At night, the Duke of Rong's Mansion still looked so majestic and solemn. The gilt-gold plaque hanging high was awe-inspiring. The four guards with swords were upright and stood solemnly at their posts, with cold eyes without any emotion.
Zhao Kuangyi dismounted, stopped and looked up at the grand entrance of the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, and then started to enter the mansion. Naturally, the guards did not dare to stop Zhao Kuangyi, and the servants in the concierge were even more diligent in leading the way.
But the most powerful person in the Zhao family is currently.
In the palace, upon learning that Zhao Kuangyi had come to visit, Zhao Kuangyin’s fourth son, Zhao Defang, quickly came out to welcome him. Seeing Zhao Kuangyi with a serious look on his face, he hurriedly saluted: “I’ve met my third uncle!”
Zhao Kuangyin had four sons in total, but only two of them grew up: Zhao Dezhao and Zhao Defang. Zhao Dezhao had already been an official and now serves as the magistrate of Xiangzhou, Jinghu North Road.
Zhao Defang, who is now twenty-seven years old, lives in Beijing, taking care of his old father and serving as a Langguan in the Ministry of Rites. Because Zhao Kuangyin is old and his health is declining, Zhao Defang is actually in charge of all the affairs of the Duke of Rongguo.
Zhao Defang was well-known in the capital for his upright and gentle character, a gentleman, and handsome appearance. There were rumors in the capital that Emperor Liu liked Zhao Defang very much and had intended to marry him to the seventh princess Liu Hui, just because she was already engaged.
Although the rumors were not credible, they had a great publicity effect on Zhao Defang's reputation.
According to official history, Zhao Defang died at the age of twenty-two at a young age. His "sleeping illness" concealed many profound meanings. Now, looking at his extraordinary appearance and piercing eyes, it is obvious that some of the conjectures are not conjectures.
However, in the era of the Han Dynasty, the relationship between brothers, uncles and nephews in the Zhao family has always been harmonious. Zhao Kuangyi has always loved and cared for the two nephews born to Zhao Kuangyin. Zhao Dezhao's position in Xiangzhou was personally arranged by him after listening to his opinions.
.
"Yeah!" He responded to Zhao Defang, and the solemnity in his expression disappeared a lot. Zhao Kuangyi asked: "Where is the second brother?"
"Father is in the tea room!" Zhao Defang replied, with a touch of worry on his handsome face, and asked Zhao Kuangyi: "Please also ask your third uncle to help persuade him!"
Hearing this, Zhao Kuangyi frowned slightly and cast a doubtful look at Zhao Defang.
It was said to be a tea room, but there was no scent of tea. On the contrary, the air was filled with a strong smell of alcohol. When Zhao Kuangyi stepped into the room, he was stimulated by the strong smell and showed discomfort. But what surprised Zhao Kuangyi even more was that
Zhao Kuangyin's current state.
Zhao Kuangyin, who had just celebrated his fifty-ninth birthday, is already extremely old. His hair is mostly white, his face is full of ravine-like wrinkles, he is extremely thin, his hands are almost only skin and bones, and he no longer has the mighty and heroic commander he once was.
temperament.
Sitting in the banquet, his face was full of drunkenness, he was holding a wine glass, and there was some meat on the food. His mouth was greasy. When he saw Zhao Kuangyi, he was stunned for a while, then he recognized him, and greeted him with misty eyes.
: "Kang Yi is here! Come and have two glasses of wine with me!"
Seeing Zhao Kuangyin's drunkard behavior, Zhao Kuangyi stepped forward, grabbed his wine glass, and said excitedly: "Second brother, why are you drunk again? You still eat so much!"
Looking up at Zhao Kuangyi and noticing his concerned expression, Zhao Kuangyin smiled, wiped his hands wet with wine on his brocade robe casually, and said: "When you eat wine, you should eat it happily! Don't drink too much, why?
Come and have a good time? These are royal wines, fine wines that are over 30 years old. How can ordinary people drink them? Come on, I’ll fill them up for you!”
Seeing Zhao Kuangyin's casual look, Zhao Kuangyi was puzzled and annoyed at the same time. He wondered: "You are old and sick, and you are already so sick. Why don't you care at all and ruin your body like this?"
Hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin glanced at Zhao Kuangyi again. He actually knew in his heart that what his younger brother was really concerned about now was probably not his own body, but the adverse effects that this frail body might have on him.
"Sit!" He extended his hand to Zhao Kuangyi, and Zhao Kuangyin asked the maid to pour another glass of wine, took a sip, and said calmly: "I usually love wine. In the past few years, I have been too restrained and too depressed.
.Now that I am very old and dying, I don’t have much time left. If I don’t enjoy it happily, I am afraid I will end up with regrets. It would be too boring to wait until after death for my descendants to pay homage and offer wine...
..."
"Second brother!" Seeing Zhao Kuangyin say this, Zhao Kuangyi couldn't help but call out.
Zhao Kuangyin's eyelids drooped slightly, and he said quietly: "What's more, these wines were given by His Majesty..."
This sentence extinguished the emotions that were flooding in Zhao Kuangyi's head. After staying for a while, he slowly sat down and looked at Zhao Kuangyin who was still eating there, his serious face full of doubts.
Zhao Kuangyin was not allowed to drink alcohol, especially not to overeat. This greasy meat was even more taboo. Emperor Liu knew this, but in the past few months, Emperor Liu would reward him with good wine at random intervals.
Rotten meat, and even sent palace servants to the house from time to time for "spot checks" to ask whether Zhao Kuangyin was eating well and drinking well...
The intention behind this, hint, should be called explicit, is really chilling to the bone. After pondering for a long time, Zhao Kuangyi said to Zhao Kuangyin solemnly: "Second brother, why is your majesty?"
When he opened his mouth, he could feel the suppressed resentment in Zhao Kuangyi's tone. However, Zhao Kuangyin looked very open-minded. He waved his hand to stop him and said softly: "It is not unusual for Your Majesty to be suspicious of heroes.
What's wrong? You still can't understand?"
"I just don't understand! Why are you targeting our Zhao family like this!" Zhao Kuangyi looked indignant, still trying hard to restrain himself, looking very painful.
"There are so many meritorious officials and veteran ministers. Our Zhao family has always been law-abiding and has never done anything wrong. We have always been loyal and devoted to the country..." Zhao Kuangyi picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. The bitter wine went into his throat.
He was in pain, and his face was full of resentment and unwillingness.
"Of the twenty-four ministers on the right, now only these three or two are left. Naturally, they will be remembered by His Majesty at any time. It is not easy to be remembered by Your Majesty!" Zhao Kuangyin sighed with a bitter smile: "I am not as good as Li Shaoyou.
Your Majesty is so close to you, but you are not as obedient as Xiang Xun, so naturally you will feel even more sad!"
"You're already like this, why are you worried?" Zhao Kuangyi blurted out.
Seeing Zhao Kuangyi's indignant look, Zhao Kuangyin was a little surprised. His blurred drunken eyes sobered up a little. He looked at him, pondered for a moment, and asked: "Kuangyi, your mood is a little wrong today. This is very different from your usual behavior!"
After Zhao Kuangyi heard this, he paused for a moment, subconsciously glanced at the maid waiting beside him, and realized that he had made a mistake. He quickly took a deep breath, adjusted his mentality, and gradually got rid of the negative emotions and regained his composure.
After thinking for a while, he replied: "I have lost my composure. It's just that now that I'm facing up and down, there are a lot of disturbances at home and outside, and I'm a little irritable!"
Zhao Kuangyin took another sip of wine and asked, "Why did you come over tonight?"
Originally, Zhao Kuangyi planned to discuss it with his brother, but seeing his current situation, he stopped thinking and shook his head: "I haven't seen my second brother for many days. I heard that I was not feeling well, so I came here to visit!"
Obviously not sincere, Zhao Kuangyin chuckled and said: "It's about tax reform!"
Although Zhao Kuangyin lives in the palace, he knows a lot about the affairs inside and outside the court. Even if he does not take the initiative to ask, there are people of this kind who will take the initiative to disclose the information to him.
When asked, Zhao Kuangyi was silent, but nodded. After pondering for a while, he said: "The current tax reform is progressing very slowly. There are many obstacles in various affairs. There are many objections inside and outside the court. Li Fang cannot coordinate and calm all parties, and sees the reform sinking.
Hey, I wanted to take the initiative to take over this job, but your majesty refused! Today, I heard that your majesty summoned Zhao Pu to return to the capital. Now, he has passed Kaifeng and is coming west. He should be able to reach the capital in three or two days...
..."
Zhao Kuangyi didn't say much, but he revealed a lot of information. Zhao Kuangyin finally put down his wine glass, and after thinking seriously for a moment, he said: "You are a little anxious!"
After hearing this, Zhao Kuangyi was silent for a while, and then he sighed: "I know it too, but if you don't take the initiative to fight for it, you will always just wander back to the same place! No matter how far it is, from Zhao Pu to Song Qi, from Song Qi to Li Fang, now
Your Majesty would rather let Zhao Pu return to Beijing than give me a chance! It is really unacceptable to use me while suppressing me at the same time!"
"Isn't this His Majesty's always-employing style?" Zhao Kuangyin said softly: "I still say what I said, you have to be more patient!"
"Second brother, I will soon know my destiny!" Zhao Kuangyi said.
After hearing what Zhao Kuangyi said, Zhao Kuangyin also fell silent. After a long time, he finally said tiredly: "As soon as the tax reform was launched, people in the government were divided, and the situation was turbulent. At this time, you should act cautiously, treat it with caution, and don't make any mistakes.
Too many actions. Wasn’t the lesson learned by Lu Dosun that year profound enough? There are some things that cannot be rushed!"
"I understand!" Zhao Kuangyi sighed: "I just feel really unwilling to do so!"
"Have brothers Dang Jin, Yang Guangyi, Wang Zhengzhong, and Liu Shouzhong been looking for you recently?" Zhao Kuangyin asked, looking at Zhao Kuangyi.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuangyi nodded: "I've looked for it!"
"There are a lot of complaints!" Zhao Kuangyin sighed, thought for a while, and said to Zhao Kuangyi solemnly: "Please give them a message for me and ask them to take good care of it! Old brothers, it is difficult to bear the erosion of time, every one of them has
They are withering away one after another, and there are not many left. Let them live a good life and take care of themselves. Don't rashly participate in court affairs, let alone try to fight against the imperial government.
Especially Dang Jin, let him control his temper and enjoy his old age! Compared with the continuation of blood, the blessings of descendants, and a few acres of land, money and silk, what are they?"
Obviously, these words also meant to advise Zhao Kuangyi. At the same time, asking Zhao Kuangyi to take the lead also had a vague meaning of diverting political resources and entrusting the aftermath.
Zhao Kuangyi thought for a while and said solemnly: "Yes! I will bring the words to you!"