From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 157

After a night of rest on the road, the four carriages arrived at Yunzhou at noon the next day.

Zhao Cheng had received the news long ago, so he took a day off today and waited for Zhou Yuan and others at home.

He first sent Ningyue back home, and Zhou Yuan finally saw his father-in-law after a long absence.

This time was different from the previous ones, as both of them were considered political officials.

"Zi Yi! This is a triumphant return!"

Zhao Cheng was in a very good mood and laughed: "You went to Lin'an this time to turn the tide and support the building from collapse. With a humble body, you did things to mend the sky. It can be said that your military exploits are brilliant. If it weren't for your low starting point, it would not be too much to be granted a title!"

Zhou Yuan bowed and said softly: "Lord Taishan is too flattering. I just made some insignificant contributions."

"Hey, Zi Yi, being too humble is hypocritical. A real man should dare to take responsibility and also dare to affirm his own achievements."

Zhao Cheng waved his hand and said: "People who dare not affirm themselves are definitely not people with great responsibilities. Our Great Jin does not need politicians who are good at dealing with people, but only swords that can cut through the sky!"

My father-in-law is worthy of being the top scholar. He has a clear understanding of the situation in the Great Jin.

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Thank you, Master Taishan, for your teachings."

"Okay, okay, the children have come home from a long journey, and you are already talking about moral principles before you even sit down."

Chen quickly pulled Zhou Yuan into the hall and said with a smile, "This child has become much darker. I think life in Lin'an is hard. Today, I made you authentic Yunzhou dishes. Eat more later."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Thank you, Master Mother-in-law."

Chen looked at Zhao Jianjia with a kind face, but was slightly stunned.

This girl, with her eyebrows relaxed, has a hint of charm. Could it be...

"Jianjia, come to the kitchen to help your mother."

Chen obviously had something to say.

But Zhou Yuan didn't wake up and smiled, "Mother-in-law, Jianjia has been traveling all the way, let her rest for a while."

Everyone was stunned by this sentence, and Chen was even more delighted and said, "Good child, you know how to care for your wife. Don't worry, as a mother, I can't tire her out."

Zhao Jianjia blushed, winked at Zhou Yuan, and followed Chen.

She said she was going to the kitchen to help, but actually went into the wing room.

Chen looked Zhao Jianjia up and down, making Zhao Jianjia feel embarrassed, and then said: "It's done?"

"What's done?"

Zhao Jianjia lowered her head shyly and said: "Mom... my husband and I should have been together."

"Good! Good!"

Chen couldn't help laughing and said: "You finally got it. Ziyi is such a good child, but you didn't know how to cherish him before."

Zhao Jianjia said: "Mom, don't say it... my husband and I have reconciled."

"Hahaha!"

Chen was really happy, touched Zhao Jianjia's face, and said: "Hurry up and have a child. If it's a boy, your status will be stable."

Zhao Jianjia asked in confusion: "What status is stable?"

Chen smiled and said: "Child, don't you really understand Yuan'er's fate? Your father said that Yuan'er is a genius, and he will be made a marquis and prime minister sooner or later. By then, he must have a family. "Although you are the legal wife, you should not be a jealous woman and stop Yuan'er from taking a concubine." Zhao Jianjia glared and said, "He is a son-in-law, can he take a concubine?" Chen said, "Silly child, a son-in-law is just a starting point for a person. Since the sage wants to be useful, how can he not let him open a door and set up a family? If you have a child, your position will naturally be stable. Otherwise, there will be people competing for your favor. " "Your husband is a likable man. He can do things, write books and poems, and has a good body. " "If you don't keep a close eye on this kind of man, there will be a lot of women outside. " Zhao Jianjia looked shocked. She thought Zhou Yuan was not a lustful person. Otherwise, how could he have been married for so long before the wedding night, and the women rescued from the gambling house were eager to follow her husband, and her husband never did anything beyond the rules. He is a pure man. Even if he takes a concubine, he is just following the rules. It doesn't matter.

At this moment, Zhou Yuan and Zhao Cheng also arrived at the study.

"Ziyi, since the Saint King asked you to leave within five days, you should leave after tomorrow."

Zhao Cheng was a little sad, feeling that his child had finally grown up and was going to be independent.

Zhou Yuan thought about it. It took a day to visit the West Lake in a pleasure boat, a day to visit the south of the city, and another day on the road. Tomorrow is indeed the fifth day. The time is really tight!

"Father-in-law, I still need your guidance on this trip to the capital."

In fact, Zhou Yuan just asked casually to show his respect for Zhao Cheng.

Who knew that Zhao Cheng would directly say: "Ziyi, do you know how the current empress succeeded to the throne?"

Ah? Father-in-law knows this secret?

"The late emperor had 41 concubines and hundreds of female officials. He reigned for 40 years and gave birth to dozens of princes and princesses. How could he let a woman in the harem succeed to the throne? Have you ever thought about this question?"

This question is indeed quite difficult, and Zhou Yuan can only give a general answer: "Many princes are confused and unpromising, and the empress is too clever."

"Confused? They have received the best education since childhood and are of royal blood. Are they all confused?"

Zhao Cheng said solemnly: "Who among the civil and military officials in the court has not studied the holy way for decades? Are they all confused?"

"There is only one truly confused person, and that is the late emperor."

This is almost a rebellious statement, but Zhao Cheng doesn't care.

He said in a deep voice: "When the late emperor was young, he worked hard to govern the country and loved the people. However, after he turned fifty, his temperament became strange. As people get older, they naturally become confused."

"The current emperor entered the palace at the age of seventeen, and became a concubine at the age of eighteen with her beautiful face. She is extremely intelligent, scheming, and good at bewitching people. How could the old emperor resist her temptation?"

"So at the age of twenty, she became the first imperial concubine in the four hundred years of the Jin Dynasty."

"As a result, a year later, the late emperor was seriously ill and the prince should have succeeded to the throne, but he died of illness first."

"Therefore, the imperial concubine took power."

Zhou Yuan asked in confusion: "Do the other princes and ministers agree?"

Zhao Cheng sneered: "The late emperor wrote his own will and left three ministers to guard his life. How dare other ministers disobey?"

"As for the princes, it has to be said that the current emperor was lucky."

"The third prince, the seventh prince, the ninth prince, the tenth prince, the The four princes all have ambitions, but none of them want to be rebels. "

"They hinder each other, hoping that the other party will rebel first, and then they will suppress the rebellion, sit on the throne, and seek a legitimate reason."

Speaking of this, Zhao Cheng sighed and said, "It is this stalemate that gave the current Holy Mountain eight months of buffer time. She actually suppressed the court with iron-blooded means in these eight months and stabilized her position."

"So, the princes did not dare to move, and the stalemate has been going on until today, for nine years. "

Zhou Yuan was also a little confused, and finally smiled bitterly: "It turns out that no one except the late emperor is confused, but these princes want to be perfect, but they have lost the opportunity."

Zhao Cheng said: "Have these princes and ministers been quiet in the past nine years? In fact, they are not quiet either, but they can only interfere with the Holy King in the court, but they can never touch the foundation of the Holy King. "

At this moment, Chen is already outside calling for dinner.

Zhao Cheng stood up and said, "I have said so much mainly to tell you that the situation in Shenjing is more complicated than in any other era. There are princes, ministers, the Holy King, spies from the northern Tartars, spies from the bandits, and all kinds of people."

"You must be careful when you go there, and you must act cautiously."

"As for the Holy King, according to my understanding over the years, the Holy King is very capable, but he just lacks resources."

"Accompanying the King is like accompanying a tiger. You must not be careless when assisting her."

Zhou Yuan clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, father-in-law, for your advice."

"Let's go, let's have a few drinks, and listen to what you say about Lin'an Prefecture."

The two strode out of the study.