Do you know: I am the crown prince

Chapter 487

Zhao Xing admired those stubborn people, but he was ready to send them back to revise the books.

However, Zhao Xing planned to promote those who were smooth-talking.

The slick ones are not only afraid of death, but also care about their own status.

People like this are much cuter than those stubborn ones.

That night, Zhao Xing did not stay in the palace, but went to Renming Palace.

Zhao Xing did not let anyone notify in advance, so the palace maids in Renming Palace wanted to go and report, but were stopped by Zhao Xing.

After entering the hall and not seeing Zhang Guifen, Zhao Xing went straight into the bedroom.

"bye…"

Zhang Guifen was squatting in front of the bed, playing with Yongger and accompanying her mother with a smile. When she saw Zhao Xing come in, she was about to speak, but saw Zhao Xing waving his hand and quickly stopped.

"What did you say, Mom?"

Zhang Guifen reached out and gently poked her son's cheek. Seeing him giggle, she started laughing too.

Hearing the mother's voice, he asked without turning his head.

"Nothing...Nothing. I just feel happy seeing Your Highness smiling."

"hehe."

Zhang Guifen smiled when she heard this, dodged her son's grabbing hands, and poked her son's face.

The little guy grinned and waved his hands to grab his mother's hand.

Zhao Xu stood behind and watched speechlessly. Zhang Guifen seemed to be treating her son like a toy.

The little guy was a few months old. When he was playing with his mother, he saw Zhao Xing, stretched out his little fist and shouted in Zhao Xing's direction.

"What's wrong? Are you hungry or sleepy?"

Zhang Guifen held her son's little hand with some surprise.

She held on with little strength, and the little fellow no longer cared about Zhao Xing, his father. He opened his little hand, grabbed one of his mother's fingers, and grinned.

"Yeah~"

Zhang Guifen was surprised and said, "Mother Xiang, did you see that? Yong Ge'er is so young, but he already knows how to use tricks..."

As he turned around while speaking, he saw Zhao Xing trying to hold back his laughter behind him.

"Your Majesty, when did you arrive?"

Zhang Guifen was stunned for a moment, then quickly withdrew her hand, stood up and saluted.

"Wow…"

I don't know if Zhang Guifen pulled back her hand with too much force, which scared the little guy. After finally catching it, it was gone. The little guy felt wronged and started crying.

Zhao Xing didn't bother to talk to Zhang Guifen anymore, he just walked forward and picked up his son.

"Don't cry, don't cry. Father will help you get revenge later."

Zhao Xing held the baby in his arms and coaxed him, and the baby stopped crying and started grinning again.

"You tease him like this, only he doesn't remember now."

Zhao Xing looked at Zhang Guifen with a helpless look.

"It's Yong who likes this. I never teased her." Zhang Guifen immediately denied it.

Zhao Xing shook his head and didn't expose the truth. In fact, this is what new parents are like. When their children cry and make trouble, they would rather throw the children away.

But when he's not crying or making a fuss, I like to tease him and find it very fun.

The little guy was still young after all. He had played with his mother for a long time and had just cried. He fell asleep in Zhao Xing's arms not long after.

"Your Majesty, please give the Crown Prince to me." She stepped forward and said to my mother.

Zhao Xing bent down and kissed his son on the little face, then handed him to his mother to hold.

"sit."

Zhao Xing patted the bed beside him, waited for Zhang Guifen to sit down, put his arm around her and said, "Have Mr. Shen and the others come to see you?"

"Yes." Zhang Guifen nodded and said, "Prime Minister Shen said that Your Majesty was bewitched by Empress Dowager Xiao and ignored state affairs, so he asked me to persuade Your Majesty."

"Then why didn't you agree?" Zhao Xing asked.

"I believe in Your Majesty. I don't think Your Highness will be seduced by Empress Dowager Xiao." Zhang Guifen said with a smile.

"Emperor Xuanzong of Tang created the Kaiyuan Prosperity, but didn't he still favor Yang Guifei, which led to the Anshi Rebellion and caused the decline of the Tang Dynasty? Why do you think I wouldn't do that?" Zhao Xing asked.

"In my heart, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang cannot compare to Your Majesty!" Zhang Guifen said, looking up at Zhao Xing.

"Although Emperor Xuanzong of Tang caused the Tang Dynasty to decline after its peak, his early achievements are there. I'm afraid no one in the world would think that I can compare with him. Why does the Queen think that he can't compare with me?"

There have been many wise and foolish rulers in history, but it is very rare to find a ruler who can be called both wise and foolish.

No one is perfect. Even the greatest emperor in history has done some foolish things.

But the merits outweigh the flaws, and as long as his merits outweigh his faults, he will not be called a tyrant by future generations.

Li Longji was the type of person who was very wise and capable in the early period, but very foolish in the later period.

Other dynasties experienced a process of rise and fall, but in his case, the heyday reached its peak and then declined very quickly.

But even so, there are not many things in history that can compare to it.

"Not to mention how incompetent Emperor Xuanzong was in his later years, the so-called Kaiyuan Prosperity cannot be attributed to him alone. First there was the Zhenguan Reign, then the Yonghui Reign and the Wu Zhou Reign, and only then did the Kaiyuan Prosperity come about. In my opinion, even if there was no Emperor Xuanzong, it would still be a prosperous era as long as the succeeding emperor was not too incompetent," said Zhang Guifen.

"What the Queen said is true, but I have been on the throne for only more than a year. Do you think I will be able to be on par with Emperor Xuanzong of Tang in the future?" Zhao Xing said with a smile.

"I feel that Your Majesty will definitely be far superior to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang in the future. Your Majesty has always been determined to solve the long-standing problems of the Song Dynasty, revive the Song Dynasty, and recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. As long as Your Majesty can do it, your contribution will be second only to Taizu, and will be incomparable to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang." Zhang Guifen said.

Zhao Xing lowered his head and kissed Zhang Guifen on the forehead, then smiled and said, "How long have you thought about what the Queen said?"

Zhang Guifen said that she trusted him, which seemed to be a compliment to him, but Zhao Xing heard the hidden persuasion in his words.

Of course, Zhang Guifen was not doubting anything. She was just worried that Zhao Xing's ambition had been worn down, so she wanted to stimulate his ambition in this way.

Therefore, Zhao Xing did not feel disgusted.

"It has been prepared for a long time, but this is also what I think in my heart." Zhang Guifen said, hugging Zhao Xing's waist.

Zhao Xing did not continue the topic after hearing this, but asked: "I have not been to the harem recently. Is there anything going on in the harem?"

"There's nothing going on in the harem. I've ordered people to send supplements to sister Yu on time. Old Madam He goes to take her pulse every few days, and the fetus is doing well. Your Majesty, remember to visit sister Yu later." Zhang Guifen said.

"I married a virtuous queen." Zhao Xing said with a smile.

It was already dark at this time. Zhang Guifen reminded him to go visit Yu Yanran. If he went, he might rest there, but Zhang Guifen still said it.

"I am far from being a virtuous queen. I can only do my duty." Zhang Guifen shook her head.

She had also read the records about those virtuous queens in history, and thought that she was not as good as them. "No, in my heart you are no worse than them." Zhao Xing said firmly.

"How did your majesty learn to speak sweet words?"

Zhang Guifen felt a little embarrassed by what Zhao Xing said, and said, "Your Majesty should go and see Sister Yu. She is pregnant now, and Your Majesty has not been there for a long time."

"Well, I'll go take a look. Dinner is already over there. The Queen will take a bath and wait for me to come back."

After Zhao Xing finished speaking, he burst into laughter, stood up and walked out, leaving Zhang Guifen with a blushing face.

…………

The next day, Zhao Xing arrived at the Daqing Hall at noon.

"Greetings to Your Majesty!"

"Ha~ Stand up!"

Zhao Xing yawned, waved his hand and sat down.

"Send the Liao envoy to the audience!"

Sanshui took two steps forward and shouted loudly.

The eunuch in charge of the palace took over the singing, and after a while, Liu Bingcheng entered the hall with two Liao officials.

"Foreign officials pay their respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty!" The three of them bowed.

"No gift!"

Zhao Xing waved his hand and said, "Tell me, why did Yelu Yixin send you here?"

"Emperor Song!"

Liu Bingcheng frowned and said, "The regent will ascend the throne soon. It is a bit disrespectful for the Emperor of Song to address the new emperor of Liao directly by his name."

As the saying goes, if the lord is humiliated, the minister will die. Zhao Xing called Yelu Yixin's name directly. No matter what he thought in his heart, he could not pretend not to hear it.

Otherwise, if I return to the Liao Kingdom and someone uses this incident to make a fuss, who knows what Yelu Yixin will think?
It's like during a war, when you curse the enemy general, even if you curse his ancestors for eighteen generations, you can hold it in.

But if you insult the other monarch, unless there is a huge gap in power, you must respond.

"What your Excellency said is ridiculous. Yelu Yixin plotted treason, and the Liao emperor fled from the Liao Kingdom. I see that your Excellency is also a Han Chinese. Although he worked for the Liao Kingdom, he read the books of sages after all. Anyone can kill those who plot treason, so there is nothing wrong with our emperor calling him by his name!" Han Zhang said with a smile.

"The Liao Kingdom is different from the Han people, so naturally their rules and etiquette are different. The late emperor appointed his uncle Yelu Chongyuan as the crown prince, but Yelu Chongyuan plotted to murder the late emperor. The regent avenged the late emperor and put down the rebellious bandits. He was loved by the people of the Liao Kingdom, and it was natural for him to succeed to the throne!" Liu Bingcheng retorted.

"It is not appropriate for us Song people to comment on the rules and etiquette of the Liao Kingdom. But the previous emperor of the Liao Kingdom had a son, who worshipped the ancestral temple and ascended the throne in the presence of all officials. This is known to everyone. Yelu Yixin launched a mutiny, forcing the Liao emperor to flee the Liao Kingdom. If this is not treason, what is it?" Prime Minister Shen sneered.

"Letting the late emperor's son take the throne is a temporary measure. At that time, Yelu Chongyuan was plotting a rebellion, and in order to better suppress the rebellion, someone needs to take the throne. But according to the discussion of our ministers, he is only a temporary emperor. Whoever suppresses Yelu Chongyuan and avenges the late emperor will be the true emperor of Liao!"

"But Empress Dowager Xiao was greedy for power. She intended to use the fake emperor to control the government. She even killed the regent's entire family. The regent had no choice but to rise up in rebellion." Liu Bingcheng said lightly.

Yelu Yixin was indeed plotting treason, but he naturally could not admit it, and he had to have a "reasonable" explanation to the outside world.

Whether outsiders believe it or not, you have to say this to them.

This is just like when Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Everyone knew that he killed his brother and imprisoned his father, but he himself could not admit it. He also let Li Yuan enthrone him as the crown prince, and he served as the crown prince for a while.

"Haha, is the throne of Liao a joke? It's really ridiculous that someone can take over it temporarily." Han Zhang said sarcastically.

"All right!"

Zhao Xing waved his hand to interrupt the quarrel, looked at Liu Bingcheng impatiently and said: "Just tell me the reason why Yelu Yixin sent you here. If you keep talking nonsense, I will have you expelled."

"Emperor Song, the Regent sent foreign ministers to the Song Dynasty to ask the Song Dynasty to hand over the fake emperor, Empress Dowager Xiao, and the Xiao family. They killed the entire family of the Regent, and this hatred must be avenged! The two countries have an alliance, and the Regent will abide by the alliance after he succeeds to the throne. Destroying the alliance between the two countries because of this little thing will not benefit either the Liao Kingdom or the Song Dynasty." Liu Bingcheng said.

"Are you threatening me? Or are you threatening the Song Dynasty?" Zhao Xing's face turned cold.

"Emperor Song has misunderstood!"

Liu Bingcheng bowed and said, "Foreign ministers would never dare to threaten the Emperor of Song, and the Liao Kingdom has no intention of threatening the Song Dynasty. We are just stating the facts. Empress Dowager Xiao and the fake emperor are very important to the Liao Kingdom, and the Liao Kingdom will not give them up no matter what. If the Song Dynasty is willing to send the people to the Liao Kingdom, the Liao Kingdom is willing to reward them with 10,000 war horses!"

"Your Majesty, the civil unrest in Liao is, after all, an internal affair of Liao, and it is not convenient for the Song Dynasty to interfere. I believe that Empress Dowager Xiao and others should be sent back to Liao." Prime Minister Shen said.

Just now, Han Zhang and I were arguing with Liu Bingcheng because Liu Bingcheng's tone was not respectful when he spoke to Zhao Xing.

As a subject, one cannot stand by and watch as the master humiliates him and he dies.

This does not mean that Prime Minister Shen disagrees to hand over Empress Dowager Xiao and others.

If Zhao Xing had not ignored state affairs recently, he would not have advised the court in person.

But Zhao Xing was obsessed with Empress Dowager Xiao. He was worried that Zhao Xing would be bewitched by her. Even if it would damage the reputation of the Song Dynasty if he handed Empress Dowager Xiao and others over to the Liao Kingdom, he didn't care.

He only wanted to get rid of this scourge, Empress Dowager Xiao.

"I second the proposal!"

At one time, most of the officials in the court stood up to second the motion.

"Humph!"

Zhao Xing looked unhappy and snorted coldly, "Yelü Yixin is a traitor. Song and Liao are brother countries, so Queen Mother Xiao asked Song for help. If I hand over the man to a traitor, how will the world see me!"

After saying that, he looked at Liu Bingcheng and said calmly: "Go back and tell Yelu Yixin that I will never hand him over. I will take on any tricks he has!"

"His Majesty…"

All the civil and military officials in the court became anxious when they saw Zhao Xing speak so decisively.

But Zhao Xing didn't give them time to speak and just walked away.

"Mr. Han, Mr. Shen, look..."

Liu Bingcheng looked at Han Zhang and Shen Xianggong.

"His Majesty is furious, and I dare not persuade him any further." Han Zhang shook his head and left.

Shen Xianggong was silent for a while and then said, "I will persuade your Majesty. Your Excellency should go back to the Honglu Temple and wait for news."

"Then I'll have to trouble Prime Minister Shen. The Regent also hopes that peace can continue to be maintained between the two countries. He said that if the Song Dynasty is dissatisfied with the conditions, they can be negotiated. After all, peace is the most precious thing." Liu Bingcheng said.

"Ah."

Mr. Shen chatted with Liu Bingcheng absentmindedly for a few words, and then Liu Bingcheng said goodbye and left.

"Minister Liu, the Emperor of Song has refused to hand over the hostages. We might as well go back and report to His Majesty and send troops to force the Song Dynasty to hand over the hostages." The accompanying Khitan official said angrily.

The Khitan nobles of the Liao Dynasty have always looked down on the Song Dynasty.

If Yelu Yixin had not summoned them before the mission and told them to take Liu Bingcheng as the host, and if Liu Bingcheng had not told them not to speak when they met the Emperor of Song when they entered the palace, and if he had not been the one to handle the affairs, then he would be the one to handle the affairs.

Just now when Zhao Xing called Yelu Yixin's name, he was about to have a fit.

"If it were that simple, Your Majesty would have sent troops directly. Why would you have sent us as envoys?"

Liu Bingcheng shook his head and smiled, "Don't worry, the more the Emperor Song shows he is unwilling to hand over the prisoners, the more the officials of the Song Dynasty will persuade him to do so."

"But isn't it said outside that Emperor Song is obsessed with Empress Dowager Xiao, and all the officials knelt to persuade him, but Emperor Song ignored them?"

(End of this chapter)