After making a decision, Zhao Kuangyin personally wrote a petition for apology on the spot, in front of Zhao Kuangyi's uncle and nephew. After he stopped writing, Zhao Kuangyin felt heavy while holding this light memorial.
All attitudes and behaviors were originally to protect his younger brother. He never thought that in just a few days, he would have to make the decision to give up personally. This was somewhat difficult for Zhao Kuangyin.
But no matter how difficult it is, a decision must be made after all, and Zhao Kuangyin cannot risk the future of the Zhao family to be the one who is easily beaten.
"Come here, prepare your horses, I want to enter the palace!" His eyes quickly became cold and hard, and Zhao Kuangyin shouted outside.
Zhao Kuangyin took a black cloak hanging on the hanger and simply put it on his body. Without saying a word, Zhao Kuangyin went out with wind in his footsteps.
Only the uncle and nephew were left in the room. The sudden cold wind made both of them shiver. Zhao Dezhao looked at Zhao Kuangyi who was sitting there, hesitated for a moment, and asked in a low voice: "Third uncle, this is really the case. is it serious?"
Seeing his question, Zhao Kuangyi sighed, stood up, reached out and patted Zhao Dezhao on the shoulder, saying: "You are still young, and there are some things that you don't understand yet. You need to see more, listen more, learn more... and talk less. !”
"I'm going back first!" After saying that, Zhao Kuangyi walked away slowly, leaving Zhao Dezhao with a thoughtful face.
In front of the gate of the palace, Zhao Kuangyi appeared with steady steps. The cold winter wind hit his tired face, and his expression was not as calm as his steps, showing a sense of concentration.
The carriage came slowly and stopped on the long street in front of the door. Compared with the luxurious carriages popular among nobles, Zhao Kuangyi's car was not luxurious and even seemed a bit ordinary.
"Master Fu!" The coachman stopped the carriage quickly, got out of the carriage quickly, stepped forward to greet him, and handed him a fur robe. Four guards wearing cotton-padded jackets and carrying long swords stood silently around.
"Go back home!" Zhao Kuangyi tightened the belt and ordered softly.
After boarding the carriage, after a short pause, Zhao Kuangyi said again: "Send someone to inform me that I will not return to the government tonight. I will go to the government office!"
"Yes!" They were all close servants, and they all knew Zhao Kuangyi's temperament. They didn't dare to say anything and just obeyed orders.
The wind was biting and the night was hazy. Looking around, everything was shrouded in a mysterious and icy mist. Above the long street, there was silence, with only the whistling of the cold winter wind. I just don't know if there is a pair of eyes in the darkness and shadow, silently and emotionlessly staring at the movements of the Zhao Mansion.
The gate of the palace is still open, and the steward is waiting there respectfully, ready to watch Zhao Kuangyi leave. Several lanterns with the word "Zhao" are hanging on the eaves of the door, shaking constantly, making the word "Zhao" somewhat vivid, but the swaying scene makes Zhao Kuangyi couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
"Let's go!" Zhao Kuangyi said again, regaining his seriousness.
The carriage went slowly along the long street until it disappeared at the end, and then the steward of the palace ordered the man to close the vermilion door. In the compartment, which was sheltered from the wind and rain, Zhao Kuangyi seemed to be unable to feel a trace of warmth. He seemed to be completely integrated into it, with a face that was so cold that it penetrated people.
He still couldn't help but think about the pros and cons of this incident, but the more he thought about it, the lower his mood became. Although Zhao Kuangyin was very responsible and expressed his intention to take charge of this matter, Zhao Kuangyi could not be optimistic. On the contrary, he felt increasingly heavy and even found it difficult to maintain a stable mentality.
He couldn't help but think about the impact of this turmoil on the court, the Zhao family, and his personal impact. The impact, or even the negative impact, is absolutely inevitable. Even if their brothers have made a decision to express their sincerity to Emperor Liu, he doesn't think the matter can be settled easily.
A Zhao Kuangmei might be nothing in ordinary times, but after this incident, his life and death could almost represent Emperor Liu's attitude towards their Zhao family.
Even if he can survive safely in the end, it does not mean that the matter will be revealed smoothly. Zhao Kuangyi has already realized that this time, his brother may lose a lot of impression in front of Emperor Liu. Perhaps it was like a thorn piercing the emperor's heart, and this, for a political family, could almost be said to be fatal. Whenever Emperor Liu thinks of this matter in the future, the Zhao family will look at them "differently" look.
There is no doubt that the Zhao family is facing a political crisis, an unprecedented serious crisis, and it is the same for him personally.
Zhao Kuangyi is a man with great political ambitions. For more than ten years, he has worked conscientiously and diligently, doing things that ordinary people would not do, and enduring things that ordinary people would not tolerate. He was able to reach his current high position all the way, not just because of the resources of the Zhao family.
In the past, he was confident in Emperor Liu's appreciation of him and his own abilities. However, at this moment, he felt that his originally bright future had been cast into a shadow and began to become hazy.
Originally, Zhao Kuangyi was confident that he could become prime minister within three to five years. Even if he could not, it would be enough to move the center closer to the highest power center of the Han Dynasty.
But now, the originally broad and smooth road has some uncertainties. It may also experience more twists and turns before realizing its political goals and ambitions.
To be serious, maybe the door to climbing to the peak of power will be closed for him... Zhao Kuangyi is naturally a deep-thinking person with far-reaching considerations. However, the more he thinks about it, the more he worries about gains and losses.
...
At a time when the whole court is in turmoil and public opinion is raging, if there is any institution in the court that can maintain stability, it is naturally the Political Affairs Hall. The ministries and yamen below were supervised by them, and they were directly responsible to Emperor Liu. Naturally, the pressure they endured was different. They were watched by everyone above and below, and they also needed to maintain the temperament of the center of power.
In the spacious and majestic Zai Tang, Zhao Pu sat behind the official case, immersed in composing official documents. There were constant turmoil inside and outside the court, and there were repeated incidents, but he was as stable as Mount Tai, calm and calm.
Of course, from these memorials, we can feel the restlessness and uneasiness that pervades the imperial court today. Not only were the remonstrances submitted directly to the Chongzheng Hall, but also to the Zhengshi Hall. Some of them were even handed over to him at Emperor Liu's command.
Zhao Pu probably knew what the bureaucrats below were thinking, but he just felt that as the prime minister, he should stand up and speak out to calm the turmoil, end the crisis, and calm the hearts of people inside and outside the court.
However, Zhao Pu is obviously very smart, and he is not willing to be the first person, especially to speak for nobles. There was already a gap between the two, and as his reign lasted longer, the gap became wider and deeper.
Under Zhao Pu's governing policy, the noble class has always been restricted and suppressed. Previously, due to various resistances, there was no chance, and he had been suppressing it.
But this time, he seemed to smell something strange from this sudden political crisis, and saw an opportunity that could only be encountered but not sought. In this case, if he didn't directly add insult to injury, it would be considered him. "Kind".
The most important thing is that Emperor Liu's attitude has not yet been made clear. How could Zhao Pu, who was well versed in serving the emperor, take such rash measures? He was planning secretly and was also waiting for the call from Chui Gong Palace.
Therefore, despite the constant hustle and bustle outside, Zhao Pu always remained stable in the Zaitang, as if all the disturbances could not affect him.
