The prince is more stable

Chapter 50 Official Title and Real Power
Zhao Xiaoqian was very calm towards Di Ying, whom he had only known for a few days and had met only three times.

It is undeniable that Di Ying is indeed a stunning beauty in the world, and she also has a good personality. She is not like the daughters of poor families who are often shy and introverted.

Di Ying has a generous and graceful personality, and her conversation is measured and well-mannered, which is in line with the behavioral norms of a lady from a noble family. The occasional pretense of being a teasing person makes her even more adorable.

Which normal man wouldn’t like a beautiful, generous and unpretentious woman standing in front of him?
Of course Zhao Xiaoqian liked it too, but his attitude towards it was very casual.

People who have lived two lives probably have no motivation to think about how to pursue a woman. The pressure they endured for survival in their previous life has left them with consequences in this life.

Take things as they come and let nature take its course. Perhaps this is the best way to get along with Di Ying.

Zhao Xiaoqian has this attitude not only towards her, but also towards everyone.

Of course, if one day Di Ying was poisoned by the world's most terrible poison, and he happened to be by her side, and then Di Ying rushed to him to ask for help in detoxification, he would probably not refuse with his kind heart.

After all, one can take things as they come, but one cannot stand by and watch someone die.

Di Ying didn't know that in this short moment, in Zhao Xiaoqian's endless imagination, she was no longer clean.

Men are not allowed to enter Yaohua Palace, so they can only ask Di Ying for help.

Zhao Xiaoqian brought a lot of daily necessities, including food, clothing, and daily necessities, filling up an entire carriage.

Di Ying certainly understood Zhao Xiaoqian's difficulties and readily agreed to help.

"Your Highness owes me a favor." Di Ying glanced at him, her eyes revealing the naive charm of a young girl.

Here it comes again, that damn tea-like temperament!

"I've remembered the favor. Miss Di, please let me know whenever you want." Zhao Xiaoqian gave her a handsome smile in return.

"It's just that, you are a beautiful lady with great talent, and there are countless suitors chasing you in Bianjing. You are getting too close to me, and the girls won't be angry, right?" Zhao Xiaoqian said innocently.

"Giao...giaogiao?" Di Ying was at a loss, and her stunning face became a little dull.

This man... is such a bitch.

"I...I'll help you get the things in first." Di Ying's voice was not as cheerful as before, and she turned around and left in a panic.

Just now, Zhao Xiaoqian's tea art was better than his master's. The scene was so beautiful that Di Ying might need a lifetime to heal.

Seeing Di Ying hurriedly entering Yaohua Palace, Zhao Xiaoqian smiled.

Even her back view is so beautiful. How did a general's family give birth to such a beautiful daughter?

Her parents must have loved each other very much when they created her, and the surrounding environment must have been very beautiful, with a moderate temperature and sunny weather.

Suddenly thinking of his father's appearance, Zhao Xiaoqian sighed sadly.

Emperor Yingzong, what were you thinking at that time? Were you in a bad mood?

…………

Outside Yaohua Palace, Zhao Xiaoqian waited for more than an hour before Di Ying came out slowly.

The carriage had been unloaded, and Di Ying came out with a smile on her face, but for some reason her smile was a little shy, and her pretty face was slightly red.

Zhao Xiaoqian stepped forward and bowed, "Thank you, Miss Di."

Di Ying stood before him, her expression a little shy. Blushing, she whispered, "I've sent the things in. Your mother has accepted them. She asked me to tell you not to worry about them. And..."

"What else?"

Di Ying felt increasingly shy and charming for some reason. After a long pause, she hesitantly said, "Your mother said... that you should read more, go out more, and... if fate allows, I hope you'll find someone who loves you, and we'll live together until old age, living up to our vows."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded and wrote down everything. However, he saw Di Ying's face getting redder and redder. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why are you blushing? Are you so energetic?"

Di Ying, rarely showing her childish demeanor, stamped her feet and said angrily, "What does my blushing have to do with you?"

Zhao Xiaoqian asked suspiciously, "Did my mother just say something shameful to you?"

Di Ying said angrily, "You're the one who's shameless, huh! Anyway, I helped you get the stuff in, and I've passed on the message, so you owe me a favor."

Zhao Xiaoqian said generously, "Okay, I'll remember this favor. Miss Di, if you want to eat or wear something, just tell me. I'll fulfill it in three to five years."

Di Ying was stunned: "Why does it take three to five years to fulfill the promise?"

"Because I have no money now, because my family is very poor, my father is a lecher, my mother is a nun, my family is broken, and I am a sensible person..." Zhao Xiaoqian's face was full of vicissitudes of life.

For a moment, Di Ying felt really distressed and almost subconsciously took out her purse from her pocket to donate to charity. Fortunately, she quickly regained her composure.

This shameless man who wants money!
How could the Prince of Chu’s Mansion be so poor? I almost believed his lies!
"Miss Di, how is my mother doing in there? Has she been bullied?" Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly asked seriously. Di Ying smiled faintly and said, "Most of the women in Yaohua Palace are from the royal family, so their lives are certainly not hard. But they are monks after all, so they don't live a life of luxury. Don't worry, I'll come to Yaohua Palace often and help you visit your mother more often."

"Thank you."

Zhao Xiaoqian's thanks were more serious than ever before.

Di Ying blushed, lowered her head, and whispered, "Your mother was quite... enthusiastic towards me just now. We get along well, so it's only natural that I treat her well. You don't have to thank me."

…………

Imperial Palace, Funing Hall.

Wei Jie stood in front of Zhao Xu with his hands hanging down, looking extremely respectful.

Zhao Xu closed his eyes and listened quietly to Wei Jie's report.

"Due to the dispute between the Crown Prince of Chu and Liu Zhi, the old party officials have become increasingly restless. Most of them are dissatisfied with the government's handling of this matter, and many of them are complaining behind the scenes."

Zhao Xu smiled. "'Unhappy'? Are you scolding me behind my back for being unfair?"

Wei Jie remained silent, but at this moment silence was the answer.

"Go on." Zhao Xu said lightly.

"Many officials are dissatisfied with the government's policy of abolishing the old and restoring the new. Furthermore, word has spread to the people outside of Bianjing, and many false rumors are spreading southward."

"When Emperor Shenzong was alive, he implemented new laws. When the Empress Dowager was in power, he implemented the old laws again. Now that the emperor has taken power, he has abolished the old laws and reinstated the new ones. The court has changed laws too frequently, and local officials and ordinary people are gradually panicking."

"I wonder if someone is fanning the flames behind this. According to the Imperial City Bureau, there are signs of people gathering and causing unrest in many places, but the court has not yet issued any clear orders, and local officials are at a loss as to what to do."

"Some officials originally belonged to the old party and were even more resistant to the emperor's reform efforts. They also secretly condoned the unrest among the local people, only shifting the blame onto the Bianjing court and... the emperor."

Zhao Xu's expression grew increasingly grim. Wei Jie paused for a moment before continuing, "Officials in many places have been secretly condoning riots, or even actively inciting them."

"It's possible that a high-ranking official in the Bianjing court was behind this, in an effort to undermine the government's policy of abolishing the old and restoring the new, and to force the government to abandon its support for the New Party."

Zhao Xu was furious when he heard this. He gritted his teeth and slammed the table: "What a bunch of traitors!"

Reform is as difficult as climbing to the sky.

In his early years, Wang Anshi implemented new laws, but it was as difficult as it is today.

Now Zhao Xu finally understands how difficult Wang Anshi's life was back then.

Most of the court was against it, local officials were resisting it, and ordinary people were making a fuss. The implementation of the new law was met with enemies on all sides!

The decrees formulated by the emperor himself could not be implemented, which was undoubtedly a serious provocation to the imperial power.

Things had developed to this point, and even if it was not for the purpose of reform, Zhao Xu could not retreat.

If the emperor retreats due to pressure from his ministers, he will be more easily manipulated by his ministers in the future, and the supreme imperial power will rapidly weaken in an unpredictable direction.

Zhao Xu was silent for a while, and his angry eyes gradually became as firm as a mountain, full of unquestionable dominance.

The efforts to suppress the old party must be intensified, and the new party must be supported as quickly as possible, otherwise the majesty of imperial power will be shaken.

This time we must let those old party forces know clearly that the emperor has the final say in the Song Dynasty!
In the quiet hall, Zhao Xu suddenly asked, "Wei Jie, what do you think of Zhao Xiaoqian, the crown prince of the King of Chu?"

Wei Jie thought for a moment and said, "He's become a completely different person in the past two weeks. I don't know why his personality has changed so drastically, but now the Crown Prince of Chu is calm and composed, and treats people with peace. His occasional impulsive behavior is probably just a minor ailment, and he can still be a pillar of society."

Zhao Xu closed his eyes and remained silent, as if hesitating and thinking.

It takes determination and courage to break century-old conventions.

Zhao Xu is not short of talents, there are too many talents in the court.

But what Zhao Xu needed was a trustworthy person. Compared with those civil and military officials who were full of selfish motives, his brothers seemed to be more trustworthy to him.

The power and loyalty of the clan is a resource that all ancient people must rely on. From ancient times to the present, in any difficult and desperate situation, those who can accompany the king to fight to the last moment are often the children of the same surname.

At this moment, Zhao Xu suddenly wished that he had a clan brother whom he could trust by his side.

So, Zhao Xiaoqian...is he suitable?

After a long time, Wei Jie's legs became numb from standing, and Zhao Xu finally spoke slowly.

"Zhao Xiaoqian is appointed to handle official affairs of the Imperial City Department. He will take up his post today."

(End of this chapter)