I studied in modern times

Chapter 524 The entanglement of fate

"Concubine, I would like to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager and Her Royal Highness the Empress Dowager, and wish these two saints long blessings."

"Bless me (I)."

"Liang Weijian, please give Mrs. Sui a seat." The Empress Dowager smiled and asked.

The job of the empress and queen mother of the Song Dynasty was to replace the emperor and maintain the relationship between ministers, nobles and the royal family.

Naturally, important ministers and the wives of senators need to be very familiar with them.

Therefore, Mr. Ma is considered a familiar face in front of the two palaces.

Ma stood up with a smile and sat on the stool brought by Liang Weijian.

The Empress Dowager looked at the elder's wife and asked, "How is Zhang Jiedu's health lately?"

Ma replied: "Thanks to the kindness of the empress and the favor of the queen mother, the officials of my family have always been in strong health..."

It even planted the seeds of civil strife - as evidenced by the rebellion between the emperor and the empress after Yingmiao ascended the throne, which almost led to turmoil.

Especially in terms of heirs, it is a national matter.

After thinking about it carefully, both palaces felt that the candidate recommended by Ma was not bad.

He nodded to the Queen Mother, and then looked at the Queen Mother: "My Lady, why don't you send someone to call Di's daughter to come closer and have a look?"

Mr. Ma stood up and bowed to him, saying, "Mother, I am a concubine and I have no knowledge..."

Zhang Fangping was a veteran of the Four Dynasties.

The thoughts of such an important minister naturally need to be paid attention to in the palace.

So, he made a decree and ordered people to summon the wives of the Di family and the Meng family who entered the palace today to come to the bedchamber to meet them.

Queen Mother Xiang even knew that Mrs. Sui Guo was probably recommending people on behalf of Zhang Fangping.

Madam Ma lowered her head and said softly: "I know your Majesty, I am an official in my concubine's family. Now I only worry about the marriage of the current official's family..."

So, he asked the Queen Mother: "I have always been in the palace and have not had much contact with the outer court. I don't know who's daughter can be regarded as a virtuous minister among the ministers in the court now?"

The Empress Dowager also smiled and looked at Ma.

Since ancient times, there has been no family affairs in heaven.

"It's just..." She chuckled and said, "Sometimes I miss some things..."

After thinking about it, she compensated: "The Meng family's daughter has also been summoned, so that the bride and the queen can take a look together..."

The two palaces suddenly laughed when they heard this.

She couldn't help but give him this face.

In itself, he is also the leader of a political faction.

Especially the Queen Mother, she was very interested in the daughter of the Di family recommended by Ma.

"How about sending someone to invite the officials to come and take a look...?"

"Huh?" The Empress Dowager sat up straight: "What is Jiedu worried about?"

Otherwise, it may cause turmoil between the government and the opposition and make the country uneasy.

"Therefore, what officials are thinking about at home is that they should get married as soon as possible, recruit virtuous concubines, and have heirs..."

Before Di Qing, the last military minister to worship the Privy Councilor was Wang Deyong, who was known as the black-faced gentleman.

Only when the emperor has a son can the ministers feel at ease and the country be stable.

Therefore, the Di family's daughter's background and family status are completely enough.

"But my concubine heard that Di Yong, the son of Duke Di Wuxiang, the privy envoy, has a daughter. She is about the same age as an official and has an upright appearance...she may be worthy of a good husband..."

After hearing this, the two palaces looked at each other.

As a veteran of the Four Dynasties, Zhang Fangping certainly has the qualifications and reasons to intervene.

Furthermore, Di Yong was still a close official of the official family.

The Queen Mother nodded slightly: "Yes!"

It feels weird!

Why didn't Mr. Ma recommend the daughter of a certain scholar-bureaucrat, but instead recommended the daughter of the Di family?

This is very subtle!

but……

Mr. Ma immediately paid his respects and said, "I am telling you that my concubines met in the west of the Qingshou Palace and met Di's daughter who followed her mother into the palace..."

"Since our ancestors, it has been difficult for the heirs of officials in the past dynasties..."

Family affairs in the heavenly family are state affairs.

The reason is very simple.

In his hands, he holds the elite division of the First General Yulong who is about to return to the court.

At the very least, it is better than the so-called 'Meng's daughter' that the Empress Dowager cherished so much.

Choosing his daughter can not only reward him for his merits, but also win over the Di family. It is also an ancestral system.

First of all, Di Qing was a general in the Renmiao era, and he also served as a military minister in the Privy Council. This was considered to be in power. After Di Qing, there was no military minister in the country who could enter the Xifu and serve as the governor.

So, the Queen Mother almost couldn't wait to ask: "Can Di's daughter enter the palace today?"

After the decree was issued, two married ladies soon entered the bedchamber, each taking a little girl with them.

At the same time, Da Diao Dang Liang, who was beside the Empress Dowager, also followed the order and went to Funing Hall.

……

When Liang Zongzheng arrived at Funing Hall.

Zhao Xu was listening to the report from Jia Zhongmin, who came to the palace to report on the affairs of the Street Department.

According to Jia Zhongmin's report, the rectification of the Street Department is now entering a period of deep water.

Under his leadership, most of the staff, officers and soldiers have been eliminated.

Subsequently, a large number of officials, officers and soldiers were seconded from Kaifeng Mansion and Imperial City Division.

As a result, the current street department has a "new look". With a little "teaching", it can appear in front of the people of Bianjing, allowing the people of Bianjing to experience the style and appearance of the "street department in the new era of the Song Dynasty".

Zhao Xu was very happy after hearing this.

The imperial edict granted Jia Zhongmin to "borrow a silver fish bag" - a silver fish bag, which can only be worn by civil servants of rank six or above.

Borrowing the silverbait bag is a special treatment prepared for civil servants who have not reached the sixth rank.

Like borrowing fei or borrowing purple, it is a kind of political preferential treatment.

It is roughly equivalent to enjoying a certain level of treatment in modern times.

Jia Zhongmin thanked him profusely, and then carefully took the silverbait bag given to him by Feng Jing on behalf of Zhao Xu, and solemnly wore it around his waist.

A silverbait bag is a treatment only important ministers can enjoy.

And now that he has this fish bag, it is equivalent to announcing to the world that he, sooner or later, can become a sixth-rank minister of the Song Dynasty.

The mood is very beautiful.

Zhao Xu encouraged him: "You should guard against arrogance and impetuosity, and continue to work hard to live up to my expectations!"

"No!" Jia Zhongmin bowed again excitedly.

He made a big bet this time.

Following orders, he presided over the sub-district department, eliminated superiors and subordinates, and offended countless people.

Especially those subordinate officials who are entrenched in the street department and the nobles who have been making profits in the street department for generations.

They all hate him deeply.

But Jia Zhongmin did it without hesitation.

All sub-district clerks who are unqualified will be eliminated or diverted.

Those officials from the honorable family were all sent to the Privy Council for tea.

Then, following Cai Jing's suggestion, he transferred a large number of manpower from Kaifeng Mansion and Imperial City Division.

Especially those in the Imperial City Department. If you study carefully, many of them may have close connections with the Detective Department.

The Detective Department was already notorious during the late emperor's time.

The five hundred soldiers of the Detective Department were a thorn in the flesh of the civil servants and officials, and both the old and new parties wanted to get rid of them quickly.

Before and after the death of the late emperor, important ministers from the new and old parties in the court wanted to take the opportunity to get rid of the Inspectorate.

However, the news changed later, and Shi Deyi was used again in the palace.

The two palaces also needed to rely heavily on the Detective Department, which was why they failed to do so.

However, the ministers of the DPRK and China have always been very afraid of the Detective Department.

That is to say, the people in the Detective Department have always behaved themselves and have never been caught.

Otherwise, there would have been a huge commotion.

And he, Jia Zhongmin, introduced people from the Detective Department to the Street Department.

It's like luring a wolf into the house, if someone finds out.

He will definitely be criticized by scholars all over the world, and the label of a eunuch will definitely be indispensable.

Therefore, Jia Zhongmin is actually very worried. But now, he knows that he made the right bet.

He looked at the fish bag on his waist and thought it looked good no matter what.

He seemed to see himself wearing a purple robe, wearing a purple gold fish bag, wearing a crotch and holding a white gui, walking towards the capital hall. The officials on the left and right retreated collectively and bowed to him, saying: Mr. Xianggong.

Just thinking about it, Jia Zhongmin became ecstatic.

So he thanked me again and expressed his position in front of the emperor: "I am determined to govern with your majesty's virtue and sound. I will work hard and sleep hard at night, and I will not dare or forget!"

The command originally given to him by the officials.

He will definitely recite it day and night and follow it as a rule of heaven.

Bring a brand new street department to the people of Bianjing.

Zhao Xu nodded with satisfaction.

At this time, Guo Zhongxiao's voice came from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, the Queen of Qingshou Palace has sent Liang Duzhi to invite you to Qingshou Palace..."

"Oh!" Zhao Xu hummed and said to Jia Zhongmin who was in the palace, "Please go back and do your work."

"I'll go to the Qingshou Palace to take a look."

"No!" Jia Zhongmin bowed respectfully before retreating.

……

"The officials are here."

Following the warning, the entire Qingshou Palace suddenly fell silent.

Countless married women, with their children, prostrated on both sides of the road, looking respectfully at the young man who walked into the palace under the protection of dozens of imperial ministers and ministers with imperial equipment.

"I, my concubines, and others pay homage to the officials, and wish them all the best."

Wherever he passed, countless people bowed their heads and worshiped him, saying "Hail".

Zhao Xu nodded as he walked.

There are no fewer than dozens of married women in the Qingshou Palace.

It’s so lively!

The little girls who were brought into the palace by their wives carefully raised their heads and looked at him.

Until Zhao Xu's figure disappeared into the palace curtain.

The married women then got up with their children.

"The official family is really handsome..." Many people said this.

"The majestic laws are also quite profound!" Some married women began to see stars in their eyes. They looked at the little ladies beside them: "It would be great if you were lucky enough to be selected by the official."

The young ladies lowered their heads shyly.

Some brave ones nodded seriously.

no way!

In today's Song Dynasty, entering the palace is the best way out for the young ladies from the families of nobles and military ministers.

It's not that you will definitely live a good life after entering the palace.

Rather, entering the palace is the best of all their choices.

At the very least, the wealth after entering the palace can be guaranteed, and it can also bless the family.

In comparison, if you get married, the risk factor is very high.

Once you meet someone unkind, your life is over.

Although these little ladies are young, they are only twelve years old at most.

But the thought is not small.

Which daughter who grew up in a noble and military minister's family would be simple?

……

Zhao Xu stepped into the curtain, and under the guidance of Liang Congzheng, walked through the corridor and entered the inner bedroom.

Then, his eyes saw two familiar figures.

"Mengshi..."

His lips moved.

As Queen Yuan in his previous life, he would naturally not admit his mistake.

Although Meng is only twelve or thirteen years old now, he already has a bit of the future.

And the figure of the other, a weak-looking little girl, is also very memorable.

"Di Qiang..." He began to lament the magic of fate in his heart.

The memory also began to wander away at this moment.

The young lady who is still young and immature now overlaps with the figure of the beautiful woman that Zhao Xu saw through the curtain in the palace eight years ago.

initial……

In Zhao Xu's previous life, the queen chosen by the governors for Zhao Xu was this little lady.

Zhao Xu also likes this girl who completely matches his aesthetics.

Although, now Zhao Xu has almost forgotten the appearance of Di Qiang that he saw in the palace.

But now, I see the beautiful lady's appearance when she was young again.

His memory was suddenly awakened.

Memories that had become blurry became vivid again.

That year in Funing Palace, what I saw through the curtain made me feel alive again.

It's like an old photo that has been blurred and faded and restored by modern technology.

Then, Zhao Xu completely remembered.

In the Funing Hall that year, outside the curtain, the girl bowed Yingying.

That day she was wearing a white plain gauze gown, the beads on her head were swaying, and her skin was as white as snow, despite the frost and snow.

The voice is soft and pleasant, and the shallow cherry lips are like wintersweet on a winter night.

Zhao Xu fell in love at first sight.

however……

The Queen Mother doesn’t like it!

Therefore, because having three mothers is not enough for a mother to honor the world, she directly rejects it!

Then, she chose the Meng family for Zhao Xu.

This is almost a replica of the time when Zhang Xianmingsu selected Queen Guo for Renmiao - at first, the queen that Renmiao liked and wanted to choose was Zhang Mei's great-granddaughter Zhang - Zhang was beautiful, with a good figure and a good personality, and Renmiao was attracted by it at a glance. Liked it.

But Zhang Xianmingsu insisted on making the decision for Renmiao and chose Queen Guo.

At the same time, Mrs. Zhang was sent home and ordered to get married. Mrs. Zhang died of illness soon, leaving Renmiao regretful for the rest of her life.

This directly laid the first trigger for Queen Guo to be deposed.

Many years later, Renmiao met a woman who looked exactly like Zhang in the palace. After further inquiry, he learned that the woman's surname was also Zhang.

So she was overjoyed and immediately adopted her as a concubine, doting on her very much.

This is Empress Wen Chengzhang who has the right to dominate the court and the public in the Ren Temple, who can compete with Ci Sheng Guangxian and even dominate her.

In Zhao Xu's previous life, Queen Meng, whom the Empress Dowager chose for him, was also deposed like Queen Guo.

However, Zhao Xu has never met a woman who looks like Di Qiang back then.

This must be said, it is a pity!

Therefore, Zhao Xu deliberately recalled Di Yong and reused him.

Of course, that's only one reason.

Moreover, Zhao Xu actually didn't miss Di Qiang too much.

Whether in a previous life or in modern times.

There is no shortage of stunning women around him.

Di Qiang can only be regarded as a sweet dream in his youth.

It's like a classmate that modern people fall in love with when they are in school.

When you were young, you may have been in your heart, but when you grow up, you have seen the world, and you look back and meet the people you loved back then.

You will know that the love you had back then was just the impulse of youthful hormones.

It's just a matter of sex - it's not even that, it's just a biological instinct.

However, Zhao Xu never thought that one day he would meet the two candidates for the Yuan Empress in his previous life at the same time and in the same place.

"Is this the entanglement of fate?" Zhao Xu asked himself.

As a person of three generations, even if he is an atheist, he will inevitably have some superstitious beliefs.

Besides, he was never an atheist.

Naturally, I have awe of some things in the dark world.

(End of this chapter)