Funing Hall

Three days later, they left Hangzhou.

Zhao Shiqi's mother still stayed in Hangzhou, and Mr. Yu brought some people back to Kaifeng with Zhao Shiqi.

Zhao Cong happened to see it, and asked a few more questions, Zhao Shiqi didn't care and said: "The house given by His Majesty is too big, so we can fill it up by bringing a few more people back."

Zhao Cong nodded, knowing that Zhao Shiqi was really going to live outside the palace.

I can't tell whether it is loss or disappointment in my heart, after all, this is what it should be.

He was about to enter the cabin when he saw two beautiful ladies walking out of the carriage at the end. They looked young, but they were all dressed in buns.He was a little puzzled, and looked at Zhao Shiqi again.

Zhao Shiqi couldn't help being a little flustered, but quickly settled down: "Your Majesty, they were my concubines when I was in Hangzhou."

"... Oh." After a while, Zhao Cong responded.

He nodded again, and walked into the cabin holding Rantao's hand.

Before walking in, he turned his back to Zhao Shiqi and said, "You take the two ladies with me, it's not easy for me to live here, so you and them go to the boat on the other side."

"Yes." Zhao Shiqi also agreed.

Zhao Cong didn't pause any longer, and quickly hid his figure behind the boat curtain.

When walking back, Zhao Cong sat by the window where Zhao Shiqi was sitting last time, in a daze.

When I came, the peach blossoms were in full bloom, but when I returned, the peach blossoms had already died.There are no more peach petals on the surface of the water, and the peach blossoms in front of the window and Zhao Shiqi's hand that day suddenly seemed like a dream but not a dream.Zhao Cong couldn't help wondering, did they really happen?

Eight days later, they arrived at Kaifeng Mansion.

The cars from the palace lined up at the pier of the Bianhe River. Zhao Cong walked onto the shore holding Rantao's hand. Fu Lu immediately knelt down excitedly: "Your Majesty, you are back! The princess and Concubine Shu are both Waiting for you in the Palace of Funing!"

No matter how good it is outside, it is better at home, this saying is true.

Even if the place he went to was his hometown in his previous life, how could there still be his home after thousands of years?

As soon as he returned to Kaifeng mansion, he felt at ease when he thought that he would be able to go to the familiar Funing Palace later.

He subconsciously turned around and wanted to ask Xiao Shiyi to go back to the palace with him, but he also turned around and saw Xiao Shiyi, but he also saw the two beautiful ladies behind him.Then he remembered that everything was different.

Zhao Cong showed a faint smile: "Go back and have a good rest, and come to see me in the palace after you have had enough rest."

"Yes." Zhao Shiqi replied.

Zhao Cong felt that he still had something to say, but he didn't know what to say, so he said again: "I'm back to the palace."

"Yes."

Zhao Cong hoped that he could say "I will go to the palace to see you tomorrow".

But he didn't say it.

Zhao Cong smiled again, and finally got into the carriage.

Zhao Shiqi watched the palace convoy leave.

He has a ghost in his heart, and he wants to use the two concubines as a cover up.

He thought, this should be right.

Whether it is true or not, as soon as Zhao Cong returned to the palace, he started to be busy again, even busier than before.

The political affairs accumulated in the past month, he went out and brought back more political affairs, which made him too busy to worry about spring.

The first thing to solve was Du Yu's matter, and the next day he called Du Yu into the palace and talked with him privately in Chongzheng Hall.

Du Yu didn't even wear an official uniform, so he knelt on the ground to meet him when he came in.

Zhao Cong didn't call out, but took a sip of tea, and then put down the teacup with a crisp voice.He just looked at Du Yu who was kneeling with his head down.

Although these prime ministers usually check each other with Yushitai, but in the court, it is not an exaggeration to say that one person is below ten thousand.As an official, being able to become a prime minister is the greatest achievement, especially Du Yu and Qian Shang are the only two serious prime ministers in the Song Dynasty, and they are not deputy prime ministers.

Du Yu can make the queen mother reuse him, and he can also make Zhao Cong continue to use him, so he has the ability.

Zhao Cong admired his ability, as long as Du Yu always has the right mind, he is not willing to abandon this person, after all, it will take several years to cultivate a sympathetic subordinate.

This time, although it pointed to Du Yu, there was no clear evidence, and it was not easy for him to give any punishment.

Moreover, the backhand should still be behind.

After a while, he saw that Du Yu's back was trembling slightly, and finally said: "Du Qing, please get up."

Du Yu heaved a sigh of relief, and then stood up, but he didn't dare to raise his head.

Zhao Cong smiled: "Du Qing enters the palace today, why doesn't he wear official clothes?"

Du Yu bowed immediately: "Your Majesty, I feel ashamed in my heart, so I don't have the face to wear that purple dress again!"

"Du Qing said seriously, this matter has nothing to do with you."

Just as Du Yu relaxed, Zhao Cong said again: "Although your name is indeed on the account book of the assassinated salt tax collector's family, I don't believe it. I don't believe you are greedy for money."

If you really don't believe it, how can you say it?Your Majesty is testing him!

Du Yu is really suffering and can't tell, he is a dignified prime minister of a country, how can he be greedy for these things?An extremely human minister, an extremely human minister, he has done this, how could he make fun of his own reputation?

He knelt down again: "Your Majesty..."

"Why did you kneel down again while talking." Zhao Cong still laughed, but he didn't cry anymore, but said, "Lin Bai is also recommended by you. Although he is a bit pedantic, he does things quickly. I don’t believe that he is greedy for money, but whether I believe it or not, it’s useless. Knowing people and faces but not knowing their hearts, Du Qing, do you think so?”

"...Yes." A layer of sweat broke out on Du Yu's back.

Zhao Cong sighed: "I'd rather he didn't disappoint me. Du Qing has been shutting his door at home these days, and I'm afraid he doesn't know what's going on outside. The criminal and prison officer in Huainan is capable, and he has investigated the matter in an orderly manner. Now all the officials who are indeed guilty have pleaded guilty. Only Lin Bai, so far there is no evidence to prove that he was really greedy for money, and he set out to kill the salt tax collector."

This soft sentence, hard sentence, Du Yu can't say anything other than "yes".He knew early on that His Majesty was not easy to deal with, and he had made full preparations for entering the palace today, but in the end he still had no chance to say a word, let alone defend himself.

"Du Qing has many students, and there are quite a few who are officials abroad. This is the first time in the past few years that I have encountered such a thing."

Du Yu kowtowed immediately, and said again: "Your Majesty, the students all over the world are dedicated to learning, and what they are doing is for Your Majesty and Song Dynasty!"

Zhao Cong thought to himself, he didn't see him say that when he was accepting students, when he was secretly letting them out.Zhao Cong continued to laugh: "There has been such a tradition since ancient times, so why should Du Qing be afraid? Enke after I came to power was led by Cai Yong, and the number one scholar Yi Yu also took Cai Yong as his teacher? This is what it should be."

Zhao Cong said it easily, but Du Yu's heart became more and more heavy.

Your Majesty is beating him!

It's good for Yi Yu to recognize Cai Yong as his teacher, but Cai Yong's tough character is ignored!Yi Yu went to meet him at his door, but he didn't even look at him, it just shamed the freshly-produced No. [-] scholar back then, and everyone knew about it.

His Majesty said this to comfort him on the surface, but in fact he was already dissatisfied with him.I just don't know how long His Majesty has been dissatisfied with him?The more Du Yu thought about it, the more sweat dripped on his forehead, in vain he thought he was more than twice as old as His Majesty, and gradually crossed the line.Thinking about the past few years, he has indeed promoted too many of his own students.

The more sweat on his forehead, the less he said a word, but knelt down on the ground again.

Zhao Cong took another sip of tea, and said again: "Not to mention that there is no conclusive evidence for Lin Bai's matter, even if there is, it can't prove that it is related to you. I give Du Qing so much salary a year, and Du Qing is not so good. money?"

Du Yu began to tremble slightly.

Zhao Cong sighed: "Nowadays, people in the court are impetuous, and it is precisely the upright attitude of officials like you that is needed. I believe in you very much. A name on the account book does not mean anything, it is not evidence. The matter of Lin Bai Find out, and you will be fair. Du Qing, get up, this matter has nothing to do with you, don't stay behind closed doors. The more you are at this time, the more you have to stand up and justify your name. Or, you really don't want to wear that official uniform again wear?"

Because of the seriousness of his speech, Du Yu was about to obey, but when he heard the last sentence, he knelt down again.

Zhao Cong flipped the tea leaves in the cup with the tea lid, and said casually: "Go home, it's a serious matter to wear your official second-rank official uniform tomorrow to go to court."

Du Yu didn't dare to refuse, he answered "yes" politely, and carefully exited the main hall.

As soon as he went out, he let out a long sigh.His Majesty can know, and he can also guess that this time someone is going to mess with him.At this time, he should be hiding at home, otherwise, when he comes out, everyone with hatred or hatred will have to stare at him.

His Majesty seems to believe him, but he is already suspicious of him, and doesn't want to protect him, insisting on making him a target.Only when he comes out can those people's minds continue.Your Majesty is very smart, so that he can catch the people behind.But who can be blamed, after all, he has become arrogant in recent years.

He sighed again and again, feeling extremely depressed in his heart.The dead Yang Yuan was an unknown person who appeared suddenly, and before he had time to find out who it was, he simply died.This is great, everyone regards Yang Yuan as Lin Bai's person, and even more so!He also secretly guessed who was going to kill him, Qian Shang was naturally impossible, his daughter was the only favorite in the palace, considered half of His Majesty's father-in-law, how could he covet such things?

The rest of the deputy prime ministers are impossible to think about carefully.Except for Zheng Qiao, the deputy prime ministers were all personally promoted by His Majesty, and they should be reused by His Majesty, and their qualifications are average, so there is no reason to confront him at all.Zheng Qiao was used by the Empress Dowager together with him at the beginning, and Her Majesty took charge personally. Although he was demoted to Vice-Prime Minister, he still kept his face.

Besides, Zheng Qiao has always been on good terms with him, let alone him.Counting down to the positions below, those people had no motive to harm him.Du Yu was really puzzled, and even began to suspect that this was deliberately set up by His Majesty to kick him down.

He shook his head, still sighed secretly, and left the palace.

After he left, Fu Lu came in and said, "Your Majesty, Du Xianggong has left the palace."

Zhao Cong nodded, and asked again: "Is there anything unusual these days when I'm not here?"

Fu Lu shook his head: "The two ministers are like in the past. They lead the officials with five ranks up to the Chuigong Hall every day, and then disperse to their respective houses and yamen to handle business. What happened in Huainan, if it is not written by His Majesty When the letter came back, the younger one and the two gentlemen didn't know about it. As soon as His Majesty's letter was received, Du Xianggong closed the door at home immediately and didn't ask any questions. Because the news of Huainan had not yet spread to Beijing, many people were puzzled at first, so they went to Du Asked at the gate of the mansion, but Du Xianggong did not see anyone. Everyone went to Qian Xianggong to ask again, and later even Qian Xianggong disappeared. A few days ago, the incident in Huainan was reported back to Beijing one after another, and people knew about it. thing."

Fu Lu thought about it carefully, and said: "If there is anything strange to say, since the news from the south spread to Beijing, more and more people outside said that Du Xianggong and his disciples were greedy for the capital of the salt people. According to reports, many people are scolding Master Du in the teahouses and restaurants outside!"

Zhao Cong nodded again, indicating that he knew.Public opinion is a good weapon. Everyone knows it, and the ancients knew it better. This must have been done on purpose.

He couldn't help but feel a little annoyed, but no one can complain about this matter, he is the head of a country, and he is tired of his subordinates' actions, if he complains about such things with trusted officials, he will be laughed at.

It's just that he was really bored. Du Yu was framed by others and he deserved it. In recent years, Du Yu has gradually become rampant.

The only person who can relieve his worries and discuss this matter with him is Xiao Shiyi.

He subconsciously said: "Call Xiao Shi--"

"Your Majesty?" Fu Lu couldn't help being surprised when he saw that he stopped talking halfway through.

Zhao Cong smiled wryly to himself, he used to think that Xiao Shiyi was not enlightened, but he really thought Xiao Shiyi was a child.Now that he is able to take care of himself, he can handle the salt matter properly, and he has even brought back his concubines, which shows that he is no longer a child.How can he be like before, calling people into the palace at every turn.

He said, "It's okay, go back to Funing Hall." After finishing speaking, he got up, and Fu Lu hurriedly put on his shoes for him.

In the next few days, Du Yu went to the court as usual, but the officials in the court were all calm, as if nothing had happened.Seeing this, Zhao Cong also found it interesting, he made Du Yu take the initiative to stand up, why hasn't anyone come out to be the leader.

In the past few days, Zhao Shiqi has never entered the palace.

Zhao Cong didn't quite get used to it, he wanted to send someone to ask, but he was afraid that Xiao Shiyi would feel restrained.After all, Xiao Shiyi already has a concubine and is about to start a family in the future.Ask yourself, empathize, who wants to be bound by his uncle all day long?

Zhao Cong has been out of Beijing for more than a month, and his luck has been very good, except for that time when he sprained his foot by the sea, he has no discomfort in his body.Even in the few days after he came back, he was still in good health.When he kept spinning and finished the pile of things, he immediately fell ill.

In fact, it's not a serious illness, it's still the same as before, weak in body, unable to lift up energy, so can only lie on the bed.As soon as he was ill, Zhao Cong's mood became a little depressed, and no one was allowed to spread the news of his illness.It also happened to be in the first ten days of the rotation. The officials had a day off and did not have to go to court, so the news of his illness would not spread.

Zhao Cong drank the medicine and lay on the bed staring at the top of the bed in a daze. Due to his illness, his mood turned from depression to grievance.

Rantao came in softly and said to him: "Your Majesty, some ladies are outside and want to come in to see you."

"not see."

"Your Majesty, do you want to see Concubine Shu?"

"I don't see it." As soon as Zhao Cong saw the delicately dressed girls, he could immediately think of the two beautiful girls standing behind Zhao Shiqi, each more beautiful than the other.He couldn't help but secretly angry, he should bring Su Yan back and make her a beauty too.Su Yan looks better than those two.

The more he thought about it, the more he lost his mind, and he remembered the jade hairpin he bought in Hangzhou. He didn't care to get angry, and immediately asked Rantao, "Where's the jade hairpin?"

"Huh?" Rantao was taken aback for a moment, then remembered what it was, and immediately said, "The servant girl will get it."

Rantao was quickly brought, and Zhao Cong took it to read.

He wanted to see Xiao Shishi.

But Xiao Shiyi was so obsessed with beauties that he didn't come to see him at all.He didn't call, and there was no news at all.

He is sick now, he just wants to see Xiao Shiyi.

He handed the jade hairpin to Rantao: "Send it to Xiaoshi."

Rantao took the order and went out to deliver the jade hairpin in person.

Zhao Cong finally felt a little more at ease in his heart, this time he must come into the palace.

He calculated how long it would take for Zhao Shiqi to come here, Zhao Shiqi's house is at the end of the imperial street, from the gate of the house to the gate of the palace, and then to his Funing Palace, if he walked quickly, it would not take a quarter of an hour.

He waited patiently, but there were four quarters of an hour, and no one came yet.