I studied in modern times

Chapter 569 Birthday Banquet (1)

The sound of silk and bamboo wind music sounded melodiously in my ears.

Zhao Xu slowly opened his eyes and looked at the figure sitting in front of him.

"Mother!" He woke up from the bed.

Memories from before going to bed appeared in my mind.

Prisoner offerings, imperial temples, sacrifices...

Therefore, Zhao Xu laughed at himself and said in his heart: "Physically speaking, my body is still too small."

There is no way, although he has been working hard and paying attention to nutritional balance.

However, he was still too young after all.

It is really difficult for the body to support long-term high-intensity political activities.

When he was free, he would go to Baoci Palace to talk to Empress Dowager Xiang, and even took time to walk with her and enjoy flowers.

This child can always say such words that make her feel deeply satisfied and happy.

However, since he woke up in Qingning Palace, he has been deliberately conveying to the outside world an attitude that I don't like poetry.

So, Wen Xunniang, who had been serving the Queen Mother carefully, fetched a cup of meat porridge that had been cooked from the palace, took it to the Queen Mother, picked up a porcelain spoon, and blew it first He blew the meat porridge, then tasted the taste, and then said to Zhao Xu: "Sixth brother, let's taste the meat porridge cooked by the queen."

At the Sutra banquet, the officials composed poems, but he never commented on them.

Therefore, after reluctantly hosting the sacrifice at the Ancestral Temple, I boarded the carriage back to the palace, but I couldn't hold on any longer and fell asleep on the carriage.

But for the sake of this child, she persisted.

After all, he is one of the Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties.

Officials who want to make progress should take a look and learn seriously what it means to be neither humble nor arrogant, how to attract the leader's attention, and how to arouse the leader's curiosity.

Therefore, although she actually doesn't like arguing with others, she hates intrigue even more.

Not to mention anything else, just the visiting letter that Su Che wrote to Han Qi when he was young can be regarded as a model for young people in the Middle Ages to pay homage to dignitaries.

Zhao Xu replied: "The imperial chefs are only skilled in their craftsmanship and have only limited skills. How can they be compared to the food that the queen mother cooked for her son with her own hands?"

He vaguely remembered that Queen Mother Xiang carried him back to the palace along the way.

Soon, a small cup of meat porridge was eaten cleanly. He patted his belly and said happily to the Queen Mother: "The meat porridge cooked by the Queen Mother is the most delicious, unlike that fellow Feng Jing, who is always worse. The taste makes Erchen feel uncomfortable eating it!"

Articles and poems are not weak. In fact, if Su Shi's light was not too dazzling.

"Yeah!" Zhao Xu nodded.

Zhao Xu lowered his head slightly and asked, "Queen Mother, how was the birthday banquet in Qingshou Palace?"

"Now the ministers in the palace are still writing poems according to the imperial edict. Do you want Sixth Brother to go and have a look?" asked the Empress Dowager.

Queen Mother Xiang knew this, so she said, "The Queen Mother will accompany Sixth Brother here to talk."

Last year, because Zhao Xu's father died, he did not receive the imperial poem.

Queen Mother Xiang was immediately moved.

This year, I finally have a chance, why don’t I take a good look? Appreciation?
Empress Dowager Xiang then continued: "I heard that Su Zhe, a storyteller in Jiying Palace, wrote a very appropriate imperial poem, which won the house a lot of praise!"

Not only did he participate in politics regardless of weather conditions, but he would also appear at the Qingshou Palace even if he felt unwell sometimes.

It's a subtle political statement.

He will also look at almost all important personnel appointments and promotions.

Zhao Xu said oh.

"Soon, just over an hour." The Queen Mother smiled and asked, "Brother Six, do you need some food?"

Zhao Xu shook his head: "My son is young and doesn't know much about poetry. It's better not to show off his shame and talk more with the queen here."

Su Che's article alone can kill countless people instantly.

In the Song Dynasty system, on the holy festivals of emperors and empresses, all ministers would write imperial poems to congratulate them.

"Su Che's poems are certainly good!" Zhao Xu nodded.

This is what Zhao Xu often does after summer break.

Empress Dowager Xiang stretched out her hand to hold Zhao Xu's little hand, and said with a smile: "Brother Six, are you awake?"

Queen Mother Xiang took out a handkerchief, wiped the porridge marks on the corners of Zhao Xu's mouth, and said with a smile: "How can the Queen Mother's meat porridge compare to the chefs in the Royal Kitchen?"

The mother and son sat in front of the couch and started chatting about home affairs.

"Yes!" Zhao Xu nodded and asked, "How long have you been sleeping?"

The Empress Dowager is also a face-loving person who loves ostentation.

Although Zhao Xu's poetry level is not bad, his literary literacy and appreciation level are also very high.

Zhao Xu immediately opened his mouth obediently and allowed the Queen Mother to feed him spoonful by spoonful.

All I can say is that this is the greatness of maternal love.

Xiang Empress Dowager smiled and said: "Now, the Empress Dowager is being favored by the ministers!"

Every three to five days, he would stay in Baoci Palace for a while.

Especially after June, when the drought began to ease and thunderstorms occurred, Zhao Xu would always go to Baoci Palace to accompany the Queen Mother.

In terms of details, it is almost perfect.

Zhao Xu's mouth is very sweet, and he can always say words of 'ultimate filial piety' and 'pure saint' from time to time.

Therefore, the relationship between mother and child, far from being alienated, is even closer.

When mother and son were talking in the bedroom of Qingshou Palace, they were in the main hall of Qingshou Palace.

The imperial poems presented by the ministers have been read out.

The Empress Dowager was smiling from ear to ear as she listened to the poems praising her holiness and kindness.

Therefore, the imperial edict gave her gold and silver, and she selected some of her favorite imperial poems and ordered them to be framed, intending to appreciate them carefully in the future.

At this time, Liang Congji, the chamberlain beside the Empress Dowager, tiptoed into the curtain and reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has said that congratulatory envoys from all over the world are ready. Please tell me when will we arrange to enter the palace to congratulate you?" "

The Queen Mother finally remembered and asked Liang Weijian who was serving beside her: "Liang Yaban, send someone to see if the officials are awake?"

"No." Liang Weijian accepted the order and left.

……

"Your Majesty, our envoys from all over the world are about to enter the palace to congratulate you." Liang Weijian arrived at the inner chamber, looked at the figures inside the curtain from a distance, and reported outside the curtain.

Empress Dowager Xiang held Zhao Xu's hand and said, "Sixth brother, it's better not to keep the envoys from various countries waiting."

"Well!" Zhao Xu stood up, and was served by the female officials led by Shanggong Zhang who was beside the Queen Mother. He put on the plain white emperor's uniform, and then the mother and son were surrounded by Yu Longzhi led by Yan Yuan. Next, he left the dormitory, passed through the corridor, and came to the curtain of the main hall.

"The bride congratulates the empress on her birthday."

"Sun Chen congratulates the great mother on her birthday!" Mother and son saluted to the great empress dowager.

The Empress Dowager was very happy today and immediately said: "Empress Dowager, officials, get up quickly."

He bowed to the Queen Mother and Zhao Xu again before getting up.

Empress Dowager Xiang sat upright on the right side of the Empress Dowager, while Zhao Xu sat on a mattress in the middle of the two palaces, looking at the ministers outside the curtain through the curtain.

At this time, the ministers had already stood up and held fluorene to greet Zhao Xu as he ascended to the throne.

After he sat down, the officials took their seats one after another.

Next, there was naturally a lengthy and boring session of congratulations from envoys from various countries.

According to the size and distance and the relationship with the Song Dynasty, people enter the palace to congratulate them.

It started with the envoys of Liao and ended with the chieftains of the five surnames in the southwest.

There's nothing to say. We are all decent people, especially in such a situation.

Even the party members would give enough face to them on such an occasion, obediently follow the terms of the peace between the two countries, and congratulate and express their gratitude to the Empress Dowager of the Song Dynasty as the 'King of Xia's envoy'.

All Zhao Xu had to do was respond mechanically and say those few words back and forth in a programmed manner.

However, this process is the most time-consuming.

By the time the process was completed, it was already dusk.

According to the custom and tradition, the Empress Dowager gave a banquet in this birthday celebration palace to entertain the relatives, generals and envoys from various countries.

To be honest, the palace banquets of the Song Dynasty were just about sumptuous dishes.

In terms of taste and texture, it can only be considered average.

Especially beef and mutton, the processing is extremely bad and has a strong smell of mutton. Moreover, since the dishes are prepared in advance, they are basically cold.

Fortunately, it is summer now, if it is a palace banquet in the cold winter of March 9th.

By the time the dishes were served, they were already frozen and hard, and if it wasn't stew, they wouldn't be able to bite.

Therefore, Zhao Xu was just pretending and wandering around on the mattress.

Anyway, he has another meal waiting for him - tonight in the inner rear garden, the Empress Dowager will host another banquet to entertain the clan members, elders, relatives, prime ministers, and wives of generals who have entered the palace.

Zhao Xu's biological mother, the Zhu family, is now in the Yingyang Gate, handling this matter according to the orders of the two palaces.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu turned back to look at the Empress Dowager and asked in a low voice: "Mother, Sun Chen heard that Mrs. Zhou Guotai, the widow of Duke Fu Wen Zhong, has entered the capital?"

"Yeah!" The corners of the Queen Mother's mouth were slightly proud.

Mrs. Yan of Zhou Guotai immediately went to the ancestral residence of the Gao family after entering Beijing and paid a visit to her biological mothers, Mrs. Qin Guotai and Lu Guotai.

She kept herself humble, spoke humbly, and praised her repeatedly, saying that the lady was blessed and deserved to be worshiped by the world.

The old lady is getting older and has everything she wants.

There is only such a worry left. Now, how can I not be happy to see the 'other people's daughter' that I was so envious of in the past, acting like this in front of me?
So Dayue had a very pleasant conversation with Mrs. Zhou Guotai.

Under the other party's deliberate flattery, my mood suddenly became much better.

The Empress Dowager has a long face, and she deeply feels that she is indeed the most filial daughter in the world!

Therefore, a decree was made, and Mrs. Zhou Guotai gave her a real salary (footmo).

Although rich people may not be short of this little money, there are only a few married women in the world who can enjoy real salary payments.

In addition to the biological mothers of the two palaces, they are the principal concubine of Jing Wang Zhao Yan and the principal wife of Dazong Zheng Zhao Zongsheng.

Among the ministers, Mrs. Zhou Guotai is the only one who is still alive.

Therefore, this treatment is politically very high.

But Zhao Xu knew that the madam certainly did not come to Beijing to get treatment and honors for herself - if she wanted them, what would be the use besides the glory?

Dragging his old body, he went to Beijing regardless of the fatigue of traveling and traveling, and humbled himself in front of the two wives of the Gao family and the Xiang family.

Naturally, the plan is very big!
There is no other possibility except for Fu Bi to compete for a seat in the temple to worship the late emperor!

However, Zhao Xu would not let him succeed.

It's not that Zhao Xu has an opinion against Fu Bi - he did in his previous life, but after studying abroad in modern times, he already knows that compared to other old party ministers, Fu Bi can be regarded as a loyal person to the country.

And now that he is even willing to accept Wen Yanbo, how can he hold on to Fu Bi.

So, this is purely business!

The reason is simple - the number of meritorious officials accompanying the Imperial Ancestral Temple has always been rare.

There are only a dozen people since our ancestors, and most of them are heroes in the early days of the country.

Generally speaking, if an emperor can have three positions next to him, he is already Amitabha.

As for Zhao Xu's father, even under his various tricks, the final number of five positions in the temple was already the limit!

There are so many carrot pits.

Fu Bi takes one first, what will happen to the others?
You know, the position of the hero accompanying the worshiper is a very important resource in Zhao Xu's hands!

However, in fact, the position next to Zhao Xu's father is already extremely tense.

Aside from mentioning other things, Wang Anshi definitely has a pitfall.

After all, no one can bypass Wang Anshi to evaluate Zhao Xu's father.

Besides, could Wen Yanbo not give it?

Wen Yanbo gave the words.

Where is Cai Que?
Where is Han Jiang?
Where is Mr. Lu?

If these three prime ministers cannot be sent to the temple of the late emperor a hundred years later, they will have to be enshrined in Zhao Xu's temple in the future.

There is no way, one is the prime minister who was entrusted with the imperial edict, took care of his life and entrusted the orphan, and made decisions and supported him.

The other two were the heroes who supported the young master, stabilized the country, and made the transition smooth.

So it’s very troublesome!
Of course, Zhao Xu's focus is not on this matter now.

After all, they haven't made any requests now.

Zhao Xu is concerned about another thing.

"Mother, Sun Chen heard that Lord Bao Xiaosu's eldest daughter-in-law, Lord Yongjia, seems to have followed Mrs. Zhou Guotai to Beijing this time?"

"Is this happening?" The Empress Dowager became suspicious.

In the political arena of the Song Dynasty, there are many stories of people leaving the tea to cool down, and people dying and the government resting.

What's more, Bao Zheng has been dead for decades, and most of the connections and in-laws he left behind in the past are almost dead.

Let alone his wife.

It’s his son Bao Shou. How many people still care about him now?

Not to mention the Empress Dowager who lives deep in the palace.

Zhao Xu nodded and said: "Sun Chen has indeed heard about this."

"I don't know if there will be a Yongjia Commander in Dayan in Houyuan tonight?"

The Empress Dowager could only look at the Empress Dowager Xiang, and the Empress Dowager Xiang looked at the Shang Gong Zhang next to her. Mrs. Zhang quickly took out a booklet, flipped through it, and finally found it, and replied: "I know everyone, Lord Cui of Yongjia County has ordered him to enter the palace."

But Zhao Xu asked again: "Can I trouble you, Your Majesty, to see if Bao Xiaosu's son, Bao Shou's wife, is in the list?"

Zhang checked it again and then shook her head.

"Add her!" Zhao Xu said: "Bao Xiaosu is a famous minister in the world. He is honest and honest. I have always admired him and I should show my gratitude to his descendants."

For Zhao Xu, wooing the Bao family is not only a need of real politics - he wants to set an example.

At the same time, this person must not be controversial.

Then, there is no more suitable person than Bao Zheng - he died early, has great fame and great influence.

In addition, there are hundreds of thousands of ethnic minority compatriots named Bao on the other side of Xihe!
Since they admire Bao Zheng, they will recognize Bao Shou as their eldest cousin.

Secondly, it is also for compensation.

In modern times, Zhao Xu had seen the fate of Bao Zheng's descendants.

Bao Zheng was honest throughout his life, and so was his son Bao Shou. When he died of illness, he looked around at his belongings and counted his property, and found that there were only forty-six copper coins!
At that time, Bao Shou was not an ordinary person.

At the time of his death, he had been promoted to a court official, and had been appointed as the general magistrate of Tanzhou (Changsha).

A civil servant, the son of a famous minister, had only forty-six pieces of money-making property when he died!

Although, good people will be pointed at guns.

But the death of a good man is so miserable, it is still difficult to understand.

Of course, if that's all.

Zhao Xu might sympathize with him and just grant him a favor, promote him to the capital, and arrange a good assignment.

But it is absolutely impossible for him to take the initiative to bring it up on an occasion like today, or even take the initiative to intercede with the two palaces. He ordered the widow of the Bao family and Bao Shou's wife, a low-level official's wife who did not even have a concubine, to enter the palace and participate in the palace affairs. Yan.

This is too politically charged!
This is to confer Bao Zheng a god!
In fact, it is the same!

There is no way, Zhao Xu has been a man for three generations, even if he has read books in modern times and knows that the world is physical.

But the fact that he has been a human being for three lifetimes is too terrifying.

Make him have to be in awe of something.

In modern times, Bao Zheng is a mythical figure.

The name of Bao Gong is synonymous with the word "Qingtian".

Even in modern times, there are still people who are wronged and will go to Bao Gong Temple to cry. Its incense is prosperous and the concentration of belief is far higher than that of ordinary gods!
Just in case there really are some high-dimensional existences like the Emperor of Heaven, Buddha, or Taoist Patriarch.

And Bao Zheng has really become a god.

Then let me take care of you quietly. No matter how selfless Mr. Bao is, he still has to accept my love, right?
Let’s take into account the relationship between monarch and minister.

If anything happens in the future, can you please help me? Zhao Xu knows in his heart that what he does in the future will cause a bloody storm in this world.

Therefore, this is also a subconscious behavior, roughly similar to the Western practice of buying indulgences in churches when they want to burn, kill, and plunder.

(End of this chapter)