Chapter 2401 The eight kings with ulterior motives
Author: Sheep Little Star
Chapter 2401 The eight kings with ulterior motives
After seeing Kou Zhun's figure, Zhao Yuanyan immediately said goodbye to other court officials and rushed to the inner banquet without stopping.
"Mr. Kou, Xiao Wang is really happy to see Mr. Kou here today."
"Prince Ding, his style remains the same."
Kou Zhun didn't put on any airs when dealing with Zhao Yuanyan. After all, he almost watched this kid grow up.
At that time, he had not yet chosen a teacher from Zhao Yuanyan.
Therefore, even though Kou Zhun himself did not teach Zhao Yuanyan seriously, the relationship between the two was still quite familiar.
"Kou Lao comes to Beijing this time for a short stay, or?"
In fact, Zhao Yuanyan shouldn't have asked this, but he just asked it. He did it on purpose.
He just wanted to show the imperial sister-in-law.
He couldn't control the overall situation of the DPRK, but he could still do something to disgust Liu E.
Besides, it's not illegal for him to do this.
The imperial court only stipulated that princes could not make friends with important officials of the imperial court, but Kou Zhun was not among them now.
When you make friends with a semi-retired veteran, no one can criticize him using the methods of his ancestors.
"I don't know yet."
Kou Zhunruo glanced at Zhao Yuanyan thoughtfully. This boy was a master who refused to suffer losses.
"A few days ago, Xiao Wang got some jars of twenty-year-old Meishou wine. If Mr. Kou is free, can we have a few drinks together?"
Meishou is one of the famous wines produced by Baifenlou, a famous restaurant in Tokyo, and is well-known in the capital.
The Song Dynasty inherited the Tang system, and all distiller's yeast was monopolized by the imperial court. Private individuals were allowed to purchase the distiller's yeast provided by the court to make wine, but they were not allowed to make private distiller's yeast.
Wine is the essence of grain, and in ancient times, grain was not only the basic material for people to survive, but also an important strategic material for national defense.
And making wine is a waste of food.
Therefore, the wine tasting system came into being.
Throughout the capital, there were only seventy-two restaurants that had the right to make wine. These restaurants were also called Zhengdian, and other restaurants that did not have the right to make wine were called foot stores.
The drinks in the foot shop can only be purchased wholesale from the main store.
Among them, Baifanlou is the most famous main store in Beijing, and Meishou wine is one of Baifanlou's signatures.
Ordinary people can't even smell it, let alone drink it.
For Kou Zhun, Meishou wine is not unusual, but twenty-year-old Meishou wine is very precious.
You can't buy this thing even if you have money.
Generally speaking, as soon as it is taken out of the wine cellar, it is divided up by the powerful people in the capital.
Therefore, when Zhao Yuanyan mentioned this wine, Kou Zhun's greed was immediately aroused.
"If I am free, I will definitely attend the appointment."
Zhao Yuanyan chuckled, raised his palm and said.
"If that's the case, then it's settled?"
"Um."
Kou Zhun nodded slightly and high-fived Zhao Yuanyan as an appointment.
I don’t know how many people saw this scene. Some of them frowned, some thought deeply, and some were disgusted.
Although Zhao Yuanyan himself did not covet the throne, he could not stop others from thinking too much.
As Taizong's most favored prince, his name as the Eight Great Kings was spread throughout the world, not only among the people of the Song Dynasty, but also in the Liao Kingdom.
In the eyes of some Qingliu, the Eight Kings are so famous that they are not only concerned about their influence, but are extremely disrespectful.
It can be foreseen that Zhao Yuanyan will inevitably be present in the papers that will be presented to the palace tomorrow.
However, neither Zhao Yuanyan nor Kou Zhun care.
The former has a noble status and has the capital to act arbitrarily, while the latter is a senior minister who has experienced three dynasties. He is not afraid of anyone in the world today.
Standing on a wall a thousand feet tall, one can be strong without desire.
"The Queen Mother is here!"
"Your Majesty is here!"
The two voices sounded almost at the same time. When the ministers in the palace heard the voice, they immediately stopped their discussion and stood up from the table one after another, preparing to pay homage.
Immediately afterwards, Liu E's figure was the first to break into everyone's sight.
Today is her birthday, so Li Jie naturally has no intention of stealing her limelight.
When doing things, the most taboo thing is to help, but not completely, and others will see it.
Since Li Jie was going to celebrate Liu E's birthday, he would naturally give it to him in terms of face, and there was no need to care about the differences in rank and precedence.
And this is not illegal.
The Song Dynasty ruled the world with filial piety, and today's behavior can be completely explained by filial piety.
"I will see the Queen Mother!"
The courtiers bowed in unison. It was just a birthday wish for the Queen Mother, but it was not enough to make the courtiers kneel down.
After all, this is not a major occasion such as a suburban festival, a bright hall, the emperor's enthronement, etc.
On the imperial stage, Liu E saw Kou Zhun standing in the inner seat at a glance.
Who asked Kou Zhun to be the only one in the audience wearing civilian clothes?
In the room full of purples, a wisp of moonlight suddenly appeared, and it was difficult not to notice it.
"I see you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty pays you a holy greeting!"
On the other side, Liu E just glanced at Kou Zhun, and then looked away.
Regarding Kou Zhun's attendance at the banquet, Li Jie had already vaccinated her.
Moreover, Li Jie also made it clear to Liu E that the purpose of summoning Kou Zhun to Beijing this time was not to re-activate Kou Zhun.
It was just to let Kou Zhun use his remaining energy.
Regardless of whether the reform of the imperial examination system is successful or not, Kou Zhun, as the 'initiator', will inevitably attract a lot of infamy.
This is inevitable!
Even if Kou Zhun is a veteran who is famous all over the world.
Because there are too many scholars in the world, and reforming the imperial examination system is related to the vital interests of every scholar.
Whenever personal interests are involved, scholars' evaluation of Kou Zhun will inevitably be subjective.
In this way, Kou Zhun blocked the gun for the officials.
After thinking about this, Liu E was not so repulsive to Kou Zhun's entry into the capital.
That scene makes me feel very happy just thinking about it.
There are so many scholars in the world, how much infamy can Kou Zhun afford?
However, the only thing Liu E had to worry about was, how could Sixth Brother make Kou Zhun willingly bear the infamy?
Wouldn’t it be good to stay in Xijing for retirement in peace and contentment?
In fact, Li Jie's method is not very clever. In the final analysis, it is nothing more than four words: exchange of interests.
Kou Zhun has been an official for decades, with three ups and downs. For a person like him, there are probably very few things in the world that can impress him.
The family alone may not be able to restrain him.
However, there is one thing that Li Jie can be sure will definitely impress Kou Zhun.
Remove Ding Wei!
Kou Zhun was deposed, and Ding Wei was a key figure in it. Kou Zhun was probably happy to see his former enemies suffer.
As for Ding Wei, what will happen to the new policy that was originally planned if Ding Wei is gone?
Very simple!
Just change someone else.
Ding Wei is not the only minister who is lucky enough to be in the court?
There is never any irreplaceable person in this world.
Without Ding Wei, there are still Wang Wei and Li Wei.
Even if you add the label of ‘capable ministers’, you won’t be able to find a large number of them, but it’s still not a problem to find one or two.
Not to mention Wang Qinruo is one of them.
Even if Wang Qinruo can't do it, Qian Weiyan and Lu Yijian are still good choices.