The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 50: Entering the Palace and Asking

The autumn wind was blowing, the leaves were turning yellow, and Zhao Ti entered Gyeonggi Road.

After staying in Zhuxian Town for one night, we returned to Tokyo City around noon the next day.

The capital city is bustling with activity at this moment, with every household preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Mid-Autumn Festival was first established in the Han and Jin Dynasties, and the specific date was set in the Tang Dynasty. The words "Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15" were written in the "Book of Tang" by Emperor Taizong.

In the Song Dynasty, the custom was implemented throughout the country. When the court was on holiday, new wine was sold in all shops. People hung up lanterns and decorated houses, built colorful pavilions, flower heads, painted poles, and baked small cakes with various fillings. The small cakes were like chewing the moon, with crisp and sweet fillings inside, which were the prototype of mooncakes.

Zhao Ti sat in the carriage watching the bustling scene, wondering how he could find a way to enter the palace.

He is now under house arrest. Empress Dowager Xiang has many spies in the palace. Once he enters, they will definitely notify the Da Zongzheng Temple, and then question him and hold him accountable to the court.

According to Emperor Zhao Xu's idea, he was a close relative of Empress Dowager Gao, so he might really be punished.

Zhao Ti smiled as he sat in the car. His royal brother was now isolated and helpless in the court. He had great ambitions but was unable to realize them. Perhaps he was hoping that Gao Taotao would die so that he could take power himself and realize his ambitions.

The car did not go through the main gate of the palace, but quietly entered through the side door. Butlers Zheng Fu and Bai Zhan heard the news and came over happily to greet them.

Zhao Ti asked: "In which month will something happen?"

Bai Zhan said: "Seventh Brother has stabilized the situation in the inner and outer cities. Now the remaining gangs will follow the lead of the Golden Wind and Rain Tower."

Zheng Fu said, "Your Majesty, I saw Tong Guan a few days ago. Li Dahuan has passed away."

"Li Xian is gone?" Zhao Ti pondered for a moment, "What did the court say?"

Zheng Fu said: "It is said that he was posthumously awarded the title of Jiedushi of Wutai Army and given the posthumous title of Zhongmin."

Zhao Ti asked, "You gave it to me so quickly?"

Li Xian was considered a demoted official, so it would not have been possible for him to be given a posthumous honor or a posthumous title so early.

"Your Majesty, Tong Guan said that Li Xian entered the palace once before his death. He was summoned by the Empress Dowager."

Zhao Ti nodded. Gao Taotao must have wanted to confirm something, and Li Xian's answer satisfied her, so she completed the funeral process so quickly. Zhongmin is a posthumous title commonly used for civil and military officials, and is considered to be one of the higher ones among the posthumous titles.

"By the way, Your Majesty..." Zheng Fu suddenly lowered his voice.

"Is there anything else?" Zhao Ti asked.

"I heard from Tong Daofu that the Queen Mother...seems to be ill." Zheng Fu said in a low voice.

"The Queen Mother is ill?" Zhao Ti said solemnly, "Go to the storehouse and pick out some gifts. Don't bring expensive and useless things. Just pick some herbs that can prolong life. Bring two people to the palace and tell them that I am under house arrest. I miss the Queen Mother but cannot see her. I can't sleep or eat well. I want to ask for an imperial decree to come to the palace to pay my respects."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zheng Fu responded and turned to leave.

Zhao Tixing went to the study, and the maid brought him some Xiaolongtuan tea. While drinking it, he reviewed the events of the past few months, and there was nothing major omissions.

In the afternoon, Zheng Fu came back with an imperial edict: "Your Majesty, I saw that the Empress Dowager looked very unhappy and didn't say a word from beginning to end. I said that Your Majesty asked for an imperial edict, and pointed to the female official Si Yan who was writing beside him."

Zhao Ti took the imperial edict, took a look at it and nodded. Although it did not say to lift the house arrest directly, it gave the power to travel between the imperial city, which was actually no different from lifting the ban, and it was also considered to be giving face to the Zongzheng Temple.

He asked Zheng Fu to get ready, then take a bath, change clothes, and walk out of the main gate of the palace with the imperial edict in his pocket, heading straight for the imperial city.

At this afternoon's Shenpai time, Zhao Ti entered the palace from the Zuoye Gate and went to the Cining Hall.

When they arrived in front of the palace, the eunuch on duty bowed and said, "Prince Yan, the Empress Dowager has ordered that Prince Yan come directly into the palace without being notified."

Zhao Ti nodded, and the little palace maid in front led him into the hall. But it was different from the last time, it was in a different place, there were no tall things like book niches, but only some daily old things, each of which looked quite old.

Gao Taotao sat behind a desk with his eyes closed. A female official stood beside him with a worried look on her face.

Zhao Ti saw that Gao Taotao looked very bad, with a grayish look in his greenish complexion, and he looked a bit sinister, and he couldn't help but feel confused.

His internal strength is now profound, and he doesn't think the other party has any normal illness. Instead, it seems that the coldness has accumulated in the body, damaging the blood vessels.

"My grandson pays his respects to you, my lady."

Gao Taotao didn't say anything, but opened her eyes slightly. Zhao Ti saw that her eyes were a little gray and was stunned.

The female official next to him went outside and brought a bowl of medicine soup. Gao Taotao drank it, then waved her hand, and the female official left the room.

"The Empress Dowager's illness..." Zhao Ti said softly.

"I'm not sick." Gao Taotao spoke, his voice a little hoarse and his tone bleak.

"My grandson has been confined to the mansion, and I just learned that the Empress Dowager is ill. Please don't blame me for being unfilial and coming to pay my respects." Zhao Ti changed his words.

"My dear, you are thoughtful." Gao Taotao said calmly, "Those brothers and sisters, why don't you come here and ask me if they are afraid of me? Do they hope that I can leave easily so that they can be more at ease and the government can give them titles and honors?"

"This..." Zhao Ti could tell that Gao Taotao was unhappy, and he couldn't respond to the talk of promotion and title, so he kept silent.

Originally, when Emperor Shenzong was still alive, the princes could be promoted to the title of king little by little after being trained.

However, Shenzong died early. When his children died, except for Zhao Xu who was conferred the title of Prince of Yan'an, none of them was given the title of prince.

When Zhao Xu ascended the throne, he changed the year to Yuanyou and only then promoted several of his older brothers to the rank of princes. As for the prince, according to the convention, he would have to wait until he took power before he could be crowned.

Gao Taotao made an exception and conferred the title of Prince of Yan on Zhao Ti, while Queen Mother Xiang asked for the title of Prince of Duan for Zhao Ji. In order to balance the relationship between the periods, Zhao Xu specially conferred the title of Prince of Shen on Zhao Ji, the ninth son of Emperor Shenzong. This was all because Zhao Ti came early, so he kept silent when he heard this.

"Humph!" Gao Taotao sneered, "None of them has a conscience. I am so worried about the country, do I have to take care of the family affairs in the palace? Can't I teach them how to behave?"

"Don't be angry, Madam." Zhao Ti said, "Many of the brothers and sisters are still young and immature, so naturally they don't think things through. Madam, please don't let this harm your health."

Gao Taotao looked at Zhao Ti and said calmly, "I have met Li Xian before."

Zhao Ti pursed his lips and said nothing.

"Li Xian is very honest." Gao Taotao showed a hint of sarcasm at the corner of his mouth: "My dear brother deceived me that day with 70% truth and 30% lies. Did he think I was confused?"

Zhao Ti smiled awkwardly and said, "Grandma has known my grandson since he was a child. In fact, I could already tell that there was some exaggeration in his words, but I didn't point it out. Wasn't it just to help him fulfill his desire to learn martial arts?"

Gao Taotao snorted coldly, "You must have thought of this a long time ago to flatter me and shut me up, right?"

Zhao Ti shook his head: "How dare I, my grandson? I was just telling the truth. I never thought that the empress would not be able to hear the untruth in my grandson's words."

Gao Taotao looked at Zhao Ti for a long time without saying anything, and finally said: "I am tired, do you have anything else to do?"

Zhao Ti thought for a moment and said, "Madam, I want to ask you something."

"What's the matter?" Gao Taotao leaned back slightly and leaned into the chair.

Zhao Ti took a breath and said, "Madam, the Taizu Changquan that is circulated in the palace and outside has 32 postures, but I heard that this fist was originally supposed to have 33 postures, why is there one less posture?"

Gao Taotao heard this and suddenly opened his eyes, which were half open, "My dear, what did you say?"

(End of this chapter)