Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

Zhenzong looked at Zhang Qixian, "What's Zhang Aiqing's opinion?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, the Great Song Dynasty was established by Emperor Taizu. When the first emperor came to the throne, he announced to the world that the family and country had been fighting for a long time, and a long king was needed to inherit the throne. Later, there was an oath of the Golden Chamber, but the successor of the Golden Chamber has long been empty. Only then did it be announced that His Majesty is the heir. As the son of the Great Song Dynasty, His Majesty followed the royal oath and inherited the heir of the Taizu. The minister thought that the royal ancestral temple should not be called uncle, but should be passed down from brother to son. It is not an exaggeration for the ancestor to be the emperor's father."

"Your Majesty!" Sun Wensheng heard this and played again, "The late emperor worshiped the Taizu Emperor for 20 years. He called himself a filial brother, and the ancestral temple was also called the emperor's brother."

"Your Majesty" Zhang Qixian said, "The late emperor is the younger brother of Taizu. It is right to call yourself a filial brother, but your majesty is the son of the late emperor. What is wrong with calling Taizu the emperor?"

Zhang Wensheng played again, "Your Majesty, Tang Xuanzong Li Longji called Tang Zhongzong Li Xian the Emperor's Uncle, Tang Dezong Li Shi called Tang Zhongzong Li Xian the Tang Emperor's Uncle Gaozu, and Tang Li's ancestral halls all have this title. I think that Your Majesty called Taizu in the temple. The emperor's uncle is the official ceremony. After repeated discussions with the ministers and colleagues in the Ministry of Rites, it was decided to sacrifice in the future. Please worship the Taizu Emperor and the late emperor at the same time. Although there is no distinction between high positions, there is a difference between the left and the right. Sit and worship together."

"Sit separately and worship together." Zhenzong frowned, "Brother Huang, I want to hear Brother Huang's opinion."

De Fang cupped his hands, "Returning to Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has found out the precedents of various dynasties. If it follows the rules of etiquette, I have no objection, but I do have a few words to say, but they have little to do with this matter."

"Oh? What does the emperor want to say?"

"In July of the sixth year of Kaibao, Emperor Taizu summoned his two imperial brothers and the youngest son of the eldest son to live in the inner palace to replace their father to enjoy the holy grace."

Shinzong nodded, "That's right. At the age of eight, I was called to live in the palace with the third son Deyi of Uncle Qin and Weiji, the second son of Brother Wei Wang. The emperor took good care of the three of us. I also bathed in the grace of the great ancestor." For many years, I still dare not forget."

"After the death of Taizu, the first emperor ascended the throne of the Great Song Emperor, and his ministers and brothers shared the grace of heaven, and they were still called princes. For 20 years, the ministers kept the father and son's rites to the first emperor. Above the palace, the minister still worships the late emperor as the emperor's uncle." Defang looked at Zhenzong and said, "As long as the etiquette and laws are not abolished, filial piety can still be practiced. I don't know if the minister's words can relieve your majesty's worries."

Zhenzong also looked at Defang, "Brother Huang is right, the family and country have laws and regulations, and people's hearts also have filial piety and conscience. I have made a decision."

Everyone looked at Zhenzong, waiting for his final decision. Zhenzong stood up and said, "According to the proposal of the Ministry of Rites, the Taizu Temple was renamed the Emperor's Uncle. During the sacrifice, the Taizu and the late emperor sat on the left and right and worshiped together. The first emperor worshiped him as a filial son."

Defang bowed his hands, "Your Majesty is benevolent and filial, and he is the king of sages."

Zhang Qixian looked at Defang and saluted, "Your Majesty is wise."

Sun Wensheng and officials from the Ministry of Rites also looked at each other. Since Zhenzong had changed the name of the sacrificial temple according to the etiquette law, he had no right to interfere with the verbal title, so they all bowed their hands and saluted, "Your Majesty is wise."

"That's it." Zhenzong nodded, "By the way, brother, when the imperial court was in court this morning, His Majesty, the supervisory censor, said that the people recommended by Ju Fu, an official from Mizhou, were improper. According to the court's regulations, they should be fined." For punishment, the imperial court should also issue an edict to temporarily dismiss him from office, and send personnel to investigate the details."