"Was Feng Erguan involved in this matter?"

The court and the public petitioned to establish an empress, especially after generals of the level of regional commanders joined in this matter through memorials. Zhao Guan Jia was naturally momentarily stunned. After being stunned, his first reaction was naturally to ask Yang Yizhong, the know-it-all, who had come to deliver the memorial.

Feng Erguan naturally refers to Feng Yi... Actually, Feng Yi's nickname was originally Shiwulang, but because Zhao Guan Jia was determined to simplify the Department of Palace Attendants, many eunuchs with names and surnames were thrown to Yangzhou. For a long time, the Department of Palace Attendants was just a chief clerk Lan Gui, in charge of confidential documents, connecting with the previous dynasty; and a clerk, Feng Yi, in charge of various miscellaneous matters in the harem. And because there were only these two, the chief clerk was always called Daguan, and Feng Yi also got the title of Erguan.

As for why he asked Feng Yi right away, it was naturally because this guy had a previous record.

"No, at least I am not aware..." Yang Yizhong replied immediately without hesitation.

Zhao Jiu slowly nodded, but then asked immediately, "So, this matter has nothing to do with Yanfu Palace?"

Yang Yizhong hesitated slightly at this point, and did not answer directly: "Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness, the population in the palace is limited, and the money and food are limited. Many places have lost internal and external income. Feng Erguan has suffered a loss once, so he appears clean. However, Yanfu Palace is not just eunuchs; there are also sources of income other than Feng Erguan."

Zhao Jiu chuckled and nodded.

In fact, Yang Yizhong's hint was already very clear. There were only a few people here in Yanfu Palace, and not many with power and money. Besides Zhao Guan Jia himself, there were two consorts, two Imperial Guard commanders, and two eunuchs who could be considered influential. And since it wasn't an eunuch, and Yang Yizhong directly mentioned the word "source of income," it was basically equivalent to directly saying it was the two consorts supported by their own families.

After all, Consort Wu's family was famously wealthy, having monopolized the pearl business in the capital in those years. Once the monopoly of luxury goods like pearls was achieved in Tokyo at that time, it basically meant monopolizing the entire Song Dynasty's pearl business. Hence, they were called the Pearl Wu Clan. As for Consort Pan, her family was slightly inferior, but that couldn't hold up to the fact that this family had been close to the imperial court for generations, and several generations had been figures in the Imperial Medical Academy (i.e., the later Tai Hospital, under the jurisdiction of the Hanlin Academy). In that era of peace and prosperity, even if they weren't wealthy at first, several generations would naturally become top-tier wealthy.

Both families are now in Tokyo. Consort Wu's father is often summoned, and Consort Pan's father, Pan Yongshou, even became a medical officer in the Imperial Medical Academy after returning. They all have easy access to the harem, and the palace is poor... How could these two wealthy families not be willing to spend money for their own daughters to use?

Did they really think Zhao Guan Jia's self-deprecating jokes about being a kept man were baseless?

But if that's the case, Zhao Jiu didn't want to pursue it further, because he simply didn't have the feudal emperor's consciousness of "If I don't give it to you, you're not allowed to take it"... Especially Consort Pan, wanting this empress position was almost human nature.

Not to mention, people are not plants, who can be without feelings? According to Zhao Guan Jia's simple, straight-male thinking, he took someone's body, why not give them a marriage certificate?

Only Consort Wu's side also took someone's body. If one had it and the other didn't, it would inevitably seem a little scummy... But it seems this situation wasn't his fault. From the beginning, these two had titles.

"What does Zhengfu think about this matter?" After thinking for a long while, Zhao Jiu closed the memorial from Wang Yan's subordinate on the table and asked Yang Yizhong again helplessly.

Yang Yizhong obviously didn't react at first, but still thought the Emperor wanted to pursue the matter, so he carefully replied: "I think this is because Your Majesty only goes out with Consort Wu, and the Wu family has ample financial resources. Consort Pan seems a little apprehensive..."

"I'm asking you... How do you think this matter of establishing an empress should be handled? Should an empress be established?" Zhao Jiu said directly, helplessly.

Yang Yizhong was stunned, and after a long while, he replied: "This is Your Majesty's private matter."

"What kind of private matter is this!" Zhao Jiu pointed to the memorials and documents all over the table, speechless. "What kind of nonsense are you, Yang Yizhong, spouting in front of me? Even if this is a private matter, it is a private matter that must be discussed publicly..."

Yang Yizhong also looked helpless.

"Don't worry, I'm not just asking you alone. I'm just starting with you." Zhao Jiu quickly reassured him.

Yang Yizhong nodded slightly, then said solemnly: "I think such a commotion cannot be caused by the instigation of a few people. It is because the Jin people are looming but have not yet attacked, and people's hearts are fluctuating. Therefore, seeking temporary peace is understandable... If establishing an empress can appease people's hearts, why not do it?"

This was an endorsement.

"That's true, but isn't there a saying... How can we have a home before the Xiongnu are destroyed?" Zhao Jiu first nodded, then shook his head. "In the current situation, it's impossible to hold a grand ceremony, and I'm not willing to waste manpower on this kind of thing."

"Simplifying it is also possible." Yang Yizhong smiled bitterly. "Even just an imperial decree is fine... Even in Tokyo, I think as long as the reserved frozen pork stored in the cellar is released, one piece of meat for each family, I think no one in Tokyo would object."

Zhao Jiu, rebutted into silence, was silent for a moment, and finally told the truth: "I think having Consorts Pan and Wu is enough for this life, at least I don't plan to add to the harem before the Jin people are destroyed... So, if Consort Pan advances to become empress, what about Consort Wu? Conversely, if Consort Wu advances to become empress, what about Consort Pan?"

Yang Yizhong was slightly stunned, but remained silent.

"I'm asking you..." Zhao Jiu urged incessantly. "If I don't ask you, am I supposed to ask the Prime Minister?"

Yang Yizhong still didn't say a word.

Zhao Jiu gritted his teeth and countered, "Yang Yizhong, just tell me if it's feasible... Can't we establish two Imperial Concubines together?"

Yang Yizhong had no choice and finally said, with a stiff neck, "I think it's possible."

"Then it's possible." Zhao Jiu was relieved for a moment. "Then we'll do as you say. I'll go to the Chongwen Institute to talk to the ministers."

As he said that, the Emperor actually got up without a care and left.

On the other side, Yang Yizhong was dumbfounded and completely panicked... He just came to routinely deliver a memorial from the Imperial Guard Commander, how did it become "Then we'll do as you say"?

But seeing Zhao Guan Jia already walking out, this Imperial Guard confidant, who had fought many battles and whose subordinates even had some squad leaders made into commanders, quickly caught up and repeatedly advised:

"Your Majesty must explain to the court and the public that one reason is that you miss Empress Xing and don't want to establish an empress; and the other reason is that how can we have a home before the Xiongnu are destroyed, and you don't plan to add to the harem before the Jin people are destroyed..."

"That's natural." Zhao Jiu said without turning his head and stepped out of the hall.

Yang Yizhong panicked and hurried to catch up, completely disregarding the fact that Lan Gui and others, who had come out to avoid him earlier, were right in front of him, and earnestly said again: "Even if you only establish Imperial Concubines, Your Majesty should still issue frozen pork..."

Zhao Jiu nodded repeatedly.

Lan Gui and others greeted him, and Yang Yizhong completely stopped... But he was powerless... How could he not know that this Emperor must have had a plan in his heart for a long time, but deliberately made this move to let him, someone who everyone could bully, take the blame?

After all, in broad daylight, everyone saw that after he was alone with the Emperor for a moment, the previously 'dazed' Emperor suddenly made a decision. Where could he explain himself?

Moreover, in the past, before Consort Pan arrived, the Wu family was the first to arrive in Tokyo. At that time, he had more contact with the Wu family for official business... This could not be washed clean, and there was a motive!

Would Consort Pan give him a good look in the future?

Perhaps Consort Wu would be grateful? But what use was Consort Wu's gratitude to him?

Most importantly, how would the foreign ministers view him?

At this point, Yang Yizhong almost had some resentment... But he could only be helpless.

In the end, how could he not know that since he had become the leader of the Imperial Guard, he was destined to be an isolated official. Moreover, he knew very well that at this time, at the Chongwen Institute, there was also Prime Minister Lu who could not avoid being 'done as you say'... Being able to share the blame with the Prime Minister, others must be envious!

It is said that in late November of the third year of Jianyan, the Jin army had been inactive for a long time, and Tokyo was idle. Therefore, the court and the public advised that an empress be established to boost morale. However, Zhao Guan Jia said that he missed Empress Xing very much and did not want to establish a family before the Jin people were pacified... He only established Pan and Wu as left and right Imperial Concubines. And he issued an imperial decree, vowing not to increase the harem until the Jin people were destroyed. Also, because the war had not subsided, he did not hold a grand ceremony, but only issued 60,000 catties of pork to reward the entire city of Tokyo, and 300,000 bolts of silk to reward the entire Imperial Guard army.

The ceremony was completed, and the public opinion was slightly calmed. Zhao Guan Jia then left Tokyo to inspect the Yellow River.

However, since Zhao Guan Jia left the city, rumors suddenly spread in the court and the public in Tokyo, saying that Zhao Guan Jia originally wanted to follow the public and establish an empress, and at that time, the two Imperial Concubines Pan and Wu had a clear distinction in status. Once an empress was established, only the Pan family would be uniquely honored. However, Prime Minister Lu Haowen had a grudge against Consort Pan, and Yang Yizhong, the commander of the Imperial Guard in charge of the Imperial City Division, was close to Consort Wu's family and was quite uneasy. Therefore, they gave advice internally and externally to honor the two Imperial Concubines equally. Zhao Guan Jia was attacked from both sides and lost his balance.

As soon as the rumors came out, Supervising Censor Li Jing submitted a memorial impeaching Yang Yizhong for interfering in the affairs of the imperial family and requested that he be beheaded.

The memorial arrived, and Zhao Guan Jia had already reached the Yellow River and ignored it.