I studied in modern times

Chapter 1021 Decent
Zhao Xu personally went out to greet them and arrived at the Funing Palace.

Then, one could see the imperial procession of the two palaces ascending the steps from the East Upper Gate.

He quickly stepped forward to greet him.

"Grand Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, what brings you to Funing Palace today?" After bowing, Zhao Xu looked at the Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Xiang, who were smiling and seemed as close as mother and daughter.

"Today, the Empress Dowager and I made some pastries. Thinking that Sixth Brother likes them, we sent some over..." Empress Dowager Xiang said calmly.

Wen Xunniang, standing to the side, carrying a food box, gave Zhao Xu a graceful bow.

"Thank you, Mother! Thank you, Grand Mother!" Zhao Xu said happily, "I was a little hungry too!"

He took the food box, opened it, and saw that it contained all sorts of exquisite little snacks.

These are all foods that Zhao Xu likes to eat.

Zhao Xu picked up a small rice cake, put it in his mouth, and took a gentle bite. The aroma lingered on his lips and teeth.

When the Empress Dowager saw him, her eyes softened with tenderness, and she smiled lovingly: "Sixth Brother, eat slowly, no rush..."

"Understood! Mother..." After finishing the rice cake in his mouth, Zhao Xu closed the food box and said to the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager, "Mother, Grand Mother, let's go into the palace to talk first!"

"Very well!" Empress Dowager Xiang said with a smile.

"Yes!" The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement.

……

Half an hour later, in the inner chamber of Funing Palace.

The Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Xiang were already seated, while Zhao Xu sat between the two palaces, slowly eating snacks and drinking honey-infused beverages.
At this moment, the Attendant of the Palace Gate, who was on duty that day, came to report that the Chief Minister had once again submitted a petition requesting an audience.

Clearly, they were getting impatient.

At this moment, the Empress Dowager seized the opportunity to ask, "Why do the officials request an audience?"

Tong Guan subconsciously looked at Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu chuckled and said, "Grandmother, it's nothing important!"

"They are just a small group of lawless criminals who incited the scholars who failed the imperial examination this year to cause trouble. I have already ordered the Kaifeng Prefecture to cooperate with the Censorate to deal with them!"

At this point, Zhao Xu raised an eyebrow: "I imagine a report will be submitted soon!"

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiang exclaimed in surprise, "This matter involves scholars; Sixth Brother, you must handle it carefully!"

"Don't worry, Mother!" Zhao Xu chuckled. "Nothing will happen!"

Empress Dowager Xiang said with deep concern, "Scholars are the foundation of the nation. Sixth Brother should be more cautious and lenient... Show kindness when appropriate, and show compassion when necessary..."

"It has always been this way since our ancestors..."

As the daughter of a scholar-official family, Empress Dowager Xiang naturally empathized with scholars.

At the same time, she naturally feared the scholar-official class, so she dared not take anything related to the scholar-official class lightly.

She knew all too well who was keeping the Song Dynasty afloat!
Scholars and officials!
Without the full support and cooperation of the scholar-officials, the prefectures and counties would not be stable, and local taxes would not be collected.

Zhao Xu hummed in agreement: "I know!"

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, the people of the world will have no objections..."

When Zhao Xu said this, his expression was confident and self-assured.

What does it matter if we beat a few hundred troublesome, unsuccessful candidates with sticks?
In his previous life, he had directly expelled the vast majority of the old faction ministers from the court and demoted them to remote military prefectures.

The leaders of the old party, without exception, all went to Lingnan.

Did this affect him?
No!

Did this dampen the enthusiasm of scholars from all over the country to take the imperial examination next time?
nor!
During his studies abroad in modern times, Zhao Xu read historical books that made him realize that the scholar-official class was actually the petty bourgeoisie of the medieval period.

History has repeatedly proven that the weakness of the petty bourgeoisie is innate.

Therefore, modern nations have begun to precisely target and meticulously cultivate this group.

They didn't resist at all!

At most, I'll just spout a few empty words online.

That's all.

Therefore, Zhao Xu was full of confidence and not worried about any problems at all.

Seeing Zhao Xu's confident demeanor, Empress Dowager Xiang didn't say much, only remarking, "It's good that Sixth Brother knows what he's doing..."

She knew that once a child made up his mind to do something, there was no stopping him.

So she doesn't interfere in many things.

It was only this time, because it involved scholars, that she had no choice but to pay attention and inquire.

Now, seeing Zhao Xu's confident demeanor, they felt relieved.

The Empress Dowager, standing to the side, was getting a little anxious.

"Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, this matter involves scholars; we should be more cautious..."

"Since the officials have all submitted petitions requesting an audience, Your Majesty might as well summon them here..."

"Your Majesty and I will also listen..." Zhao Xu chuckled, and Empress Dowager Xiang laughed along.

"Your Majesty..." Empress Dowager Xiang looked at her aunt and reached out to grasp Zhao Xu's hand: "Sixth Brother has grown up!"

Empress Dowager Xiang said solemnly, "Moreover, Sixth Brother is the Emperor!"

"The emperor should have majesty!"

"Otherwise, people will look down on or even despise Sixth Brother!"

"Is this a plan for long-term stability?"

"I hope Your Majesty will consider this carefully!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's face immediately fell.

She looked at the mother and son holding hands, their faces beaming with smiles.

I subconsciously recalled the family banquet in the seventh year of the Xining era.

The late emperor and Empress Dowager Cixi were as close as Empress Dowager Xiang and the emperor are now.

She felt like an outsider, forced to sit on the sidelines, unable to even get a word in edgewise.

What pained her most was the scene where Zhao Hao, who was present at the time, was frightened to tears by the late emperor's angry roar when he was advising him.

"I want to ruin the world? Why don't you do it yourself!"

"How could it be!"

"How could it be so..."

What about her?

She could only look helplessly at the late emperor, and just as she was about to speak, Cisheng Guangxian's voice cut her off.

"Your Majesty...we are all one family, there's no need for such formality..."

"Prince Qi, quickly apologize to the Emperor!"

The aging empress took the late emperor's hand and sat down.

The late emperor nodded, taking this opportunity to speak, but still looked coldly at Zhao Hao.

More than ten years later, she became the Grand Empress Dowager, replacing the Empress Dowager Cisheng Guangxian, and the emperor became her grandson.

but……

Why is it that the emperor is still not close to her, but instead closer to Empress Dowager Xiang?

why?
What did I do wrong?

The Empress Dowager moved her lips, but swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She forced a smile: "The Empress Dowager is right!"

"It was my oversight!"

"Your Majesty has grown strong!" she said, looking at the emperor.

The thin, immature child I saw in Qingning Palace four years ago has indeed grown up.

Not only is she taller, but she's almost as tall as her and Empress Dowager Xiang.

Its body was quite robust, and fine downy hairs began to grow around its mouth.

Between his eyebrows and eyes, one could vaguely see the shadow of the late emperor.

However, he was more valiant and intelligent than the late emperor.

Thus, the Empress Dowager could only sigh inwardly.

The mother and son are of one heart; what can this old woman possibly do?
She had no one left in the Imperial City Guard, the Inner Palace Attendants' Department, or the Inner Palace Attendants' Department.

As for the outer court?

Now even the Gao family is busy currying favor with the Xiang family, singing praises to the emperor every day.

What influence does this old woman have left?

The Empress Dowager was a respectable person.

She naturally knew that it was important to maintain a proper appearance.

Otherwise, someone would have given her face.

It was at this moment that she heard the Empress Dowager's voice: "Your Majesty is wise!"

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty!" the Emperor said, bowing in return.

"I am old!" The Empress Dowager forced a smile. "I only hope to see the Emperor's wedding day and hold my great-grandson in my arms!"

"It definitely will!" the Emperor said firmly. "Your Majesty, please rest assured!"

"In that case... I have no more worries!"

(End of this chapter)