I will never be Renzong

Chapter 176 Marriage
Once the affair between a man and a woman has a beginning, it is often out of control.

Wang Xiang'er has been in the palace for nearly three years. Zhao Zhen took advantage of Liu E's leaving the palace and finally got his wish to kiss Fangze again. However, the days when Liu E left the palace were numbered and did not necessarily happen once a year. It was just love. Like Pandora's box, once opened, it will be like a scourge.

Zhao Zhen was no longer satisfied with the current situation. He wanted to spend more time with Wang Xiang'er, but he couldn't spend time with Wang Xiang'er in front of Liu E's eyes and have lingering affection.

In the end, Jieyu and Zhang Yingying guessed Zhao Zhen's thoughts, so she always changed her tricks and summoned Wang Xiang'er into the cabinet for various reasons. Zhao Zhen also took this opportunity to be warm with Wang Xiang'er, while Zhang Yingying Acted as the watchman's maid.

Zhang Yingying also had no choice. Before Zangshi and Yelishi entered the palace, Zhao Zhen spent most of the month either with her or with the noble concubine Li Bing'er. However, since the two entered the palace, Zhao Zhen has been with her for a month or two. I haven't set foot in her residence anymore.

What a woman who enters the palace fears most is falling out of favor. Once she asked Wang Xianger to chat with her, and unexpectedly Zhao Zhen also came.Zhang Yingying is the best at observing words and expressions, and can tell at a glance that Zhao Zhen has no more love for her good sister, so she boldly drinks the servants, and then fulfills the good deed of the two of them.

Of course, because of this, she regained Zhao Zhen's favor. Not only was she promoted from Jieyu to Xiurong, but she also received many coveted rewards.

In the Chongzheng Hall, Zhao Zhen was discussing the marriage with the important officials of the imperial court.

Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Kingdom first selected more than a dozen women with outstanding looks, talents, learning and conduct from the clan. After careful teaching and screening, he finally chose Yelu Yanran, the granddaughter of the famous general Yeluxiu, to marry the Song Dynasty. Yelu Yanran was also named Princess Xingping.

This time the Liao envoy came to inform him of this matter. Zhao Zhen didn't take the marriage seriously at first, but he didn't expect that the monarchs and ministers of the Liao Kingdom were so prepared that they chose a beautiful woman from the clan to marry him. .

Now that he had already agreed at the beginning, he naturally couldn't refuse. After all, how can the king of a country be dishonest, so Zhao Zhen began to discuss with the court officials about the bride price and other wedding matters.

Wang Zeng said: "Officials! After discussing with the envoys of the Liao Dynasty, I will offer a betrothal gift: 30 guan in money, [-] in silk, and [-] in tea. Three new places will be added, and a guard of honor will be sent to welcome Princess Xingping in Hejian Mansion." drive!"

Prime Minister Zhang Zhibai was not in good health, so during this period political affairs were generally presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Wang Zeng.

Since ancient times, it has been three books and six rituals for ordinary people to marry their daughters. Naturally, the marriage between the two countries cannot be sloppy, so the dowry is extremely grand.

Zhao Zhen felt a bit at a loss, so he asked, "What is the dowry given by the Liao Kingdom?"

Wang Zeng hurriedly replied: "Go back to the official home! The dowry prepared by the Liao Kingdom for Princess Xingping is 10 taels of gold."

"That's good!"

Zhao Zhen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. The ratio of gold, silver and copper in the Song Dynasty was 1:10:10000, that is, one tael of gold equals ten taels of silver and equals ten copper coins, which means that 10 taels of gold is equivalent to one million copper coins. Instead, I made some money.In ancient times, due to war factors, there were more women than men, so the dowry gifts brought by the women when they got married were often more than the dowry gifts given by the men.

Wang Zeng said again: "According to the agreement between our dynasty and the Liao Dynasty, the Liao Kingdom send-off team will send Princess Xingping and the dowry to Hejian Mansion, and then our dynasty will send an envoy to welcome her with the dowry. If there is any objection, the minister will arrange for the officials to prepare the required money!"

Zhao Zhen thought for a while and made sure that he had nothing to add, and then said: "Since the Emperor of Liao attaches great importance to the reconciliation between the two countries, then I, the Song Dynasty, must treat each other with courtesy. After preparing the money, let's set off immediately! It would be better to do this as early as possible Arrived, we must not be late. But the money will not come from the national treasury, it should go to my internal treasury!"

"The officials are wise!"

The three ministers present hurriedly said in unison.

"Zhang Xianggong is not in good health. I have already sent the imperial physician to visit him. The imperial physician told me that Zhang Xianggong was overworked, which caused his old illness. If he can rest in peace, he may still live for another year. If he continues to manage Politics, I'm afraid."

Zhang Zhibai has not served as prime minister for a long time, but in general, he is still cooperative with Zhao Zhen's various innovations. It can be said that he is a rare and virtuous prime minister, but now he is tired because of government affairs, and Zhao Zhen feels a little bit sorry.

Lu Zongdao said: "Mr. Zhang is self-restraining and devoted to public service. He is a role model for my generation!"

Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "Although I hope that all the ministers in the imperial court will bow to death like Zhuge Wuhou, but I don't want any minister to be able to accompany his descendants and enjoy the happiness of family relationship when he is dying! Therefore, I have decided to remove all the official positions of Zhang Xiang, confer the title of Zhao Guogong, and allow him to take office."

Lu Yijian said: "Officials! Prime Minister Zhang is modest and fair, and he has no objection to being promoted to the Duke of Zhao, but what I don't understand is why officials don't follow up with empty posts. In the past, when I served as a prime minister, I gave them to the grand master. I hope the officials will think twice!"

Zhao Zhen replied: "The reason why I didn't pursue the vacancies is because I plan to make some changes to the vacancies of the civil servants of our court in the near future. The three ministers also know that there are many vacancies of civil servants in my court, with many names and titles, and some have salaries. Some of them don’t have salary, I hope they can be like military generals, streamlined and concise, a few gentlemen can refer to the official positions of the past dynasties when they go back, if you have any good opinions, remember to submit them!”

Just as Lu Yijian was about to say something, Wang Zeng hurriedly said: "What the officials say is true! I have too many civil and official positions, so it's time to streamline them!"

Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng have a good relationship, so they didn't say anything when they saw this.The reason why Wang Zeng followed Zhao Zhen was because he didn't want to be right with today's officials at this juncture.

At the beginning, Ding Wei was finally taken away, but Feng Zheng came. Feng Zheng's life was not good, and he died of illness after being the prime minister for less than a year. Wang Zeng was supposed to take over as prime minister, but suddenly a Wang Qinruo, later Wang Qinruo was killed by bandits while inspecting the city. It was almost a sure thing for Wang Zeng to take over as prime minister, but because Wang had opposed Zhao Zhen's decision several times at that time, Zhao Zhen was mostly displeased. to obtain.

So now, Zhang Zhibai was dismissed from the position of prime minister due to illness, and Wang Zeng's opportunity came again. If he still can't become prime minister this time, then he is destined to miss the position of prime minister in this life.

Zhao Zhen saw that the three of them had no discussion on this matter, so he said: "The reform of the official system is not in a hurry. I plan to change the titles of various bachelors and servants first!"

Wang Zeng hurriedly said: "I don't know how the officials plan to change it? I wait and listen!"

(End of this chapter)