I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 9 Marry One Get One Free
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As soon as they left Funing Palace, Wang Yisu couldn't wait to say, "Sister, if Prince Shen keeps his word and really comes to marry you as his princess, then you've finally made it."

Over the years, Zheng Xiansuya, who loves to study, is diligent and motivated. Through her own efforts, she has been promoted step by step to become the female official in charge of Cide Palace. Not only has she become elegant, knowledgeable and talented, she has become as good as she can be.

It can be said that Zheng Xiansu’s efforts were witnessed by everyone in Cide Palace.

If such a Zheng Xiansu could really become a princess, then all her years of hard work and perseverance would not be in vain.

Zheng Xiansu feigned calmness and said, "Prince Shen may have acted on impulse. How can we trust him completely?"

Wang Yisu said, "I don't think the King of Shen is a reckless person. Besides, he has already sworn an oath, so why would he easily change his mind?"

Zheng Xiansu agreed with what Wang Yisu said, but she was still a little worried: "I'm afraid he doesn't have a sincere heart."

Wang Yisu said, "My sister and I have a different opinion. I am certain that Prince Shen will come to ask the Queen Mother for marriage!"

Zheng Xiansu thought to himself, "Prince Shen's regulations are clear and logical, and his actions seem to have a deeper purpose. Perhaps his decision to have me write the "Land Reform Memorial" wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a premeditated one. Even his decision to step forward and rescue the Queen Mother was partly motivated by some ulterior motive."

Thinking of this possibility, Zheng Xiansu did not feel uncomfortable. On the contrary, she really looked forward to Zhao Ya.

Let me put it this way, Zheng Xiansu was not afraid that Zhao Ya had any ulterior motives, but she was afraid that Zhao Ya wanted to marry her today and wanted to marry someone else tomorrow in order to fool her.

Also, Zheng Xiansu didn't want to marry a reckless and brainless person, even as a princess.

You know, although the royal family rarely gets involved in politics, if they are really blind and act rashly, they will sooner or later suffer a catastrophic disaster.

Serving the king is like serving a tiger. This is not just a saying.

Fortunately, just looking at the fact that Zhao Ya was able to write "Memorial on Land Reform", we can tell that Zhao Ya was not that kind of person.

In short, after carefully considering Zhao Ya's actions, words and deeds, Zheng Xiansu really began to look forward to the position of princess that might fall upon her.

However, Zheng Xiansu was not dazzled by this big pie, but took the initiative to say to Wang Yisu: "Don't worry, sister, if I can really become the princess, I will do my best to help you get the position of concubine."

Zheng Xiansu's words made Wang Yisu blush, but she did not avoid the matter. Instead, she nodded gently: "I will listen to my sister."

Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu returned to Cide Palace to report to Queen Dowager Xiang. Queen Dowager Xiang asked, "Why did you take so long?"

Zheng Xiansu replied, "Prince Shen asked me to help write a memorial on land reform, which delayed me for a while."

Upon hearing that Zhao Ya also wanted to reform, Empress Dowager Xiang frowned and asked, "Prince Shen also wants to carry on his father and brother's aspirations?"

Zheng Xiansu cleverly replied, "Although Prince Shen also has the intention to reform, he opposes the quick success and instant benefits of people like Prime Minister Wang. Instead, he prefers the idea of ​​reforming through moderate reforms proposed by Prime Minister Sima and others."

Hearing Zheng Xiansu's words, Empress Dowager Xiang's brows slowly relaxed: "Prince Shen is not impatient for success?"

Zheng Xiansu immediately explained to Empress Dowager Xiang the part of the "Memorial on Land Reform" that involved the prudent and thorough approach of piloting first and then promoting, as well as the idea of ​​balancing the interests and ideas of all parties.

After hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiang smiled and said, "This is the attitude that should be adopted for reform."

Empress Dowager Xiang addressed her attendants, "Reform is essential to enriching the nation and strengthening the military. If the Great Song wishes to eradicate its poverty and weakness, reform is a natural necessity. However, people like Wang Anshi, lacking the proper methods, are eager for quick results and insist on implementing flawed laws, causing the people to suffer. It was only through us that we stopped them from leading the Great Song into this abyss. If they had taken a gradual approach like Prince Shen, taking into account both the people's livelihood and the ancestral system, who would have resisted the new laws?"

What Empress Dowager Xiang said is actually a paradox. Reform is about changing the ancestral system. How can we take both into account?

Zheng Xiansu knew that there was something wrong with what she said to the Queen Mother, but she was very smart and always managed to avoid the important issues and speak well of Zhao Ya.

Wang Yisu made appropriate additions on the side, covering up Zhao Ya's bad side (mainly the side that Empress Dowager Xiang disliked) and magnifying Zhao Ya's good side (that is, the side that Empress Dowager Xiang liked).

This made Empress Dowager Xiang have a better and better impression of Zhao Ya. Not only Empress Dowager Xiang, but also Ma Xiaojiao and Yuan Qingcheng who were fanning the Empress Dowager Xiang had a better and better impression of Zhao Ya.

night.

Ma Xiaojiao and Yuan Qingcheng dragged their almost broken arms back to their residence and saw that Zhang Chun, Li Lin and Ye Shiyun were even worse off than them.

Zhang Chun's hands were cut by the weeds and his waist was too tired to straighten up.

Not only did Li Lin and Ye Shiyun's hands have blisters from being rubbed, but they were also shaking constantly and couldn't even hold chopsticks.

Ye Shiyun lay on the bed and said, "I finally understand why those women compete with each other for beauty and favor. They are not after the glory, wealth, and power, but they work hard to climb up the ladder just to avoid doing the dirty and tiring work of serving others. Let me tell you, this job of carrying water is really not for human beings."

"Just be content. If you were assigned to the laundry room, that would be a real hell on earth," said Zhang Chun.

"These tasks are not that hard, but my body is too weak. I need to practice prisoner fitness and yoga to restore my strength, flexibility, endurance and coordination. Who among you would like to help me?" Li Lin asked.

Zhang Chun and the other three girls shook their heads at the same time and declined Li Lin's kindness - they had all seen Li Lin practicing prisoner fitness and yoga, and knew that this hardship was not something they could endure.

Zhang Chun turned around and asked Ma Xiaojiao and Yuan Qingcheng, "What did you gain?"

Ma Xiaojiao and Yuan Qingcheng told Zhang Chun and the other two girls what they had seen and heard today, focusing on Zhao Ya. They said, "We think Zhao Ya can replace Zhao Ji."

"This Zhao Ya sounds good, especially his 'Memorial on Land Reform'. If it can be resolutely implemented, it should be able to effectively solve the problem of land annexation in the Northern Song Dynasty." Ye Shiyun said.

"What do you think of this Zhao Ya?" Ye Shiyun looked at Zhang Chun.

"There are not many records about him in history. He lived until the Jingkang Incident and was taken north to Qingyuan, where he starved to death. In addition, when he and Zhao Si were leaving Bianliang City, the people begged them to stay. One elder cried and said, 'We are willing to die with the king.' From this, it can be seen that he and Zhao Si should have had a good reputation," said Zhang Chun.

"As long as it's not Zhao Ji, I have no objection to who becomes the emperor," said Li Lin.

"Your opinion is not important. What is important is whether Empress Dowager Xiang will choose Zhao Ya as the emperor?" Zhang Chunxin said.

Zhang Chun knew very well that people of this era attached great importance to literary talent and elegance, qualities that were of no use to the emperor. However, Zhao Ji had been fond of calligraphy, painting, horseback riding, archery, and Cuju since he was a child. He had a strong interest in exotic flowers and rocks, birds and animals, and showed extraordinary talent especially in calligraphy and painting.

Empress Dowager Xiang, who likes the old party, is likely to fall for this as well.

This can be easily seen from history, as Empress Dowager Xiang finally chose the frivolous and dissolute Zhao Ji as emperor.

However, according to Ma Xiaojiao and Yuan Qingcheng, Empress Dowager Xiang now has a good impression of Zhao Ya.

"Perhaps... Zhao Ya is the only one who has a chance to replace Zhao Ji and become the emperor."

After thinking about it, Zhang Chun said, "I have to find a chance to meet Zhao Ya and see if he's worth our help."

Li Lin's four daughters don't know much about history and politics, while Zhang Chun is proficient in both history and politics, so at this stage, they can only listen to Zhang Chun.

Based on this, Li Lin's four daughters agreed to help Zhang Chun create an opportunity to meet Zhao Ya.

Next, the five women exchanged information about who they had met today, what resources they might have access to, and discussed how to gain a foothold in Cide Palace.

Finally, Zhang Chun said to Ma Xiaojiao, "Jiaojiao, please write me a method for making soap. The more detailed the better. If Zhao Ya is really suitable to replace Zhao Ji, I want to use it as a stepping stone to open Zhao Ya's heart and make him pay attention to us..."

……

(End of this chapter)