The night is getting deeper, and the twilight is deep, shrouding the Rongguo Duke's mansion. Zhao Kuangyin is still sitting behind the food table, but he has stopped drinking and drinking, looking deep in thought. The lights in the tea room seem a little dim, shining on Zhao Kuangyin's face, It adds a bit of darkness.
After seeing off Zhao Kuangyi, Zhao Defang slowly walked in, glanced at Zhao Kuangyin, bowed and said, "Father, the third uncle is gone!"
"Yes!" Zhao Kuangyin responded, straightened up slightly, and ordered to the maid next to him: "Take away all the wine and meat!"
"yes!"
The maid is very beautiful. After all, she is a palace maid rewarded by Emperor Liu. She has beautiful appearance, enchanting figure, outstanding temperament, decent manners, and is good at taking care of others. Zhao Kuangyin has always loved her.
However, as he watched her and the two servants take away the food and drinks, he noticed her graceful back as she left. Her somewhat blurred eyes gradually became sharper and filled with coldness, and she ordered to Zhao Defang: "You will bring this later." The woman has dealt with it!”
Zhao Defang was slightly shocked when he heard this, and immediately said: "Why? She is the maid you have always loved, not to mention, she was given by your Majesty."
Zhao Kuangyin shook his head, waved his thin hand feebly, and sighed: "It is precisely because it was given by His Majesty that I had to deal with it. Just now, your third uncle and I were indeed erring on the side of caution and had to do something."
Perhaps in order to express his guilt, Zhao Kuangyin hesitated for a while and then ordered: "Let's just say that she lost her footing and fell into the lake and drowned. In addition, you can deduct a sum of money from the warehouse and send it to her family according to the situation. That counts. Please repay her for all the hard work she has done in serving me all these years!"
"Yes!" After hearing what Zhao Kuangyin said, Zhao Defang nodded and gently responded: "It will be arranged later!"
Although Zhao Defang is a gentle gentleman, he is by no means targeting the ordinary people. As for the servants who are personally dependent, they are even more inappropriate. Of course, the maids who were dealt with came from the palace, which is probably a relatively special place, but I need some excuses to do it properly.
Here, Zhao Kuangyin was holding on to the food table and was about to get up. His body was probably stiff after sitting for a long time. Seeing this, Zhao Defang hurriedly stepped forward to support him. Observing the old man's old and frail appearance, Zhao Defang was so moved that she choked with sobs and said, "Father, please take care of yourself!"
Seeing his distressed expression, Zhao Kuangyin instantly became energetic and scolded: "Good man, why are you acting like a woman and putting away your tears!"
Seeing the stubborn Zhao Kuangyin, Zhao Defang opened his mouth and tried hard to calm down the sadness lingering in his heart, but his eyes were still red and said: "You are so ill, why are you like this?"
Feeling Zhao Defang's indignant questioning, Zhao Kuangyin also asked: "Why is this so?"
Leaning gently on Zhao Defang and walking slowly outside, Zhao Kuangyin's old voice revealed a sense of freedom and ease: "Why are you doing this! I have suffered so much from this disease over the years, so why not be tortured to this extent?" It's better to die happily and die happily..."
That's what he said, but it's easy to see through life and death, especially for an ambitious hero like Zhao Kuangyin. He is called free and easy, but in fact he is depressed, and he has no choice. The sadness and sadness in it are something that no one else can understand. of.
Walking slowly through the corridors of the mansion, the night wind finally became a little cooler. Zhao Kuangyin's drunkenness also dissipated a lot. He said to Zhao Defang, who was supporting him: "The court will not calm down in a short time. The tax reform is controversial. It goes on and on. Once it is officially launched and the order is issued and implemented, I am afraid it will be full of rebellion and there will be no less trouble.
There are many people in the whole court, no matter nobles or officials, who cannot understand the situation. There must be someone who wants to go against the great government.
I know these people, and I also know Your Majesty. If there is anyone in this world who can stand up to all the nobles, officials, and landlords in the world, then there is Your Majesty!
Just watch, people will die, many, many people will die! Next, the blood shed by the big man will be much more than that of some illegal nobles and corrupt officials. You must be careful..."
As they walked, Zhao Kuangyin explained to Zhao Defang: "Some preparations can be made in advance. Take a clear inventory of the property and land. Also check the servants, hired workers, and tenants. Register, especially the land. There is no need to do anything. What concealment, concealment, everything should be recorded truthfully...
In addition, I have drawn up a list of all the clan members, old friends, and disciples of my Zhao family. You can write a letter on my behalf and remind them that the family has family rules, but the national law must come first.
Let them abide by the rules, behave themselves, and not cause trouble. No matter what they do, they must abide by the laws and regulations. They must not be unscrupulous, let alone resist the imperial government.
If he breaks the law, I won't let him do it! The content is roughly like this, but the wording may be stricter. After you think about it, send the letter..."
As he spoke, Zhao Kuangyin couldn't help but sigh heavily.
Listening carefully to Zhao Kuangyin's instructions, Zhao Defang seemed a little hesitant and whispered: "Would it be more appropriate for my brother to do these things?"
Hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin was a little surprised. He turned his head to look at Zhao Defang in surprise, pondered for a moment, and said gently: "Isn't he in Xiangzhou?"
After a brief pause, Zhao Kuangyin said again: "Send a letter to your brother and let him know. I am very confident about him. He can control the situation well!"
"Yes!" Seeing Zhao Kuangyin say this, Zhao Defang solemnly responded.
Zhao Kuangyin has always loved his only son, as if he could vaguely see his own youthful temperament in his young and handsome face.
After thinking for a while, Zhao Kuangyin spoke eloquently: "As a father, what I worry about now is not the suspicion within the palace walls, nor is it my life in the near future!
There are two things that worry you the most. One is your sister. In the East Palace, the fight between the two concubines, the fight between the Zhao family and the Murong family, and the fight for the legitimate heirs have already begun. They will only become more intense in the future. We have no way of retreating. , but, I can’t see that day, and I can’t provide much help. I can only rely on you brothers in the future..."
Zhao Defang listened with a serious expression and couldn't help but said: "Isn't there a third uncle?"
Zhao Kuangyin shook his head and sighed again: "The second thing I'm worried about is your third uncle. Your third uncle is ambitious and focused on fame. In terms of intelligence, he is far better than me. If given the chance, he will definitely become a famous person." A generation minister of Qing Dynasty.
But his mind is too complicated and he is too obsessed with fame. Although he is scheming, he has become more and more impatient in recent years.
After talking with him tonight, I am even more worried. With his current mentality, facing the current political situation of the Han Dynasty, he is likely to fall into disgrace, or even be doomed...
He is determined. I can’t persuade him anymore, and I have no way to persuade him. If something happens, I’m afraid you brothers will also be implicated!
Therefore, you must remember that as long as His Majesty reigns, you must keep a distance from your third uncle as much as possible and do not get involved in his affairs.
In this way, even if something goes wrong, I may still be able to save your brothers through my hard work in this life..."
"You have been an official for some years. When I die, you can find an opportunity to serve as an official. In the local area, you can stay away from the disputes of the court and remain useful. Again, your Majesty will be able to serve as an official in one day. , just don’t go back to Beijing..."
Listening to Zhao Kuangyin's tireless and earnest teachings, feeling the sadness in his words, Zhao Defang burst into tears before he knew it...
(End of chapter)
