Chapter 250 Minglan's Reminder
A gentleman observes etiquette, does not know how to adapt, and tends to stick to his own opinions.
Although villains forget their principles when they see benefits, they are very flexible. As long as the benefits are sufficient, they will not worry about betrayal.
Of course, there are gentlemen who know how to adapt, and there are villains who are short-sighted. We cannot generalize.
"Since you know it clearly, I am relieved." The emperor nodded slightly and asked, "By the way, in two months, Xixia will send the eldest princess here to marry. You have to be more careful."
"I understand, son!" Zhao Xing nodded, and took the opportunity to propose that Gu Tingye and others go to the northwest to gain experience for a few years, including arrangements for them.
After hearing this, the official pondered for a moment and then agreed.
Wuxiong's army had only more than 10,000 people and was a border army, so they had no defense against Zhao Xing.
Moreover, according to the rules of the Song Dynasty, the power to mobilize troops belongs to the Privy Council. Even if the Wuxiong Army is commanded by Zhao Xing's people, Zhao Xing cannot mobilize them.
After asking some more questions about Zhao Xing's recent situation, the emperor let Zhao Xing go back.
Zhao Xing left the palace and returned to the East Palace. As soon as he got off the carriage, Liu Sanshi came up to greet him and saluted, saying, "Your Highness, a man named Sima Guang just came to the East Palace with documents from the Ministry of Personnel to take up his post."
"Since we have the documents from the Ministry of Personnel, you can arrange them according to their official positions." Zhao Xing said and got on the sedan chair.
The Eastern Palace can be seen as a microcosm of the imperial court.
The Front Palace is where he and the officials of the East Palace work, but the officials of the East Palace are part-time and usually work in the imperial court offices and do not come here.
There are not many officials who truly belong to the Eastern Palace.
Even so, every official in the Eastern Palace has his own public housing.
Liu Sanshi is the chief steward of the front palace, and all these matters are under his jurisdiction.
"I have already made the arrangements, but this person requests to see Your Highness." Liu Sanshi said.
Zhao Xing frowned and said, "Tell him I'm busy and don't have time to see him!"
"Yes!" Liu Sanshi replied.
Not long after, Zhao Xing arrived in front of Chaoyang Palace on a sedan chair. As soon as he got off the sedan chair, he heard a noise from the left side. Zhao Xing looked in the direction of the sound and saw several eunuchs in the distance stopping Sima Guang.
Liu Sanshi hurried over to ask without Zhao Xing's instructions. After a while, he came back trotting and said, "Lord Sima learned that Your Highness had returned and came to see Your Highness. The eunuch was worried that he would offend Your Highness and was trying to stop him."
Zhao Xing said gloomily: "Let him enter the palace!"
After saying that, Zhao Xing walked up the stairs and entered the Chaoyang Palace.
Not long after Zhao Xing sat down, Sima Guang walked in and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, the Crown Prince!"
Zhao Xing ignored him, took the tea brought by the palace maid and started sipping it.
Sima Guang stood there with his back bent, motionless.
After a long while, Zhao Xing put down the teacup and said in a cold voice: "Sima Guang, do you admit your guilt?"
"I know my crime!" Sima Guang said without any emotion.
Zhao Xing sneered in his heart. He admitted his mistake quickly, but his attitude made people very unhappy.
Many people in later generations believed that Sima Guang was a sinner, and felt that if it had not been for his obstruction, Wang Anshi's reform would not have failed.
But in Zhao Xing's view, there was no absolute right or wrong between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang.
Wang Anshi hoped to solve the accumulated problems through political reform, while Sima Guang advocated making small-scale adjustments on the existing basis to solve the accumulated problems.
From an objective point of view, Wang Anshi was radical and Sima Guang was too cautious, so it is hard to say who was right or wrong.
This is also the reason why Zhao Xing had a headache because of Sima Guang.
If he hadn't seen that Sima Guang had some talent, how could Sima Guang dare to speak out and give Zhao Xing any direct criticism, and Zhao Xing wouldn't have had to worry about it.
At worst, he could be charged with a crime and banished to a cold and miserable place.
However, Sima Guang's behavior today made him very angry, and he even wanted to stop the carriage in order to see him.
If Sima Guang came to the Eastern Palace for some time and Zhao Xing kept avoiding him, Zhao Xing could understand his behavior.
But Sima Guang just arrived today and he did such a thing.
If I don't do what he says in the future, won't he threaten me with death?
"Do you know what the consequences of rushing into the emperor's carriage are?" Zhao Xing said coldly.
"Death penalty!" Sima Guang said calmly, "It is my duty to do so. After giving my advice, I am willing to accept the punishment!"
"Sima Guang!" Zhao Xing slammed the table and stood up, staring at Sima Guang angrily, saying, "You knowingly committed a crime, but you said it was your duty and you were righteous. Do you think I dare not kill you?"
What annoyed Zhao Xing the most was Sima Guang's attitude. He knew clearly that this was wrong, but he acted fearless and loyal to his country.
He keeps saying it's a capital crime, but does Sima Guang really care?
He may not care about life and death, but he does not think there is anything wrong with what he does.
It's all bad habits that I've developed over time.
"I dare not. I know I have offended His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and I was ready to die when I came here." Sima Guang said.
"Humph!" Zhao Xing snorted coldly, "I would like to hear what you have to say. Is it necessary to give me advice in this way?"
"Your Highness, I have ten words of advice to give." Sima Guang said calmly, "First, as the crown prince and the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, you should not stay in the East Palace every day. You should go to the Kaifeng Prefecture Office more often to handle the official business of Kaifeng Prefecture. Second..."
Sima Guang spoke a lot in a very eloquent manner, ranging from official matters to personal matters, and he even talked about Zhao Xing's favored concubines in the harem.
They said Zhao Xing should treat everyone equally and not favor one or a few people. They also said that the two girls of the Nasheng family were of high rank and that Zhao Xing was being favored too much.
The two daughters of the Sheng family mentioned by Sima Guang do not include Minglan, but Shulan and Rulan.
In ancient times, clan was supreme. Although the two people did not have the same father and mother, they were from the same clan.
In the eyes of others, we belong to one family.
When Sima Guang stopped, Zhao Xing asked calmly, "Are you done?"
"I have finished speaking and am willing to accept the punishment!" Sima Guang said.
"Sima Guang, I heard that when you were in office, you often went to the countryside to understand the sufferings of the people. Do you think the people of the Song Dynasty are suffering?" Zhao Xing asked.
"It's bitter, very bitter!" Sima Guang answered without thinking.
"In that case, why don't you advise me on how to solve the suffering of the people, but instead focus on these trivial matters? You are willing to crash into my carriage for this and keep saying that you are willing to die. What's the difference between you and those people who seek fame and reputation?" Zhao Xing said indifferently.
Sima Guang's face flushed as he said, "Your Highness is the crown prince, and in the future you will be the ruler of the country. As the saying goes, what goes up must be followed, so Your Highness must set a good example."
Zhao Xing was very disappointed when he heard this. He didn't want to waste any more words with him, so he said, "You bumped into my carriage, which is an unforgivable crime. However, I consider that this is your first offense, so I will punish you to reflect on your mistakes at home for half a year."
Sima Guang opened his mouth. He had not expected that Zhao Xing would punish him to reflect on his mistakes at home for half a year. However, Zhao Xing's punishment was already considered lenient. He could only bow and say, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your forgiveness!"
"Go!" Zhao Xing waved his hand.
"I'm leaving now!" Sima Guang bowed and left.
"Give orders that if Sima Guang sends the bundle, he doesn't have to give it to me." Zhao Xing said to Sanshui.
Originally, Zhao Xing wanted to use Sima Guang, and even wanted to let Wang Anshi and Sima Guang debate with each other, maybe it would make Sima Guang change his mind.
Although Zhao Xing has not completely given up on Sima Guang, if he still has this bad temper after half a year of reflection, Zhao Xing will definitely not use him.
Speaking of which, Sima Guang was also a man of both civil and military talents.
After the Song-Xia War, although the two countries entered into peace, minor frictions continued.
When Sima Guang was serving in Hedong, he had a deep understanding of the situation between the Song Dynasty and Western Xia. He wrote a letter suggesting that the Song Dynasty should cut off trade with Western Xia. In order to prevent border residents from trading with Western Xia and also to prevent border frictions, he suggested building fortresses at various important roads on the Song-Xia border.
Later, the imperial court adopted the idea, and the border between Song and Xia became truly stable.
Although it could not be completely blocked, it made it more difficult for merchants to trade and engage in smuggling with Western Xia.
This is also the reason why Xixia was willing to marry a princess and trade with the Song Dynasty.
Unfortunately, although Sima Guang was talented, he was too stubborn.
Although Zhao Xing felt it was a pity, if Sima Guang did not change, Zhao Xing could only abandon him.
Rubbing his head, Zhao Xing went to the study to prepare to review the notes.
As soon as I sat down in the study, a eunuch came to report that Minglan wanted to see me.
"Let her in." Zhao Xing said.
After a while, Minglan came in with a tray.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you." Minglan bowed.
"No need to be polite." Zhao Xing waved his hand and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Today, Fifth Sister was bored, so she went fishing in the garden pond and caught a crucian carp the size of a palm. It is late autumn now, and the fish are plump and tender. Fifth Sister asked me to make some soup and send it to Your Highness."
Minglan said as she placed the tray on the table beside her, filled a bowl and brought it to Zhao Xing's desk.
Zhao Xing took it and tasted it, then smiled and said, "It's very fresh. The cooking is good."
"If Your Highness likes it, I will stew it for you next time." Minglan said.
"You all go down." Zhao Xing said to the palace maids and eunuchs standing in the study.
After everyone left, Zhao Xing finished the soup in the bowl in a few gulps and handed the bowl to Minglan.
"Give Gu Sheng another bowl." Zhao Xing said.
"Yes."
Minglan took the bowl, filled it with soup and handed it to Zhao Xing. She came behind Zhao Xing and put her hand on his shoulders.
"Your Highness has a frown on his face, but is there something troubling you?" Minglan asked softly.
"Alas." Zhao Xing sighed and said, "This person is very talented, but he is like a stone in a toilet, smelly and hard. I can only give up on him."
Minglan massaged Zhao Xing's shoulders and said, "My grandmother once told me that no one is perfect. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. We just need to make good use of our strengths."
Zhao Xing was startled when he heard this. He pondered for a while, put down the bowl in his hand, pulled Minglan to sit in his arms, kissed her hard on the face, and said with a smile: "You are right, you are being too stubborn."
Minglan blushed slightly and said, "Your Highness is smart. Even if I don't tell you, Your Highness will be able to figure it out."
"Haha." Zhao Xing laughed loudly, pinched Minglan's chin and looked at her, saying, "Tell me what you want to see me for?"
Ever since Minglan came to see him that night and they had a frank chat, Minglan was no longer so reserved in front of him.
But given Minglan's personality, she never came to the front palace to look for him.
(End of this chapter)