The film and television world begins with the battle for the throne in Kowloon

Chapter 1039: The Eternal Sinner Xu Jingzong

After observing for a while, especially the confrontation between the noble families and the imperial power in the court today, Xu Jingzong decided to cling to the new emperor. He believed that the emperor was being oppressed by the noble families and needed help.

His surrender would undoubtedly be a timely help and would surely win the emperor's attention.

Having been in the court for many years, Xu Jingzong had a very clear understanding of the struggle between the aristocracy and the imperial power. In addition, the fact that the emperor promoted Cen Wenben, who was born in the Southern Dynasty, made him even more excited. After all, Xu Jingzong also had a Southern Dynasty background.

It can help the emperor to check and balance the Guanlong clans and deal with this group of lawless people.

Even Xu Jingzong was amazed by the heated scene of today's court meeting. The northern nobles were too wild and too domineering. They didn't even take the emperor seriously. They openly humiliated the emperor in the court.

This is something that loyal subjects like him cannot agree with.

He felt that a subject was a subject, and if they acted so high-profile, the northern nobles would inevitably become a thorn in the emperor's side.

He, Xu Jingzong, was willing to be a knife in the emperor's hand and chop down the Guanlong nobles.

In fact, Xu Jingzong did not get this opportunity tonight for nothing. After analyzing the court situation and the emperor's personality, he felt that the new emperor would most likely follow the example of the retired emperor and personally visit the Hongwen Hall for inspection.

If I could seize the opportunity to meet His Majesty late at night and have a conversation by candlelight, it would undoubtedly be a great opportunity to get into the emperor's sight and show my personal abilities!

Therefore, Xu Jingzong had switched shifts with his colleagues since the day before yesterday, and he would be on duty this week. Every night, Xu Jingzong's mind was not on official business, but on the situation outside the palace. He did not expect that the opportunity would come so soon.

Xu Jingzong's heart was pounding with excitement, and he made up his mind to seize the opportunity tonight and leave the emperor with the image of a capable official.

Li Yan could sense that the ministers across from him were eager to express their admiration for him. He nodded with satisfaction and said, "I just finished reviewing the memorials and felt a little tired, so I came out for a walk. I didn't expect to end up in Hongwen Hall. I hope I didn't disturb you?"

"Your Majesty, what are you talking about? You took the trouble to come visit us in the middle of the night. We are all deeply moved."

After saying something polite, Xu Jingzong suddenly said, "To be honest with you, Your Majesty, I often handle official business and my shoulders feel sore. At home, my granddaughter massages my shoulders. If Your Majesty does not blame me for overstepping my bounds, I am willing to give Your Majesty some slack."

"Uh"

Li Yan was stunned, feeling a little annoyed. No matter it was a potential move to send his granddaughter off when they met, or he wanted to massage his shoulders, Li Yan didn't like it very much. You are an old man in your fifties, not your granddaughter who is about to bloom, why are you massaging my shoulders?

However, seeing Xu Jingzong's face full of hope and diligence, it seemed that if he refused, he would be rejecting his desire to serve.

Thinking of the next need, Li Yan nodded with a smile: "In that case, I will trouble you, my dear."

"Being able to serve His Majesty is a blessing bestowed upon me by my ancestors." Xu Jingzong knelt down respectfully and kowtowed.

Then he walked to the side, rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands carefully, and came behind Li Yan as if he was on a pilgrimage.

Li Yan sighed, he is indeed worthy of being a famous minister throughout the ages!

Although his reputation is not very good, his wisdom in life is unquestionable. Just based on this series of actions and his honored attitude, who would believe that Xu Jingzong did not treat him as his own father?
What's more, this was done by an old minister who was over 50 years old, which makes people more moved than that done by a young man.

After the other party pressed on him for a while, Li Yan felt quite comfortable.

Li Yan wanted to recruit Xu Jingzong to serve him. He had rich life experience, was well-versed in the details of local aristocratic families, and was extremely capable in the court. Most importantly, he was willing to bow down and serve as his dog. There were not many such old ministers in the court!
Both Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu are ministers that Li Yan will soon use, and they are also powerful tools for controlling the court and dismembering the aristocratic families.

Li Yan wanted to test this person's moral integrity and bottom line in order to determine how to get along with him in the future. So he closed his eyes, thought for a while, and said lightly: "Xu Jingzong, Jingzong? I have heard of your name, but I have never seen it. What are the two characters?"

"Your Majesty, it's Jingzong who respects his ancestors!" Xu Jingzong rolled his eyes and replied cautiously.

"Oh I got it."

Li Yan didn't even move his eyelids, and said regretfully: "I thought it was loyalty to serve the country, it seems that I was wrong."

'Well'

Xu Jingzong's face froze, his brows knitted, his brain raced, and he said almost without pause: "Your Majesty is wise. In fact, when I was young, my father gave me the name of serving the country with loyalty."

"However, later, the Sui Dynasty fell, and I became a minister of the Tang Dynasty."

"Once, I had an argument with a colleague, who pointed at my nose and cursed me. He said that my father was an official of the Southern Chen Dynasty, and I was a minister of the Sui Dynasty, and now I have defected to the Tang Dynasty. Is this loyalty to the Southern Chen Dynasty or the Sui Dynasty?"

"How much energy can a person have, how many times can he be loyal, how many times can he serve his country?"

“I was afraid that this matter would reach the ears of the emperor, who would suspect that my family missed their homeland and had rebellious intentions, so I changed my name. Now I have the respect for my ancestors.” Li Yan secretly praised in his heart, saying that he was worthy of being the Yin Prime Minister of the ages.

As expected, he was quick-witted. In just a moment, he came up with such a perfect excuse and saved face for himself.

"Humph! That person is really talkative."

Li Yan frowned and said, "Your father had good intentions, but he was misinterpreted by such a villain. I think it is good to be loyal to the country, whether it is the Southern Chen Dynasty, the former Sui Dynasty, or the current Tang Dynasty. It is the duty of loyalty to the emperor."

"To be loyal and serve the country is the duty of a subject. It is justifiable no matter where you are!"

"The Emperor's Holy Might."

Xu Jingzong immediately ran to Li Yan, knelt down with his robe sleeves thrown down, and kowtowed vigorously. When he raised his head again, tears were streaming down his face: "Your Majesty, I changed my name for my own selfish reasons. For decades, I have felt tormented every day."

"I feel ashamed of my father and my ancestors! If Your Majesty does not blame me, I am willing to change my name back to my original name to comfort my father's spirit in heaven."

At this moment, Li Yan was somewhat shocked. The emperor's authority and influence far exceeded his imagination.

Of course he knew that the original name given by Xu's father and the attacks by the ministers were all nonsense. Xu Jingzong did this for four words: flattery and fawning on his superiors. The key point was that the other party did it so flawlessly.

He even used his own words to turn it into a past event.

Li Yan silently looked at Xu Jingzong who was looking guilty in front of him. His expression was extremely sincere and his words were extremely earnest. Coupled with the tears sliding down his beard, Li Yan almost believed that all this was true!

The response was perfect!
Li Yan thought to himself: "This is an extremely smart and loyal dog with no bottom line. He is willing to do anything for me!"

Li Yan also had an intuitive understanding of Xu Jingzong.

Just because of a misunderstanding, he was willing to change the name he had used all his life, and changed from respecting his ancestors to learning from the 9000-year-old. He was not afraid of being embarrassed to see his ancestors, nor was he afraid of being accused of fawning by his colleagues.

It can be seen that this person yearns for power and is determined to rely on himself.

This person can be used with confidence and boldly. As long as he is still the emperor and has the imperial power, he is not afraid that he will turn over his palm. Although Xu Jingzong is a sinister person, he does not have the ability to change the world, and can only be a greedy minister who caters to the monarch.

If I need him to be a loyal minister, he may be able to do it. Xu Jingzong's future position depends on my own thoughts and my own needs!
Li Yan immediately stood up, his eyes showing undisguised admiration, and helped Xu Jingzong up: "Well, my dear minister, you are loyal to your country and can comfort your ancestors. I believe that your ancestors will be proud of your actions in the afterlife."

Hearing Li Yan's punny words and his admiring expression, Xu Jingzong
No, it should be Xu Jinzhong, who was overjoyed.

It seems that this bet was right. The emperor obviously feels better about me. Maybe I will be promoted and reused in the near future.

The emperor likes "Jinzhong" but not "Jingzong", so if I am "Jinzhong", isn't it just a change of name?
I haven't changed my surname, so it doesn't count as betraying my ancestors.

What's more, this was revised by the emperor himself, and the emperor must have a deep memory of it. I work in the Secretariat, and since I am so favored by the emperor, how can I be afraid that I will not be valued by the emperor?

Sure enough, after this tacit mutual testing between both sides, both the king and the minister felt that their relationship was closer. Li Yan picked up the tea on the table and took two sips.

Xu Jinzhong's eyes lit up, bursting with excitement.

He understood that the emperor was very cautious about what he drank. Originally, serving a cup of tea was just a courtesy, and he didn't expect the emperor to drink it. In fact, even Li Shimin had only drunk tea brewed by Fang Xuanling.

Others' have never been touched.

Over the past ten years, Xu Jinzhong had been lucky enough to make tea for Li Shimin more than ten times, an average of once a year.

But Li Shimin never touched it once.

Today, the new emperor actually drank the tea brewed by Xu Jingzong, which undoubtedly hinted to him that the emperor trusted him.

What a great honor this is!

The ancestor has opened his eyes. Xu Jinzhong was so excited that tears filled his eyes. This time he was really emotional and excited.

He didn't believe that the emperor didn't even understand these things. In the series of subtle exchanges between the emperor and his subjects tonight, the emperor acted as if it was a piece of cake, letting things take their course. His sending and receiving were just right, without any awkwardness or reluctance.

After personal contact, Xu Jinzhong was shocked to realize that the new emperor was definitely not just a lucky young man as the outside world said.

(End of this chapter)