"Raise your head and let us have a look!"
Hearing this, Han Mo felt a sudden sense of being put up for sale.
Indeed, he was the Emperor of Brothels!
He was a fine young man, yet with those words, his entire image had shifted.
"Yes!"
Despite his inner grumbling, Han Mo dared not delay any further.
He adjusted the muscles on his face and then flashed a big smile at Zhao Ji.
"What a handsome young man!"
It had to be said that this handsome appearance brought Han Mo enormous benefits.
Just this brilliant smile immediately piqued Zhao Ji's interest in him.
"Eleventh Brother, this early spring is still chilly. Let's go inside to talk! If you catch a cold visiting my residence, how will I face my sisters when I go to the palace?"
Seeing Han Mo's slight awkwardness, Han Jiayan quickly gave Zhao Shu a knowing glance.
"Hahaha, I'm not feeling the cold at all. Let me show you something good. Look at this foot warmer. It's a new design they've come up with. It has an extra layer in the middle where you can put charcoal cakes, and it stays warm for one to two hours!"
As Zhao Ji spoke, he also specifically showed Zhao Shu the small hand warmer he held in his sleeve.
"Only those around you are willing to put in such effort!"
Zhao Shu leaned closer to examine the details of the hand warmer with Emperor Huizong and exclaimed casually.
"They don't have this kind of thoughtfulness. This is Third Brother's idea. I'll have them send a few over to you later!"
"That's not important. Let's go inside and talk first."
"Yes! Elder Sister decides!"
"Your Majesty, you flatter me. I am but a humble woman, how can I have the final say?"
"Hahaha! Elder Sister, you and your husband are so deeply in love, who decides doesn't matter."
Even from these few casual remarks, Han Mo could tell that Emperor Huizong and Han Jiayan's relationship was truly close.
But thinking about it, it was normal. Royal relationships were always like this.
Princes were often embroiled in schemes and sometimes held grudges.
After all, there was only one throne, but princes and princesses did not have this concern.
Furthermore, in the Song Dynasty, imperial sons-in-law were generally given idle posts, and there was no conflict of interest involved. Moreover, Han Jiayan came from a prestigious family.
Whether it was his cultivation, his conversation, or his appearance, he was a top choice. Having such a relative, it was normal for them to have a close relationship.
Of course, there was a deeper reason for this matter.
When Emperor Renzong had no heir, it was Han Qi who, with a group of officials, pressured Emperor Renzong to establish his adopted son Zhao Zongshi as the Crown Prince, who later became Emperor Yingzong Zhao Shu.
After Emperor Renzong's death, Emperor Yingzong ascended the throne, but Emperor Yingzong did not show much respect for Emperor Renzong.
He even feigned illness and refused to attend Emperor Renzong's funeral, which made Empress Dowager Cao resentful and even consider deposing him.
It was at this time that Han Qi stepped forward, saying, "If His Majesty is unable to manage, then the Empress Dowager will also not be at ease." This statement stabilized Yingzong's position.
Because of this merit in deciding the succession, plus this one sentence, Emperor Yingzong's descendants were exceptionally close to the Han family.
Even when Han Qi's son, Han Zhongyan, was placed on the Party Members Monument, his brothers and their descendants were not implicated.
This incident showed how profound the legacy left by Han Qi was.
Of course, it was also because of this sentence that Han Qi endured much criticism from the literati. However, those matters were not important in the eyes of the emperor. What was important were the four words: "Founding Minister of Strategy."
After they took their seats in the main hall of the Han residence, at Han Jiayan's hint, Han Mo personally served tea to Zhao Ji and Zhe Kecun.
"Sizhang, are you satisfied with this young man?"
After taking the teacup and sipping the tea, Zhao Ji smiled and looked at Zhe Kecun.
Han Mo's heart sank, but he also understood that the emperor was clearly using him to bestow favor upon the Zhe and Han families.
It had little to do with him personally. As a prop, he should be aware of his role, so he just stood by and listened.
How could an old fox like Han Jiayan not understand that the Zhe family held hereditary control over Linfu and Fengsan Prefecture, and that the Liao Kingdom was currently unstable? The emperor clearly intended to win over Zhe Kecun at this opportunity.
After all, if there were changes in the Liao Kingdom, Linfu and Fengsan Prefecture would be the first to bear the brunt.
"This child is not bad, but his physique is a bit weak. I wonder if he can withstand the harsh winds of the northwest."
"Hahaha, Sizhang, you jest. Although this child is thin, his skills are also quite good. Besides, where would there be any northwest winds in Bianliang City?"
He had merely made a casual remark, but Han Jiayan was displeased.
Han Mo's previous unpromising demeanor was one thing, as marriage was ultimately a matter of parental arrangement and matchmaker's words.
But now, it was different. Since Han Zhongyan, there had not been any outstanding figures in the Han family.
After hearing Han Mo's "Po Zhen Zi" that day, he had found a goal in his heart.
Such a hope for the revival of the Han family, how could he bear to let Zhe Kecun take him to the uncivilized land of Linfu and Fengsan?
Moreover, from Zhe Kecun's words, it seemed he intended for Han Mo to become a son-in-law!
Han Mo was a descendant of the Han clan, how could he become a son-in-law?
Han Jiayan looked at the emperor for help after speaking.
"Hahaha, I will not decide this for you. This is your own in-law matter, so you should settle it yourselves!"
Zhao Ji was also taken aback. He had not expected Zhe Kecun to have such an intention.
This was a descendant of the Han family; how could he become a son-in-law?
If it were a royal princess, it might be considered, but for a daughter of the Zhe family, it was better not to.
If he supported the Zhe family, wouldn't that be a humiliation to the Han family?
However, if he directly supported Han Jiayan, the Zhe family might have grievances. Therefore, the best course of action for him now was to remain neutral.
"Let them talk among themselves. Eleventh Brother, let's go to the warm pavilion to chat. I recently acquired a Black-naped Oriole, but it hasn't been eating much lately. You are an expert at this, so you can help me take a look!"
Seeing that Han Jiayan and Zhe Kecun seemed to have something to discuss, Zhao Shu immediately pulled the emperor, preparing to go to the back chambers.
"Black-naped Oriole? I do know about this. This creature is very delicate. Although it fears the cold, it is common for it to stop eating if kept in a warm pavilion for too long!"
Before Emperor Huizong became emperor, he enjoyed these things. However, he was afraid of gossip at the time. After becoming emperor, especially in recent years, he had truly thrown caution to the wind.
Anyone who dared to speak ill of it would be reprimanded by Cai Jing even without his explicit order.
Now, hearing Zhao Shu's question, it truly struck a chord with him, and he eagerly urged Zhao Shu to hurry.
"All you young ones, come along. Brother Mo, you come too. We idle folk will go entertain ourselves!"
Zhao Shu pursed her lips into a smile and then gave Han Mo a meaningful look.
Accompanying the prince and attending the emperor was a truly rare opportunity!
[Author's Note]
PS: Regarding Emperor Huizong's fondness for keeping birds, this is not fabricated. As an emperor of calligraphy and painting, Emperor Huizong's love for birds and beasts was almost obsessive.
According to "Huai Ji" Volume Ten, in the section on miscellaneous sayings, it is recorded: Lychee trees were planted in front of the Xuanhe Hall. When they bore fruit, it pleased His Majesty. A peacock was occasionally seen beneath them, and he would immediately summon the court painters to depict it.
Each painter exerted their imagination, creating dazzling displays of color. However, the peacock raised its right foot to ascend a vine-covered stool. His Majesty said, "Not yet." The painters were stunned.
They could not fathom it. Several days later, he summoned them again and asked, but they had no answer. Then he issued a decree stating, "When a peacock ascends, it must first raise its left foot." The painters were awestruck and convinced.