The prince is more stable

Chapter 204 Deep love for licking the calf
Bianjing City.

It is winter now and the weather is getting colder. Even in the prosperous capital, there are fewer pedestrians on the streets. If it weren't for the need to make a living, no one would be willing to go out in such bad weather.

Yeonbok Palace, Qingshou Hall.

Prince Zhao Ji of Suining smiled gently, took out Bozhou silk from a sandalwood box, and handed it to Empress Dowager Xiang with both hands.

"The Empress Dowager is frail and often ill, and the weather has turned cold. I am worried that she has caught a cold, so I have specially ordered this golden silk from Bozhou. It is said that Bozhou weavers produce only ten bolts a year, and the workmanship is extremely precious. I am a filial son, and please accept it, Your Majesty."

Later, Dowager Xiang sat in the hall with a happy smile on her face. Looking at Zhao Ji's well-behaved and sensible appearance, she felt that he was just like her own son.

Zhao Ji's biological mother was not Empress Dowager Xiang. She was just the empress of Emperor Shenzong. When Emperor Shenzong was alive, she gave birth to a son, but unfortunately he died young. Later, she gave birth to a daughter, Princess Yanxi, who also died at the age of eleven.

The Empress Dowager Xiang had no children, but she was the empress of Emperor Shenzong after all, so after Zhao Xu ascended the throne, she was honored as the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager had a high and noble status, but she was childless and her life in the harem was too lonely.

Fortunately, Emperor Shenzong's eleventh son, Prince Suining Zhao Ji, often came to the palace to pay her respects, talk to her about interesting stories of Bianjing and the troubles of youth, and often gave her some valuable small gifts.

Humans are emotional animals, and the Queen Mother is no exception.

Over time, Empress Dowager Xiang became increasingly close to the Prince of Suining, treating him almost as her own son. Among the many princes of Emperor Shenzong, Empress Dowager Xiang only looked up to Zhao Ji and often spoke well of him in front of Zhao Xu.

Today Zhao Ji came to the palace. He came, he came, and he brought gifts.

Silk is precious, but what is even more precious is Zhao Ji's filial piety. Although he is not his biological son, the love that Zhao Ji often shows for his daughter deeply moved Empress Dowager Xiang.

The mother and son chatted about interesting things in Bianliang for a while. Zhao Ji's witty remarks made Empress Dowager Xiang laugh uncontrollably. The harem was too lonely, and only when Zhao Ji visited her did she feel a little happy and that life was worth living.

Zhao Ji came to the palace today to give gifts. After giving the gifts and chatting, Zhao Ji said goodbye and left the palace.

Walking out of the palace gate, Zhao Ji looked up at the gray sky, squinted his eyes, and murmured, "It's going to snow..."

Outside the palace gate, the personal eunuch Wang Xi came over and respectfully dusted Zhao Ji. Just as he was about to help him into the carriage, Zhao Ji did not move, with a look of deep thought on his face.

"My cousin, the Marquis of Anle, should have arrived in Weizhou, right?" Zhao Ji suddenly asked.

Wang Xi was stunned for a moment, not understanding why the prince mentioned Zhao Xiaoqian for no reason, but he still said, "Yes, considering the distance, the Marquis of Anle and his Dragon Guard Battalion should have arrived in Weizhou and met up with Zhang Yu."

Zhao Ji sighed, "These are troubled times! Why do they have to provoke the Song Dynasty when there is nothing wrong? The Xixia villains are too ignorant. I hope Brother Zi'an can lead the army to teach them a lesson."

The king laughed and said, "Your Highness is absolutely right. The Xixia villains are born barbarians and are unyielding. My Great Song Royal Master should teach them a lesson so that they will learn from him for generations to come."

Zhao Ji, however, revealed a strange smile, and whispered to himself, "Whether or not to teach him a lesson is secondary. The emperor actually gave Brother Zi'an military power, and the power of one of the four most elite armies of the Great Song Dynasty. This decision truly surprises me."

"My dear clan member, it would be fine if he was given an official with real power, but he can actually lead the army. After the emperor took power, the atmosphere of our Song Dynasty has been completely changed. Perhaps the world is about to change."

Wang Xi's eyes flickered.

Having served the prince for many years, Wang Xi naturally understood his temperament.

Zhao Ji seemed to be feeling emotional at the moment, but Wang Xi was not sure what he actually meant. However, as a eunuch, he could only follow his master's words.

"The Marquis of Anle County is able to hold an official position and lead troops, which shows that the emperor truly favors him..."

Zhao Ji looked at him with a smile: "What do you want to say?"

Wang Xi hesitated for a moment and said, "What I mean is that you, the Prince, are the emperor's real brother. Regardless of blood relationship or ability, you are far superior to the Marquis of Anle. But the emperor only favors him and ignores you. I really can't understand..."

"You and the Guan family are the real brothers from the same father. Logically, everything that belongs to the Marquis of Anle County should be yours."

Zhao Ji stared at him expressionlessly for a long time, then suddenly said, "When you return to the palace, go and receive ten blows of the caning yourself."

Wang Xi said in panic: "I know my crime, I will die!"

Zhao Ji smiled and said, "Watch your mouth. If you still don't understand the truth that words can bring disaster, I can only make you disappear from this world."

Wang Xi broke out in a cold sweat and immediately knelt down on his knees and kowtowed repeatedly.

Zhao Ji looked up at the sky and murmured, "Weizhou is a good place..."

Inside Weizhou City.

Huanqing Road Military Affairs Office.

Zhao Xiaoqian never expected that he, the deputy envoy of the General Administration of War and Pacification, would have his own office location and even his own office.

I originally thought that the Jinglüe Anfushi was just an official title, but after entering the city I found out that there was actually a Jinglüe Si in the city, a formal imperial office.

Given his official position, he is undoubtedly the second in command in the Jinglüe Division, except for Zhang Qie.

After entering the city, Zhao Xiaoqian was invited to the most luxurious restaurant in the city. All the civil and military officials of Weizhou were present, and Zhang Yu held a banquet to welcome Zhao Xiaoqian.

Officials were busy with social gatherings and clinking glasses, and Zhang Qie was no exception.

To be honest, Zhao Xiaoqian really wanted to refuse this banquet.

The situation is tight both at the front and at the rear, and Zhao Xiaoqian really doesn't want to leave a bad reputation.

However, many officials from Huanqing Road were looking at him eagerly, as if the welcoming ceremony was not important, but they had been hungry for many meals and were just waiting for this meal.

Under the hungry eyes of a group of officials, Zhao Xiaoqian had no choice but to attend the banquet reluctantly.

During the banquet, the guests and hosts toasted each other. Zhao Xiaoqian used countless tricks, but he was still drunk by the officials and felt dizzy.

The drinking capacity of people in the northwest...I have to admit it, and it is still the same a thousand years later.

In comparison, Zhao Xiaoqian is simply a delicate and fragile glass body.

During the meal, he had a lively chat with Zhe Keshi. Zhe Keshi was extremely jealous of the 5,000 flintlock rifles. He kept asking Zhao Xiaoqian questions and became more and more sensitive. Fortunately, no one from the Imperial City Bureau was present, otherwise Zhe Keshi would probably be taken to the Bingjing Bureau as a spy.

Zhao Xiaoqian asked Zhe Keshi about the names and personalities of the officials and generals in Huanqing Road, as well as the strategies and tactics of the Song army in fighting against the Western Xia army.

As they became more familiar with each other, Zhao Xiaoqian discovered something horrifying.

Zhang Yu was actually a cousin of Prime Minister Zhang Dun.

In terms of age, Zhang Qiao is eight years older than Zhang Dun, so Zhang Dun has to call him brother.

When Zhao Xiaoqian found out, his first reaction was to dig his throat with his fingers and spit out the wine he had just drunk.

Zhao Xiaoqian and Zhang Dun did not get along, and he was very worried that Zhang Dun would poison the welcoming wine or something.

On second thought, Zhang Qie would not do such a stupid thing. The consequences would be too serious.

After the banquet, Zhao Xiaoqian only remembered to toast and greet the officials frequently, but the names and positions of these officials... Sorry, I drank too much and didn't remember any of them.

After drinking, Zhao Xiaoqian returned to the Jinglüesi and took a nap in the backyard room. When he woke up, it was already dusk.

A policeman had been waiting quietly outside the door. After Zhao Xiaoqian opened the door, the policeman respectfully told him that Zhang Qie was handling border affairs in the main hall, and asked him to go to the main hall after the county lord sobered up, as General Zhang had something to discuss with the county lord.

Zhao Xiaoqian rushed to the main hall, where Zhe Keshi, Zhong Jianzhong, Zong Ze, and several generals of the Northwest Army were still present.

Seeing Zhao Xiaoqian finally arrive, Zhang Qie stroked his beard and said with a smile: "The County Marquis is not a good drinker. I'm afraid he needs to practice more, otherwise it will be difficult to make friends in the northwest."

Zhao Xiaoqian woke up with a terrible hangover and a terrible headache. He sighed and said, "Next time, whoever drinks with me will get ten blows with the military stick first. Isn't this bullying an honest man?"

Everyone in the hall laughed.

After chatting for a few more words, Zhang Yu's face suddenly darkened. He said, "Military reports arrived this afternoon that the Western Xia army is approaching Hongzhou City. The Hongzhou governor, Yao Keshen, followed my orders and evacuated the civilians from the city ahead of time. They retreated over a hundred miles. The city's garrison, numbering approximately 5,000, faced the Western Xia army head-on."

"There's also a military report. The Western Xia army is advancing like a hot knife through butter, occupying over twenty of our Great Song strongholds. Queen Dowager Liang of Western Xia may be planning to complete her victory in a single battle. She mustered 300,000 troops yesterday and is heading straight for Hongzhou."

Everyone present gasped and their faces turned extremely ugly.

(End of this chapter)