The prince is more stable

Chapter 8 Turning the Tide
It was expected, but still caught me off guard.

The official came too quickly, faster than Zhao Xiaoqian had imagined.

According to normal procedures, it would take at least ten days to half a month to arrest a prince from the royal family. However, the actions against Zhao Hao were completed in just two days. At this moment, the Dali Temple could not wait to come to the door to arrest him.

The so-called "going through the court" is just a euphemism. After the Dali Temple has gone through the court, it is almost certain that they will not let the person go easily.

Zhao Xiaoqian's expression changed immediately. He stood up and hurried towards the palace gate, saying as he walked, "Order the palace guards to not allow anyone to enter!"

"Also, tell my father to stay in the study and not show his head. If he shows up, he'll be killed instantly."

The servant who brought the news ran away.

Zhao Xiaoqian walked quickly to the gate of the palace, but saw a team of imperial guards blocking the stone steps, confronting a group of runners in black clothes.

Leading the group were two officials, one of whom Zhao Xiaoqian knew: Prince Pu Zhao Zongsheng, the Minister of the Imperial Clan Affairs Ministry.

The other man was wearing a green official robe and a long-winged hat. He stared at an armored general commanding the imperial guards with a grim expression.

The royal palace is also guarded by imperial guards, which is a sign of royal dignity.

However, there were not many people guarding the palace. Given Zhao Hao's status as the current emperor's uncle, the number of imperial guards in the Chu Palace was only one commander.

"Command" was a military unit of the Song Dynasty. One command consisted of about four to five hundred people. The military officer who led this imperial guard was called "Du Zhihui", which was equivalent to a battalion commander in later generations.

The imperial guards were only responsible for protecting the prince's palace. Outside the palace, the military generals did not obey the prince's orders. They were directly under the command of the Bian Jing Infantry Palace Front Division.

At this moment, the commander of the imperial guards temporarily stopped the official from the Dali Temple on the order of the Crown Prince Zhao Xiaoqian, and this could be regarded as a small favor from the commander to the Crown Prince of Chu.

Seeing Zhao Xiaoqian walking out proudly, the commander of the imperial guards breathed a sigh of relief, then waved his hand and the imperial guards of the palace made way for him.

Zhao Xiaoqian ignored the green-robed official from the Dali Temple. From the color of his uniform, it could be seen that the man in the green robe was at most an eighth-rank official and was not qualified to be greeted by the Prince of Chu.

Zhao Xiaoqian then stepped forward and bowed deeply to Zhao Zongsheng, saying, "I pay my respects to Grandpa Prince Pu."

Zhao Zongsheng narrowed his eyes in amusement, stroked his beard and smiled, "Zi'an, no need to be polite. Haha, nice to meet you again."

Zhao Xiaoqian said very sensibly, "Yes, thank you, Grandpa Prince Pu."

In front of everyone, Zhao Xiaoqian didn't say what he was thanking him for, but Zhao Zongsheng understood and couldn't help feeling happy. This kid never goes out for many years, but he really has no shortage of social skills.

The Dali Temple arrested someone, but the Minister of the Zongzheng Temple accompanied them personally, and of course he was not there to watch the fun.

When royal family members were questioned by the Dali Temple, even though the Zongzheng Temple could not interfere, it would still be present to keep an eye on the situation, in order to prevent the lower-level officials from being rude to the relatives and damaging the reputation of the royal family.

However, the presence of the Minister of the Imperial Clan in person showed the importance that the Tian family attached to this matter. The appearance of Zhao Zongsheng was undoubtedly a heavy favor to the Chu Palace.

The Dali Temple official finally stepped forward. Although his expression was grim, he still bowed politely. "Your humble servant, Dali Temple Secretary Zhou Shen, pays his respects to the Crown Prince of Chu."

Zhao Xiaoqian had gradually begun to understand the prince's temperament over the past two days. Upon hearing this, he frowned and hummed coldly, "Why has Minister Zhou Si mobilized so many troops to gather in front of the Prince of Chu's mansion? Is there something wrong?"

"I dare not disturb the King of Chu and the Crown Prince, but the Censorate has sent a letter saying that His Highness the King of Chu is involved in some matters. I have been ordered to ask the King of Chu to move his party. I hope the Crown Prince will forgive me." Zhou Shen said politely.

"The dignified King of Chu, the current emperor's uncle, was taken away by the Dali Temple with just one word. Your official power is really greater than the sky. In a few years, I'm afraid even the emperor will have to look at the Dali Temple's face?" Zhao Xiaoqian said in a gloomy tone.

The power of these words was too terrifying. Zhou Shen's face changed drastically. He couldn't help but thumped his chest and knelt down facing the direction of the palace. He said in a trembling voice: "How dare I have such a rebellious thought, your... your...

Zhao Zongsheng next to him cast an admiring glance at Zhao Xiaoqian. This kid brought him more and more surprises. Just relying on his speaking skills and weight, he could not lose in verbal battles with those old foxes in the court.

After coughing twice, Zhao Zongsheng slowly said, "Zi'an, your father has been impeached by several censors. The reports have been sent to the Censorate and the Dali Temple. It would be better if you could ask your father to come out and explain himself to the Dali Temple."

Zhao Xiaoqian wasn't in a good mood towards Zhou Shen, but he still gave Zhao Zongsheng some face. He nodded and said, "I dare not disobey Grandpa Pu's words. I beg you to condescend to come into my humble abode and sit for a while. My father still needs to prepare his ceremonial attire before traveling..."

Zhou Shen gritted his teeth and said with difficulty, "The Dali Temple is only inviting the King of Chu to the court. Why should Your Highness dress up in formal attire..."

Before he could finish his words, Zhao Zongsheng said coldly, "As a clan member, your behavior is related to the reputation of the royal family. How can you be careless with your attire? Can't Zhou Sicheng wait?"

Zhou Shen was criticized several times by the two clan members in turn, but he didn't dare to turn hostile, so he could only smile and say that he didn't dare.

Zhao Zongsheng looked at Zhao Xiaoqian with a smile and said, "We have a large army today, so it's not appropriate to go inside. I will wait outside the door. Zi'an, go and invite your father."

Zhao Xiaoqian apologized and turned to go into the palace.

As soon as the side door of the palace was closed, Zhao Xiaoqian, who had been calm and composed just now, changed his expression instantly. He lifted up his robe and ran towards the study.

He rushed to the study, where Zhao Hao was sitting with a calm expression. When he saw Zhao Xiaoqian rushing in, strangely, Zhao Hao's expression immediately changed from calm to panic.

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked. Was he dazzled just now?

"My son, are the Dali Temple's constables going to put me in jail?" Zhao Hao trembled like a quail caught in a trap. Zhao Xiaoqian ignored him and turned around and shouted, "Come here, get some paper and pen!"

The servant appeared, the paper and pen were placed on the table, and then the servant disappeared.

Zhao Hao was shocked: "This is..."

Zhao Xiaoqian put the pen into Zhao Hao's hand, stared into his eyes, and said word by word: "Father, there is no time to waste. If you believe me, pick up the pen and write a memorial immediately."

Zhao Hao was shocked: "Memorial? What's it about?"

"Father understands the wording and writing better than I do, but the message is only one..." Zhao Xiaoqian said slowly: "...Please abolish the old law and reinstate the new one."

"New laws?" Zhao Hao looked at him in shock. "How can you write such a memorial? The new laws have been abolished for ten years, and everyone calls them bad policies. Yet today you want to abolish the old laws and implement the new ones. How can you take matters of national importance lightly?"

"Write quickly!" Zhao Xiaoqian said anxiously, "No one in the court dared to propose a new law, and father is the first one!"

"The Empress Dowager has passed away, and the Emperor has taken over the government this year. My Lord, times have changed!"

"The emperor needs someone to be the first to propose new laws! Father, whether the Chu Palace can be saved from danger depends entirely on this memorial!"

"If you don't write, you'll be imprisoned in the Dali Temple tonight. All those messed-up charges will be pinned on your head. If you step forward and propose new laws, perhaps there's still hope for the Chu lineage."

Zhao Hao's expression was dazed, his eyes filled with disbelief. "You mean to say that the emperor has long wanted to reform the law, but when the Empress Dowager was still alive, the emperor had not yet taken power, so he had to succumb to the Empress Dowager's wishes and implement the old laws."

"The Empress Dowager has passed away, and the Emperor has taken over the government. What he wants is to reinstate the new laws?"

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded heavily. "Yes, the emperor has been patient for many years. Now that he has taken power, he wants to implement new laws. First, he wants to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys and test the attitude of the court officials. And my father..."

Zhao Hao understood, pointed at his nose, and said, "So, I am the chicken? Because I mentioned Sima Guang in my memorial and advocated the continuation of the old laws?"

"Although it's a bit disrespectful, but... yes, father is the chicken singled out by the emperor and killed for the court officials to see." Zhao Xiaoqian said helplessly.

Zhao Hao seemed to have realized something. No wonder the storm against him was so fierce this time. It turned out that the person behind the scenes against him was the government.

Zhao Hao was stunned for a while, then suddenly became furious: "How can I look like a chicken? I clearly..."

Zhao Hao lowered his head and looked at his big abdominal muscles that were round like a ball, and his spirit suddenly lost.

"Father, if you want to survive, you must turn around immediately and change your stance. Remember, the old law is evil, a disaster that will bring wrath upon heaven and man. The new law is the hope of our Great Song!"

"Therefore, my father should not only propose the restoration of the new law, but also recommend that the emperor reinstate those New Party officials who were once demoted and dismissed."

Zhao Xiaoqian stared at Zhao Hao and said slowly, "This matter is of great importance. The emperor cannot speak in person, so the emperor needs someone to speak out first. He needs it very much. Father must seize this opportunity!"

Zhao Hao's face turned red and white, and he looked shocked and confused. At this moment, he was still digesting his son's words.

It was really too sudden. Whether it was his son's guess about the emperor's thoughts or his son's huge change in personality, Zhao Hao was unable to accept it for a while. The confused King of Chu was very confused.

After a long moment, Zhao Hao raised his head and gave him a deep look before gritting his teeth and saying, "Okay! I'll write it!"

"Since the situation has come to this, I might as well just go for it!"

"The worst that can happen is that we'll be demoted to commoners, and we'll have to go out on the streets and beg for food!"

Zhao Xiaoqian was startled and said hurriedly, "That's not the case, that's not the case... I just want to enjoy wealth and luxury, not food."

Zhao Hao's literary accomplishment was still very good. After an incense stick of time, he wrote a long and eloquent memorial.

Zhao Xiaoqian took it and glanced at it, but still didn't understand a word, so he blew dry the ink stains on it, folded it carefully, and put it in his arms.

"Qian'er, will this work?" Zhao Hao looked nervous again after finishing writing the memorial.

If this memorial is submitted, and if Zhao Xiaoqian's guess is wrong, not only will the previous crimes be confirmed, but it will also anger all the old party officials in the court. At that time, there will be an uproar in the court and the country, and enemies will be everywhere. Even if Zhao Hao and his son are demoted to commoners, their lives will probably not be easy.

There is no doubt that this is a gamble, a gamble that concerns one's life and property.

"Father, just rest assured in jail. I will take care of the rest." Zhao Xiaoqian's expression at this moment was particularly filial.

"This matter is of great importance, and the memorial must not fall into the hands of others. Qian'er, remember to bypass the six ministries and the Censorate and personally deliver it to the Forbidden Palace to present it to the emperor." Zhao Hao reminded.

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded: "I understand, my son. I will go to the Forbidden Palace right away. Father will be reformed in there and strive to be reborn and become a new man."

Zhao Hao had a miserable expression on his face, and his round belly deflated instantly like a ball pierced by a nail.

(End of this chapter)