I studied in modern times

Chapter 8

Zhao Xu put down the pen in his hand and rubbed his wrist, feeling a little sore.

Compared with the Sutra of Dispelling Misfortunes, the Sutra of Prolonging Life has more than a thousand words.

And he is too small and has little strength, so he can only write for a while and rest for a while.

However, he finally finished transcribing this volume of "Prolonging Life Sutra".

Seeing Zhao Xu put down his pen, Feng Jing, who had been standing beside him, immediately handed over a cup of honey water that had been brewed according to Zhao Xu's instructions.

Zhao Xu took a sip and moistened his throat.

In the new century, Zhao Xu was already obsessed with health preservation.

When I was in my twenties, I soaked wolfberry in the thermos every day. Even when I went to the archaeological site, I would bring a box of throat lozenges with me.

Now, returning to his youth, Zhao Xu also brought back the habit of keeping in good health.

If Bianjing was not in the north, there would be no lemons, so Zhao Xu wanted to ask Feng Jing to find some lemons to make water with.

After drinking the honey water, Zhao Xu looked at the sun outside and asked, "What time is it?"

"Your Highness, what time is it?" Feng Jing turned his head and looked at the corner outside the screen of the inner bedroom, where there was a device placed on the four-step ladder, and a female officer stood beside it.

Hearing this, the female official quickly squatted down, looked at the copper pot in front of her, and then replied: "Reporting to Your Highness, it is now the second quarter and half of Shen time!"

Feng Jing bent over and repeated to Zhao Xu: "Your Highness, it's two quarters and a half of Shen Shi..."

Zhao Xu's eyes were dazed on the device for a moment, and then he remembered, what is that device?

It is a leaky engraving, the clocks and watches of the Tang and Song Dynasties, which are driven by water power, and are used to know the specific time at any time through the scale inside the copper pot on the bottom layer.

It can be regarded as the pioneer of mechanical clocks. The one placed in Zhao Xu's bedroom should be the latest model. It was developed by Ouyang Fa, the son of Ouyang Xiu, in the fifth year of Yuanfeng.

The missing engraving of this model has already subdivided the scale, dividing each hour into four quarters, and each hour also has the function of calling the time.

However, this missing engraving is far from the pinnacle of contemporary technology.

In Zhao Xu's previous life, when Su Song promoted the Taishi Bureau, he organized and mobilized several departments including the Taishi Bureau and the Metropolitan Water Supervision. Hundreds of skilled craftsmen built a gigantic monster that can be called a spectacle in the imperial city.

Yuanyou water horoscope, later known as the armillary horoscope.

The instrument not only realizes the function of automatic timekeeping, but also is accurate to the quarter. At the same time, it also has the functions of astronomical demonstration and observation.

In the new century, Zhao Xu also saw a replica of the armillary horoscope made by Su Song in the museum.

According to the explanation in the museum: This is the earliest and most advanced mechanical clock in the world, hundreds of years ahead of the West.

At that time, Zhao Xu was quite proud after listening to the introduction, but when he went back and thought about it, he felt rather sad.

Because of the armillary sphere, after Jingkang, it was roughly dismantled by Jin Bing, and it has since become a swan song.

Since then, for hundreds of years, no one has studied it, and no one has advanced it.

Even the manufacturing technology has been completely lost, and imitation has become a luxury.

Blame it?

Blame Zhao Ji?
Blame Wan Yanhou?

Blame gold soldiers?
It seems that it can be blamed, and it seems that it can't be blamed.

After returning from the museum, Zhao Xu tossed and turned on the hotel bed, thinking about it all night, and finally he figured out who should be to blame.

Blame him!

Live too little, die too early.

As long as he can live two more years and die to the queen, will it be Zhao Ji's turn to be in that position?It's not my turn!

Can Zhao Ji be the emperor?

Can't!Not that capable!
Zhang Dun knew it all - King Duan was frivolous and could not rule the world.

Can Queen Xiang not know?

knew!
But among Zhao Xu's brothers, besides Zhao Ji, the one who is qualified to take over the imperial line is Zhao Xu's younger brother Zhao Si.

As for the relationship between Zhao Xu and Empress Xiang during his lifetime, it can't be said that mother and son are in harmony, but they can only be said to be strangers.

Therefore, out of consideration of her own status, Queen Xiang will never be Zhao Xu's brother again!

If Zhao Si is not established, Zhao Ji is the only option.

Even if you pinch your nose, you have to stand up.

"In this life, I want to strive to live to an old age, to be on par with the future Qianlong!"

"Early to bed and early to rise, get enough rest!"

"As long as I live, I can change everything!" Zhao Xu murmured softly.

Seeing Zhao Xu lost his mind, Feng Jing could only raise his voice and report to Zhao Xu respectfully: "Your Highness, it is now a quarter and a half of Shen Shi!"

Zhao Xu came back to his senses and nodded.I calculated it in my mind, it was about 4:15, and in less than an hour, Bianjing in early spring would usher in nightfall, and the palace gates would also be locked.

Then he told Feng Jing: "Feng Jing, help me tidy up the "Prolonging Life Sutra" carefully, and I will go for a walk outside the palace!"

Then he led people out of the inner bedroom and came to the garden in front of Qingning Palace.

Qingning Palace is said to be a palace, but in fact it is not big, there are only a few palaces in total, two courtyards at the front and back, many ministers live in Tokyo City, and the residences are bigger and better than the Qingning Palace where Zhao Xu lives.

This is for a reason.

The Qingning Palace was brought into the palace from the Pu Mansion by the Yingmiao. It was rebuilt from the former official residence of the Imperial City Division under the imperial edict of the Renmiao before he became the prince.

The relationship between Renmiao and Yingmiao is well known, so we can only say: unfamiliar!
As an adoptive father, Renmiao seldom cared about Yingmiao, and even before his death, he never really regarded Yingmiao as his son. He only said, "But the surname is Zhao Sike", implying: If you didn't force me to adopt an adopted son, I actually didn't want to adopt at all!

Even if Yingmiao was received into the palace as the emperor's heir.

In the banquet in the palace, the seat of Yingmiao was also arranged after the Minister of Attendance.

Naturally, don't think that Renmiao will arrange a good place for Yingmiao, and don't even think that someone will clean up and repair it.

It is said that the prince's position back then was simply cleaned up, the plaque of the Imperial City Division was removed, and the plaque of the prince's position was replaced.

Many temples are simply covered with spider webs, and even the pillars are eaten away by termites.

As an adopted son, Yingmiao's character is also resolute, highlighting a clear distinction between grievances and resentments.

After he ascended the throne, he even refused to attend the funeral of Ren Temple under the pretense of illness.

Later, Pu Yi was set off, directly challenging the etiquette, and the enraged Mercy once wanted to dethrone the Yingmiao.

In the end, it was Han Qi who came out to make peace, and because of Zhao Xu's father, Cisheng and Yingmiao made a superficial reconciliation.

Naturally, it was impossible for Yingmiao to repair, rebuild, or expand the throne of the prince when Yingmiao was in power.

He just wished that he could keep everything here so that his descendants could know the humiliation he had suffered once when they saw Qingning Palace.

To be able to issue an edict to change the name to 'Qingning Palace' in accordance with the usual practice is already a great respect for the royal tradition.

The real change here was last year, when Zhao Xu's father felt that his body was getting worse, he ordered people to rebuild Qingning Palace.

This is how the current Qingning Palace looks.

However, the layout and scale of Qingning Palace still maintains the appearance of the prince's position back then.

Walking in the garden of Qingning Palace, Zhao Xu stepped on the warm sun of early spring and smelled the revival of everything in the palace.

Zhao Xu's thoughts began to fly.

He thought that he had already forgotten his life in Qingning Palace.

But now, Zhao Xu knows that he has not forgotten!

Those childhood days in Qingning Palace were just covered in dust.

Now, walking in this garden again, everything is so familiar.

He used to play here, and he used to laugh here.

Every plant, every tree, every tree and every pavilion here, he has an impression, and he can even think of some fleeting glimpses, and remember some childhood joys.

The days of living here were the last happy time of his youth in his last life.

"That's right... it's here!" Zhao Xu walked into a small gazebo, reached out and stroked the carved patterns on the stone tables and stone seats in the gazebo, and recalled in his mind that his father sat on the stone seat opposite him, and took him to meet a child prodigy who came to Beijing to participate in the boy test.

Zhao Xu had already forgotten what that person's name was.

However, Zhao Xu remembered that the man was about the same age as him.

However, he can already read "Book of Songs", "Shangshu", "Book of Rites", "Book of Changes", "Mencius" and "Analects" accurately.

Father was very happy because of this, he specially brought that same age person to Qingning Palace, and asked him to perform reciting "Mencius" and "Analects" in front of Zhao Xu.

"Sixth Brother, how are you compared to him?" His father's voice seemed to be still in his ears, and Zhao Xu lowered his head.

At that time, he had only just mastered "The Analects of Confucius".

How can it compare with that child prodigy?I am ashamed of myself.

It's a pity that the child prodigy has not heard from him since he left Beijing.

In his previous life, Zhao Xu had waited for him in Bianjing for 17 years.

But I haven't seen him in the palace examination or Taixue.

Very likely, it is another example of hurting Zhongyong.

Zhao Xu thought about it, then shook his head with a wry smile.

He knew that his carefree childhood was over.

It was like this in my previous life.

The same is true in this life!
The difference is that in his previous life, before he walked out of the Qingning Palace, he was still a child with innocence, a puppet who could be manipulated at will, a harmless puppet for humans and animals.

And in this life, under the immature and innocent face of a child, he hides a soul who has sat in the world for 16 years and is still studying abroad for nearly ten years in the new century more than 900 years later.

He knew it, and he couldn't dwell on the past any longer.

So, he stood up and ended his recollection of the past with a line of poetry.

"Looking back on the past is a nightmare, and the hometown is full of sunshine!" He whispered the poems of later generations, led the people, walked out of the pavilion, walked straight through the path of the garden, and walked to the palace wall of Qingning Palace.

That is, the gate of the palace.

The Yulongzhi who were on duty at the door, wearing heart armor, saw Zhao Xu's thin figure, and immediately bowed down and called His Highness.

Zhao Xu looked at them.

These tall and strong soldiers are reflected in the black and white pupils.

Zhao Xu knew in his heart that these Yulongzhi, who were stationed outside the Qingning Palace and transferred by Yan Da, were his trump card and his reliance.

In this world, everyone could betray and betray Zhao Xu.

Only these imperial dragons can't!
why?
Because, these Yulong Zhis personally selected by Yan Da were tied to Zhao Xu from the moment they came to Qingning Palace to guard Zhao Xu.

If something bad happens to Zhao Xu.

Even if these people and their families, wives and children survived, they would be exiled to Guangnan, Lingnan, and even assassinated on Salmonella Island, and they would not be able to return even if they were pardoned.

And as long as Zhao Xu's position is secure, the identity of these people's Yulongzhi will not be shaken. In the words of the new century, they have obtained the establishment, and it is the establishment of the emperor's personal guards!

This is a golden rice bowl that can be passed down from father to son, and from generation to generation!

It's enough for these fighters to put their heads on their belts and throw their heads and blood for Zhao Xu.

And these people have followed Yanda and traveled thousands of miles.

From Xihe Road, Qinfeng Road, Huanqing Road, Linyan Road to Jiaozhi, he has made great contributions and killed countless enemies!
The people in front of the hall, those flowery stands, are vulnerable in front of them!
Their existence is enough to ensure that even the marriage officials, personal servants, and other classes in front of the palace in the imperial city are all turned against each other.

These Yulong Straights are enough to protect Zhao Xu, break out of the siege, go to Jiangning to find Wang Anshi, or go to Luoyang to find Wen Yanbo, Fu Bi, and Sima Guang.

So, Zhao Xu just glanced at them, looked at them curiously like a normal child, then turned and walked back.

There is no need to speak, and there is no need to talk too much.

Zhao Xu only needs to appear in front of these people intentionally or unintentionally every once in a while.

Let them see what the people they are loyal to look like, and make sure they are not mistaken.

that's enough!
The rest is left for someone to do.

Not long after returning to the dorm, Grandma Guo came back from Zhao Xu's mother Concubine Zhu De.

She brought back news of Defei Pavilion.

"Sister said: The princess is a little sick, thanks to the order of the middle official, I ordered a doctor to prepare for the imperial doctor, I am very grateful, I have already written a thank you form, and I respectfully present it to the middle palace..."

Zhao Xu was not surprised by this.

His mother and concubine have such a temperament.

In the previous life, even if Zhao Xu had already held great power.

But in front of Empress Xiang, she was still low-key, cautious, and respectful. She never thought of using her son's position to fight for that position.

It's normal now.

Maybe, his mother and concubine will be overjoyed because of the kindness to the queen!

……

Kunning Hall.

Holding the thank you form from the Defei Pavilion in the Queen's hand.

"Concubine Zhu De is an honest person!" After reading the thank you form, she nodded to the queen with satisfaction.

Although the words used in this thank you form are not gorgeous.

But to be honest, the posture is very low.

Between the text, it is vaguely compared to the folk concubine's room, and the queen is called the queen.

Looking at the queen, she was very happy.

"The concubine De is very grateful for the sage's favor, and she specially told the ministers: Once the princess recovers, she will bring the princess to the saint to thank him!" Yan Shouqin, who had just returned from the concubine's pavilion, lowered his head and said.

"That's unnecessary!" Put down the thank you form to the queen: "You go to Concubine Xiao Yude: Now that the official's family is sick, and the younger sister is in the pavilion, it is already meritorious to raise and teach the princess and the prince. When the official's family recovers, I will ask for credit for the younger sister!"

But she no longer calls her surname, only Concubine De.

Obviously, the attitude towards the queen has undergone subtle changes.

"Yes!" Yan Shouqin bowed with a smile.

……

Note: The child prodigy was called Zhu Tianxi. According to the long story of Zizhi Tongjian, in April of the seventh year of Yuanfeng, Shenzong brought Zhezong to the Hall of Ruisi, summoned and interviewed the child prodigy, and ordered him to recite the scriptures, "the whole text is more than a hundred." Shenzong then asked Zhezong, referring to Zhu Tianci, "Can you recite books like that?" ’ Therefore, Zhu Tianxi was given a background in the Five Classics and fifty thousand money, and told him to study hard and not to waste it.

It's a pity that I have searched all over the history books, and I have never seen the name of this child prodigy again. He may have died young, or he may have hurt Zhong Yong like Fang Zhongyong.

Here, for the needs of the plot, some processing has been carried out, and the location of the summoning has been changed to Qingning Palace.

Note 2: In the court of the Northern Song Dynasty, the prince called his biological mother "sister" in colloquial language. This may come from the rule of the early Northern Song Dynasty when the princess was promoted after marriage.Confucian etiquette and ethics are not advocated, but the court seems to have retained this rule. When Zhezong died, his mother hugged him and cried, saying that his sister gave birth to a baby in his belly.

PS: I don’t know much about posting easter eggs. I have to ask my servants for advice. I learned how to post the location of Qingning Palace and the missing pictures.

(End of this chapter)