Dianzhong Shiyushi (Censorate Official) Wanqi Xie became famous! And greatly famous!

Parts of his remonstrance to Zhao, the Emperor of the Song, under the meticulous revision of an unnamed close aide, were sent through the Neishisheng (Inner Palace Secretariat) to Hu Quan, the compiler, and then urgently published in the Di Bao (Imperial Gazette) the next day.

According to the description, Zheng Yinian returned from the south, and the Emperor Zhao suspected that he might be a Jin spy. However, Censor Wanqi argued with reason and from the previous imperial edicts issued by the Emperor Zhao himself on conviction and pardon to the hearts of the people in the north, analyzed the situation logically, pointing out that Zheng Yinian's southward journey was meritorious, and the Emperor should not suspect him.

As a result, Emperor Zhao, annoyed by Censor Wanqi, immediately said, "Espionage is unclear, it can also be called 'perhaps' (莫须有, Mo Xu You)." Censor Wanqi then took off his hat and answered with his head held high: "'Perhaps,' how can you convince the world? 'Perhaps,' how can you govern the world?"

Upon hearing this, the Emperor suddenly realized and personally took Censor Wanqi's hand, expressing his shame and praising Censor Wanqi's remonstrance as a model of loyal ministers.

Regarding this matter, before publishing it, Hu Quan, the compiler, couldn't help but personally write his own feelings. He said that Censor Wanqi was certainly worthy of respect, but it should be considered that this kind of thing happened in the inner palace, and no one would have known about it except for a few close aides of the Emperor. However, the Emperor did not care about losing face and took the initiative to send the matter to the Di Bao to publicize Censor Wanqi's "model of loyal ministers," which itself was a very magnanimous thing...

In short, as the Di Bao with increasing circulation was published, Wanqi, the model, was destined to become famous throughout the country. In fact, even on his way home on a donkey that day, countless people, known or unknown, were cupping their hands in the street, making him a little flattered and a little frightened... He didn't expect the Emperor to have such a move, did he?

Of course, Emperor Zhao also received much praise because, since ancient times, an emperor willing to accept advice seemed to be the best emperor.

However, besides that, one person suffered from being caught in the crossfire, so frightened that he almost lost his soul... Yes, this person was Zheng Yinian, who had returned with the personal letters of the Two Emperors and Empress Dowager Ningde, bearing a loyal heart.

Zheng Yinian, the previous "model of loyal ministers," who had been lively and vigorous for the past two days, visiting old friends everywhere, and even wailing in the homes of several important officials, telling stories of the northern country, suddenly claimed to be ill on the very night the Di Bao came out and refused to leave the door of his old house.

Thinking about it, if Censor Wanqi hadn't had a strong backbone, Emperor Zhao would have already treated him as a Jin spy and given him a "perhaps." The Emperor's likes and dislikes were clear, how dare he show his face? Only Censor Wanqi had become a model again, and the Emperor had admitted his mistake, so he didn't dare to just hide stiffly... Therefore, his elder brother, Zheng Xiunian, who had just returned from Yangzhou and obtained a position in the Dusheng (Department of State Affairs), had to continue to travel around, taking care of the mess for his younger brother.

Two days later, the Chongwen Yuan (崇文院), where the Dusheng and Privy Council were located, indeed sent an official document, asking Zheng Yinian to explain the documents of the Two Emperors and the Empress Dowager. Zheng Xiunian had to brace himself and take the place of his brother, who had "endured the wind and frost of the northern lands for a long time" and was "so ill that he could not get out of bed," to deal with the matter.

This trip lasted a whole day.

After dark, Zheng Xiunian, who was about forty years old, returned to the old house, already showing signs of exhaustion, but he forced himself to cheer up and went straight to see his younger brother. After driving away the servants and closing the door, he couldn't help but stomp his feet repeatedly:

"Once the Emperor reveals his likes and dislikes, even with a tough guy like Censor Wanqi, it doesn't prevent others from targeting you early!"

"Isn't that obvious? Since ancient times, people like Censor Wanqi are rare, and those who try to figure out the Emperor's intentions are the majority."

By the candlelight, the one answering his elder brother Zheng Xiunian was Zheng Yinian himself. The man was about thirty-five or six years old, sitting on the couch, covered with a quilt, but with a rosy complexion and smooth speech, showing no sign of "serious illness." "I just don't know who is so eager, regardless of reputation and suspicion, to target me like this?"

"It's Zhang Jun, the Zhang Xiang Gong (Chancellor) of the Privy Council." Zheng Xiunian came to the stool by the bed and sat down, shaking his head even more. "He almost believes that you were sent back by the Jin people to talk about peace... In my opinion, you shouldn't even think about serving as an official for several years."

"Where is it just several years?" Zheng Yinian also smiled bitterly. "I'm afraid it will be difficult to serve as an official in this lifetime... In the final analysis, it's not that Zhang Xiang Gong looks at me coldly, but that the Emperor suspects me! And how old is the Emperor?"

Zheng Xiunian was silent by the bed for a while, but then suddenly whispered, "Second brother, tell me the truth, how did you come back? Did you really escape back by yourself, or did the Jin people give you words to release you?"

Zheng Yinian hugged the quilt on his body and said nothing.

After a moment, Zheng Xiunian couldn't help but press him, "We are brothers, how could I sell you out... If this kind of thing is confirmed, do you think I can escape? Or did you, in the north, actually treat the Emperor's deeds from Huaishang to Yaoshan as fake?"

"How could that be?" Zheng Yinian, seeing that he couldn't avoid it, said somewhat dryly. "It's just that the suffering in the north is something you can't imagine, brother, so what's the difference between the real and the fake if I have the opportunity to come back this time? Even if the Jin people really have words to tell me, as long as I stop here and no longer participate in this matter, can the Jin people cross the river to testify? I'll just guard the old house and be a wealthy man..."

"That's true, but you still have to be careful." Zheng Xiunian's words also became dry. How could he not hear that his brother had simply admitted it? It could only be said that it was fortunate that this matter was, at most, just a "perhaps." "But don't think too much about being a wealthy man... Our family is a true Bianjing family, and seventy or eighty percent of our family property was lost in the Jingkang Incident. When we returned from Yangzhou, only a few businesses set up in other places in the past are still somewhat promising..."

"What about the estates?" Zheng Yinian couldn't help but ask. "The estates in Kaifeng, Zhengzhou, Yingchang, and Chenzhou?"

"They were all taken by the Emperor for military reclamation." Zheng Xiunian was also frank. "At that time, we were all in Yangzhou, and the Emperor was in the north. Central China had suffered several wars, so it was impossible for anyone to say anything about taking these lands for military reclamation, and there was really no way to say it."

"That's true... But can't we get them back? After all, they are our family's legitimate property?"

"Two months ago, when we returned from Yangzhou, we happened to see Xu Jingheng distributing the military reclamation to the meritorious and the fallen soldiers. At that time, someone had tried to curry favor with Pan Niangzi (Consort Pan), wanting to use her connections to curry favor with the Emperor, so that they could get the land back." Zheng Xiunian stroked his beard with a bitter smile. "As a result, as soon as the Emperor returned, he threw all the things that Consort Pan had collected back to the families. Everyone was trembling with fear, not daring to breathe loudly, for fear of being randomly shot down by the Emperor like a goshawk... Do you know about the Emperor shooting goshawks?"

"How could I not know?" Zheng Yinian shook his head repeatedly. "Even the Jin people in the north are spreading this matter as if it were a ghost or god, that was Wanyan Loushi. To be honest, life in the north was worse than pigs and dogs. Strangely enough, after the Battle of Yanling last year, we also knew that it was a great victory, but our treatment didn't improve much. Instead, it became much more harsh. But after the Battle of Yaoshan this year, the Jin people were much more polite to us, and our food and supplies were more than a notch better..."

"Those two battles are quite different." Zheng Xiunian nodded. "In any case, you have suffered a lot to come back, so don't think too much. Even if the family is not as good as before, isn't it better than in the north?"

"That's true." Zheng Yinian nodded, but then frowned slightly. "It's just that I feel a little sorry for my cousin. I was in the north for many years, and I was taken care of a lot by my cousin and cousin-in-law."

Zheng Xiunian also nodded, but suddenly frowned: "Which cousin is in the north?"

"The older sister from my fourth uncle's family, the one who married Brother Hui Zhi..." Zheng Yinian hesitated for a moment, but finally said, "Actually, this time I came back thanks to Brother Hui Zhi's efforts. He is very useful to Wanyan Talan and can speak to the Puppet Qi (伪齐), Nikan (粘罕), and Wushu (兀术). The so-called family servants around me were actually arranged by him... According to him, he wanted me to come back and scout the way for many people. If it could be done, he would let this person go back to Jinan to report the news, but he didn't expect the Emperor's mind to be so resolute."

Zheng Xiunian was stunned for a moment, then immediately got up and left, and then there was a commotion in the courtyard.

But after a moment, Zheng Xiunian returned in a panic and told his younger brother something that also frightened the latter: "The trusted servant from your cousin's family that you brought, disappeared this afternoon!"

The two were panicked, but they were almost helpless and could only continue to wait anxiously for two more days. However, there was still no news, and they couldn't help but feel uneasy.

However, after all, a lean camel is bigger than a horse. Two days later, Zheng Xiunian went to another cousin's house, which was Li Qingzhao's house, and sought out another cousin-in-law, Zhao Mingcheng. He used the reason of his awkward identity to ask Zhao Mingcheng to come forward and inquire about the relevant departments to see if there was any "news about the handling of his younger brother, Yinian."

It is said that Zhao Mingcheng had an exceptionally poor impression of the Emperor... Because the Emperor always used his wife as a reference when writing poetry, which gradually damaged their thirty years of affection. But in fact, Zhao Mingcheng should be grateful to Emperor Zhao because, if Emperor Zhao had not personally done many things, then in another timeline, this grandson-in-law of Wang Gui would have died of malaria in the chaotic south last year.

But now, he was doing well in Bianjing as a leisurely official, and he had not been bitten to death by any mosquito carrying pathogens.

Of course, Zhao Mingcheng was destined not to know this great kindness. On the contrary, he had long known that his relatives by marriage had also been poisoned by the wayward Emperor, and he had long had righteous indignation in his heart. So, as soon as Zheng Xiunian spoke, he immediately patted his chest and offered to be a "know-it-all" for the other party.

However, this kind of "know-it-all" behavior made Emperor Zhao, who had originally planned to let the matter go, pay attention to it again. However, this Emperor did not have the keen awareness of a famous detective to directly see through the layers of appearances and see the flaws. On the contrary, as an ordinary college student, he was immediately attracted by some gossip.

"Zheng Yinian is the cousin of Layman Yi'an?" Zhao Jiu, who was looking at memorials by a dilapidated pond in a certain part of the inner palace, stopped temporarily and then looked curious.

"Yes, their mothers are sisters and are both daughters of the former Chancellor Wang Gui." As Emperor Zhao's "know-it-all," Yang Yizhong did not even need to inquire about such things, as he already knew them by heart.

"I remember..." Zhao Jiu couldn't help but laugh. "Han Xiaozhou's grandmother is the aunt of Premier Lu Gong?"

"Yes!"

"Ye Mengde's mother is the younger sister of Chao Buzhi, one of the four scholars of the Sumen?"

"Yes."

"Is there anything else similar?"

"Your Majesty, there is no end to this kind of thing... Cai Jing also has relatives with Wang Shu, and the sons and daughters of famous families such as the Two Cheng are even more widespread." Yang Yizhong replied helplessly.

"I know." Zhao Jiu shook his head and laughed again. "It's nothing more than choosing a son-in-law under the list and adding being a good match..."

"That's exactly it." Yang Yizhong quickly nodded.

"This is also because of the Jingkang Incident. Otherwise, if it were to go on for another hundred years, it might lead to aristocratic families." Zhao Jiu suddenly sighed. "Zhao Mingcheng is currently working in the Taichang Temple (太常寺)?"

"Yes." Zhao Jiu's second half of the sentence was basically spoken to Lan Gui on the other side, who was startled and quickly responded.

"Please have Grand Eunuch Lan go to the Dusheng and deliver an oral decree to send this person out." Zhao Jiu said calmly.

Lan Gui was stunned for a moment, but immediately bowed his head and responded, then went to do it.

Zhao Jiu continued to look back at Yang Yizhong: "Have Zhao Ding and Zhang Jun had any private conflicts these days?"

Yang Yizhong quickly shook his head: "The two chief ministers can both discuss matters on their merits."

"So there are many conflicts, but not to the point of attacking each other?" Zhao Jiu looked thoughtfully at the memorial in his hand. "There isn't a single thing they agree on, from the inside to the outside, from the south to the north..."

Yang Yizhong did not speak again.

"The Imperial Guards (皇城司) must be expanded a bit." Zhao Jiu basically said whatever came to his mind. "When the suppression of the rebellion in Dongting Lake is over, the imperial treasury will be completely relaxed. I have already asked several ministers to approve money and staffing for you... Not to mention that Tokyo City is getting more and more lively, and the manpower may not be sufficient. Once the Hebei direction is stable, people may be able to come and go at will, so that place must also be secure."

Yang Yizhong slowly cupped his hands, but did not respond.

"What?" Zhao Jiu looked over curiously, obviously puzzled for a moment.

"This subordinate is afraid that my abilities are lacking." Yang Yizhong replied seriously. "Your Majesty, since the situation is different from the past, it would be better to restore some of the old systems..."

"There are some old systems that I don't want to restore." Zhao Jiu, of course, understood what the other party meant, but stopped looking at the memorial and sighed, looking at the dilapidated scene in front of him. "Once I open this up, many things will be unstoppable... But more importantly, I still can't trust them. A dilapidated palace, with hundreds of people living comfortably, is actually quite good. I'm not uncomfortable with it."

Yang Yizhong was silent.

Zhao Jiu continued to sigh: "I probably understand what you and many other people are thinking. You always feel that even though I say this, people always tend to be comfortable. For example, right now you are all waiting for Consort Pan to give birth, and I am also waiting. Everyone thinks that whether Consort Pan gives birth to a prince or a princess, I will always add some manpower, right? My temperament will always change a bit, right? This is an opening, and then the opening will sooner or later get bigger and bigger... The reasoning is correct, and I don't have the confidence to say that I won't soften up in the future, but it's not to that point yet... You let people tell those who have castrated themselves outside the palace that there is no way out for them here, at least not now... This kind of thing must be done with determination."

Yang Yizhong could only lower his head.

Zhao Jiu also lowered his head to prepare to continue looking at the memorials, but he put these memorials down temporarily and continued to sigh: "Zhao Ding and Zhang Jun haven't started fighting, maybe they are also waiting for the news from Consort Pan's belly, not willing to act rashly at this time. Even some of those with ideas among the Jin people may be waiting for this time to discuss things with me."

Yang Yizhong no longer remained silent this time: "Your Majesty, other people are not waiting for the news of the imperial heir, but they all know that Your Majesty is waiting for the news of the imperial heir, so they are waiting for Your Majesty's news."

Zhao Jiu nodded heavily and then couldn't help but laugh, looking at the yellowing scene in front of him: "Anyway, it's only a few days left."

It is said that on the 22nd day of the tenth month of Jianyan Year 4, the Yellow River froze early. Imperial Consort Pan gave birth to a daughter at full term. Emperor Zhao was overjoyed. Disregarding the rules, he directly named her Yiyou (宜佑).

Lv Haowen, the Pingzhang Junguo Zhongshi (Military Affairs Commissioner), led all the ministers of the Dusheng and Privy Council to jointly request that, because of the birth of the princess, the great victory at the end of summer, and the gradual stability of the country, the world should be pardoned.

Emperor Zhao happily agreed, but he specifically issued an edict that those who acted as spies for the Jin people were not included.

ps: Thanks to 109Meng, only a glutinous rice dumpling student... I went out to do errands during the day today, thinking that I could come back in the afternoon and finish coding, but I was delayed a lot in the afternoon. When six o'clock came, I couldn't stop the drowsiness from surging up. I thought about taking a nap, but when I opened my eyes, it was eleven o'clock... It's really embarrassing, but I'm so drunk that I get tired like this after taking a few steps. This dead fat house can't do it.