Chapter Twelve Good Days

  The first year of Jianlong, February 16th, a day of great auspice.

  It's a good day for Zhao Kuangyin and also for Zhao Guangyi, because today is the Long Spring Festival, the birthday of the founding emperor of the Great Song Dynasty.

  Early in the morning, Zhao Kuangyin accepted the congratulations of his officials and then held a banquet for them, giving each of them a set of clothes as a symbol of his favor.

  When the emperor celebrated his birthday, the taste was naturally different. Logically speaking, Zhao Kuangyin should have been happy. However, after the banquet, sitting in the Chongrong Hall, Emperor Taizong of Song still looked worried and unhappy.

  During the Long Spring Festival, apart from the group of officials in Bianliang, the vassals and neighboring countries of the Song Dynasty also had to come to pay their respects. The Southern Tang and Wu Yue were both envoys who came forward. There are also local jiedushi who naturally cannot be absent, those who cannot come in person must at least send a representative to congratulate the Emperor on his birthday.

  Li Yun of He Dong didn't come but his son Li Shoujie did.

  After the banquet, I had the great honor of a private audience with His Imperial Majesty, but the process was not very pleasant.

  Li Shoujie had just entered the hall when Zhao Kuangyin coldly asked: "Crown Prince, why have you come?"

  A blunt word scared Li Shoujie out of his wits, and he knelt down in front of Zhao Kuangyin, sweating profusely.

  Zhao Kuangyin addressed a son of a jiedushi as Crown Prince, which was naturally for a reason.

  Li Yun, the military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit in Luzhou, was a remnant subject of Later Zhou. He had been stationed in Hedong since the reign of Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou (Guo Wei), and was one of his fierce generals, being fairly loyal to Later Zhou.

  Zhao Kuangyin's Chenqiao mutiny, became the emperor, fully accepted the Later Zhou bureaucratic system. He comforted high-ranking officials and ministers, and local jiedushi were even more closely tied in. After ascending to the throne, he added the title of Middle Book Commander for Li Yu.

  Li Yun initially insisted on refusing to accept the order, but under the persuasion of his staff, he finally accepted the edict and expressed submission.

  However, a ridiculous scene appeared at the banquet to entertain Song Tingxuan's envoy. Li Yun suddenly hung up the portrait of Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou, Guo Wei, in the hall, knelt down and wailed loudly.

  In front of the new dynasty's envoy, mourning the old master, how serious is this situation? Li Yun's action made everyone present look at each other in dismay and panic.

  Song Tingxuan was the most embarrassed, just as he was about to leave with a flick of his sleeve, Li Yun's attendant stepped forward to mediate: "Lord Li is drunk and has lost his composure, please forgive him."

  The temporary awkwardness was over, but when the news reached Bianliang, Zhao Kuangyin was not pleased.

  Was Li Yun really drunk? A military governor with a tight grip on his troops, still nostalgic for the previous dynasty's emperor, how can he be trusted?!

  That's why Zhao Kuangyin made such an astonishing remark to Li Shoujie!

  Li Shoujie has left, the purpose of intimidating the tiger has been achieved, but Zhao Kuangyin's mood has not yet subsided, his brow furrowed, waiting silently.

  After a long time, two figures flashed at the gate of Weiyang Palace, which were Zhao Guangyi, the emperor's younger brother who had just changed his name, and Zhao Pu coming together.

  "Your Majesty!"

  "What's going on? Where is Li Shoujie?" Zhao Kuangyi asked directly without any greeting.

  Zhao Pu said: "Leave, after leaving the palace, hurry out of the city and return to Luozhou."

  "Hmm!" Zhao Kuangyin said: "He was given the position of Zhongshu Ling, his son was given the position of Huang Cheng Shi, I have treated him quite well, now it's up to Li Yun to know what is good for him."

  "Your Imperial Highness, I think we should make preparations as soon as possible!" Zhao Guangyi said in a deep voice: "Just received news that the Northern Han Emperor Liu Jun has already been in contact with Li Yu, and they may have already formed an alliance."

  "Huh?" Zhao Kuangyin's eyebrows furrowed even tighter, and he turned to ask: "Zhenping, what do you think?"

  Zhao Pu said: "I think the key is still Li Yun. If he can be content with his position, Liu Jun's attempts to win him over will be in vain."

  "What do you think, can Li Yun be obedient?"

  "It's probably impossible!" Zhao Pu said: "The news from Luzhou is only one aspect, in fact, some details can also be seen."

  "Oh? Let's talk and see!"

  Zhao Pu did not answer, but instead asked: "Your Honor, what do you think of Li Shoujie? Is he a frivolous and arrogant person?"

  "Unexpectedly, this son of his is cautious everywhere and is quite different from Li Yun."

  "That's right!" Zhao Pu said: "Yesterday, Li Shoujie entered the city, and the horse-drawn carriage and the knights who opened the way rushed wildly in Bianliang City, almost injuring people. Think about it, if Li Yun had a fearful heart, he would naturally be careful, but the person he sent was so arrogant. At least it shows that he has not restrained or instructed him, and has not taken the imperial envoy's family seriously. Seeing the microcosm, in this situation, how much reverence and obedience is there in his heart?

  His son Li Shoujie was cautious, but even his personal attendants could not be restrained, showing that he had little prestige in Lu Prefecture and it would be difficult to persuade Li Yun. Therefore, Li Shoujie might disappoint the good intentions of the imperial court, and Li Yun might not appreciate it either."

  Zhao Guangyi indignantly said: "I just don't understand, the emperor treated him well enough, why is Li Yun still so ungrateful? Talking about old favors sounds noble and grand, but back then he wasn't very respectful to Chai Rong either."

  "There is nostalgia in his heart, but also ambition at play."

  Zhao Kuangyin shook his head and said, "I think he is not convinced in his heart. When he became the Jiedushi of Zhao Yi, I was still a low-ranking officer under Zhang Yongde's command. Now that I reign supreme over the world, he is not convinced and does not want to submit."

  "His Imperial Highness has now shown utmost kindness and righteousness. If he insists on acting alone, we cannot be blamed, but we must also make early preparations."

  "Rest assured, I have long been prepared!"

  Zhao Pu reminded him: "Your Excellency, that matter I mentioned to you last time, now it seems very urgent and should be handled."

  "What's going on?" Zhao Kuangyin was busy with state affairs every day, and recently things had been complicated, so he couldn't think of it for a moment.

  "The matter of County Master Fuli!"

  Upon hearing her niece's name, Zhao Guangyi suddenly said: "I see, Fu Li is in Luoyang and has been gone for a long time."

  Zhao Pu said, "The princess went to mourn her grandmother. By rights, she should have returned long ago. However, recent news has arrived that the princess's uncle suddenly wants to hold a 99-day mourning ritual for the old lady. The princess is representing the queen to pay her respects and naturally cannot leave. She is currently at Luzhou Puzi Temple!"

  "What's wrong with that?" Zhao Guangyi seemed somewhat puzzled.

  Zhao Pu said, "I have received news that the prefect's uncle-in-law was persuaded by Li Yu to make a long-term law case, and Li Yu is exactly Li Yun's confidant!"

  As soon as this was said, Zhao Kuangyin's brothers' faces all sank, and they obviously realized that something was wrong.

  "The princess is right behind the King of Fu, and Qu's move is clearly intended to hold onto the princess, with ulterior motives, either to coerce or entice the King of Fu!"

  Zhao Guangyi shook his head and said, "Father-in-law has already made it clear that he is loyal to the emperor."

  Fu Wangye has made his stance clear, but he is still in Wei State. Will there be any repercussions? Especially since Li Yun is also implicated, what if he uses the Seventh Princess of Wei as a hostage against Fu Wangye? As everyone knows, the Seventh Princess of Wei State is the most favored one.

  Zhao Pu said, "Even if the king is well aware of the great righteousness, with the connection of Fu Li's princess, once King Fu is persuaded by Li Yun, and something unexpected happens, the consequences are unbearable to think about!"

  Zhao Guangyi's face was not good, Fu Yanqing was his father-in-law, but also the father-in-law of Chai Rong, and the grandfather of the little emperor Chai Zongxun of the previous dynasty. His position and attitude were indeed complicated. If something happened, it would not be beneficial to himself.

  Zhao Kuangyin was also worried about this and asked: "What does Zhenping think is good?"

  "It would be best to bring the princess back, but under current circumstances, it's difficult! Why not send someone to her side to protect the princess. At least... at least we can... pay attention to related actions!" Zhao Pu felt a bit embarrassed, protecting was not false, but also had the meaning of surveillance.

  "Who can we send?" Zhao Guangyi said: "We send someone, Li Yun will definitely detect, must block, it's hard to see Fu Li, and even more impossible to use force..."

  Zhao Pu smiled lightly and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, I actually have someone in mind!"

  "Who is it?"

  "The Lord of Fuli County should now be in mourning at Puzi Temple, and it will take about two more months. Sending someone else would be quite abrupt, and it's hard to get close for a long time. But if... " Zhao Pu smiled; "If the one going is a monk, wouldn't that be reasonable?"

  Zhao Guangyi's eyes lit up and he said, "Right, this method is feasible!"

  "It's also good that the monk entered Puzi Temple with a legitimate reason, and it also avoids the taboo of men and women, so he can stay for a long time." Zhao Kuangyin was quite in agreement, but then frowned and said: "This monk is not easy to find, going to Luzhou is not just about reciting sutras..."

  Zhao Pu smiled and said: "Actually, there is such a person right in front of us..."

  "Who?" Zhao Guangyi hastily asked back.

  Zhao Kuangyin hesitated slightly and said in a low voice: "You can't be saying..."

  "Abstaining from lust, isn't that little monk from the Determination Temple?" Zhao Guangyi also reacted and asked in doubt: "But his background hasn't been thoroughly investigated, how can such an important matter be entrusted to him?"

  "Your Highness is worrying too much!" Zhao Pu said: "The details of this person have not been thoroughly investigated, but no matter who he is, his stance on this matter is the same as ours. From his performance that night, this person is intelligent and has a good strategy, quick-witted and resourceful, and skilled at handling crises."

  Moreover, he has good kung fu skills to protect the princess. Most importantly, being a monk makes him more inconspicuous, and as a young man, he is easily underestimated, making it easier for him to act.

  "This..." Zhao Guangyi obviously had many doubts, while Zhao Kuangyin was silent, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

  Zhao Pu took the opportunity to say: "Your Majesty, that young man is indeed a talented individual. Perhaps he was ordered by others in the past, but in the future... If we capture and release him at the right time, using both kindness and severity, it's not impossible to make him surrender his heart. Would Your Majesty be willing to give it a try?"

  Zhao Kuangyin nodded after a long pause: "Alright, Guangyi, you personally take him to the Dingli Temple and secretly bring him into the palace."

  "Yes!"

  Zhao Guangyi was about to leave after receiving his orders when Zhao Pu reminded him: "Your Highness, you'd best hurry up. If I'm not mistaken, the little monk is returning to secular life today!"