The prince is more stable

Chapter 514 Testing Thoughts

After being oppressed for five hundred years, the monkey finally understood the ways of the world.

On the way to protect Tang Monk, when he encountered a monster without any backing, he killed it with a stick. When he met a monster with backing, he showed mercy and let it go. He only waited for the last moment when a voice came from the sky saying "Wukong, stop". Then the monkey put away his stick with a smile and let the backing take the evil monster back to heaven.

After living two lifetimes, Zhao Xiaoqian still likes the lawless monkey who made trouble in the Heavenly Palace, not the monkey who was suppressed by the Five Finger Mountain for five hundred years.

Why did he brazenly order the public beheading of Han Wei and 42 other officials in Zhending Prefecture?
On the one hand, he wanted to avenge the people of Zhending Prefecture, and on the other hand, he wanted to kill the evil monster with a stick before the Heavenly Court took the monster back.

People who do evil must bear the consequences. They are simply scolded and taken back to heaven as if nothing happened. But what about the mortals who were killed by monsters? Do they deserve it?
Perhaps some worldly affairs can only be understood after being suppressed for five hundred years. Fortunately, Zhao Xiaoqian was not suppressed for five hundred years. He was still the monkey who made trouble in the Heavenly Palace without regard for the consequences.

Life is like this, and it is happy. It is a joy to settle grudges and have clear thoughts.

Zhao Xiaoqian thought more than once that the monkey who protected Tang Monk on his journey to obtain Buddhist scriptures must be unhappy. Even though he was named Fighting Buddha, he had lost something important in his life after all, and was forgotten among the gods and Buddhas.

Perhaps when the Fighting Buddha returns from his journey to the West, he will look back and find a corpse under the Five Finger Mountain. That was the former Monkey King.

The monkey that was born and conceived and dared to love and hate has long since died.

One day in the future, perhaps Zhao Xiaoqian will be like the monkey, forced to restrain his edge, forced to understand the ways of the world, and forced to become the Fighting Buddha under the happy gaze of all the gods and Buddhas in the sky.

People will eventually change. Zhao Xiaoqian will not be so sure that he will not go with the flow. He only hopes to be a monkey who dares to love and hate, and take revenge, before becoming the Fighting Buddha, leaving a thrilling mark on this world to prove that he has been there.

The atmosphere in Funing Hall suddenly became heavy.

Zhao Xu stared at Zhao Xiaoqian's calm face with a complicated look in his eyes.

Sure enough, it must be a big disaster that made this extremely lazy guy run thousands of miles back in person.

Things are a bit tricky now. Killing forty-two officials is no small matter. The court will be in an uproar.

Zhao Xu knew the moral character of the court officials very well. If they knew that Zhao Xiaoqian had done this, the memorials impeaching him would flood the Yanfu Palace.

"Is the message still on the way? Why are you, Zi'an, faster than the person who delivered the message?" Zhao Xu asked curiously.

Zhao Xiaoqian paused and said, "On my way back to Bianjing, I intercepted the messenger who was delivering the news, but Bianjing will get the news in two days at most."

"After all, it's impossible to conceal the fact that he was executed in front of tens of thousands of people." Zhao Xiaoqian said with a wry smile.

Zhao Xu shook his head. "Zi'an, you're too impulsive. This matter could have been resolved more gently. Those who deserve to die will die no matter how hard they try. You've already left no room for maneuver."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled awkwardly, "I know I've caused great trouble, so I'm hurrying back to the capital to ask the emperor for help."

Zhao Xu pointed at him and said angrily, "You remembered me after you got into trouble. What can I do if things get out of hand? Can I burn more ingot candles for you during the Qingming Festival and Zhongyuan Festival?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said sincerely: "That's not necessary. I want to live."

Zhao Xu was speechless and sighed heavily.

Zhao Xiaoqian's lips curled up slightly.

The main purpose of entering the palace today was not to ask Zhao Xu to save him. Of course, it would be better if he could be saved.

The main purpose was to test Zhao Xu's attitude towards this matter.

If Zhao Xu could be aroused to be angry with Han Wei and others, and Zhao Xiaoqian could resonate with his emotions, then his goal would be achieved.

If Zhao Xu also thought that Zhao Xiaoqian should not have killed Han Wei and others, or if he made a big fuss about Han Wei's murder, severely reprimanded Zhao Xiaoqian, and planned to punish him severely, then things would be even more troublesome.

This temptation actually has another purpose.

It is undeniable that Zhao Xiaoqian was a border general with military power. Although he had few soldiers under his command, there were still tens of thousands of them, and they were all elite soldiers and generals.

Zhao Xiaoqian actually just wanted to see whether Zhao Xu had any suspicions about him.

Judging from the conversation just now, Zhao Xu didn't seem to have any suspicions. Maybe he did, but they were very slight and he just kept them hidden in his heart.

Now that the situation between Song and Liao has reversed, Zhao Xu still has great ambitions to realize, and Zhao Xiaoqian's role is too great and indispensable.

With Zhao Xiaoqian's ability, the Song Dynasty would really not be able to recover without him.

It is not a simple matter of commanding a firearms army to fight, which can be accomplished by an ordinary general.

What’s important is that Zhao Xiaoqian was the creator, perfecter, and continuous upgrader of this firearms army.

The previous flintlock rifles were unable to deal with the Liao Dynasty's heavily armored cavalry, so Zhao Xiaoqian immediately upgraded the firearms and created paper shell bullets that could penetrate heavy armor.

Who in the entire Song Dynasty has this ability to respond to emergencies and become stronger when facing stronger opponents?
Zhao Xu was a sensible and wise man, clearly aware of the priorities. To suspect Zhao Xiaoqian at this moment, or to use Han Wei's murder as an excuse to punish him harshly, would be self-destructive, and Zhao Xu would never do that. His lifelong ideals, his imperial ambitions, and his aspirations were inevitably tied to Zhao Xiaoqian's fate. Their fate was intertwined, their fate shared.

So even though Zhao Xiaoqian caused such a big disaster and ran back to Bian Jing, Zhao Xu not only did not scold him, but did not even say a harsh word. What he was thinking about now was how to solve the problem and overcome the crisis.

However, when he thought of the chaotic scene in the court two days later, the countless impeachment memorials, and the countless court officials shouting at the top of their lungs for severe punishment, demanding that the government set things straight and eliminate the treacherous and flattering officials, Zhao Xu got a headache.

This guy really caused me a lot of trouble!
Those Bianliang nobles who failed in the enclosure and whose interests were damaged behind the scenes would naturally not let Zhao Xiaoqian go. With their power and instigation, Emperor Zhao Xu would not be able to protect him even if he wanted to.

After all, the political environment in the court of the Song Dynasty is relatively relaxed and generous, and the ministers are relatively bold. When they think that the emperor has done something wrong, they will jump out and criticize the emperor's mistakes bluntly.

The weakness of the Song Dynasty lies in its national strength, not the integrity of its literati.

There are many hard-headed people in the court who would rather die than surrender, unlike the Qing Dynasty, who would kneel down and call themselves "slaves" at every turn. Their spines were broken for more than three hundred years, and even in modern times, decades after the founding of New China, many people have not stood up yet.

The trouble Zhao Xiaoqian had caused was so serious that the stubborn court officials would rather die by striking their heads against the pillars in court than force Zhao Xu to bring Zhao Xiaoqian to justice.

"What should I do? I'm so worried!" Zhao Xu rubbed his temples and sighed.

Zhao Xiaoqian felt guilty and flattered him at the right moment: "Your Majesty is particularly charming when he is concentrating on thinking. If there is a ranking of the most handsome men in Bianjing, your Majesty will undoubtedly be ranked first, and a super first..."

Zhao Xu was delighted and said happily, "Really? I'm so handsome but I don't even know it..."

Then thinking of the trouble he was facing, Zhao Xu immediately came to his senses and pointed at him angrily, "You, you you! Shut up!"

After a pause, Zhao Xu said, "You are such a flatterer, your utilitarianism is too strong. Next time you ask me for something, flatter me again, and I will believe that you are telling the truth."

Zhao Xiaoqian shut up and smiled.

How could I possibly flatter you when I have nothing to ask of you?
Who gave you the courage to covet the top spot on the list of most handsome men in Bianjing? Is it the aura of an emperor?
After thinking for a long time, Zhao Xu sighed and said, "Later, I will summon Zhang Dun, General Xu, Cai Jing and others to the palace to help you prepare for this. Oh, and also invite our old clan leader as well. The clan members will also help with this matter."

"After the incident happens, I hope they can suppress it, or at least prevent it from getting worse."

Zhao Xiaoqian stood up and bowed deeply: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhao Xu sighed, "In the future, please don't let me do this kind of cleaning work. I will thank you very much."

…………

Zhao Xiaoqian said goodbye and left the palace. The moment he walked out of the palace gate, he suddenly felt that his psychological pressure was relieved a lot.

Judging from Zhao Xu's attitude, the consequences may not be too serious, at least his life can be saved.

As for whether his official title would be revoked, Zhao Xiaoqian didn't care much.

Anyway, the history of the Song Dynasty has changed, and the fate of him and his family has also changed with it.

Unless the Song Dynasty commits a catastrophic act next, the Jingkang Shame that occurred decades later would most likely not have occurred.

In this case, it doesn’t matter whether Zhao Xiaoqian holds military power or not. It doesn’t matter who the court appoints as the border commander.

Zhao Xiaoqian had no ambition, let alone the intention of rebelling and usurping the throne, so he did not care about military power. On the contrary, he felt that military power was like a hot potato in his hands, which would not bring him any benefits, but would instead arouse suspicion and frame-up.

Of course, the best outcome is that this matter was suppressed by Zhao Xu and several of his husbands, and eventually a big matter was reduced to a small one, and a small matter disappeared.

Zhao Xiaoqian took a bath in the strong wind and waves. After the wind and waves passed, he dried his body and headed north as ordered as if nothing had happened. He continued to serve as a border commander and beat up the Liao people whenever he caught them.

Outside the palace gate, Chen Shou and other imperial guards stood upright in the open space, with a carriage parked quietly behind them.

Although the scene of tens of thousands of people lining the streets when entering the city was touching, it still made Zhao Xiaoqian feel uncomfortable, so Chen Shou sent a carriage from the Chu Palace.

In short, Zhao Xiaoqian's face will become an idol's from now on, and it's best not to show it unless it's absolutely necessary.

After getting on the carriage, Zhao Xiaoqian sat in the carriage and ordered: "Don't go back to the palace, go to Fanglin Garden first."

Fanglin Garden was home to his mother, Feng, and Zhao Xiaoqian's wives and concubines.

After being ordered to leave the capital, Di Ying's three daughters moved to Fanglin Garden and lived with their mother Feng, serving and caring for their mother on behalf of their husbands.

The carriage started moving, and Chen Shou suddenly said from outside, "Prince, when the emperor bestowed upon you a title last time, he also granted you a mansion in Bianjing to be used as a Prince's residence. It's right next to the Imperial Street, not far from the Prince of Chu's residence. Would you like to go and take a look?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said, "Don't worry. The house is there. It won't grow wings and fly away. But I haven't seen my wife for half a year. I have to see if they have already flown away with other men..."

(End of this chapter)