After dark, the "Hao District" of Bianjing, known as the city that never sleeps in the center of the world, and Zhao Zongshi's Duke's Mansion are brightly lit and full of doors.

Many invited dignitaries and dignitaries, famous girls and dancers have entered here, this time it is the Qing Niang of Fan Lou, the woman Zhao Zongshi admires the most, for his banquet.

Participants are holding posts (invitations) that need to be checked. What is strange is that a few little children got in without an invitation, but they were the sons and daughters of the Wang family and Zhang Xiaohua.

These kids are little kids, so no one cares if it's unreasonable. Speaking of which, their fame in Bianjing is really big, and many people know them as well.

Most of the people who attended the banquet were from prestigious families in Gyeonggi, as well as people who had the right to speak in the imperial court, or important generals of the Fourth Army in Gyeonggi who were not from the Cao family, such as Yang Wenguang.

When the music and singing and dancing were opened, steaming food and wine were placed on the tables everywhere, and they exchanged words and chatted harmoniously while watching the singing and dancing.

This situation of drunkenness has recently become the norm and the most striking feature of the imperial capital.

In fact, this kind of gathering style tradition does not originate in Europe but is anti-ancient, just like the diners and strategists under the aristocracy during the Spring and Autumn Wars.

Regardless of ancient or modern, according to the custom of the banquet, the stomach was properly filled, and after each drank the first round of wine, the prince would temporarily pause and walk to the venue to say something official.

But now, it's time for Zhao Zongshi to get up and remind everyone to pay attention. The two little children in the corner squirted wine and said, "The big demon king is here, run." ”

Zhang Xiaohua and Wang Jiasanshao's movement made everyone's emotions stop abruptly, and when they looked at the gate, they saw Wang Yan coming in with his hands behind his back.

So no one in the whole hall spoke, but Wang Yan looked around, frowning.

Zhao Zongshi didn't want to be a joke in everyone's mouth, and he didn't want to be affected by the atmosphere.

But speaking of which, Xiao Zhao still retains his inherent inertia, he was a little afraid of Da Yan in the past, not to mention that Da Yan is his master now.

It's not a way to hold on to it like this, and everyone is very embarrassed to look at Zhao Zongshi expectantly, hoping that Zhao Zongshi will say something.

So Zhao Zongshi had no choice but to come over and smile gently: "Why is Xianggong here, I know that you have always disliked this kind of entertainment, so I didn't send you a post." I happened to see the third young man of the Wang family here before, and I thought he came here instead of you? ”

Wang Yan said: "The three young people of the Wang family are the three young people of the Wang family, and his father is Wang Anshi, not me." If I really need to give His Highness a platform, I will personally bring the oil bottle Wang Xiaobai to visit, not my brother. He and Zhang Xiaohua came here for only one purpose: to peek at the new beautiful maid in your house. ”

The words of the Great Demon King were simple, rough and naked, and many people couldn't help but have black lines on their faces, but there was nothing they could do. It's half cold, so everyone thinks that the big demon king of this period is a broken jar, scared the air, and the Prime Minister of Han is all out of temper.

Han Qi's protégé who personally went to Xiongzhou to solve the Jiehe problem was removed yesterday, and I heard that it was the result of the intervention of the Great Demon King. Of course, this can be regarded as a deterrent to the Demon King.

"The prime minister is here to ......," Zhao Zongshi deliberately did not finish his words.

Wang Yan clasped his fists and said: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is in charge of the country during this special period, and he has a great responsibility as an example. The Great Song Dynasty has not yet solved the problem of food and clothing, and many people in backward areas will shiver in winter, and will look forward to the coming year with a small harvest in the autumn. The Bohai Sea is also in full swing to combat piracy, and the Quang Nam border has officially declared war on Cochin. The minister did not dare to say that it was a critical autumn of survival, but it was not appropriate for the Jingshi to render an extravagant style at this moment. This is not a mistake, but it does have a bad effect, and as a prisoner, you cannot indulge in such a way at this time. ”

That's going to be upset. In other dynasties, it was an act of trouble, but during the Great Song Dynasty, Zhao Zhen, who was more prestigious than Xiao Zhao, was often scolded by people like this.

This is the enlightened political characteristic of the Great Song Dynasty. Wang Yan, the champion and the first, specifically suggested that the emperor choose a successor who could maintain the enlightened tradition in the policy of the palace examination, and Zhao Zongshi was handpicked because of this, so even if he didn't like to listen to him, he didn't dare to cross the line, so he could only keep his head down.

But it didn't break up either, and there was a bit of a soft confrontation.

Wang Yan said softly: "His Royal Highness the Prince, apologize for offending the ministers." In fact, I really don't love to offend people, just because I am in his position. The national war has begun, the international situation is critical, the inflation policy is tightened, and it can be said that it is an outbreak of internal and external troubles. ”

Looking around, Wang Yan continued: "I know that most of you here believe that deflation and the sharp deterioration of the international strategic situation are caused by my Wang Yan's policies. Maybe, maybe it really has something to do with me. But as an archon, I have done it, and I will be responsible for it. This responsibility includes my restrictions and admonitions to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince as a courtier. I always say that no one will always be right, but I have been trying to do things well, and the merits and demerits will be left to history to judge, but as far as what I have done and said today, I ask myself if I am worthy of the trust of the old official. ”

At this point, Zhao Zongshi hugged his fists a little embarrassed and said: "The public is serious, and this is the end of this untimely banquet." ”

Since then, people from all walks of life have only felt very disappointed to evacuate one after another.

When there was no one else in the hall, Wang Yan said: "I allocated His Royal Highness the prince in public, which is a debt as a courtier." ”

Zhao Zongshi hurriedly said: "Don't say that, Xianggong, you have this qualification, this is the privilege that Your Majesty gives you." At the time of the crown prince, His Majesty summoned me several times and specifically said to me, you have been running for the Great Song Dynasty for ten years, fighting in the south and the north. Perhaps, as you say, you will not always be right. But no matter what, the Great Song Dynasty owes you, Your Majesty said it personally, this is an indelible historical footprint. ”

Such a comment Wang Yan did not hesitate. In fact, when he interacted with Wang Yan like this as a prince, it was already a big change in identity thinking, which is the legendary "Seeing Outside".

This is not a big sequelae in the Great Song Dynasty, but this is not a good sign either.

Of course, Wang Yan also understands that this is human nature. To a certain extent, people can only share the joys and sorrows, and it is more difficult to balance the wealth and prosperity together. Especially the sequelae brought about by the great demon king's previous prestige, the prince is older than Wang Yan, and Lao Zhao's excessive rendering and scare, which will make him useless when facing Wang Yan.

This is actually what Wang Gongchen said, "You finish things alone, let the later generations and the old guys think", the same reason.

Therefore, Zhao Zongshi in this period would rather choose Han Qi, a hard-core figure with old qualifications, to rely on.

In any case, Han Qi's reputation as a person is much better than that of Dayan, and he is a real elder. As a junior, the prince will not be ashamed if he is reprimanded by the elders, but if he collides with the younger Wang Yan, it will be very embarrassing. It's human nature.

In addition, from the perspective of human nature, Zhao Zongzhi's actions are inappropriate, but it is by no means a big mistake, it will inevitably happen in the change of mentality.

A "street fighter who is accustomed to a hard life", usually cautiously bows his head and behaves, he suddenly moved into the Duke's Mansion by virtue of his title, knows Zongzheng Temple, has the status of a prince, and the entire clan, economic tycoons, and military generals have congratulated him.

So it's normal for him to be a little nervous during this period. Nouveau riche is not a derogatory term, just a noun, a phenomenon. Just like the current Da Song Dynasty is also a nouveau riche mentality, which makes Han Qi dare to deploy in the Bohai Sea and declare war on Jiaozhi without compromise.

After figuring these things out, Wang Yan didn't bother anymore and planned to leave, "It's late, the ministers don't disturb His Royal Highness the Prince's rest, His Royal Highness is now a prisoner, and he needs to actively participate in the court discussions and understand the current situation and the courtiers, which will be hard work." The corresponding minister is just an idler, only responsible for finding faults. The minister does not want to restrict His Highness too tightly, so he will not participate in your court discussion and will not participate in your practice process, but as long as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince trusts, His Royal Highness will inform you of all kinds of questions about our dynasty. ”

"I'm worried about my husband." Zhao Zongshi nodded slightly.

Wang Yan turned around and left.

Zhao Zongshi said again: "Please stay with the prime minister, I haven't been together for a long time, it is rare for the prime minister to come in person, I want to invite the prime minister to sit in the study and talk slowly." ”

"Since it was invited by His Royal Highness, the minister disturbed."

Wang Yan didn't have much interest, but it didn't matter if he went, so why didn't he go......

I went to the study, and a handsome young man about the same age as Erya was studying, about fourteen or fifteen years old. He is Zhao Ji, the son of Zhao Zongshi, who will be the sixth emperor of the Great Song Dynasty in the future, and he is also a rare radical emperor in the history of the Great Song Dynasty.

Just like Zhao Zongshi relied on Han Qi, this kid will rely on Wang Anshi in the future.

He is now studying very hard, and sure enough, when Wang Yan came in, he found that he was reading Wang Anshi's "Book of Words and Matters of the Emperor". The reality of talking about is the initial form and suggestions of the law, Wang Anshi, who cherishes words like gold, can put this macro long article to 10,000 words, which is indeed a matter of words and intentions.

So when Zhao Ji read it, his eyebrows fluttered, he shook his head and threw himself into it.

The children of the poor are in charge of the family at an early age.

Back then, Zhao Zongshi was really on the street compared to other clan children, and after giving it to Zhao Zhen, he was not Zhao Yunrang's person, limited to sensitivity, even if Zhao Yunrang had a big family, he couldn't give Zhao Zongshi wealth.

In this way, Empress Cao is strict again, and Zhao Zhen has always been economical and not extravagant. In the early years, Zhao Zongshi's title position was also very frustrating, and he didn't even have a public mansion, and after getting married, he couldn't live in the palace as an adult, so he came out and rented a house with a small amount of knighthood given by Zongzheng Temple to support his wife and children.

Zhao Yunrang's family property was very large when he died, but as Zhao Zhen's stepson, Xiao Zhao certainly did not dare to inherit Zhao Yunrang's property.

Xiao Zhao's wife is also considered a powerful person, and now Queen Cao is her aunt. But because of the strict management of the close, the mother's family did not dare to take money to help Zhao Zongshi. It's good that someone is stupid and has a lot of money, Yang Huaiyu to help. Of course, these situations have also created his son to work hard, not have the habit of being a gentleman, and love to learn.

Growing up in such an environment has caused Zhao Ji's mentality of "the poor at the bottom". He naturally pays more attention to the speech policy related to the bottom. Such policy remarks in the Great Song Dynasty of this period, of course, Fan Zhongyan and Wang Anshi were the vanguard.

and because Fan Zhongyan was almost denied a long time ago, Wang Anshi and Wang Yan were popular a while ago. Wang Yan has the name of the Demon King, but Wang Anshi is really a model of Wenzong's Taidou behavior, so Zhao Zongshi, who was cautious at that time, naturally suggested that his son read "Wang Anshi's Anthology".

In this regard, this is human nature and political correctness.

When Wang Yan finished YY, Zhao Zongshi said: "Zhao Xu, come and see Xianggong, he is the famous Wang Yan Wang Xianggong, the father's master." ”

The children of this period are a little rebellious and worship idols, Wang Anshi is an idol, and when he meets the son of an idol, he is so young, and Zhao Ji is a little embarrassed and jealous.

So when I came out to greet him, I looked a little twisted: "Meet the prince Wang." ”

After Wang Yan and Xiao Zhao exchanged two words, Zhao Ji said curiously: "Ask Xianggong, it is rumored that you personally led your team to hide in the ice and snow at minus 30 degrees Celsius when the battle of Beichuan River was deployed, is it true?" ”

Wang Yan said: "It's true that the conditions are bad, but it's not that exaggerated. At that time, I was sick and confused, and I was really afraid that it was a pill. In fact, I have been sleeping in a tent, covered with several layers of bear skin, and kept warm by coke. ”

Eh, hearing that the gods were a little ungodly, very ordinary, Zhao Ji couldn't help but be a little disappointed.

Immediately, Zhao Ji said curiously: "I heard that when my Great Song Volunteer Army entered Xining Prefecture, the city was full of widows, and the city was eating grass, and the only food had been snatched away by the Xixia people, and it was burned by the Song army's artifact fire dragon. At that time, you took them to eat grass roots and trees, is it true? ”

Wang Yan was inevitably a little discouraged: "Manba has killed many people, and many widows are true, but they will not fill the city." Food is a bit tight, but there is also a logistical supply from the Great Song Dynasty. At that time, the biggest problem was the cold, in fact, the Qingtang people had little problem adapting to the climate, but when they cleaned up the frostbite of the volunteers who were damaged in the war, they really cried. ”

Seeing Zhao Zongyong's eyes glaring, Zhao Ji said again: "Your Royal Highness, father, don't look at me with that kind of eyes, I'm just curious." So ask more. ”

As a result, he was slapped on the back of the head, and Zhao Zongshi scolded: "Damn, stinky boy, where did you hear about the literature that is full of stalls, and the prince has so much leisure to listen to your nagging?" Just read a book on your own. ”

Zhao Ji was not convinced, and covered his head and said: "Xianggong, at that time, the Xixia people planted your hands and lost so badly, did you say that they would wait for an opportunity to retaliate?" ”

Zhao Zongshi grabbed his ear again and said: "You are just a little street, but you have begun to manipulate the mind of the country, don't talk about state affairs in vain!" ”

said this, but in fact, Zhao Zongshi pricked up his ears and listened, waiting for Wang Yan to interpret this matter.

Because of Wang Yan's various actions a while ago, it really seemed that he was dealing with something, Xiao Zhao felt that the big demon king might not be authentic in doing things, but there was a reason for it.