I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 464: Three Hundred Questions on National Policy! A unique gift for Su Shi’s wedding

The tenth day of the first lunar month, afternoon.

In a corridor outside the Funing Hall.

Shi Quanbin, the guard who entered the palace, looked at Su Liang and said helplessly, "Su Sijian, the emperor is in grief and doesn't want to see anyone. How about... you come back after the Lantern Festival?"

At present, Shi Quanbin was fully responsible for the funeral of Concubine Zhang, and he reported directly to Zhao Zhen.

Concubine Zhang had helped Shi Quanbin, and the latter was very supportive of the idea of ​​posthumously conferring the title of Empress Wencheng on Concubine Zhang.

Su Liang glared at him.

"Shi Yaban, if the emperor doesn't see me now, then the next ones to see the emperor will be the civil and military officials. Are you sure you can stop them all?"

Shi Quanbin looked embarrassed.

"Su Sijian, the emperor said he doesn't want to see anyone, you... aren't you making things difficult for me?"

"So do you want me to yell at you here at the top of my lungs?"

Su Liang's tone became stern.

Shi Quanbin was well aware of Su Liang's special status as the "favorite of the government", so he immediately ran into the hall to report.

After a while.

Shi Quanbin walked out in small steps and said, "Su Sijian, please come in!"

Su Liang strode into the Funing Palace.

Funing Hall was Zhao Zhen's bedroom. Su Liang had been here several times during lectures on the classics.

Su Liang walked into the side hall on the right and immediately saw Zhao Zhen with a dejected look on his face.

On the table.

The lunch was neatly laid out on the table, untouched.

Zhao Zhen, who was full of vigor and vitality years ago and vowed to promote commerce and save military funds, now looks much older.

The death of Concubine Zhang was a great blow to him.

Zhao Zhen looked at Su Liang.

"Su Qing, if you want me to take back the imperial edict that posthumously crowned me as empress, then don't say anything more. I will not agree, no matter who tries to persuade me!"

Su Liang thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, half an hour ago, the Queen came to the Council Hall and begged the ministers to allow Your Majesty to make an exception and posthumously confer the title of Queen Wencheng on Concubine Zhang."

Zhao Zhen looked puzzled.

He knew that Empress Cao was sensible, but he didn't expect her to care so much about him.

Su Liang continued: "But, I was rejected!"

Then, Su Liang told Zhao Zhen everything he had said in the Council of State.

All the officials heard these words, and they would eventually reach Zhao Zhen's ears, so it would be better for Su Liang to speak them out first.

After Su Liang finished speaking.

Zhao Zhen frowned, then stood up.

"Su Qing, all the ministers say that among all the officials in the court, you understand me the best. I thought so too, but I didn't expect that you don't understand me at all!"

"Do you think I am afraid that the ministers and the Queen will join forces to make me a lonely man? The Queen does not have the courage and determination to do so, and the ministers definitely do not dare to do so either. The current court is still under my control."

"They were persuaded by you only because they were worried that they would be suspected of forming a clique in the future. Can this move really stabilize the court and bring harmony between the monarch and his subjects?"

"You...you...this conjecture has forced the Queen and the officials to oppose my posthumous enthronement of the Queen. I tell you clearly that as long as the officials do not agree with my posthumous enthronement of the Imperial Concubine as Queen Wencheng, I will not attend court!"

"You don't understand me at all!" Zhao Zhen clenched his fists, extremely angry.

If Su Liang had not stopped Empress Cao, the posthumous title might have been granted.

At present, Zhao Zhen has all power concentrated in his hands.

He is no longer the benevolent emperor Zhao Zhen who went to the harem to wipe his tears when bullied by his ministers.

Zhao Zhen continued, "Do you understand the relationship between me and the imperial concubine? She is the only one who treats me as her husband rather than the emperor. She is the only one who can make me feel the beauty of being an ordinary man. Only in front of her do I not need to be restrained or pretentious, and I don't need to remind myself to follow the etiquette of the emperor all the time..."

"You always say that she is spoiled, but do you know that she is actually very pitiful? She does not have a strong family to rely on, and her only uncle who entered the government was impeached by you. No matter what, she cannot defeat the queen or the other concubines. Everything she did was to make herself feel safe. Is she wrong?"

"Over the years, she gave birth to three daughters and one son for me. I am the only one who understands her pain when she lost her three daughters. I am the only one who understands how much she wanted to give me a son. I just want to give my lifelong love a decent life. Now that she is gone, can't I make an exception for once and give her a grand funeral?"

……

Su Liang felt very uncomfortable hearing this. He didn't expect Zhao Zhen's love-sickness to be so serious.

After Zhao Zhen finished speaking.

Su Liang took two steps forward and bowed again.

"Your Majesty, I have never dared to claim that I understand you. I just think that a competent official would never do this."

"The current empress is still alive, but you posthumously enthrone Concubine Zhang as empress. This is beyond the etiquette. Even if the empress can tolerate it, the Cao family can tolerate it, all the officials can tolerate it, and the eldest prince can tolerate it, will the scholars and officials a hundred years later overturn the emperor's edict? How will they view the emperor? How will they view Concubine Zhang? They will attribute all the sins to Concubine Zhang's 'fawning on the emperor', and Concubine Zhang will definitely be the one who receives the most abuse."

"In addition, if Concubine Zhang is posthumously canonized as the empress, how will the status of the Second Prince be determined? Is he a legitimate or illegitimate child? How will the throne be passed down in the future? Will someone use this canonization to make the Second Prince fight with the First Prince for the position of crown prince?"

"Just now, the emperor kept saying that Concubine Zhang gave you the good life of an ordinary couple. But you are the emperor, you enjoy the admiration of the people, you bear the rise and fall of the entire Song Dynasty. Please forgive me for saying that you are the emperor, you have a heavy burden on your shoulders. If you hope to live like the lower-class people, then you are definitely not a competent official!"

"The reform of the whole Song Dynasty has come to an end, and it is not the time to slack off. The emperor has acted arbitrarily for the sake of the imperial concubine without considering the consequences. This is not the behavior of a wise monarch. If order is disrupted because of this incident, it will be a disaster for the Song Dynasty. I once again request that the emperor revoke his order and hold a funeral for the imperial concubine according to the ritual system!"

……

In the entire court, only Su Liang could speak so bluntly in front of Zhao Zhen.

Zhao Zhen's lips trembled with anger.

"I...I...I really don't have any freedom as an official. You always use these great principles to pressure me. Aren't you afraid that I will quit my job?"

this moment.

All Zhao Zhen was concerned about was Concubine Zhang.

If the gentlemen heard this, they would definitely panic instantly.

The emperor gave up.

For court officials, it was a killer move that worked every time.

Su Liang was not at all panicked and looked into Zhao Zhen's eyes.

"Your Majesty, you won't! The reform of the whole Song Dynasty is still in progress, and the goal of recovering the Han and Tang Dynasties has not been completed. None of us have seen the prosperity of the Song Dynasty yet! If you don't care about the affairs of the court or take a passive attitude towards politics because of this matter, all the scholars and officials will hate you, and all the people of the Song Dynasty will hate you!"

"Your mission in this life is not to be a good man, but to be a good emperor. Your Majesty, you really can't act on your own! For the sake of the deceased imperial concubine, you are going against the will of the world. Is it worth it?"

……

"Ugh!"

"In my next life, I don't want to be an emperor again!" Zhao Zhen looked depressed. He slowly sat down on the big chair and stopped talking.

Su Liang stood aside, waiting for him to speak.

If the latter cannot be convinced, then the ministers of the Secretariat will have to be replaced.

Zhao Zhen thought for half a quarter of an hour, then looked up at Su Liang and said, "I need a step."

Su Liang was overjoyed, and Zhao Zhen finally compromised.

He had already thought of this step.

"First, I suggest that instead of ordering Prime Minister Wen to read the mourning book, we should order Prime Minister Zhang to read the mourning book. Prime Minister Zhang is the Second Prince's teacher, so this is in line with the regulations and there is nothing wrong with it."

"Except for that, the one-month ban on music in the capital can be retained, and then the emperor can reward the Zhang family generously. As for the rest, everything else must be done according to the etiquette of the imperial concubine. What do you think?"

This was the greatest concession Su Liang could think of.

Zhang Fangping once taught the second prince Zhao Han for several days.

The two of them had a master-disciple relationship, and it was obviously more appropriate for him to read the mourning book for Concubine Zhang than for Prime Minister Wen Yanbo. Zhao Zhen nodded helplessly and said, "Let's do it this way!"

……

At dusk that day.

In the government hall, all the ministers dispersed.

The next day.

Zhao Zhen went to the Chuigong Hall and began to review memorials. All officials in the court performed their duties and everything returned to normal.

Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Fangping and the Ministry of Internal Affairs took care of the funeral arrangements for Concubine Zhang.

In the blink of an eye, it was the Lantern Festival.

Due to the ban on music in the capital, the city of Bianliang was much quieter than in previous years.

There are very few people who mourn the death of Concubine Zhang and remember her.

In the eyes of the people, Concubine Zhang had no achievements other than giving birth to a prince for the royal family.

The sixteenth day of the first lunar month.

Diplomatic delegations from various countries left the city of Bianjing one after another.

The seventeenth day of the first lunar month.

Concubine Zhang's funeral was officially held at the Qixiang Palace where she lived.

Zhao Zhen was wearing mourning clothes, his eyes filled with tears. All the concubines in the harem and officials in the court were present.

Concubine Zhang's uncle, Zhang Yaozuo, was so sad that he fainted several times.

Concubine Zhang was the Zhang family's greatest supporter, and now that she has passed away suddenly, the Zhang family is bound to decline.

Whether they can rise again depends on the attitude of the second prince towards the Zhang family when he grows up, but it is obvious that he will not see it in Zhang Yaozuo's lifetime.

Subsequently.

Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Fangping stood in front of the coffin and began to read the mourning book.

"The former Imperial Concubine Zhang, a woman of great virtue, a woman of great power, a woman of great talent, a woman of great talent, a woman of great talent. Since her selection, she has been a woman of great virtue, a woman of great talent ...

The words in the mourning book are all words of praise.

This was personally examined by Zhao Zhen, and he did not want any derogatory words in the memorial of Concubine Zhang.

After everyone mourned, Concubine Zhang's coffin was sent by hearse to the royal Fengxian Temple outside the city for burial.

An auspicious day will be chosen in the future to bury him in the imperial mausoleum.

at the same time.

The second prince, Zhao Han, was given to Princess Fukang's biological mother, Miao Shuyi, for adoption.

This is the end.

This matter is finally over.

Zhao Zhen also gradually came out of the sadness of this incident.

……

On the eighth day of February, the weather gradually warmed up and all government offices in Bianliang City returned to normal.

at this time.

A happy event dispelled the gloom cast on Su Liang by the cold epidemic and the death of Concubine Zhang at the beginning of the year.

Su Shi is getting married.

Su Xun wrote in a letter that in early March, the 19-year-old Su Shi would marry Wang Fu, the 16-year-old daughter of Wang Fang, a local tribute scholar.

The three people in the Su family who had the best relationships in Bianliang were Ouyang Xiu, Su Liang and Sima Guang.

Ouyang Xiu was grateful to Su Xun for his mentoring, and Su Liang and Sima Guang were grateful to the two young Su brothers for being their teachers.

Because I knew that the three of them could not enter Sichuan.

Therefore, they specially found a merchant who came to Beijing to send more than ten jars of fine Sichuan wine to the three of them, so that the three of them could drink the wedding wine in advance.

Su Shi also wrote a special letter to Su Liang.

She said that after her marriage, she would bring her brother to Bian Jing City and then prepare for the next imperial examination.

He also wrote some suggestions for the current reforms in the court.

In the eyes of the two little Su boys, Su Liang is already their mentor.

The Su family sent wedding wine, so Su Liang naturally had to return the gift.

That night.

When Su Liang, Ouyang Xiu and Sima Guang were sharing wine at Su's residence.

Su Liang said, "Little Su Shi is getting married, and Brother Mingyun sent us some good wine, which made us all feel happy. We have to return the favor. Have you two prepared your return gifts?"

Ouyang Xiu said: "I have recently published a new collection of essays, and there are several poems that have never been published. You can write them by hand and let the three Su brothers appreciate them."

Sima Guang smiled and said, "I have a few ancient books in my collection, which I can reluctantly give up and give to little Su Shi."

Su Liang curled his lips slightly.

"Mr. Ouyang, you sent Brother Mingyun a letter when he left Beijing. As for your poems, although they are becoming more sophisticated, they are not as bold and unrestrained as those of young Su Shi. It would be cliché to send another one!"

"Jun Shi, my father-in-law has a very good relationship with Brother Ming Yun. He is going to send a few ancient books. Can your books compare with his? Don't send the books!"

Hearing Su Liang's words.

Ouyang Xiu and Sima Guang looked at Su Liang and asked in unison: "What should we give?"

They had guessed that Su Liang must have had an idea in mind when he rejected their gifts.

Su Liang smiled and said, "Both Su brothers love to debate on reform policies. They are particularly concerned about the country's agriculture, engineering, finance, and water conservancy. How about we give them a set of questions called "Three Hundred Questions on National Policy" and have each of them answer 100 questions? When they come to Beijing, we will check their answers and then give them some individual guidance."

"This will help them to participate in the next imperial examination. I am optimistic about their future."

"Three Hundred Questions on National Policy? Jingming, you really came up with this idea. On the wedding day, we let little Su Shi do the questions. Are you sure he won't scold us?" Ouyang Xiu said with a smile.

Sima Guang scratched his head and said, "I think it's okay. If someone gives me such a unique gift when I get married, and also provides me with personal guidance in the future, I will definitely be very grateful!"

"Then give this to him. No matter he likes it or not, at least he will remember it for the rest of his life!" Su Liang's face was full of smug smile.

Ouyang Xiu and Sima Guang also nodded.

This kind of treatment is not something that ordinary people can enjoy. They saw the talents of the two little Su children and decided to help them grow.

Immediately afterwards, Ouyang Xiu and Sima Guang left with the wedding wine.

At this time.

Su Zimu trotted over from behind, first looked at the drinks beside him, then looked at the letter on the table, curled his lips and said, "Big Brother Su is really biased. He didn't give me a gift, nor did he mention me."

Su Zimu affectionately called Su Shi "Big Brother Su" and Su Zhe "Little Brother Su".

Su Liang suddenly laughed.

"Don't worry, my son. When you get married, I will definitely ask him to come to our house to congratulate you in person." Su Liang touched Su Zimu's little head and said, "Son, isn't this gift of "Three Hundred Questions on National Policy" from your father very good?"

Su Zimu curled his lips, took two steps back, and then said, "If I were Big Brother Su, after receiving this gift, I would not get married first, but would come to Bianjing City to smash all the wine I sent you, and then get married!"

After saying that, Su Zimu ran away.

"How dare you question your father, kid!" Su Liang chased after him with a smile.

(End of this chapter)