What's going on here?
In the silent hall, all the courtiers looked at each other in confusion. Several ministers and ministers standing in the front row secretly peeked at the official's face, but saw that the official's face was ashen.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Zhen suppressed his anger and said: "Here... come forward!"
"Yes." Zhao Yang walked into the hall.
"Raise your head and say it again, who do you want to impeach?" Zhao Zhen grabbed the armrest of the throne and suppressed his anger.
"Zhao Yang tensed his face, raised his head slightly and looked at Zhao Zhen, his eyes unblinking and said: "I want to impeach Zhao Yang, a member of the Ministry of Industry, Youzhengyan, Wailang! Please ask the officials to order him to move out of the palace and not to move back to the forbidden area! "
All the court officials in the palace swallowed their saliva in unison.
Five days ago, still in this palace, Zhao Yang refuted nine Taiwanese remonstrances and even impeached ten Taiwanese remonstrators including the last prime minister Wen Yanbo. At that time, the court officials in the palace were amazed and thought that in this world, Nothing is more shocking than this.
It wasn't until they witnessed Zhao Yang's own impeachment today that they realized they were wrong.
Brave!
This is true courage!
Although they didn't know the reason, it was the first time they had seen a young man who was scorning an official like this.
In full view of everyone, Zhao Zhen held on to the throne's deputy and said with a livid face: "Zhao Yang, don't be too presumptuous!"
Zhao Yang cupped his hands and said expressionlessly: "I don't know what the officials mean by 'unbridled'? Isn't what I said wrong?"
He looked around at the ministers in the palace and said: "Where are the censors and admonishers in the court? Why don't you come out to discuss things? Liu censor? Don't you know what to say?"
"..."
About twenty admonishers in the hall looked at each other.
You asked for this!
Censor Liu Shi thought he had seized the opportunity, so he took a step towards the palace and said: "Your Majesty..."
However, before he could finish speaking, Zhao Zhen shouted: "Go back!"
There was a slight commotion in the hall, and Liu Yushi also looked at the official in surprise. Seeing the official staring at him with a gloomy face, he felt panicked and silently returned to the station.
This made all the officials in the palace stunned again and couldn't believe it.
After a brief silence, Zhao Zhen turned to look at Wang Shougui.
Wang Shougui understood, stepped forward and shouted: "Retreat..."
However, before he finished speaking, Zhao Yang once again said: "Wait a minute and disperse the court! The official has not replied to me yet. I sincerely request the official to order me to move out of the palace and not to move back to the forbidden area!"
"Zhao Yang!" Zhao Zhen angrily slapped the armrest of the throne with his right hand. This slap seemed to hit the hearts of the officials in the palace, making them even more afraid to say anything.
I saw Zhao Zhen looking at Zhao Yang angrily and saying: "Before, a group of ministers came to remonstrate and impeach you for relying on my favor and trust without any scruples. I didn't believe it at all. I never thought that you would dare...to do such a rebellious and unethical act today! "
Zhao Yang raised his head and met Zhao Zhen's gaze again, and said sternly: "I believe that I should not live in the palace, otherwise my reputation will be bad for the official family and the harem, so I am submitting a self-impeachment report. It is clear-cut and ethical. What is treason and immorality?"
Zhao Zhen was furious and glanced at the ministers in the palace, but saw that no one spoke.
In fact, the Manchu officials were dissatisfied with Zhao Yang staying in the official palace at the age of fifteen. This had nothing to do with whether they had enmity with Zhao Yang. This was in itself inconsistent with the system, and naturally no one came forward to stop him.
Helpless, Zhao Zhen could only speak by himself, and said with a stern face: "You made a big mistake yesterday, and you blamed me for not helping you, so today you are retreating in order to advance and forcing me. Isn't this called treason?"
Zhao Yang cupped his hands and met the official's gaze and said: "The official must not underestimate me. I went to the official before and never thought about enjoying glory and wealth by flattering the official. I just heard about the benevolence and virtuous officials. Therefore, I hope to get the official permission so that I can act according to my own judgment and contribute to the country. As for the official mention that I made a big mistake yesterday, I don’t admit it. The conflict was started by Liu Congguang and the Li brothers. I I had already tolerated it once with Magistrate Zhang, but Liu Congguang and the Li brothers came to provoke me, which eventually led to a conflict between the two parties. As for Li Wei, he was the first to take action, and I was forced to fight back. I don't think there is anything wrong with that!"
Zhao Zhen nodded angrily: "Okay, you kept saying 'I know my mistake' last night, but it turned out that you wanted to embarrass me in the morning. You were so scheming that even I was deceived!"
"No." Zhao Yang looked at Zhao Zhen and said, "I said yesterday that I knew I was wrong. I was not lying. I did know a mistake."
"What's wrong?" Zhao Zhen sneered.
Zhao Yang said seriously: "The mistake is that I don't know the difference between closeness and distance."
"..." Suddenly the anger on Zhao Zhen's face froze, he looked at Zhao Yang for a long time, and gradually slowed down his tone and said: "This matter will be discussed after the court meeting, and I will give you an explanation."
"Thank you to the officials, but no need." Zhao Yang said with a sullen face: "A minister is a minister, and an official is an official. It's better not to mix too many things. As a saying goes, if you learn literary and martial arts, you will be good at it. In the imperial family and the official family, use it if it can be used, and leave it if it is not needed."
Zhao Zhen was startled and asked quickly: "You want to resign?"
"No." Zhao Yang said calmly: "I have not changed my original intention, and I still have the passion to contribute to the country."
After hearing this, Zhao Zhen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and then said with a strange expression: "Then what you mean is that you want to... distance yourself from me?"
"To be precise, we need to draw a clear line." Zhao Yanggong cupped his hands and said, "The monarch and his ministers are different, so there is no need to be too close."
These words made all the ministers in the palace look at each other, and Zhao Zhen felt even more complicated. He wanted to dissuade him, but he couldn't openly violate the rules in front of the ministers in the palace, so he could only glance at the ministers and ministers, hoping that someone would step forward to rescue them. However, Chen Zhizhong, Wen Yanbo, Song Xiang, Pang Ji, Ye Qingchen and others all lowered their heads.
Regardless of whether the relationship between the ministers and Zhao Yang is good or bad, as far as this matter is concerned, even Chen Zhizhong and Ye Qingchen agree - at Zhao Yang's age, it is indeed not suitable to stay in the palace anymore.
Seeing that no one spoke up, Zhao Zhen glared at Zhang Yaozuo hatefully and signaled with his eyes.
Zhang Yaozuo was frightened by what he saw before and his face turned pale. Now seeing Zhao Zhen's expression, he forced himself to persuade Zhao Yang: "Old... Zhao Zhengyan..."
"Go back." Zhao Yang glanced at him.
"Huh." Zhang Yaozuo, who had just taken a step, returned to his position and could only give the official a helpless smile.
Seeing Zhao Yang's resolute attitude, Zhao Zhen was reluctant to give up. At this moment, he had no choice but to shoot. "In that case... Zhao Qing... just move out of the palace and live."
"The officials are wise." Zhao Yang complimented expressionlessly. Compared with the playful compliment before, today's words were almost routine, which made Zhao Zhen feel angry and more complicated.
"The officials are wise."
All the officials in the Manchu Dynasty also echoed in unison.
After the dispersion of the dynasty, Zhao Zhen took the lead in leaving the palace as usual, and then all the officials in the dynasty left the palace in sequence.
Zhao Yang was the last one to leave the palace. After leaving the palace, he walked down the steps nonchalantly and headed towards the Daqing Gate, regardless of other people's eyes.
"Brother." Zhang Yaozuo chased after him and said anxiously: "Brother, why are you so impulsive?"
"What's wrong?"
"What else... I shouldn't contradict the officials like this. I know I'm angry in my heart, and I'm angry in my heart too, but no matter what, I can't vent my anger on the officials."
"Have I lost my temper? At my age, shouldn't I stay in the palace anymore?"
"Uh...but so, but..."
While the two were chatting, they had already walked to the canteens on both sides of Daqing Gate that were dedicated to breakfast for officials. The west side was for officials of fifth rank and above, and the east side was for officials of ninth rank and above.
Zhao Yang stepped into the canteen on the east side, and Zhang Yaozuo also followed.
At this time, there were many officials dining in the canteen, such as the censor Liu Shi. When they saw Zhao Yang walking into the canteen, the canteen became silent for a moment.
After Zhao Yang found a relatively empty table and sat down, the officials at the table calmly picked up their plates and moved away, so that there was no one else within a foot of Zhao Yang except Zhang Yaozuo.
Zhao Yang turned a blind eye to this, and after the officials brought the food, he went to eat by himself, leaving Zhang Yaozuo to persuade him hard.
Perhaps after a long time of persuading Zhao Yang to change his mind, Zhang Yaozuo gave up and asked with a sigh: "Since I insist on doing this... well, I wonder if I can find a good place to stay?"
Zhao Yang tilted his head and asked, "How about staying at your house?"
Zhang Yaozuo was so frightened that he lost his soul and said with a grimace: "Then... I welcome you, but I'm afraid I won't get used to it..."
Zhao Yang sneered and said, "Don't worry, I'm just teasing you. I have my own place to go."
Zhang Yaozuo was relieved, but then he suddenly came to his senses and quickly explained, showing that he was by no means unwelcome.
In fact, he wanted Zhao Yang to live in his house, but the timing was wrong - if the officials misunderstood him and thought he was instigating it, how could he afford it?
At the same time, the officials had returned to Funing Hall. They waited and saw Zhao Yang, feeling a little uneasy, so they sent Yuan Zheng, the Chongban of the inner hall, to look for him.
As a result, Yuan Chongban came back and reported: "The official family, Mr. Zhao went to the canteen at Daqing Gate to eat."
Do you really want to draw a clear line between you and me? !
Zhao Zhen was shocked and angry. He turned to Wang Shourui and said, "The king knows it. Go there yourself and ask that kid to come see me!"
"Eh……"
Wang Shougui hurried to Daqing Gate with a grimace. He happened to see Zhao Yang preparing to leave the palace with Zhang Yaozuo after breakfast. He hurriedly stepped forward to call him and conveyed the official's order: "The official has orders, please go to Fu Fu immediately." Ning Palace.”
"Is there an edict?" Zhao Yang put on a businesslike attitude: "If there is no edict, I am not allowed to enter the forbidden area without permission."
You didn’t even issue an edict before...
Wang Shougui said with a bitter face: "Why do you, young man, make things difficult for me?"
Zhang Yaozuo also advised.
The two chatted, and Zhao Yang reluctantly nodded: "That's for Wang Duzhi's sake..."
Wang Shougui was flattered, and for the first time he experienced how it felt that his reputation was greater than that of the official family - panic!
Because he guessed something bad would happen later.
So on the way, he kept trying to persuade Zhao Yang, but Zhao Yang had no response.
After a while, Zhao Yang followed Wang Shougui to Funing Hall and saw Zhao Zhen sitting at the dining table.
Zhao Yang took the lead in bowing his hands and saluting: "Your Majesty, Zhao Yang, pays homage to the officials."
Compared with the playful and even perfunctory attitude in the past, Zhao Yang pays special attention to etiquette today. Even the strictest etiquette officer may not be able to find fault. But the more this happens, the more Zhao Zhen feels uncomfortable.
"Sit down and dine with me." Zhao Zhen greeted calmly, as if the discord in the morning court had never happened before.
"I dare not." Zhao Yang cupped his hands and said, "I have no merit in the country and it is not appropriate for me to enjoy the banquet given by the official family."
Zhao Zhen said angrily: "You used to eat and live in Funing Palace, but today you say it's not appropriate to enjoy the official banquet?"
"That was before." Zhao Yang said without changing his expression: "From today on, I will be a pure minister of the state."
"You..." Zhao Zhen was furious and suddenly said to Wang Shourui: "Tell everyone to step back! Get out a hundred steps away!"
"Yes." Wang Shougui hurriedly ordered the palace people, eunuchs, royal equipment, etc. to exit the Funing Palace and retreat a hundred steps away.
At this time, Zhao Zhen held back his anger and said to Zhao Yang: "Just because you have support, you don't even take me seriously, right?"
Zhao Yang looked at Zhao Zhen calmly and said seriously: "Song, Liao, and Xia, in my era, all belong to China. Just because I was born in the Han nationality, I prefer the Song Dynasty to the Liao and Xia. Considering the historical records, The official is a virtuous man, so I came here to join him... This was originally a deal: by using me, the Song Dynasty might be able to avoid its downfall eighty years later, and even devour the Liao and Xia, ending the world's three-thirds situation, and not having to suffer the consequences of future generations. Ridicule, this is all unknown; as far as I am concerned, if the officials use me, I will try my best to improve the situation of the Song Dynasty to make up for the regrets in my heart about the "Song Dynasty". Therefore, the officials do not owe me, and I do not have to flatter them. Officials and families just take what they need."
"You..." Zhao Zhen was furious, but looking at Zhao Yang's calm eyes, he gradually calmed down, nodded and said, "Just because I didn't help you last night, you show me this way?"
Zhao Yang shook his head and said: "What happened yesterday cannot be said to be partial, because justice is on my side, but in the eyes of the officials, this justice is not worth the difference between closeness and distance."
Zhao Zhen felt mixed emotions when he heard this, and sighed softly: "Zhao Yang, I have never treated you badly since you entered the palace, and I am not surprised by all your offenses and rudeness. What you did today makes me feel chilled... "
Zhao Yang chuckled lightly, nodded and said: "I have been separated from the Song Dynasty for thousands of years. It is inevitable that I will have an inexplicable fondness for the figures of the Song Dynasty who have left their names in history, virtuous kings and virtuous ministers. Fan Zhongyan is the same, and so are the officials. There are many things that are "rude and offensive" in the family... But after what happened last night, I suddenly felt that the official family was not as fair as recorded in the history books. If this is the case, then it is better for the transaction between you and me to be pure. The official family uses me Just use it, if you don’t need it I’ll go, no need to mix it with anything else.”
"You and me?" Zhao Zhen was furious and raised his hand to strike as before. Zhao Yang took two steps back, cupped his hands and said seriously: "I also ask officials to abide by the etiquette of monarchs and ministers!"
"..." Zhao Zhen was stunned, his raised hand lowered silently, his face uncertain.
The two looked at each other for a long time, then Zhao Yang cupped his hands and said: "If there is nothing else, I kindly ask you to leave. I still have matters of the Technical Department."
Zhao Zhen stared at Zhao Yang for a long time and said in an incomprehensible tone: "Since I took office, you are the first one who dares to speak to me like this. You speak frankly and poke my heart and lungs..."
Zhao Yang said calmly: "Maybe it's because... I come from an era when there were no monarchs or emperors, and I am more inclined to the concepts of justice and equality?"
After saying that, he bowed his hands to Zhao Zhen and turned to leave.
Zhao Zhen watched Zhao Yang walk out of the hall with complicated emotions, feeling a little sad for some reason.
After a while, Wang Shougui walked into the palace and said cautiously: "Guan family, Xiao Langjun...he's gone..."
"Yes." Zhao Zhen murmured softly: "You just left like this, and you didn't even let me go...bastard boy! How dare you propose any deal with me, no matter how big or small..."
"The officials should calm down," Wang Shougui advised fearfully.
Zhao Zhen scolded him, then picked up the bowl and chopsticks and ate a few mouthfuls of the porridge. But maybe he felt that it was not the taste, so he put the bowl down hard. After thinking for a while, he said in a deep voice: "The court issued an edict to Liu Congguang and Li Iesaburo, Shiro, Goro, Roku...Rokuro are all demoted to one rank!"
"Ah?" Wang Shougui looked at Guan Jia in disbelief.
"Didn't you hear?" Zhao Zhen glanced at him, a little less kind and a little more majestic than usual.
"yes."
Wang Shougui nodded in response and was secretly speechless.
