I studied in modern times

Chapter 795: Arrangements for Princess Shoukang
In the evening, the Tongjiansi delivered Wang Zishao's letter.

After reading it, Zhao Xu started laughing.

“People say: An old horse in the stable is still ambitious, and a martyr in his old age is still full of ambition!”

"My scholars and officials really all have this awareness!"

It’s right if you think about it carefully.

The older people get, the more they crave power.

Just like Han Wei who is now in Daming Prefecture, isn't he busy showing his loyalty to Zhao Xu every day?
A letter of greeting from Daming Prefecture would be sent every half a month.

His words were full of flattery and fawning, which made Zhao Xu blush.

And what Victor Han wanted, wasn't it just a cool umbrella?
Therefore, whether it was Zhang Wen, the stubborn retrograde, or Cui Taifu, the old minister who had been exiled for more than two years.

Wang Zishao’s reports all describe a common characteristic among them – the desire to make a difference!

In particular, Cui Taifu, after talking with Wang Zishao, expressed his willingness to fully implement all instructions from the court in the study of law.

This is good!
Zhao Xu put down the note, stood up, and told Feng Jing: "Feng Jing, get ready, I want to go and greet the two palaces!"

At this time, there were signs of wind and rain outside the hall.

It looks like it's going to rain soon.

God is so fickle!
Before the Xinchou day (20) of April, there had been no rain in the Gyeonggi region for more than fifty days.

However, since the rain fell on the Xinchou day, it has rained three times in just a few days.

If it rains again tonight, it will be the fourth game.

Not only did it rain in Kaifeng Prefecture, but it also rained heavily in the Luo River Basin upstream.

The abundant rainfall greatly increased the carrying capacity of the Bian River.

The Bian River became prosperous again, as if the previous drought had never happened.

There were grain ships entering the capital city day and night from the Bian River, Cao River, Wuzhang River, etc.

The workers in the stacking yard are busy from morning to night.

Sometimes, I have to work overtime all night.

Everything seems to be getting better!

It seems that it is really as the civil officials said, because of Zhang Dunli.

However, Zhao Xu knew that the end of the drought was just the beginning.

Starting from the eighth year of Yuanfeng, the global climate is gradually being affected by a new round of Little Ice Age.

The warm period and stable climate that began with the founding of the Song Dynasty will come to an end.

More than ten years later, the freezing of Taihu Lake and the Grand Canal will herald the arrival of true chaos.

The Heng Era of good weather and good harvests has ended!
A chaotic era full of disasters is about to begin.

The rise of the Jurchens and Mongols that he saw in modern history books.

It was brought about by this round of chaotic era.

Thinking about these things, Zhao Xu couldn't help but murmured in a low voice: "Time waits for no one, time waits for no one!"

He must find a way out before then.

Otherwise...implosion is inevitable!
While thinking about this, Yan Yuan had already led Yulong out of the palace.

Accompanied by his loyal imperial guards, Zhao Xu followed the corridors of the imperial city, first to the Baoci Palace, where he met up with Empress Dowager Xiang, and then returned to the Qingshou Palace.

The Empress Dowager in the Qingshou Palace has been in a very low mood these past few days and looks a little depressed.

no way!
She was really a little worried.

He was worried about the future of the Gao family and also about the future of his beloved son Zhao Hao.

However, Zhao Xu had been giving her reassurances - for example, yesterday, Zhao Xu used the excuse that "the Empress Dowager had worked hard for the country and made great contributions to the country" to issue an edict to posthumously confer the title of King of Chen on Gao Zunfu, the biological father of the Empress Dowager, King of Zhou.

Although this kind of posthumous title does not cost a penny and is purely a formality.

However, the Empress Dowager's spirit and mood improved a lot because of this.

When Zhao Xu arrived, she had regained her usual demeanor, though looking a little tired.

However, she politely declined Zhao Xu's invitation to "go to the main hall".

It’s not that she doesn’t want to come back.

I really can’t come back!

Zhang Dunli had just died, and his parents and brothers had just been sent out of Bianliang.

Although monk Xiu Zai and others involved in the case have been sentenced to beheading, according to the law, the beheading must wait until the autumn.

She didn't have to wait until all these people were executed before she could return to government.

But at the very least, we have to wait until everything is calm and the public has forgotten about the Zhang Dunli case.

In this way, it will take at least until after the Dragon Boat Festival before the Empress Dowager can appear behind the scenes again.

During this period of time, the two palaces will be behind the curtain, and the Baoci Palace will be behind the curtain instead.

This will inevitably lead to a transfer of power.

Perhaps, when she reappears in Chongzheng Hall, everything will have changed.

Because Empress Dowager Xiang is, either passively or actively, beginning to assume and accept greater power.

The ministers also tacitly began to frequently ask for instructions from Baoci Palace.

After leaving Qingshou Palace, Zhao Xu accompanied Empress Dowager Xiang and walked along the corridor back to Baoci Palace. At this time, a drizzle had begun to fall from the sky.

The oil lamps hanging under the corridor illuminate the path inside the corridor.

When they arrived in front of the Funing Palace, Empress Dowager Xiang suddenly said to Zhao Xu, "Sixth brother, the female official in Princess Shoukang's residence reported today that the princess cries every day and refuses to eat, as if she wants to die with him..."

Zhao Xu listened and shook his head in his heart.

He studied abroad in modern times for ten years, so it is natural that his worldview and values ​​were influenced by modern ideas.

Especially the social class he belongs to is generally more progressive.

Although, most people only say politically correct things.

In private, we still play the way we should.

However, Zhao Xu still felt somewhat dissatisfied with the virtues of women in the Song Dynasty.

Who is that Zhang Dunli?
Why should a princess be asked to die for her?
If this really happened, the royal family would lose all face!
What will people say?

But Princess Shoukang really wanted to die, and no one could stop her.

Zhao Xu had no choice but to say: "I will send someone to invite the princess to the palace in a few days to persuade her..."

It can only be this way.

if not?
Empress Dowager Xiang shook her head and said, "I'm afraid not!"

"The princess has been crying these past few days..."

"Sixth brother must think of a way to appease the princess as soon as possible."

Zhao Xu thought for a moment and said, "Then...order the Grand Master to stop looking for an adoptive father for the princess's son?"

Princess Shoukang's wish to die was simply a sign of her death in her heart.

The reasons for her heartbreak included her husband's suicide and the exile of her aunt and uncle's entire family.

The biggest reason is probably that his only son was also taken away by the Great Zong Zheng.

As long as her beloved son is sent back and she has someone to rely on and rely on, Princess Shoukang will most likely not seek death again, right?
Empress Dowager Xiang shook her head and said, "No!"

"Zhang Dunli cursed his father, how can he make offerings to him?"

That's true!

However, if this happens, Princess Shoukang will have no one to rely on and will still seek death.

Empress Dowager Xiang looked at Zhao Xu and said softly, "Sixth Brother..."

"It has been more than two years since the Grand Princess of Yue State unfortunately passed away..."

"The Zhen'an Army Observer stayed behind because he missed the princess and refused to remarry..."

"if……"

Zhao Xu's eyes lit up as he listened.

Wang Shiyue was supported by Zhao Xu to monitor the foreign relatives and nobles.

He has been alone since the death of the Grand Princess of Yue.

Coincidentally, Princess Shoukang also lost her husband.

At this time, allowing Wang Shiyue to marry the princess again can not only show the emperor's grace, but also further establish Wang Shiyue's status.

At the same time, Princess Shoukang will have someone to rely on in the future.

It also shows that the royal family encourages widows to remarry and have more children!
Yes!

The Song Dynasty and the previous Han and Tang dynasties all had similar birth control policies.

Encourage widows to remarry!

In today's Song Dynasty, if a widow refuses to remarry, she will be restricted and suppressed from all sides.

For example, Han Jiang's adjustment of the labor service law targeted three types of people, exploited them madly, and sucked blood from them to make up for the fiscal deficit caused by tax cuts.

These three types of people are: monks, widows or unmarried women without a father or a husband, and son-in-law.

As for the chastity arch or something like that?

That was something that only appeared after the Ming Dynasty.

In the Song Dynasty, being faithful to one's husband is not something that anyone can do.

Want to keep your chastity?
You have to be qualified!
For example, you have to be a scholar first!

At the very least, one has to be an official who receives salary from Emperor Zhao to be qualified!
and so……

There is no problem with Princess Shoukang remarrying Wang Shiyue.

It was a good idea for her, the court, and Zhao Xu.

The issue is……

Master Wang, is he willing?

When Zhao Xu thought of this, he raised his head and looked at Empress Dowager Xiang.

He said to the Empress Dowager: "The Zhen'an Army Inspector wrote a letter yesterday, asking that the son of the criminal Zhang Ni be sent to his care for discipline!"

Zhao Xu understands!

He nodded and said, "It's up to the Queen Mother to decide on this matter!"

(End of this chapter)