Chapter 605: People Don’t Avoid Food
The three were still talking when Menzi came in to report: The King of Feiyan has arrived.
Several elderly people immediately stood up to greet them.
Zhao Feiyan walked in with a laughter as loud as a silver bell, and asked Mr. Ding before she sat down: The weather is so hot, why don’t you go to Qingcheng Mountain to escape the heat?
Mr. Ding said with a smile: Our king and the officials of the Central Council are still busy, how can these old men have the nerve to have fun.
Zhao Feiyan said with a smile that Jianfu Palace was renovated at the beginning of the year for the gentlemen to use as a summer resort. How could the old man not go and see if the workmanship of the craftsmen had improved?
Everyone knew that Zhao Feiyan was joking, and they laughed and invited the king to have tea, "Have tea."
Lao Cao looked around and said cheerfully: Since the king has given the order, let's go to Qingcheng and stay there first, waiting for the king's arrival.
Zhao Feiyan immediately asked Lao Cao not to be sarcastic to her, and said to them with a smile: Anyway, there is nothing big happening in the near future, so let's all go to Qingcheng and stay for a few days to avoid the heat.
The gentlemen were delighted and immediately went back to pack their luggage.
This was what Zhao Yulin had instructed Feiyan before he set out, to tighten up internally and loosen up externally, to create the impression that weapons had been put into storage and horses had been released to the mountains, so that the grassland empire in the north would relax its vigilance.
Before the actions of the gentlemen in Taijian Hall were spread out, Shi's son who lived there knew about it immediately.
After being demoted as a research official, this fellow had been following the emperor in compiling history. When he saw the row of horse-drawn carriages from Taijiantang leaving the city to the west, he felt jealous and thought that he had grown grass again.
While reviewing the manuscripts, he reported to the emperor who was sitting at the top: Chengdu is really hot this year. All the elders in the city have gone to Qingcheng to cool off. All he saw were horse-drawn carriages used exclusively by the imperial court.
The emperor was smart at all. He knew that this guy also wanted to go out to cool off, but he didn't have that treatment and could only take advantage of the opportunity with the emperor.
The emperor was very pleased. When he was in Lin'an, this guy followed the Empress Dowager and was very naughty. He asked Shi what to do with his son?
The imperial court's Taijian has just gone to Qingcheng. Do you think we should go with him?
Shi's son was a playful person. As soon as he settled down beside the emperor, his true nature was revealed. He suggested to the emperor to go to Mount Emei for summer vacation. He heard that Mount Emei was built like a fairy mountain. The Emei School on the mountain was full of flying fairy female disciples, all of whom were charming and lovely, without any rough men with bare arms and legs.
The emperor was a romantic and literary person. He was fascinated by Shi Zi's description with his gorgeous words. He immediately summoned Xie Wuhui to contact the Ministry of Rites.
Xie Wuhui was a martial artist, so she naturally knew the relationship between Mount Emei and the Zhao family. She did not go directly to the Ministry of Rites, but went to the Zhao Mansion to report first.
As it happened, Zhao Feiyan and Chen Chen were both at home. When they heard that the old emperor was going to Mount Emei to escape the summer heat, Feiyan was in a dilemma. It was agreed that his father could go wherever he wanted. How could she say no?
Seeing that she didn't say anything, Chen Chen immediately said that it was absolutely not possible and that he would not allow it.
Brother Yulin definitely doesn't want Mount Emei to be disturbed by anyone.
Once Uncle Zhao goes up the mountain and sees the angel-like Emei disciples, he will definitely be aroused and may even ask the girls to take one of the Emei female knights as his concubine.
That would be troublesome?
Chen Chen was still gossiping non-stop, but Zhao Feiyan was already staring at her with wide eyes and a dark face.
When she saw Zhao Feiyan glaring at her, she realized that she had been in trouble because she had only cared about her own pleasure and made up all the interesting stories she had heard about the old emperor.
There is a stranger named Xie Wuhui waiting for you nearby.
However, this girl knew that her emperor relative was a bit of a bastard, and if anything went wrong in Mount Emei, it would be her responsibility, so she went to the Zhao Mansion to report first.
Xie Wuhui smiled awkwardly and said: How about I go back and inform Uncle Zhao that there have been military operations on Mount Emei recently and the Ministry of War has closed the mountain.
How about asking Uncle Zhao to find another good place?
Chen Chen kept saying how kind it was. Her Guangchen was currently practicing martial arts in the mountains. That little girl was fearless and even dared to scold her own father. If that little girl caught Uncle Zhao, she would be beaten up and who knows how to resolve this case.
Zhao Feiyan then said to Xie Wuhui indifferently: You can't go to Emei, it's the forbidden place for the Third Young Master, and officials from the Central Court of the New Song Dynasty are not allowed to go there. Go back and tell Mr. Zhao that he can go to Hengqu Town in the back mountain of Qingcheng. Chengdu Prefecture has just repaired the streets this year, and there are many tourists. It is a good place for leisure and vacation.
When Chen Chen heard Zhao Feiyan praising her political achievements, she was happy and immediately said proudly: Yes, yes, let’s go to Hengqu Town and I guarantee we can make Uncle Zhao happy.
Xie Wuhui followed the order and left. Along the way, he admired Zhao Yulin's wife for being so innocent and interesting. After returning to Huaxi Villa, the emperor asked her how it was. She told the emperor that the king did not allow it because there were military activities on the mountain recently.
The emperor followed the arrangement with great regret and headed west to Hengqu Town.
In the evening, Huo Fenghuang and Shunzhidi returned from their official duties, and Zhao Feiyan asked for wine and wanted to make Chen Chen drink. The four women sat at the table and drank from their daughter's red wine.
After hearing Zhao Feiyan's complaint, Huo Fenghuang laughed and said that Chen Chen was just a character who started hitting and talking nonsense as soon as he opened his mouth. After all, Uncle Zhao was Feiyan's father.
Chen Chen already knew that he was wrong, so he held up the wine glass with both hands and invited the king's sister to drink and apologize to her.
Shunzhidi laughed and said that the two of them had nothing to do and were really good at acting. This time, the exchange of the old and new currencies had exposed so many corrupt officials, but they didn't care how to fill the vacancies?
Zhao Feiyan and Chen Chen raised their glasses and asked her to drink, "Where is the Minister of Personnel? Why is she pushing the responsibility that should be hers onto Shangguan?"
Fire Phoenix laughed so hard that her stomach hurt.
Then he said solemnly: Brother Yulin is gone, we must not be careless. Otherwise, we will not go to Qingcheng for summer vacation this year, and urge the Ministry of Justice to sort out the officialdom in Chengdu.
Zhao Feiyan shook her head confidently and said, "No need. We are treating it like a formidable enemy just because of a currency exchange. It also underestimates our New Song Dynasty court."
She has her own arrangements.
Fenghuang was surprised. She didn't expect Zhao Feiyan to be so calm.
The three women looked at Feiyan in confusion, waiting for her to speak.
Zhao Feiyan said calmly: The sky won't fall. Brother Yulin has given instructions, everything will remain the same. All the officials of the Central Court will go on vacation, leaving Brother Miao and Lord You on duty.
So that's why the women asked her to say it earlier.
Fire Phoenix immediately realized that Zhao Yulin’s trip was not simple and it was very likely that he would go to war with the Mongolian army again.
After the establishment of the Privy Council in the Central Council of the New Song Dynasty, Zhao Yulin paid more attention to the confidentiality of military secrets and no longer discussed major military matters casually as he did in the past.
Only Miao Gui, him and Zhao Feiyan knew about this military operation.
Huo Fenghuang knew Zhao Yulin's habits. The faster he walked, the more urgent the situation was, and the more covertly he walked, the more serious the problem was. She hesitated for a moment and said: I want to go to Xinshi to accompany Yulin.
Zhao Feiyan asked her with a relaxed look: Forgot? When Brother Yulin left, he said that everyone should be busy with their own things. If anyone has something to do, they can go to Cuiping Mountain to talk to Sister Ma Ling.
Sister Phoenix is no exception.
Fire Phoenix was at a loss and said helplessly: Then I will stay on duty in Chengdu with Brother Miao to ensure that you all stay cool in the summer.
Chen Chen said proudly: Dashan, I want to go on vacation too.
The next day, all officials above the rank of minister in the Central Yuan in Chengdu left Beijing and went to Qingcheng Mountain to escape the summer heat.
The emperor also came to Hengqu Town with his two wives. This important town that used to connect Tubo and the core of Shu lost many merchants and travelers due to the construction of the Dujiangyan Cable Bridge, but it became a good place for Chengdu people to cool off and escape the summer heat because it is close to the Taoist fairy mountain.
After seeing this business opportunity, Chen Chen called together the wealthy businessmen in the city to encourage investment. Wu Jing brought their Zhao family consortium here and bought three old buildings on the bank of Weijiang River, renovated them and opened them for business.
The emperor lived in Yingchun Tower beside Hengqu. He was so surprised to see the streets full of tourists and the shops on both sides crowded with people eating and having fun that he couldn't close his mouth.
The Queen Mother followed him like a follower, praising the prosperity of Hengqu and lamenting that Western Shu was truly a place of outstanding people and the richest place in the world.
The emperor immediately reminded her to be careful with her words and actions and not to talk nonsense anymore.
The Queen Mother was confused and wondered if it was not okay for her to just say a few words of praise?
The emperor said proudly: The new Song Dynasty is peaceful and prosperous, Feiyan governs well, and no praise is too much.
Shi's son , as the emperor's specially appointed attendant, stood by and saw the empress dowager's embarrassed expression. He smiled and tried to smooth things over by saying: According to statistics from the imperial Ministry of Revenue, the population of New Song has exceeded 100 million, about 110 million people, and the tax collection has reached 200 million coins, which is unprecedented.
One hundred million is one hundred million, and two hundred million is two hundred million. These people are not used to Zhao Yulin's method of counting in units of one hundred million. It sounds very profound, but it is actually that simple.
Xie Wuhui happily told them: I just heard from the eldest princess that today is the fifteenth day of the month, and fireworks will be set off on the Hengqu Corridor Bridge in the evening. This is a voluntary fundraising effort by the wealthy families in the town to add fun to the guests staying in the town.
"Oh, there is such fun." The emperor exclaimed in surprise.
Xie Wuhui said: The eldest princess has established a chamber of commerce here to unify and coordinate the operations of merchants. Business is booming. There are dragon lantern performances every morning, fireworks on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, and lion dance performances.
The Queen and the Imperial Concubine were delighted. They surrounded the Emperor and said, "Let's stay here and not leave. We want to watch the lion dance and the dragon lantern show."
When the Queen Mother heard Xie Wuhui calling Wu Jing a big princess, she thought of her beloved granddaughter Lan'er and murmured, "What big princess? Where is her Lan'er?"
Isn't this just talking about something else? The emperor was immediately displeased and turned around and told them to go back to the house.
Shi's son explained to the empress dowager from behind that the president of the local Chamber of Commerce, Wu Jing, is the eldest daughter of Commander Zhao, and everyone who knows her calls her the eldest princess.
This guy is playing tricks on me again.
Xie Wuhui corrected him immediately, saying that the common people now have no taboos, and as long as they like, they can call themselves the Queen Mother, the Empress, the Emperor, and this palace. If the mother-in-law doesn't believe it, she can go to a tavern on the street and sit down and listen.
Old Mrs. Xie already knew this, so why would she listen to it? She just felt sad that these terms and expressions unique to her family were becoming so prevalent among the people. It was such a pity.
In Jianfu Palace at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain, Zhao Feiyan was hosting a banquet for her ministers.
