The Red Mansions

Chapter 995 Empress Song: What Ziyu said just now seems to be... the learning of emperors?
Kunning Palace

Jia Heng drank a glass of wine and said a few words to congratulate Empress Song on her birthday. Apart from being noisy and enthusiastic, this family banquet lunch was also lackluster.

Meanwhile, Empress Song narrated the wedding arrangements for the next few days, making Jia Heng ready.

Because it is a gift of marriage, although the folk procedure of the six rituals is much simpler, there are still many.

In terms of betrothal gifts, although the Tian family has no shortage of yellow and white things, the Ning and Rong families are also decent people, so it cannot be too shabby, and it takes a lot of thought.

At this moment, there are only ten days before the big wedding in the middle of the month, the palace servants of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have already started preparations, and the dowry is naturally selected from the treasury.

After lunch, Emperor Chongping didn't listen to a group of old women chatting. Surrounded by Dai Quan and a group of eunuchs, he went to the inner study, leaving Jia Heng and Princess Xianning behind to accept the orders of Empress Song and Concubine Duan Rong.

Empress Song said with a smile: "Ziyu, you and Ze'er have a good talk these few days together, we will be a family in the future, and you need to get close to each other."

Because the two kings of Wei and Liang returned to the Ministry after they invited Queen Song to comfort them, some words were also subtext.

At this time, Princess Xianning pulled Chen Ze over and said with a smile, "Sir, why don't we go to the side hall to talk."

What brother said just now is somewhat scary, just like adults, but fortunately brother will come and go, so there is no need to worry too much.

But how did that Lu Xueshi teach brother these words?

Maybe when telling history, just say it casually?
At this moment, Chen Ze looked at the young man, his lacquer-like eyes were vivid, and he said with a smile, "Brother-in-law, tell me about the war, how did the slave chief be captured?"

Jia Heng smiled and said, "Then tell you."

Concubine Duanrong looked at the young man her son was pestering with a smile on her face. She was originally a beautiful woman with a fair complexion and a cool temperament.

What she can't let go of is her two children. Now that her daughter is married to a good husband, and her son can be safe and happy, she has nothing else to ask for.

Princess Wei Yan Yiliu in the distance, with her beautiful eyes, saw the young man chatting and feasting with Princess Xianning, and she couldn't help feeling jealous in her heart.

It is also a marriage bestowed by the heavenly family, so how can Princess Xianning be so affectionate as husband and wife?

Jia Heng was talking with Chen Ze.

At this time, Princess Xianning said: "Sir, just now my younger brother said that he recently studied history with Lu Li, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, and mentioned that the feudal towns in the late Tang Dynasty were disasters, and the generals were domineering and hard to control."

She felt the need to correct her brother's thinking.

When Jia Heng heard that Lu Li was mentioned, his heart moved a little. After he showed his ugly face in the court, he has calmed down and taught the prince knowledge.

Jia Heng said: "It's not about the warriors, but about the unclear authority, the loss of central prestige, and the inability to check and balance places. Like Song Dynasty, the literati ruled the country, and the strong and weak branches are not the same as the loss of the country. Change, and be laughed at by future generations one after another?"

"On the other hand, since the end of the Anshi Rebellion, Li Tang's artifacts have been in circulation for 150 years. After all, it was the carnivores who didn't feel sorry for the people, which led to the Huangchao Rebellion. After that, Li Tang's power plummeted, and the situation went from bad to worse." Jia Heng said softly.

In fact, don’t say that in the middle and late Tang Dynasty, the vassal towns were the disaster, and the martial arts were in power. Except for the three towns of Heshuo, who were rebellious against the central government, the others were anti-containment vassals in the Central Plains, financial resources in the southeast, and frontier vassals. Generalize.

Even the three towns of Heshuo are actually left over from the time of Anshi, and they are both attached and resisted to Datang.

"Brother-in-law, do you think there are no generals to worry about?" Chen Ze asked.

Empress Song Yongli had a smile on her brows and looked at the young man with some ecstasy.

Jia Heng said: "Of course not. I have a strong government and a weak branch, and the military and government are divided. How can this matter? Even though the Jiedu envoys of our dynasty support the festival, as in the previous Ping'an Prefecture, there are only Jiedu envoys." Said, but without restraint to make it real."

Chen Ze looked thoughtful.

Jia Hengdao: "In the Tang Dynasty, the Jiedu envoys were in charge of the financial power and the army alone. There was no distinction between the military and the government. The princes were easy to rise. Not to mention the military generals, even the civilian officials were in charge of the military administration. When the central government was weak, they had to develop a self-reliant heart. Besides, Jiedu The exercise of power is mainly based on the shogunate's expropriation, and it is in charge of the military administration alone. It can be called a feudal lord. The governor of our dynasty can also be regarded as a feudal official, but which one can act on its own? The vassal rule and the army, which one is not controlled by the size? layer constraints?"

The mobilization ability and administrative efficiency of centralized power are undoubtedly relatively high, but the absolute power that is not controlled can only be abused.

In fact, Chen Han was baptized by civil servant politics in the Song and Ming Dynasties. All the local officials who controlled the financial and personnel power were civil servants who were born in the imperial examination, and the military and government were not part of the same system.

This Lu Li instilled Chen Ze with these words of vigilance against generals, obviously to make Chen Ze amplify his fear of generals, and then target him, Mr. Jia?

Probably also mentioned some examples of Liu Han's relatives' monopoly?

Chen Han's current system does still have the soil of the dictatorship of foreign relatives, of course he will not mention it now.

Hearing this, Chen Ze stood up like a grown-up, cupped his hands and said, "Brother-in-law, you have been educated."

My brother-in-law is indeed superior to that Lu Xueshi, and he suddenly understood after a few words.

Concubine Wei Yan Yiliu, the bright eyes under the sword eyebrows were full of thought.

As she listened to the boy's in-depth narration throughout the whole process, the girl also secretly admired it.

No wonder his father regards him as a bandit and enemy, this penetrating insight is indeed rare among his peers.

Song Yan sat beside her, her slender white hands resting on her fragrant cheeks, her lustrous eyes were fixed on the young man, a little lost in thought.

Feeling something in my heart at this moment, I couldn't help but squeezed a handkerchief in my palm.

Jia Heng also took advantage of the opportunity to step on Lu Li at this moment, and said loudly: "Your Highness, if you want to study history, you should study more dignified theories, and don't listen to the narrow views of corrupt scholars."

Concubine Duanrong saw this scene, and said with a smile: "What did the concubine mother tell you just now, you should listen to other theories more, don't be biased."

Chen Ze nodded, and said, "Concubine Mu, I've made a note."

Empress Song Yuyan smiled brightly, with curved eyebrows, and said softly: "Zi Yu, Ze'er usually likes to read."

What's going on here, it would be great if Ran'er and Zi Yu were together, they are similar in age, so they should be able to discuss this.

I always feel that what Ziyu said just now seems to be... the learning of emperors?
Jia Heng smiled and said: "Your Highness is gifted and intelligent, he likes to read, and his future is boundless."

When Empress Song heard this, Yuyan's smile remained undiminished, but her heart was slightly startled, and the phoenix eyes under her beautiful eyebrows glanced at the little boy.

Well, probably not, Ze'er is still young, so there's no way he'll get his turn, and there are so many brothers ahead of him.

But in the bottom of my heart, I suddenly had some thoughts again, not too young, now he is ten years old, he has been so smart since he was a child, and His Majesty seems to like him very much.

Have some thoughts that you shouldn't have?
It shouldn't be, my sister is usually aloof from the world.

Sure enough, Concubine Duan Rong frowned Xiu Li's eyebrows, and said angrily: "If you are wielding knives and guns again, you will not be able to study hard."

Chen Ze raised his face and said, "Father can't eat or sleep well because of the border affairs. I want to learn some riding and archery and the art of war, so that I can relieve my father's worries in the future."

After hearing this, Jia Heng didn't want to say anything else, he just thought about how to manage Lu Lu, probably because he wanted to support Chen Ze.

Since Li Tang was used as an example just now, it is precisely the humble Jin Wang Li Zhi who won the heir apparent.

It is really possible that Chen Ze is so smart since he was a child.

If we analyze the current state of mind of the emperor, it is that I am not too old, and I am not in a hurry to establish a prince. Huang Taiji has just been crowned, and it is time for him to be ambitious and start a foundation.

But according to the understanding of the Son of Heaven, the king of Qi has little hope, and the king of Chu still has some hope. The words of the king of Wei are actually the most appropriate.

The emperor did not stand up, but in fact he was protecting the king of Wei, so that he would not be attacked by a crowd, and the father and son would end up jealous.

After all, he was a character who came out of the fight for the first son during the Longzhi period.

The pyramid of power is too crowded.

Empress Song smiled, with a different meaning in her round and smooth voice, and said: "Sister, if there is anything Ze'er doesn't understand after reading the book, you can ask his brother-in-law for advice."

Still can't be too suspicious, it's just a little boy, and besides, she and her younger sister are siblings, and the younger sister won't.

Concubine Duanrong said softly: "His brother-in-law is so busy, it's not good to pester him all the time asking questions."

When Empress Song heard the words, she thought to herself, her sister really didn't have the thoughts that she shouldn't have.

At this moment, Princess Xianning took Chen Ze's little hand, with a smile in her clear eyes, she squeezed her rosy and tight face and said, "Okay, stop messing around, if you want to learn horseback riding and archery, I will I will teach you later."

Jia Heng looked at Empress Song and said, "Your Majesty, let's take our leave first."

Empress Song smiled and said softly, "Go."

After that, Jia Heng, Princess Xianning, Li Chanyue, Song Yan and Chen Ze headed towards Tangli Palace.

……

……

Leaving aside the fact that Jia Heng was drinking with the emperor and empress in the palace, it is said that in the Metropolitan Police Court——

Xu Lusheng, the censor of the Zuo capital, asked the case, and the trial of the relevant criminals had already begun. According to the confession of the drummer, the investigation began with Xu Ying, who was the first cheater.

As for Fang Huan, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, Liu Zheng, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, and a group of members of the Imperial Academy, they asked the censor alone.

In fact, this kind of case has never been a difficult case, and it is not difficult to try. After inquiries from multiple channels, especially the identification of the relevant criminals, Fang Huan, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, was finally undeniable, and under Xu Lu's gaze, he confessed The reason for the previous leak.

As time passed, the truth surfaced.

Fang Huanxie's question was originally to support a younger generation in the clan, but he did not expect such a disaster to happen. The younger generation of that clan did not have a sense of secrecy. Hundreds, about three to forty people were involved in the case.

Xu Lu sent people to arrest several people one by one, and interrogated them to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and a fraud case in the imperial examination was revealed to the world.

But at night, it caused an uproar in the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

"The son of Yu De, the right-hand censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, is also involved in the case?" In the evening, when the lights were on, Xu Lu sat in the official office of the yamen hall, with a gloomy face, and asked Zhang Zhi, the left-hand deputy censor beside him.

Zhang Zhi hesitated and said: "President Xian, Yu Zhen has a good relationship with his son Mao Jun, and he is also involved in the case. This Yu Zhen is on good terms with Han Hui, the son of Han Ge, and Han Hui is the top two in this department..."

The voice behind was a little weak and imperceptible.

Xu Lu frowned, and said in a deep voice: "The Holy Spirit has said, no matter who is involved in the matter, we will investigate thoroughly!"

Speaking of this, he ordered: "Send someone to interrogate Yu Zhen."

Zhang Zhi arched his hands, his eyes flashed, and then he took the order and left.

Faintly felt that a storm was brewing.

At this moment, the scholars in the entire capital are discussing the news released by Emperor Chongping, that is, to investigate strictly to the end and open an Enke. The crowd was so angry that the members who gathered outside the yamen of the Ministry of Rites also dispersed one after another.

As dusk fell and the lights came on, the chief minister of the cabinet, Han Huang, also left the cabinet and returned to the mansion in a carriage. He sat down behind the desk in the outer study, held up the teacup, and thought about the court situation.

Suddenly, the servant announced: "Master, the young master is here."

Han Hui quickly entered the study, and said with a sad face, "Father, it's not good, Wendu was taken away by the people from the Metropolitan Procuratorate."

Han Huang put down the teacup in his hand, frowned slightly, and there was a trace of doubt on his elegant face illuminated by the lights, and said, "What's going on? Yu Zhen is not in the Ministry of Officials to observe politics, and people from the Metropolitan Procuratorate are looking for him... "

Suddenly I was startled, could it be?
Han Hui's expression was not very good, and he said, "Wendu was involved in the fraud case of the imperial examination. He said that he won the Jinshi because of the leaked questions."

In the end, I just felt cold hands and feet.

Han Huang was startled, his complexion was clouded.

Yu De is the backbone of the Zhejiang Party, will he be implicated in this case?
And at this moment, the servant reported outside the study that Han Huang's brother-in-law Yan Hong visited the mansion and entered the mansion. A frightened face was reflected under the candlelight and said, "Brother."

Han Huang looked at Han Hui and Yan Hong, vaguely understood something in his heart, waved his hand to push the servant away, and said, "What's going on?"

Yan Hong looked troubled, he hesitated and said: "Brother, Zisheng was also involved in the case, I helped to do the test questions, I didn't know the details at the time."

Hearing this, Han Huang felt his eyes go dark, and the teacup on the small table at hand was swept away, and fell to the ground with a "click", which startled Yan Hong and Han Hui.

"Father." Han Hui was taken aback when he saw this, and quickly approached to support Han Huang.

"Confused, how confused you are!" Han Huang settled down, looked at the two of them, his eyes fell on Yan Hong's face, and asked forcefully, "If you leaked the question, why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell Zhao Bojian? Wine, how dare you hide it like this?"

Yan Hong was reprimanded by Han Huang, lowered his head and said: "At the beginning, Wen Du said that it might be a test question, we just regarded it as a bet, so I wrote an article for Zisheng. A test question? After the big mistake has been made, I heard people mention it, and it is impossible to expose my shortcomings, and I thought I could let it go."

At this time, in fact, the imperial examination already had the habit of betting on one question, of course not one, but often several.

Han Huang looked at Yan Hong with burning eyes, and said in a deep voice: "How can I do it for you even if you are betting on the test? Now that the leak of the test is revealed, once people find out, they may think that I got the test early. I really can't wash myself off by jumping into the Yellow River."

At that time, what will his colleagues in the court think of him?
Colluded with Zhao Bojian, leaked the test questions in advance, and let his son go to high school?
When Yan Hong heard this, he became very anxious, and hurriedly said: "Brother, this matter must not involve brother. If the Metropolitan Procuratorate finds me and Zisheng, it will definitely not involve brother."

"How can you control others from discussing? No matter how you check now, the mistake has already been made." Han Huang frowned, only feeling a sense of irritability in the bottom of his heart.

But after all, he has spent a lot of time cultivating Qi, and he is thinking about how to escape from the bottom of his heart.

A look of determination appeared on Han Hui's face, and he said, "Father, it's better not to admit it. When the procuratorate asks about it, my son will handle it by himself, and just say that he doesn't know the matter."

Han Huang's face was gloomy, and he said in a cold voice: "Yu Zhen gave you this topic. Can you guarantee that Yu Zhen can withstand the interrogation by the Metropolitan Procuratorate? Xu Deqing's eyes are so golden, how can you hide them from the court once?" Pass?"

Han Hui's complexion changed, and he was at a loss for words.

Although he can be sure that his friend can withstand the interrogation of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and will not blame him, it is not easy to say with certainty.

Yan Hong's complexion was pale at the moment, and he also felt his heart was icy cold. He said in a trembling voice, "Brother, how should we deal with this matter?"

Once the son of the first assistant is involved, it is easy to get rid of it, and people suspect that Zhao Mo and Fang Huan are colluding with their elder brother.

Han Huang frowned tightly, his face was a little depressed, and he said in a low voice, "Let me think about it."

This is a catastrophe, but it is not a solution.

After thinking about it, he said in a deep voice, "I want to enter the palace overnight and report this matter to the Holy Master."

"Brother, how can this be done?" Yan Hong's complexion changed suddenly, his usual elegance and calmness had long since disappeared, and his face was full of anxiety.

If he is honest and honest, he will be punished by the palace.

Han Huang was expressionless, and said slowly: "Instead of letting the Metropolitan Procuratorate torture the city and cause trouble all over the city, it is better to be honest with the palace first. With the grand mind of the Holy One, he should be able to distinguish between interests and harm."

When things come to this, I can only ask the palace to be frank about this matter and beg for understanding. Of course, how to say it is also very particular.

As for his son's imperial examination achievements, whether he is suspected of deceiving the emperor is in the Sacred Heart.

Originally, the matter in the south of the Yangtze River could only be succumbed.

It can be said that the only one who can stop Xu Lu now is Emperor Chongping. Otherwise, he would follow the vine and catch Han Hui, and then ask the son of the chief minister of the cabinet.

Han Huang's face was serious, and he told Yan Hong and Han Hui, who had earthy faces, and said, "You two don't go out in the mansion, wait until I come back from the palace."

I hope that Yu De's son can survive the interrogation of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

……

……

Just when there was a commotion in the capital over the case of leaking questions in the imperial examination, Jinling, thousands of miles away, was quiet and beautiful.

A cool breeze blows in the summer night, blowing the plantains in the courtyard, the summer rain from the day before yesterday shakes down in the grass, and the frogs croak.

In the wing room, the lights were brightly lit, and the eldest princess of Jinyang was half lying on the bed. Her delicate hair was not curled into a bun, but her shoulders were slightly loose. Underneath the slender eyebrows, her beautiful eyes are slightly closed, her expression is full of tranquility, and her beautiful neck seems to be more majestic because of having a child.

Yuan Chun next to him was reading the Dibao, his voice was like big pearls and small pearls falling on a jade plate.

As half a year passed, the beauty's lower abdomen swelled and gradually became a round ball, her figure also became plump, her appearance became more graceful and plump, and she became more lethargic.

"Your Highness, brother Heng has been granted the title of Duke of Wei and a marriage." Yuan Chun put down the mansion newspaper, his plump and beautiful face was full of joy.

Compared with Zhen Qing who always sent secret agents from the Prince of Chu's mansion to inquire about news from the capital, and delivered information by flying pigeons, Princess Jinyang has been raising her baby with peace of mind after Jia Heng won the victory in Ping'an Prefecture, and never sent anyone to the capital to inquire. As for the news, I just received an expedited delivery of six hundred miles from central Beijing to Jinling.

Of course, based on experience, it has long been expected.

"It's enough to confer a first-class duke thanks to your merits. A princess and a county lord are each demoted to a first-class level. This will block the mouth of the world." The eldest princess of Jinyang said softly, and said: " After Bengong proposed the law of conjugation, it can be regarded as seeing this day."

It was she who proposed this section for the first time at the beginning, thinking that it would be convenient for her to stay with Ziyu under the cover of Chanyue, and now it has been a year or two.

Now, the baby in her womb is several months old.

"Your Highness, the little Princess is going to get married in the middle of the month." Yuan Chun said softly with gentle eyebrows and eyes, and there was some leisurely yearning in the depths of his eyes.

"Then I can't go back. How decent is such a big belly." Princess Jinyang gently caressed her swollen belly, with a hint of confusion on her face.

It's the first time for her to have a baby at such a big age, and she feels clumsy when she walks every day.

"It was reported in the mansion that Wang Shuirong of Beijing asked the Jiangnan navy to help suppress the bandits. Brother Heng should come to Jiangnan once. There is no war in the north." Seeing Xiangxiang in Yuan Chunmei's eyes, he said with a chuckle: " Do you want to write another letter to urge Brother Heng?"

She also misses Brother Heng a little bit.

"You should also write a letter to him. When he gets married, come here quickly, and don't miss our mother and daughter." Princess Jinyang said softly, and her tone was quite resentful.

Jia Heng stayed at the border for a few months, not only did he not write any letters to all the gold hairpins in Ningrong and Rongfu, but also did not write any letters in Nanxing.

(End of this chapter)