The prince is more stable

Chapter 157: Famous Ministers Should Be Protectors
Zhang Dun was going to take action against Su Che. Upon hearing this news, Zhao Xiaoqian had to take it seriously.

After this old man became prime minister, he became more and more crazy. The various experiences of being suppressed and persecuted by the old party during the Yuanyou period became Zhang Dun's biggest motivation for revenge against the old party.

After the debates and discussions at the court a few days ago, most people thought that the atmosphere in the court had improved. Regardless of the political views, at least there was a gentlemanly demeanor in the court.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Dun couldn't hold back his anger after all. When he became impatient, he felt that talking was meaningless and it would be better to take action directly.

There is a lot of controversy about Zhang Dun in history books. Some people say that he was a loyal minister because he advocated new laws, which were beneficial to the Song Dynasty.

Some people also say that he was a traitorous minister, and that it was he who wiped out the gentlemanly political atmosphere of the Song Dynasty since Yuanfeng. The court officials began to become aggressive, and after Zhang Dun became prime minister, he acted arbitrarily and even often denied the will of the emperor.

Zhao Xiaoqian was not interested in studying what kind of person Zhang Dun was.

But he couldn't take action against Su Che.

Whether you say that he was a personal friend with whom he had had a few drinks, or that he was the younger brother of Su Shi, Zhao Xiaoqian's idol, or that he was a loyal and upright minister, in short, Zhao Xiaoqian did not want to see Su Zhe get into trouble.

"After noon today, Zhang Dun intends to take action?"

"Yes, the Ministry of Justice has spies from our Imperial City Bureau... In fact, every government office in Bianjing, big or small, has spies from our Imperial City Bureau."

"My informant reported last night that Zhang Dun instructed the Ministry of Justice to arrest Su Che and order Vice Minister Xing Shu to personally try him. They'll probably accuse Su Che of several crimes and then exile him. Zhang Dun probably wants to make an example of Su Che and severely intimidate the old factions in the court."

Zhao Xiaoqian sneered, it was Zhang Dun's idea to transfer Xing Shu back to Beijing to serve as the Minister of Justice.

It turned out that Zhang Dun had already prepared to take action against the old party, and Xing Shu was the knife in Zhang Dun's hand.

Xing Shu had also been suppressed by the old party for many years. In terms of his mind and tolerance, he was even smaller than Zhang Dun. He was the kind of person who would chase a dog for three blocks if it barked at him on the street.

With Zhang Dun and Xing Shu, two old guys working together, the old party in the court is likely to be in big trouble.

Seeing Zhao Xiaoqian remained silent for a while, Wei Jie said cautiously, "I heard that the Marquis and Su Che had a drinking relationship, so I just mentioned it casually. This matter is of great importance, and I'm afraid Su Che can't save him. Otherwise, I'll offend Minister Zhang and have a hard time in the future."

Zhao Xiaoqian understood what Wei Jie meant. He was tactfully advising him not to get involved and just treat it as gossip.

However, how could Zhao Xiaoqian turn a blind eye?
After all, he is Su Che. Regardless of his achievements in literature, he is still a famous official of his generation.

If Su Che were arrested and interrogated today, sent to the Ministry of Justice, and was personally tried by that old man Xing Shu, he would be skinned alive if he didn't die, and it would be more difficult than just having lice on his body.

Wei Jie looked at Zhao Xiaoqian's expression quietly, and seeing that he seemed fine, he just felt relieved.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly said, "Brother Li Yan, after court is dismissed today, please take my name card and wait for Su Che outside the palace gate. Tell him that I want to treat him to a drink at noon today."

Wei Jie sighed: "Has the Marquis decided to protect Su Zhe?"

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked. "It's just a drink, nothing more. While Su Che is still alive, I plan to trick him into writing me a few more pieces of calligraphy and poems. I'll leave them to my descendants. They'll be very valuable."

Wei Jie shook his head. He knew that what Zhao Xiaoqian had decided could not be changed.

"The Marquis of County is going against Prime Minister Zhang by doing this. You should think it over carefully." Wei Jie had to remind him.

Zhao Xiaoqian was silent for a moment, then said, "Think it through, and do what's right."

If you live your life over again and are still timid in your actions and behavior, hide when encountering problems, and submit to the strong, then what is the meaning of living this life over again?
Do whatever you want to do and follow your heart. You will not leave any regrets for yourself when you are old. Only in this way will you live up to the new life you have in this life.

…………

At noon, when the palace gate slowly opened, the ministers dispersed and walked out of the palace gate in twos and threes. After saying goodbye to each other, they returned to their own offices to work.

Su Che was stopped by Wei Jie as he just left the palace.

Wei Jie handed over Zhao Xiaoqian's business card with a respectful smile on his face. Su Che opened it and snorted in annoyance.

"This brat stole someone else's love. I haven't settled the score with him yet, but now he comes to my door himself!" Su Che said angrily.

Wei Jie looked at him in confusion, unable to understand the meaning of Su Che's words. Under Wei Jie's arrangement, Su Che got on the carriage and headed straight for Zui Huayin.

As soon as the carriage left, a group of officials from the Ministry of Justice in black clothes came to the palace gate. After waiting for a long time and asking the imperial guards on duty outside the palace gate, they learned that Su Che had been invited to a banquet, and the person who invited him was Zhao Xiaoqian, the Marquis of Anle County.

The officers from the Ministry of Justice were stunned for a while, then hurriedly turned around and went back to report.

The person the Ministry of Justice wanted to arrest was actually intercepted by someone. This matter must be reported.

Drunk in the shade of flowers.

Brothels were actually open during the day as well, and the time of day was not a big deal for business. Strictly speaking, brothels in the Song Dynasty should be considered comprehensive venues that combined romance, banquets, and public relations.

It is not what people in later generations imagine, where you just walk in, find a girl, get into her room, take off your pants and have sex with her. That is not called a brothel, that is called a half-open door.

Although it is a place of entertainment, the brothel still has some class.

In an elegant pavilion on the second floor of Zuihuayin, Zhao Xiaoqian poured wine for Su Zhe personally with a smile on his face, while Su Zhe glared at him with dissatisfaction.

In addition to the two people in the elegant pavilion, there was another girl playing the guqin. She was the new courtesan, Miss Niaoniao, whom Zhao Xiaoqian had met last time.

What a nice girl! But her name is so bad. "Niao Niao" or something like that, if you're not careful, it might be pronounced as "Nianniao", which is so unpleasant. I wonder which stupid brothel owner gave her the name.

At this moment, her delicate hands were plucking the strings of the zither, and her pair of charming eyes were raised from time to time, sweeping across Zhao Xiaoqian's face. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and then she lowered her head and continued to play the zither.

Su Che was in a bad mood. In addition to the recent dispute between the new and the old in the court, in which the old party had already lost the upper hand, Zhang Dun had dealt with several court officials without honoring the military ethics. In addition, Su Che was also upset when he met Zhao Xiaoqian.

Zhao Xiaoqian took the initiative to pour him wine, but Su Che didn't look happy and just glanced at him sideways.

"No matter how diligent you are, don't expect me to forgive you!" Su Zhe snorted coldly.

Zhao Xiaoqian said sincerely: "Please forgive me, Mr. Ziyou, it was your concubine who took the initiative that time..."

Su Zhe was shocked: "What?"

In the elegant pavilion, the lingering piano sounds were disrupted.

Zhao Xiaoqian said innocently, "Mr. Ziyou said he wouldn't forgive me, and I didn't know what I had done wrong, so I just made up a story..."

Su Zhe breathed a sigh of relief, then angrily said, "This young man has no martial ethics and quietly redeemed Miss Miaoxian. I have lost a close friend for nothing."

Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly understood and said with a smile: "Jiang Miaoxian is already my woman, Mr. Ziyou, don't worry about her. There are many beautiful women in the world, and Mr. Ziyou is not surnamed Cao, so why should you be so single-minded?"

Zhao Xiaoqian then asked mysteriously, "Do you know what three words a real man always says?"

"what?"

"'Change batch.'"

Su Che was stunned and pondered for a while, then suddenly burst out laughing. The more Su Che thought about it, the more interesting it became, and finally he burst out laughing.

"Haha, interesting! You're not very old, but you live a more open-minded life than I do. I've learned a lot from you."

After saying this, Su Zhe took the cup and drank it all in one gulp. He pointed at Niao Niao who was playing the zither in the elegant pavilion and shouted, "Change the batch!"

The sound of the piano suddenly stopped, and Niao Niao was startled.

Zhao Xiaoqian quickly covered his mouth and said, "This cannot be exchanged. She is the new top courtesan. There is no one more beautiful than her in this building."

Niao Niao chuckled, her eyes full of charm, and she covered her mouth with her hands while smiling, "Thank you for your kindness, sir."

(End of this chapter)