empress Dowager Gao's heart, a word suddenly popped up: Xiang Zhuang's sword dance is aimed at Peigong!
So, she couldn't sit still any longer, and said to Liang Weijian: "Pass the decree, move to Qingning Palace!"

"I'm going to see how pure and filial my Qilin son of the Zhao family is!"

Although Empress Dowager Gao is a girl, she grew up in a deep palace since she was a child, and she has never experienced any complicated emotions.

But her strength has already existed!

When Yingmiao was alive, there was not a single concubine in the entire Imperial City!

My aunt, Merciful Shengguang presented the queen, and blamed her for this, and asked her to take the initiative to choose a concubine for Yingzong.

Empress Dowager Gao directly sealed Empress Cishengguangxian's accusation with one sentence.

"Zouzhi empress, the bride is married to the 'Thirteen Tuanlian', and has not married any official family!"

During these many years in this palace, Empress Dowager Gao never put herself at a passive disadvantage.

She has always striven for the initiative.

……

Xiang Empress Yiwei, from the Kunning Hall, through the Chongzheng Hall, to the Qingning Palace under the Donghua Gate.

However, as soon as he left the side door of Chongzheng Hall, he heard the voices of the ministers singing and cleaning the street.

"The empress dowager is lucky, the officials avoid the way, and all the officials welcome!"

Empress Xiang was taken aback for a while, then quickly led the people to the side of the road and waited respectfully for the Empress Dowager Yiwei.

After a while, I saw a group of ceremonial guards, holding yellow umbrellas, with imperial equipment on the left and right, guarding with sticks, and ministers at the front and back echoing with rows of fans, coming all the way.

When he got close, he took a step forward to the queen and bowed gracefully: "The bride respectfully asks that the empress is well!"

Empress Dowager Gao, who was sitting on the chariot, was still hugging the raccoon slave, looked at the queen who was standing there, and waited deliberately for a while before she showed her face and said, "Everything is fine, old man!"

Then he asked, "Is the queen going to Qingning Palace?"

I bowed to the queen again: "Hui Niangniang, it is true!"

Empress Dowager Gao nodded her head and said, "The emperor is sick, and the affairs of the harem will be hard on you!"

"Don't dare!" Bowing his head to the queen, he replied, "This is a bride's job!"

Empress Dowager Gao said to the queen with a smile: "It's a coincidence, the old man also wants to go to Qingning Palace to visit the sixth brother! The queen will go with the old man!"

"Follow your mother's will!" I bowed to the queen again.

……

Note: In-laws in Tang and Song Dynasties are called uncles.

Waiting for Xiaotang to pay respects to uncle and aunt!

Niangniang generally refers to the queen mother and empress dowager, and the queen is called a "sage", which is a court rule handed down from the Tang Dynasty.

Regardless of whether she died as a queen mother or a great empress dowager, she will be honored as a certain queen after her death. This is because the god master will attach a temple, and her identity will become a queen again.

Note 2: There are different opinions about Shenzong’s serious illness and the establishment of a reserve, and Shenzong Shilu has been edited three times, and it has already changed beyond recognition. Here, we believe in the edition edited by Zhezong Shaosheng. Although this edition was almost destroyed, Li Tao quoted a lot in order to refute Zhezong’s edition when he wrote "Continued Zizhi Tongjian Long Story"!
(End of this chapter)