Funing Hall

Two months later, envoys from all over the world arrived in the capital one after another.

Zhang Tingchu was the first to arrive.

In the past six years, the Liao Kingdom and Xixia experienced all kinds of patricide, son killing and competition for the throne, which was extremely chaotic.The two countries closed their countries for rectification and did not interact with others easily, but Zhao Cong was still busy.After Zhao Congde was arrested back then, the surviving descendants of the Long family learned that their leader died because of being framed, and they were furious and rioted in the Southwest.There are more than 300 Jimi prefectures in the southwest, and their strength is actually average. Some Jimi prefectures even have only a few dozen people.But they win because of their large numbers, and once they start a fight, it will be difficult to end it.

In particular, the Long surname simply went all out, took in many small Jimi states, brought more people, and then went south to seek refuge in Jiaozhi.On the one hand, Zhao Cong sent people to suppress the unrest in the southwest, and he also wanted to unite with Dali, which he never wanted to contact. It took more than two years to capture the Long family hiding in Jiaozhi, and fought several battles with Jiaozhi.

It took another half a year to rectify the southwest, and changed the five surnames Fan to four surnames again, with Zhang Tingchu as the head.

At the same time, Zhao Cong also allowed Dali to come to pay tribute, signed an alliance contract with Dali, and Dali proclaimed his minister to him.The reason why Zhao Cong didn't want to touch Dali in the past was because Dali was dispensable, and Dali needed Da Song to rely on to fight against Jiaozhi.

But the change was not as fast as planned, so Zhao Cong had no choice but to act like this.

The Liao Kingdom and Xixia lived together for more than five years, but Wan Yanliang was uneasy. He had fought with Gao Li three times, and Zhao Cong had to send someone to reconcile each time.

Therefore, Zhao Cong has really worried a lot in the past six years. It was only at the end of last year that these countries settled down one after another.He is also about to deal with the affairs of Xixia and Liao Kingdom. He has fought more battles these years, and his soldiers have become stronger and stronger.He is ready to continue fighting these two countries. At this juncture, the Liao Kingdom will marry the princess to Li Liangcheng.

Two months ago, just a few days after Qian Shang had finished speaking with him, the Liao Kingdom sent out a decree, announcing that the princess would be married to Xixia King Li Liangcheng.

Xixia used to have tribute exchanges with Song and Liao, but Xixia was only conferred by Song Dynasty.

The Emperor of the Song Dynasty even made it clear that he did not agree with Li Liangcheng as the new head of the country. As soon as the new emperor of the Liao Kingdom resumed contacts with other countries, he would marry the princess.

Zhang Tingchu is a smart person, he didn't mention the affair with Zhao Shiqi back then, leaving himself clean.During the more than two years of Southwest Rebellion, he contributed a lot, and Zhao Cong treated him kindly.

As soon as he arrived in Beijing, he asked to see His Majesty.

He is very smart, unlike the old Tulu envoy, who was very stingy and brought a dozen horses to Beijing to exchange things.He brought [-] good horses, [-] boxes of medicinal materials unique to the Southwest, and [-] brocades woven by beautiful girls in the tribe in the morning.These are decent, both sincere and real.

Zhao Cong likes to deal with smart people, so he happily accepted his things, and naturally returned more.Afterwards, the two sat down to talk.

Zhang Tingchu also heard that Yelu Yanli was going to marry his younger sister to Li Liangcheng. He and Zhao Cong were still close, so he asked Zhao Cong about it, and said, "If your majesty needs it, we can do it no matter how far away. You can send troops!"

"Emissary Zhang has a heart."

Zhang Tingchu said again: "I heard that Yelu Yanli is a ruthless character. He was exiled in Jurchen for many years. Once he went to Beijing, he won the throne in less than a year and killed the previous Emperor of Liao with his own hands. Then But his younger brother is only six years old."

Although the Liao Kingdom is closed and does not communicate with anyone, even Gu Ci and Yeluqin have no news, but it is not that they do not know everything.Zhao Cong also knew about this matter, and asked Wan Yan Liang about it.Wan Yanliang also had acquaintance with this person a few times, and also said that this person is ruthless.

But no matter how ruthless it is, it has nothing to do with him, it will be killed by then.

Zhao Cong was noncommittal, and took another sip of tea.

Zhang Tingchu knew that the emperor didn't talk too much, but he was the most eloquent, and then he talked about Xixia's affairs with great interest: "Although Yelu Yanli is ruthless, he didn't kill his biological father. If you say vicious , still belonged to Li Liangcheng, Li Mingchun was killed by him himself. All his older brothers and younger brothers were killed by him. When Li Liangcheng was mentioned, I was a little curious. It is said that the original third prince was a fake, and Li Mingchun was imprisoned in the palace for a long time. The real Third Prince returned to the palace and personally killed him..."

Zhao Cong held the teacup in his hand and almost crushed it.

After talking for a long time, Zhang Tingchu finally realized that something was wrong. He glanced at the expression on the official's face, felt a "thump" in his heart, and simply got up to leave.

Zhao Cong smiled and said softly: "Tingchu will come back tomorrow, I like to hear what you have to say."

Zhang Tingchu cheerfully agreed and withdrew from the Chongzheng Hall.

As soon as he left, Zhao Cong dropped the teacup.

The matter of Xi Xia's true and false third princes is known to everyone, and Zhao Cong knows it too.

Before leaving, he had clearly warned him, but he still went back to succeed him.

Zhao Cong hates it.

As if knowing that he hates him, Li Liangcheng has been avoiding him for more than five years.He still wants to hide for a lifetime, but it's only been more than five years. Now that he knows that he can't reconcile with Song, he goes to Liao Kingdom.

Zhao Cong hated it even more.

Since he wants to succeed to the throne, why can't he be promising, but why he wants to beg the Liao Kingdom and marry the princess of the Liao Kingdom? !

Letting him go back then was not to let him go against him, let alone to ask him to marry some princess.

He has taught for so many years, and he was not asked to ask for help!

I would rather go to the Liao Kingdom than send an envoy to Kaifeng!

This time, no one from Xixia came.

Even if Zhao Cong never wants to see that really careless person again in his life, he also doesn't want to see him beg for help.

They let him go and gave him silver, as he wished, to wander the world and find a place where spring flowers bloom and live a good life, okay? !

The more Zhao Cong thought about it, the more he hated him. Did he know how much he didn't want to kill him.

But he always forced himself to kill him.

Zhao Cong thought for a long time before calling Fu Lu in.

Fu Lu came in softly, and he asked, "Has Yeluqin arrived yet?"

"Your Majesty, according to Lord Chen of Honglu Temple, we can arrive today. However, Lord Xie went outside the city to greet you."

Xie Wenrui has been fighting outside these years, and Gu Ci has no news, he is extremely anxious, but he has no time to take care of it, Zhao Cong feels sorry for him.It's just that he can't do anything, he really can't get in touch, the border between Liao and Song is heavily guarded, and in those years they couldn't divide their forces and then clashed with Liao.

Fu Lu said again: "But Mr. Xie went alone."

Zhao Cong nodded, he knew that Xie Wenrui had a sense of propriety, so he represented himself to greet him.

Back then, he sent people to the Liao Kingdom to deliver a letter, specifically mentioning Yeluqin and Gu Ci, and the Liao Kingdom finally got an answer, confirming that the two of them would come to Beijing to participate in the Ruiqing Festival.

Six years have passed without any news, Zhao Cong is not sure whether Yeluqin is still willing to listen to him, but he is willing to give it a try.

"It's getting late today, tell them to enter the palace tomorrow."

"Yes."

"Go back."

"Your Majesty, you need to clean up..." Fu Lu was careful.

It was only then that Zhao Cong remembered that there were still debris all over the floor, and he nodded: "Call someone to come in and clean it up. Then call Shao Yi into the palace."

After Shao Yi came, Zhao Cong sent people to keep an eye on the various posts in the capital, and he gave him another order, so he was relieved.

Although Xixia said that no envoys were sent, nor did he reply, but he still did not give up.In fact, he really wanted to ask if he really didn't come, but he was afraid to ask.Fu Lu, Shao Yi and the others knew about it, so they dared not mention it.He also pushed the boat along the way and stopped asking.

He went to bed early that night.

There will be so many envoys entering the palace tomorrow, and we will have to deal with it again. I guess everyone will have to ask about Xixia.For him, it was a more difficult task.

He needs to rest well.

But he still didn't sleep all night. He took out a pouch from under the pillow and held it in his hands all night.

When he got up in the morning, his complexion was not very good, Rantao applied a warm veil to his face, and cooked him a sweet soup to nourish Qi and blood.Even so, his complexion was slightly relaxed.

Zhao Zhongqi stood on the stool, reached out to touch his face, wrinkled his nose and said, "Touch, uncle will not be sad."

Zhao Cong frowned in his heart, pinched her little nose, and said softly: "There are many people in the palace today, so you can play in Funing Palace, okay?"

"Can't Rong Rong see them?"

"Our Rongrong is so beautiful, uncle is reluctant to show it to them, for fear of being snatched away by them."

Zhao Zhongqi smiled happily, stuck to Zhao Cong's arms and said softly: "Rongrong won't be taken away!"

Zhao Cong motioned to Rantao, and Rantao handed him the things, and he showed her: "Look."

"Little colored ball!" Zhao Zhongqi hugged it immediately.

"Like it?"

"I like it! It looks better than Jiang Jin's!"

"Let's play small colored balls in Funing Palace, okay? Uncle will ask Jiang Lin to come into the palace to play with you in a few days."

"it is good!"

Zhao Cong put her down with a smile, changed his clothes, put on his hat, and went out to pay his respects.

During the Ruiqing Festival, there was never any major event, even if there was a major event, some people resolved it early, so they didn't dare to upset His Majesty.After Zhao Cong went to the court, he discussed some matters in the Chongzheng Hall, and then prepared to receive the envoys.Not every envoy can see His Majesty, the front hall has arranged a place for them to rest, and officials entertain them.Some envoys also brought their female relatives in, and there were gifts to be given, and Zhao Cong also arranged for Qian Yuemo to receive them.

Zhao Cong first met the envoys from Goryeo and Dali, together with several prime ministers.

Goryeo hadn't had any conflicts with the Jurchen this year, so Zhao Cong boasted a lot and gave away a lot of good things.He was so happy that the envoys of Goryeo kept flattering him, and Dali insisted on establishing a tributary relationship with Song Dynasty, just for good things.In the next few years, Zhao Cong's center will be in the northwest, and he really doesn't want to see another chaos in the southwest, so he can trade good things for some peace.The reason why the two met together was also to beat Dali with Goryeo.

Dali's envoys are very understanding, and they show more loyalty than Goryeo.When the Korean envoy saw it, he felt that he had been robbed of his limelight, and in turn continued to boast, showing more loyalty.Zhao Cong was amused and angry at the same time, and he was taken for a fool.But this person who has been taken advantage of has to be treated properly, so he had to send them another [-]% of the good things, and then sent them away.

When Yeluqin asked for an audience, Zhao Cong sent everyone away and summoned him alone.Because he wanted to discuss some secret matters, he met him in the study.

Yeluqin walked in very quickly, and Zhao Cong could tell at a glance that it was different from before.

In the past, Yeluqin knew how to dress up in the Song Dynasty when he went to the countryside, but now he is wearing a left skirt robe and no cloth towel around his head.It's just that I still remember the rules, as soon as he came in, he knelt down and saluted.

Zhao Cong cried out, pointed to the high chair, and signaled him to sit down.

Yeluqin sat down with a bit of excitement on his face.

Zhao Cong took a closer look at him, then sighed, "I haven't seen you for many years, and Liu Shi has aged a lot."

Yeluqin cried in his heart, can he not grow old?He lived in fear all day long, fearing that his majesty would kill him the next moment.But these words could not be uttered, he complimented: "Your Majesty is still the same as before, Zhilan Yushu, like a fairy."

Zhao Cong twitched the corner of his mouth, and asked again: "I don't know if Gu Ci can come with you? I am very impressed with him."

"It's coming, it's just resting in the post house." Yeluqin said, crying in his heart, because his majesty surrounded him to rest!Their Majesty insisted that Gu Ci was a detailed work sent by the Song Dynasty to the capital.

The two of them chatted one after another, and Zhao Cong asked for some snacks and tea to be brought in.

Fulu responded, and turned around to pick it up, but suddenly saw a person walking in from the gate of the palace.

He froze for a moment, lowered his head and then raised his head, lowered his head again, raised his head again, and rubbed his eyes many times.

A person walked in front of him, familiar yet unfamiliar.

His hair was tied in a bun, and he wore a golden crown with no gemstones on it.He was wearing a black gown with a round collar embroidered with dark gold plain patterns on the left lap, two dark red belts hanging from his waist, and a simple machete hanging beside his side.

Other than that, there is no decoration on the body.

He was very tall, and he walked slowly in front of Fu Lu, adding to the pressure.

The two people behind him saluted and said: "Just now we were delayed for a while in the front hall, and our Majesty wants to see the Emperor of Song in person."

Fu Lu's hands trembled a little, and he was suddenly unable to speak a word, who was known as "Fufu Daguan" who was used to seeing all kinds of big scenes.

After recounting the past, Zhao Cong could hear it, and Yeluqin tried his best to cover it up, but it was still inevitable that he revealed that he was having a bad time.

Zhao Cong said quickly, "I don't play sloppy with Liu Shi either. I have some kind of friendship with you. I don't blame you for what happened in the past few years. After all, you are not in charge. I just want to ask you something."

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, you said."

"Your new emperor, Yelu Yanli, how is he?"

Yeluqin was silent, he wanted to cry, what about this person?If Emperor Song knew who their emperor was, would he still be able to leave the Great Song Palace alive?When the two of them fight, are they going to take out their anger on him?He didn't understand how confident their majesty was, insisting on coming in person.Is it because he thinks Emperor Song is not happy about lying to others, and wants to provoke him in person?

Seeing that he was silent, Zhao Cong knew that he was hesitating, and said again: "You don't have to worry, you haven't made any promises to me, I just want to catch up with you."

"Yes, yes."

"Then, Yelu Yanli—"

A voice came from outside the study: "If your Majesty is curious, you might as well take a look for yourself."

Zhao Cong was sitting behind the desk, originally facing to the left, talking to Yeluqin.

The door was on the right, and the voice came from the right.

He should have heard the sound and turned to the right, but he couldn't turn his neck.

Yeluqin quickly got up from the high chair, knelt down on the ground, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty."

"Go back."

"Yes." Yelu got up, looked worriedly at Zhao Cong who was still stiff, and obediently slipped away.

Zhao Cong didn't move, the visitor walked directly to the place where Yeluqin had been sitting just now, and stood within Zhao Cong's sight.

Zhao Cong didn't want to see it, but he saw it too.

Zhao Cong looked at him calmly.

He also looked at Zhao Cong calmly.

He is taller, and the contours on his face are sharper. Only after he grows up and grows up does he realize that he is indeed not completely Han.

After all, he was stupid back then.

Zhao Cong thought about it, then shook his head secretly, not only was he stupid back then, he is just as stupid now.

Fortunately, he thought that the matter of the real and fake third princes of Xixia was true, but he ignored the new emperor of Liao Kingdom, who also ranked third and returned from outside suddenly.

I'm afraid that all the foolishness in his life was attributed to the same person.

Zhao Cong's hands are still on the desk, and there are still the stone and the piece of jade he sent from the seaside before.Many times, Zhao Cong wanted to ask someone to put it away, but he couldn't bear it.Zhao Cong always feels that this is the only mark that proves that the person has indeed been here, so it's okay to keep it.

He spoke first: "Your Majesty wants to see me?"

Zhao Cong's heart suddenly twitched, as if he had a surge of blood, he suppressed it secretly, exhausted all his acting skills in his life, and said flatly: "The one I want to meet is Yelu Yanli, the emperor of the Liao Kingdom, are you?"

He nodded: "I am Yelu Yanli."

Zhao Cong smiled with the corners of his mouth turned up, and then said generously: "I don't know that Emperor Liao is here, it's abrupt. Why don't Emperor Liao go back to the Duting Station to rest first? Tomorrow I will hold a banquet in the palace and invite you to come."

Song Dynasty and Liao Kingdom were originally brother countries, they were equal, and they had to use honorific words for each other.

He said, "I'm afraid it's too troublesome."

Zhao Cong smiled perfectly: "You are the first emperor of Liao Dynasty to come to Tokyo for a hundred years, and it should be so."

After finishing speaking, Zhao Cong called out "Fu Lu".

Fu Lu came in, knelt on the ground, and said carefully: "Your Majesty."

"You personally send Emperor Liao out of the palace, and tomorrow you will personally pick him up for a banquet at the palace."

He said: "No need, I know it very well."

A bloody smell suddenly rose from Zhao Cong's throat.

His hands were still flat, and there was still a polite smile on his face: "You're welcome." But he knew that no matter how hard he was, he got up first, "In that case, I will not accompany you anymore." He nodded politely, retracted his hands and wanted to get up.The legs almost went limp.He stretched out his hand to cover it with his wide sleeves, and firmly held onto the table without making a sound.

But with such a movement, his wide sleeves swept the jade and stones on the table, and they moved slightly.

Zhao Cong couldn't care less, and he said again: "Fulu, serve Emperor Liao well."

"Yes."

Zhao Cong didn't look at it again, turned around and walked away. He tried too hard to support it, and his cuff swept the jade and stone, and they fell to the ground together.After the crisp sound, I don't know how many pieces were broken.

Zhao Cong's mind was blank, but he still remembered turning around and smiling, "Something is broken, let someone come in and clean it up." He looked at the other party again, "You do what you want."

He strode out of the study and walked towards the right hall of Chongzheng Hall.

Rantao was notified by someone and came in a hurry, and when he arrived, he saw something was wrong with their majesty.

She was so frightened that she immediately stepped forward and supported Zhao Cong. Zhao Cong held her arm tightly and said softly, "Rantao."

"His Majesty."

"Later, don't make a sound, and don't call the imperial doctor, I'm fine."

"His Majesty?"

"Do you know? Promise me."

The person who went to call her got Fu Lu's instruction, and he didn't speak clearly, and Rantao didn't quite understand what happened.But the hand of His Majesty who was holding her wrist was shaking violently, and His Majesty couldn't even make a sentence when they spoke, and had to jump out a few words.

She nodded and replied: "Your Majesty! The servant girl knows!"

"Okay, let's go faster."

The two master and servant quickly walked through the veranda and walked to the door of the right hall. Zhao Cong finally let out the breath he held up, and immediately spit out a mouth full of blood.

"Your Majesty!" Rantao exclaimed softly.

"Remember—" Zhao Cong wanted to say that he remembered what he said, but before he could speak, or even hold the door frame, he fell limply.