I studied in modern times

Chapter 571 Birthday Banquet (3)

After the royal family's first wife, she is naturally the first wife of relatives and nobles.

Zhao Xu knew even fewer of these people.

However, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager Xiang were very familiar with each other, and they would introduce him to him from time to time - this one was Lord So-and-so of the Cao family, and that one was Mrs. So-and-so of the Yang family.

Basically, these married women have a unified characteristic - their surname is Zhao!
There is no need to doubt that they are all from the King Pu family.

In terms of blood relationship, she is Zhao Xu's cousin.

This was a trend that started after Yingmiao ascended the throne. Before she could become a princess, she would marry a princess from Prince Pu's family.

In short, the connection with Tianjia cannot be broken.

Therefore, Zhao Xu actually does not need to remember these people.

Because he might only be able to see them two or three times throughout the year.

"Madams, please excuse me." She said with a smile, "Madams, it really makes me happy to come to congratulate me on my birthday in person."

"That one..." Behind Wang, a woman who looked to be in her twenties appeared.

Logically speaking, a woman with no official destiny should not appear here.

The Empress Dowager looked at Wen for a while through the curtain, and then praised her: "You are so virtuous and gentle, no wonder even Sixth Brother praised her in front of me and the Empress Dowager!"

It is common for scholar-bureaucrats to remarry after losing their wives.

She can be considered a lucky person.

"Come here, help all the ladies to the seats quickly." The Empress Dowager immediately ordered.

Zhao Xu sat in the curtain and looked towards the hall.

They were all carrying crutches. When they came to the hall, they all bowed their heads and saluted: "I and my concubines congratulate the Empress Dowager on a long life, and wish the Queen Mother good health for thousands of years."

So, Mrs. Wang, who was just about to take her granddaughter to sit down, quickly stood up and said, "I am here."

Yan was born in the seventh year of Dazhong Xiangfu, and is now seventy-two years old.

Sixth Brother named Bao Xiaosu's son Bao Shou's wife in the palace - she is Wen Yanbo's granddaughter.

Judging from its seal and uniform, there is no imperial decree.

Mrs. Wen also hurried out and bowed again: "My wife, Mrs. Wen, I would like to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and Your Majesty the Emperor."

Therefore, this is the second wife.

To be honest, if it wasn't for Fu Bi's treatment, there was really no need for her to come to Bianjing.

Zhao Xu looked over and found that Wen Yanbo's wife seemed very young, no more than fifty years old!

At this time, Empress Dowager Xiang took Zhao Xu's hand and quietly introduced him to the old women in the palace.

Live well, marry well, and live long.

Seeing this scene, the Empress Dowager was naturally very happy, and quickly got up with Empress Dowager Xiang, Zhao Xu and other concubines, noble concubines and virtuous concubines inside the curtain.

Queen Mother Xiang chose to speak out at this time: "Mrs. Chen Guo."

In the Song Dynasty, there were very few wives of scholar-bureaucrats with whom they could spend their entire lives.

Under the ancestral system of the Song Dynasty, the chief ministers were above the princes.

The wives of the senators' families naturally had the same status among married women as their husbands.

So, there is only one possibility.

All he saw was an old woman trembling slightly.

"That one is Duke Fu Wenzhong's first wife, Mrs. Zhou Guotai."

But the courtesy he received was above these people.

This is true even for Su Shi who wrote "Ten Years of Life and Death".

Zhao Xu followed the Queen Mother's gaze and saw an old woman wearing Zhai robes and holding several sticks. She had gray hair but looked kind-hearted.

Everyone's eyes also gathered here.

"This one is Wang, Mrs. Chen Guo, wife of Taishi Wen."

There are very few people like Sima Guang and Wang Anshi.

I remember it today, but by the time Zhao Xu’s birthday comes in December, I’m afraid I’ll have long forgotten it.

Sixth Brother named the person who was specially appointed to the palace, so naturally everyone should know about it.

Finally, the wives of relatives and nobles had finished paying their respects, and it was the turn of the wives of the generals.

Xiang Queen Mother smiled and asked, "Is the lady beside you the bride of Duke Bao Xiaosu?"

Therefore, although these old women are ranked behind the clan, relatives, and wives of noble families, they are congratulated.

Mrs. Wang quickly bowed and said, "Reporting to your Majesty, this is indeed the case."

Therefore, Zhao Xu didn't pay much attention to the Queen Mother's introduction and just followed the story.

The first to be promoted to the palace were the wives of senior ministers led by Fu Bi's widow, Mrs. Yan of the State of Zhou.

Immediately the ladies began to whisper among themselves.

It was also the first time that Mrs. Wen faced such a situation. She was a little flattered and said quickly: "I don't dare, my wife."

At this time, Zhao Xu came out to speak: "Madam, please get up."

"I have heard people talk about Madam's virtuous nature."

"I've even heard of the virtues of Lord Yongjia."

"The ancients said: A house that accumulates good deeds will always be happy! Now it seems that this is indeed the case."

This is the first time Zhao Xu has spoken tonight, and it is also the first time he has spoken publicly in front of the ladies of the court.

Suddenly, the whole place fell silent.

At this moment, Queen Mother Xiang asked in a timely manner: "Where did Sixth Brother say this?"

"Mother, Queen..." Zhao Xu looked at the two palaces and said, "Maybe you don't know yet."

"In the past year, Duke Bao Xiaosu passed away unfortunately, and his youngest son Shou was only five years old. Renzu (in the palace, the emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty would crown his ancestors with a certain ancestor, such as Renzu, Shenzu) took pity on him and granted him the title of Taichang Temple. Thank you so much for the rewards.”

"However, the youngest son is weak and has no growth in the family... Fortunately, my eldest sister-in-law, Lord Yongjia, tried her best to support, raise and educate him..."

Suddenly, the whole hall was boiling.

For those who don't care about the Bao family, this is a legendary story.

Because in today's Song Dynasty, it is common for widows to remarry.

Observe the festival?

Sorry, although there is a trend pushing it.

However, mainstream public opinion still encourages remarriage.

The reason is very simple - keeping taboos is a matter for carnivores, and no one has required women to do this since ancient times.

If anyone wants a woman to observe chastity.

Not to mention that the literati would not agree, even Emperor Zhao would not agree!
Female household?!
I need to have fewer children!

Therefore, in the Song Dynasty, single household, female household and son-in-law were treated the same.

They are all the targets of crazy exploitation by the government.

Every time a tax is raised, it will be imposed on these people first!
Want to lie down? no way!

Han Jiang's reform of the Young Crops Law and the Exemption from Service Law was to target these people and monks, to put pressure on them and increase taxes like crazy.

Just force these people to make a choice.

It is precisely because of this that Cui took the initiative to choose not to remarry, but to stay, raise her young brother-in-law, raise him up, and educate him. Mrs. Cui's image became fuller in an instant.

The Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Xiang even praised her repeatedly: "There is such a virtuous woman."

"The court should praise you."

Everyone else was also thoughtful.

Because the current political situation is somewhat special.

The young master is coming to court, and this young master has already gained widespread support.

As a result, both inside and outside the government were very sensitive to orphans and orphans.

On Si Lusi's side, he even shouted the slogan that an orphan who was entrusted with the task should not die of hunger and cold.

There is no way, if such a thing happens now, it will be a huge political matter.

Anyone from top to bottom may be sucked into the vortex as long as they brush against it.

Because the young master of the current dynasty is likely to be suspicious in his heart - he is an orphan, and I am also an orphan. If you can do this to him, will you do the same to me?

The power of God is impermanent, but no one dares to use their household registration book to bet on whether the emperor will turn a blind eye to such a thing?

At the very least, officials from the Department of Records, Department of Inspection, and School Treasury would not dare to do so.

Therefore, today's Kaifeng Prefecture's Department of Records, Inspection and Review has become the most honest and efficient unit in Bianjing City.

Under the strict supervision of Yang Wenyuan, and the crows at the Yushitai who were almost crazy about progress, they checked every now and then.

The Department of Records and Records inspects the school library, and it is not said that it can be done 100% now, and the entrusted orphans can be checked in a timely manner.

At the very least, send someone to review the living and learning conditions of the orphans every month.

This incident has further strengthened and strengthened the government and the public's perception of Zhao Xu's "very sensitive to orphans" personality.

Now, Zhao Xu tells the inside story of the Bao family.

Naturally, a storm immediately erupted.

"I see..." Both palaces were thinking in their hearts.

The Queen Mother then asked her surroundings: "Where is Yongjia County Lord? I want to commend him personally."

"I should personally offer my condolences!" Queen Mother Xiang also said with emotion.

Someone immediately went to invite the Lord Yongjia who was still waiting outside the palace.

Zhao Xu smiled and continued: "Mother-in-law, Queen Mother, and the virtuous women of the Bao Xiaosu family are not the only Yongjia County Lord."

"Oh!"

"The lady who is in the palace now is not inferior to Yongjia County." The two palaces looked at Wen, and Wen hurriedly bowed: "I dare not praise your majesty, but I am just following the teachings of my ancestors and taking care of my husband at home. Just a godson."

Zhao Xu turned around and glanced at Wen Xunniang.

Under certain circumstances, the Wen family currently in the palace is very similar to Wen Xunniang.

They are all concubines, they are Wen Yanbo's granddaughters, and they are all humble women who grow silently like weeds.

But they also have very strong personalities.

Seeing Zhao Xu's expression, Wen Xunniang quickly lowered her head.

In fact, she has never seen the 'cousin' who is now in the palace.

Before she was born, the other party was already married.

Before today, she didn't even know that she had such a 'sister'.

This is the fate of a concubine girl from a big family.

You can only survive desperately and do everything you can to protect yourself.

I pray that I can grow up and marry a good husband.

reason?

It's very simple - today's society in the Song Dynasty is a society where after the father dies, the sons divide their property into separate households, and at the same time protect women's property inheritance rights.

When a woman gets married, she has to pay a dowry.

Moreover, the amount of dowry is stipulated - basically, it should generally reach about 70% of the property that the sons will receive when the family is divided in the future.

The law also stipulates the inheritance share of a virgin's property.

Therefore, in many families, the children of concubines live a very miserable life.

The direct lineage will suppress them crazily and do everything possible to persecute and humiliate them.

It's best to force him to death - in this way, there will be one less person to share the family property in the future.

In some places, infant drowning is a common practice for this reason.

The scholar-officials also gave away their pregnant concubines for this reason - all the concubine's children had the right to inherit.

However, it is obvious that the Wen family in the palace is very different from the Wen Xunniang beside Zhao Xu.

Judging from Zhao Xu's observation, Wen Xunniang actually hated her father in her heart. The evidence is that she never mentioned her father in front of Zhao Xu. When asked about her family, she always asked: How is your grandfather? how……

Zhao Xu smiled and continued: "The mother-in-law and the queen mother may not know yet."

"The lady in the palace is Bao Shou's second wife. When she married, Bao Shou's original wife left behind four young children..."

"But Madam treats everyone as her own child, treats everyone equally, and raises her with care. She is a virtuous person!"

As soon as these words came out, the whole hall was filled with exclamations.

Because those who came today are all married women, that is, the head wives of the clan, relatives, nobles, and ministers.

What are these people most afraid of?
What if I were unfortunate enough and the children I left behind were bullied?
For them, of course they want a successor like Wen.

Even the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Xiang looked at Mr. Wen with eyes filled with admiration.

"Good!" The Empress Dowager praised and asked, "Mr. Wen..."

"My wife is here..."

"Is there any order?"

"I am telling you that my wife's moral character is shallow and she has done nothing for the court..."

"You are a virtuous person and should be commended by imperial decree!" The Empress Dowager made the final decision.

He also said to the Queen Mother: "What the Queen Mother said is true."

For the ruling class, how to deceive people has always been the core issue of rule.

In the eyes of the two palaces, the Wen family and the Yongjia County monarch Cui family were typical role models.

By promoting and praising them, it sends a political message to others, mainly members of the ruling group, that you should follow suit.

Mrs. Wen was flattered and quickly knelt down to thank her.

Zhao Xu looked at it and pursed his lips slightly.

Although, in fact, he knew very well that Wen's marriage to Bao Shou was actually a political maneuver by Wen Yanbo - Wen's marriage to Bao Shou was in the early years of Yuanfeng, when Wu Chong was prime minister, and the old party was counterattacking against the new party.

Bao Shou, Bao Zheng's youngest son, became a chess piece that could be used.

Otherwise, why was Bao Shou's first wife not a girl from the Wen family, but the daughter of a local official?

However, such a big bag and ribbon were left there.

Why was Wen Yanbo willing to marry his granddaughter to him?

Back then, Bao Zheng had quite a few friends and confidants in the court.

Fu Bi and Zhang Fangping were both friends with Bao Zheng.

Why don't they marry their granddaughter?
No?

Still reluctant to give such a large dowry to the youngest son of the Bao family who seems unlikely to rise again?

If it's more serious, you can even question them - have they ever cared about the son of their old friend Bao Zheng?
Therefore, in fact, Wen Yanbo, an old fox, is still very humane.

At least among the old foxes, he is considered a very loyal person.

Apart from other things, Queen Wen Cheng and Zhang have been dead for so many years.

So far, the Zhang family is receiving financial assistance from Wen Yanbo.

It was precisely because of these things that Zhao Xu was willing to play games with Wen Yanbo.

He even pushed it to a level that didn't belong to him.

Because Zhao Xu knew that Wen Yanbo had various problems.

He likes to rely on his old age to show off his skills, loves to show off, and is full of schemes and tricks.

But Wen Yanbo's political character is relatively strong.

At this time, Liang Weijian had already brought Mr. Cui of Yongjia County to the palace.

"I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and His Majesty the Emperor."

Cui is nearly fifty years old this year, but she looks as if she is sixty.

She was slightly hunched over, and she was wearing an older Mingfu uniform, and the accessories on her crown were even more sparse.

As soon as the two palaces saw Cui's dress and appearance, they believed Zhao Xu's words.

Immediately he said: "No courtesy!"

"Come here, give Yongjia County Lord a seat!" the Queen Mother ordered.

Liang Weijian was about to go and do it immediately, but was stopped by Empress Dowager Xiang: "Please invite Lord Yongjia and Mrs. Wen to sit in front of the palace."

"In addition, order someone to immediately make a token for Lord Yongjia and Mrs. Wen to enter the palace!"

The Queen Mother nodded: "Go and do it!"

For her, Cui and Wen may be the best gifts she received tonight.

These are two auspicious human figures.

why?
After the official ascended the throne last year, there was a local secretary, and he frantically started reporting to the court - we have a filial son here!
He set several examples of filial piety.

At the same time, he also tried his best to recommend prodigies to the court--someone here, who was only in his teens, could already write poetry and read the meaning of scriptures.

This trend slowly ended until the intelligence of officials spread throughout the world. At a young age, he read through the Spring and Autumn Annals and Shangshu, and then began to participate in political affairs.

The emperor is so awesome.

There is no need to set an example anymore.

Because the emperor in the court is a typical example.

For the two palaces, it is a widowed sister-in-law who raises and educates orphans to grow up safely, and a virtuous wife.

The same is true.

Especially today, at the birthday banquet of the Queen Mother, two living models appeared.

This shows what?
It shows that the two palaces, especially the Queen Mother, are virtuous!
Otherwise, why didn't it come out earlier or later, but why did it come out now?
……

After Choi and Moon's episode.

The normal congratulatory process continues.

An hour later, at midnight (nine o'clock) in the evening, the congratulatory process of the married women finally came to an end.

Houyuan Dayan is also the beginning.

When Zhao Xu waited, everyone had almost eaten.

He stood up and bowed to the Grand Empress Dowager, saying, "Today is the Grand Mother's Holy Day, and it is also the 519th day that the Grand Mother and the Queen Mother have blessed and supported me (Zhao Xu ascended the throne on the fifth day of the third month of the eighth year of Yuanfeng, and today is the twenty-third day of the seventh month. There is a leap second month in the first year of Yuanyou). I am grateful for the love and support of the Grand Mother and the Queen Mother, so I ordered Shen Kuo, who was in charge of the military equipment manufacturing bureau, to carefully make a spinning wheel, named: the Grand Mother's Wheel, to present to the Grand Mother, to show my filial piety, and to thank the Grand Mother for her kindness in the event of an emergency."

"Sun Chen begged the great mother to see the 'great mother's car', and gave this thing to the wife who came to congratulate her today, so that everyone in the world will know that the great mother is the most virtuous and kind mother in history!"

"At the same time, I also asked the ladies of my life to pass this Mother's car to all directions, so that everyone in the world will know. Sun Chen's filial piety towards the Mother will also be known to all directions. I, the Mother, are kind and kind to the Mother, and this is true for eternity. The first mother-in-law.”

After studying abroad for ten years in modern times, Zhao Xu has perfected the art of speaking.

In particular, he studied Yongzheng's way of speaking seriously, so when he woke up in Qingning Palace, he had completely thrown off the emperor's airs.

Although he was not the same as Yongzheng, he expressed his disgusting expression in his instructions to the ministers: My love for you is really beyond words...

You are the auspiciousness of the country and my right-hand man.

I love you so much that I don’t know how to praise you.

But in his comments to the ministers, he always cares about their health and greets their families.

On their birthdays, the prime ministers and waiting officials, as well as the military ministers from Yaojun and above in the three yamen, were given gifts and even imperial pens to encourage them.

Anyway, good words don’t cost money, and rewards and other things don’t actually cost much, right?
It was the first time for the Empress Dowager to face Zhao Xu's disgusting offensive.

He was immediately defeated. He cried with joy and stood up to help Zhao Xu: "Good boy! My good grandson!"

"It is truly the Buddha's blessing that I have been given such a filial grandson."

(End of this chapter)