Prime Minister

Chapter 1175 The Prime Minister Among Women

Chapter 1175 The Prime Minister Among Women

The emperor was made uneasy by Empress Dowager Gao's words. There is no greater merit than supporting the emperor.

To be honest, I don't remember much about Sima Guang and Zhang Yue's contributions to the enthronement. The late emperor mentioned it before, but so many years have passed and I no longer take it to heart.

Now the emperor thinks carefully that he has always trusted Zhang Yue, otherwise he would not have promoted him to the position of prime minister.

I do owe Sima Guang... but Sima Guang supported the Puyi during the reign of the previous emperor, and opposed the reform during the reign of Xining.

It is said that the king is ungrateful. But the emperor does not think that he is ungrateful.

The emperor said, "Zhang Yue's talent as a prime minister is only comparable to Zhao Pu in this dynasty. Sima Guang's opinions are very insightful and I will use them all. Sima Guang is now editing the Zizhi Tongjian in Luoyang and is in charge of Chongfu Cave in Songshan, Xijing. I have agreed with him to meet in thirty months."

In fact, there are still thirty months after thirty months... Sima Guang was determined to oppose the reform and the opening of the Xihe border. Even after a great victory in Lanzhou, he still felt that the court should not cede the three states of Dangxiang, but should return them to the other side to show the magnanimity of the Celestial Empire and maintain the friendship between the two families for generations.

After seeing Sima Guang's memorial, the emperor was so angry that he almost became paralyzed.

Meet Sima Guang?

He would meet him, but only after the royal army recaptured Liangzhou.

Empress Dowager Gao said: "When the emperor governs the country, he sometimes takes the wrong path and does the wrong thing, and loyal ministers will naturally stick to their own opinions."

The official nodded and said nothing more.

The emperor left Empress Dowager Gao and returned to see Zhu Zhaorong.

The words spoken to Empress Dowager Gao reminded the emperor of something.

Although the official felt that he was in good health at the moment, he had fallen ill many times before and was almost dying.

In addition to the memorials from the previous dynasty left by Empress Dowager Cao, even a loyal minister like Han Qi dared to propose the establishment of the Supreme Emperor when the late emperor was dying.

His most beloved sixth prince was raised by Zhu Zhaorong himself, instead of being handed over to his legal wife, that is, the empress, as was the case in ordinary people.

A eunuch once said that Zhu Zhaorong was of humble status and the sixth prince should be given to the empress to raise. Empress Xiang was the granddaughter of Prime Minister Xiang Minzhong and was well-educated and sensible.

After hearing this, the emperor executed the eunuch, and no one in the harem mentioned this matter again.

Precisely because the emperor was disobedient, Empress Dowager Gao was particularly displeased with Zhu Zhaorong.

Empress Dowager Gao even reprimanded Zhu Zhaorong in front of the emperor many times.

Now that the emperor returned to the palace and saw the sixth prince, he suddenly felt relaxed and a smile appeared on his face from the bottom of his heart.

The sixth prince was precocious. At the age of six, he was already more sensible than many other children.

The official asked, "Do you know all the poems I asked you to recite?"

"Yes, fine wine in a luminous cup,

Want to drink Pipa immediately.

Drunk lying on the battlefield, Lord Grim,

How many people have ever returned from a battle in history? "

The official said: "Remember this poem is called Liangzhou Ci."

"I will not only leave you loyal ministers and good ministers to assist you, but I will also conquer a vast territory for you!"

The official stood up and felt that he should do something for the Sixth Prince.

Zhu Zhaorong's foundation was too shallow. Unlike his mother, Empress Dowager Gao, and grandmother, Empress Dowager Cao, the Sixth Prince did not have the support of his maternal family, so he could only have the support of the ministers.

……

At this moment, inside the bedroom, Empress Dowager Gao was also thinking carefully.

To her, the policies of Yuanfeng were much better than those of Xining. Although Zhang Yue continued Wang Anshi's advocacy of opening up foreign borders, his methods of doing things and his measures for governing the court were relatively milder than Wang Anshi's.

He also tried his best to remedy the shortcomings of Xining's policies.

There is something about governing a big country that is like cooking a small fish.

Of course, this is only Zhang Yue's first year in office, so perhaps no drastic measures have been taken yet.

Although in her heart Zhang Yue was still too young, it would be better if there was a minister like Sima Guang to mediate.

But in the end, the only prime minister in the world who could satisfy her and the emperor was Zhang Yue. Empress Dowager Gao couldn't help thinking that the late emperor and Empress Dowager Cao had good vision and chose such a wise prime minister to assist the Song Dynasty.

Empress Dowager Gao said to Zhang Maoze, "I remember a new batch of Shu brocade arrived in the palace!"

"Reporting to the Queen Mother, it was put into storage five days ago."

Empress Dowager Gao said, "I remember that Prime Minister Zhang's wife was very fond of Yuehuajin."

Zhang Maoze said: "The Queen Mother really has a good memory."

Empress Dowager Gao smiled and said, "The last time she came to the palace, I personally asked her. She and I got along very well. Why do you think that was?"

"I don't know about this."

Empress Dowager Gao said: "She can control herself and prevent Mr. Zhang from taking a concubine."

Zhang Maoze laughed when he heard this. Empress Dowager Gao was a woman with a very strong personality. She had not allowed the late emperor to take concubines. In the end, it was Empress Dowager Cao who solved the problem.

So Empress Dowager Gao and Shiqi Niang actually had some similarities, and this was what she was talking about.

Empress Dowager Gao said: "Men have their own way, and women have their own way."

"Please come to my house and greet me in person. Prime Minister Zhang is now in charge of the family for the court, and she manages the household affairs for Prime Minister Zhang. Her contribution is not small. I want to thank her on behalf of the people of the world."

He had been an official in the palace for many years and was no ordinary person. He knew that the emperor and Zhang Yue had a conflict today, and at this time, the Empress Dowager Gao sent someone to the palace to congratulate her. What did this mean?

……

"Your Majesty bestows Yuehua brocade and satin on Prime Minister Zhang!"

After returning home, Zhang Yue was puzzled to learn that the emperor had given him brocade.

Today he had just had a disagreement with the emperor over the expedition to Liangzhou, but he didn't expect that he would suddenly be given brocade at this moment.

After the palace servant left, Shiqi Niang smiled sweetly. Zhang Yue didn't understand why and asked, "Why are you laughing, Madam?"

Shiqi Niang said, "This was not sent by the emperor, but by the empress dowager."

"Queen Mother?"

Zhang Yue asked, "Why did the Queen Mother give me brocade?"

Shiqi Niang said, "How would I know? But the last time I entered the palace, I told the Queen Mother that I often use Yuehua Brocade."

"It was just a casual remark at the time, but the Queen Mother kept it in mind."

"This time the Queen Mother gave you brocade and satin in the name of the Emperor. It's obvious that the Queen Mother is saying that she supports you. Otherwise, how would the Emperor know that I like Yuehua Brocade?"

Zhang Yue knew that Empress Dowager Cao had always supported him, but he did not expect that Empress Dowager Gao, who was known for her strong power, also supported him.

Suddenly he fell silent.

Zhang Yue said: "I have never tried to curry favor with the Empress Dowager, and I am neither distant nor close to Gao Zunyu. I really don't know why the Empress Dowager would support me in front of the Emperor."

Shiqi Niang said, "Sir, you are really a forgetful person. You have completely forgotten your contribution to the dragon."

"The Queen Mother is a person who remembers both favors and grudges. She chose you to help her because of the favor she received in the past, but also because you have been appreciated by her since you took office."

Zhang Yue nodded and said, "But this is just the beginning of my tenure as prime minister. I may not be able to do what she wants in the future."

"I heard that Empress Dowager Gao is not easy to deal with. She gave me brocade this time, but I don't know how to respond."

Shiqi Niang smiled and said, "Sir, women have their own way of dealing with women. I get along very well with the Queen Mother and Empress Xiang.

Just let me handle it."

Zhang Yue thought that he had never expected that he would actually go the lady route. He looked at Shiqi Niang and sighed, "Madam, you are the prime minister among women!"