March. Zhao Jiu, together with his two noble consorts, Duke and Chancellor Lü Haowen, various palace attendants, and close civil and military officials, watched a variety show in the Jingfu Palace.

The name Jingfu Palace is taken from the *Book of Songs*, with the phrases "May the prince live ten thousand years, and receive great blessings" and "To offer and to sacrifice, to receive great blessings," perfectly fitting the meaning of the main hall where the Son of Heaven resides.

In fact, East Asian cultures share a common heritage. Not only Tokyo during this era, but also the Forbidden City in another space-time, and even Seoul, the capital of later Korea, all have a Jingfu Palace.

As for the variety show, it originated from the *Canjun Opera* of the Tang Dynasty, similar to crosstalk, but with significant development. The roles of male, female, painted-face, clown, and supporting clown had officially emerged, and the form of the drama had greatly improved. Not only were there warm-up acts before the main performance, but also miscellaneous performances similar to encores and filling the gaps after the main performance.

Even Kaifeng Prefecture, driven by the Xiangguo Temple, had its own exclusive variety show, *Mulian Saves His Mother*, from a very early time. This Buddhist story was performed for a full fifteen days every year, starting from the Double Seventh Festival. Over time, it became a tradition of Kaifeng Prefecture. When the day arrived, the Kaifeng Prefecture government, the Xiangguo Temple, and the surrounding residents would all prepare together.

Of course, the tricks of sharing the believers' money three to seven, and returning the money of the rich to the monks as it was, were indispensable.

Back to the present, it was common for Zhao, the Emperor, and his close officials to watch plays in the palace... It must be known that drama, *Canjun Opera*, and storytelling were all extremely common forms of entertainment at this time, even more popular than song and dance. There was no saying that the common people could watch and listen, but the court could not.

In fact, as Bianjing increasingly regained its past vitality, the popularity of these entertainment methods far exceeded Zhao Jiu's imagination. Wealthy families' gatherings and banquets, ordinary people's associations, including Buddhist and Taoist activities, would all invite professionals to perform.

The palace was naturally no exception.

Even, the palace was isolated from the outside world, and the noble women of the harem could not go out to activities. These storytelling and dramas became their main entertainment methods... For example, a certain Empress Dowager loved to listen to storytelling the most, almost every day. After the storytellers finished all the very popular stories of the Three Kingdoms and Journey to the West, they had no choice but to temporarily incorporate current affairs into their stories for daily updates. As a result, one day, after improvising a story about the imperial court recruiting security, the effect was unexpectedly good. The Empress Dowager liked it very much, and especially liked the character in the story who urged the protagonist to surrender to the imperial court. There was no need for the Empress Dowager to say anything; the Emperor, noticing this, went back and promoted the real person playing that role by three levels!

This was a true story... if Zhao Jiu hadn't crawled out of the well!

However, the reason why storytelling, *Canjun Opera*, and variety shows were able to proceed unhindered in the palace, in the final analysis, was due to their low cost and another very kingly role.

"I gave you the money for two rings, but you only bought one ring?"

The warm-up act began, but it was only in the form of *Canjun Opera*. The adjutant asked the servant to buy earrings for the young lady of his master’s house as a gift, but the adjutant was stingy, only giving one and a half coins, yet wanting to buy a pair of rings. Therefore, the two sides made a joke about buying one ring or two rings, giving one coin or two coins. Finally, the servant bought the ring, but in the end, it was only one ring.

"Let the adjutant know, this is one ring, but it is also two rings..."

"How can it be both one ring and two rings?"

"Sir, look at this ring, its name is Ear Saint Ring, isn't that two rings..."

"Alas... how can there be such absurdity? Even if it's called Two Saint Rings, the young lady of someone's house has two ears, and one ring cannot be split. How can she wear it?"

"Adjutant, please listen to me. If it really doesn't work, then let the noble young lady of that house wear the ring on the back of her head."

"Well, let the noble temporarily place the Two Saint Rings on the back of her head..."

The joke was not finished. As early as when the homophonic pun of "Two Saints" came out, the audience below was already silent. Hearing this final punchline, they were even more silent. But Zhao, the Emperor, sat there as if deaf, without making any sound.

The two noble consorts whispered nothing. Duke and Chancellor Lü also just looked at the sky without speaking. Several civil and military officials who followed each other looked at each other, and then prepared themselves... not preparing to deal with these two bold actors who were mocking Zhao, the Emperor, for being unfilial and irreverent, but preparing to advise Zhao, the Emperor, at any time.

The reason was very simple. Since the *Canjun Opera* appeared in the Tang Dynasty, after going through the Five Dynasties and the confrontation between Liao and Song, it had already formed a unique cultural atmosphere with the palace... Actors in the palace had a nickname, called "Faultless Worms," meaning that their status was low and that they were innocent no matter how sarcastic they were.

For example, Emperor Huizong of Song, that is, the Taoist Emperor in the Two Saint Rings... once encountered commoners petitioning on the Xuande Tower, and was directly accused of being extravagant and using villains. As a result, under the Taoist Emperor’s own decree, this person was given the punishment of branding for the crime of "accusing the royal carriage," using the most cruel means of physical torture and execution to deter relevant personnel, and he was never merciful in demoting scholars who petitioned... However, even such a person granted them 'admonition' when facing actors' mockery.

For another example, Emperor Xingzong of Liao, known for 'killing the innocent,' was once directly mocked by actors for being defeated by Western Xia. He was once furious, but was still pardoned under the persuasion of Crown Prince Yelu Hongji.

In fact, in the entire history of the two Song dynasties, there was only one example of an actor being killed for mocking current affairs. That was decades later in another time and space, when Qin Hui killed the relevant actors the next day because he was mocked for the matter of peace talks.

Back to the present, Zhao Jiu could not be worse than the rulers of a fallen country, tyrants, and Mr. Qin, right?

And sure enough, after thinking for a long time, Zhao Jiu directly beckoned for the two actors to come down from the stage to see him, and his tone was not very heavy. Seeing this situation, everyone around him breathed a sigh of relief.

The two actors came over, bowed their hands in salute, and stood with their hands tied... Don't look at how bold they were before, but when they really arrived in front of the Emperor, they were still a little frightened.

Of course, Zhao Jiu was going to reprimand them severely: "You two didn't perform well... Relying on homophones to make jokes, it sounds funny, but it's just a minor trick, not enough to become a famous work... Seeking to associate your names with Mine is not a good place either. The imperial court has reached a conclusion on the matter of the Two Saints since the first year of Jianyan. Whether it's behind the head or not is not for you to say!"

The two actors looked at each other. One wanted to banter, while the other was a little frightened and prepared to plead guilty.

However, before the two could speak, they saw that this Zhao, the Emperor, actually continued to ramble on: "According to Me, whether it's a variety show, storytelling, or *Canjun Opera*, the essence is to tell stories. Only when the story is good, the characters are good, and there is connotation can it truly spread... Look at *Mulian Saves His Mother*. Although the Buddhist words are laughable and absurd, it is, after all, a complete story of a mother and son. The son is filial and kind, the mother is stingy and greedy. This is the prominence of the characters. It also contains the Buddhist saying of karma and the promotion of filial piety, which can be considered to have a theme, so it can be called a famous variety show... There are also stories of Cao Mengde, Liu Xuande, Guan Yunchang, and Zhuge Kongming in the *Three Kingdoms* in storytelling, so they can endure for a long time... You guys who are engaged in these popular arts must find inspiration from history and life, but the key is to artify, improve, and finalize it."

After a speech, the surrounding officials, noble consorts, and these two actors who came out to warm up were already stunned. Although some of the Zhao, the Emperor's vocabulary was really strange, the Chinese words and phrases are of the same origin, and these people still understand the general meaning.

Therefore, after a long time, the 'adjutant,' who had already lost the thought of blackmail, cautiously said: "Let the Emperor know that we teaching assistants (self-proclaimed shamans, doctors, and diviners) are only roughly literate and do not have the ability to write good stories. *Mulian Saves His Mother* was personally written by a great Buddhist monk."

"What are you going to perform next?" Zhao Jiu frowned and faced them.

The adjutant and the servant looked at each other, increasingly helpless: "It is *Mulian Saves His Mother*."

Zhao, the Emperor, immediately lost interest: "If that's the case, then I won't watch it... However, Consort Wu has always been talented. I will have her write a *Tale of the White Snake* tonight to kill the bald donkeys' prestige. You can come and get it tomorrow. When it's arranged, I will come and watch it again."

As soon as these words came out, the adjutant and the servant were overjoyed, while the two noble consorts beside Zhao, the Emperor, both looked bitter, while Yang Yizhong, Liu Yan, Lan Gui, Feng Yi, Li Ruopu, Fan Zongyin, Yu Yunwen, and many other close civil and military attendants who attended today felt a little powerless.

Speaking of which, the Emperor is writing those messy things in the name of Consort Wu, and doing those messy things in the name of State Duke Wu... Who doesn't know?

Moreover, everyone knows that those things are ultimately inappropriate for an Emperor.

But then again, in addition to being inappropriate, this Emperor knows how to cover it up and give everyone face, so why should anyone argue with an Emperor with real power over these things?

"The Emperor has such magnanimity that he is not angry at all?"

*Mulian Saves His Mother* had already begun to be performed in the Jingfu Palace, but Zhao Jiu left the noble consorts and palace attendants, and turned out of the Yingyang Gate with Lü Haowen and several close officials. When they arrived at the stone pavilion in the fish pond, where this Emperor liked to stay the most, as soon as they sat down, Duke and Chancellor Lü Haowen smiled at him.

"What is there to be angry about?" Zhao Jiu didn't care at all. "Since they are troupes that can enter the palace, they are among the best actors in Tokyo City. These people usually only revolve around the circles of the powerful and wealthy, but they don't really understand the truth. It is normal for them to take some people's words as public opinion to seek fame. As long as their attitude is appropriate, why be harsh?"

Lü Haowen thought for a moment, nodded slightly, but added: "Actors who perform on stage have always liked to talk about things and show attitudes."

This was to say that performers often have a desire to perform... This was indeed the truth, and Zhao Jiu immediately nodded.

However, after Zhao Jiu nodded in approval, the monarch and his minister were a little silent.

Speaking of which, the current situation of the imperial court was very interesting.

On the surface, it looked very similar to the late period of the Taoist Emperor of the Two Saint Rings' reign... The Emperor sat high above, holding great power but rarely interfering in administrative affairs; the imperial court's chancellors were divided into categories, each with their own position and attitude, and there were faint signs of factionalism; in addition, there was a duke and chancellor with a high status behind the scenes, grasping the most basic ideological work.

However, this might be fine for others, but for this monarch and minister sitting face-to-face in the pavilion, they knew the huge differences between the two.

In the late period of the Taoist Emperor, Cai Jing, as Duke and Chancellor, although increasingly old, was the only one who truly enjoyed the power of Chancellor. Through years of management, his influence was astonishing. He could put forward opinions on all aspects of the imperial court's work and exert influence at any time... In other words, at that time, he had some posture of tug-of-war with the Taoist Emperor behind the scenes, but he just failed.

But did Lü Haowen have that strength?

Not to mention anything else, just say that the original learning, which is now tied to Duke and Chancellor Lü and almost forms a signboard, and which is the basis for this Duke and Chancellor's political life, was actually created by Zhao, the Emperor, and then the Lü Haowen and his son studied the stuff.

Not only that, the so-called Zhang Jun faction, the army faction, and the inner court faction in the imperial court were all actually Zhao, the Emperor's factions! Even after Li Gang was dismissed as Chancellor, the remnant faction that seemed to be the least affectionate to Zhao, the Emperor, had already made gestures in front of Zhao, the Emperor, for key figures such as Chen Gongfu.

Therefore, in a sense, this imperial court was really just the one-man show of a dictatorial tyrant who put the Two Saint Rings on the back of his head. As the head of state, his power had no boundaries.

"The tree wants to be quiet, but the wind won't stop." After a long silence, Zhao, the Emperor, whose power had no boundaries, suddenly issued such a sigh. "However, it can be regarded as expected."

The opposite Duke and Chancellor Lü Haowen nodded repeatedly, but asked back: "What is the Emperor going to do?"

Zhao Jiu, who was still sighing just now, just sneered, and released the remarks he had said to Zhang Jun before: "There are many people in the world who need to eat, so I would rather perish the country than give these people food!"

"What about public opinion?" Lü Haowen continued to ask seriously.

"This is exactly why I am looking for Duke Lü today." Zhao Jiu finally faced him seriously. "In any case, I will carry out the matter of liquidating malpractices, and there will be no discount at all. As for these people, if they continue to jump up and down like this, I will have to ignore my reputation and truly become a tyrant! Let's see if they go to Jinan or Daming Prefecture at that time?"

Not only Lü Haowen, but Li Ruopu, a Hanlin academician standing next to him, also sighed softly.

Speaking of which, everyone present knew that the ridicule of today's actors was not sudden, but had been foreshadowed for a long time... Just say that in the memorials presented yesterday, there were many people who publicly pleaded for the six relatives and nobles who had spread rumors before. The reason for most of the pleas was that these people had just made unintentional mistakes and had no reason to deliberately instigate; a small number of people believed that these people did not have any duties and did not need to be responsible for discussing these things, and that the Emperor's arrest of these people violated the system; and a very few people simply pointed out that the main person responsible for this matter was actually Zhao, the Emperor, who had allowed Zhang Jun to hold a large banquet in the city, suspected of deliberately inducing the relevant rumors.

In addition, someone reported that distorted poems mocking the Emperor's meanness had appeared in the Five Mountains Temple, the Imperial College, and the Cuju field in Hanfang Garden in the north of the city.

So why did these kinds of things suddenly appear?

It must be known that after Zhang Jun and Wu Jie left that day, things were still very stable. The six relatives and nobles alone were pulled out to protest. They did not involve women and children, did not destroy houses and furniture, and returned national bonds. On the contrary, some people publicly praised this Emperor as 'benevolent and righteous' at the beginning.

The reason was very simple. It was the matter of 'liquidating malpractices' that Zhao, the Emperor, had mentioned.

Speaking of which, as an ordinary college student from later generations, Zhao Jiu, even if he had read many high-end historical time-travel novels, was unlikely to know how to govern a country. Moreover, as soon as he came out of the well, he was faced with an abnormal fugitive court, and he had not needed to know how to govern the country for a long time... At the beginning, it was basically a comprehensive decentralization of power at the local level, with the front line becoming warlord-like, the rear becoming presidential, and the central government's Lü Haowen and others doing some hard work of patching things up. He, Zhao Jiu, was only responsible for carrying the dragon banner to cheer people on.

However, as the situation changed and the country gradually normalized, as an Emperor, after sorting out the guiding ideology, he needed to formulate corresponding governing policies based on the guiding ideology... But the problem was, what should he do if he still didn't know how to govern the country?

In fact, it was also easy to handle, that was to liquidate malpractices – this was a brilliant governing strategy proposed by Wan Qixie, the vice censor of the palace.

So what was meant by 'liquidating malpractices'? The answer was very simple. It was to sort out the Taoist Emperor's decades of governing experience, which Zhao, the Emperor, hated to the extreme, from beginning to end, and then criticize it from beginning to end in chronological order. Finally, according to the relevant policy defects that led to the fall of the Taoist Emperor, he would do the opposite to correct and sort them out.

For example, at the beginning of his ascension to the throne, the Taoist Emperor first proposed to 'reconcile the new and old parties' and strictly prohibit factional disputes. Then, after abandoning the power of supervision from Empress Xiang, he could not wait to vigorously promote imprisonment of parties, promoting Cai Jing and imprisoning the old party.

Then, when it came to Zhao Jiu, he naturally had to issue an edict, proposing to 'reconcile the new and old parties' and strictly prohibit factional disputes, while at the same time affirming that the Wang Anshi faction of the New Learning had a higher historical and political status... Then he would publicly criticize the Taoist Emperor's imprisonment of parties, which harmed many loyal and good people.

Of course, Yuansheng's ridiculous strategy of advocating the old party during the Jingkang period would also have to be brought out for public criticism and reflection.

Zhao Jiu had already done this, and it was nothing more than mocking the Two Saints again, so there were not too many incidents.

However, during the few days when Zhang Jun entered the capital, the imperial court began to 'liquidate' the Taoist Emperor's massive granting of rewards and grace to consolidate his position.

In fact, as soon as this matter unfolded, some nobles below became a little flustered, saying that the rumors given to Zhang Jun had a bit of probing.

It must be said that these people were finally right.

On the day before Zhang Jun left, Zhao, the Emperor, arrested those who spread the rumors. On the day after Zhang Wu left, the imperial court officially began to investigate the grace and rewards granted during the Two Saints period, completely removing those who had not contributed to the country since the Jianyan period, so-called depriving of titles...

From a general point of view, this policy was of course without any problems. Zhao Jiu immediately issued a clear decree to implement it, and several chancellors and many important officials also expressed their clear support.

Even the public opinion in the Censorate and the Imperial College was extremely positive.

However, cutting off people's financial resources and taking away people's official positions was simply equivalent to killing their parents twice. Therefore, the support of the bureaucratic scholars did not prevent undercurrents from suddenly surging in Tokyo City. Zhao Jiu suddenly became a 'harsh ruler,' Zhao Ding and Liu Ji became 'weak chancellors,' and Zhang Jun and Chen Gui became 'rash villains'... Even Lü Haowen was given a new hat, said to be 'unable to correct the Emperor's mind in his position.'

And the matter finally escalated and finally reached the current situation.

Not only were there people writing distorted poems, and not only were there actors who thought they had received public opinion and came to admonish him in person, but there was also a point where the officials were shaken, and even some nobles publicly recalled the 'holy policies' of the 'prosperous and abundant' era.

The causes and consequences of the matter were clearly laid out there, and there was no need to say more. The key was how to deal with it? This was also Zhao Jiu's intention in seeking Lü Haowen today... Lü Haowen's family, the Lü family, was originally a first-class prestigious family besides the Han family of plum blossoms, with some of the demeanor of the aristocratic families of Yuan and Yang at the end of the Han Dynasty. They had considerable say in both the bureaucratic system and the powerful system.

"Can we slightly discriminate and limit the scope of deprivation?" Lü Haowen hesitated for a moment, and his decision was to persuade him again.

"No!"

"Then why not also sort out the old events of the Jingkang period and give awards and posthumous titles to officials and loyal ministers who have made contributions and served with integrity since the Jingkang period?" Lü Haowen seemed to have expected this answer, but after thinking for a moment, he put forward a suggestion.

"Wonderful!" Zhao Jiu was immediately refreshed and clapped his hands directly.

"I take the liberty... Can we distribute it in batches and stages, and try to make up for the half-salary that officials have been receiving for the past few years?" Lü Haowen thought again and continued to suggest.

"Worthy of being Duke and Chancellor Lü!" Zhao Jiu raised his eyebrows and immediately responded. "Is there anything else?"

Lü Haowen smiled bitterly and spread his hands, while the surrounding close officials looked at each other and said nothing... Without him, Zhao Jiu had already been given these two suggestions by others, for example, making up for officials' salaries was proposed by Yu Yunwen, the diarist standing by the fish pond. However, Zhao Jiu actually clapped his hands and praised it here?

I don't know what kind of medicine he's selling in his gourd?

"I do have some ideas." Zhao Jiu laughed with his hands tied. "Why not take a two-pronged approach?"

"What does the Emperor mean?" Lü Haowen was puzzled for a moment.

"Yesterday, I saw someone writing that the ceremony of sericulture is a special ceremony for the Empress, and that if the name is not correct, the words will not be proper. Since Consort Pan is in charge of this matter, then we should make Consort Pan the Empress..."

Lü Haowen frowned slightly.

"And what I mean is..." Zhao Jiu finally sneered. "When these people get here, they inevitably have the suspicion of interfering with the palace. I am really angry, so I want to let the Imperial City Division go and arrest another five or six families as a deterrent!"

Hearing this, Lü Haowen realized that he had come to the Emperor to take the blame, and was also a little powerless: "Emperor, we must guard against excessive use of power!"

"I didn't treat these people like Du Chong and Liu Guangshi. I left their women and children, national bonds, and houses and furniture. Most of the people involved were also sentenced to exile and military service. What else do you want?"

Lü Haowen was completely helpless and could only try his best to remind him: "We must have conclusive evidence and not make connections."

Zhao Jiu nodded.

Yang Yizhong immediately came forward in the complicated gazes of several close officials, cupped his hands, but then carefully said: "Emperor, Chancellor, should we guard against these families' relatives running around?"

"No need." Zhao Jiu sneered. "Whether they come to the palace to beg for mercy or cry to their relatives, I'll see how they toss..."

Everyone was speechless, and Yang Yizhong immediately turned around and prepared to go to the Yingyang Gate. This matter was over, and there was absolutely no possibility of turning back.

However, at this moment, a Yuqian Banzhi rushed to meet them, but with a secret memorial box. Yang Yizhong instinctively stepped forward, but when he saw that the other party was from the Chixin Team, he realized and quickly avoided it, and then directly crossed the other party and went out... Liu Yan also realized this at this time and quickly stepped forward to take it, but when he opened the cover, he became solemn, and then turned to the pavilion and handed it directly to Zhao, the Emperor.

Seeing that the message was from the Taihang Mountains in Hebei, Zhao Jiu was equally serious, and after roughly reading it, he couldn't help but smile and looked up at Lü Haowen: "Duke and Chancellor Lü... Ma Kuo came with a memorial, saying that something happened in the Jin Kingdom. The King of the Jin Kingdom, Wuzhumai, suddenly had a stroke, and Nianhan is in charge of the country!"

Below Lü Haowen, the surrounding attendants, civil and military officials, all changed their expressions greatly.

"Emperor, should we call back Commander Yang?" Hanlin academician Li Ruopu stepped forward with a serious expression.

"No need." Zhao Jiu continued to look at the second half of the memorial and shook his head slightly.

"Then should we call the Chancellors to discuss the matter?" Li Ruopu continued to ask.

"No need to discuss the matter specially, just send this matter to the Department of State Affairs and the Privy Council..." Zhao Jiu threw down the memorial, raised his head, and said unhurriedly. "By the way, let them deal with the matter of pursuing and depriving grace and patronage as quickly, strictly, and extensively as possible! Otherwise, if the Jin people cause trouble in the north, the matter of liquidating malpractices will inevitably have to be suspended for a while... Catch up with Yang Yizhong again and let him arrest three or four more families of insects in the name of accusing the royal carriage..."

"Emperor." Li Ruopu glanced at the silent Lü Haowen and pleaded again. "There is a sense of priority..."

"What is this urgent matter?" Zhao Jiu didn't take it seriously. "At most, a powerful minister suspects of imprisoning the King. People who have experienced the Jingkang change still care about this? On the contrary, how much money and grain can be saved by depriving excessive grace and patronage? Besides, if we don't get rid of these insects in the capital, how can we do politics well and then conquer Jin in the north? Which is more important, isn't it obvious at a glance?"

Li Ruopu was stunned on the spot, but he didn't know how to refute?

ps: I'm going crazy... Xiao Jiu rides the three-month-old Chinchilla every three minutes and doesn't allow it to eat canned food or go to the toilet. The Chinchilla is forced to hide in the bookcase and doesn't dare to come out. Xiao Jiu doesn't code words either, so he squats in front of the bookcase and guards it like a wolf... I'm serving them all day long, and I dream of being awakened by the Chinchilla's wailing.