I studied in modern times

Chapter 855 The Empress Dowager: Why doesn't Feng want to die? !

The Xue family's ancestral home is in Bianyangfang, east of the new city of Bianjing. This square is the second square in the east of the new city and is located on the north bank of the Bian River.

Modern people are pursuing houses with river views, and so were the literati in the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, Bianyangfang is a typical luxury residential area in Bianjing City.

The people who lived here were either rich or noble, making this place one of the few quiet places in the bustling imperial capital of Bianjing.

From morning till night every day, there was an endless stream of soldiers patrolling and inspecting the Bianyangfang area.

Moreover, here, there is a military shop every two hundred steps, and a fire shop every five hundred steps.

In other places, each block may not have only one fire watchtower, but in Bianyang Block there are three fire watchtowers specially used for detecting fires.

There are also hundreds of soldiers with rich experience in firefighting, standing by in these fire watchtowers at all times.

In addition, there are various servants, guests and followers maintained by the owner of this place.

The ruffians in Bianjing City, don’t even think about hanging around in Bianyangfang.

If you get a little closer, countless pairs of eyes will stare at you.

Ordinary people dare not even approach it.

The only people in Bianyangfang who can move freely without any obstruction and do not live here are probably the newsboys who walk through the streets and alleys selling newspapers everywhere in Bianjing City.

As a real wealthy family, they were a rich and powerful family in Bianjing.

The Xue family's ancestral home occupies the first area of ​​the third district, which has the best location and the broadest view in the entire Bianyangfang.

The back door of the mansion faces the Bian River. When you open the door, you can see the endless stream of canal boats moving slowly forward on the wide river surface.

You can also hear the clear and pleasant singing of the fishing girls.

But...

No one knows whether the so-called "fisher girls" on those fishing boats are real "fisher girls" or just baits placed on the Bian River by others?

Anyway, every year there are a few stories of "fisher girls" who, because of their singing or other reasons, become friends with the sons of wealthy families.

Xue Zhanshe was lying in the courtyard behind his house, hugging a coolly dressed singing girl, listening to the singing coming from the Bian River.

He looked at the singer beside him and laughed strangely.

Because, this was the singer he heard singing on the Bian River one day last year, so he immediately sent someone to row a boat over to hire her.

Just the benefits given to the broker cost him a full one hundred strings of cash!

"My lord, you are so annoying!" The singing girl clung to Xue Zhanshe's body, not caring about his sagging skin and graying hair. Under his cool and thin jacket, his youthful skin was exposed in the summer sun.

When Xue Zhanshe saw this, his face suddenly turned cold and he sat up.

"My dear Flower Lady..."

When the girl heard Xue Zhanshe's voice, she suddenly turned cold and was frightened, and she quickly restrained herself.

She looked at Xue Zhanshe and replied weakly, "I am..."

"Hua Niang will be eighteen next month, right?"

The girl immediately got down from the ground, knelt in front of Xue Zhanshe, and begged in the most pitiful and charming voice: "Sir, please have mercy on me, please have mercy on me..."

"Eighteen years old...old..." Xue Zhanshe said slowly.

He chanted the poem softly: "Not having it in the past is better than having it in old age. I'm going to get drunk first tonight, and I need the support of a red sleeve..."

"My concubines have never been over eighteen..."

"Next month, Hua Niang will leave the house and find her own way!"

He is the son of Xue family.

He always lives in the time when he was sixteen or seventeen years old, happy and carefree, under the wings and protection of his brother-in-law and sisters.

No worries, no sorrows, just have fun however you want!
However, time is unforgiving. Even if he himself does not admit it, he is still old.

So he began to understand Bai Juyi and began to imitate Bai Juyi.

I can't be sixteen or seventeen forever, but there will always be someone sixteen or seventeen.

The beggar girl pleaded sadly.

However, Lang's heart was as hard as iron.

Xue Zhanshe put on his clothes and slowly stood up, surrounded by several servants.

He's going to look for some new people.

Alas, my brothers-in-law have all passed away.

He could no longer rely on the power of his brothers-in-law as he did in the past to get free favors or even have people send selected beautiful girls to him.

He has to pay!
After his father passed away, the inheritance he left him had almost been squandered by him.

It’s also thanks to my two sisters who help me from time to time.

Otherwise, his status as one of the four young masters of Bian Jing would have collapsed long ago.

Behind her, Hua Niang was still sobbing.

Xue Zhanshe felt a little soft-hearted when he heard this. He shook his head and sighed, "Fool! Foolish!"

"Two willow branches in a small building, swaying for many years to accompany the drunkard. After they are released tomorrow, there should be no more spring breeze in the world!"

"There should be no spring breeze in the world!"

Perhaps thinking of his idol's old age, Xue Zhanshe called a servant and instructed him: "When Hua Niang leaves the house, give her 200 strings of cash as a dowry and tell her to find a good family to marry into! This will also complete my relationship with Hua Niang!"

"promise!"

The girl behind him cried even more sadly when she heard Xue Zhanshe's voice.

But if you look closely, you will find that the corners of her mouth are almost turning into a pout.

I can only say...none of those who are out there in the world are simple.

……

Xue Zhanshe walked slowly back to the front house, preparing to take a few servants with him and go out of the city to have some fun.

His pockets were already tight, and he could hardly afford the high-end tiles in Bianjing, whose prices were rising continuously.

The prices of many top courtesans in the theaters are rising rapidly.

"It's all Uncle Xinghe's fault!" Xue Zhanshe couldn't help but complain.

Thanks to Xingshu, the prices of top-notch products in all the high-end tile shops in Bianjing are now rising continuously.

For example, Li Shishi started out with five hundred strings of cash a night, not counting the money for the maids around Li Shishi, the musicians in the tile house, and the wine and drinks in the tile house.

If all these were taken into account, it would be more than seven or eight hundred strings of cash, or even a thousand strings of cash a night.

He has no income anymore, so how can he afford such expenses?

Therefore, he had to turn his attention to the counties and towns below the prefectural boundary.

But before Xue Zhanshe could take any action, his old doorman came to him in a panic: "Sir, it's not good... it's not good..."

"There are a lot of soldiers outside..."

"An imperial censor has brought an official letter issued by the capital, requiring you to go to the Dali Temple immediately for questioning..."

Xue Zhanshe listened, dumbfounded: What's going on? !

Soldiers and horses?

Censor?

You want me to go to the Dali Temple for questioning?

Moreover, the other party was holding an official certificate issued by the capital?
What did I do?!

Could it be possible that even someone like me, who does not participate in government affairs at all and does not discuss state affairs, could encounter disaster?

Xue Zhanshe was completely confused!
However, as a yamen official, Xue Zhanshe knew the seriousness of the matter represented by the visit of the censor with the official license of the capital.

So, he quickly instructed a trusted servant to row through the back door to Xinzheng to ask his sister, Lady Renshou, for help, while he hurriedly took his family out to meet her.

He is the son of a former ruling ruler.

My brother-in-law is an important official of the country like Ouyang Xiu and Wang Gongchen!
As long as you don't take part in treason or rebellion, even if you make a hole in the sky, the royal family will still treat you with dignity.

However... when Xue Zhanshe opened the door and saw the censor appearing in front of him, he was shocked!

Shu Tan Shu Xindao!
He was one of the main culprits in the Wudai Poetry Case. Together with Li Ding and Li Ziyi, he invented the Yangsui technique of investigating cases, copying them word for word, and examining them.

Why did Xue Zhanshe know Shu Tan?
Because when Su Shi was imprisoned, he was entrusted by others to work hard for him and had dealt with Shu Tan and others.

only……

When was Shu Tan reinstated?
Didn't he offend Wang Gui, Li Qingchen and others, and was convicted, demoted, and exiled to his hometown?

Oh……

Wang Gui?!
Xue Zhanshe suddenly came to his senses, as if he remembered something.

Legend has it that the Empress Dowager of Qingshou Palace "deeply hated" Wang Gui, the former prime minister.

So, what he loves, he despises, and what he hates, he uses!
A large number of ministers who had opposed Wang Gui in the past were promoted to higher positions.

Therefore, it was normal for Shu Tan to be reinstated.

only……

Shu Tan was a man who had served as Chief Censor.

Let him check himself?

Xue Zhanshe felt his legs going a little weak.

He stepped forward tremblingly and bowed: "Commoner Xue Zhanshe, I greet Shu Yushi!"

"Hmm!" Shu Tan snorted and handed him an official certificate issued by the capital: "Commoner Xue Zhanshe!"

"I have received an official letter from the Fengdu Hall, asking you to go to the Dali Temple for questioning!"

Then Shu Tan waved his hand and said, "Come here, everyone, inside and outside the Xue Mansion, all the people, all the houses, study rooms, writings, seals, and letters, all come under my protection!"

Xue Zhanshe collapsed to the ground after being hit.

We are back...all back!
The tactics used in the Wutai Poetry Case are back!

Yang Sui investigates the case, excerpts and reviews!
Su Shi was almost driven to despair by this set of tactics and wanted to commit suicide several times!

Because no one can withstand such an investigation.

Xue Zhanshe could already imagine that his family's collection of books, writings, copybooks, and letters to friends would be checked word by word by the crow in front of him, holding Yang Sui.

When I come across sensitive words, I will copy them out.

If there is any word or two involving the Son of Heaven, the previous emperor or the saints, the context will be carefully examined.

If you show any disrespect, you will be accused of slandering the emperor and father, making irresponsible comments on state affairs, defaming the saints, and blaspheming the former emperor...

No matter which one is confirmed, it is a capital crime!

Shu Tan looked at Xue Zhanshe's appearance and laughed. He knew that Xue Zhanshe's courage could not stand being frightened.

It would be terrible if he was scared to death!

So he stepped forward and helped Xue Zhanshe up: "Don't panic!"

"The emperor today is kind and merciful..."

"I will never wrongly accuse any loyal minister..."

Xue Zhanshe became even more frightened.

Don’t wrongly accuse any loyal minister?
Does that mean no traitor will be let off?
How could I deserve such treatment?
He lowered his head with a look of despair.

Although he was confident that his letters could withstand scrutiny.

But what can we do? If someone wants to harm him, they can edit his letter and report it to the palace...

Fortunately, at this time, Xue Zhanshe's old gatekeeper said to him in time: "Sir, please be at ease!"

"The emperor of today is benevolent and holy. He has publicly sworn not to punish people for their words..."

Only then did Xue Zhanshe think of this fatal matter and let out a long sigh.

……

In the evening, after Zhao Xu and Empress Dowager Xiang had dinner, the mother and son went to the Qingshou Palace to pay their respects to the Grand Empress Dowager as usual.

The Empress Dowager asked, "Your Majesty, I heard that the Dali Temple summoned Xue Zhanshe, the son of the former Regent Xue Jiansu, today?"

"Reporting to the Grandmother, there is such a thing..." Zhao Xu replied: "Someone accused Xue Zhanshe of instructing the officials in the prefecture to beat and kill the kind-hearted Li Sanyong from Chenliu County..."

"Is it the case that the government sent people to Chenliu County overnight to take over some time ago?" asked the Empress Dowager.

"Ok!"

"Lord Jian Su was a loyal minister to King Injo..." The Empress Dowager said leisurely, "The officials should be cautious!"

"Sun Chen knows!" Zhao Xu said, "I will never wrongly accuse him! And I will never treat him with disrespect!"

"Today, the Dali Temple only briefly interrogated him and then let him go..."

"Oh..." After hearing this, the Empress Dowager no longer cared about this matter.

She turned her head to look at Empress Dowager Xiang and asked, "Empress Dowager, I heard someone say that the Empress Dowager has recently sent someone to Yaohua Palace?"

"Reporting to the Queen, it is true!" Queen Mother Xiang bowed and said, "Master Xizhen Ningji is the wife of Prince Yang and the sister-in-law of the new bride...Now, although Master Xizhen Ningji is devoted to Taoism and has become a monk to practice Taoism, the royal family still has to maintain the dignity..."

"Therefore, the bride sent someone to give the master some daily necessities..."

“……”The Empress Dowager looked at Empress Dowager Xiang with an ugly expression.

The Empress Dowager hated Feng very much!

Because she knew that Feng might harm her beloved son, Prince Yang.

In the second year of Yuanfeng, the palace where her beloved son Zhao Hao lived caught fire. Zhao Hao came to her and cried, saying that the princess was jealous and had deliberately set the fire to burn him to death.

The Empress Dowager was furious at that time.

He wanted to depose Feng and sentence her to death.

Unexpectedly, Feng clung to the thigh of Cixi Guangxian, who was still alive at that time.

Cisheng Guangxian intervened directly and got to the bottom of the case.

The arsonists were none other than Zhao Hao's two favorite concubines - they were playing with Zhao Hao in the palace and accidentally set fire to the palace.

Because he was afraid of punishment from the court, he pushed the blame onto Feng.

Although the truth was revealed, the Empress Dowager's disgust towards Feng deepened.

The reason is simple - Feng is Zhao Hao's wife, and the husband is the leader of the wife.

Her husband wanted her to suffer, but she refused to do so. Instead, she ran to Ci Sheng Guangxian to complain and cry out for justice!
This forced her beloved son Zhao Hao to bear the stigma of being "frivolous" and "arsonist".

You must know that in the Song Dynasty, it is a serious crime for a prince to set fire to the palace!

Taizong's eldest son, Prince of Wei Zhao Yuanzuo, was supposed to be the crown prince, but because he set fire to the palace, he was considered insane and was demoted to a commoner.

The youngest son, Zhao Yuanyan, was also demoted to Prince Duan and moved out of the palace for setting fire in the palace.

With these two precedents, how could the Empress Dowager be willing to let her beloved son bear the crime of "arson in the palace"?

However, the one in charge of the palace at that time was Cisi Guangxian, and she was just a daughter-in-law and a junior.

The late emperor issued numerous edicts to comfort Feng and bestowed upon her many treasures.

This made the Empress Dowager even more angry.

Because she knew that as long as Feng was alive, the fact that Zhao Hao played with fire with concubines in the Forbidden City and eventually set the palace on fire, and not only did he not admit his mistake afterwards, but he also framed his wife, would always follow Zhao Hao.

How is this possible?

Why didn't you commit suicide immediately out of fear of guilt and take all the blame when your husband questioned you?

You will only lose your life, but you can save your husband's reputation!

Why not?!

This was the reason why in the eighth year of Yuanfeng, right after the death of the previous emperor, the Empress Dowager could not wait to issue an edict ordering Zhao Hao and Feng to divorce!
I thought that once Feng went to Yaohua Palace, people would forget about it as time passed.

Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Xiang sent people to Yaohua Palace to visit and reward Feng.

What does she want to do?
The Empress Dowager had to be alert.

(End of this chapter)