[mouse cat] special way

Today itself is not the official day of the early court, but when such a big event happened, even the Eighth Prince and the nearly [-]-year-old Grand Master Pang went to the Golden Luan Hall, who would dare to use Xiu Mu as an excuse to be lazy.What's more, the name of Li Yuanhao, the crown prince of the Xia Kingdom, was well-known in the court of the Song Dynasty. Who wouldn't want to see his true face?

However, when Li Yuanhao entered the palace, everyone was a little surprised.

I thought that Xia Kingdom was a barren land on the frontier, with a dry climate, windy and sandy sky, and the people there lived on raw meat and cold water, so they must be tall, big, and rough-faced.The Liaoxia envoys who came to the Song Dynasty before had such appearances, but the arrival of Li Yuanhao gave people a different feeling.

This man was about 27 or [-] years old, and his stature was shorter than the envoy behind him, and his body was thin but not weak.He has a slightly dark complexion, a straight nose and slashed lips, and his face is as sharp as a knife. The most attractive thing is the pair of eyes under the thick sword eyebrows. Those dark eyes are as sharp and dazzling as a falcon.Li Yuanhao didn't wear Xia Guo's clothes this time, but a white brocade robe, a jade belt with silver thread and leather wristbands, and he looked very heroic.His gestures are full of royal demeanor, if it is not for the iconic hair of the Xia people, everyone who sees him will think that he is some prince of the Song Dynasty.

"Foreign ministers see His Majesty the Emperor of Song Dynasty." Li Yuanhao didn't bow down, but just cupped his hands and bowed deeply, and the people behind him also saluted together.

Everyone present did not speak, but Prime Minister Wang and Mr. Bao frowned at the same time, but soon returned to their expressionless expressions. Grand Master Pang gave the Eighth Prince a sidelong glance with interest.

"Exemption from etiquette and peace." Zhao Zhen didn't think he was disobedient, and said gently.

Only then did Li Yuanhao raise his head and look at the Emperor Song who was sitting on the imperial steps and wearing a dragon robe.It seems that he grew up in the palace and had never suffered any pain. The young emperor's face was fair, and his brows and eyes were full of softness.Li Yuanhao sighed in his heart, if it weren't for the foundation of his ancestors, this person who was born in the deep palace and raised in the hands of a woman could also become the Ninth Five-Year King?Thinking of this, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and there was a bit of arrogance and arrogance on his body.

"The foreign minister presents the letter of credence on behalf of my lord, and please His Majesty the Emperor to read it." Li Yuanhao took out a folder from his bosom and presented it with both hands.At that moment, the eunuch who was in charge respectfully accepted the letter of credence and sent it to Zhao Zhen for a look.

This letter of credence is no different from what was negotiated in the previous correspondence between the leaders of the two countries. Song and Xia formed an alliance to communicate with each other, but the matter of courtship was missing.However, Zhao Zhen knew that there must be a reason for not mentioning this matter, so he might need to be more careful.

Sure enough, after Zhao Zhen closed the letter of credence, Li Yuanhao spoke again: "The foreign minister came to the court this time, in addition to submitting the letter of credence and conveying my lord's intention to make friends with the Song State. The foreign minister also has a personal request, and I hope His Majesty the Emperor will fulfill it." .”

"But it's okay to say." Is courting a private matter?Zhao Zhen was a little unhappy in his heart, but his face was still as gentle as before.

"Since the Xia and Song Dynasties have formed an alliance, the foreign ministers want to ask the princess to marry, so as to form an eternal friendship." Li Yuanhao nodded slightly, his expression very relaxed.

"So that's it, this is a happy event." Zhao Zhen smiled lightly, "It's just that the descendant of the clan girl is the royal master, and many details need to be carefully considered. It will be discussed after the Dazongzheng Temple and the Taichang Temple Liyuan are discussed. The envoys all the way It’s hard work, let’s go back to the post house to rest for now. The scenery in Bianliang is very beautiful, you can have a visit and enjoy the customs of the Song Dynasty.”

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor." Li Yuanhao also knew that there was no rush for this matter, and they had other plans, so they bowed and withdrew, and the ceremonial officer of Honglu Temple led them to the post house to rest.

When Li Yuanhao and the others left, all the adults in the court also woke up from the petrification.Among the people in court today, except for the Eighth Prince Bao Zheng, Wang Cheng and others, none of them knew about Xia Guo's courtship.

"Your Majesty!" Li Qiao, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, came out first, and said with emotion, "Xia Guo was originally a vassal state of my Great Song Dynasty, and has been bathed in my pilgrimage grace for generations. But Li Deming didn't want to repay, and repeatedly robbed the border people, and his son Yuan Hao was even more so. With wolfish ambitions, he actually claims to be honorable..."

"Stop," Zhao Zhen rubbed his forehead, why do these Shuo Shen officials say so many well-known nonsense every time they give a performance, "Just tell me your opinion on this matter."

"I think the princess should not marry!" This is the point.

"The minister waits for a second opinion." A few more ministers stood up,

Standing aside, the Minister of the Household Department said: "Then according to Master Li's opinion, we should categorically reject Xia Guo's proposal of marriage proposal, and investigate their crime of disrespect?"

"Exactly! My emperor rules the world with benevolence and love, but these treacherous people have no remorse..."

You come and I fight with each other, which makes people headache.

"Enough." Zhao Zhen stood up, and the adults who were arguing stopped and stood respectfully on both sides.

Zhao Zhen glanced at all the courtiers in the lower ranks. Whether it was those who were arguing hoarsely or those who kept silent, they had already made up their minds and were just waiting to see their own decisions.It's not that these people don't care about the imperial court, they have a lot of small calculations in their hearts.

"I have already decided to accept Xia Guo's marriage proposal." He glanced at the leisurely Grand Master Pang, "One month later, Princess Sheng will get married. Let's go to Zongzheng Temple and Taichang Temple and choose a good one." Days. I will issue an edict in a few days, and this matter cannot be spread outside the public, especially on the side of Xia Guo."

"The emperor is wise!" It turned out that the emperor had already reached a conclusion, and the adults who had been arguing just now looked at each other in blank dismay.Alas, forget it, let's hurry up and do what the officials ordered. The marriage of the princess Sheng Guozhang is extraordinary.

Uh, Princess Sheng...

Bao Zheng suddenly felt a chill. It seems that the Kaifeng Mansion is going to look for the princess again, so let people keep an eye on the princess first.

In the Buddhist hall to the west of Cishou Hall, Zhao Ling knelt on the ground, tearing at Master Jing'an's black clothes and weeping bitterly.

"Mother, mother!" Zhao Ling cried and begged, "Mother, save me, please save me! Ling'er doesn't want to go to Xia Guo, Ling'er doesn't want to marry Xia Guo's prince! Please help me to plead with the emperor brother! Mother mother !"

Liu E put down the rosary in her hand and took out a handkerchief to wipe away the tears on her daughter's face.The emperor still made up his mind, and the person who got married this time was indeed Zhao Ling.

"Ling'er, do you still remember the story about Wang Zhaojun that you read before?" Liu E stretched out her hand and smoothed Zhao Ling's soft and shiny black hair.

"Well, I remember. Once I went to Zitai and Lianshuomo, I left Qingyan alone until dusk." Zhao Ling stopped crying, and his voice was still a little choked, "How unfortunate is Zhaojun's fate. Mom, my daughter doesn't want to be Wang Zhaojun!"

"Zhaojun is suffering. But she went out alone to quell the century-old frontier war between the Xiongnu and the Han." Liu E's voice became more gentle, "Sacrificing one person to save the world is due to the community."

"Jiangshan Sheji is safe, but what about Zhaojun?" Zhao Ling shook his head unwillingly, "She is a woman, staying in a place where the language is poor, and she is forced to share the bed with that hideous barbarian. When I return to the Central Plains, I will no longer be able to eat the food from my hometown, and I will never see my parents again. How cruel the suffering of this life is!"

"Then have you ever thought about how many people lost their lives in the war between the two countries? How many people were displaced? How many women would have been abused in the war? How many children would have lost their parents? Have you ever thought about all this?!" Liu E's face became serious, "Have you ever thought that none of your current rich clothes and good food is not bought by the hard work of the people? Once the flames of war rise again, what will they do?" manage?"

Seeing Zhao Ling hanging her head and not speaking, Liu E sighed heavily: "Ling'er, don't blame my mother for being cruel. Just ask yourself, what's your last name?"

"My surname... surname is Zhao..." Zhao Ling spit out these words, and tears overflowed his eyes again.

"Yes, your surname is Zhao. You were born in the royal family of this country, and this country belongs to our Zhao family." Liu E suddenly stood up, and the majesty of a generation of queens was revealed, "If members of our royal family are not willing to sacrifice, how can we make people die?" The people surrender?!"

"Mother... Empress..." Zhao Ling still sat on the ground and wept.

Liu E pulled her up immediately: "You are the princess of the Great Song Dynasty. This time, it is my mother who is sorry for you, and the royal family of the Great Song Dynasty is sorry for you, but the people in this world have never been sorry for you. We are enshrined by the people, so naturally we have the obligation to protect them .Do you understand?!"

"I...understand..." Zhao Ling slowly pulled away her mother's arm, "I...understand...from the very beginning, I understood. But ah, Queen Mother..." The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and crystal tears slipped down Cheek, "This responsibility is really heavy. And sometimes I... really, really regret my surname Zhao..."

"Mother, don't talk about it, I understand that Ling'er will not make it difficult for the emperor and the queen." She reached out to cover her mother's mouth, "Isn't it just to be Wang Zhaojun once? I accept my fate. Mother, Ling Now that my son is gone, I'm afraid I won't be able to come back in the future, and I won't be able to honor you any more, so you must take care of yourself."

"Ling'er..." Liu E looked at Zhao Ling's red and swollen eyes, and her nose felt a little sore.

"The queen mother is resting, so Ling'er stepped back first."

After the tender yellow figure disappeared behind the door, Liu E finally shed tears. She fell down on the futon where Zhao Ling had kneeled just now, and sobbed softly while holding her mouth.Although Zhao Ling is not her own flesh and blood, she is also the daughter she has raised in the palm of her hand for 19 years, how could she not feel distressed.Regret your surname Zhao?She also regrets marrying into the most honorable place in the Song Dynasty. This golden cage has trapped her for a lifetime, and now she wants to take away her daughter again?

If she could go back to the beginning, she would want to stay in Shuzhong for the rest of her life and be a singer who is good at singing drums, not a queen who is burdened with heavy responsibilities and struggling hard.

She raised her head and looked at the benevolent Buddha statue on the altar. She needed a sustenance to prove that the past compromises were indeed valuable, and the future sacrifices would not be in vain.Now, as a mother, she kneels before the Buddha and sincerely prays that the Buddha will have a spirit. Please bless her son to revitalize the Song Dynasty, be a wise king through the ages, and bless her daughter to suffer less suffering and be safe and smooth.

In the imperial study room, Chen Lin whispered the news from the harem just now.

"She ran out again?" Zhao Zhen continued to review the memorial without raising his head, "Is she alone?"

"No, Princess Huiguo also went out together."

"That's all. Let her go, Chunni has more experience." Zhao Zhen paused, raised his head and asked, "Is there someone to follow?"

Chen Lin said: "Master Bao has already sent people to follow."

"Hehe, this Bao Zheng is really clever." Zhao Zhen shook his head and said with a smile, carefully studying the excerpts written by Gongxian County in front of him.

Alas, Lingling, Xia Guo's courtship was clearly prepared. If it is not handled carefully, the flames of war may reignite.It's not that I can't follow the example of the late emperor and go to the imperial conquest.It's just that based on my current situation, I'm not ready enough, you... have to give me time.