Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 521: Birthday Banquet at Lu Mansion (Special thanks to my book friend LX for his tip!)

Lu Duosun hesitated for a long time, but when he thought about the fact that in four years, after he retired at the age of seventy, his family would have no one to succeed him and he would immediately fall from a high-ranking official in the court to a commoner, he finally made a decision.

Ludoson said:

"Since Brother Zhao has accused me of the righteousness of a saint, I have no choice but to take a gamble regardless of my life!
In the next few days, I will first test the Crown Prince's attitude, and then you and I can decide on the next steps."

The two of them discussed secretly for a long time, and it was not until the evening that Zhao Bai said goodbye and left the house.

A soldier from the Wude Division who had been lurking in Lu's mansion reported the situation to the commander-in-chief and chief eunuch Tang Qi.

Although Tang Qi knew that the two men's whereabouts were secretive, he did not know the content of their secret discussions, so he could only continue to observe.

On the afternoon of April 18th, the 41st year of Kaixi, when Crown Prince Chai Jiyu was reviewing memorials in Yanfu Hall, a eunuch outside the hall came to report that Vice Minister of War Lu Duosun wanted to see him.

Chai Jiyu immediately ordered him to come to the emperor for an audience.

In a moment, Lu Dosun entered the hall led by eunuchs and imperial guards.

After greeting, Chai Jiyu smiled and said:

"Please take a seat.

Teacher Lu, what brings you here today? "

Lu Dosun was knowledgeable and eloquent. Chai Jiyu really enjoyed listening to his lectures on the Four Books.

After Lu Dosun thanked the eunuch and sat down on the stool he brought, he smiled and said:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince works hard on state affairs every day. Over the past few years, he has managed the peace and prosperity of our Great Zhou, and has lived up to Your Majesty's expectations.

But I see that Your Highness works too hard every day and has little time for leisure, and I’m afraid it will be bad for your health in the long run.

The day after tomorrow is my birthday, and I would like to ask His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to condescend to my house for a banquet."

Chai Jiyu didn't take it seriously. He thought that Lu Dosun was his teacher and there was nothing wrong with him inviting him to a banquet on his 66th birthday.

Chai Jiyu said:

"It is Teacher Lu's birthday, and I will go to celebrate. But I am afraid it will take until the evening."

Lu Dosun was overjoyed and said:
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your presence. I am honored to receive your presence!"

After chatting for a while, Lu Dosun left the hall.

Tang Qi, the chief eunuch standing beside Chai Jiyu, said:
“Your Highness, Minister Lu has always had close contacts with Zhongshu Ling Zhao Bai and others. In recent days, Zhao Bai has visited the Lu residence many times.

According to the Wude Division's monitoring over the years, Zhao Bai had a wide circle of friends, and many of his acquaintances had complaints about Your Majesty's policies, such as "officials and nobles who break the law are punished the same as the common people", the abolition of the imperial nepotism and recommendation system, and the retirement of officials at the age of 70.

Ludoson invites His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to a banquet, so be careful of their tricks."

Chai Jiyu said:

"Father Emperor regards the world as a public good and has opened up many avenues for advancement. As long as one has real talent and knowledge and passes the four imperial examinations, one can become an official regardless of one's family background, whether rich or poor. This is why our Great Zhou has a fair selection of talents and a flourishing academic atmosphere.

How can anyone oppose these systems? "

Tang Qidao:
“Your Majesty once said: Human nature is selfish. As long as it is beneficial to oneself, no matter how much harm it causes to others or the country, the beneficiaries will not care.

This requires strict institutional constraints.”

Chai Jiyu nodded and said:

"Manager Tang, I understand.

Let’s wait and see after we go to the Lu Mansion for the banquet.

Will Chief Steward Tang accompany me?" Tang Qi said:
"Your Highness, I must always be in charge of the Wude Division to monitor the subjects for Your Majesty and Your Highness. If I follow Your Highness to the banquet at Lu's residence, I am afraid that even if Lu Duosun has any plans, he will not dare to reveal them.

It’s better not to go.”

Chai Jiyu smiled and said:
"Okay! I want to see what Ludoson is up to!

"Under the rule of my father, the government is clean, the judiciary is fair, and the people are prosperous. Now that our Great Zhou is flourishing, is there really still an opposition force?"

Three days later, on April 21st, after finishing his government affairs, Chai Jiyu put on the crown prince's regular clothes and set out in the evening, escorted by the imperial guards and the personal eunuch chief Qin Han, to the Ludoson Mansion.

Qin Han is a close confidant eunuch who has served Crown Prince Chai Jiyu since he was a child. He is 28 years old this year.

After walking in Bianjing City for about half an hour, they arrived at Lu Mansion in the northeast area of ​​the new outer city.

When Chai Jiyu's procession arrived, Lu Duosun had already led all the people in the mansion to welcome them in front of the mansion gate.

After the greetings, Lu Dosun hurriedly welcomed Chai Jiyu into the mansion, respectfully invited him to take a seat at the first seat in the main hall in the front yard, and the birthday banquet began immediately.

Qin Han ordered several young eunuchs to present the prince's gifts to Lu Dosun, mostly gems, agates and the like.

Chai Jiyu saw that the wine and food in Lu's mansion were served like water, full of exotic delicacies, which were no less than the imperial meals in the palace.

Chai Jiyu said:

"As I walked along, I saw that Mr. Lu's new mansion is much larger than before the expansion of Bianjing. It is much more comfortable to live in."

Ludoson smiled and said:
"Thanks to your majesty's grace, this time the expansion of Bianjing allows the subjects to contribute to the cost of expanding the palace.

Your Highness, my mansion has expanded exactly twice its original size.

If it is the Prime Minister or a cabinet minister, the mansion is usually expanded three times."

Chai Jiyu nodded and said:
"Father is a benevolent and righteous man who loves his people. Over the past few decades, the living standards of officials and civilians in our Great Zhou have greatly improved, and all the people are happy!"

Lu Duosun said yes repeatedly, thinking that he would retire in four years, and none of his descendants would pass the imperial examination. He was afraid that this huge and luxurious Lu Mansion would be sold sooner or later because his descendants could not make ends meet and could not financially support it. He could not help but feel regretful.

After several rounds of drinking, Lu Dosun said:

"Your Highness, I have been looking for some famous paintings through people all over the country over the years. I am honored that Your Highness has visited my humble home today. I would like to present this to Your Highness."

Chai Jiyu began his education at the age of three, with famous scholars of the time teaching him knowledge in four subjects: literature, martial arts, engineering, and commerce.

He also studied poetry and books hard, inheriting the family tradition of his father, the "Emperor of Ci". However, the few poems he wrote were mediocre. Instead, he had a talent for painting.

When Chai Jiyu heard this, he was very happy and said:

"Teacher, your vision must be extraordinary. Bring it to me for viewing."

Ludoson smiled and said:
"Your Highness, please follow me to the study in the backyard. These paintings are rare treasures and their preservation is in jeopardy."

Chai Jiyu immediately stood up and walked to the backyard with Lu Dosun, accompanied by several eunuchs and imperial guards.

When they arrived at the study in the backyard, they found it was very small, so Chai Jiyu ordered the imperial guards to guard outside the door, and he entered the study with Qin Han and six other eunuchs.

After Lu Dosun asked Chai Jiyu to sit down, he personally took out a package from the study, took out more than ten paintings from it, and presented them to Chai Jiyu for his viewing.

When Chai Jiyu took a look, he saw "A Thousand Rocks and Valleys" by Wang Wei of the Tang Dynasty, "Luoyang Tower Picture" by Li Zhaodao of the Tang Dynasty, and "Making a Zither" by Gu Kaizhi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

After careful observation, Chai Jiyu discovered that they were all authentic, and he was overjoyed.

Ludoson observed his expression and said with a smile:
"Your Highness the Crown Prince works hard for the country every day. I offer these famous paintings to you in the hope that they can relieve your fatigue and please your eyes and mind."

(End of this chapter)