Guisi (the first day of the lunar month) in May of the eighth year of Yuanfeng.
Today, Zhao Xu was too lazy to go to the imperial court and took a nap in Funing Hall - this kind of ceremonial court meeting was still in the interest of the two palaces, and they would not go there often once they got used to it. ——After all, few people like to sit there and mechanically repeat the same actions and the same language.
Zhao Xu slept until midnight before getting up and washing up. After breakfast, he went to the imperial garden behind Funing Palace for a walk, admiring flowers and relaxing his mind.
Zhao Xu knows how to regulate himself.
He knew that he was young and could not use his brain frequently or think deeply.
So most of the time, especially when he was in the imperial garden, he didn't think about anything or do anything.
Just take a walk, admire the flowers, and rest.
When the temperature gradually rose, Zhao Xu finished his morning exercise and came to the pavilion in the garden to rest for a while. After that, Empress Dowager Xiang also went down to the imperial garden and came to the imperial garden.
"Mother..." Zhao Xu stepped forward and asked, "Is there nothing going on at the court meeting today?"
He said calmly to the Empress Dowager: "Today there is a report from the Department that Qian Xuan, the senior official and Baowen Pavilion's waiter, unfortunately passed away at home..."
Zhao Xu said oh. Qian Xuan is the youngest son of Qian Weiyan, a descendant of the Qian family in Wuyue.
Speaking of which, it is also enviable!
The Wuyue Qian family has been rich and prosperous to this day since the founding of the country in the first year of Kaiping in the Later Liang Dynasty.
It’s been more than 180 years!
So far, it is still able to steadily produce important ministers of the level to be made!
It’s really amazing!
"Brother Six, at today's court meeting, Si Yan will arrange a holy festival for Brother Six..."
"But, I have to wrong Brother Six..."
"Brother Six was originally born on the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, but because the death anniversary of Xizu is also on this day, the holy festival can only be moved to the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month..."
Zhao Xu nodded and said: "This is how filial piety should be!"
Xizu was Taizu’s great-great-grandfather.
However, now that they have passed away, the temple has been destroyed and the temple has been moved to the mezzanine.
Every year when worshiping ancestors, there will be no more sacrifices. Instead, curtains will be set up in the side hall to offer offerings, and incense will be burned on their birthdays and death anniversaries.
Empress Dowager Xiang showed a piece of paper to Zhao Xu: "Sixth brother, look at the names of these holy festivals presented by the Ministry of Rites... Which one do you like?"
Zhao Xu didn't look at it and said directly: "It's up to the mother-in-law and the queen mother to make the decision!"
The Emperor's Holy Day comes and goes with just a few names.
The good-sounding ones have already been taken over by ancestors. For example, the holy festival of Zhao Xu’s father is called Tongtian Festival.
The Empress Dowager thought for a while and then said, "What about the Xinglong Festival?"
Among the many candidate names, this one was the one that Queen Mother Xiang liked the most.
Zhao Xu smiled and said: "The queen mother is the one who makes the decision..."
"By the way..." Zhao Xu asked, "Why hasn't Queen Mother seen Uncle Zong Huiguo enter the palace these days?"
Empress Dowager Xiang was happy when she heard that Zhao Xu took the initiative to mention her younger brother and treated him as uncle, but she said: "That incompetent person has been visiting relatives and ministers everywhere in Bianjing with Gao Gongji recently. Walking with the same useless people!"
"That's why Sixth Brother promoted him! Give him a job as a beautiful official!" Empress Dowager Xiang pretended to be unhappy: "Otherwise, with his talents, it would be difficult for him to become a local supervisor!"
"Mother's words are serious!" Zhao Xu said with a smile: "Uncle Zong Huiguo's talents are still very good!"
"I heard people say that Uncle Zong Hui almost passed the Jinshi exam back then!"
It was okay if Zhao Xu didn't say it. When he mentioned this, Queen Mother Xiang frowned.
Her family has been a scholar for generations, but in her generation, her brothers couldn't even pass the Jinshi exam!
When the nephews looked at it, they didn't look very accomplished.
I can only hope that Sixth Brother can help and take care of him in the future, so as to prevent those incompetent people from starving to death in Bianjing.
Zhao Xu observed and said: "I heard that there is another country relative who has been idle at home. Why doesn't the queen ask him to come to the palace to do some errands?"
Queen Mother Xiang immediately shook her head: "Sixth Brother has given enough rewards to the Xiang family!"
"If I give it again..."
"Some people are gossiping again!"
Zhao Xu wanted to say more, so Queen Mother Xiang took his hand and said, "Brother Six, the most important thing now is to eat well and grow up!"
"When Sixth Brother grows up and takes charge, I will reward the Xiang family. Then no one will be able to gossip!"
Zhao Xu could only nod his head and said: "I understand!"
When Queen Mother Xiang returned to Kunning Hall, Zhao Xu took a deep look at Feng Jing, who had been serving beside him, and let him figure it out for himself.
How much he can realize depends on his cleverness.
…
Xinchangfang, Xiangjiadi.
Xiang Zongliang walked out of his grandmother's room with frost on his face.
"Sima Guang!" His face flushed red: "Straight bitch!"
It's a good opportunity. The small official family wants to extend his favor and give him an assignment in the imperial city.
Just ask that old man to mess with it!
The hatred in Xiang Zong's conscience reached its peak.
So, he returned to his yard angrily.
His wives and concubines, seeing his expression, gathered around him.
When I heard that a junior official wanted to send his own officials, the Queen Mother declined because she was concerned about public opinion.
Xiang Zongliang's wives and concubines immediately started chattering.
His wife was even more worried and said to him: "Officer, this can't go on!"
"Second uncle, he is going to take office on Xihe Road soon. When he returns to the imperial court in a few years, maybe he will be promoted to where?"
"But don't wait until then. My second uncle will be a military envoy, and I will be the deputy envoy of regiment training!"
"If this is the case, wouldn't it mean that our children will be born shorter than my second uncle's family in the future?"
When she said this, other Yingying Yanyan also became anxious.
Xiang Zongliang gritted his teeth to pieces.
Not long after, a piece of news came, which made Xiang Zongliang jump up even more excitedly.
Sima Guang's son, Sima Kang, was recommended by the Right Prime Minister Han Jiang to assist Sima Guang in revising the "Zi Zhi Tong Jian". He was specially appointed as the secretary of the provincial government, and was promoted to the official position of Cheng Shilang!
Court official!
And he is a court official equivalent to the previous prose official rank of Dali Temple Councilor!
Xiang Zongliang's eyes were about to burst into flames!
What the hell!
When did Sima Kang help compile "Zi Zhi Tong Jian"?
Does serving tea and pouring water count as assistance?
Who doesn’t know who those people in Zizhi Tongjian Bookstore are?
Xiang Zongliang was not the only one who was angry at the news.
Everyone in the Gao family was also disgusted!
Moreover, unlike the Xiang family, which only has two brothers, the Gao family is a big family!
Gao Zunyu and Gao Zunhui both had several sons and a large number of sons-in-law.
These people are eagerly waiting for the new king to show his favor and get promoted and make a fortune!
Now it's better, just because a bad old man said some nonsense, both palaces are concerned about public opinion and material criticism, and even the junior officials have to decline the offer of favors to the officials in person!
On this day, there was a lot of curses in every yard of the Gao family.
Everyone was filled with righteous indignation, as if it was Sima Guang's fault that they couldn't get promoted and make money!
No one even cared that Sima Kang's favor was due to Han Jiang's recommendation.
All they know now is that Sima Guang's son has been promoted to a noble rank.
But because of Sima Guang, they could only eat rice at home.
Especially, after seeing the scenery of Gao Gongji and Xiang Zonghui.
The resentment in the hearts of the Xiang family and the Gao family has risen again!
Note: Historically, Sima Kang had Enyin as his secretary at the end of April.
(End of chapter)
