The prince is more stable

Chapter 518: Prime Minister's Visit
The etiquette for entertaining the prime minister naturally cannot be too shabby.

Zhang Dun sent someone to deliver the name card in advance, saying it was a "visit". You can't really think that they are here to "pay a visit", right?

So after receiving the invitation, Zhao Xiaoqian ordered the servants of the palace to clean the courtyard and Yin'an Hall, and the kitchen to prepare a feast in advance. Li Yizhong also went to a brothel and invited the most popular courtesan in Bian Jing and a singing and dancing troupe to the palace to liven up the banquet.

It was past noon, and Zhang Dun had not arrived yet. Zhao Hao and his son Zhao Xiaoqian sat in Yin'an Hall, drinking tea and waiting.

"Zhang Dun came to visit today. I'm afraid he understood the hint given by the emperor..." Zhao Hao said lightly after taking a sip of tea.

At this time, Zhao Hao was still as fat as a meatball, but his face no longer had the usual frivolous look. There was a shrewd look in his little green eyes, like an old fox who had eaten too much.

Zhao Xiaoqian also sipped his tea and said, "This incident will probably eventually lead to a court struggle between the powerful people in Bianjing who are grabbing land and those in power like Zhang Dun. Of course, I have some influence in the court now..."

Zhao Hao said without raising his eyebrows, "Zhang Dun is an old fox. Even if the emperor gives him hints, he may not be willing to do his best. After all, it has nothing to do with his own interests. There is no need for him to make enemies for you."

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes flickered as he chuckled softly, "What if we could find a way to involve Zhang Dun's interests in this matter?"

Zhao Hao was stunned: "What do you mean?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said calmly, "Before Han Wei, Wang Yuan, and the others were executed, I made them write a confession, listing the names of the powerful people in Bianjing who had hidden behind the scenes and seized power."

"Among those powerful people, half are from the New Party and half from the Old Party, haha..."

The conversation stopped there, but Zhao Hao understood and immediately laughed.

"For the past six months, Zhang Dun has held power and carried out a brutal campaign. Besides implementing new policies, he has also been suppressing the old party. In my opinion, Zhang Dun's intention to suppress the old party seems to be more important than implementing new policies."

"If half of the people on this land grabbing list are from the old party, then wouldn't that be linked to Zhang Dun's interests? Haha!"

Zhao Xiaoqian also laughed: "I wonder if the old party dug up Zhang Dun's ancestral graves back then, and why Mr. Zhang hates the old party so deeply. But for my current troubles, this is good news."

Zhao Hao smiled cunningly, "Even if Minister Zhang doesn't want to try his best, I'm afraid it's beyond his control. He doesn't want to get involved, but we're forcing him to join. Looking at the names of those old party members, I don't believe he will hold back."

As he spoke, Zhao Hao suddenly looked deeply at Zhao Xiaoqian, and said with relief: "I knew that you must be cautious in doing things. Before the matter was done, you had already thought of a plan to deal with it. Or, in other words, you decided to kill Han Wei and others because you saw those old party members on the list and had a countermeasure, so you were not afraid, right?"

Zhao Xiaoqian shook his head: "Father guessed wrong. Regardless of whether there are old party members on the list, I will kill Han Wei and the others. The presence of old party members on the list is just an unexpected gain."

Zhao Hao was silent for a while, and couldn't help but said: "I have never asked you why you insisted on killing Han Wei and others? This matter did not need to be so drastic."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed and said, "As a human being, you still need to have some humanity. In two words, 'conscience'."

Zhao Hao frowned. He seemed to understand, but also seemed not to understand.

Having lived a life of wealth and luxury, he had never felt the suffering of the people and it was difficult for him to think from the perspective of the poor people.

Zhao Xiaoqian is different. He was a poor commoner in his previous life. He knows very well what it feels like to be bullied and abused, and naturally he will not show mercy to those who perpetrate it.

The heads of the forty-two convicted officials may also be mixed with some of Zhao Xiaoqian's personal emotions. He also wanted to comfort and commemorate his poor and helpless self in his previous life.

In the afternoon, Zhang Dun came to visit.

Zhang Dun also came in from the back door. There was no other way. The front door was too busy and Zhang Dun didn't want to be too conspicuous.

Zhao Hao and his son welcomed Zhang Dun into the Yin'an Palace. After a few greetings, Zhao Hao ordered a banquet to be held. The courtesans and singing and dancing troupes invited from the brothel also entered the palace to sing and dance to entertain the guests.

Amid the pleasant sounds of stringed instruments, the dancers danced gracefully in the hall, displaying their alluring dance moves in front of the guests and hosts, which was a delight to the eyes.

However, whether they were courtesans or geishas, ​​their eyes were all fixed on Zhao Xiaoqian with passionate and admiring expressions. No matter whether they were playing the pipa or singing or dancing, their gazes never blinked, as if a group of she-wolves were staring at delicious prey.

Zhao Xiaoqian was completely unaware that the taste of His Royal Highness the Prince had become extremely picky. Ordinary vulgar women were not in his eyes at all. The ones who were lucky enough to spend the night with him had to be at least stunning beauties. Moreover, Zhao Xiaoqian would not move, and the beauties would move automatically.

After three rounds of drinks, the process was considered complete.

Zhang Dun put down his wine cup and looked at Zhao Xiaoqian with a smile.

"When I left the capital last year, I was still a county duke. When I returned this year, I was already a county prince. I should also address you as 'Your Highness'. This is extraordinary."

Zhao Xiaoqian said modestly, "Mr. Zhang is the Prime Minister of a country. How dare I overstep my bounds? Just call me 'Xiao Zhao'. It sounds more intimate."

Zhang Dun's face froze.

Zhao Hao was also getting a little impatient: "You... stop talking nonsense, it's so disrespectful!"

Zhang Dun also pointed at him and said with a wry smile, "I haven't seen you for over half a year. Why are you still so frivolous? Hasn't the war on the border made you speak more honestly?"

Zhao Xiaoqian explained earnestly, "The flames of war can't burn your mouth. My mouth will only get burned."

Zhang Dun's expression froze again, and then he said decisively, "Change the subject, quickly."

Long-lost, sad memories flooded into Zhang Dun's mind, and he was shocked to realize that chatting with this kid had never been pleasant, and he always felt uncomfortable because of his mouth.

After some consideration, Zhang Dun felt that it would be more appropriate to call his cousin by his courtesy name. In such a private occasion, the name did not need to be too formal, so as not to create a sense of alienation.

"Zi'an suddenly returned to the capital yesterday, and the streets of Bianjing were completely deserted. It was a truly magnificent occasion. I witnessed Zi'an's prestige, having defeated the Liao army so many times." Zhang Dun stroked his beard and smiled. "Not to mention the common people, even I, the Prime Minister, have benefited from his kindness. Here, I toast to Zi'an. Thank you for leading the royal army to defeat the enemy. Peace has finally come to the Song Dynasty, and I can now freely implement my new policies."

Zhao Xiaoqian hurriedly said he dared not, and drank the cup.

Zhang Dun looked at his face and said with a smile, "Zi'an returned to the capital yesterday. I haven't heard of the imperial order to transfer him. Is there something wrong with his sudden return?"

Zhao Xiaoqian also smiled.

The old fox pretends to be ignorant even though he knows the truth. You don’t know what’s going on, so why are you coming to my house today?

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked. "I heard that the emperor summoned you and several other ministers to the palace this morning. I'm sure Minister Zhang is aware of this, right?"

Zhang Dun smiled and said, "The emperor did summon us this morning, but he didn't tell me what it was about. I really don't know. I hope Zi'an can tell me clearly."

I don't want to play tricks on this old fox. You are old and your time is running out. I am still young and don't have time to waste with you.

So Zhao Xiaoqian simply opened up and said, "Something happened. I got into trouble in Zhending Prefecture."

Zhang Dun's expression was not at all surprised, he just raised his eyebrows and said: "I would like to hear his story."

"Two months ago, the Council of State dispatched Han Wei, the Transport Commissioner of the Western Hebei Route, Wang Yuan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and forty-two other officials to Zhending Prefecture to assist the court in establishing a new county, measuring farmland, and relocating farmers and refugees. I, incompetent as I am, executed all forty-two of them!"

With a clang, the wine cup in Zhang Dun's hand fell to the ground, leaving a stain of wine on the ground. Zhang Dun opened his eyes wide and looked at Zhao Xiaoqian in horror. He did not move for a long time, as if he was frozen in place.

After a long while, Zhang Dun came back to his senses, quickly turned his head to look at Zhao Hao's expression, then stared at Zhao Xiaoqian and said in a deep voice: "Zi'an,...don't joke!"

Zhao Xiaoqian looked him straight in the eye. "I'm not joking. This is true. I also brought the heads of the forty-two convicted officials back to Bianjing. I pickled them in lime and they're still quite fresh."

Zhang Dun stood up suddenly and pointed at him in horror: "You, you you..."

Zhao Hao also stood up at this time, waved his sleeves at the courtesans and dancers in the hall, and said in a deep voice: "Singing and dancing, please withdraw!"

Seeing that the atmosphere in the hall was not right, the women hurriedly bowed and left.

Zhang Dun's head was buzzing at this time, as if someone was pressing his head against the wall.

He looked vacant, still digesting the shocking news.

Forty-two officials... were all killed. How dare he do that?
No wonder the King of Chu sent him a valuable gift for no reason, no wonder Zhao Xiaoqian hurried back to the capital without a word, and no wonder the emperor summoned him this morning and gave him a barrage of incoherent hints and flattery.

Zhang Dun probably knew that Zhao Xiaoqian must have gotten into trouble, and that the level of the trouble was not low.

But he never expected that the trouble this guy caused would be so serious.

It can’t be covered!

Even the prime minister of the time couldn’t protect him!
Originally, after receiving the hint from the emperor, Zhang Dun planned to do the emperor and the Chu King's family a favor regardless of right or wrong, and help them if he could. Through this favor, he could also show his goodwill to Zhao Xiaoqian and put aside all the grudges they had with each other in the past.

As a prime minister, your job is to make more friends and fewer enemies.

But now, when Zhang Dun discovered that Zhao Xiaoqian had caused such a big disaster, he was a little overwhelmed.

You've poked a hole in the sky!
Why are you asking me for help at this time? You should be performing a ritual to summon the gods!

Please ask Nuwa to possess you and help you repair the sky.

Zhang Dun stood in the Yin'an Hall, his cheeks twitching uncontrollably. Looking at the sumptuous feast of wine and food in front of him, he suddenly felt like he was at the Hongmen Banquet.

There is no good meeting, and there is no good banquet!
How careless! Why would he enter the Prince of Chu's mansion for no reason? He actually came to the door on his own initiative.

After a long silence, Zhang Dun suddenly bowed to the father and son with a friendly expression.

"...Farewell!"

After saying this, Zhang Dun turned and left, as if he had made some kind of decision.

When he took the second step, Zhang Dun found that he could not move anymore. He turned his head and saw Zhao Xiaoqian holding his sleeve tightly.

"...Mr. Zhang cannot leave." Zhao Xiaoqian said softly.

"Stop making trouble! I have something to do, and the Political Affairs Hall needs me!"

"...You have accepted the money, two hundred thousand taels from my family. You have to do the job after accepting the money. Is that the rule?" Zhao Xiaoqian continued quietly.

“…I will return it to you now!”

"My family's money is like Dongfeng Express. Once it's delivered, you are not allowed to refuse it."

"Are you being unreasonable? Are you being unreasonable?" Zhang Dun was furious.

(End of this chapter)