His Majesty Zhao was excessive, undeniably excessive.

Some words, even in this detached place, in this so-called political secret chamber, should not be spoken so early. Especially since Royal Uncle Zhao is truly sincere… In fact, according to the political correctness of this era, Royal Uncle Zhao embodies righteousness and unwavering sincerity, while Zhao Jiu seems particularly unorthodox.

But on the other hand, does Zhao Jiu regret it?

He regrets it and he doesn't regret it.

He regrets that he could say such things to Zhao Shidan so brazenly, which means he's getting carried away. So he immediately introspects: he can't indulge in the feeling of being a tyrant just because he holds military power, acting so recklessly and frivolously, so much like Zhao Ji!

He doesn't regret it because this is what he truly thinks. He looks down on those officials of the Song Dynasty and sees the Two Sages as the culprits of the Jingkang Incident, not as victims.

So, what's said is said. It's not the first time he's chopped off the legs of the broken chair he's sitting on. He can just pad it with a brick and keep making do… it's not like he, Zhao Jiu, wanted to wear the crown or sit on the throne!

Since escaping the well, he's been constantly on edge, risking his head, and in the end, he didn't get to eat ice cream, just a popsicle… Is the life of an emperor really so easy?

Therefore, with this mindset, after finishing the incense offering, His Majesty Zhao lingered at the Shaolin Temple for half a day, supposedly inspecting cultural relics and historical sites such as the Sutra Repository and the Meditation Cave. Then, considering the monks' profound knowledge of Buddhism, he personally inscribed the four characters "Quan Chu Shaolin" (Fist from Shaolin), stayed overnight, and then descended the mountain.

Speaking of which, leaving aside Zhao Jiu's rogue mentality, the loyal and devoted Royal Uncle Zhao, following the emperor's entourage down the mountain, naturally felt complex emotions, unlike others… In the end, the new emperor still hurt the old royal uncle's heart, but after much thought, the old royal uncle felt helpless.

Because, he is the Emperor.

It must be known that after more than a hundred years of the Great Song Dynasty, on the one hand, the so-called Zhao Song emperor was influenced by the culture of the common people due to the population explosion, so that some of his aura faded, and everyone from the chief ministers and royal relatives to the common people could discuss and evaluate this Zhao Song Son of Heaven. Of course, everyone could also discuss the chief ministers and royal relatives; on the other hand, one had to admit that according to the ancestral rules of the Zhao Song Dynasty, the emperor's power was becoming increasingly stronger.

It's like the Taishang Daojun Emperor Zhao Ji, whom someone despised, everyone knew he was frivolous, everyone knew he was good at everything except state affairs, everyone knew that the Six Traitors around him were hateful, and not only the Six Traitors, but everyone also knew that the Huashigang (Flower and Rock Convoy) was a disaster, causing large-scale civil unrest in the southeast… However, before the Jurchens arrived, did anyone stop him from running to Li Shishi?

In fact, in the eyes of this old royal uncle, the current Emperor Zhao, who disrespects his ancestors and brothers, is exactly like the Taishang Daojun Emperor he despises… both are typical frivolous and foolish rulers!

However, what of it?

Back then, no one could stop the Taishang Daojun Emperor, so today, would it be useful or would there be a good outcome for him, a distant royal uncle with a sensitive identity, to discuss this kind of issue?

The Emperor is the Emperor, does anyone really think any rules can restrain him?

If rules could restrain him, how would the Song Dynasty have fallen to this state?

Even, if Zhao Jiu knew what this royal uncle was thinking, he would probably lament privately… if the emperor could be restrained by the system, how did Yue Fei die?

And after carrying out the Fengbo Pavilion incident, did Han Shizhong rebel? Or did Royal Uncle Zhao, who was willing to guarantee Yue Fei with his entire family, rebel?

Even if Zhao Jiu is unorthodox and shameless, can he really compare to Zhao Ji and his son in the original history?

Why only say that he is outrageous for privately scolding his father and brothers, bullying honest people?

In short, feeling this way, Royal Uncle Zhao Shidan couldn't help but feel disheartened. So, as soon as he arrived at Dengfeng County at the foot of the mountain, he prepared to write a memorial, claiming illness and requesting to leave first, never to ask about court affairs again, only to guard the ancestral temple.

However, at this moment, His Majesty Zhao actually sent an imperial decree, saying that he originally wanted to go to the Eight Imperial Tombs in Luoyang to pay respects in person, but he had not been feeling well for days, and seeing the tombs would only make him sad, so he couldn't bear it for the time being. Therefore, he appointed Grand Clan Minister and Royal Uncle Zhao Shidan as the Prayer Envoy, to formally go to the Eight Imperial Tombs in Luoyang to offer sacrifices and pray for blessings on behalf of the Son of Heaven.

This appointment, which was neither a compromise apology nor a stubborn assertion, made Royal Uncle Zhao even more powerless… He wanted to quit, but what if the ancestors really didn't receive sacrifices after he quit?

Helplessly, he put away the original memorial claiming illness, accepted the decree, and stood in for the feigning Emperor Zhao, taking the full imperial regalia and going to the Eight Imperial Tombs in Luoyang for the second time.

Academician Lin and Commander Cui's soldiers also went with him.

Not only that, but a few days later, Prime Minister Lü Haowen and Minister of Rites Zhu Shengfei also received imperial decrees, appointing them as deputy envoys to go to the Eight Imperial Tombs in Luoyang to join Royal Uncle Zhao, who was bathing and fasting in anticipation of the auspicious day, to jointly attend to the Eight Imperial Tombs.

As for Zhao Jiu himself, he alone took Madam Wu and Yang Yizhong, leading a small number of palace guards, to stay temporarily in Niu Gao's army near Dengfeng City, preparing to get through this period of time.

And it was here that the emperor finally learned that Yue Fei's wife had gone south and married a soldier in Han Shizhong's army a long time ago.

Yue Fei handled this matter perfectly. He sent a trusted soldier who knew his wife in the army to Han Shizhong with five hundred strings of cash, and then said nothing more… On the one hand, it was the fact that this matter ultimately led to the breakdown of their relationship, and on the other hand, it was to take care of the feelings of the growing Yue Yun brothers.

This rather awkward matter came to an end.

After all, this matter involved the privacy of a general, and neither side publicized it, so His Majesty Zhao learned about it a little late. Moreover, he had no objection to Yue Fei's handling of it, and he didn't want to interfere arbitrarily, causing Yue Fei and Han Shizhong further embarrassment… only that this matter, when it reached Zhao Jiu's ears at this time, could not help but make him notice one thing.

"There are many people in the army with Hebei origins. Are such things common?" After learning a little about the situation, Zhao Jiu naturally asked Yang Yizhong, who was delivering the message, in passing.

"Yes, many," Yang Yizhong replied affirmatively after a little thought. "But more often it is active buying and selling. It is rare for someone like Madam Yue to leave her husband's family first and then seek her own way out."

"What is active buying and selling?" Zhao Jiu was slightly startled. He only wanted to ask about the separation of husbands and wives, but he never thought about buying and selling.

"It is that husbands and wives are often separated. After crossing the river, they are extremely poor and have nothing. In order to make a living, they sell their wives themselves."

"Husbands sell wives?" Zhao Jiu was finally stunned.

"It's husbands and wives selling wives together…" Yang Yizhong explained slightly. "And it is generally a 'living sale'."

"What is a 'living sale'?"

"It means that the affection between husband and wife is not exhausted, but they are only temporarily destitute. When they are sold, either as concubines or as servants, there is an amount and a time limit. Then, either the husband raises money to redeem them during this period, or the wife returns on her own when the term expires, and they can be reunited… But the price of a 'living sale' is often much cheaper than a 'dead sale'." Speaking to this point, Yang Yizhong added, "Many times, women who actively sell themselves in a 'living sale' often don't want money, they only ask wealthy families to allow them to bring their children to raise them."

Zhao Jiu was dumbfounded.

"Of course, there is also a special case of 'living sale'," Yang Yizhong had already become careful, but out of professional ethics, he had to say everything. "That is, the amount is not fixed, as long as they are sold to someone to have a child, which means renting a child… The contract is considered fulfilled when the child is one month old."

"Are you saying that my Imperial Guards… also have such things?" Zhao Jiu finally came back to his senses, and his expression was obviously ferocious. "Yue Fei's wife's matter is already considered lucky?"

"Your Majesty," Yang Yizhong became even more careful. "Since Your Majesty took the initiative to ask your servant, your servant must let Your Majesty know that this matter involves two levels…"

"Speak."

"One level is the system of concubines being traded, which has been the case for hundreds of years, not just this time, not just in the army, but a legal conclusion since the Tang Dynasty. Then the Huangsong Dynasty inherited the Tang law and has passed it down to this day. Bai Juyi of the Tang Dynasty changed concubines every three years, and Grand Scholar Su of this dynasty also sold concubines for horses. Bao Longtu's concubine became pregnant and was still sent away… Even Madam Liang and two concubines in Grand Commandant Han's family were bought… The root of this kind of thing lies in the system and the law, and it exists throughout history." Yang Yizhong said carefully. "As for the Hebei refugees selling their wives, the root lies in the refugees' extreme poverty. If they don't sell their wives, they will sell their children. If they don't sell their children, they will sell themselves as slaves… The two cannot be generalized."

"You've hit the nail on the head with your words," Zhao Jiu nodded slightly, but then shook his head slightly. "But this matter is still inappropriate and should be stopped… Tell Prime Minister Lü not to go to the sacrifice and let him come to Dengfeng to see me directly."

Yang Yizhong bowed his head to receive the order.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, His Majesty Zhao suddenly laughed mockingly in front of him: "Like this, there are still people who want me to pray for blessings for the Two Sages, isn't that just deceiving myself?"

This time, Yang Yizhong naturally pretended not to hear.

ps: Thanks to the 68th cutest yoyowalker classmate, did you go out for a walk today?