Funing Hall

Only Zhao Cong and Xie Wenrui were left in the hall.

Zhao Cong was not in a hurry to speak, he drank a few sips of tea, and after a while of silence, he said: "That day in the back garden, I saw that Wen Rui's answers were happy, and I thought Wen Rui was a happy person. How come today? So uncomfortable."

Xie Wenrui was about to stand up again.

"Look, if I say a word, you will get up."

Xie Wenrui was neither standing nor sitting.

Zhao Cong laughed out loud: "Sit down, I want to have a good talk with you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xie Wenrui sat up straighter and dared to look up at Zhao Cong again.

"It should be like this." Zhao Cong praised.

Only then did Xie Wenrui feel at ease.

"That day, you said that your cousin married into the Prince Wei's mansion, but who did you marry?"

"Your Majesty, my third cousin is married to the second son of Prince Wei's son, the little Wulang Lord of their family."

"Which family is Wen Rui's cousin?"

"Chen's uncle Cai Yong is currently leading the job of 'judging the Ministry of Rites'."

It's not a big official, but it's a very important job.The Empress Dowager Sun listened to the government, but she had no right to change the official system, and she dared not change it.Today, the official system in the court is a mess.As for the matter of the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Rites has obviously been listed as a separate department, but they still retain the ritual courtyard left by the Taizu, and blindly abide by the so-called ancestral rules.

Agencies repeat, officials repeat.

So many officials who returned to Beijing after completing their errands sat at home every day and could only wait for the assignment of errands.

Zhao Cong felt a headache when he thought about what he would do after taking office.

But the matter of the Ministry of Rites is really good, and he is in charge of the imperial examination.Zhao Cong, who was not talented, planned to use the imperial examination first after he took office.After Empress Dowager Sun came to court, due to her status, even the palace examination was cancelled, and the Jiying Hall had been empty for six years.

After thinking about it, he smiled and said to Xie Wenrui many things that seemed to be commonplace, but were actually all about getting to the bottom of it.

Xie Wenrui's father was a military general, and there was a marquis in his family, so he could get into an official career without taking the imperial examination.He is not a material for studying. After he was enlightened at a young age, going to school was a matter of fishing for three days and drying the net for two days.Her mother loves him and is reluctant for him to suffer, so if she doesn't read the book, she won't read it.

Xie Wenrui has some skills in martial arts, so he went to the military officer wholeheartedly.Although it is said that there is peace in the court and the emperor has always been light on martial arts, but it is impossible to say that there will be a war someday, and he can also fight for military merits.

He had a pure mind, he was defeated by Zhao Cong, and he was completely caught by Zhao Cong's stereotypes, even talking about where his sisters in his family were married.He told Zhao Cong that his mother had already started dating his young lady.

Zhao Cong talked to him for nearly two hours before he was sent out to continue on duty.

He also said: "Wen Rui, in the future, I still need you to do some things."

Xie Wenrui was impressed by Zhao Cong's talent and temperament, and immediately saluted, "Don't worry, Your Majesty! I will do my best!"

Zhao Cong asked Rantao to send him out: "It's time to change shifts, Rantao, get some zongzi yourself and let Wen Rui take them home." After finishing speaking, he said again, "In the morning, Fulu sent some festival food to you. In your house. This is different from those, and I feel good after eating."

Xie Wenrui was so moved that he became jealous, and His Majesty gave him everything he ate!

He knew that His Majesty was unhappy in the palace.But His Majesty is ambitious, he can see that.He is indeed willing to serve such an official with allegiance. Apart from being ministers, family and themselves, who wouldn't look forward to meeting a wise king?

And he is the age with the most passionate blood.

Today's government has been turned into a mess by the Empress Dowager Sun. Fortunately, His Majesty is going to govern personally!

He left Funing Palace very moved, and on the way out, he even wiped his eyes.

Rantao also persuaded him a few words.

Sitting on the bench in the corridor, Zhao Shishi, who seemed to be in a daze but was actually observing, witnessed all this.

He couldn't help wondering what that idiot Zhao Cong said to move Xie Wenrui, a well-known idiot, so much.

It's a pity he couldn't hear it.

After changing shifts, Xie Wenrui returned to the mansion excitedly.He didn't even have time to change his clothes, so he hurried to his father's study.

Seeing him like this, his father Xie Zhiyuan said slightly annoyed: "What is this like!"

"Father!" Xie Wenrui walked up to him excitedly, "Your Majesty summoned me today!"

Xie Zhiyuan raised his eyebrows, Xie Wenrui recounted everything that happened today, and finally concluded: "Your Majesty is really a wise king!"

Xie Zhiyuan thought to himself, it remains to be seen whether he is really a Mingjun, but it can be confirmed that His Majesty is quite capable of deceiving people.If you ask casually, you will take out the whole family!

He looked at the silly boy in his family, and said: "As you said, the official family is indeed different from the rumors. It's no wonder that old cunning Prince Wei also poked his head out."

"No! It's said that His Majesty is stupid and stupid. My son thought that it must be the random news deliberately spread by the Queen Mother Sun!"

"Hmph! The Sun family is ambitious."

"Father, His Majesty said that when he is in charge, he will promote his son—"

Xie Zhiyuan interrupted him: "Don't be greedy for immediate benefits!"

"My son knows! My son doesn't care about official positions, but since His Majesty believes in me, my son will definitely do his best!"

Xie Zhiyuan also felt relieved looking at his taller son.Fortunately, the officials in the palace are worth fighting for.He encouraged: "You should do the errands ordered by the officials well."

"Your Majesty has something to tell me now!"

"What's the matter?"

Xie Wenrui said excitedly: "Your Majesty ordered me to help him buy this year's new lexicon!"

"..." Xie Zhiyuan suddenly felt that his trust in the officials in the palace seemed to have come too early and hastily.

After Zhao Cong talked all afternoon, his useless body became a little tired.

He waved back the people, leaned on the couch and closed his eyes to meditate, thinking about the complicated court affairs while resting.

Hearing a sound suddenly, he opened his eyes and saw Zhao Shiyi walking in through the window.Rantao hurriedly followed behind him and said, "Your Majesty! The servant girl can't stop me."

"It's okay." Zhao Cong propped up his upper body and asked Zhao Shishi, "Is there anything you want to see me?"

Zhao Shishi walked up to him, stood still, and didn't speak.

Zhao Cong didn't expect him to speak, so he stretched out his hand lazily: "Speak."

Zhao Shishi wrote the word "Zong" in the palm of his hand.

Zhao Cong laughed: "Do you want to eat zongzi?"

Zhao Shishi stared at him, his eyes lit up.

"Rantao, bring some zongzi for Mr. Xiao Lang."

"Your Majesty, I have eaten too many zongzi. When you were talking to Xie Liulang, Mr. Xiao Lang had already eaten two. You must not eat any more! You haven't used up your dinner yet."

"It's terrible, do you like eating zongzi so much?" Zhao Cong looked at him amusedly when he heard this.

Zhao Shixi wrote on the palm of Zhao Cong again: Guards.

"Guard?" Zhao Cong thought for a while, then asked, "Do you want to eat the zongzi for the guard?"

Zhao Shixi nodded slightly reservedly, he wanted to set up some words, and wanted to know what Zhao Cong said to Xie Wenrui.Xie Wenrui is his general, he is not willing to give it to Zhao Cong.But he started to pretend, and rashly speaking, it will definitely make Zhao Cong suspicious, so he can only think of this stupid way.

At this moment, Rantao suddenly said: "No wonder!"

"Huh?" Zhao Cong was surprised.

Rantao couldn't help laughing: "When the maid was bringing rice dumplings to Xie Liulang, Mr. Xiao Lang was sitting in the veranda. I'm afraid he happened to see it and thought it was something good!"

Zhao Cong also laughed, and reached out to touch Zhao Yishang's thin face: "Is that so?"

Zhao Shixi pursed his lips in dissatisfaction.

Zhao Cong laughed even worse, he said: "It's a little greedy cat. It's not a good thing, it's the same as what you eat. That's a guard who did a good job, so I rewarded him."

Zhao Shishi still stared at him.What kind of errand did you do?Could it be because I recognized him in the back garden that day?Xie Wenrui recognized him at a glance, and he thought he could continue to fulfill the friendship between monarch and minister in this life, but he was cut off by Zhao Cong.

"Are you still staring at me?" Zhao Cong covered his face helplessly, "Forget it, give him another half, Rantao."

"Your Majesty—" Rantao refused.

"Only half." Zhao Cong pleaded for him.

Rantao hesitated for a while, then reluctantly said, "Only half."

Zhao Cong turned his hand around, grabbed Zhao Shishi's hand unexpectedly, and said with a smile, "Is it okay to only eat half of it?"

Zhao Shishi was only 11 years old at this time, and he wanted to pretend to be stupid, no matter how fierce a tiger was in his heart, he couldn't let it go.His hands were still small, and they happened to be wrapped in Zhao Cong's hands.

His palms were suddenly filled with moisture and sweat.He immediately forgot about Xie Wenrui.

Zhao Cong let go of his hand again: "Rantao, take Mr. Xiaolang to eat zongzi. Cold rice dumplings with sweet-scented osmanthus are the best."

"How can you say, Your Majesty, Mr. Xiaolang only eats white rice."

Zhao Cong laughed again.

"When will His Majesty eat?"

"I'll go to the Baoci Hall. The dinner may be served there. You keep it, and Fulu will accompany me."

"Should be." Rantao nodded, it's not time to tear up face with Empress Dowager Sun, after all, today is Dragon Boat Festival, so he always wants to say hello.

But after Zhao Cong changed his clothes, before he left the palace, the chief eunuch came to Baoci Palace, and said respectfully: "The Empress Dowager ordered the young one to say that it is hot today, and it is hard work for Your Majesty to take care of the little man of the Prince Wei's mansion." I don’t need to go to the Hall of Baoci anymore, and the empress also plans to rest earlier. The empress also said that the rice dumplings in His Majesty’s hall are extraordinarily soft and sticky. The little one was also ordered to bring the rice dumplings from the Hall of Baoci. The empress thought it tasted good after eating. Here Your Majesty and Mr. Xiao Lang have a taste."

"Your Majesty used zongzi?"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty used half of it."

"Very good." Zhao Cong asked again, "I wonder when Mrs. Sun will leave Beijing?"

"The empress said, the eldest lady will go to Songzhou after the Dragon Boat Festival."

Zhao Cong nodded: "Go ahead, please have a good rest, too. It's hot in summer, and you should use less ice. When your wife is free, I will take Mr. Xiaolang to pay your respects to her."

"Yes." The eunuch bowed politely and left.

Before Zhao Shishi left, he was still observing secretly. Zhao Cong looked very respectful to Queen Mother Sun, but he couldn't tell whether it was true or not.

Zhao Cong was indifferent, and looked back at him: "It's good now, I will have dinner with you."

Rantao ordered the maids to prepare, and Chaxi took Zhao Shishi down to wash his hands.

Zhao Shilin came out of the window and heard Rantao say: "I don't know how the Queen Mother will deal with the matter of Wei Junwang's mansion? It has been delayed for several days, but there is no movement. There is an extra young gentleman in our palace, and she unexpectedly I just sent someone here today to interrogate..."

He didn't hear the next words, but he couldn't help thinking that Rantao was a bit witty.

After all, Zhao Cong had a better fate than him, and the maids and eunuchs around him were all intelligent, not to mention the reincarnated sister of the phoenix outside the palace.

He has to be more careful.

The author has something to say: Zhao Shishi: [Secret observation] [Indifference] [Secret observation].