The prince is more stable

Chapter 487: The Emperor and His Ministers Have No Doubt
In Qionglin Garden, beside an open and green meadow, a carriage on the roadside began to shake inexplicably, accompanied by a rhythmic squeaking sound.

A dozen concubines in the palace looked at the shaking carriage from afar, each of them covering their mouths and laughing secretly, pointing at the carriage with their pretty faces flushed, and talking about something.

After a long time, Zhao Hao was helped out of the car, his steps a little unsteady.

He took out a small jade box from his arms, inside which was a red pill the size of a thumb. Zhao Hao stared at the pill hesitantly for a moment, then tilted his head back and swallowed it.

His slightly pale face soon turned rosy and he became energetic.

Zhao Hao laughed heartily and pointed at another concubine lying on the grass, shouting, "You, that's you! What are you standing there for? Come up and give birth to a son for me!"

The concubine stepped forward shyly and happily and got on the carriage.

Soon, the carriage began to shake again.

This time the shaking lasted longer. At this moment, a team of imperial guards came from Qionglin Garden and were stopped by the imperial guards from the palace guarding the surrounding area.

The commanders of the imperial guards of both sides stepped forward and exchanged a few words with each other. Then the commander of the imperial guards of the palace was startled and hurried to the side of the carriage.

"Your Highness, Your Highness! We cannot stay here for long."

The shaking carriage stopped instantly, and Zhao Hao's impatient voice came from inside: "What's the matter?"

"The Emperor wishes to visit the garden today. The palace guards have arrived, and the Emperor can proceed to Qionglin Garden immediately."

Zhao Hao, who was inside the carriage, was startled and hurriedly said, "Quickly move the carriage to the side of the road! Don't block the road and disturb the emperor!"

The palace carriage was quickly moved to the grass by the roadside, and Zhao Hao hurriedly put on his clothes in the carriage.

However, Zhao Xu's imperial carriage soon appeared on the tree-lined road of Qionglin Garden. In front of the ceremonial team, at the shouts of the palace servants, Zhao Hao, who had not yet been fully dressed, had to hurriedly get off the carriage and stand quietly by the roadside to bow.

When the imperial carriage was about to pass by Zhao Hao, it suddenly stopped and Zhao Xu's surprised voice came from inside.

"Huh? Isn't this Uncle Chu?"

The pearl curtain of the imperial carriage was lifted, and the personal eunuch Zheng Chunhe carefully helped Zhao Xu down.

Zhao Hao hurriedly bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty, I, King Hao of Chu, pay my respects to you."

Seeing that he was so fat that he had difficulty even bending over, Zhao Xu couldn't help but smile and personally went forward to help him up.

"We are family, there is no need to be so formal. False courtesy is for outsiders to see. You and I, uncle and nephew, just need to show some courtesy."

Zhao Hao said gratefully: "Thank you for your understanding, Your Excellency, but I believe that etiquette cannot be abolished and etiquette cannot be neglected..."

"Alright, alright, Uncle Wang, when did you learn the ways of that pedantic scholar? You should learn more from Zi'an. He's never been polite in front of me and even snatched food from me, haha."

After a pause, Zhao Xu finally saw Zhao Hao's appearance clearly.

Zhao Hao's clothes were disheveled at this moment, with half of his collar open, revealing his white undergarment. His hair was disheveled, his bun hanging loose, and even his skin was abnormally red...

Zhao Xu opened his eyes wide in surprise, then looked around and found that not far behind Zhao Hao, there was a female member of the royal family with slightly messy clothes and loose hair.

Zhao Xu seemed to understand something and his face darkened.

Look around at the charming scenery, and then look at the adulterers in this beautiful scenery...

In broad daylight, in the wild of the royal gardens, this uncle Wang was having quite a bit of fun.

Zhao Xu's cheeks twitched a few times.

My Qionglin Garden is dirty.

Pretending not to notice anything, Zhao Xu's smile was still as warm as the spring breeze.

"Uncle Wang is actually enjoying himself in the garden today. I guess he heard the news from the northern front and is out celebrating, right?"

Zhao Hao blinked his small green eyes. Of course he had heard the news from the northern front, but it had nothing to do with his outing to the garden today.

He went out purely for some field work.

"Ah, I heard about it. I heard about it. The news is very encouraging. I congratulate the emperor."

Zhao Xu laughed and said, "Uncle Wang has a wonderful son. The Great Song has been established for a hundred years, and we've never been so proud. Haha! At the beginning of this spring, the Liao Kingdom sent envoys, saying they wanted annual tributes. Pah! How dare they even ask for annual tributes?"

"I immediately told the Liao envoy that from now on, the Song Dynasty will stop providing annual tributes to the Liao Kingdom. If the Liao Kingdom is dissatisfied, they can go to war. First, ask the Prince of Hejian, who is stationed at the border in Zhending, whether he agrees."

Zhao Xu spoke with great joy, his whole body emitting a happy aura. It was obvious that this incident really made him feel relieved. The humiliation he had suffered for many years was finally redeemed on the battlefield.

Zhao Hao was also very happy, but he still said modestly: "This is all due to the emperor's virtue and prestige, which forced the Liao Kingdom to submit and look up to him. Even if my son Xiaoqian has a small victory, it is also the result of the emperor's personal instruction. Xiaoqian is just following the emperor's instructions. It is nothing."

Zhao Xu laughed heartily: "Uncle Wang, you are too modest. I am not that shameless. Zi'an's achievements were earned through hard work by him and his soldiers. Uncle Wang, you should live a peaceful life with a son like this." He paused and quickly glanced at the disheveled concubine in the palace, and Zhao Xu sighed silently.

What nonsense are you talking about? Uncle Wang has been enjoying a comfortable life for a long time, and he has enjoyed it too much.

Is that thing really that interesting?

"I... I'll have Zheng Chunhe send some tribute to Uncle Wang later," Zhao Xu sighed. "Officials from Hebei Road presented us with the finest northern ginseng, tiger penis, deer antlers, and Ganoderma lucidum..."

"Hey, Uncle Wang, eat as much as you want. Take care of yourself."

Zhao Hao bowed and said, "Thank you for your generous gift, Your Majesty. Your grace is so great that I am willing to die for you with my remaining body..."

"Don't talk about dying, but please don't die on a woman's belly, otherwise I will die of laughter."

Zhao Hao smiled awkwardly: "No, no, I'm not that unworthy."

Zhao Xu glanced around and saw more than a dozen women kneeling on the open space by the roadside. They were obviously concubines of the Prince of Chu's palace. Zhao Xu's cheeks twitched again.

Pointing at the pleasant scenery around him and then at Zhao Hao, Zhao Xu wanted to remind him that it would be best not to do anything immoral in such a beautiful and pleasant scenery, because he still wanted to enjoy the royal garden.

However, when the words came to his lips, Zhao Xu finally sighed sadly.

Forget it, do whatever you want.

What other shortcomings does a prince who only knows how to eat, drink and have fun have, except that he occasionally does something immoral?
The imperial carriage returned and the ceremonial procession set off.

Zhao Xu sat alone in the imperial carriage, but his face looked brighter and more cheerful.

Since Zhao Xiaoqian took office in Zhending Prefecture, good news has been coming in frequently in the past few months.

Zhao Xu originally thought that the strategy he discussed with him would take several years to come to fruition, but Zhao Xiaoqian unexpectedly suppressed the Liao Kingdom militarily as soon as he took office. Not only did he defeat the Liao army twice and annihilate 70,000 to 80,000 enemies, he also dared to cross the Juma River to the north and threaten the Liao Kingdom militarily.

Who would have dared to do this in previous years? They simply couldn't even think about it. But in Zhao Xiaoqian's hands, it happened, and the Liao Kingdom just had to admit defeat.

At this rate of progress and pace, it won't be long before Zhao Xiaoqian recovers the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. What Zhao Xu has to do now is to unconditionally support him in the rear so that Zhao Xiaoqian has no worries.

Zhao Xu thought again of the discussions in the court a few days ago.

As a clan member and a minister, Zhao Xiaoqian only won but never lost in the wars with the Liao Kingdom. In fact, there have been whispers of criticism in the court, especially recently when Zhao Xu, in order to commend Zhao Xiaoqian's achievements, showed favor to his father and appointed Zhao Hao as "Pingzhang Jun Guo Zhongshi". This is a first-rank official. Although he has no real power, his position is above the prime minister.

The father and son both held high official titles and were almost at the top of the official ranks. How could the court officials not criticize them?

Many people have worked hard all their lives, trying every possible way to get ahead and climb the social ladder, but in their entire lives they have only managed to get a third or fourth rank official position, and their lives are almost over.

However, the King of Chu and his son were able to rise to prominence, and promotions were as easy and common as eating. How could other court officials not be jealous?
Many criticisms in the court gradually formed a unified voice, that is, Hejian County Prince Zhao Xiaoqian was born into a clan, was in charge of Hebei, and had a large army under his command. The Dragon Guard Camp under his command was almost invincible in the world, and even the Liao Kingdom did not dare to underestimate it.

With such incredible abilities, if Zhao Xiaoqian was disloyal and ordered his soldiers to turn against Bian Jing, what would the Song Dynasty do?
When Zhao Xu heard these criticisms, his heart sank suddenly, but he still held it back.

Did Zhao Xu ever think about the criticisms of the court officials deep in his heart?
Of course he thought about it. He was the emperor, not a fool. Having powerful ministers might be a good thing for the country, but it might not be a good thing for the emperor.

Think about Li Jing in the Tang Dynasty. His achievements in destroying the Turks were greater than his master's. Li Shimin was wise after all and gave Li Jing a good ending. But Zhao Xiaoqian...

What should Zhao Xu do?
This was a critical moment to launch military operations against the Liao Kingdom and reverse the country's destiny. Zhao Xu was not a foolish ruler. Could he be suspicious of such an important minister at this time?

Of course, what made Zhao Xu even more relieved was that the reason why the Dragon Guard Battalion under Zhao Xiaoqian was invincible was because they were equipped with firearms, but Zhao Xu also had firearms and ammunition.

He knew the manufacturing process of flintlock rifles and the secret recipe for the proportions of gunpowder and bullets. If Zhao Xiaoqian really had rebellious intentions, Bian Jing could immediately be equipped with tens of thousands of firearms troops, enough to compete with the Longwei Camp.

This is Zhao Xu’s confidence.

Of course, the confidence also came from Zhao Xiaoqian. After the flintlock and gunpowder were invented, Zhao Xiaoqian immediately gave the process drawings and secret recipes to Zhao Xu.

Originally, Zhao Xu still had some doubts in his heart. He was not in a happy mood when visiting the Qionglin Garden today, but he wanted to go out and relax and relieve his worries.

But today he saw Zhao Hao and his dissolute side.

For some reason, the last bit of doubt Zhao Xu had at this moment disappeared without a trace.

Zhao Xiaoqian was a man without ambition. He had always been calm and composed towards Zhao Xu, and there was nothing shameful about him. Why should he be suspicious of such a minister?

As for Zhao Hao...

There is no need to talk about Zhao Hao, a typical old playboy in Bian Jing who just eats and waits for death. I just hope he takes care of his health and tries not to die in a woman's belly in the future, otherwise it will be a scandal for the royal family of the Song Dynasty.

This father and son were loyal to the Song Dynasty, but Zhao Xu actually became suspicious of them. Now Zhao Xu finds it a little funny when he thinks about it.

(End of this chapter)