I studied in modern times

Chapter 896 The Curse of the Chai Family

After leaving Baoci Palace, Zhao Xu came to the residence of the Imperial Concubine Zhu, which has now been renamed "Yusheng Temple".

Compared with the past, the area where Zhu lived has expanded several times.

The number of eunuchs, female officials, and palace maids serving him also increased several times.

This is because of the change in identity and status.

At the same time, it is also because she really needs so many people to take care of her.

Not to mention anything else, now Zhu is raising Zhao Xu's one elder sister, two younger sisters, and Zhao Xu's younger brother Zhao Si, who has been conferred the title of Prince of Puning.

When Zhao Xu arrived, Zhu was chatting with Concubine Lin who came to visit from next door.

Speaking of which, Zhao Xu couldn't figure it out.

How did Zhu make so many friends in this treacherous palace? And how did she become their best friend?
It would be fine if it was the former Concubine Chen.

After all, her background is similar to Zhu's, so they can have common topics.

But this beautiful lady Lin is different!

She is the daughter of a scholar-official family!

In terms of background, she is not much lower than Empress Dowager Xiang!

His grandfather Lin Te was a famous financial expert in the Song Dynasty. He served as the Three-Commissioner for a long time and presided over many tax reforms during the Zhenmiao period.

The famous stick shooting method was invented by Lint.

It just has a bad reputation.

Well, public opinion lists them as the 'Five Ghosts'.

He was nailed to the pillar of shame along with Ding Wei and Wang Qinruo.

This is also the reason why she entered the palace.

The Zhao officials have always remembered the loyal ministers who have done the dirty and tiring work for them.

Look, the Lin family’s status is on the decline. For many years, they haven’t had a single Jinshi candidate.

Emperor Zhao in the palace immediately became anxious.

An imperial decree was issued, and a young girl was selected from the Lin family to enter the palace.

And the grace is endless!
Only ten years after entering the palace, Concubine Lin had given birth to two sons and two daughters for Zhao Xu's father.

Among them, the youngest child is Zhao Xu’s youngest brother, Zhao Si, who is ranked fourteenth.

And Zhu had a good relationship with her.

Zhao Xu also found out about this in his previous life. It was because when Concubine Lin entered the palace, she was very young. Zhu felt sorry for her and often took care of her.

As a result, the two women with completely different backgrounds, who were supposed to be fighting each other to the death in the harem, actually became sisters!

This made Zhao Xu feel deeply moved and envious in his previous life.

Because his harem was filled with women scheming and competing with each other.

The fight between Empress Meng of Yuanyou and Empress Liu of Yuanfu was known to the world.

The key point is that none of the other concubines are worry-free either.

It can be said that each of them is a master of palace fighting.

The struggle between them even has some flavor of the modern female university students forming seven groups in a dormitory with four people.

What harem harmony? What sisters?
It doesn't exist! Everyone is thinking about how to get to the top and how to bring others down.

In contrast, his father's harem was quite harmonious.

There is even a bug like Zhu who can become close friends with a lot of people!

Zhao Xu's arrival made Lin a little flustered, and she quickly said goodbye.

After all, Zhao Xu is now grown up, so he has to avoid suspicion in order to avoid being in trouble.

"Why did the emperor come to my sister's place?" After seeing off Concubine Lin, Zhu asked Zhao Xu curiously.

Zhao Xu waved his hand, dismissed the maids and female officials, and then stepped forward to talk to Zhu: "I heard from mother that sister seems to want to choose a prince consort for Sanniang?"

"That's true!" Zhu nodded, "Sanniang is not young anymore, I think it's time to get married soon!"

"Otherwise, that good family will be robbed!"

Zhao Xu nodded, Zhu's idea was not wrong.

No matter what era, high-quality unmarried male resources are always scarce.

Especially the high-quality unmarried men at the top level.

For example, Wang Di, the grandson of Wang Anshi who is now in Bianjing City, is almost turned into Tang Monk's meat because he has not married.

Those who have daughters or granddaughters in their families all stare at her eagerly.

His eyes were green, and he seemed to want to swallow Wang Di up.

no way!
Nowadays, the sons of powerful families may be divided up by people in their father’s and grandfather’s circle even before they are still in their infancy.

There is no way it will leak out, giving people a chance to pick up a bargain.

Wang Di was able to escape because Wang Anshi was a person with open-minded ideas and was not restricted by rules and regulations.

In addition, his son Wang Pang's marriage was very unfortunate, and Wang Anshi ended up marrying his daughter-in-law in tears.

With this lesson in mind, Wang Anshi hoped that his grandson would be able to meet a confidant and beloved wife, just like him.

Therefore, Wang Anshi has always politely declined marriage requests from all parties.

"So whose man do you like, sister?" Zhao Xu asked calmly.

"I heard that the previous fiancée of the youngest son of Han Zhongxian unfortunately died young..." Zhu carefully looked at Zhao Xu's expression and said softly, "I thought that this should be a good match..."

She feels very inferior about this matter.

She came from such a humble background.

The other party is the first-class prime minister family in the Song Dynasty!

His father, Duke Zhongxian of Han, was a meritorious official who deserved to be enshrined in the Taimiao!

So, when she heard that Han Qi's youngest son had entered the free marriage market, she immediately went to the Empress Dowager Xiang to ask for help - she did not dare to ask Zhao Xu.

Because she was afraid of being scolded by Zhao Xu.

This may sound absurd - a mother is afraid of being scolded by her son.

But that was Zhu's character. She had been specially trained since she was a child to be a tool to please and serve others.

She was just lucky enough to be chosen into the palace, and then because of her good looks, she received the emperor's favor.

However, the ideological imprint left on her by her native environment will never be changed in her lifetime.

Therefore, she is inferior, cowardly, and cautious...

At the same time, he is vain, loves money, and likes all shiny things.

With such a personality, she will naturally look up to and respect all those who are higher in status than her.

Including his son Zhao Xu!

This also includes, in her eyes, her mistress, Empress Dowager Xiang and the Grand Empress Dowager.

Zhao Xu was already accustomed to Zhu's weakness and cowardice, so he didn't say much.

He just said to her, "Sister, I have my own ideas about Sanniang's marriage. I will definitely choose a good prince consort for Sanniang, Wuniang, and Ba Niang in the future!"

"Oh..." Zhu said softly, "Then I will listen to the official..."

Zhao Xu looked at her expression and knew that she was actually very reluctant.

In desperation, he had to explain: "Sister, there are rules for the marriage of princesses from the royal family!"

"Besides, I am still young and need help from both inside and outside. Sanniang is my biological sister, so you should respect me as a military official and show me your heart to share wealth and honor with the military officials of the world!"

Zhao Xu said this without any psychological burden.

Because the princesses of the Zhao family were born with the destiny of marrying the sons of the yamen of military officials/noble families, in order to consolidate the alliance between Emperor Taizu and the military officials and nobles in sharing wealth and honor.

Of course, the emperor could be willful a few times.

For example, Ren Miao married his beloved daughter Princess Fukang to his cousin Li Wei.

For example, Zhao Xu's father, in order to prevent his sister from getting into trouble, personally presided over the selection of a son-in-law, but after much deliberation, he finally chose someone like Zhang Dunli.

In Zhao Xu's previous life, Zhu sought help from everyone in the palace in order to marry Sanniang to the Han family, and finally she got the help of Empress Dowager Xiang.

However, the result was that Sanniang lived in pain all her life!
If we also take into account the half-tragic, half-comic marriage of Taizong's beloved daughter Princess Wanshou - Zhen Miao doted on his sister so much that he personally chose a Jinshi prince consort for her.

And he is a handsome man with good looks - Li Zunxu.

However, not long after the marriage, the prince consort was discovered having an affair with Princess Wanshou's wet nurse in a side room.

Moreover, according to legend, after the marriage, the prince consort refused to consummate the marriage with the princess...

As for the reason...

[The princess looks like Taizong! ]

Simply put, it's dark and fat...

Fortunately, this marriage ended happily.

Because Princess Wanshou licked and tolerated her husband tirelessly.

Finally, the prince consort was moved. According to legend, the couple lived in harmony and respected each other from then on.

But what is the truth?
It is no longer possible to verify.

Anyway, most of the marriages of the daughters of the Zhao officials were unhappy.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "What a sin!"

Because he remembered a legend widely circulated among the people: Why did the Zhao officials always have no offspring? Why did they not live long? And why were the princesses always unfortunate?

The answer is - the curse of the Chai family!

Those who bully orphans and widows will surely be bullied by orphans and widows.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu felt a sense of empathy.

He thought: "Should we find the two boys from the Chai family, let them recognize their ancestors, and treat them as state guests?"

After the Chenqiao Rebellion, Emperor Taizu accepted the abdication of the Later Zhou Dynasty.

Except for the young emperor Chai Zongxun who was confirmed dead, the remaining two younger sons were [missing].

People have always believed that they were killed by the Zhao family.

Actually not.

As emperor Zhao Xu was very clear that Chai Xirang was adopted as Pan Mei's son, that is, Pan Weiji.

Chai Xihai was adopted by Lu Yan and became Lu Yan's sixth son, Lu Xuan.

Taizu and Taizong both knew about this matter.

Moreover, every generation of Zhao emperor understood this in their hearts.

Since the Ren Temple, the Zhao officials have often thought about letting the descendants of these two brothers return to their ancestral home.

But they all gave up for various reasons.

But, I can never get over this thorn in my heart.

So they found a substitute - they selected a person from Chai Rong's side branch and named him Duke Chongyi.

It can be a meal replacement, but how can it compare to a regular meal?
Although Zhao Xu studied abroad in modern times and received modern scientific education.

but……

Things like three lifetimes as a human being made it impossible for him not to be superstitious!

Considering what is recorded in modern history books.

The fate of the Zhao family in the Northern and Southern Song dynasties...

Zhao Xu felt that he should still believe it.

What if?
Right!

Anyway, now, one hundred and fifty years have passed since the demise of the Later Zhou Dynasty.

The Chai family no longer posed a threat.

Find them back, let them recognize their ancestors, and by the way, whitewash the old Zhao family——

Let the world see the courage and breadth of mind of the Zhao officials!
Look!
Ever since Liu Yu destroyed the Jin Dynasty, every time a new dynasty came and went, the entire family was killed, leaving no one alive!
Only I, Song Rende, left bloodline for the Chai family.

Now they are asked to return to their ancestral home and enjoy the ceremony of the Two Kings and Three Kes!
In the field of publicity, this will be a sure win!

Perhaps in the future, it can effectively reduce the intensity of resistance from countries such as the Western Xia and the Liao Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)