I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 33 Teaching the Palace Maids
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For three consecutive days, Zhao Xu summoned Zhao Ya to the palace to have an audience.

This also reflects from another aspect that Zhao Xu really wanted to solve the problems of the Zhao Song Dynasty and eliminate the hidden dangers of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

In order to instill in Zhao Xu the idea that only he could save the Zhao Song Dynasty, and to prevent Zhao Xu from dying suddenly as in history, but instead having ample time to appoint a successor, Zhao Ya really said a lot to the dying Zhao Xu.

This opened many new doors for Zhao Xu, who had been in an information cocoon.

"Why didn't Prince Shen tell me this earlier?" Zhao Xu blamed.

"I haven't met the master who taught me for three years. Furthermore, the late emperor decreed that princes cannot interfere in government affairs. How dare I disobey my father's order? If I hadn't seen my royal brother toiling day and night for the Song Dynasty, yet failing to find the right method, and if I hadn't seen those with ulterior motives, who knew the real problem of the Song Dynasty but kept my royal brother in the dark, and took advantage of the fact that the imperial family had no one, how could I have dared to overstep my bounds?"

——In order to explain his knowledge and ability, Zhao Ya created a master out of nothing.

Zhao Xu's expression was solemn upon hearing this, a flash of pain and indignation in his eyes. He thought to himself, "I have ascended the throne since I was young. Although I have always wanted to revitalize the country, I often feel powerless. The ministers in the court are all selfish, some are trying to protect themselves, while others are forming cliques for personal gain. How many of them truly share my worries and care about the future of the Song Dynasty?"

Zhao Xu looked at Zhao Ya and felt more and more regretful that Zhao Ya was a prince. At the same time, he was also considering whether abolishing the rule that royal family members could not interfere in politics for Zhao Ya would bring more benefits than disadvantages, or more disadvantages than benefits?
Not long after, Western Xia came to apologize and ask for peace after the defeat in Pingxia City.

Soon, Chief Qingtang surrendered the city.

Zhao Xu's attention was soon attracted by his two brilliant political achievements.

At the beginning, many ministers disagreed with Zhao Xu's decision to fight this war.

At that time, the Zhao Song Dynasty really had no money to defeat it.

It was Zhao Xu who sent people to borrow money from wealthy businessmen and was able to fight this battle reluctantly.

As a result, in the Battle of Pingxia City, the Song army defeated the 300,000-strong invading Xia army. The commander-in-chief of the Xia army, Empress Dowager Xiao Liang, was almost captured. She barely escaped by abandoning her ceremonial guards and changing her clothes.

From then on, the Song army basically controlled the Hengshan and Tiandushan areas.

This is a glorious victory.

Thanks to these two things, Zhao Ya finally didn't have to go to Zhao Xu.

The next day, Zhao Ya came to Cide Palace to pay a visit to Empress Dowager Xiang.

As soon as they met, Empress Dowager Xiang teased, "Why, you don't have to go to His Majesty anymore?"

"My royal brother has no time to care for me recently."

Without waiting for the Empress Dowager to ask again, Zhao Ya took the initiative to "confess": "I don't know whether it is a blessing or a curse for me to tell this to my brother. If my brother is really determined to reform according to my method, it will inevitably cause a huge political turmoil."

At this point, Zhao Ya shook his head and said, "Forget it. The meat eaters will make their own plans. I have already made it clear to my brother what needs to be said and what should be paid attention to. It is up to him, the emperor, to decide."

To be honest, Empress Dowager Xiang was also afraid that Zhao Xu would act rashly and provoke collective resistance from the dignitaries, gentry, and wealthy families.

But on the other hand, the Zhao Song Dynasty had reached the middle and late stages of the dynasty, with numerous problems that were difficult to reverse, and an empty treasury. Without effective reforms, it would not survive.

This is also the reason why, over the years, the old party has changed its tone and started to support feasible reforms, and why Empress Dowager Xiang has gradually changed from a staunch conservative to a centrist.

The truth is, the situation is so pressing that if the Zhao Song Dynasty continues to take the conservative path, it will not be able to hold on.

It's impossible for the great Song Dynasty to always rely on borrowing money to survive, right?

Speaking of borrowing money, Empress Dowager Xiang looked at Zhao Ya and asked, "Do you regret lending all the money you have worked hard to earn to His Majesty?" Zhao Ya understood as soon as he heard it. Zhao Xu had Empress Dowager Xiang's spies around him, and Zhao Xu's subordinates were not doing their work efficiently.

"I don't want to borrow it either, but if the imperial guards mutinied and gathered a crowd to besiege the capital, then my whole family, or even the whole clan, might be killed by the soldiers. I can still tell what is more and what is less." Zhao Ya said.

At that time, Song Shenzong, 38 years old, died of illness.

Zhao Ji's mother, Concubine Chen, was very sad. She guarded the mausoleum of Song Shenzong day and night, without eating or drinking. Not long after, she passed away with Song Shenzong.

That year, Zhao Ji was only three years old.

Empress Dowager Xiang's earlier son and daughter both died young, so she took good care of Zhao Ji, who had lost his biological parents, just as if he were her own son.

Zhao Ji, together with other princes such as Zhao Ya and Zhao Si, grew up in a carefree environment.

Zhao Ji was very sensible, smart, studious, had a wide range of interests, was friendly and filial, and showed extraordinary talent in calligraphy and painting at an early age. He also liked Cuju and was a good kicker, so he was deeply loved by Empress Dowager Xiang.

As a child, "Zhao Ya" was not outstanding in any aspect. He was serious and worried since childhood, which was very different from Zhao Ji, so Empress Dowager Xiang did not like him very much.

However, it was not until today that Empress Dowager Xiang realized that Zhao Ya was mature beyond his years and had been stronger than Zhao Ji since childhood, but he was unwilling to show himself.

The key is that Zhao Ya values ​​friendship and loyalty and knows how to consider the overall situation.

More importantly, Zhao Ya is really capable.

Not to mention that he had a thorough understanding of the political situation and had great political acumen, he also made millions of strings of cash with one move and lent it all to the court to eliminate hidden dangers.

How could such methods and such a pattern be compared with Zhao Ji, who only knew how to play the piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, reciting poems, composing couplets, playing Cuju and polo?
In short, Empress Dowager Xiang now likes Zhao Ya more and more. He is not at all like Zhao Ji who is getting closer and closer to Liu Qingjing. The thought of him makes her feel disheartened.

The mother and son chatted for a while about the current situation, and then the Empress Dowager suddenly said, "I heard that all the young maids in your house have slept with you?"

"This……"

Zhao Ya immediately realized that the people that Empress Dowager Xiang had placed around him had not been cleared out.

Zhao Ya made up his mind: "I will ask Li Yan to find this person and tell Empress Dowager Xiang everything, so that I will not have any secrets."

Zhao Ya wanted to make a subtle excuse:
"They seduced me. I'm not as determined as the original owner. I was afraid of being blamed by you, so I remained a virgin until death. In the end, I got everything."

"There are only about ten of them in total. They flirt with me every day. It's too much. I can't tolerate it."

"I want to have my own son soon. I don't want to be like Zhao Xu, who sacrificed his life for a son."

But Zhao Ya knew that if he said so, he would definitely be seen as irresponsible by Empress Dowager Xiang and would lose points.

So Zhao Ya chose to say with a playful smile: "Nothing can be hidden from my mother."

Seeing that Zhao Ya admitted it so openly, Empress Dowager Xiang did not criticize him harshly. She just glared at him and said: "If you go too far in this matter, it will easily harm your health. It is better to be moderate."

Zhao Ya readily agreed: "Yes, yes, I will obey your orders."

Then, Empress Dowager Xiang changed her tone and said, "Although you already understand this, the rules cannot be broken. When you leave later, take the palace maid I prepared for you with you..."

……

(End of this chapter)