Prince Consort

Xie Ze'an happened to "leave get out of class" when he heard Zhao Ying's call, and he and Zhao Chongzhao went to the imperial study respectively.

Zhao Ying was sitting reviewing the memorial, when she saw the servant leading Xie Zean over, she put down her ink brush and said, "Come here."

Xie Ze'an obediently took a few steps forward.

Zhao Ying picked up the notebook next to it: "You Mr. Yao and Qin Mingde wrote this thing, do you know?"

Xie Ze'an said honestly, "I know."

Zhao Ying knocked on the edge of the table: "I asked Liang Jian, you were the one who encouraged King Qi to present the method of making steel?"

Xie Ze'an said: "This statement is wrong. Who are Mr. Yao and Mr. Qin? Can I encourage them? It's just that Mr. and the others feel that they should do that, so they help write letters to the emperor."

Hearing that Xie Ze'an changed his name to "Uncle Emperor" as a matter of course, Zhao Ying's brows twitched."Why do you all think you should do this?" he said.

Xie Ze'an said: "The emperor's uncle is very talented, and he can study such a good steelmaking method, which is really admirable! But this thing should be presented to the imperial court because of emotion and reason. Think about it, there are so few minerals in his fief. , What is the use of keeping it, handing it over to the court is beneficial to the country and the people, and, he has so few fiefdom soldiers, what if those foreigners with ulterior motives go to him and learn the secret method? Think about it. , Sir, they still feel that the steelmaking method should be brought over."

Zhao Ying heard him say a truth, and almost let him fool him.But he didn't forget the purpose of putting Xie Ze'an beside Zhao Chongzhao, he raised his head and looked at Xie Ze'an: "It's really just like this?"

Xie Ze'an said: "It was really just like this."

Zhao Ying immediately grasped the key point in his words: "Originally, what about now?"

Xie Ze'an smiled shyly: "Not anymore, now I need Uncle Huang to give me an explanation."

Zhao Ying said, "For a maid under your command?"

Xie Ze'an said: "Yes, for a maid. Even if it's just a maid, it's mine. If I can't even protect a maid, I will definitely not even those who are worse than a maid will not want to follow me. What's more, Yun Niang is extremely intelligent, not inferior to men, I will not protect such talents, I am afraid that people will say that I am blind and incompetent."

Looking at Xie Zean's childish face, Zhao Ying always felt that there was a more mature soul under the small body in front of her, and she could even communicate with him on an equal footing.

This feeling was weird, but it was so clear that he couldn't ignore it.

Zhao Ying felt that she probably hoped too much that Zhao Chongzhao would have someone useful by her side, that's why she had such an illusion.

Zhao Ying tapped and said: "You are already married to Yan Ning, as long as this Yun Niang is good, don't make Yan Ning sad."

Xie Ze'an: "..."

Xie Ze'an said seriously: "I'm only ten years old, how can I understand this. Niang Yun is so much older than me, if she is willing, I will find her a good family in a year or two."

Zhao Ying said: "At this moment, you remember that you are ten years old. Why didn't you remember that you were ten years old when you stroked your 'Uncle Emperor''s beard?"

When Xie Zean heard the word "Tiger Beard", he immediately understood that his guess was correct.

Sure enough, Zhao Ying was not like Liang Jian thought, he only regarded King Qi as an idle prince with no ambitions.

Poor Zhao Chongzhao didn't notice anything at all.

Xie Ze'an said, "That's serious business, it's different."

Zhao Ying turned the conversation back to the topic: "You said that King Qi's mines are scarce, and you still want to grab all of his mines?"

Xie Ze'an met Zhao Ying's gaze: "Some things are safer in your own hands, aren't they?"

Zhao Ying asked pointedly: "What if I can't hold it in my own hands?"

Xie Ze'an said: "Then destroy it. A too sharp knife can defeat the enemy if it is used well, but it will hurt yourself if it is not used well."

Zhao Ying and Xie Ze'an looked at each other for a moment, and asked: "Then is this knife intended to defeat the enemy, or to hurt the person holding the knife?"

Xie Ze'an said: "The knife doesn't have any thoughts."

Zhao Ying said: "No one can guarantee what will happen in the future."

Xie Ze'an said: "If the scabbard is made better, there will never be such troubles."

Zhao Ying said, "This knife won't hate the scabbard I made?"

Xie Ze'an said: "No, since it doesn't have any thoughts, how could it be resentful." He replied calmly, "If someone didn't bully it, it doesn't like blood."

Zhao Ying opened Yao Dingyan's booklet, picked up a Chinese ink brush and wrote the word "ke".He stood up and said to Xie Ze'an, "Come out with me."

Xie Zean obediently followed behind Zhao Ying.

The imperial gardens are far more magnificent than ordinary people's. Xie Ze'an came here quite a few times, but he failed to take a closer look each time.Seeing that Zhao Ying was silent, he also enjoyed the scenery quietly.The ice on the lake has melted, but there is still a layer of snow on the ground. A few plum blossoms that have survived the winter have not yet withered, and they always come into view inadvertently, giving people the fun of stepping on the snow to find plum blossoms.

Xie Zean concentrated on watching the scenery.

Zhao Ying could see clearly that this guy was thick-skinned, quick-witted, and extremely courageous.

Zhao Ying said, "I didn't expect it to be a kid like you."

There are countless capable people in the government and the opposition, but Zhao Chongzhao doesn't have the ability to take these people for his own use.Zhao Ying also knew that Zhao Chongzhao was still young, so he couldn't be in a hurry, but he had to be in a hurry, his body was not much better than that of his daughter Yan Ning, and Zhao Chongzhao's lack of progress was like a knife hanging over his head.

Thinking about it carefully, Zhao Chongzhao's various performances are very similar to those of the prince back then. When he saw Zhao Chongzhao being arrogant and domineering outside, he became prejudiced.

Zhao Ying thought he acted fairly, but after Tan Wuqiu and Xie Hui came back and had Xie Ze'an beside Zhao Chongzhao, he found that the number of times he personally acknowledged the identity of Prince Zhao Chongzhao was very little.Without his approval, it would be difficult for Zhao Chongzhao to win over useful people. There will always be only some flattering guys who come and go in the East Palace.These guys are ignorant, and they don't have the courage that Zhengchen should have. Even if Zhao Chongzhao is not a mud, he will become a dou who can't afford it in such an environment.

He always beat Zhao Chongzhao with the words "acting from above to below", but he didn't expect that Zhao Chongzhao's current predicament was also caused by his attitude towards Zhao Chongzhao.

Zhao Ying did not expect that Xie Ze'an was the first one who was willing to stand beside Zhao Chongzhao.

It's not because Xie Ze'an is young, since Gan Luo was 12 years old in ancient times, why is it that Xie Ze'an is a little more capable than his peers?To Zhao Ying's surprise, from what he learned, Xie Ze'an didn't seem like the kind of person who would do such a thing. He has an out-of-the-box personality, always does things unexpectedly, and he can always do things that others think are difficult. .

Such a person may have any thoughts, but it is impossible to have a heart of pure loyalty.

Zhao Ying turned to look at Xie Zean and said, "I want to know why you chose Chongzhao."

Xie Ze'an paused, and looked straight at Zhao Ying without hesitation: "Because it's rare."

Zhao Ying frowned.

Xie Ze'an said: "There are so many things in the world where fathers and sons are not like fathers and sons, and brothers are not like brothers. It's rare for them to be born in the royal family but still love each other..." His eyelids drooped slightly, "I think it's rare. If I say it, I don't want to If you want a high official, rich salary, and wealth, it must be a lie, but there are some things that you can't let go of. I just chose the one I want more after the power of the prime minister."

Zhao Ying thought of many things in a trance when she heard Xie Ze'an's words.

He was half a soldier, and he had seen many more life and death than Xie Zean, but for a moment he felt that Xie Zean standing in front of him had also experienced similar joys and sorrows.

Xie Ze'an's words really didn't seem like he would say them at his age.

Could it be that people with ghosts and talents can even see the joys and sorrows of life earlier than others?

Zhao Ying asked: "You really don't regret it?"

"Father, don't ask, I'm easily swayed." Xie Ze'an shyly said, "If you still have the opportunity to enjoy that level of wealth in the future, don't expect me to refuse, I will definitely agree!"

Zhao Ying was choked by his "Father Emperor", and seeing Xie Ze'an's usual "shy" appearance, she felt that the feeling just now was all her own illusion!

Zhao Ying said: "How old are you? Now you want to be a first-rank official. You have a lot of heart."

Xie Ze'an smiled slightly, but did not speak.

Zhao Ying said, "Sanlang, let me see how far you can go."

Xie Ze'an smiled: "Dare not to follow orders."

Xie Ze'an walked a bright path on Zhao Ying's side, and Zhao Chongzhao immediately acted on his suggestion.

The person Xie Zean chose was not from the Eastern Palace, but a "clear stream" in the imperial court named Fang Baoding.This guy was famous for his "iron face and blue sky" when he was working in the local area. After returning to Beijing, he worked in the household department, but he was squeezed out because he was too upright, and he has been sitting on the bench.

Xie Ze'an had seen Fang Baoding's assessments over the years, and easily found out what this person was doing when he was there.Back then, Fang Baoding served in Xijiang for a few years, with outstanding political achievements, and his local popularity was comparable to that of eldest grandson Lin.Judging from Fang Baoding's methods of repeatedly solving strange cases, it stands to reason that he should not be someone who can't recognize the current situation.

How could such a person become a dull and ignorant person as soon as he entered the capital?

The biggest possibility is that Fang Baoding did it on purpose. He was too lazy to deal with so many things, so he simply offended everyone who should be offended, trying to keep quiet.

Xie Zean was so sure because Yan Chong mentioned Fang Baoding in the letter he left him, saying that he could go to Fang Baoding if he had anything to do.

People who even Yan Chong trusts will definitely not be inferior in ability.

Xie Ze'an visited Fang Baoding himself.

Fang Baoding was not very interested in the matter of "going on an envoy" to King Qi's fiefdom, but after hearing Xie Ze'an say that it was related to fine steel, his eyes became brighter: "Will this fine steel be used in Xijiang?"

Xie Ze'an's answer was to the point: "Your Highness Xiwu."

Fang Baoding stared at Xie Ze'an seriously for a while, then picked up the letter left by Yan Chong and read it again, saying: "Teng Xiao believes in you, and I believe in you once. I don't guarantee that I can get back all the mines in King Qi's fief. But I promise to let King Qi cut some meat."

Xie Ze'an was overjoyed: "Then leave it to Mr. Fang!"

Fang Baoding set off with his orders.

After Fang Baoding set up a group of people, Zhang Dayi sent all the large cargo ships under his command to follow them, preparing to sell goods along the way to make some money. When they arrived at King Qi's fiefdom, they just emptied the cargo ships to load iron ore—it was not necessary to evacuate the Qiwang fiefdom. , Just find a few good mines and take them away.

Xie Ze'an made all arrangements and returned to the East Palace to report to Zhao Chongzhao.

Zhao Chongzhao asked actively: "Where is Xie Qian? How should I deal with this dog?"

Xie Zhe'an said: "Isn't he having a sweet dream? As long as we crush his dream, he will never be able to jump again."

If Xie Ze'an's words fell into the ears of those old and stubborn people in the court, they would definitely think that he was rebellious, but Zhao Chongzhao was different.Zhao Chongzhao felt that Xie Qian abandoned his wife and son, and was not worthy of the title of "father". He would be dissatisfied if Xie Zean didn't say that!

Zhao Chongzhao felt happy, but a little confused, and asked honestly: "Then what should we do?"

Xie Ze'an said, "Does Your Highness like Your Highness the Eldest Princess?"

Zhao Chongzhao said, "I like it."

Xie Ze'an said: "His Royal Highness the Princess is probably thinking about how to reconcile with Xie Qian. Your Highness might as well give her a reason."

Zhao Chongzhao's eyes lit up: "Just do it like this!"