Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

"Not everyone can do this kind of duty, Yuqiao, are you right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Pan Yuqiao said, "It's rare to see an official like a prince in the whole court."

"Yuqiao," Taizong asked, "it only takes a cup of tea to come to Nanqing Palace, and you praise Nanqing Palace and Defang so much. It seems that you will appreciate it even more when you arrive at the garden."

"Returning to Your Majesty, my daughter is telling the truth, it's really nice here, and the prince is indeed His Majesty's servant."

"Well," Taizong nodded, "Well said, Defang is my own nephew, and now he is the head of my nephews, and he will help me protect the great Song Dynasty in the future."

"I'm terrified," Defang said, clasping his hands

Taizong patted Defang, "Okay, let's not talk about these things, don't be obedient all the time, here are all my family members, today I am here to drink tea and enjoy flowers, and there is a new guest, Yuqiao, Defang Fang, you should greet her well."

"Yes, Uncle Emperor," Defang said, "the garden is just ahead."

Several people came to sit around the stone table in the pavilion in the garden. Pan Yuqiao just sat down and stood up to look at the fish in the pond beside her. "My lord, there are so many fish in your pond."

"Yes, Miss Pan, the king and the concubine will come to feed them in three to five days, and there are special people in charge of taking care of the flowers, plants, fish and birds on weekdays."

"No wonder, this fish looks really good."

Taizong asked, "Defang, where is your talking parrot?"

"Return to Your Majesty, I have already sent someone to get it." Defang was talking, and the servant brought the parrot over. When the parrot saw Defang and Concubine Di, it shouted, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand years!"

Defang frowned, cupped his hands and said to Taizong, "Your Majesty, my parrot... can only say this, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"No problem, this little guy is quite interesting. How many years has the emperor's nephew been raising him?"

"Return to Your Majesty, it's been a year"

"Who gave it to you?"

"Return to Your Majesty, it was sent by Wangfei's elder brother Di Shoujie."

"Di Shoujie?" Taizong thought for a while, "Young Master Di, um, why did he only give the imperial nephew a parrot?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, two years ago when I was appointed a virtuous king, my brother-in-law said that I had no valuable gifts to congratulate, so I asked someone to find this parrot, and I trained it myself, saying that it will only say this after half a year, but it will come out again. I don’t know how to teach others, but last year on Chen’s birthday, my brother-in-law gave it to Chen.”

"Personally train the parrot for the emperor's nephew? Hehe, it seems that Di Shoujie is very free."

"Your Majesty, my brother-in-law is taking up the post due to his father's shadow, but he has no real job so far. Please let your Majesty let him do something for the court."

Taizong looked at Defang, "Is the imperial nephew begging for an official for Di Shoujie?"

"I don't mean that, I mean..."

"Hey" Taizong shook his hand, "What's the emperor's nephew asking for an official for his wife and brother? Will I still refuse?"

"Your Majesty," De Fang cupped his hands and said, "I'm not seeking an official position for the sake of my wife and brother, but my wife and brother are really talented people, so they should be able to share your majesty's worries."

"Oh? The emperor's nephew said so, but I can think about it. What official is he filling now?"

"Return to Your Majesty, my brother-in-law is now making up for Zuo Ban Dianzhi."

"Zuoban Dianzhi..." Taizong thought for a while and said, "If he doesn't think his official position is low, I can let him serve as a military patrol first. What does the emperor think?"

"Your Majesty's grace, although the rank of the military patrol is not high, it is an indispensable position in the Kaifeng government. It is in charge of the battle in Bianjing and the affairs of pushing the marsh. If the wife and brother can take up this position, they must have experience."