The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 462 The Second Zhao Conspiracy
"Mom, slow down~"

Outside the Taiping Palace, Zhu Xiu helped Wu Youdi walk slowly with crutches.

The wind was clear and bright today, and Empress Dowager Li ordered someone to send a message to Wu Youdi to meet her at the palace.

It happened that Zhu Xiu had to go to the Ministry of Industry to handle business, so he took his mother to the palace first.

Ever since Wu Youdi came to the palace to accept the royal decree, be conferred by Empress Dowager Li personally, and become a fifth-rank official, she has become a frequent visitor to the Taiping Palace.

The two women, who were similar in age, had similar experiences in their early years, and both believed in Buddhism, so they got along very well as soon as they met.

Although Queen Mother Li had already converted to Buddhism and cut off all emotions and desires, she would inevitably feel lonely as time went by.

Zhang Gui is close to him, but he is still a slave after all.

The arrival of Wu Youdi made Empress Dowager Li feel some comfort in this deep palace. The two met as friends and quickly became familiar from strangers, becoming old sisters holding hands and talking to each other.

Since the engagement banquet at the Huaiyang Prince's Mansion, Wu Youdi's health has miraculously improved a lot, and her energy level is getting better day by day.

Feng Qingchan took the initiative to visit Wu Youdi a few days ago and was surprised by the change in Wu Youdi's condition.

After thinking about it, I am afraid it can only be attributed to the happy effect of Zhu Xiu's engagement.

Regardless of whether Zhu Xiu believed it or not, my mother firmly believed it.

"Your marriage has been decided, and the big stone in my mother's heart has fallen to the ground, and her illness has been mostly cured."

Wu Youdi was smiling, leaning on a cane and stooped, like a kind-hearted rich old lady.

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "My mother's health needs to be better. In the next two years, she may have to help her son take care of his baby."

Wu Youdi said happily: "My mother has been praying to the Buddha in the Taiping Palace these days, and this is what she is asking for. Your elder brother's Liangwazi and Daya have grown up, they are lively and have no worries about eating and drinking, and you are taking care of them. Mother has a hundred rest assured.

When you and Huan'er get married and have a baby, the first few years will be called troublesome. Your sister-in-law is sometimes ungrateful, so I don't feel comfortable leaving it to her to take care of the mother. "

Zhu Xiudao: "You can hire a wet nurse."

Wu Youdi glared at him: "How can the person who hired me with money have peace of mind with his own family? No matter what, mother will have to wait for a few more years to wait for your baby to grow up before meeting your father."

Zhu Xiu said helplessly: "If you worship the Buddha sincerely, you will be blessed by the Bodhisattva and live a long life."

Wu Youdi looked around the palaces and palaces and said with emotion: "My mother is just an ordinary peasant woman from Dingyuan County, Haozhou. After surviving most of the hard life, she was able to reunite with her youngest son who had been separated for more than ten years, and suddenly became an official. People, the palace has also been here, and I sat and talked with the empress dowager face to face, this life is really worth it, there is nothing to regret."

Zhu Xiu helped the old lady into the passageway of the Taiping Palace. The light in the narrow doorway was dim, the figures of the mother and the child were slanted, and voices echoed in the quiet doorway.

"Mom, please take care of yourself. The good life of our old Zhu family has just begun."

Not far away, a group of imperial guards from the Inner Palace passed by, and it was Shi Shouxin who was the head of the capital.

"Huh? Who are those two people? Why are they going to the Taiping Palace?" Shi Shouxin asked, pointing in the direction where Zhu Xiu's mother and son disappeared.

A guard cupped his fists and said, "This is Zhu Xiu, the minister of the Ministry of Inspection and Industry, the supervisor of firearms, and the founding lord of Dingyuan County, who entered the palace on the orders of the Queen Mother. The person next to him is Zhu Xiu's mother, the Wu family. He was summoned and often came to the palace to discuss Buddhist matters."

"It's this person again." Shi Shouxin curled his lips jealously, "It's true that one person has achieved the Tao of chickens and dogs and ascended to heaven, and even his wife has been awarded the fifth rank."

One of the imperial guards said with envy: "Master Zhu Hou has a good life. He is valued by officials and princes. He enjoys a high position at a young age and becomes the son-in-law of the Fu family. In my next life, I will be reincarnated and want to be a figure like Master Zhu." .”

"Haha~" All the guards laughed.

Shi Shouxin waved his hand and scolded with a smile: "Why don't you just pray to the Bodhisattva for blessing, and in your next life you will be reborn as a high-ranking official from a well-known family, become a government official as soon as you are born, and enjoy peace and happiness all your life! Go away!~ Stop making so much noise here!"

After a tour and returning to Daqing Gate, Shi Shouxin took off his iron helmet and saber and threw it to his men. He pushed the door open and entered the duty room. Zhao Kuangyin was writing something at his desk with a book in his hand.

Shi Shouxin leaned over, picked up the book and looked through it: ""Jiangnan Intelligence Overview", what is it?"

Zhao Kuangyin said with a smile without raising his head: "This is a summary of the situation in all walks of life in the south of the Yangtze River compiled by Zhu Xiu, the Marquis of Dingyuan, when he came back from Jiangning. The officials ordered the Hanlin Academy to organize manpower recruitment and dispatch to military towns in all states in the world. Those who are above the fifth rank in Beijing Each official has his own share and can learn from the pros and cons of governance in Jiangnan."

After a pause, Zhao Kuangyin laughed at himself: "Originally I was not qualified to read it, but after reading it, my father bluntly said that this book is extremely valuable and ordered me to read it in detail and understand it carefully."

Shi Shouxin asked suspiciously: "Is it really useful?"

Zhao Kuangyin's eyes flashed with admiration: "This book covers the political, military, civil, commercial, and agricultural situations in Jiangnan, details the political gains and losses of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and outlines the customs and sentiments of Jiangnan. By reading this book, you can have a comprehensive understanding of contemporary Jiangnan.

Officials personally said that this book should be used as a reference for the government's governance. "

"Awesome!" Shi Shouxin's eyes widened, "Brother Zhao, please let me take a look after reading it."

Zhao Kuangyin nodded with a smile and continued writing at his desk.

After reading this "An Overview of Intelligence from All walks of life in Jiangnan", many new ideas emerged in his mind about how to manage the army, use troops, and govern the people.

Many of Zhu Xiu's ideas inspired him. Zhao Kuangyin didn't say anything, but he admired him very much in his heart.

"By the way, Brother Zhao, Zhu Xiu has been sending his mother to the palace to meet the Queen Mother every now and then. Have you heard about this?" Shi Shouxin lay down on the hard wooden couch, his back hurting.

"Oh?" Zhao Kuangyin raised his head, "I have been busy training the new army in the outer palace recently, so I haven't paid much attention to the situation in the palace."

Shi Shouxin half-closed his eyes and said lazily: "I heard that Empress Dowager Li and Zhu Xiu's mother were on good terms with each other. She often sent people to invite Zhu Xiu into the palace. The two old ladies drank tea and talked about Buddhist matters. They walked around the palace garden when they had nothing to do. Go shopping and have a leisurely life~"

Zhao Kuangyin's heart skipped a beat and he frowned unconsciously.

Zhu Xiu suddenly got close to Queen Mother Li, which made him feel nervous.

More than two years ago, the scene when the officials entered the palace and handed over the emperor's decree was still vivid in my mind.

The imperial seal passed down from the Shi Jin Dynasty represents the orthodoxy of imperial power and is a symbol of the national artifact.

Zhao Kuangyin clearly remembered the cold and heavy feeling of the Zhehuang Baoxi when he got it, and the exquisite and majestic Panlong button on the Baoxi.
Zhao Kuangyin's heart tightened suddenly, remembering that day when he was obsessed with spying on the emperor's life treasure, and was almost caught on the spot.

He was horrified at the thought of it, the worst mistake he had ever made.

Zhao Kuangyin knew that Empress Dowager Li and the eunuch Zhang Gui must have discovered this, and even guessed that the person who coveted the emperor's seal was among the imperial troops on duty that day.

However, they did not report this matter to the officials and have not made any announcement until now, as if this matter does not exist.

The second brother, Zhao Kuangyi, analyzed that this was because Empress Dowager Li did not want to create extraneous problems and did not want to have another incident when the regime was changing.

For more than two years, there has been no relevant news from the Taiping Palace, and Zhao Kuangyin gradually felt relieved.

But for him, this matter is a hidden danger after all.

Now that Empress Dowager Li is close to Zhu Xiu's mother, if one day she lets slip and the matter is revealed and Zhu Xiu finds out, will he ask for an order to investigate?
With Zhu Xiu's wisdom, I am afraid that he will be traced to him soon.Spying on the imperial artifact is an unforgivable felony for anyone. Once the officials become angry, the Zhao family will be destroyed in the blink of an eye.

It is now the second year of Guangshun. The foundation of the Great Zhou Dynasty is solid and people's hearts are stable. The influence of military aristocratic families like the Zhao family left behind by the previous dynasty is limited.

If the officials really want to behead people, they won't have too many scruples.

After all, the Zhao family is not a noble family like the Fu family and the Gao family who have been awarded royal titles, and they do not have much prestige in the military.

The more Zhao Kuangyin thought about it, the more he felt restless. He packed up his pen and paper and quickly stood up and walked out of the check-in room, leaving only one sentence: "Ask Prince Consort Zhang for a day off for me."

"Hey, what's important, Brother Zhao?" Shi Shouxin quickly opened his eyes and sat up, but Zhao Kuangyin ignored him and hurried away.

~~~
Back in the mansion, his father Zhao Hongyin was still in Long Jie's army. Zhao Kuangyin did not go to the back house to meet his mother Du, but went directly back to the cross-yard where he lived. He asked his wife He Zhen where Zhao Kuangyi was, and then rushed to another independent courtyard next door.

Pushing open the door, Zhao Kuangyin saw Zhao Kuangyi changing clothes in front of the bronze mirror. There were several sets of new brocade robes hanging on the hangers beside him.

"Brother got off duty very early today! Just in time, I have a few new robes here. Could you please tell me which one looks best on me?" Zhao Kuangyi said with a smile.

After closing the door, Zhao Kuangyin looked at him, looked around the bedroom, and frowned: "You have spent a lot of money buying clothes recently, and you also went to the Uighur merchant to buy spices. What's going on?"

Zhao Kuangyi caressed the hard-winged headband he had just put on, tightened his belt, walked two steps in the room, raised his head and said: "As the saying goes, 'Everyone has a love for beauty,' I am in my youth, so of course I have to Be a charming and handsome man."

Zhao Kuangyin stretched out his hand to fan his nose, and said with a smile: "The room is filled with the scent of powder. If my father finds out, he will give you a good beating."

Zhao Kuangyi cast a look and said, "You and I are brothers from the same mother, so you won't abandon our brotherhood and betray me."

Zhao Kuangyin rolled his eyes and couldn't help but want to say hello to the back of this kid's head.

"The last time you were so coquettish was when you met Gao Huaide's twelve-year-old cousin last year.

Tell me, which lady did you meet this time that you will never forget? "

Zhao Kuangyin leaned back on the couch and said with a smile.

Zhao Kuangyi unfolded the folding fan in a "swish", shook his head and said, "As the saying goes, 'It seems like the moon is covered by light clouds, and the snow flutters like the flowing wind'. This girl is ten times more beautiful than Gao's daughter. I’m afraid I can’t move my eyes.”

Zhao Kuangyin laughed and said: "Last year when Gao's daughter and Murong Yanzhao's nephew got engaged, you secretly cried bitterly in the room. At that time, you beat your chest and exclaimed, 'Losing a treasure is like a broken arm.' How come it's only been a year? Is the Gao family’s wife so miserable in your eyes?”

Zhao Kuangyi looked calm and said with a smile: "People have to look forward eventually. What is lost is harvested in the east. If Gao's daughter is blind and cannot look down on me, it is because she is not blessed."

It's also fortunate that Gao's daughter didn't take a fancy to me, and now I can meet Mrs. Zhou. "

Zhao Kuangyi's handsome face showed radiance, and his whole person was in high spirits.

"Which Lady Zhou is it?" Zhao Kuangyin asked suspiciously.

Zhao Kuangyi opened his mouth to say something, rolled his eyes, shook his folding fan and said, "It won't be too late to reveal to my brother when there is some clue."

Zhao Kuangyin curled his lips, not interested in his brother's affair.

"By the way, brother, what happened when you came back today?"

Zhao Kuangyi walked to Lan Qi, took off the precious sword on display, and pulled it out with a "choking" sound. The cold light of the blade shone in his eyes, it was really a good sword.

Zhao Kuangyin said seriously: "I heard from Shi Shouxin today that Zhu Xiu has been sending his mother to the palace to see the Queen Mother in the past few days. Zhu Xiu's mother and the Queen Mother have a good rapport. The two often talk about Buddhist affairs in the Taiping Palace."

"Oh?" Zhao Kuangyi looked back at him, his heroic eyebrows slightly raised: "Brother, are you worried that Zhu Xiu is getting close to the Taiping Palace and is aware of the emperor's appointment with the treasure two years ago?"

"That's right!" Zhao Kuangyin smiled regretfully, "It's my fault. Somehow that day, I was so bold that I secretly took out the Emperor's Mandated Treasure and caressed it. Alas~"

Zhao Kuangyi put the sword back into its sheath, took a few steps with the sword in hand, and said, "Brother, are you worried that Empress Dowager Li and Zhang Gui will inadvertently reveal what happened back then to Zhu Xiu?"

Zhao Kuangyin said: "Two years have passed since this matter, and there has been no movement in the Taiping Palace. Empress Dowager Li and Zhang Gui probably don't want to pursue it, but if Zhu Xiu knows about it, I'm worried that he will report it to the officials. Once an order is issued to investigate, our Zhao family will be in danger." That’s it!”

Zhao Kuangyi also frowned, realizing the seriousness of the problem.

No one would doubt Zhu Xiu's wisdom and agility. If he knew about this, no one knew what he would do.

The room fell into silence, and both brothers were thinking calmly.

Zhao Kuangyi looked at the sword in his hand, his eyes turned cold, and he murmured: "For now, the only way is to shut up Queen Mother Li and Zhang Gui forever before the incident happens!"

Zhao Kuangyin was horrified and shocked: "What do you mean?"

His throat slipped and he didn't dare to speak.

Zhao Kuangyi said coldly: "This matter must not be delayed! While Zhu Xiu still doesn't know the ins and outs of the matter, he will try to create an accident so that Empress Dowager Li and Zhang Gui will never be able to tell the truth!"

Zhao Kuangyin was extremely shocked, stood up and said: "That is the Queen Mother of a country."

"It's just the former Queen Mother!" Zhao Kuangyi sneered disdainfully, "The official family has severed ties with her. Even if something unexpected happens, the official family will not grieve, let alone pursue it. We can be sure that nothing will happen if we keep our hands and feet clean."

Zhao Kuangyin was feeling cold and sweating all over, and murmured: "Let me think about it."

Zhao Kuangyi encouraged: "For the sake of the well-being of the Zhao family, this risk must be taken! My brother has been working in the inner palace for many years, and there must be someone familiar with him in the palace. You are responsible for finding people, and I am responsible for planning. We will definitely make it perfect!"

Zhao Kuangyin paced with his hands behind his hands. After a while, he finally made up his mind and gritted his teeth and said: "There are several eunuchs available in the palace! But you must think carefully about how to do it!"

Zhao Kuangyi patted his chest and said with a smile: "Don't worry, brother, I will take care of this matter!"

Just as he was talking, Han Lingjun's call sounded outside the house: "Zhao Er! Zhao Er! Come with me!"

Zhao Kuangyi's eyes lit up and he rushed out the door with his sword in hand.

"Where are you going?" Zhao Kuangyin asked suspiciously.

Zhao Kuangyi didn't look back: "Brother, please don't ask too many questions if you want to do something beautiful!"

"This kid" Zhao Kuangyin shook his head.

After discussing it with Zhao Kuangyi, he felt much more at ease.

This second brother is not very old, but like Zhu Xiu, he is a strange young man with great wisdom and almost a demon.

When Zhao Kuangyin couldn't make up his mind, he would come to him to discuss countermeasures.

(End of this chapter)