Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

"Wait," Concubine Di said, "My lord, my brother hasn't been here for a long time, he must be on official business, so don't bother me."

"It's true, then I'll go to the palace tomorrow to ask, and see what my brother has been up to lately."

"Your Majesty!" The gatekeeper brought a person to the front of the hall, "There are people from the palace, Your Majesty hastened to call you into the palace."

De Fang looked at the visitor, "Do you know why His Majesty called the lonely king into the palace?"

"Return to the prince, this morning the Ministry of Rites once again asked His Majesty to revise the title of the temple after Emperor Xizu (the great-grandfather of Song Taizu)."

Hearing this, Defang had a somewhat displeased expression, "Understood, the lonely king is going to change his clothes, father-in-law, please go back to the palace first."

"Yes, my little one will leave." The visitor withdrew, and Concubine Di asked, "My lord, is it still the same thing as before?"

"Yeah, this matter has been discussed for more than a year, why is it endless?" Defang clenched his fist, "The Taizu founded the Great Song Dynasty, so what's the matter with your Majesty calling him a dutiful son? It’s really abominable to make a fuss about it!”

"My lord, what exactly does the Ministry of Rites want?"

"When they asked His Majesty to pay homage to the ancestors, the Taizu emperor and the late emperors would sit on the same seat regardless of worship."

"This...Although the Taizu Emperor and the First Emperor are brothers, after all, the elders and younger ones are orderly. It is true that the emperor should sit on the same throne." Concubine Di shook her head, "What about the opinions of the ministries?"

"All the ministries agree with Mr. Zhang Qixian's opinion that the sacrifices should be made in order of seniority, and the title of the temple will not be changed, but only the Ministry of Rites insists on changing it."

"What about Your Majesty?"

"Your Majesty wants the Ministry of Rites to check whether there are such precedents in the past dynasties before making a decision."

"If... really found it?"

"If there is, what else can I do? Change the temple name, ask your majesty to stop calling the emperor Taizu a filial son, and change it to the emperor's uncle, to rectify the name, and to have the orthodoxy of the throne." Defang shook his head and said with a wry smile, "That lonely king The prince who has been the late emperor for 20 years, how should he address the late emperor when he pays homage to him in the future? It’s really messed up.”

"Your Majesty, since you can't change anything, just listen to it and forget about it. Don't embarrass Your Majesty, just enter the palace."

Defang sighed, "Let them make a fuss. When this matter is settled, the lonely king will drive out the bastards proposed by the Ministry of Rites out of the capital! Let them go to other counties to share your majesty's worries!"

"My lord," Concubine Di said softly, "Emperor Taizu founded the Great Song Foundation. Your lord, you are the son of Emperor Taizu. No matter what you change, the blood of the royal family will never change. Don't lose your temper. When you come back, your concubine will give you a piece of cake." You stew the soup and drink it, and it will be smooth."

Defang gave a long hum, "Madam's stew is better than the panacea of ​​the national players."

"Then drink more." Concubine Di pulled Defang up, "I will help you change your clothes."

Defang changed her clothes and entered the palace in a sedan chair, and went directly to the Chongzheng Hall. Zhenzong was reading the booklets. Standing next to him were Zhang Qixian, Minister of the Ministry of War, and several officials from the Ministry of Rites.

"Brother Huang is here, please be free." Zhenzong closed the folder, "Brother Huang, take a look at this."

Defang took the booklet and looked at it, and Zhenzong said, "The Ministry of Rites has found a precedent in the previous dynasty regarding the matter of offering sacrifices to the temple, but I haven't decided yet."

Defang closed the booklet and looked at the Ministry of Rites' verdict on Sun Wensheng from the Taichang Court of Rites. "Master Sun, the Ministry of Rites' opinion has not changed?"

Sun Wensheng cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, my lord, there are precedents to follow in all dynasties, such as the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Min Ji Qi and Duke Xi Shen of the Lu State, the Western Jin Dynasty, Emperor Hui Sima Zhong and Emperor Huai Sima Chi, the previous Tang Dynasty, Tang Zhongzong Li Xian and Ruizong Li Dan are both emperors of the same generation, so I ask your majesty to worship the Taizu emperor and the ancestors of the emperor at the same level, no longer in order of priority."