Lu Haowen, who was standing beside him, hesitated for a moment and also bowed his hands in response: "I think what Mr. Xu said is very true."
Zhao Jiu almost stopped laughing, but still forced a smile: "My two husbands, I fished for you today, painted for you, and even borrowed the calligraphy from the great scholar Su, but can't I make you be confused for once? The country is in such a crisis, why can't you two husbands give in a little?"
Lu Haowen and Xu Jingheng looked at each other and said nothing.
At this time, Zhang Jun, who was sitting under a nearby tree, took advantage of his drunkenness and suddenly said, "Your Majesty, they are not trying to fight for the court, but for the school. Luo School and New School cannot coexist... During the Jingkang period, the country was in great danger, but they still wanted Yuan Sheng (Song Qinzong) to lift the Yuanyou Party Ban and stir up disputes. Today, the Jin people have retreated a little, so why don't they take the opportunity to ask your Majesty to establish Luo School as the prominent school and abolish New School as a heresy? In my opinion, the two ministers have been respectful enough to your Majesty, because during the Jingkang period, even the amiable Minister Lu would not let Yuan Sheng eat because of these things. Today, even Minister Xu allowed your Majesty to eat and write an inscription. Isn't that a lot of concessions?"
Lu Haowen and Xu Jingheng both felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.
As expected, the official sneered, "Is that so?"
"I have no intention of neglecting state affairs." Xu Jingheng took off his soft hat before Lu Haowen and said solemnly. "Your Majesty, I believe that only by determining right and wrong can state affairs be properly handled... As for the censor's accusation that I have forced you too much, I am willing to follow the precedent and resign to prove my innocence!"
"Zhang Que is dying." Zhao Jiu suddenly said. "I called off the court meeting early today because of this matter, and summoned you here for this reason... Why do you think I softened my attitude today? Isn't it because I want you to tolerate each other for the sake of the country and maintain stability in the court?"
Liu Ziyu, who was still having a headache, reluctantly glanced at Zhang Jun, but the latter had already regretted his impulsive behavior under the influence of alcohol. As for Lu Haowen and Xu Jingheng... Mr. Lu was fine, but Xu Jingheng, who was almost a life-and-death friend of Zhang Que, suddenly looked up.
"Don't you want me to give you an explanation?" Zhao Jiu said with a forced smile. "I will give you one today... Just now, Minister Ye asked me why I ranked Wang Shu Wang before Ouyang Xiu, because in my personal opinion, Wang Shu Wang is the best person in this dynasty!"
Lu Haowen also raised his head.
"It's not about learning, but about politics and being a prime minister. The great scholar Su made a name for himself, while Prime Minister Wang made both achievements and words." Zhao Jiu continued to laugh. "If it weren't for the rebellion of the old party, the chronic disease of Xixia would have been eliminated long ago, and there would be no disaster today. As for the thieves like Cai Jing, they pretended to be the new party, and on the surface they implemented new policies, but in fact they were cruel and plundering the people. Such people would also harm people in the old party, so what does it have to do with Wang Shu? Although I am young, I can distinguish the source of right and wrong... So, I will speak frankly today. I can pardon the old party and use them, but if you want me to disparage the new party and respect the old party to decide what is right and wrong, I will definitely not follow it!"
Lu Haowen closed his eyes and sighed, while Xu Jingheng looked puzzled.
"Officials!"
At this moment, someone who had been silent for a long time suddenly raised his voice to remind him. "Your Majesty! You were appointed by Empress Dowager Yuanyou!"
After hearing this, countless people took a deep breath, but said in unison in their hearts - someone finally said this!
You know, if it weren't for this sentence, those cronies of Emperor Zhao would have jumped out to beat up Mr. Xu long ago, how could the situation deteriorate to this extent?
"Finally someone has said this." Emperor Zhao was not angry when he heard Ye Mengde's words. "I know what you are thinking! When I was exiled, I drove the people who proposed to deprive Wang Anshi of his title to Lingnan, but you all kept coming... You think I was established by Empress Dowager Yuanyou, and Empress Dowager Yuanyou was established by Empress Dowager Xuanren (Gao Taotao). So, you think I will figure it out sooner or later. If I can't carry on the same lineage and promote the old party, I will be rebellious and unqualified to rule the country... Is that right?"
"I have absolutely no such intention." Ye Mengde fought hard but did not achieve the expected results. He was already panicking, and when he heard the official's harsh words, he quickly took off his hat and bowed his head.
"What do you mean by absolutely not having such intention?" Zhao Jiu laughed again. "Mr. Lu and Mr. Xu just didn't give me face today, but Minister Ye has stripped me of my face, how can I not have such intention?"
"Minister Ye spoke without thinking..." Lu Haowen tried his best to plead for mercy.
"Let Minister Ye go to Yangzhou." Zhao Jiu said disapprovingly. "Let Yangzhou Governor Lu Yihao come here to serve as Minister of Works... When Minister Ye arrives in Yangzhou, why not ask the Queen Mother in person, since I don't respect the old party, can I depose him?"
Ye Mengde's face turned pale and he could not even stand. He could only bow and kowtow. Lu Haowen could only follow Xu Jingheng's example and take off his soft hat to show his gesture.
But Emperor Zhao continued, "Why do you think I should promote Wang Shu? Why can't I bring out the old party?! Isn't it because I want to resist the Jin?! According to your opinion, to respect Sima Guang and Su Shi... should we respect Sima Guang and return the land of Western Xia, or should we respect Su Shi, 'Wei Qing's slave'?"
"Your Majesty." Xu Jingheng also turned pale, but he was the last person on the river bank who tried his best. "Master Su was not mocking Wei Qing, he was mocking the people who were lucky enough to get promoted at that time."
"I know!" Zhao Jiu sneered. "And I think that with the kindness of the great scholar Su Shi, if he could see the Jingkang Shame with his own eyes and live again, he might become a military official to open up the border in Hehuang! But didn't he see the Jingkang Shame? Can't he live again? If I greatly honor Su Shi and posthumously confer him the title of Grand Master, when Han Shizhong and others see 'Wei Qing slaves', will they think that the emperor calls them confidants on the surface, but actually regards them as slaves?! Lord Xu, how many times do you want me to tell you that the world is united in resisting the Jin... I don't want you to prosper if you obey me and perish if you disobey me, I just want you to rise if you obey me and fall if you disobey me, but you can't do it!"
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
