Chapter 410 The Emperor's Teachings
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!"
Jia Cong hurriedly stood up and saluted, and Zhen Muring did not dare to be negligent and followed Jia Cong.
The queen stood up and helped Emperor Longxing take off his outer robe. "Your Majesty, do you think this couple is a good match?"
Emperor Longxing could not understand what the queen said. To him, it was just that the daughter of the Zhen family married his son. He was more concerned about other things. As for the love affairs of his little daughter, they were dispensable. If his son had not brought his wife to the palace today, he would not have had time to come.
"I heard that you also gave advice to Niu Jizong!" Emperor Longxing took the teacup, took a sip, and sat next to Jia Cong very naturally.
Jia Cong replied, "He is about to go to Fengzhou to guard the border. It just so happens that I have paid attention to the situation there before, so I am going to discuss it with him."
"Well, now all the founding lineages are headed by you, and Niu Jizong is the role model you set up. However, this is a bit bad."
"Niu Jizong already has some foundation, so his status is gradually improving. Although it will also enhance your prestige, it will also pose a threat to your status and power. After all, although he is close to you, he is not completely under your control! Look at the Yuanping lineage controlled by Duke Qing. Those who can rise to power are all his direct descendants. Therefore, as long as he says a word, everyone in the Yuanping lineage will support him without hesitation."
"I should say something that I shouldn't say. Even if Duke Qing rebels one day, most people in the Yuanping lineage will fully support him."
"But you are different. You are now in charge of the founding lineage. In addition to relying on the Jia family's foundation, you rely more on your own abilities!"
"Do you think that when your interests conflict with Niu Jizong's, will he give up his own interests?"
"So, you can show favor to the founding lineage, but if you want them to be under your control, you can't raise their status too high. At least, you should have the power to check and balance the founding lineage."
"Just like the founding lineage and the Yuanping lineage, the dispute between the two sides does exist, but this is the only way to better serve the interests of the court, my father, and me. If all military merits belong to one lineage, it will definitely not be a good thing for the court."
"I have read the list of names submitted by Niu Jizong when he went to Fengzhou to defend the border. I will replace some of the officers and soldiers in your Beijing camp who were originally under your direct command. Niu Jizong will also do his best to take care of these people for your sake. When they return from the border defense, they will have experience and military merits, and their official positions and ranks can be promoted."
"As these people grow up, they can become another force in your hands."
"This also applies to the military divisions. The military divisions of North City, West City, and East City are all made up of descendants of the founding dynasty, which is also somewhat inappropriate."
"The most trustworthy people around you are your personal guards. Some of them were originally servants of your Jia family or descendants of your personal guards. They have also fought with you through life and death. You can select a few of them to join the military command."
Emperor Longxing spoke very naturally, but both Jia Cong and Zhen Muring were stunned.
Is there really an emperor teaching his subjects the art of being an emperor? Jia Cong naturally knew the benefits of checks and balances, and he also knew that it was not safe for him to rely entirely on the Eight Dukes and Twelve Marquises. However, these words coming out of the mouth of Emperor Longxing were really too weird.
Is it normal for an emperor to teach a minister how to form cliques and factions, and how to manage his own power? It is absolutely abnormal! As for Zhen Muring, a thought suddenly came to her mind: could her man be His Majesty's illegitimate son?
But she dismissed the idea as soon as it came to her mind. Her husband was a member of the Jia family, so how could he have any relationship with the royal family? It was just that the way her husband interacted with the emperor and the empress was too strange. If she didn't know the inside story, she would have almost thought that this was an emperor teaching the prince...
Therefore, Jia Cong was stunned for a long time, but he really didn't know how to answer. Tell the emperor that he knows? Then go and find a way to win over these people? This is not a big deal.
"Do you remember what I said?" Seeing that Jia Cong did not answer, Emperor Longxing frowned and asked.
Jia Cong grinned and could only nod. Hey, you are the emperor, you can do whatever you say...
"Also, although you haven't married yet, you already have concubines and aunts. Let them come to the palace to accompany the queen when they have nothing to do. You spend all day outside having fun while the queen and I are busy in the palace. How unfilial you are." Is there anything wrong with letting the daughter-in-law accompany the mother-in-law? Nothing wrong!
Fortunately, the eunuchs from the imperial kitchen had already delivered the meal, otherwise Jia Cong would have almost dragged Zhen Muring and fled.
And Zhen Muring finally enjoyed the emperor's family dinner.
After finishing the meal with great trepidation, Zhen Muring almost thought that this was her last meal before execution. Even in the usual royal banquets, people would sit at separate tables according to their rank. How could they eat together at a small table like ordinary people? But watching her husband eat heartily, was this something she was used to?
After the meal, the emperor and empress gave them some rewards and then sent them out of the palace.
The carriage returned to the mansion. Zhen Muring hesitated for a long time before asking Jia Cong, "Master...Mr., have His Majesty and His Majesty always treated you so well? It's like...it's like..."
Jia Cong rested his head directly on Zhen Muring's arms, "Like to your son?"
Jia Cong's actions made Zhen Muring feel a little uncomfortable, but she still hugged Jia Cong carefully and moved her body to make him more comfortable.
"It was fine before. Ever since the hunting trip at Tiewang Mountain, His Majesty and His Majesty have treated me very well. Maybe... it's because I was seriously injured while saving His Majesty at Tiewang Mountain."
Zhen Muring nodded as if she understood, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered, "Master, I have often heard from my family that being with the emperor is like being with a tiger. It is naturally good for His Majesty and His Majesty to be close to you, but you cannot exceed your status. Otherwise, not only will it be easy for others to catch you in the future, but it will also be easy for His Majesty and His Majesty to dislike you."
"Well, don't worry, Master, I know what's going on!"
After returning to Ningguo Mansion, Qingwen came to report after entering the mansion, "Master, the eldest and second wives of the West Mansion and all the girls have arrived. They are now in the Grand Madam's Courtyard."
Jia Cong nodded, and while asking Qingwen to help the two change into casual clothes, he said to Xiangling, "Xiangling, go and invite them all over. Is the food in the kitchen ready?"
"I have just checked, the food and drinks are all ready, and the Xue family shop has also sent a lot of seasonal fruits and fresh dishes, and the old lady from the West Mansion has also given some, so it is enough for us to eat."
