Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

"Returning to the lord, I heard that His Highness the grandson was ill, so I specially ordered someone to carve this object. The dragon tortoise is an auspicious beast for curing diseases and avoiding evil. It entrusts children to imply auspiciousness. The official has asked the monks of Daxiangguo Temple Chanting scriptures and praying for blessings, I hope His Royal Highness the eldest grandson is well."

"Master Zhang really has a heart." Defang nodded, "Then what's the meaning of the flowers on it?"

"Returning to the prince, this flower is a peony."

"Peony? Why use peony?" Defang was puzzled

"My lord, please forgive me..."

"Forgive me? What does Master Zhang mean?"

"The lower officials heard that the prince and the empress met because of the peony, so they used the peony as a seat to protect the children."

Defang and Concubine Di looked at each other, and Defang said, "I didn't expect Mrs. Zhang to know so much about the lonely king and the princess. It seems that the eunuchs have told you a lot."

"Your officer... I am ashamed of myself."

"Master Zhang, other people's gifts are gold, silver, jewelry, jade and antiques, why did you give this nanmu object?"

"Forgive me, my lord, but my salary is meager. I'm afraid I'll make my lord laugh at me if I give you precious gold, silver and jade wares. Therefore, my lord specially chooses high-quality fragrant nanmu and golden nanmu as raw materials to carve. This kind of nanmu is not only as beautiful as gold silk, , and there is a delicate fragrance in itself, the wood is warm and soft, nourishing the body and nourishing Qi in winter and summer, the lower official is specially made for His Highness the eldest grandson."

"This fine golden silk and this fine carving are also expensive." De Fang smiled, at this time Cong Pu touched the dragon turtle pillow and said "fragrant" and then laid his head on it, De Fang Fang laughed and said, "Cong Pu, isn't it more fragrant lying down?"

"Xiang" looked up at Defang from Pu and smiled.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha" De Fang was very happy seeing Cong Pu like this, so he said, "Master Zhang will accept this gift from the lonely king on behalf of Cong Pu."

"Thank you, my lord." Zhang Ji hurriedly cupped his hands

"Well, Mr. Zhang, please sit down."

"Thank you, my lord, for your seat." Zhang Jie sat on half a chair, and De Fang said, "Master Zhang, the lonely king knows that it is not easy for you to be an official in the court, and it is very difficult to handle things, but if you can't even tell right from wrong, then You just lost your conscience."

"Your official is ashamed. I will keep in mind the instructions I gave you before the Royal Palace."

"But the two of them bribed you?"

"Your official..." Zhang Ji frowned and lowered his head, De Fang said, "If you have anything to say, you may as well speak out, there are no outsiders here."

"My lord, Lan Minzheng and Pei Yu once approached the lower officials, saying that they wanted the lower officials to recommend them to His Majesty as bachelor envoys and deputy bachelor envoys. The lower officials didn't want to do this, but they said that if the lower officials refused to go up, they would It will alienate His Majesty from the lower officials."

"Pei Yu is good at reading and chanting, and he has some literary talents. The lonely king had a good impression of him before, but now he is threatening the ministers with Lan Min to recommend him. It's really disgusting!"

"My lord, although the officials are Hanlin bachelors, it is rare for them to be trusted by His Majesty, so..."

"Gu Wang understands that they don't look for so many bachelors in the Hanlin Academy, they just look for you. It's not because you are a surrender. No matter how good you are, you will be hard to be reused. They just see that you have aspirations that are difficult to achieve, and use this to threaten you. Help them get in position, and then you can also benefit, so it will also benefit each other."

Zhang Ji lowered his head, "I am ashamed to be an official..."

"Master Zhang still has self-knowledge." Defang looked at Zhang Ji and said, "Why did you come to see the lonely king today?"

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