With the reward from Emperor Deqing, Zhao Junchen returned to the mansion.
Under the pretext that he had court affairs to deal with, Zhao Junchen stayed in the study for the rest of the day and even planned to sleep there.
Although Fang Ru came to see Zhao Junchen several times and advised Zhao Junchen to take a rest early, Zhao Junchen always sent him away with various reasons.
Fang Ru was very beautiful and alluring, but Zhao Junchen's temperament was a bit conservative after all, and he was not familiar with her, so it was still impossible for him to sleep with a near-stranger woman.
………
In the study, Zhao Junchen sat quietly behind the desk. Outside the window, the moon hung high in the sky, and it was already late at night.
It was late, but Zhao Junchen couldn't sleep no matter what, his mind kept thinking about his experiences this day.
For some reason, Zhao Junchen suddenly felt that both Emperor Deqing and Prince Zhu Heyu were a little pitiful.
Emperor Deqing, as the most powerful person in the Nine-Five Period and rich in the world, could not even afford the three to five million taels of silver needed for the southern tour. You must know that although the silver is not small, it is not too much.
Even Zhao Junchen could easily take it out. Emperor Deqing claimed to be a holy king, but such a shabby "sage king" was rare since ancient times.
Compared to Emperor Deqing, Prince Zhu Heyu was even more pitiful. He tried his best to express himself just to prove himself in front of Emperor Deqing and win Emperor Deqing's attention. But now he understands that Deqing
However, Zhao Junchen, who was aware of the emperor's thoughts, knew very well that the better Zhu Heyu performed and the higher his reputation, the more Emperor Deqing became suspicious of him and even envied him.
Of course, conversely, if one day Zhu Heyu's performance is mediocre, Emperor Deqing may be dissatisfied with him again.
The position of a prince seems to be a good thing, but the awkward position of half-king and half-minister makes it difficult to achieve.
Thinking of the confrontation between himself and Zhu Heyu today, Zhao Junchen let out a long sigh.
Then, he heard Fang Ru's voice.
"What is the master worried about?"
Zhao Junchen turned his head and saw Fang Ru standing outside the study. Under the misty moonlight, Fang Ru's charming face and enchanting figure were even more tempting at this time.
Zhao Junchen asked: "It's so late and you haven't slept yet?"
It was past midnight, and even Xu Qingyan, who was always energetic, couldn't help but go to sleep.
Fang Ru said with a smile: "Isn't the master not asleep yet? I am a little worried about the master, so I can't sleep either."
Recalling Zhao Junchen's sigh before, Fang Ru asked again: "Master, what's bothering you? Why don't you tell me? Maybe you'll have some ideas."
Zhao Junchen didn't have any doubts or worries, but he just wanted to talk to someone, so he pointed to the seat next to him and said with a smile: "Sit down and talk to me."
After Fang Ru sat down, she was not in a hurry to ask questions, but looked at Zhao Junchen quietly with her moonlit eyes, waiting for Zhao Junchen to take the initiative to speak.
After a moment of silence, Zhao Junchen finally spoke.
"Fang Ru, do you think that Zhu Heyu, if he can ascend the throne in the future, will be a good emperor?"
Fang Ru was a little surprised when she heard Zhao Junchen's question. She didn't know why Zhao Junchen would ask such a question, but she still replied: "Absolutely not."
The tone was quite certain.
Zhao Junchen smiled. He had known that Fang Ru would answer like this, but he still asked: "Why do you say that? That Zhu Hexian is famous all over the world. He treats virtuous ministers and upright officials with courtesy, does good deeds, and treats corrupt officials and treacherous officials.
They hate evil as much as they hate, and kill them all. They also always value the country, cherish the power of the people, and are not lacking in ability. He also has all the advantages that saints and kings should have throughout the ages. Qingliu and the people have high hopes for him, so why can't he be a good person?
Emperor?"
Fang Ru shook her head and said, "Sir, if you ask this, you already know it well, so why bother asking me again? I don't understand government affairs, and I haven't read much history books, but I also know that the saints and emperors throughout the ages can
There is no one who hates evil as much as he hates evil. There is a saying that goes, "If the water is clear, there will be no fish, and if the people are clear, there will be no disciples." Those sage kings and wise masters in ancient books have always had many virtuous ministers and upright officials around them.
, there are so many treacherous ministers and corrupt officials. Only when they are in opposition can their thrones be stable. If Zhu Heyu were to follow his temper and drive out all the corrupt officials in the dynasty, there would be 99% fewer officials in the world.
Where can he find so many upright officials and virtuous ministers to maintain the government? Who will dare to become an official in the dynasty in the future? If there are only upright officials and virtuous ministers left in the dynasty, how can his throne be stable? Integrity officials and virtuous ministers, but
Not all of them may be loyal ministers.”
Zhao Junchen smiled again, but did not speak. He just motioned for Fang Ru to continue.
At Zhao Junchen's signal, Fang Ru continued: "Zhu Heyu's biggest shortcoming is that although he has no shortage of ambitions, he doesn't know how to realize his ambitions. He doesn't know how to adapt or compromise. He only knows how to keep going.
If you keep moving forward, you will inevitably hit the south wall in the future. Although His Majesty is a little ambitious and has little talent, he never lacks the emperor's ingenuity. The most important thing for a monarch is not his ability or his character, but whether he can control the crowd.
The minister's methods, during your Majesty's reign today, although the government is not good and the people suffer, at least the situation in the center of the temple is stable, and the world is also stable. If Na Zhu Heyu succeeds to the throne, with his temperament, the world may be in trouble.
It’s already been in turmoil.”
Zhao Junchen nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile: "You say you don't understand government affairs and have read few history books, but to be able to tell this truth, you understand it much better than many court officials who have read poetry and books.
"
Fang Ru smiled and said: "Governing a country is like running a family. People's hearts are all the same."
Zhao Junchen clapped his hands and praised: "It's true that people's hearts are the same." As he said, Zhao Junchen added: "Actually, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has another shortcoming, that is, he has not understood at all how to employ people.
It is much more important than virtue. Among the famous and virtuous ministers throughout the ages, which one is actually clean? If they were under his hands, they would probably be beheaded, let alone make some achievements that would be remembered forever.
."
Fang Ru nodded and smiled: "What I said makes sense. For example, sir, what was the Ministry of Households like before you took charge of it? What is it like now? Although you are not an upright official, you are better than ten or a hundred.
Honest officials are much more useful."
Speaking of this, Fang Ru finally couldn't help but asked: "Master, why are you talking about this today?"
"Nothing, just a casual chat."
Zhao Junchen said casually.
In fact, it was not just a casual conversation. These words finally made Zhao Junchen firm up his determination to be hostile to Zhu Heyu.
In the past, because Zhu Heyu was "destined to be a wise king and holy master", Zhao Junchen always felt that he had failed the people of the world when he thought about going against him.
But after this conversation, Zhao Junchen felt at ease.
From a certain perspective, the so-called "peace of mind" is a very scary psychological state.
Because, it means that the ends justify the means.
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