Women Wearing Men: The Growth Path of the Bastards of the Aristocratic Family

Chapter 226
There are three types of court meetings in the Great Xia Dynasty. The first is the daily morning court, which only officials of the fourth rank or above can participate in. Most of them are cabinet ministers and six ministers. There are only twenty or thirty people, and the scale is relatively small.

The second type is the Shuo and Wangchao held on the first and fifteenth day of each month. All officials in Beijing must participate. The scale is very large, and the content of the discussions and regulations are much more grand and formal than those of the early courts.

The third type is the Dachaohui, which is only held on the three days of Zhengdan, Winter Solstice and the emperor's birthday every year. Not only all officials in the capital must participate, but also some local officials who return to Beijing to report on their duties.Because the number of people is the largest, it is basically just a process, and the main government affairs still depend on the early court and the early court.

September [-]th was Gu Yunji's third time participating in the Shuowang Chaohui since he joined the Hanlin Academy. Because of the experience of the previous two times, he is already familiar with it.The location of the court meeting was in Fengtian Hall, and after standing in his place according to the etiquette order, Gu Yunji solemnized his appearance and waited for the start of the court meeting.

What happened to Jia Daoheng just happened a few days ago. Gu Yuanhui said that the ministers would probably take advantage of this court meeting to put pressure on Emperor Jingfeng. Gu Yunji really wanted to see such a scene with his own eyes, but unfortunately his official rank was low and he could only stand on the sidelines. Participating in the court meeting outside the hall, I can't see clearly the situation inside the hall.

In Fengtian Hall, after all the officials had been enlisted, the chief eunuch Ning Fuhai said in a high-pitched voice: "If there is something to do, let's go back to court—"

As soon as the words were finished, a gray-bearded minister stood out from the queue of civil servants and said to Emperor Jingfeng, "Old minister Zhou Minqing, I have a book to play."

Zhou Minqing was the father of the late Emperor Huizong's empress, that is, the father of the cousin of the Empress Dowager Duanyi after Emperor Jingfeng ascended the throne. He had a high prestige in the court, and he was the most rigid and respectful man. representatives.

Zhou Minqing is currently holding the vain position of a grand tutor and has no real power in his hands, so he doesn't usually get involved in court affairs.Whenever he came forward, it was either to resist a certain decision of the emperor in the name of ancestral etiquette, or to take the lead for the officials who followed him in a certain dispute between the monarch and his ministers.

Anyway, for Emperor Jingfeng, as long as Zhou Minqing opened his mouth, nothing good would happen.

However, Zhou Minqing was a veteran of the three dynasties, and in name he was the father of Emperor Jingfeng's cousin, so he had to give him some face at any time.Therefore, even though Emperor Jingfeng had a bad premonition in his heart, there was still a warm smile on his face: "Teacher Zhou, please tell me."

Zhou Minqing said: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness is seven years old, and he has already reached the age when he should be able to read and understand. Please issue an edict to allow the eldest son of the emperor to study in the pavilion, so as to absorb knowledge and cultivate human character."

Emperor Jingfeng's face froze, but he quickly returned to normal, and said calmly: "I have made my own decision about the study of the eldest son of the emperor, and we can discuss it later. If Zhou Taifu has nothing else to do, please return to the train first." .”

"Your Majesty." Zhou Minqing was unmoved, and still maintained the posture just now, "The common people's children start to study, and they are mostly at the age of five or six. His Royal Highness is eight years old after turning the year. It is really impossible to delay. It’s better to have a discussion today and make a charter.”

As he said that, Zhou Minqing bowed his body, his posture looked more respectful, but his tone was stubborn: "Since your majesty said that you have made a decision, please let your majesty tell the ministers to listen, so that the ministers can feel at ease. "

Seeing Zhou Minqing's attitude of not giving up without giving an explanation, Emperor Jingfeng's eyes gradually turned cold, and he didn't speak for a while.

Liu Qingli, Marquis of Xuanyang, is the father of Concubine Liu Gui, and he has always stood firmly on the side of Emperor Jingfeng.Seeing that Emperor Jingfeng seemed displeased at this time, he quickly stood up and said loudly: "What is Zhou Taifu's intention? If His Majesty said that there is a decision, then it is a decision. Why should Zhou Taifu ask the bottom line?"

"Besides, Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, with a tolerant mind and a wise and powerful manner. I wait for the servants to follow orders, so why ask so many questions?"

Speaking of this, Liu Qingli glanced at Zhou Minqing, and said meaningfully: "There are all kinds of affairs in the court. Your Majesty has his own considerations for the Holy Son of Heaven. Some things are inconvenient to talk to me and other secular subjects. Taifu Zhou is so careful, but Trying to guess the holy will in vain, and trespassing?"

Zhou Minqing sneered: "The old man just said a few words, and the Marquis of Xuanyang doesn't need to put such a big hat on the old man. His majesty, the ninety-five-year-old, the inner thoughts are indeed not something we can presume to peek at. But the prince's parenting relationship Jiangshan Sheji, this matter is of great importance, since we live on the royal salary, we should serve wholeheartedly as the top priority. If we just listen and don’t ask, and don’t care about everything, wouldn’t we become moths who eat vegetarian food?”

"On the other hand, the emperor has no selfish affairs, and the affairs of the royal family are also state affairs. The old man is asking about the prince's study, and the court is upright, and it is not a dirty conspiracy. What's the inconvenience?"

Zhou Minqing turned his head and cast a sideways glance at Liu Qingli, and he emphasized his tone: "Besides, even His Majesty didn't say anything, but Xuanyanghou jumped out in a hurry and said that it is inconvenient to say, who is speculating on the holy will and acting arbitrarily!"

Liu Qingli choked with anger: "You!"

"Okay." Emperor Jingfeng suddenly said, interrupting the quarrel between the two, "At the court meeting, the ministers and workers have different opinions, and it is common to argue with each other, so why should we label each other as presumptuous? Talk quickly, just blurt it out, Zhou Taifu don't take it to heart."

Thinking of what happened to Jia Daoheng a few days ago, Emperor Jingfeng felt that it might not be so easy to get away with it today, and seeing Zhou Minqing's firm attitude, he couldn't help but feel relieved, so he took the initiative to give up a step: "About the eldest prince's study, Taifu Zhou's words are reasonable. , It’s really not easy to procrastinate... Let’s see, the weather is getting colder, and it’s not a good time, so why not let the eldest prince go out to study after the beginning of spring next year.”

Zhou Minqing frowned, and before he raised any objections, Liu Qingli behind him showed joy and agreed, "I think this is very good. His Royal Highness the Second Prince will be seven years old in February next year, and he will also be able to read and understand. Going out of the pavilion to study with the elder brother of the emperor will save trouble."

"absurd!"

As soon as the words fell, Cai Zhichuan, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, retorted with an angry face: "His Royal Highness the First Prince is the eldest son of His Majesty, the first heir of the clan. Before leaving the court to study, he must correct the order of names. His Highness the Second Prince is the second son, so he should be ranked after the First Prince." After that, how can I study with my elder brother? This is the real violation of etiquette and transgression!"

Liu Qingli was underwhelmed by his imposing manner, and said with a lack of confidence: "The left and right are His Majesty's princes, but there is a slight difference in age. They are just studying in the pavilion. Is there any need to treat them differently?"

One is the eldest son of the emperor and the other is the second son of the emperor. Although the two are only different in age, their destinies are completely different.The eldest son of the emperor will inherit the throne of the emperor in the future, while the second son of the emperor can only be named prince at most, bowing his head to the elder brother of the emperor and proclaiming himself a minister.

Liu Qingli was originally a mediocre official, but was promoted all the way up by Emperor Jingfeng because of his daughter Liu's favor.In just a few years, the Liu family completed the transformation from low-level officials to relatives of the emperor. Seeing that Emperor Jingfeng favored the second son of the Liu family, their delusional thoughts were gradually drawn out, and they wanted to ask for help. Ask for more.

Liu Qingli was overwhelmed by the desire for power, let the second son of the emperor and the eldest son study together, which violated the etiquette, even Emperor Jingfeng didn't dare to talk about it directly, but he just said it in the court so loudly, Suddenly angered many ministers.

(End of this chapter)