Chapter 1009: The situation changes suddenly, the official family entrusts the orphan
On the first morning after the New Year, the official Zhao Heng also showed up to participate. After many days, the officials saw Zhao Heng for the first time and shouted long live.
Zhou Chen stood among the officials and looked up at Zhao Heng who was sitting on the dragon chair. Although he was far away, his eyes were very good and he could still see that Zhao Heng was in a very bad state, with poor complexion and poor health.
Virtual.
As expected, before the meeting was halfway through, Zhao Heng couldn't bear it any longer and left the hall. When he left, all the officials were worried and unable to discuss matters.
Of course, only a small number of officials are worried about official Zhao Heng's health. The vast majority of officials are full of uneasiness and anxiety about the future.
Prince Zhao Zhen is only twelve years old, and he is very young. Once something happens to Zhao Heng, who will control the court in the future?
Once things change, how to ensure their current power, or even how to go one step further and gain more say, is something that requires careful consideration and careful calculation by those high-ranking officials.
Zhou Chen stood in the crowd and glanced at the faces of many people with his peripheral vision, and found that some people's faces actually showed joy. He could recognize that these people belonged to the Houdang clan.
If the official family is really in trouble, with the current power of Queen Liu Wan, facing a twelve-year-old new monarch, she is indeed sure to listen to the government behind the curtain.
As long as the Queen gains power, these party officials, who have always been ostracized and looked down upon by others, can take advantage of the situation and rise up, so of course they have to be happy.
On the contrary, Xiao Qinyan, the leader of the rear party, stood in the front row with an expressionless face, not talking to anyone, just standing there quietly, not knowing what he was thinking.
After a while, the eunuch came over to announce the dismissal of the court, but the ministers took their time, and it took a long time before they walked out of the hall and left in groups.
"Ziheng."
As soon as Zhou Chen walked out of the hall, he heard his fourth uncle Meng Wei's call and walked over quickly.
"Fourth uncle."
"Let's go together and take my carriage back home later."
"yes."
Zhou Chen knew that his uncle definitely wanted to tell him what had just happened, so he would naturally not refuse.
Before leaving, Zhou Chen saw Xiao Qinyan wink at him again and nodded secretly.
Zhou Chen asked Qin Yi to go back and inform him first, and then got on the carriage of his fourth uncle Meng Wei.
Meng Wei was sitting upright. He was almost fifty years old, but he guarded the northwest region all year round and did not spend much time in Tokyo.
He was born a military wizard, guarding the border for decades without any defeat. His fame among the people may not be as great as Zhou Chen's, but his reputation in the court cannot be compared to Zhou Chen's. Not only his own prestige,
In addition to the bonus from the Meng family, it is normal for Zhou Chen not to be able to compare.
In the past year, there was no war on the northwest border, so he had time to return to Tokyo to report on his duties.
"Zi Heng, you are often in front of the emperor, so you should know more about the situation of the official family, right?"
Zhou Chen thought for a moment and then replied: "A few years ago, the officials summoned me and asked about the prince and Mr. Xiao."
Meng Wei's expression changed, he already understood what Zhou Chen meant, and he was silent for a long time.
"The prince is young. If anything happens, the prince will definitely not be able to govern personally. When the time comes..."
He didn't say any more, but Zhou Chen understood what he meant.
"Fourth uncle, what do you think?"
Meng Wei glanced at Zhou Chen and said, "Our Meng family does not participate in such things."
Zhou Chen secretly rolled his eyes. He knew that the prototype of the Meng family was the Cao family, and the future emperor Renzong's queen was from the Cao family. In other words, the Meng family would have a daughter in a few years.
A queen.
If the Meng family really had no idea about the power of the royal family, how could she let her own daughter become the queen?
"I heard that you are very close to Xiao Qinyan from the rear party?"
Zhou Chen looked surprised: "Fourth uncle, where did you hear the rumors?"
He and Xiao Qinyan always met at Xiao Qinyan's residence, and there were no other people around. It was impossible for him to leak it. If anyone really found out, it would definitely be a problem with Xiao Qinyan.
Meng Wei said in a deep voice: "Don't worry about where I heard it from, Zi Heng, you have to understand that you belong to the noble lineage. We need to strive to maintain the orthodoxy, and the prince is the orthodox one."
Zhou Chen's expression remained unchanged: "Of course I know that. I really have nothing to do with the queen. As for the queen, she wants to win over me, but I have never agreed."
"Although the queen is a woman, she is also very skillful. I will probably go back to the border soon to prevent changes. What I am most worried about is you. You have been in too much limelight recently and your actions are a bit too sharp. This is not a good thing."
"The fourth uncle is talking about Guo Fen?"
"After all, Guo Fen comes from a noble lineage, so there is no need for you to get into such a quarrel with him."
"Don't worry, fourth uncle, I know what's going on."
"Come back with me later and have a meal before going back."
"good."
Zhou Chen fully understood what Meng Wei meant. Meng Wei had been guarding the northwest border. He would only have time to return to Bianjing City when there was stability and no war.
But now the official family is seriously ill, and something is likely to happen at any time. Zhao Heng's death will definitely cause turmoil in the court. If the prince succeeds to the throne, and the young prince cannot govern personally, it will inevitably cause suspicion and chaos in the world. At this time, other foreign countries are most likely to
There is unrest, so someone must guard the border to ensure that nothing happens.
The Meng family was indeed the first family in the Song Dynasty. In Meng Wei's generation alone, several brothers were in the third rank or above, and two were awarded the title of Duke. Among them, the fourth uncle and the eighth uncle guarded two borders respectively.
In addition to them, the Meng family also has a consort, and the other members hold positions in the court. Maybe they are not of high rank, but many of them are in important departments.
These are only the Meng family's own clan members, not counting the in-laws who are married to the Meng family.
Therefore, the Meng family can definitely be regarded as the first family in the Song Dynasty.
After returning home, Zhao Pan'er saw that Zhou Chen was absent-minded, so when he was having a rest at night, he asked about the reason.
Zhou Chen didn't hide anything and directly told her what happened today.
"Is Guan Jia's health really failing?"
Zhao Pan'er looked very surprised. She had met Zhao Heng once, and she had a very good impression. At least he was much more amiable and approachable than the queen.
She did not expect that the official family, which was in good condition a few days ago, would become like this a year later.
"According to my observation, the deadline has arrived, within one or two months. You must not spread this word."
"I know, so the fourth uncle is looking for you today because he wants you to protect the crown prince?"
Zhou Chen frowned, and Zhao Pan'er stretched out her hand to press his acupuncture points.
"If I guess correctly, what my fourth uncle and many people in the court are worried about is that if something happens to the official family and the prince is young, the queen will follow Lu Wu's actions."
Zhao Pan'er looked horrified: "No way?"
Zhou Chen sighed quietly: "Power is fascinating. Before it happens, who can give a definite answer?"
Empress Liu in the official history is a strange woman who has Lu Wu's talent but not Lu Wu's evil. But the Liu Wan in this world, to be honest, is somewhat unworthy of the praise of Lu Wu's talent.
Zhao Pan'er leaned on Zhou Chen's shoulder: "We are husband and wife. No matter what happens, I will always support you."
Zhou Chen hugged Zhao Paner, looked deeply into his eyes, lowered his head and kissed her gently...
A few days later, Zhou Chen received the imperial edict from the palace, allowing him to meet the Holy Spirit. He did not dare to delay, and immediately went to Zhao Heng's bedroom as quickly as possible.
When Zhou Chen entered the hall, Zhao Heng had already sat up with the help of the chamberlain. His face was pale, but when he saw Zhou Chen, he smiled and waved to Zhou Chen.
"Zhou Qing, come."
"I see the official family, long live long live long live."
Zhou Chen walked to Zhao Heng and stopped, looking at Zhao Heng. After resting for a few days, Zhao Heng's condition not only did not get better, but actually got worse.
As the emperor and the lord of the world, those who treat him are all famous doctors and masters of medical skills in the world, and there is no shortage of rare medicinal materials.
But even so, Zhao Heng was still unable to recover, which meant that Zhao Heng's body was already exhausted and the end of the road had come.
Zhao Heng waved to the servant Cui beside him, and the servant Cui bowed and stepped back, leaving the hall. Suddenly, only Zhou Chen and Zhao Heng were left in the hall.
"Zhou Qing..."
An hour later, Zhou Chen walked out of Zhao Heng's dormitory with a solemn expression.
"call!"
He let out a long breath. The conversation just now surprised him. As expected of an emperor who has been an emperor for more than 20 years, Zhao Heng was really decisive at this time.
On that day, Zhao Heng issued an imperial edict, naming Zhou Chen as Crown Prince Taibao, Champion General, and Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Palace.
To be continued...