Although the emperor mentioned the matter of protecting his master, Zhang Yue was 70% certain in his heart that the emperor's dragon body was not a serious problem.
So he breathed a sigh of relief.
He mentioned that Han Zhongyan and Lu Gongzhu would be his guardians, but at this time Cai Que said: "Your Majesty, your life will be long, and you will be safe even if you have minor illnesses. No matter how good your guardians are, what will happen even if Duke Zhou comes back to life?" Your Majesty has listened to the instructions and taught the prince personally."
"I think I should ask Your Majesty to summon the Prince of Yan'an County to come in and serve the decoction. Under the filial piety of the Prince of Yan'an County, Your Majesty will definitely be able to recover without medicine."
Zhang Yue heard what he thought, and Cai Que was certainly not satisfied with Lu Gongzhu and Han Zhongyan being the teacher's protectors.
But Cai Que was very loyal in his words, thinking wholeheartedly for the emperor, and at the same time, he had a way out.
But doesn’t this make it appear that he was chosen as a counselor and mentor with ulterior motives?
Zhang Yue said: "Now that we have established a reserve, we will set up teachers and guardians. What is the purpose of setting up a prince but no teachers and guardians?"
Zhang Yue's implication is that there is no teacher protection. Do you, Cai, really want your child to treat you as the crown prince? Manipulate it in the palm of your hand.
Cai Quedao: "I am just loyal to Your Majesty, I have no other intention."
Zhang Yue thought to himself, you don't have a second mind, it's just me who has a second mind.
This is also the reason why Cai Que is so disgusting as a "loyal minister".
It's like a friend who supports you in everything on weekdays is actually not a real friend. When I was young, I also thought that such a friend was very good. Whatever you wanted to do, he said he would support you. But in the end, you would get into trouble every time you do something.
And some friends, when you want to do something, they can stop you and persuade you, and even think that what you are doing is wrong, and they will ruin your fun in person.
It's particularly exciting when two kinds of friends come together in one circle.
When something goes wrong, the friend who helps you unconditionally will also help you scold the friend who gives you advice.
In the end, the friend who gave you advice became disheartened and left.
Confucius said that the first friend is to be straight. Straight means not only being honest, but also being able to speak out.
I saw Zhang Yue and Cai Que arguing in front of the emperor.
Looking behind the curtain to the empress, Concubine Zhu heard Cai Que repeatedly mention that he wanted the Prince of Yan'an County to serve the emperor, and she thought that this man was loyal and useful.
But Empress Dowager Gao sneered repeatedly when she heard this, and Concubine Zhu on the side did not dare to speak to the empress.
Empress Dowager Gao said to the empress: "In ordinary people's families, couples quarrel very much, and the smart mother-in-law either doesn't get involved or stops her son. You feel sorry for your son, and you help him by saying that your wife is wrong. Not only do you hate her in your heart, You have harmed your son all your life."
"A mother's love for her son is like this, but what about the minister? He is loyal and traitorous! A great traitor is like a loyal person!"
Concubine Zhu, when she heard what she said to the queen, she was all Weiwei.
Empress Dowager Gao was famous for being domineering. When she was the queen, she even resisted Empress Dowager Cao.
Later, his son became emperor, which was even more amazing.
She has repeatedly criticized Empress Xiang for being the daughter-in-law she personally selected, not to mention Concubine Zhu, who was of humble origin. Empress Dowager Gao usually intervened in their affairs with the emperor many times, but now she considers herself an enlightened mother-in-law. I really don’t know how she can speak so naturally. Naturally, the face does not turn red and the heart does not beat.
Zhang Yue and Cai Que had an unhappy argument and broke up. The topic of deciding who would be the crown prince's guardian in the future was temporarily shelved.
However, it has been decided that the prime ministers and governors will be on duty in turn, and not all of them need to stay in the palace, so as not to cause panic outside the palace.
After Zhang Yue returned to Zhongshu Province, Zhang Zhi knew that the emperor's condition was a little worse, but he felt a little relieved.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Yue said: "After I take office next year, your life as prime minister will be difficult from now on."
Zhang Zhi was stunned and asked: "Third uncle, what does this mean?"
Zhang Yue said: "It's just a matter of observing things before they start, and knowing the subtleties of things."
…
Zhang Yue stayed alone, but Wang Gui was able to return home.
As soon as Wang Gui arrived home, Zhang Hong, a member of Zhongshushe, came to see him.
Now, all the subordinates of Zhongshu have Hou Sheng. The latter of Zhongshu is headed by Zhong Shu Sheren, and the lower post of Zhongshu is headed by Ji Shizhong.
However, Zhang Hong was originally a Hanlin bachelor. After Yuanfeng's restructuring, the Hanlin bachelor and Qunmu envoys were abolished and replaced by six ministers.
Zhang Hong now hopes to become the prime minister, so he often comes to serve Wang Gui attentively.
Zhang Hong's position is undoubtedly that of the New Party. In the Zheng Xia case, Lu Huiqing impeached Feng Jing. In the Wutai poetry case, Zhang Hong contributed to the conviction of Su Shi and took the initiative to provide many of Su Shi's poems (historically, he participated in the prosecution of Su Shi
He was convicted, and he also reprimanded Wang Anli who spoke favorably for Su Shi. This time and space had long been demoted to the place by Zhang Yue, so it did not happen).
At that time, Su Shi regarded Zhang Hong as a good friend and even gave him a piece of "Jia Shuo".
However, Zhang Hong was still evil-minded and ruthless.
Wang Gui also likes Zhang Hong very much. Nowadays, the government is not attached to Zhang Yue, but to Cai Que. There are not many officials who can follow him so vigorously. Even Li Qingchen, who he single-handedly promoted, has recently moved on with Han Zhongyan.
Very close.
"Is your Majesty okay?"
Wang Gui said to Zhang Hong, "It's hard to say."
Zhang Hong bent down and looked like he was listening. Wang Gui hesitated for a moment and whispered: "There seems to be an ominous sign."
Zhang Hong trembled when he heard this, and then said: "My lords stayed together last night, and people outside were talking about it. The prime minister led Zuo Kui, and all the civil and military officials pointed at the prime minister."
Wang Gui said: "Now it is no better than it was back then. When I was a Hanlin scholar, I hesitated in drafting the imperial edict and sat on the bench for four years. Although Ouyang Wenzhong repeatedly defended me in front of the late emperor, it still could not relieve the late emperor's doubts.
, the other people I encountered at that time were Zhang Gaoqing and Cai Junmo."
"Hey! They are all loyal ministers of the country!"
Zhang Hong heard Wang Gui's words and it hit home the deepest worries in his heart.
He was worried that if Wang Guiwei and Cai Quenuonuo were to succeed, Zhang Yue would be involved in all major political affairs in the future, and he would never be able to stand out.
"Prime Minister Zuo, in times of great difficulty, you must take responsibility and never let others take advantage of troubled waters to fish in troubled waters."
Wang Gui knew what Zhang Hong was referring to. In fact, he was also worried, but Cai had already taken the first step, so he didn't have to worry.
Zhang Hong said: "Prime Minister, as far as I know, the queen has sent people to Zhang Duzhi and Cai Zhizheng to show her favor or to win over him."
Wang Gui's face jumped when he heard this. Zhang Hong saw it and thought to himself, the Queen really didn't send anyone to look for Wang Gui. The dignified Prime Minister and the nominal number one civil servant was just ignored.
Wasn't taken seriously at all.
This is all due to the fact that after the restructuring, the Zhongshu had more weight than the three provinces and one academy.
Wang Gui asked: "What do you think the queen wants?"
Zhang Hong said: "Maybe he is on an equal footing with the Empress Dowager!"
Wang Gui said: "Then I need to ask Gao Shichong to see if the Queen Mother knows or not."
Zhang Hong felt reassured after hearing this. Wang Gui's move undoubtedly revealed everything to him. Don't panic, the Empress Dowager is behind us.
So it’s no wonder that Wang Gui always couldn’t agree or remained silent when discussing with the governors. The subtext was ‘this is his Zhao family’s business, let’s not interfere’.
It’s no wonder that when Gao Zunyu was defeated in Xingling, some courtiers wanted to punish Gao Zunyu, but Wang Gui was found guilty of the crime.
Apart from the Emperor, Empress Dowager Gao has the final say in matters concerning the Zhao family.
Please collect the book!
However, Empress Xiang also coveted power, so she was suppressed by Empress Dowager Gao in the palace, so she secretly sought help from the outer court.
But Zhang Hong immediately added: "But Zhang Duzhi not only has contact with the Queen, but also seems to be valued by the Queen Mother!"
Wang Gui's expression darkened when he heard this, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. Just now, he could have saved the day by not looking for him, but now he couldn't bear it anymore.
Wang Gui couldn't help it.
Zhang Hong sighed: "I wonder if anyone wants to be Zhao Pu?"
Wang Gui was shocked when he heard this. Everyone knows how important Zhao Pu is in "The Sound of Axes and Shadows of Candles". Will Zhang Yue reach a deal with the appointment of the crown prince in exchange for his position as prime minister?
Zhang Hong said: "Although You Kui has the power now, Zuo Kui is the head of all officials. Now the whole world depends on Zuo Kui."
Power is real power. Zhang Yue holds the power, so most of the officials listen to him. But if something happens to the emperor, Zhang Yue still has less say than Wang Gui in the matter of establishing the heir apparent.
Wang Gui said: "I have my own opinion."
…
Zhang Yue spent the night in the capital hall and stayed in the palace for two nights in a row. Although Empress Dowager Gao ordered people to give him one thing and another, he was afraid that he would not be comfortable living in the capital hall. But after all, it is not at home, more or less.
It's still a bit unaccustomed to it.
Zhang Yue stood behind the window with his hands behind his hands, looking in the direction of Funing Palace for a moment, and then glanced at the paper on the desk.
This is Seventeenth Mother's home letter, which was sent to the palace together with her change of obscene clothes.
The letter from home said that Xiang Zong came back to visit his family yesterday. Xiang Zong often visited his home in the past and did not shy away from being a relative. Of course, the other party was not just a relative. As the great-grandson of Xiang Minzhong, he was also a member of the scholar-bureaucrats.
He even has some relatives with Zhang Yue.
After Xiang Min became a child, the Xiang family took root in Kaifeng. His five sons separated into separate families and the population was large.
The Seventeenth Mother mentioned in her letter that when Xiang Zong returned home, she mentioned to Zhang Cheng that one of the emperor's kindnesses was the promotion of "Queen Xiaozhang" to the Imperial Ancestral Temple not long ago.
Taizu Zhao Kuangyin's third queen, Emperor Taizong died suddenly after the night of the sound of ax and candle shadow. At that time, Queen Xiaozhang ordered Wang Jien, the chamberlain, to invite Zhao Kuangyin's fourth son, Zhao Defang, to enter the palace.
As a result, Wang Jien did not invite Zhao Defang, but instead invited Zhao Kuangyi.
Queen Xiaozhang also asked Wang Jien: "Is it Defang here?"
Wang Jien said loudly: "The King of Jin is here."
Empress Xiaozhang was shocked when she saw Zhao Kuangyi entering the palace without any notice. She cried to Zhao Kuangyi and said: "The lives of my mother and son are entrusted to the officials."
Zhao Kuangyi said: "Together we can protect our wealth and have no worries."
Later, Empress Xiaozhang was treated harshly by Taizong as the emperor's sister-in-law. She was treated this way during her lifetime, and she was not allowed to be buried with Zhao Kuangyin after her death, and her tablet was not even allowed to be elevated to the Ancestral Temple.
Of course, Empress Xiaozhang, that is, Empress Song herself had problems. If Empress Song didn't like Zhao Kuangyi at that time and wanted to establish a new monarch, then why didn't she find Zhao Kuangyin, Zhao Kuangyi's younger brother Zhao Guangmei, or Zhao Kuangyin's second son Zhao Dezhao?
What about the last son, Zhao Defang, who is also the youngest, has the least political experience, and has the least foundation? Which of the two is not more legitimate than Zhao Defang?
If you were Wang Jien, in this case, would you pass on Zhao Kuangyi or Zhao Defang?
However, not long ago, the officials suddenly elevated the tablet of Empress Zhang Xiao to the Ancestral Temple.
So this is what Xiang Zong mentioned to Zhang Yue.
Will the queen be the emperor's sister-in-law or the queen mother in the future?
Now the emperor's two younger brothers, King Yong and King Cao, are openly going in and out of the palace to pay homage to Empress Dowager Gao.
Now the question arises, how should he face this situation.
Thinking of this, Zhang Yue first threw the family letter into the brazier nearby and watched with his own eyes as it was completely burned to ashes.
Zhang Yue has been in politics for many years and has a habit of burning all his handwriting with fire anytime and anywhere, including family letters.
Burn after reading.
Zhang Yue looked at the wind and snow covering the Funing Palace, and remembered a lot. On the same night, Emperor Taizu came to have a drink with Zhao Kuangyi, and when he was drunk, he took an ax to poke the snow outside the palace, and finally died violently in his sleep.
He thought of Han Qi again. When Yingzong was about to die, the ministers asked the emperor to ascend the throne. As a result, Yingzong's fingers suddenly started to move.
The ministers were a little panicked when they saw this. At this time, Han Qi said, "Why are you panicking? Even if the late emperor is resurrected, he will still be the supreme emperor!"
Zhang Yue thought of Renzong again, the emperor who had great trust in him.
Zhang Yue said at this moment: "Renmiao, Renmiao, today, can I be considered worthy of your kindness?"
When a person reaches a certain age, he will think of many things in the past in the blink of an eye. At this moment, Zhang Yue's eyes were once again focused on the direction of Funing Palace in the wind and snow. Neither Wang Gui nor Cai Que was staying tonight.
What should I do at this time?
Zhang Yue knew clearly that it was only the sixth year of Yuanfeng. Even if the emperor was temporarily excited, his life span would not be that long.
Zhang Yue thought of this, turned around and opened the door. The few waiters on the snowy night were half sleepy.
But when they saw Zhang Yue entering, they got excited and stood up.
Zhang Yue said seriously: "Let Mr. Su Zhi come here to discuss important matters!"