Volume 3 Chapter 39 Consultation
"Is Feng Erguan involved in this matter?"
The court and the public requested the establishment of a queen, especially when generals at the commander-in-chief level from other places interfered in the matter through letters. Emperor Zhao was naturally stunned for a moment, and his first reaction was to ask Yang Yizhong, the know-it-all who came to deliver the letter.
Feng Erguan, of course, refers to Feng Yi... In fact, Feng Yi's original nickname was Shiwulang, but because Emperor Zhao was determined to simplify the Ministry of Internal Affairs, many eunuchs with names were thrown to Yangzhou. For a long time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs had a chief eunuch Lan Gui in charge of confidential documents, responsible for connecting with the previous dynasty, and a eunuch Feng Yi in charge of various miscellaneous matters in the harem. And because there were only these two people, the chief eunuch was always called a senior official, so Feng Yi also got the title of the second official.
As for why he asked Feng Yi right away, it was naturally because this guy had a criminal record.
"No, at least I don't know..." Yang Yizhong answered immediately without hesitation.
Zhao Jiu nodded slowly, but couldn't ask any more questions: "So, this matter has nothing to do with Yanfu Palace?"
Yang Yizhong hesitated a little and did not answer directly: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being frank. The palace has a limited population and limited money and grain. Many places have lost their internal and external income. Feng Erguan has suffered a loss again, so he naturally looks clean. However, Yanfu Palace is not only for eunuchs, and it is not only Feng Erguan who has financial resources."
Zhao Jiu sneered and nodded.
By the way, Yang Yizhong's hint was already very obvious. There were only a few people in Yeonbok Palace, and not many of them were powerful and wealthy. Apart from Emperor Zhao himself, there were only two concubines, two direct commanders of the imperial guards, and two eunuchs who were considered to have power. And since they were not eunuchs, Yang Yizhong directly mentioned the word "source of wealth", which was basically equivalent to saying that the two concubines were supported by their own families.
After all, Mrs. Wu's family was well-known for being wealthy. They monopolized the pearl trade in the capital at that time. Once a luxury item like pearls was monopolized in Tokyo at that time, it basically meant a monopoly on the pearl trade in the entire Song Dynasty. That's why they were called Pearl Wu. As for Concubine Pan, although her family was slightly inferior, her family had been relatives of the imperial court for generations, and several generations had been figures in the Hanlin Medical Academy (that is, the Imperial Medical Service in later generations, which was under the jurisdiction of the Hanlin Academy). This had been the case for a long time in that era of peace and prosperity. Even if they were not wealthy at the beginning, they would naturally become top wealthy people after a few generations.
Both families are now in Tokyo. Madam Wu's father is often summoned. After Concubine Pan's father, Pan Yongshou, came back, he was directly appointed as a medical officer of the Imperial Medical Academy. They have always had easy access to the harem , and the life in the palace is hard... I dare to ask how these two wealthy families could be reluctant to pay for their own daughters' use?
Do you really think that Emperor Zhao's self-deprecating remarks about being a gigolo are like a tree without roots and water without a source?
But if that was the case, Zhao Jiu didn't want to pursue it any further, because he didn't have the feudal emperor's awareness of "you can't take it if I don't give it to you"... Especially for Concubine Pan, it was almost natural for her to want this queen.
Not to mention, people are not plants, who can be heartless? According to the simple and straight male thinking of Zhao Guanjia, if he took someone's body, why not give her a marriage certificate?
The only thing is that Madam Wu also took someone else's body. If one of them didn't, it would seem a bit of a scumbag... But it seems that this situation is not his fault, because these two people had a legitimate status from the beginning.
"What does Zhengfu think about this?" After thinking for a long time with his head down, Zhao Jiu closed the note from Wang Yan's subordinates on the desk and asked Yang Yizhong again helplessly.
Yang Yizhong was obviously not reacting at first, but he still thought that the emperor wanted to hold her accountable, so he answered carefully: "I think that this is probably because the emperor only accompanies Madam Wu, and Madam Wu has sufficient financial resources, so Madam Pan is a little worried..."
"I'm asking you...how do you think the matter of establishing a queen should be handled? Should we establish a queen?" Zhao Jiu said helplessly.
Yang Yizhong was stunned for a moment, and replied after a long while: "This is a private matter of the government."
"This is a private matter!" Zhao Jiu pointed at the papers and documents on the table, speechless. "What the hell are you, Yang Yizhong, talking to me about here? This is a private matter, and it is a private matter that cannot be discussed publicly..."
Yang Yizhong also looked helpless.
"Don't worry, I'm not asking only you. I'm just starting with you." Zhao Jiu quickly comforted him.
Yang Yizhong nodded slightly, and then said solemnly: "I think such a commotion is definitely not caused by the instigation of a few people. It is because the Jin people are still hanging on and people's hearts are in turmoil. Therefore, it is understandable that they seek peace for a while... If establishing a queen can calm people's hearts, why not do it?"
That's approval.
"That's true, but isn't there a saying... How can we have a family if the Xiongnu is not destroyed?" Zhao Jiu nodded at first, but then shook his head. "Under the current situation, it is impossible to hold a grand ceremony, and I am not willing to waste manpower on such a thing."
"It's OK to keep it simple." Yang Yizhong smiled bitterly. "It's OK even if there's only one decree... Even in Tokyo, I think as long as we release the frozen pigs stored in the cellar and give each family a piece of meat, I think no one in Tokyo will object."
Zhao Jiu was speechless after being refuted for a moment, and finally spoke the truth: "I think Pan and Wu are enough for my life. At least I don't plan to add more concubines before the fall of the Jin people... So, if Concubine Pan is promoted to Queen, what about Madam Wu? On the other hand, if Madam Wu is promoted to Queen, what about Madam Pan?"
Yang Yizhong was slightly startled, but remained silent.
"I'm asking you a question..." Zhao Jiu kept urging. "If I don't ask you about this, do you want me to ask the prime minister?"
Yang Yizhong still remained silent.
Zhao Jiu gritted his teeth and said, "Yang Yizhong, just tell me if it's feasible or not... Can we have two concubines at the same time?"
Yang Yizhong had no choice but to bite the bullet and reply , "I think it's okay."
"That's fine." Zhao Jiu was relieved. "As you say, I'll go to Chongwenyuan to talk to the prime minister."
Having said that, the official stood up without caring about anything else.
On this side, Yang Yizhong was stunned and completely panicked... He was just here to deliver a routine note to the commander of the imperial camp, how did it become "I'll do as you say"?
But seeing that Emperor Zhao had already walked out, this confidant of the emperor, who had fought in many battles and even had subordinates who were promoted to leaders, while he was still a commander, quickly caught up with him and made a series of suggestions:
"Your Majesty must explain to the court and the public that, first, you miss Queen Xing and do not want to establish another queen; second, how can you have a family if the Xiongnu is not destroyed? You do not plan to add concubines to your harem before the Jin people are destroyed..."
"Of course." Zhao Jiu walked out of the hall without even looking back.
Yang Yizhong was so flustered that he quickly caught up with her. He didn't care that Lan Gui and others who had come out to avoid him were right in front of him. He said earnestly: "Even if it's just to establish a concubine, the emperor should also send out frozen pork..."
Zhao Jiu nodded repeatedly.
Lan Gui and others came forward, and Yang Yizhong completely stopped in his tracks... but he was powerless for a moment... How could he not know that the official must have had a plan in mind long ago, and did this specifically to make him, the person who could be bullied by everyone, take the blame?
After all, it was in broad daylight, and everyone saw that after he was alone with the emperor for a while, the emperor, who was previously "confused", suddenly made a decision. How could he explain himself?
What's more, before Mrs. Pan arrived, Wu's family went to Tokyo first, and I had a lot of contact with Wu for official business... This can't be washed away, there must be a motive!
How can I still have a good face in front of Concubine Pan in the future?
Maybe Mrs. Wu would be grateful? But what's the point of asking Mrs. Wu to be grateful?
The most important thing is, how do foreign officials view themselves?
Thinking of this, Yang Yi felt a little resentful... but he could only do nothing about it.
After all, how could he not know that since he became the leader of the imperial guards, he was destined to be a lonely minister? Moreover, he knew very well that there was also a Prime Minister Lu in Chongwenyuan who would inevitably say "I'll do as you say"... Wouldn't others be envious of him for being able to share the blame with the prime minister?
In late November of the third year of Jianyan, the Jin army had been inactive for a long time, and the capital was idle, so the court and the public advised to establish a queen to boost morale. However, Emperor Zhao missed Queen Xing very much, and he did not want to stay at home until the Jin people were pacified... He only appointed Pan Wu as the left and right concubines. He also issued an edict, vowing that he would not increase the harem until the Jin people were destroyed, and that the war was not over, so he did not hold a grand ceremony, but only distributed 60,000 kilograms of pork, rewarded the entire city of Tokyo, and 300,000 silks, rewarded the entire army of the imperial camp.
After the ceremony, the public opinion was slightly calmed down, and the emperor left Tokyo to inspect the Yellow River.
However, since Emperor Zhao had left the city, rumors were spreading all over the court and the public in Tokyo that Emperor Zhao had wanted to follow the crowd and establish a queen, but the two concubines Pan and Wu were clearly distinguished in terms of rank and inferiority, and once the queen was established, only Pan would be respected. However, Prime Minister Lu Haowen had a grudge against Concubine Pan, and Yang Yizhong, the commander of the imperial guards and the head of the Imperial City Department, was close to Mrs. Wu's family, which made them feel uneasy. They suggested that the two concubines be respected equally. The Emperor was attacked from both sides and lost his balance.
After the rumor spread, the Censor Li Jing submitted a memorial to impeach Yang Yi Zhong, accusing him of interfering in the affairs of the royal family and requesting that Yang Yi Zhong be executed.
When the memorial arrived, the government had already reached the Yellow River and was submerged.
