Hearing what the emperor said, Huang Qiong's heart couldn't help but thump. Turning his head to look at the prince, he found that although the prince's face looked as usual, the coldness in his eyes was getting heavier and heavier. Huang Qiong, who was facing a disaster from the sky, could only cry secretly in his heart: "Are you unhappy that you have given me the title of that bullshit county king? You insist on causing me some trouble today."
"You haven't looked at your eldest son. What's his face like now? He is the prince. You have to take exams for these things. You go and take exams for him. What do you care about me? These so-called ways of governing the country. , What about a county prince who is taking the exam? Maybe this is just a casual question from you, but your eldest son insists on thinking otherwise."
"You don't know your own son's character. He is the prince. I am just a small county king now, and the forces around me are a blank slate. If he has murderous intentions, will I still be alive? ? Are you, a father, so partial that you really have to kill me to make you happy? "
"Did you take the wrong medicine today? Why are you trying to sow discord between me and the prince in these words? Don't you know that your eldest son probably wants to eat my flesh and drink my blood in his heart?" Are you happy? Are you taking the exam, or are you deliberately provoking him? You want to teach the prince like a mother-in-law, and you can just teach him when there is no one around. Don't worry about me."
Faced with the emperor's seemingly casual test, Huang Qiong knew that her answer was wrong and that not answering was also wrong. Huang Qiong, who made up his mind not to compete with the prince for the limelight, could only say: "Father, although my son has been with his mother since childhood, We studied together, but my mother’s talent is still not truly comparable to that of the great scholars of the time.”
"As the saying goes: The higher you stand, the farther you can see. Although my mother is also talented, after all, she has lived in the palace for many years, and her vision has certain limitations. And as the saying goes, it is better to believe in books than to have no books at all. My son has also lived in the palace for a long time, and I don't know. In world affairs, ability and vision are even more limited. I think it is better for the prince to answer this question."
Unexpectedly, as soon as Huang Qiong finished speaking, the emperor, who frowned and felt dissatisfied with Huang Qiong's obviously cunning answer, had not yet opened his mouth. The prince next to him suddenly said: "Ninth brother, I am brother Su Wen. Back then, Concubine Jing always had the title of female Zhuge. I think the ninth brother who was created by Concubine Jing must be far more talented than his brother."
"Now that my father has smelled it, Ninth Brother must not have any worries, and it is better to answer truthfully. It just so happens that Brother Wei can see the talent of the female Zhuge back then. Brother Wei has admired Concubine Jing for a long time. "When the prince said these words, although the smile on his face did not diminish by half, this smile made Huang Qiong feel a little scared.
Huang Qiong knew that the prince's words were probably not true. The so-called admiration for a long time probably means that he has been painstakingly planning to take revenge for being imprisoned for a long time. I originally thought that if I took a step back, I would gain the prince's forgiveness. After all, the emperor initiated this matter, not himself.
But Huang Qiong didn't expect that the prince would directly come forward. Huang Qiong is born to be a person who respects you even if you respect me a foot. Since the prince behaved aggressively, Huang Qiong simply didn't care about this guy anymore. Facing the emperor directly, he replied: "Since the father asked, the son will tell you everything he knows."
"In fact, there were three main drawbacks to the collapse of the former Tang Dynasty. One of them was the disaster of eunuchs. Since the beginning of Suzong in the former Tang Dynasty, the disasters of eunuchs have become more and more serious. These eunuchs not only took the government affairs into their hands and often excluded officials. They also controlled the military power. He holds the emperor's dethronement in his hands. Once the emperor offends the interests of the eunuchs, he will kill the emperor at every turn."
"The second is the rebellion of the vassal towns. Since the Anshi Rebellion in the former Tang Dynasty, military power has been in the hands of the vassal towns. These vassal towns have strong troops and self-respect, and the court will rebel at every turn as long as the court fails to meet their demands. When the former Tang Dynasty put down these rebellions, it consumed a lot of money. A large amount of national power. The Tibetan and Uighur ethnic groups in the northwest took advantage of the situation and invaded. External and internal troubles further weakened the national power."
Having said this, Huang Qiong looked at the emperor's face and paused slightly before continuing: "Putting down the rebellions in these vassal towns not only exhausted the financial resources of the former Tang Dynasty. But once the imperial crusade failed, the majesty of those who supported it would be wiped out. The vassal towns that respected their own military were even more unscrupulous. More importantly, these vassal towns often withheld the court's tax revenue, making the court's financial resources increasingly scarce."
"Coupled with the exclusive power of eunuchs, all major political affairs in the court are at the hands of eunuchs. And those eunuchs who are greedy and only know how to collect money, how do they know how to govern the country. My son believes that the rebellion of the feudal towns and the chaos of the eunuchs were the biggest reasons for the collapse of the former Tang Dynasty. This is also the reason why Taizu of my dynasty decided to punish the Nine Clan if anyone dares to interfere in politics."
"Third, the princes and ministers are extravagant and do not know how to show sympathy for the hardships of the people of the world. Several times to welcome the Buddha's bones have consumed a lot of financial resources. Bai Letian's poems in the former Tang Dynasty have fully explained the hardships of the people of the world. Only then. So that when I rise up against Taizu, the whole world will respond."
Huang Qiong's answer can be said to be quite satisfactory, because it almost copied the words in the official "History of the Tang Dynasty" that criticized the major events of the former Tang Dynasty. Huang Qiong answered with the official "History of the Tang Dynasty", which not only answered the emperor's words, but also blocked the prince's mouth and reduced the prince's suspicion. Although he said he was not afraid, he did not want to break up with the prince too early.
Although he also knew that there could be no room for relaxation between himself and the prince. People have no intention of hurting tigers, but tigers do harm people. I don't want to be an enemy of the prince, but this narrow-minded prince seems to have not forgotten the hatred of Grandpa Huang Qiong's imprisonment.
It's just that the person involved at that time died and lived in the cold palace. In the cold palace, the prince's hand could not reach in. But now that he has moved out of the palace, he is also the direct grandson of the main culprit back then. Another accomplice in the eyes of the prince, the direct son of the person who deprived his mother of the throne, is destined to become the prince's primary target for revenge.
It can be said that perhaps from the day he was born, Huang Qiong and the prince, and perhaps the other three sons of the deposed and re-established queen, have become unrelenting rivals. The grudge between the two parties, or rather the prince's side, was too deep, and this knot would not dissipate with the death of the person in charge at that time. Therefore, Huang Qiong can be said to be extra careful with this prince.
However, the emperor seemed dissatisfied with Huang Qiong's stereotyped answers. However, after seeing the prince next to him, apart from giving Huang Qiong a meaningful look, the emperor didn't say anything else. Seeing Huang Qiong acting cunning and knowing that the prince was here, the emperor, whose son could not say anything, also lost interest in pursuing further questions.
He knew that the son he had conceived with his ex-wife had only so much ability. She would only follow the script, and I'm afraid even she herself wouldn't believe it. However, Huang Qiong didn't want to say more. He made it clear that he didn't want to be in the limelight in front of the prince, so he didn't force it. On the contrary, Huang Qiong knew how to advance and retreat, which made him feel very happy.
Thinking of this, the emperor changed the subject and said: "You are leaving the palace this time. Although the prince has prepared for you. But I just heard Gao Wuyong say that except for books, you have nothing else. , not even a few pieces of clothing. Your mother is not good at female celebrities, so you must have had a hard time listening to Xuexuan these years."
"In this way, according to the practice of other princes leaving the palace, I will allocate 200,000 guan to you from the inner treasury, and 500 pieces each of silk, damask, silk, and cotton. In addition, I will give you five royal horses and three thousand catties of charcoal. . I grant that your salary will be paid according to the prince's standard, and you will receive 10,000 shi of rice and 30,000 guan of money every year."
"I know that you have never had many people around you since you were a child, so I will assign you ten eunuchs and twenty palace maids from my side. As for the lack of servants, in addition to the people selected by the prince for you, I allow you to choose three of your own. Ten people. As for this screen, since you like it, I will reluctantly give it to you today."
Having said this, the emperor looked at the prince beside him and smiled slightly: "Your prince's salary was specially invited by the prince for you. Although it is a bit against the rules, I still fulfilled his brotherly love. I hope that you brothers can be able to do this in the future. Let’s work together and not create any barriers.”
Hearing that the emperor actually wanted to reward him with the screen, Huang Qiong, who dared to ask for it at this time, quickly said: "How dare your son take away what your father loves so much. Your father has given enough to your son, and your son is already grateful." Not enough. My son really doesn’t dare to ask for this screen.”
"Ninth brother, this is your fault. As the old saying goes: The king has given you a gift, and the minister cannot refuse. Ninth brother has read poetry and books, so he should be clear about this truth." The prince said when he saw Huang Qiong's refusal. It's just that although the words were beautifully said, they directly pushed Huang Qiong to the position of Chen. I want to tell Huang Qiong that even though you are a prince, a king is a king and a minister is a minister.
After hearing the prince's words, the emperor waved his hands indifferently and said: "Jun Wu, since I rewarded you with something, is there any reason to take it back? If I reward you, it is rewarded to you. You should be good Just keep it. You are my son, what does it mean for me to give you a beloved thing?"
"Okay, you are about to leave the palace. I still have something to tell you, so don't get involved with this screen. Now that you are out of the palace, don't relax on your homework. I have to take exams at any time. Also, you I have been living in the palace and have no contact with any of my brothers. After I go out, I have to interact more with my brothers, learn to get close to others, and don’t act independently."
"After you leave the palace, you must abide by your duties as a prince. You must not have too much contact with the ministers of the court, and you are not allowed to form cliques for personal gain. Don't think that you will get carried away and do whatever you want after you leave the palace. I think an eternal king is enough I don’t want another Yongwang to appear again.”
"If I find that you behave as recklessly as King Yong, I will never be lenient. Since you are a prince and enjoy the melting wealth given by the Tian family, you must give Tian a face and cannot do anything that harms the Tian family's face. "At this time, the emperor was like a father, carefully admonishing Huang Qiong for his behavior after leaving the palace.
After listening to the emperor's three-point instructions, it sounded like a seven-point beating. Huang Qiong quickly bowed and said: "My son thanks my father for his grace, and also thanks the prince for his care and consideration. Father, please rest assured that my son will obey the imperial edict and abide by his duty. A minister is a minister, and the king is forever." Eternal King.”
"That's good, but I will also listen to your words and observe your actions. If you have any problems in the future, you can directly submit a sign to see me at any time. Okay, you can go out of the palace. If you still have any shortcomings, you can Just tell the prince directly." Huang Qiong's answer made the emperor nodded with satisfaction, indicating that Huang Qiong could leave.
