I studied in modern times

Chapter 856 Alone
After leaving the Qingshou Palace, Empress Dowager Xiang's expression became very complicated.

Just now in the Qingshou Palace, she and the Empress Dowager did not continue to argue.

However, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have obviously been in conflict.

Empress Dowager Xiang knew that she would never give in on this matter.

The reason is simple—the Empress Dowager is still dreaming of preserving the reputation of Prince Yang Hao!

This was something that the Empress Dowager Xiang could not accept and could not compromise on.

Whether for herself or for her sixth brother.

She will fight resolutely and never compromise!

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Xiang sighed in her heart, and thought leisurely: "Auntie... Actually, if you had just let it go... or even just pretended that you didn't know that the new wife had sent people to encourage and reward Feng... the new wife wouldn't have argued with you..."

However, the Empress Dowager loved her son so much that she exposed her fantasies about Prince Yang.

This suddenly woke Empress Dowager Xiang up.

In the early spring of the eighth year of Yuanfeng, the fear that had grown in the palace resurfaced and burned uncontrollably in her heart like a wildfire.

It made her feel cold, but also cheered her up!
In the palace, killings have always been done without bloodshed.

Empress Dowager Xiang knew very well what would happen to her and her son if Prince Yang came to power.
only……

Looking at the child beside her, who had grown up gradually and was almost as tall as her shoulders.

Empress Dowager Xiang pursed her lips, feeling a little guilty.

I feel guilty for letting this child, at such a young age, be exposed to the most sinister and cruel side of the palace - the quarrels between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, the killing of fathers and sons, and the murder of brothers.

Sixth brother is still young!

Moreover, Sixth Brother is the future saint and wise ruler in the hearts of countless people!
It carries the hopes of countless people in the Song Dynasty.

Empress Dowager Xiang was very worried that she had set a bad example.

"Sixth Brother..." She called Zhao Xu's nickname carefully: "It's Mother's fault today..."

Zhao Xu raised his head and looked at Empress Dowager Xiang. He blinked his clear eyes that only a child could have and said sincerely, "Your Majesty, there is no need to say more... I know that you are doing this for me..."

When Empress Dowager Xiang heard this, her nose suddenly felt sore.

yes……

This child is very smart!
The moment Empress Dowager Xiang saw him in Qingning Palace, she knew it.

and so……

How could he not understand the sarcastic conversation between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law in the Qingshou Palace today?

As a result, Empress Dowager Xiang felt even more guilty.

She reached out her hand and hugged the child: "It's the Queen Mother's fault..."

A child of Sixth Brother’s age should be at the age where he holds a book, reading happily and carefree.

but……

The fight between the adults dragged the child into it.

Empress Dowager Xiang's maternal instinct was fully awakened.

"Don't worry, Sixth Brother... Mother will definitely protect you and will also protect the foundation left by the late Emperor for you!"

Everyone wants to threaten her child's status!
Not even if she's the empress dowager!
At this moment, Empress Dowager Xiang made up her mind.

Even if it ended up being disgraceful, she would clear all obstacles and eliminate all threats for her children to rule the country!
It really doesn't work...

"I can also do things like the sound of an axe and the shadow of a candle!"

Let yourself bear all the bad reputation!
Of course, Empress Dowager Xiang would not be willing to do anything that was unavoidable until the very last moment.

And what is the final moment?
Empress Dowager Xiang silently set a bottom line in her heart - the moment when Prince Yang walked out of Qinxian's house freely and began to enter the palace frequently.

……

Late at night.

The candlelight in the Qingshou Palace was still on.

The Empress Dowager, holding Li Nu in her arms, leaned against the cushion.

At this moment, she felt somewhat regretful.

"I shouldn't be so distant with the Empress Dowager in front of the Emperor..." she murmured.

After all, they are mother and son.

Although they are not biological children, we have been together day and night and have been taught by each other for more than two years, and we have already formed a bond and feelings.

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager waved to the palace lady Zhao who had been silent beside her.

Zhao immediately stepped forward: "Madam..."

"Tomorrow I will ask the Empress Dowager to come to my palace to talk..."

Zhao bowed and said, "Yes!"

But there was a doubt in my heart.

Hasn't the Queen always complained that the Imperial Concubine Dowager is too ungentlemanly, careless, and not like a concubine?

She remembered that during the Kuncheng Festival last year, the Empress Dowager scolded the Empress Dowager for wearing too brightly. It was said that the Empress Dowager cried after returning home, and it was the Empress Dowager who comforted her.

From then on, the Empress Dowager only came to the Qingshou Palace to pay her respects on the first and fifteenth day of every month. Every time she came, she was very cautious and dared not even breathe.

and so……

Your Majesty, please invite the Empress Dowager over?

She would probably be so scared that her body would tremble?

However, Zhao would not be stupid enough to tell the Empress Dowager about these things.

She had served this lady for decades and knew her temper—she was always arrogant and arbitrary.

This is all caused by the Ying Temple.

The Empress and Yingmiao were childhood sweethearts. When Yingmiao was alive, he always obeyed the Empress's words, whether he was in Prince Pu's residence or later when he ascended the throne as emperor.

Even if I occasionally have some opinions, I will find ways to coax her.

It always makes her happy and comfortable.

Can……

The Ying Temple has been in use for more than 20 years.

Even the late emperor had been idle for more than two years.

Her husband and son have both entered the Taimiao and become gods.

The one in power now is the grandson, and the one in charge of government affairs is the daughter-in-law.

But the Empress is still living in the days when she was the wife of Zhao Zongshi, the commander of the Yuezhou militia.

She lives in a life where her husband and children obey her.

It is no wonder that the late emperor, the eldest son born to the empress, is closer to his nominal grandmother, Cisi Guangxian, and serves her like his own grandson.

The late emperor has never received motherly love from the queen!

The presence of the Empress was even irritating to the late Emperor.

Therefore, he has always been deliberately distancing himself from the Empress, and even been wary of her!

Thinking of this, Zhao couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

Because she could foresee that when the emperor took power in the future, he would treat her like the late emperor...

It's really the Queen's temper...

……

The next day, Zeng Bu wrote a letter to report the interrogation of Xue Zhanshe by the Dali Temple yesterday.

Xue Zhanshe naturally denied that he had participated in or instructed Qin He and others to beat Liang Shan to death.

Not to mention the intention to go against the imperial court and the emperor.

However, the trial of a case is never based on empty oaths and swearings from others.

But look at the evidence!

Therefore, Zeng Bu reported that all the books, calligraphy works, and letters in the Xue Mansion had been confiscated.

People from the Dali Temple and the Censorate are working overtime to review the case.

Moreover, several pieces of evidence have been found that Xue Zhanshe was hinting at the court's major policies.

Zhao Xu took a look at the so-called "evidence" reported by Zeng Bu and immediately laughed.

"Zeng Bu is quite good at conducting literary inquisition!"

It's all irrelevant stuff.

It's nothing more than complaining about the Yuanfeng politics in a letter to a friend, or commenting on the Yuanyou politics in a poem or an article.

How big of a deal?
but……

This was indeed the beginning of literary inquisition.

Find the problems first, and they should be those that are neither big nor small and can be explained.

It allows the person to defend himself, and also gives the person’s relatives and friends a chance to jump in and save him.

then……

From small to big, use a point to break the surface and catch them all in one swoop!
It’s a pity that Zhao Xu didn’t want to engage in literary inquisition.

It’s not that he studied abroad in modern times, received modern knowledge, and became enlightened.

How can this be?

The Saudi royal family and the Thai royal family are still modern people!
Does it hinder their autocratic wealth accumulation?

Not to mention the general's kindness, which can never be repaid in one's lifetime.

There was only one reason why Zhao Xu didn't want to engage in literary inquisition.

In modern times, he has seen the consequences and lessons of literary inquisition!
In the university library, he read countless historical materials from the Qing Dynasty and looked at each detailed case in detail.

Especially the literary inquisitions that were perpetrated by Hongli, a complete political creature.

That really brings the terror of autocratic imperial power to its maximum!
It fully demonstrates the saying "If the punishment is unknown, the power will be unpredictable."

As a result, even during the reigns of Jiaqing and Daoguang, the Chinese people still did not dare to discuss state affairs or comment on politics.

As the saying goes: I avoid banquets for fear of hearing about literary inquisitions, and I write books only for the sake of making a living.

Therefore, it is sad that all the horses are silent!

However, at what cost?

The price is the collective decline of the entire national civilization, the complete closure and corruption of the ideological world, and the complete depravity of the ruling class!
If there were no external enemies, doing so might indeed help prolong the life of the dynasty.

but……

The Qing Dynasty soon encountered enemies coming from the sea.

Zhao Xu knew that his Song Dynasty would soon face the two strongest enemies in history.

The Jurchens and... the Mongols who subsequently rose up on the grasslands, swept across the world, and conquered Eurasia!
In this situation, Zhao Xu would do nothing but avoid repeating the mistakes of his previous life - his grave being dug up after death and his body being eaten by wild dogs.

Then he can only take another path.

Pretend to be an enlightened autocratic emperor!
Pretend to tolerate criticism, pretend to enlighten the people and popularize education.

For this reason, let alone Xue Zhanshe’s private comments and complaints.

Even if the bearded man in Dengzhou had another attack and started to attack Zhao Xu, he would tolerate it.

As long as the literati did not plot to overthrow the rule of Emperor Zhao, Zhao Xu would give them the freedom to discuss and comment on state policies to a certain extent.

So, after reading Zeng Bu's memorial, Zhao Xu put it aside.

This is what it means to stay in China.

The meaning of Liuzhong is to hint to Zeng Bu that it’s okay to have fun but don’t take it seriously!
After finishing this task, Zhao Xu turned around and ordered someone to send an order to the various ministries.

The order was very simple - starting from July, the funding of the Investigation Bureau would be increased by 30%, and according to Shi Deyi's request, 300 additional patrol soldiers would be recruited and handed over to Shi Deyi for training.

So, Zhao Xu was a pretending enlightened monarch.

They pretend to be open-minded and tolerant on one hand, but turn around and strengthen the secret service and expand the spy establishment.

no way!
The butt determines the head, after all, he is the emperor!
The emperor was born suspicious and sensitive.

Therefore, kings since ancient times have all been lonely men.

(End of this chapter)