The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 565 The friendship between the ruler and the minister
Chai Rong summoned Zhu Xiu and Fu Yanqing's father and daughter in the west pavilion of Qingshou Hall.

Fu Yanqing said a lot of words in a roundabout way to explain his purpose, but Chai Rong listened patiently.

But from beginning to end, the emperor's expression was dull and showed no emotion or anger, which made Fu Yanqing uneasy.

Fu Jinwan stood aside with his head lowered, looking soft and timid.

Chai Rong's eyes passed over Fu Jinwan's body, calmly.

"Let me consider this matter. I will give you an answer after my second expedition to Huainan and my return to Beijing." Chai Rong said calmly.

Fu Yanqing was a little disappointed that Chai Rong didn't agree on the spot. There might be another change in a few months.

However, the emperor had already made his attitude clear, and he did not dare to push too hard. He could only salute and said: "I wholeheartedly think about your majesty and the country. Please forgive me for my transgression!"

Chai Rong said: "Of course I understand that King Wei is loyal, it's just that the Queen's funeral has just passed, and I'm about to go to Huainan, so we can only postpone the discussion."

"I understand! Your Majesty, please take care of your dragon body. This time you conquer Huainan again, you will definitely be able to conquer the fourteen states of Huainan in one go. I am eagerly looking forward to the day when Master Wang will return in triumph!" Fu Yanqing said.

Chai Rong smiled and said: "With the auspicious words of King Wei, I hope that this year's war will go well!"

After chatting for a while, Chai Rong asked Fu Yanqing and his daughter to leave first, leaving Zhu Xiu alone.

Before leaving, Fu Yanqing looked at Zhu Xiu deeply and earnestly.

"This King Wei, I really don't know what to say about him."

When Fu Yanqing and his daughter walked down the long steps in front of the West Pavilion Hall, Chai Rong shook his head and sighed.

Zhu Xiu smiled bitterly and said: "I also feel that King Wei's move is not appropriate, and I didn't want to get involved. However, King Wei personally visited me a few days ago and asked me to accompany him to the palace.

The old father-in-law's earnest words made me feel ashamed, so I entered the palace with him."

Chai Rong rubbed his eyebrows and said, "The queen passed away suddenly. I didn't want to stand on the throne again, but King Wei's kindness has made it difficult for me."

Zhu Xiu said sincerely: "The title of the head of the central palace is of great importance, and it is also a family matter of your majesty. It is all decided by your majesty. You don't need to take into account the face of the king of Wei or the ministers. You can just deal with it according to your heart!"

Chai Rong smiled and said: "If I accept Fu Liumei, Fu will still be a relative, and you can maintain the relationship with me as brother-in-law. There are many benefits. Don't you hope that I will agree to this?"

Zhu Xiu was silent for a moment, then raised his hands and said sincerely: "I dare to say a few words from my heart. Your Majesty and I are both monarchs and ministers, and we were close friends before this.

From the perspective of a friend, I sincerely hope that His Majesty can get out of the gloom and regain his strength. In the future, he can find someone he really likes and falls in love with, and the harem can be as harmonious and happy as the queen was alive.

I do not want too many utilitarian factors to be involved in His Majesty's family affairs. I hope that the harem can be a place where His Majesty can enjoy peace and tranquility as it was when the Queen was alive. "

Chai Rong remained silent for a long time after listening.

After a while, he sighed softly: "Perhaps you are the only one in the world who would say these words to me. Zhu Xiu, I want to thank you."

Zhu Xiu bowed his head to the ground and said: "I hope to be an eternal monarch and friend with your majesty, like Qi Huangong and Guan Zhong, Liu Bang and Xiao He, Li Yuan and Pei Ji, Li Shimin and Li Jing. Your majesty is the emperor of the ages, and I can follow your majesty." A famous official through the ages!"

Chai Rong slapped the armrest of the imperial throne and laughed heartily.

Outside the west pavilion door, several eunuchs poked their heads in the air.

Since the Queen passed away, His Majesty has never laughed like this.

"Okay! With a good teacher, friend, and loyal minister like you, I should follow the example of all the wise kings of the past generations and lead me, the Great Zhou Dynasty, to stand in China!

Feng Dao said back then that I was not as good as Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. I just wanted to show him in the sky. With me and you in this world, how can we not recreate the glorious and prosperous age? "

Chai Rong stood up, swept away the depression and sadness after the Queen's death, regained his energy, waved his hands and shouted loudly.

His gaze became firm again, revealing the scornful look of a generation of British masters.

Zhu Xiu bowed down and kowtowed: "In these troubled times, we are really lucky to have Your Majesty!"

Chai Rong walked down the steps and helped him up with his own hands.

"After I go to Huainan, Kaifeng will be handed over to you and Fan Zhi. I have appointed Fan Zhi to stay in Tokyo, you to patrol both inside and outside the capital, and Wang Shenqi to patrol the inner capital. The three of you should work together to guard the city. Kaifeng!"

Zhu Xiu said hurriedly: "I obey the decree! I will live up to your majesty's trust!"

After thinking about it, Chai Rong smiled again and said: "I'm a little worried about Xun'er staying in the palace. That's good. On the day I leave the capital, I will send someone to send Xun'er to your house and ask your wife to help take care of it. Palace The wet nurses, maids, and eunuchs who are usually responsible for taking care of the prince are also sent for your deployment."

Zhu Xiu was stunned and said hesitantly: "The emperor's eldest son has a high status and is entrusted to me. I'm afraid it's not in line with etiquette."

Chai Rong said: "Your wife is Kun'er's biological aunt, and you are my uncle, so I will take care of her for you. What's wrong? Don't worry, I will issue a special decree to clarify this matter, and then appoint you as the prince's young master, responsible for teaching the prince. In this way, Those imperial officials had nothing to say."

Zhu Xiu was greatly moved. Chai Rong entrusted Kaifeng City and the eldest son of the emperor to him by doing so, and his trust in him was beyond measure.

Regardless of Chai Rong's obstruction, Zhu Xiu bowed down and kowtowed solemnly: "I will live up to your majesty's high hopes even if I die!"

After bidding farewell to Chai Rong, Zhu Xiu left the inner palace with a heavy heart.

He was really confused.

The history he foresaw was still moving forward along the established trajectory, with only two years left before the great changes that took place in Xiande in six years.

Over the years, he has been careful not to participate in events that may change the direction of history, just to ensure that the future development of the situation can proceed in the direction he can predict.

Chai Rong's trust and entrustment to him actually became a heavy pressure on his heart, causing him to feel uncontrollably apologetic and self-blame.

Zhu Xiu often thought that if he had not gone to Suzhou two years ago and stayed in Kaifeng, trying his best to recruit famous doctors and treat Fu Jinzhan's illness, perhaps Empress Zhou Xian would not have died so early.

Chai Rong will not suffer heavy blows again and again, causing his body to deteriorate.

In that case, history may move in a direction that no one can predict.

Zhu Xiu asked himself, seven percent of what he said in the West Pavilion just now came from the sincerity.

He will always have a heart of reverence and surrender towards Chai Rong. He is a king with great charisma and is worthy of following him throughout his life.

If Chai Rong lives a long and healthy life, Zhu Xiu is willing to be a courtier of the Great Zhou for the rest of his life.

However, according to the current development of the situation, Chai Rong has already developed serious health problems, and the big change in two years' time may be unavoidable.
When he walked to the center of the palace, the side street connecting the back dynasty and the front dynasty, Zhu Xiu stood outside the Zichen Gate, looking back at the towering palace in the distance.

He knows that there is no point in pursuing right and wrong anymore. Only by going on unswervingly can he be worthy of the opportunity that God has given him to live a new life, and can he be worthy of the test of life and death over the years.

Zhu Xiu looked up at the sky, closed her eyes, opened them again, and her eyes regained a clear and cold look. She took solid and powerful steps and walked towards Xuandemen.

"Leave your literary skills!"

After leaving Xuandemen, Zhu Xiugang was about to get into his carriage, when the driver of Prince Wei's carriage came.

Fu Yanqing stuck his head out of the car window and asked with a smile: "Your Majesty leaves you alone to talk about Jin Wan's entry into the palace?"

Zhu Xiu stood beside the carriage, cupped his hands and said, "Excuse me, my father-in-law, for waiting for a long time. Your Majesty left me here to discuss the war in Huainan, and he did not mention the Sixth Lady's entry into the palace."

"Oh?" Fu Yanqing frowned, as if he didn't believe it. Seeing Zhu Xiu's calm expression, he could only forcefully smile and say:
"In your opinion, will His Majesty agree to this?"

Fu Jinwan also looked through the car window, with a pair of bright eyes full of nervousness and expectation.Zhu Xiu thought for a while: "Your Majesty did not refuse in court, which shows that he is not opposed to this matter in his heart. Perhaps it is because the war in Huainan is imminent and the queen's funeral has just passed, so he does not want to talk about it at this time.

After a while, there will be a clear answer as to whether it is successful or not. "

Fu Yanqing pondered for a moment and said: "In that case, let Jin Wan stay in Prince Wei's Mansion in Kaifeng temporarily, and you and your wife will take care of you. The Tianxiong Army is guarding Weizhou, and I have to rush back to take care of military affairs."

Fu Jinwan looked away in disappointment and sat back in the carriage gloomily.

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "My father-in-law, take care of yourself all the way. Please handle Li Jixun's matter as soon as possible."

Fu Yanqing nodded without saying anything else. He lowered the curtain and the King Wei's carriage drove slowly through the Royal Corridor Street.

Ma Qing, who was driving the car, muttered: "This Prince Wei is too arrogant. He asked the young master to stand under the car and talk to him, while he sat in the car and spoke in a tone of voice as if he was a subordinate. In addition to his lower title, he Of these, which one can't compare to him, King Wei?"

Zhu Xiu watched King Wei drive away and said with a smile: "He is an elder, so it's okay to let him go. There is no need to worry too much."

Ma Qing said unconvinced: "With my current status, no one in Kaifeng city should be respectful to him. Even the elders should not deliberately put on airs."

"You talk a lot, get in the carriage and go back home!" Zhu Xiu got on the carriage, Ma Qing drove, with two teams of personal guards guarding him on the left and right, and drove towards Zhouqiao.

With Zhu Xiu's current status and favor, Fu Yanqing is indeed not qualified to show off in front of him.

Zhu Xiujing was just because he was Fu Jinhuan's father.

Fu Yanqing is sixty years old, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he is a tiger without teeth.

Fu SiSi, who once dominated the battlefield, is now just an old man in his sixties lobbying for the prosperity of his family.

As a military aristocrat who started with military exploits, the Fu family's influence in the Zhou army was gradually disappearing.

And in the future, with the deepening of centralization of power, this kind of family, which is essentially a military clan in the vassal town, will further decline.

The title of King Wei is indeed extremely honorable, but in the eyes of the real powerful figures in the court, apart from the reputation accumulated in Hebei, the Fu family has nothing else worthy of attention.

Zhu Xiu knew that Chai Rong would eventually agree to accept Fu Jinwan and make her the new Queen of Zhou Dynasty.

Because in any case, the Fu family represents the older generation of military aristocrats, and the old feudal warlords such as Fu Yanqing, An Shenqi, Gao Xingzhou, and Li Congmin are the foundation of the Han and Zhou dynasties.

While Chai Rong confiscated the military power of the feudal towns and strengthened the strength of the imperial army, he would also appease these old feudal warlords and ensure the wealth and prosperity of their families in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Therefore, Chai Rong will definitely accept Fu Jinwan.

Zhu Xiu believes that Fu Yanqing must understand these principles.

But the old man didn't get a clear answer from Chai Rong, and he still felt uneasy.

This just shows that these veteran military nobles have really felt the pressure from the imperial court's measures to strengthen centralization over the years.

The world's strongest soldiers were gathered in the Forbidden Army, which was directly dispatched by the emperor and the court. The old warlords lived a wealthy and leisurely life, but they lost little by little the military power in their hands.

As for the attitude of the old father-in-law towards him, Zhu Xiu didn't take it too seriously.

If it weren't for Guo Wei's matchmaking, it's still unknown whether the marriage could have been completed.

In the eyes of people at the time, Zhu Xiu's marriage to Fu Jinhuan was considered a high achievement.

The unknown Zhu family in Haozhou and the Fu family with great military achievements are as different as clouds and mud.

But today, this difference is shrinking sharply, or even reversed.

I believe that my old father-in-law will wake up one day.

In February of the fourth year of Xiande of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Chai Rong personally went to Huainan for the second time and ordered Fan Zhi to stay in Tokyo, Zhu Xiu to inspect the capital and outside, and Wang Shenqi to inspect the inner capital, taking full responsibility for the management and defense of Kaifeng City.

Another incident that caused quite a stir in the government and the public was that Zhu Xiu served as the crown prince's young tutor and was responsible for teaching Chai Zongxun, the eldest son of the emperor.

After the emperor left Beijing, Chai Zongxun was entrusted to Zhu Xiu to take him back to the county government and take care of him.

Chai Zongxun, who was less than three years old, was already regarded by the courtiers as the future crown prince. Emperor Nanzheng entrusted the eldest son to Zhu Xiu. What kind of favor was this?

There were many private discussions between the government and the public, but Chai Rong ignored them. After making simple preparations, he set off for Huainan.

Chai Rong went here and took Han Tong, Shi Shouxin and other generals with him. Since he didn't need to send troops, he only led Qingqi to Huainan, and left Beijing after half a day of preparation.

~~~
Chuzhou City, inside the government office.

Zhao Hongyin, Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Kuangyi, father and son, were sitting in the government hall.

Zhao Hongyin held a letter and read it over and over again, his gray brows furrowed.

Zhao Kuangyin also frowned in thought.

Zhao Kuangyi's face was full of anger, he clenched his fists tightly, and couldn't help gritting his teeth and roaring: "Zhu Xiu, the dog thief, actually deliberately planned to break my engagement. This hatred is irreconcilable, and he and I are incompatible!"

Zhao Kuangyin said in a deep voice: "Don't be impatient. The ins and outs of this matter are not clear yet. If Fu Jinwan wants to enter the palace, the key depends on your majesty. Zhu Xiu will not play much role."

Zhao Kuangyi said angrily: "If Zhu Xiu hadn't contributed to the trouble, how could this have happened? The Fu family is obviously married to my Zhao family, but now they want to send someone to the palace. What's the point? If Zhu Xiu didn't do this, I will never believe it. !"

Zhao Hongyin shook his head and said: "The marriage with the Fu family was only a verbal agreement, there was no marriage document, and no one except the two families knew about it before.

Now that Fu Jinwan is going to enter the palace, the news is spreading all over the place. My father thinks that maybe Fu Yanqing's old fox is deliberately spreading the word, trying to shift the responsibility for regretting the marriage to Zhu Xiu. "

Zhao Kuangyi was so angry that he was shaking all over: "Even if Zhu Xiu wasn't in charge, he still had something to do with this matter! His purpose is to shame the Zhao family and embarrass me!"

Zhao Hongyin and Zhao Kuangyin looked at each other, smiled bitterly and shook their heads.

There was no basis for the marriage in the first place, so there was nothing they could do if Mrs. Fu went back on her word.

If Fu Jinwan wants to marry someone else, they can still compete with the Fu family.

But if Fu Jinwan wants to enter the palace, what will they fight for?
Zhao Kuangyin comforted him and said: "A man has no need to worry about having a wife. You are still young, so it doesn't matter if you get married two years later. The transfer order from the Ministry of Personnel has been issued. You will be promoted to the sixth rank of the Imperial City Envoy, and will be appointed as a doctor in the Ministry of War. Do your best in Kaifeng and stop thinking about these unimportant things."

Zhao Kuangyi gritted his teeth and said bitterly: "The traitor Zhu Xiu has made me suffer such shame and humiliation. I will definitely avenge this!"

After all, he slammed the door and left.

In his heart, half was anger and half was fear.

He believed that Zhu Xiu must have found out that he was responsible for allowing Tang Jun to pretend to cross the border. Zhu Xiu also blamed Shi Kuangwei's death on him.

Breaking his engagement with Fu Jinwan this time was one of Zhu Xiu's revenges.

Thinking of Han Chongyun being beheaded in public, Zhao Kuangyi felt even more fearful and uneasy.

He must find a way to fight back, otherwise sooner or later, he will end up like Han Chongyun again.

(End of this chapter)