Regarding Empress Dowager Gao's proposal to let Zhao Yan and Zhao Hao handle the government affairs together, Zhao Hao, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but show an ecstatic expression after hearing this. He never expected that his mother would make such a request. Although she was in power together, you should know that with Zhao Yan's prestige and strength, she could take on the responsibility alone, but now her mother insisted on adding him, obviously trying to give him a chance.

However, Zhao Yan's face suddenly became gloomy. He knew Zhao Hao's ambitions better than anyone else. If he was allowed to rule with him, even if he had a way to suppress him, he could not stop Zhao Hao from using the power in his hands to seek personal gain for himself. The other party might even take the opportunity to cultivate his own power, thereby adding some unstable factors to the Song Dynasty.

Thinking of this, Zhao Yan finally spoke slowly: "Mother, you are seriously ill and unable to handle government affairs. Originally, my son-in-law should have been sharing your worries, but now Your Majesty is not young, and it is time to let him get in touch with some government affairs. So my son-in-law thinks that it is better to let Your Majesty take over government affairs!"

Hearing Zhao Yan rejected Empress Dowager Gao's proposal, Zhao Hao next to him immediately showed an anxious look and immediately said: "Third brother is such a bad word. Although Your Majesty is smart, he is still a child after all. If you hand over the government to Your Majesty, you will probably be difficult to handle at your current age, so I think the mother's proposal is very good!"

When Zhao Yan saw Zhao Hao jumping out so impatiently, he sneered in his heart, but he did not show it on the surface, but said lightly: "Although Your Majesty is young, he is still the emperor of the Song Dynasty. It is legitimate to be in charge of the government affairs for the time being, so I still think it is better for Your Majesty to take over the government affairs."

When he said this, Zhao Yan paused for a moment and then said, "As for the matter that Your Majesty has no experience in handling the government affairs, this is nothing. After all, no one will be born to deal with the government affairs. He always has to give him a learning process. Moreover, there are no major events in the court during this period. In addition, with the assistance of several ministers, I believe Your Majesty will not make any mistakes!"

When Empress Dowager Gao saw Zhao Yan rejecting her proposal, she did not show any unexpected expressions on her face. She was silent for a moment and finally said, "Yan'er, do you really not think about it anymore?"

"Yes, third brother, think about it seriously!" Zhao Hao also persuaded anxiously again. He didn't want to give up such a good opportunity easily.

"My mother, there is nothing to consider about this matter. My son thought it was time for Your Majesty to contact the government!" Zhao Yan stood up and bowed solemnly. As soon as he said his words, Zhao Hao next to him immediately turned dark. A look of unwillingness flashed in his eyes. As for Empress Dowager Gao, his expression was calm, making people unable to see the joy and anger in her heart.

"Okay, since that's the case, the Ai family will not force you, Yan'er. Your Majesty should indeed have some contact with the government affairs. During this time when the Ai family was sick, let Your Majesty go to the Political Affairs Hall more often. Follow your husbands to learn how to deal with government affairs!" After a while, Empress Dowager Gao finally spoke again. After that, she closed her eyes, as if she was very tired.

"Mother, my son is wise, my son is leaving!" Zhao Yan saw that Empress Gao was a little tired, and immediately said tactfully, but Zhao Hao next to him had no intention of leaving, and Zhao Yan ignored him. He turned around and left Kunning Palace.

After seeing Zhao Yan leave, Zhao Hao immediately anxiously said to Empress Dowager Gao with her eyes closed: "My mother, my third brother is too ignorant. Your Majesty is so young that it is impossible for you to handle government affairs on your behalf. So you should still consider it carefully!"

When Empress Dowager Gao heard her son's words, she didn't even open her eyes. After a moment, she spoke: "Hao'er, I know you want to do something, but you also have to see the reality clearly. Although you are my own son, Zhao Yan is better than you in any aspect. If Zhao Yan disagrees with the matter I mentioned just now, do you think you can take on this important task?"

"Why can't it be? I didn't have a chance before. If my mother was willing to give me a chance, I would definitely not be worse than Zhao Yan!" Zhao Hao suddenly became bolder at this time. He would definitely not dare to say these words before, but now he knew that if he didn't say them, he would probably not even have this last chance.

Hearing his son's unwilling words, Empress Dowager Gao finally opened her eyes and looked at him, then suddenly sighed and said, "Hao'er, why do you think I proposed to let you rule with Zhao Yan just now? It's not because your prestige and qualifications are insufficient. If I really let you rule alone on my behalf, I'm afraid that no one else would do anything, and all the civil and military officials in the court would immediately object."

"But……"

Zhao Hao was still a little unwilling to say something, but when he saw Empress Dowager Gao waved his hand tiredly, he said softly: "Okay, I know you are not convinced, but you, Zhao Yan, have made countless military achievements for me, the Song Dynasty, and have great prestige in the court and the people. You are not as good as him. I am a little tired. You can go back and think about it carefully!"

When Zhao Hao heard his mother let him leave, the expression on his face changed several times, and finally he lowered his head helplessly to leave. Empress Dowager Gao looked at his son's back as he left, but she sighed helplessly. As the saying goes, no one knows his son, and she naturally knows Zhao Hao's thoughts more than anyone else, but she also knows that Zhao Hao is very talented. Even if he gives him a chance, he may only make a mess.

After leaving Kunning Palace, Zhao Yan immediately went to Zhao Xu to find Zhao Jia. However, when he came to Zhao Xu's study, he found that they were not here. After asking the palace maid, he found out that they had gone to another side hall. When he came to this side hall, he saw Zhao Xu and Zhao Jia playing billiards.

There were too few entertainment activities in the Song Dynasty, so Zhao Yan copied some of the games from later generations, and billiards were one of them. After Zhao Xu went to his place to play billiards once, he immediately fell in love with this kind of sport. After begging Zhao Yan for a long time, he agreed to send him a set of billiards to the palace. However, the billiards were played by two people. Zhao Jia soon found that there was no one to play with him in the palace. Even if the eunuchs and guards played with him, they were careful not to beat him. This made Zhao Xu feel boring, so the billiards in the palace became a decoration. Usually, only when Zhao Jia and the others entered the palace would someone play with him.

Seeing Zhao Yan coming in, Zhao Xu immediately smiled and said, "Uncle San, have you finished talking to the Queen Mother?"

"Well, you are lazy. When Jia'er comes, you will stop studying. If your husbands know, they will probably be chattering in your ears again." Zhao Yan also said with a smile.

"Hehe, my brother is a rare trip back, and he is a student of the Naval Academy. I care about the naval construction of our Song Dynasty, so I naturally have to stay with my brother for a while." Zhao Xu said with a smile at this time. He didn't learn it after Zhao Yan, but he learned a lot of lies with his eyes open.

After telling a few jokes, Zhao Yan suddenly said to Zhao Xu a little solemnly: "Xu'er, you have some preparations in the past few days. The Empress Dowager should ask you to handle the government affairs on her behalf!"

"Really?" After hearing this news, Zhao Xu almost jumped up excitedly.

"Yes, the Empress Dowager told me in person just now, and you are not young anymore. It's time for you to get in touch with affairs in the court." Zhao Yan nodded, but he did not tell Zhao Xu that Empress Dowager Gao proposed to let him and Zhao Hao take power together but was rejected by him. After all, such things are suspected of provoking the relationship between Zhao Xu and Empress Dowager Gao. Although their relationship was not very good, Zhao Yan didn't want to be such a villain.

"That's great!" After receiving Zhao Yan's affirmative answer, Zhao Xu really jumped up happily this time. He had been waiting for this day. As long as he could participate in government affairs, he would not have to be forced to study every day like he is now.

Zhao Jia was also happy for Zhao Xu at this time. She was about to come forward to congratulate him, but she didn't expect that Zhao Xu was hugged and shouted. It seemed that Zhao Xu was really bored. Now she finally had something to do, so she finally let him vent her previous depression.

It was finally easy to calm Zhao Xu, who was excited, and Zhao Yan explained to him some things he should pay attention to when entering the Political Affairs Hall, and then got up and left. As for Zhao Jia, he stayed to accompany Zhao Xu. After all, the two brothers had not seen each other for so long, so Zhao Xu naturally didn't want to let him go.

On the carriage back, Zhao Yan was always thinking about what happened today. Empress Dowager Gao first showed extraordinary intimacy with his father, and then played the emotional card. Finally, he made a request to let him and Zhao Hao jointly rule. Although this matter was rejected by her, does this mean that Empress Dowager Gao's attitude has turned to Zhao Hao? What if she does anything to support Zhao Hao in the future, how should she fight back then?

Thinking about the above things in his mind, Zhao Yan finally locked himself in the study again when he returned home, because this was not a trivial matter. If he didn't do it well, there might be a big mess.

However, just as Zhao Yan was thinking, he saw that the door of the study was pushed open. Then Cao Ying walked in with a smile and said, "Why did your husband lock himself in the study alone? Is there something difficult to solve?"

Zhao Yan was worried that he would not be able to discuss it at this time. When he saw Cao Ying coming in, he immediately told him what happened in Kunning Hall today. However, after hearing this, Cao Ying chuckled and said, "Husband is really confused by the authorities. Didn't you realize that this is the Queen Mother's trick of playing hard to get?" (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!