Since he was visiting Prime Minister Chen Zhizhong in the name of an official, Zhao Yang had a special guard of honor on his trip. In addition to the ten medicine boys named Li, who were the imperial medicine men, there were also twenty medicine boys from the Chongban of the inner hall, Yuan Zheng. The latter took the imperial equipment and led the way on horseback. Zhao Yang and Li Gongfeng each took a carriage and slowly headed towards the Chen Mansion.
Probably just idle, on the way to the Chen Mansion, Fan Chunren, who was riding in the same carriage, told Zhao Yang about the Chen family's family background.
According to Fan Chunren, it is said that this Chen family came after Chen Shi, Taiqiu of the Han Dynasty, but it is difficult to verify because of its long history.
But it cannot be denied that the Chen family is also a famous family in recent decades. It has gone through two dynasties, namely Taizong and Zhenzong, and reached the rank of prime minister.
Due to his outstanding achievements, Chen Chun, the eldest son of Chen Shu, was able to make up for his career in the early years and served as Taizhu and Sima of Chuzhou. However, due to lack of discipline when he was young, he became indulgent and was eventually imprisoned for being greedy for money and violating the law.
When Chen Shu passed away, his second son Chen Zhizhong also had a chance to take up the official career. He first entered the Secretariat Department and then moved to the Weiwei Temple. He has the power to worship the prime minister and supervise the national and military affairs.
In comparison, his three younger brothers, Chen Zhigu, Chen Zhifang, and Chen Zhili, although their official career was not as good as that of his second brother, they still reached the sixth or seventh rank.
Don’t think that the official positions of the sixth and seventh ranks are not high. You must know that the official system of the Song Dynasty is characterized by “low position and weight.” For example, Qian Mingyi’s right to know the affairs of the Kaifeng government was actually only the fifth rank. , which is actually only the third and fourth grades - as for the first and second grades, they are like reserved seals. Unless they have outstanding achievements, ordinary people cannot get them.
It is no exaggeration to say that the Chen family is also a famous family. Compared with the brothers Song Xiang and Song Qi, who are known as the "Second Song Dynasty", their family background is worse than that of the brothers.
But when it comes to reputation, the Chen family is not as good as the "Second Song Dynasty". This is certainly because Chen Zhizhong has been cautious in his words and deeds over the years, and more importantly, he lacks literary talent. In terms of literary talent, he is far inferior to the brothers Song Xiang and Song Qi.
"What's his relationship with your father?" Zhao Yang asked curiously.
Fan Chunren hesitated: "I can't say whether it's good or bad, but as far as I know, the two families probably don't have much contact."
Zhao Yang asked again: "Can he support the new policy implemented by your father?"
Fan Chunren smiled bitterly and said, "I don't even know about that... When my father presided over the New Deal, I was still in Wu County... However, I have never heard that Mr. Chen obstructed this matter..."
"Yeah." Zhao Yang nodded, roughly understanding Chen Zhizhong's political stance.
In his estimation, Chen Zhizhong should be an "oppositional centrist", similar to Lu Yijian's descendants. That is, he did not support the reform based on personal and family interests, but he would not resist as fiercely as the opposition.
After thinking about it, the motorcade had already arrived in front of Chen's mansion.
Yuan Chongban sent someone to call the door, but Wang Zhongzheng reminded Zhao Yang: "Yuan Wai Lang and Fan Xiaoguan, the Chen family has arrived."
Zhao Yang got off the carriage, looked up at the mansion in front of him, and then turned his attention to the plaque above the gate. He saw two words simply written on the plaque: Chen Mansion.
Not long after, the door of the mansion was half opened, and a servant peeked out and said in surprise: "My husband is ill, so I cannot entertain guests."
Yuan Chongban did not explain, but stepped forward and said, "I heard that Mr. Chen was ill, and the officials sent us to inquire about it. Go and report it quickly."
The servant quickly turned around to report. After about a tea break, an old woman, a young man, and several servants came to greet him and thank the emperor for his kindness.
It is Chen Zhizhong's wife Xie and grandson Chen Yan.
After Yuan Chongban explained the matter in general, Zhao Yang stepped forward in time and said respectfully: "I accidentally offended Mr. Chen in the palace a few days ago. Today, by order of the official, I came here to apologize to Mr. Chen. .”
Mrs. Xie looked at Zhao Yang in surprise, and then asked her grandson: "Grandson, go and see if you are awake?"
The young man named Chen Yan glanced at Zhao Yang with complex eyes, then turned around and entered the house silently.
Seeing the attitudes of his grandfather and grandson, Zhao Yang probably guessed that Chen Zhizhong should have informed his family about what happened that day.
"Please come into the house first."
The old lady smiled and invited everyone into the house and to the main room in the front yard.
Zhao Yang curiously looked at the buildings along the way and praised them.
He couldn't help but ask Fan Chunren: "How much does such a mansion cost?"
Fan Chunren shook his head slightly and was about to speak when he heard the old lady who was leading the way look strange and said: "This is what the old man left before his death..."
"oh oh."
Zhao Yang nodded and made an embarrassed expression towards Fan Chunren, not wanting to say anything more to avoid misunderstanding.
Fan Chunren held back his laughter and looked around enviously.
Although he didn't know the details, according to his estimate, this mansion was estimated to cost tens of millions, which was not something his father and son could afford anyway.
All the way to the main room in the front yard, the old lady invited everyone to sit down and ordered tea to be served.
Zhao Yang was not in a hurry.
You also have to give the Chen family time to prepare, right?
If you just rush in like this, if you bump into Chen Zhizhong who is in good health, how embarrassing will it be for both parties?
So he drank tea and waited patiently.
During this period, in order to prevent the atmosphere from becoming cold, the old lady also took the initiative to chat with Zhao Yang and others, and inquired about Zhao Yang's origins from time to time. Zhao Yang managed to turn the topic to Fan Chunren.
When she learned that Fan Chunren was Fan Zhongyan's son, the old lady became even more enthusiastic.
After half an hour, Chen Zhizhong's grandson Chen Yan came to report that his grandfather had woken up.
Zhao Yang and Fan Chunren looked at each other, probably already guessing what they would see later.
Sure enough, when Xie and Chen Yan led Zhao Yang and his party to Chen Zhizhong's room, Zhao Yang saw Chen Zhizhong lying on the couch, languid, and the whole room smelled very strong of medicine.
Zhao Yang glanced twice and saw a bowl of medicine next to the couch. It looked like he hadn't taken a sip.
He stepped forward and touched the bowl, and felt that the walls of the bowl were hot.
Seeing this, Chen Yan hurriedly said: "This is freshly fried. Weng Weng feels it is hot to the mouth, so let it cool for a while."
"oh oh."
Zhao Yang nodded with a half-smile, walked to the couch, and greeted Chen Zhizhong on the couch: "Ms. Chen? Come down and apologize to Mr. Chen."
Chen Zhizhong, who was on the couch, slowly opened his eyes and said weakly: "It turns out to be the young man... I'm sorry to have you come to visit me... Yesterday, the old man handed over a letter of resignation to the official, begging the official... to allow me I am begging for the old man, cough, but I have not received a response so far. I hope that the young man can tell the officials on my behalf. Although the old man is willing to serve the country and share the worries of the official family, he is already old. I sincerely ask the officials to take pity on the old man who still has some merits in the past. Maybe The old man resigned and returned home..."
This old man pretends to be quite the same.
Zhao Yang secretly laughed in his heart, and after thinking for a while, he sat on the edge of the couch and asked in a low voice: "That day, I didn't recognize Mr. Chen, and I was very offended. Afterwards, the officials also severely scolded me. At that time, I I realized that Mr. Chen had worked hard and made great achievements. He should have come to apologize immediately, but he never thought that he got into trouble after leaving the palace yesterday, and was ordered by the officials not to leave the palace, so he delayed..."
A strange look flashed in Chen Zhizhong's eyes. Apparently he had also heard about Zhao Yang's affair with Zhang Yaozuo and Qian Mingyi.
At this time, Zhao Yang said angrily: "...Today Wang Gongchen and a group of admonishers impeached Mr. Chen. Since I know that Mr. Chen has worked hard and made great achievements, how can I sit back and watch Mr. Chen be slandered?"
"Wang Gongchen?" Chen Zhizhong's eyes suddenly became clear.
"There are also Cai Xiang and Sun Fu. What they said is very unpleasant." Zhao Yang glanced at it and continued: "You said that Chen Xianggong didn't learn a lot of literature, and he was not a prime minister. If he was allowed to do political affairs, the world would be miserable. Today Stealing a high position and making no achievements..."
Chen Zhizhong suddenly turned rosy and made a gesture to sit up.
His grandson Chen Yan stepped forward to help him with an embarrassed look, and helped him sit down.
"Is this happening?" Chen Zhizhong asked in surprise.
Zhao Yang pretended not to see this scene and nodded. Just as he was about to speak, Fan Chunren on the side said: "This is absolutely true. The student happened to be around at that time and can testify. If Yuan Wailang had not spoken uprightly, he would have advised the officials not to listen to the slander." I’m afraid those few people have already succeeded in removing the wise ministers.”
"..."
Chen Zhizhong glanced at Zhao Yang in surprise, then looked at Fan Chunren, wondering: "This little official is..."
Zhao Yang introduced him on his behalf: "Brother Chun Ren is the second son of Mr. Fan Xianggong."
"It turns out he is the son of Xianggong Fan." Chen Zhizhong was in awe.
Fan Zhongyan's moral character is obvious to all, and with his son as a witness, Chen Zhizhong will naturally no longer doubt Zhao Yang's words, and said with a strange expression: "I never thought that it was the young man who interceded for the old man..."
Zhao Yang smiled slightly and was about to speak when Fan Chunren said from the side: "I'm sorry to say that Xiaolangjun had no disagreement with Mr. Chen before. I didn't mean to offend that day. It was also because of my father..."
This was another reason why he and Zhao Yang came to visit Chen Zhizhong this time.
Chen Zhizhong thought about it for a moment and felt that this was really what happened.
Since Zhao Yang and Fan Chunren had already apologized to him, he couldn't argue anymore, and sighed: "Cai Xiangsu and I don't get along, and Sun Fu even has a grudge against me. I'm not surprised that the two of them have added insult to injury. As for the Wang Gongchen..."
Having said this, he turned to look at Zhao Yang and said tentatively: "The official's side..."
Zhao Yang smiled and comforted: "The official family is thinking that Mr. Chen will continue to serve the country after he recovers. No, when they learned that Mr. Chen was ill, the official family specially ordered the imperial medicine hospital to send the imperial medicine, and also specially told me to take it. Apologize to Mr. Chen..."
Chen Zhizhong thought for a moment, turned around and bowed to the north: "Thank you, officials."
Then he raised his hand to Zhao Yang and said, "Thank you very much, Mr. Lang, for speaking up."
"How dare you." Zhao Yang returned the salute with his hands raised and pointedly said: "Mr. Chen is devoted to the public service and loyal to the official family. How can I sit back and watch Mr. Chen being slandered and framed by traitors?... Looking at all the ministers in the court, The officials and I agree that it is most appropriate for the mature and prudent Mr. Chen to preside over the overall situation. I hope Mr. Chen will take care of himself, so that he can contribute more to the country and relieve the officials' worries."
"..."
Chen Zhizhong looked surprised when he heard this. He didn't have time to think about it and thanked him repeatedly.
Later, Zhao Yang was about to leave. Before leaving, he pointed at the bowl of soup and joked: "This soup should be cold. Why don't Mr. Chen drink it while it's still hot?"
Chen Zhizhong smiled awkwardly and said sternly: "The emperor's kindness is so great. I'm mostly recovered from my illness, so I don't mind drinking."
"Ha ha."
Everyone laughed, and even Zhao Yang found this old man interesting.
