The prince is more stable

Chapter 258: Advice Against Rewards
Putting aside Zhao Xu's status as emperor, Zhao Xiaoqian got along very well with him.

Zhao Xu has a very gentle personality and has the temperament of a refined gentleman. Of course, a gentleman is not a fool, and when it comes to deciding to kill or fight, he will not be polite at all.

For example, when Zhao Xu took power and wanted to restore the new laws, his first target was Zhao Xiaoqian's father, intending to use him as cannon fodder to test the attitudes of the ministers.

If it weren't for Zhao Xiaoqian's quick response, the King of Chu and his son would probably still be guarding the late emperor's tomb in the mountains. Perhaps they might not even receive the treatment that comes with guarding the tomb. It would be a blessing for these victims of court struggles to be able to survive.

Fortunately, Zhao Xiaoqian resolved the crisis that almost destroyed the entire family and turned it into an opportunity. After Zhao Xu got to know Zhao Xiaoqian again, their relationship became increasingly harmonious and intimate.

If you treat people with a normal attitude, Zhao Xu is a friend worth making.

He is a very pure person with a strong sense of self-esteem and shame. He is very eager to change the Song Dynasty, which is why he can reuse Zhao Xiaoqian.

Judging from past events, Zhao Xiaoqian had the ability to help him change the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, Zhao Xu did not hesitate to break the ancestral rules, and despite the pressure from court officials, he overcame all objections and allowed Zhao Xiaoqian to step into the court and into the center of power step by step.

There is never a shortage of talented people in the world, but it must be said that even though Zhao Xu is the emperor, he still has some old-fashioned clan concepts in his heart.

Both are capable and talented, a court official from another family or a clan brother with the same surname, how will Zhao Xu choose?

The answer is obvious.

Zhao Xiaoqian was a clan relative, but he posed no threat to the throne because Zhao Xu was very young and would definitely have a legitimate son in the future. Zhao Xiaoqian had no chance of becoming emperor at all, and the next emperor of the Song Dynasty would definitely be Zhao Xu's legitimate son.

Zhao Xu first eliminated this threat before he dared to boldly reuse Zhao Xiaoqian.

However, Zhao Xu encountered great resistance to re-employing Zhao Xiaoqian, which was beyond his imagination.

After returning to Beijing in triumph from Western Xia, Zhao Xu's four rewards to Zhao Xiaoqian, especially the official position of signing the Privy Council, were fiercely opposed by the ministers.

Even Zhang Dun, who had been warned by Zhao Xu before, submitted a memorial to express his opposition, believing that Zhao Xu's appointment was inappropriate.

It was just that after being criticized, Zhang Dun learned his lesson a little, and the tone in his memorial was quite gentle, but his firm opposition was still visible at a glance.

Don't forget that although the official position of "Signatory of the Privy Council" is the third-ranking person in the Privy Council, Zhao Xu added the word "leader" before the official position, which means that the title awarded to Zhao Xiaoqian was still an honorary title with no actual power, only salary and benefits.

The word "領" was added intentionally by Zhao Xu to test the attitudes of the ministers. If everyone, or most of them, agreed, then Zhao Xu would most likely remove the word "領" and make Zhao Xiaoqian the real third-ranked person in the Privy Council.

Unfortunately, after the decree of reward was issued, the fierce opposition from the ministers was beyond Zhao Xu's expectations.

I guessed that there would be opposition, but I didn't expect that the whole court would oppose it unanimously.

It is indeed a very sensitive matter for the descendants of the clan to hold real power, not to mention that such great power will inevitably affect the interests of many people.

While Zhao Xiaoqian was busy making tea at home, he didn't know that Zhao Xu was so irritable that his hair was almost pulled out.

The current situation is that Zhao Xu will never give in or compromise, and has no intention of taking back his decision.

However, the ministers submitted memorials to the emperor day after day to dissuade him. More and more people submitted memorials. Someone even mobilized the local prefects to submit memorials, and the opposition became more and more powerful.

The reasons for opposition are very simple. The first is the Song-Xia War. Although the Duke of Anle made great contributions, the government promoted him from a Marquis to a Duke, and he has already been rewarded. There is no reason to reward him again. Moreover, this round of rewards is so exaggerated, four rewards in a row. Why don't you go to heaven?

The second is that it is too sensitive for the descendants of the royal family to hold real power. At the beginning, letting him handle official business in the Imperial City Office, the tacit approval of the ministers was already the biggest concession. But this time, he was given the official position of the third person in the Privy Council. Ask the heads on our necks if they agree?

The third is that Zhao Xiaoqian was only nineteen years old. Regardless of his abilities and skills, the court was ultimately a place where seniority mattered.

How many old ministers have served in the court their entire lives, and even after retiring, they still couldn't get an official rank above the fourth rank. You give such great power to a 19-year-old boy. Aren't you afraid that the tombs of your ancestors will be haunted in the middle of the night?
It has to be admitted that the reasons for the ministers' opposition were still valid. Zhao Xu's reward to Zhao Xiaoqian broke many existing rules. Those who break the rules will inevitably be retaliated, and the emperor is no exception.

But Zhao Xu gritted his teeth and refused to compromise.

He had his own plans and pace, and the imperial edict of reward was also full of profound meaning. Moreover, his next target was the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, and the most promising candidate to take it back was only Zhao Xiaoqian.

In the battle with Western Xia, Zhao Xiaoqian has fully demonstrated his ability. Facts have proved that he can shoulder the heavy responsibility and will also give Zhao Xu unexpected surprises, such as breaking the Western Xia capital and poisoning the Western Xia Queen Mother.

"That's how it is..." Zhao Xu smiled bitterly. "I haven't been eating or sleeping well these past few days. Court officials have been coming to the palace to ask for an audience, and all they say are opposing my reward for you." Zhao Xiaoqian probed, "Your Majesty has been wronged. I'm truly guilty of putting you in such a difficult position. How about you step back and revoke the reward? Your Majesty, don't worry about my feelings. To be honest, I'm not interested in promotion; I only want to make a fortune..."

Zhao Xu shook his head decisively: "No! I will make my own arrangements for the rewards. I will need you to do many things in the future. If you don't have the right status, your words will not flow smoothly, and you won't be able to do things well."

Zhao Xiaoqian hesitated and said, "It's not a long-term solution for the emperor and the court officials to remain in this stalemate. We must find a way to break the deadlock..."

Zhao Xu's face darkened as he spoke, "There's absolutely no room for compromise on matters I've decided! Since I ascended the throne, I've been unable to make my own decisions. As the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, I feel like an outsider. Now that I'm ruling the country, they're still trying to force me to compromise and make me obey them. Ha!"

"Zi'an, this isn't a matter of rewarding anyone anymore. I want them to know the true identity of the Song Dynasty!"

…………

After leaving the palace, Zhao Xiaoqian walked to the carriage parked outside the palace gate.

He originally went to the palace today just to deliver tea, but after leaving the palace, Zhao Xiaoqian was in a bad mood.

In fact, Zhao Xiaoqian really had no interest in promotion. His background had destined him to a life of wealth and prosperity. Promotion was only the icing on the cake. It really didn't matter whether he had this icing on the cake or not.

He is just a man who wants to do things seriously, using his own abilities to gradually reverse the fate of the Song Dynasty, change the course of history, and put an abrupt end to the tragedy that is bound to happen in the future.

First of all, it is for himself, and secondly, for the country. It is selfish, but true, he really thinks so.

No matter what his starting point was, Zhao Xiaoqian did things in a down-to-earth manner. Without being modest, it can be said that the Song Dynasty would have become different because of him. From this perspective, Zhao Xiaoqian's importance to this country is greater than Zhao Xu's.

Unfortunately, the court of the Song Dynasty was as chaotic as ever. It was submissive to external parties but attacked internally with heavy blows.

When the literati completely grasped the power of the world, their nature of fighting for power and profit was fully exposed.

Being so harsh towards a hero who had just achieved a major victory in a foreign war, it is understandable that the demise of the Song Dynasty was not unjust.

He looked up at the sky, and the bright sunlight made him squint.

The road ahead is long. Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly realized that his enemies are not all powerful neighbors outside. Perhaps, the more ferocious enemies are within the Song Dynasty.

Chen Shou stood beside the carriage. Seeing Zhao Xiaoqian not moving for a long time, he stepped forward and asked, "Prince, are you going back to the palace?"

Zhao Xiaoqian shook his head: "I suddenly feel like drinking today, let's go to Panlou Street."

Chen Shou understood, and the carriage started off, heading towards Zuihuayin on Panlou Street.

Half an hour later, the carriage arrived outside the gate of Zuihuayin. Zhao Xiaoqian got off the carriage and stared at the plaque of Zuihuayin with gold characters on a black background in a trance.

At this moment, he suddenly remembered that there was a dead green tea in Zuihuayin. What was it called?

Pee?

Just as he was about to step into the brothel, Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly stopped.

There was one thing he had never thought about carefully.

Why do you always come to this brothel when you visit it?
Did they give me a discount or a membership card? There are so many brothels in Bianjing, why do I always come here?
I'm the prince of Chu, rich, handsome, and powerful. Do I owe money to the owner of this brothel? It's always this one.

Zhao Xiaoqian decided not to indulge her this time and try another one. After all, every family has a courtesan and a green tea girl.

So, just as he was about to step through the door, Zhao Xiaoqian retracted his foot and turned to leave, as if he had made up his mind...

Just after taking two steps, a familiar and resentful voice came from inside the brothel door.

"Why did you want to stay and then leave? Don't you like me anymore?"

(End of this chapter)