A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 303 The civet cat exchanges for the prince

Song Xuan's voice wasn't loud, but Fan Zhongyan heard it and turned his head slightly:
"Don't get involved."

“没听见方才你先被弹劾了吗？”

Song Xuan also tilted his head slightly:

“院长，我辖区内出了命案，本就是该我这个知县处理。”

“况且我也请示了官家，才顺藤摸瓜找出了贪腐大案，要不然我也没机会参加大朝会。”

范仲淹心想自己也能前来临时参加大朝会，那也是拜了自己这个弟子所赐。

要不然他也没得机会的参加！

Song Xuan, however, directly pursued and killed him:

“就算我不想掺合，那些人也会觉得因我而起，不会放过我的，不如来瞧个热闹，判断今后怎么应对。”

Fan Zhongyan was also rendered speechless by Song Xuan's words.

The tree wants to be calm and the wind does not stop.

Regarding the matter of marriage with the Liu family.

谁都不知道大娘娘会做出如何决断？
After all, according to common sense, even if not hanging, he should at least be exiled to Shamen Island to do hard labor.

Especially the "golden nanmu" wood, a royal item, is still very eye-catching.

However, the Empress Dowager would never punish Liu Congmei so severely.

可如今朝廷之上，就是有人在逼着刘娥下令责罚刘从美。

不仅宋绶站出来询问，还有别人站出来询问丁度每一个细节。

He was required to explain everything in detail.

证据在哪。

Have the stolen goods been found?

目标全都是指向了刘从德。

反观刘从德掏了掏耳朵。

Looking at the entire Song Dynasty, he didn't care about anyone except Empress Dowager Liu.

So what if he's the emperor?
He couldn't even decide for himself to marry the woman he liked, and he ended up being sent to my bed as a concubine, where he received my favor.
Therefore, Liu Congde heard the whole story and was not flustered at all.

He didn't even bother to glance at Song Xuan, the instigator.

此时许多官员都在“逼问”丁度，在刘从德看来，那也是大娘娘私底下安排的！
Everyone was speaking in his favor.

从宋绶开始，有一个算一个，都是“自己人”呐。

参加大朝会的官员，也全然忘记了宋煊这个始作俑者。

大家通过“责问”丁度，不断的向群臣抛出事情的经过，加重刘从德的罪行。

但是坐在上面的刘娥却是眉头微皱，她不喜欢皱眉头。

Because it can easily lead to wrinkles.

可眼前这些官员如此逼迫“丁度”，不可能是没有人在背后安排。

他们是想要做什么？
借着这件事来试探本宫吗？
赵祯作为皇帝，瞧着群臣吵闹。

他轻轻抚摸着金丝楠木做成的龙椅。

如今母后的权威极重，他方才瞧见了刘从德脸上的表情。

He showed no concern or fear regarding the impeachments made by these ministers; on the contrary, he was all smiles.

赵祯不知道他在得意个什么劲，但是能感觉出来他脸上的挑衅意味。

“官家，大娘娘，臣有话要讲。”

王曾站出来之后，那些争论的臣子都闭上嘴了。

“讲。”赵祯应了一声之后。

“It would cost fifty strings of cash to transport a single piece of Phoebe zhennan wood from Sichuan to Tokyo. The value of one piece was equivalent to ten years’ salary of a fifth-rank official.”

"Your Majesty, I have discovered that Prefect Liu Congde has embezzled one hundred pieces of Phoebe zhennan wood. The evidence is conclusive, with witnesses and physical evidence. According to the laws of the Great Song Dynasty, he should be exiled three thousand li away. I beseech Your Majesty to make a wise judgment."

As soon as these words came out, the whole hall was shocked.

大家全都明晃晃的望向刘太后。

皇帝说了不算，这是大家的共识。

Liu Congde is related to the Empress Dowager by marriage; now it remains to be seen how Empress Liu will handle the situation.

Upon hearing this, Song Xuan chuckled.
"How can this be considered a crime?"

"The amount involved was enormous, and the items were tribute goods. The deliberate substitution of inferior goods for superior ones should be considered fraudulent official documents, and the perpetrator should be sentenced to death."

范仲淹知道宋煊在这方面是有本事的，他只是轻声道：
"You don't understand Prime Minister Wang's strategy."

"If we mention the extreme punishment, it will surely provoke an immediate counterattack from the Empress Dowager, which will only arouse her protective instincts."

They're moderates, aren't they?

Song Xuan understood.

Being exiled three thousand miles away is no different from being executed; it's just that it sounds better when you say it.

Liu Congde suddenly rushed out of the line and quickly bowed, saying:
“大娘娘明鉴，臣冤枉！”

"Someone must have deliberately framed me!"

刘从德出列，刘太后才传来不紧不慢的声音：
"Lord Wang, is there any other witness testimony regarding this matter?"

"To convict someone based solely on a ledger of dubious origin is far too hasty."

Wang Zeng hurriedly gave the testimonies of Zhao De and Ding Yan to the eunuch, asking him to present them to Empress Dowager Liu for review.

刘娥接过来，仔细瞧了瞧，又扔在一旁：
“刘知州，你来瞧一瞧，是不是真的。”

"Here."

王曾眉头一挑：
“大娘娘，刘知州乃是嫌犯，先给他看状词，这不合适！”

"It doesn't matter."

刘娥丝毫不在意王曾的看法：

“老身相信清者自清，浊者自浊！”

Wang Zeng was helpless.

吕夷简也是一言不发。

在众多官员昂着脖子的时候，刘从德轻易的拿过来状词仔细瞧了瞧。

Zhao De shifted all the blame onto Ding Yan, who then confessed to switching the pine wood with the other substance.

Moreover, they have already taken control of the dragon boat and confirmed that it is made of pine, not Phoebe zhennan.

刘从德松了口气。

Luckily, I sought advice from Lü Gongzhu, otherwise I would have been in real trouble.

Liu Congde did not tear up the petition, but instead spoke:

“大娘娘，臣有罪。”

这下子轮到众人都惊诧起来了。

连王曾也摸不清楚刘从德的意图，依照他的性子，难道不该是死扛到底，根本就不认吗？
晏殊瞥了眼高高在上的刘太后，刘从德如此干净利索的认罪，估摸是早有应对方法。

此时刘娥放纵如此多的人围攻刘从德，就是想要让他们跳出来，好好瞧一瞧都有谁。

“从德，你何罪之有？”

"Your Majesty, I am indeed guilty and beg for your punishment."

Zhao Zhen had no idea what Liu Congde was up to. He had assumed that Zhao De and Ding Yan would change their testimonies after being taken away.

Fan Zhongyan felt he had misheard and quickly looked at Song Xuan beside him: "He said he is guilty?"

"Dean, please don't worry."

Song Xuan tilted his official hat slightly:
"I guarantee that what he says later will be innocent, otherwise he wouldn't admit it so openly."

Fan Zhongyan touched the memorial in his sleeve, deciding to wait for news.

"Then tell me, did you really embezzle one hundred pieces of Phoebe zhennan wood?"

In response to Liu E's question, Liu Congde immediately bowed and said:

“回大娘娘的话，臣是想要把这些金丝楠木挪用到为大娘娘修建万寿宫上做准备。”

“臣想着要给大娘娘一个惊喜，所以才悄悄做出此事，还望大娘娘能够治我的罪。”

“毕竟金丝楠木难得，很难再有合适的木料，臣绝不敢在家中用啊！”

Wang Zeng glanced back at Liu Congmei and understood.

So that's how they explain it!

Lü Yijian was certain that this idea could not have come from the brainless Liu Congde.

毕竟自己可是听儿子说过刘家是有金丝楠木家具的。

赵祯暗暗摇头，瞥向了金殿角落的宋煊。

With the Empress Dowager backing him up, what could I do?
丁度瞧着同为出列的刘从德，怒斥道：
"Alright, since you said that batch of Phoebe zhennan wood was left for the Empress Dowager to build the Longevity Palace, where is this batch of wood?"

"Yes." Liu Congde glanced at Ding Du:
“自是在它该在的地方。”

“你说你没有挪用，那便把一百根金丝楠木当众拿出来，朝廷做出验证后，在做他论。”

丁度追着杀的意图，让刘娥很是不满。

她拍了拍座椅，示意丁度闭嘴：
"I am aware of this matter, Scholar Ding, there is no need to say more."

The Empress Dowager openly took sides, and even Prime Minister Wang Zeng couldn't hold back anymore.

Ding Du pressed on, asking:
"Since Your Majesty is aware of this matter, where is the missing Phoebe zhennan wood?"

Liu Congde glared angrily.

你老追问个什么？
不就是赵德把所有事都推到你弟弟头上吗？
如今你弟弟也洗清了清白，他不过是没有举报罢了。

你给个台阶就下去，别总是说个不停。

没有人拿你当哑巴。

更何况大娘娘都兜底了！

刘娥瞧着丁度：

“此事你不必知晓，本宫自有安排。”

Ding Du immediately fell silent.

He actually knew there was something else going on.

Wang Zeng also gestured for him to step back, saying that Liu Congde's mother was firmly in charge, and no one could change her mind.

Liu E waved her hand, signaling Liu Congde to go back.

Like a victorious general, Liu Congde returned directly to the ranks.

朝中臣子也无可奈何。

Such a heinous crime has gone unpunished.

反倒还要夸赞一下刘从德有“孝心”！
You have the filial piety to not use your own money, yet you dare to steal royal funds.

What kind of filial piety is this?
But if the Empress Dowager says it's out of filial piety, then it is out of filial piety. What can you do about it?
Cao Li stood firmly in the position of the number one military general, and casually glanced at Zhang Qi, who was dozing off next to him.

你小子可当真是心大。

Deputy Privy Councilor Xia Song raised an eyebrow slightly, sensing that things were not so simple.

刘娥端坐在椅子上，瞧着下面的文官。

她很是不高兴。

Is this what these people are trying to do by bringing down Liu Congde, so as to further weaken the power of my Liu family?

Empress Liu's maternal relatives were already pitifully few.

她对于吕夷简等太后一党，信任度并不高。

而且刘娥认为这些姻亲只有效忠于自己才能长久的保持富贵，可是要比这帮读书人强上许多。

"Gentlemen, is there anything else you wish to report?"

Hearing Liu E's question, Wang Zeng and the others lost their focus.

The carefully prepared feast ended abruptly when Liu E took the blame upon herself.

刘从德奉了太后口谕把金丝楠木给贪墨了，你上哪说理去？
The Emperor's word is now meaningless!

Song Xuan had anticipated this outcome, but he hadn't expected Liu E to take such good care of Liu Congde.

这个前前夫的儿子，就这么受她的重视！
难不成她真以为这是“娘家给的底气”？
宋煊是不大理解这种感情的。

Just then, Fan Zhongyan, who was standing next to Song Xuan, suddenly stepped forward and said:
“回大娘娘的话，臣有本要奏。”

Song Xuan glanced at Fan Zhongyan, his eyes slightly raised.

Fuck.

小赵该不会是找的老范揭露黄河工程之事吧？
刘娥眯了眯眼睛，看向角落里的人。

宋煊那鹤立鸡群的模样，一下就映入眼帘。

她不明白是谁把此子叫来的。

He's not qualified to attend the grand assembly either.

Was it because he was impeached that Wang Zeng summoned him here?
刘娥刚开始根本就没有注意门口的角落。

但是站在宋煊旁边那个说要上奏的，刘娥也看清楚了。

That was Song Xuan's teacher. Some time ago, Fan Zhongyan, who was famous for his students' dominance in the Yingtian Academy, submitted another ten-thousand-word memorial, further enhancing his reputation.

Even the recluse Lin Bu praised Fan Zhongyan highly and wanted to see his ten-thousand-word memorial.

"Play it."

宦官复述了一下皇太后的话。

Fan Zhongyan took out a memorial from his sleeve and stepped forward.

“启禀官家、大娘娘，再有关刘知州贪墨金丝楠木案的状词当中，臣又奉命审问了丁彦，此事又有新发现。”

"The flooding of Tokyo last year was not a natural disaster, but a man-made one."

"Liu Congmei, a relative of the emperor, embezzled funds intended for the construction of the Yellow River and used inferior materials!"

范仲淹此言一出，更是让朝臣极为惊讶。

刘从德侧头瞥了范仲淹一眼，他本以为此事事了，没什么意外了。

到底是谁嘴不严，把此事给抖露出来了。

王曾也是猛的回头。

吕夷简面上更是不可思议的神色。

因为他们看的都是第一份状词，第二份状词赵祯按照宋煊的要求，暂且隐忍不发。

若是前面顺利，那也就不用再罪加一等。

只要母后她处置刘从德，就说明是为了大宋考虑，那份告诫官宦子弟的诏令，也就是真心的。

但是丁彦与赵德直接被大娘娘的人给提走了，赵祯心中就觉得事情要坏。

索性就就叫来范仲淹做个后手，把此事爆料出来。

方才金丝楠木之事，那只是涉及皇家利益，大家无法感同身受。

但是东京城被淹，那就是涉及在场每一个人的利益了。

连皇宫都被淹了，更不用说这些大臣家中的情况。

这就是众怒！
宋煊听着范仲淹诉说，他连忙把自己的官帽给戴好。

Song Xuan really didn't expect this arrangement to happen so quickly.

那天自己只是与赵祯说了一下心中的想法，待到合适的机会引爆。

Whether in official circles or among ordinary people.

民间那里自己还没有拆人去放出风声来形成更大的舆论呢。

Song Xuan raised an eyebrow, secretly pondering the next development.

After all, there isn't enough evidence in this case.

When the Yellow River rushes through, it's like a fire dragon burning down a granary. Where can you find evidence of that?
Unless the construction work done this year is also shoddy!
刘娥看向范仲淹，又神色不动的瞥了一眼刘从德。

这件事，她当真是不知道。

而且一下子被范仲淹给钉在这里了。

Since Fan Zhongyan dared to say it so openly, it must have happened.

因为刘娥瞧见刘从德脸上一闪而过的惊慌之色。

“大娘娘，冤枉啊！”

刘从德从人群当中闯出来：“臣绝对不敢做如此出格之事。”

“定然是他们胡乱攀咬，诬陷小臣，定然是背后有其他算计！”

"We hope Your Majesty will investigate this matter thoroughly!"

Liu E's face was gloomy:
"Fan Zhongyan, besides the written complaint, do you have any other evidence?"

"Your Majesty, we urge you to order a thorough investigation into this matter and bring justice to the people of Dongjing who drowned."

"If this was not done by Prefect Liu, then it would be a good opportunity to clear his name!"

Liu Congmei angrily rebuked Fan Zhongyan: "Fan Zhongyan, I have no grudge against you, how can you slander me like this?"

“大娘娘方才说了，清者自清，浊者自浊，事关黄河之事便是大事，更是悬在百万人口头上的一把利剑。”

Fan Zhongyan was not afraid of Liu Congmei's power at all:
"If the Yellow River floods, even if Prefect Liu is as rich as a country, he will become one of the fish and turtles, with no chance of escape!"

"You're talking nonsense."

“开封城下有几座开封城，全都是被黄河水淹没的，难道刘知州就一丁点都没听说过吗？”

范仲淹伸出手指着刘从德大吼道：“治理黄河的工程款，也是能随便贪墨的吗？”

"Where do you place the safety of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager?"

"Where do you place the families of all the high-ranking officials in the court?"

"Where do you place the lives of the millions of people in Tokyo?"

Faced with Fan Zhongyan's angry outburst, Liu Congde became even more furious.

他恨不得要给范仲淹几巴掌，让他闭嘴。

Tokyo is flooded every year.

那是修筑堤坝就能解决的事情吗？

That's a problem with the Yellow River; whether it's repaired or not, it'll be the same!

平白把钱浪费在那种地方，你们全都是蠢蛋！
Wang Zeng knew that Fan Zhongyan was capable, but he never expected him to be so unyielding!

不过转念一想，王曾就理解了。

作为范仲淹最优秀的弟子，宋煊行事作风就极为刚硬！
Fan Zhongyan's performance today is perfectly normal.

吕夷简当即陷入了沉思。

他儿子去年担任陈留知县，不说是在陈留修建堤坝，光是后续在陈留泄洪，就造成了不少损失。

After the construction of the dike, Lü Gongzhu was transferred to the capital to serve as an official for his meritorious service.

This is a normal transfer and has absolutely nothing to do with his father being the prime minister of the current dynasty.

Lü Yijian, however, did not believe in the idea that it was alright.

His painstaking efforts to build cliques were all for the purpose of creating a vast network of relationships that would serve the Lü family for generations.

Relationships should be used when needed; otherwise, they may become obsolete and unusable.

吕夷简只是有些疑惑。

When did Fan Zhongyan go to interrogate those two men?

Even Ding Yan didn't tell his cousin about this earth-shattering secret, so how did he obtain the testimony?
据吕夷简所知，丁彦与赵德二人已经不在皇城司的手中，被大娘娘给要走了。

Zhao Zhen stared at the guilty Liu Congde, glancing at his mother out of the corner of his eye.

In fact, he was also extremely dissatisfied with Liu Congde.

There was even a hint of jealousy!
Zhao Zhen never experienced his mother's "favor" from Liu E.

可是刘从德一个外人，竟然得到了母后的无限宠爱。

从各种待遇，再到给他选女人。

Even today, when Liu Congde embezzled one hundred pieces of golden nanmu wood from the emperor—such a grave mistake—the Empress Dowager actually admitted that she had secretly instructed him to do so.

This was all so that Liu Congde could get away with it!
这一切的一切，让赵祯心中对于刘从德生出无限的嫉妒来。

明明朕才是母后的亲儿子。

But from any perspective, the Empress Dowager treated this "adopted son" with more care than her own son. How could Zhao Zhen not feel extremely conflicted?
This just doesn't make sense!

刘娥虽然心中有怒意，但是并没有表现出来，而是极为强硬的道：

"Fan Zhongyan, your two petitions are not credible."

Even Zhao Zhen looked puzzled.

In such a momentous matter, would the Empress Dowager also favor Liu Congde?
"Your Majesty."

范仲淹还想再说什么。

就听刘娥举手制止他：“你可有证据？”

"I currently have no evidence, only testimony."

“赵德、丁彦二人为了赎罪胡乱攀咬，你也能相信？”

Instead of explaining to Fan Zhongyan, Empress Liu addressed the assembled officials:
“此事发生后，本宫也提审了他们二人。”

"The two of them admitted that they were afraid of being tortured by the Imperial City Guards, and that they made false accusations in order to exonerate themselves."

丁彦脸上更是惊诧之色。

According to the old lady, her cousin was guilty of heinous crimes, while Liu Congde was completely innocent!

How is it possible?

“大娘娘，我堂弟他绝不是这样的人！”

Before Liu E could continue speaking, Ding Du stood up and refuted her.

“还望大娘娘能够明察，还我堂弟丁彦一个清白。”

刘娥却是挥手让人把“咆哮金殿”的丁度给拽出去。

就算她没有提审二人，但是他们说了什么话不重要。

What Liu E said was the most important thing.

Because she knew that if this matter were investigated further, it would be extremely detrimental to the Liu family!
It would be better to nip this matter in the bud.

It doesn't matter what they say if there's no evidence.

况且他们二人暴毙那也是极为正常之事。

In short, as the Empress Dowager who ruled as regent, she had plenty of legitimate ways to prevent you from investigating further.

“大娘娘，此事事关重要，绝不能姑息。”

王曾也连忙请求彻查。

这个时候再不站出来，那今后还有什么可能？
就算是太后一党的吕夷简也站出来，附和王曾的建议。

This matter concerns national affairs and the interests of the imperial court, so he had no choice but to come out.

或者说参加大朝会的臣子，一瞧见宰相们都带头建议了，他们自是附和。

唯独站在前头的曹利用与张耆没动窝，最后面的宋煊也没跟着凑热闹。

曹利用是懒得掺乎这趟浑水。

He knew his son-in-law wanted to watch the show, and he thought that the good show was over after the Empress Dowager took the blame for Liu Congde.

But to everyone's surprise, Fan Zhongyan brought up the matter of embezzlement related to the Yellow River project.

这完全是在曹利用的预料之外，他瞧着一动不动装睡的张耆，索性也闭上眼睛。

Out of sight out of mind.

In any case, Wang Zeng and the others did not inform me in advance when they were discussing it.

如今这种场合，可不能给他们当枪使。

Empress Liu looked at the sea of ​​bowing officials.

Only Zhang Qi and Cao Liyong did not agree.

张耆不用多说，但是曹利用的行径，却是让刘娥没想到。

再一瞧角落里的宋煊，也是那么大大咧咧的站着没有人云亦云。

Even Song Xiang, whom he had his eye on, followed the crowd.

刘娥心中那个气愤！

你们这是要做什么？
Is this a coup?
As Zhao Zhen grew older, Liu E became increasingly sensitive to such matters!

宋煊没有人云亦云，主要也是想要“跳向刘太后的忠臣”，绝不是为了当内奸的！
In this way, when Liu E is in an awkward position, the task of investigating the case might fall into his hands.

到时候给刘娥整一个百分之二百的完成，直接把刘从德钉死。

让她想要再护着，都没机会。

Therefore, Song Xuan stood ramrod straight, as if afraid that Liu E would not see him.

奈何刘娥根本就无视群臣进谏的风险，坚持说他们二人是被屈打成招，故意攀咬。

黄河工程之事，她会另行派人去查的。

然后就宣布散朝了。

Song Xuan couldn't help but roll his eyes; his performance had been in vain.

Why didn't Liu E announce it in court?

刘从德见皇太后退却了，直接指着范仲淹的鼻子辱骂。

范仲淹却是丝毫不惧，更是质问。

Liu Congde was a spoiled brat who had been pampered since childhood.

How can one defeat someone like Fan Zhongyan, who has truly endured hardship?

"The Yellow River was of utmost importance to Emperor Taizu; if the dikes were to collapse this year, it would not only be a failure of the engineering project, but would also destroy the very lifeblood of the Song Dynasty!"

Fan Zhongyan directly escalated the corruption case into one that threatened the very foundation of the Song Dynasty.

就算是刘从德他也扛不住。

Even if Empress Wu had the ambitions of the Empress Dowager, Liu Congde himself might not have dreamed of becoming emperor.

After all, he wasn't Empress Liu's biological nephew; there was no blood relation whatsoever!
可是架不住别人的吹捧，他为此也是洋洋得意。

At this point, Fan Zhongyan's words had made him so angry that he became incoherent and began cursing Fan Zhongyan for seeking fame!
宋煊刚想趁着刘从德被众多臣子围攻之时，找机会给了他一脚，刚想补刀，却是被张茂则拦住：
“宋状元，官家请状元郎过去商议一二。”

“啊？忙着呢，一会再说。”

"Don't."

Zhang Maoze quickly pulled Song Xuan back.

这个混乱时候可别节外生枝。

Others might not know, but Zhang Maoze, as the emperor's personal eunuch, did know a bit about Song Xuan.

他这一脚下去，刘从德千万别落下病根，英年早逝喽。

“官家有紧急的事召见，您还是跟我来吧。”

宋煊听到这话也不纠结。

I'll avenge my teacher later!

Zhao Zhen was deeply troubled.

Even at this point, the Empress Dowager still insisted on exonerating Liu Congde.

He couldn't figure out why.

故而脸上的神色一直都不是很好看。

宋煊照例行礼，然后关门，坐在一旁，赵祯给宋煊倒了杯茶。

At this time, Song Xiang was still in the Golden Hall joining in the fun and had no idea that the emperor had summoned Song Xuan alone.

故而他这个起居郎也就没有跟过来详细记录君臣之间的谈话。

As soon as Zhao Zhen met Song Xuan, he poured out his grievances:
“十二哥，你有所不知，赵德与丁彦二人已经被大娘娘她派人给提走了。”

“那完犊子了。”

Song Xuan didn't reach out to drink the tea either.

“They have the witnesses in their hands. They can change their testimonies whenever they want, and they can make them say whatever they want.”

“怨不得刘从德在金殿上那么有恃无恐。”

“想来他早就去与大娘娘通过气了。”

“故而今日大娘娘才会主动把罪责揽在她的头上。”

"Yes!"

赵祯也是脸色有些难看。

He knew this, but he never expected his mother to be so biased towards Liu Congde.

This truly made Zhao Zhen feel a chill and disgust in his heart.

"I know that too," Zhao Zhen sighed softly, "but there's nothing I can do about it."

“难道这皇宫之中，官家都无法控制皇城司吗？”

听着宋煊的询问，赵祯也是叹了口气：

"The Imperial City Guard is nominally under the Emperor's control, but in reality, only the Secret Guards are completely under my command."

"Secret guard?"

宋煊没想到皇城司还有暗卫的划分，他连连点头：
"Then I understand."

只要刘娥不造反，宫中禁军是听皇太后的话。

After all, she carried the late emperor's decree.

"Ah."

赵祯也没打算瞒着宋煊，今后迟早会用到暗卫的。

宋煊摘了自己的官帽，总觉得有些热。

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is truly too biased towards Liu Congmei."

宋煊把官帽放在桌子上：

"If Liu Mei hadn't married into the Qian family, I would have seriously doubted that he was the eldest aunt's biological child."

"Yes."

Zhao Zhen also let out a long sigh:

“朕有些时候都想不明白，为何大娘娘对待刘从德，会比朕这个亲生儿子还要好！”

“亲生儿子？”

宋煊眼里露出疑惑之色：“官家说自己是大娘娘的亲生儿子？”

"Yes."

Zhao Zhen's eyes also showed a strange look: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"hiss."

宋煊倒吸一口气，先是看了看门外，随即压低声音道：

“谁告诉官家是大娘娘的亲生儿子？”

Now it was Zhao Zhen's turn to show surprise:

"That's what they've always said since I was a child, even my father said the same thing."

How could you doubt such a thing?

“此乃全天下都知道的事情啊！”

As Zhao Zhen spoke, he became increasingly unsure of himself, because he did not think Song Xuan would be surprised by the matter.

谁会怀疑这种事啊？
Looking across the entire world, who doesn't know that the First Lady was promoted to Empress by my father because she gave birth to me?

“十二哥，你怎么会问出如此奇怪的问题？”

宋煊觉得今日的火候，赵祯心中肯定是憋了一肚子气的，正是给他再添油加醋的好时机。

“官家，我在民间听说过一出叫做狸猫换太子的故事，不知道你听说过没？”

"I've never heard of any 'substitution of the crown prince' or anything like that."

Zhao Zhen looked at Song Xuan with a look of surprise and uncertainty.

He did not think that Song Xuan was making baseless accusations.

Zhao Zhen simply couldn't believe and didn't want to believe that the Empress Dowager he had called for so many years was not his biological mother!
宋煊佯装喝了口茶掩饰自己脸上的神情。

Seeing Song Xuan's reaction, Zhao Zhen became even more certain that he knew something, but he was still considering whether to say something.

“十二哥如何不说一说那狸猫换太子的故事，朕当真是没听过。”

“想当初，就是在宋朝啊！”

Song Xuan put down his water glass:
“当然我说的宋朝是刘裕建立的南朝刘宋啊！”

Zhao Zhen didn't think that Song Xuan, who was good at telling stories, would blurt it out and then try to cover it up for himself.

他明白，肯定不是什么刘宋，而是赵宋。

It was only to avoid using the term "Liu Song" that it was deliberately used.

他懂得。

赵祯听着宋煊的描述，越听越代入了他爹真宗皇帝。

After all, his father was getting old but had no son.

而刘宋的子嗣都不少，无论如何都挨不上。

赵祯听着两个妃子谁生下太子就立为皇后，于是在宦官的帮助下。

先临产的李妃之子换成了剥了皮的狸猫，并且诬陷李妃生下妖孽，被打入冷宫。

但是刘妃却是生下了死胎，这才把李妃生的太子养在身边，成为了皇后。

Zhao Zhen listened to this bizarre story and became completely absorbed in it before he finally came to his senses.

自己是李妃生的孩子！
宋煊也就是把离奇故事拿出来说一说，并没有说出事实怎么样。

真实情况，其实就是一场“代孕”。

刘娥生不出孩子来，让自己的宫女帮忙当个工具人。

待到孩子生出来后，李氏就成了被丢弃的工具人。

反正只要皇帝有了心思，那自然就会有想法去探查真相的。

Zhao Zhen became restless and began to stand up, pacing back and forth.

思考着宋煊说的故事真实性。

他第一反应便是太假了。

就算是剥了皮的狸猫，那也不像是个人。

Even his own father wasn't so foolish as to believe that humans could give birth to monsters.

However, all the memories from childhood to adulthood made Zhao Zhen increasingly believe that the Empress Dowager was not his biological mother.

Otherwise, what biological mother would so "suppress" her own son?

Zhao Zhen had not experienced it himself, but he had heard about how other people's mothers doted on them.

Unfortunately, Zhao Zhen had never experienced warmth in his life, except for the little empress.

赵祯看向宋煊，眼里满是惊疑不定：“十二哥是在哪里听说过的？”

“我在家乡听我师傅讲的故事。”

Song Xuan picked up his teacup and took a sip: "Your Majesty, there's no need to take it to heart. This is just a story!"

"wrong."

赵祯此时已经有些红眼了，甚至都出现了朦胧，语气当中带了几分哽咽。

"Just now, Twelfth Brother was quite surprised by what I said about my biological son."

"Do you know something?"

"Your Majesty."

宋煊站起身来，又把赵祯强行按下：
“是我多言了，你现在如此情绪，让我没法子说。”

Hearing Song Xuan's reply, Zhao Zhen became even more certain of his inner thoughts.

It turns out this was true; Song Xuan wasn't just making it up.

It was all for the sake of risking the greatest disrespect from the world and sowing discord between the mother and son in the royal family.

因为赵祯越是回想大娘娘对自己的态度，他就越发的相信，宋煊所说的是真话！
But all these years, why hasn't anyone told me the truth!

You kept it from me for so long!

赵祯的眼泪从脸颊上划过，他甚至都不敢大声哭泣，而是压抑着的哭。

Everything is explained.

Although he didn't want to believe it, he believed that Song Xuan wouldn't lie to him.

要是宋煊直接说，那赵祯觉得事情兴许不那么糟糕。

可是真相是被他自己给推导出来的，那情绪立马就上来了！
待到哭了好一会，赵祯才用袖子擦了擦自己的眼泪：

“十二哥，我虽然极力的不相信，可是你说的这个故事，又让我不得不相信！”

“官家，我原本以为你知道事情的真相呢，是因为大娘娘她自幼对你多加照顾，长大了对你严加要求，才会如此。”

宋煊叹了口：“没想到你是被蒙在鼓里，瞒的死死的。”

“那可就不是正常的母子关系了！”

赵祯抹了抹眼泪，这么多年心中的委屈和疑惑，一下子就解开了。

He felt a sense of relief.

So that's why my mother didn't favor me.

一个把别人当成工具的女人，如何会宠爱工具生下来的小工具？

No matter how noble Zhao Zhen's status was, in Liu E's eyes, he was nothing more than a tool.

maternal love?

可别奢求那种东西，你赵祯是不配的。

宋煊掏出擦汗的帕子，递给赵祯，让他擦擦眼泪：
"Twelfth Brother, I... I really don't know what to say or what to do next. My mind is in complete turmoil!"

"No, you must stay calm."

"I am certainly not the only one who knows about this."

“朝中那么多臣子，兴许也知道真相，但是官家年纪尚小，刘太后一直摄政，掌管朝中大小事务，甚至想要模仿大唐的武则天。”

“此事他们都不敢劝谏，更不用说被大娘娘下令隐瞒的此事了。”

Song Xuan poured tea for Zhao Zhen:

“若是被别人知道我告知了官家真相，那我必然会遭到大娘娘的报复。”

“说不准就直接前往儋州，陪着丁谓去钓鱼了！”

Zhao Zhen took Song Xuan's words to heart.

He understands.

In particular, the entire palace was controlled by the Empress Dowager, and even her every word and action was monitored.

以前还有郭皇后为大娘娘打掩护，如今郭皇后的手段无了，那就别人如何不会给皇太后送信呢？
"I know that my twelfth brother took a great risk to tell me the truth."

赵祯捏着手帕道：“此事朕一定会装作不知道。”

“官家，以你的孝心，你每日都去请安，定然会漏出马脚，最重要的是你不会演戏，在大娘娘面前，根本就无所遁形的。”

Zhao Zhen was stunned.

He admitted that Song Xuan was right; sometimes he just couldn't pretend to be confused.

“那我该怎么改？”

"You can't change it."

Song Xuan sighed: "The Emperor is born unable to play dumb!"

After all, Emperor Renzong of Song was a truly honest man; he's still too inexperienced to be an actor.

他根本就没有那个演技，只能演砸喽。

"What should I do then?"

赵祯脸上带着焦急之色，他猛然间知道自己的真实身世。

Emotions inevitably fluctuate greatly!

Song Xuan carefully suggested:

“要不官家因为忧心国事，病上几日？”

(End of this chapter)