The Great Han Dynasty Volume 2: The mountain has trees, and the trees have branches; ninety-one borders.
She once again carefully sized up this famous male favorite of Emperor Hui's time.
To be frank, this young man is very handsome. His handsomeness and Yu's handsomeness are not the same. Yu's handsomeness is a kind of delicacy, round and childlike, lovable. While Xun Ru's handsomeness is a kind of weakness, pitiful.
Zhang Yan looked at him with a somewhat complicated gaze.
If nothing unexpected happens, this attendant gentleman will become the emperor's uncle's trusted person, enter the history of favorites, and be tied to Emperor Hui's name forever.
Under her gaze, Huan Ru felt somewhat perplexed, looked down at herself and found nothing wrong, so she asked, "Zhang's wife, is there something wrong with me?" Her eyes were slightly dazed and shy.
"It's nothing." Zhang Yan sighed and shifted her gaze away.
In the Han Dynasty, it was common for the upper class and nobles to keep one or two male concubines in their households, just like eating and drinking, which would not make the common people feel surprised.
However, Zhang Yan connected that handsome young man with Liu Ying in her mind and couldn't help but shudder, a layer of fine goosebumps rising on her arm.
She can't feel normal anymore.
"Chang Ji," Zhang Yan fell back a step and turned to the Imperial Preceptor, "That young man from just now, what position does he hold?"
"Hum," Chang Ji replied, "He is a good family son from the suburbs of Chang'an, specially appointed as a servant in the prime minister's office to handle matters of praise and guidance."
So, it's still possible for the Emperor's uncle to occasionally go to the Prime Minister's office and run into him?
"You," she said, tapping her sleeve with her fingers, "think of a way to get rid of him and prevent him from seeing His Majesty, can you?"
"What's wrong?" Chang Jing asked in surprise. "Is there something wrong with him?"
"That's not it, just... I have a bad feeling about this."
What kind of reason is this, Zhang Jianguo had a look of dissatisfaction, but thinking that the emperor was grateful to her today, he felt grateful in his heart and didn't want to lose even this little face.
She wanted to get on the palace carriage, but suddenly turned her head and said, "Better not..."
He sighed again, "Forget it then. Remember, don't put too much pressure on him."
Chang Quan couldn't understand her capriciousness. Standing on the road, smiling and seeing off the palace carriage, he turned his head and ordered, "Starting tomorrow, let Huan Shi Zhong go to Tianlu Pavilion to take charge of collecting and supplementing the missing books."
"Agreed."
In the imperial carriage, Zhang Yan's hands hung down on her knees, swaying with the movement of the vehicle. In fact, she was still worried about Huanru as long as he was in Weiyang Palace. Liu Ying might still run into him. Just now, she had wanted to find an excuse to take away Huanru's position as Servant-in-Attendance and send him out of Weiyang Palace, so that everything would be settled once and for all. However, this was not something that the imperial charioteer Chang could decide on his own. For a moment, she had an impulse to act in the name of Empress Lü, and then everything would be simple.
She had repeatedly advised Liu Ying to strengthen the emperor's authority in Weiyang Palace, in order to counter Empress Lü. But soon she herself relied on Empress Lü in Weiyang Palace, usurping power. This was inconsistent with her words and actions.
Even she herself was alert, whether in her heart, she had also tacitly acknowledged this fact, in the Weiyang Palace where the Emperor resided. The authority of Empress Lü was unimpeded and without any worries.
She smoothed her hair and submitted to fate.
The emperor, who had been ill for a whole season, finally recovered. In the imperial court, the three dukes and nine ministers stood up again after bowing, looked at the emperor sitting high above, and discussed state affairs in an orderly manner.
After the court discussion, Liu Ying kept Xiao He back alone.
"These days, Xiao Xiang has been working hard."
"Heh heh, serving the country, how dare I speak of hardship." Xiao He covered his sleeve and coughed a few times, his voice slightly weakened.
"How is it," Liu Ying anxiously asked, "that Prime Minister's health is not good?"
Xiao He looked somewhat downcast. "Since entering autumn, things have not been going well. Let's not mention this old minister, but rather Your Majesty, who has just recovered from a serious illness and should take good care of yourself."
Liu Ying's face showed a slight awkwardness, and he said, "I understand."
Xiao He secretly observed the Emperor and saw that his eyes were bright, with a sharp aura like when he first ascended to the throne. His heart was greatly comforted, and he smiled, saying, "It's good this way."
Liu Ying put down the memorial in his hand, "Since the Prime Minister is physically unwell, at the beginning of the year, the affairs are complicated, it's better to ask someone to take over. When the Prime Minister recovers, I will continue to rely on him."
"Thank you for your majesty's patronage."
"What does Chancellor Xiao think is the most suitable minister to take charge of the affairs of the Upper Count?"
"Huai Nan assistant Zhang Cang is meticulous and steady, suitable for this task."
"What about Zhang Cang?" Liu Ying knocked on the case and shook his head, "No. The King of Huainan is still young, he needs a capable minister to assist him in order to stabilize Huainan."
Xiao He smiled wryly. This emperor was indeed a loving brother to the point of absurdity. "It's just that, with Zhang Cang's abilities, he's only letting him govern locally, what a waste."
"Let's talk about it in a few years."
When Xiang Yu left the declaration room, Xiao He suddenly turned his head and bowed from a distance, saying, "Your Majesty has recovered from a serious illness, and all civil and military officials are extremely delighted."
Liu Ying was taken aback and smiled, saying, "I understand."
Xiao He was telling him that for civil and military officials, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were different.
The empress dowager is noble because she is the emperor's mother. However, the master of this great Han is after all the emperor and not the empress dowager.
They hoped the emperor would hold real power, rather than the empress dowager governing the country.
If one day, imperial power and empress power inevitably produce conflict, then the court officials will stand on the side of the emperor.
The imperial power is supreme, but the courtiers also have their own choices. Once, they abandoned Empress Qi and chose Empress Lü and the Crown Prince. Now, they are choosing to stand on Liu Ying's side again, opposing Empress Dowager Lü in the Chang Le Palace.
Because of the long neglect of state affairs, the memorials from various regions piled up on the desk in the Xuan Shi Hall like a small mountain. Liu Ying buried his head to read them, and suddenly his emotions surged, he slammed down the bamboo slips in his hand and shouted loudly, "Zhang He!"
"Your Majesty." Zhang He stepped forward and paid his respects.
"After the New Year's ceremony is over, you will go to Xiang Guo Fu to assist Xiao Xiang Guo in presiding over the accounting."
"Your Majesty," Zhang hesitated and reluctantly said, "I have no official position, and I am unable to command the respect of others."
Liu Ying shook her head and said, "If it's just because of official position, isn't that simple? I can immediately remove you as Zhong Dafu."
"What?" He glanced at Zhang Heng who had fallen into silence and said faintly, "Or do you want to be a silent and unknown attendant for the rest of your life?"
"I remember," he said suddenly, "there's still half a month left. You're going to be capped soon, aren't you?"
Zhang He bowed again and said, "Yes."
Men over twenty wear a crown to show adulthood. In the autumn of the first year, September was exactly Zhang He's twentieth birthday.
"Does Duke Zhou have nothing to give you to take away?"
"Not yet."
"Well," said Liu Ying with a sudden smile, "I'll give you a character."
"Your Majesty." Zhang He finally exclaimed in a mixture of shock and amusement.
Generally speaking, men's courtesy names were given by elder relatives of high moral character. For example, Zhang Heng's older brother Zhang Nanyi's name was bestowed by Emperor Wu. Although being granted a courtesy name by the emperor is an honor, Liu Ying is only eighteen years old now, two years younger than Zhang Heng, and he himself has not yet come of age.
He was worried in his heart, praying that this young emperor, who usually dressed up as an old man and rarely showed his youthful and mischievous personality, would not give himself a strange courtesy name.
That's something you'll have to live with for the rest of your life.
Liu Ying took out a silk handkerchief. The inner attendant came forward to grind the ink, he picked up his brush and wrote quickly, after blowing it dry, handed it to Zhang He, smiled and said, "Do you want to take a look?"
Zhang Heng unfolded the silk book and was taken aback.
On top of it were written two large seal characters: "Piqiang".
Emperor Hui's temperament was originally warm and gentle, and his usual calligraphy was also dignified and elegant. However, these two characters were written with an unusually stern and fierce tone, as if they contained a murderous intent.
In an instant, Zhang Xie's heart surged with hot blood.
That is Liu Ying's ambition. Also, it is his promise to himself.
In the early Han Dynasty, military achievements were highly valued, and the greatest achievement was to expand the territory. Liu Ying looked forward to being a pioneer for his ambition. He made great contributions to expanding the territory, which would be remembered for generations to come.
He suddenly lifted his head and looked at Liu Yan.
"The position of Marquis of Liu is Zhang Yidou's." Liu Ying looked at him straight and promised, "I won't change it. However, I hope you can rely on your own ability to create a new marquis position for yourself."
"I will not suspect Zhang's loyalty, but I want you to expand our territory for me."
September, Ding Chen day
The officer presented the silk hat, and Xiao He put it on him, saying: "On a lucky day of the month, you will first wear your formal attire, abandon your childish name, and follow your virtuous character. May you live long and be blessed with good fortune." After bowing, he entered the eastern room to change his clothes, and again wore the leather hat, saying: "In the auspicious month and on a propitious day, you will then wear your formal attire, respect your dignity, and cultivate your virtuous character. May you live long and forever receive blessings." Three times he added the jade hat, saying: "At the beginning of the year, at the command of the month, all add to your attire. Your brothers are all present, to complete your virtue, may you be like the Yellow Emperor, without bounds, receiving heaven's congratulations."
After the coronation ceremony, Xiao He smiled and said, "Bai Qi, His Majesty has high expectations of you. Don't disappoint the Emperor's kindness."
Zhang He bowed again and said, "Yes."
When he was a young man, he also studied the art of fencing. Later, due to various setbacks, he changed his focus to elegant pursuits and studied literature in his study. At the time when the name of Yan Yigongzi shook Chang'an, the passion in his heart had been suppressed for too long.
He turned around and saw his brother.
Zhang Bu Yi stood at a distance, gazing at him from afar with an unusual look in his eyes.
Among them, there is pride, loss, joy, and resentment.
He smiled and walked out of the temple.
Forgive me, brother.
When they brushed past each other, he stared straight into Zhang's unwavering eyes for the first time, without backing down.
I will forever respect you as my elder brother, but I really can't let myself waste my life because of you.
That day, in the Xuan Shi Hall, Your Majesty asked me: "You yield to your elder brother, that is filial piety. What about the friendship and loyalty of your friends towards the country?"
I don't know how to answer.
Actually, I really can't refuse Your Majesty's request because we are all fellow sufferers.
He wandered between the strong mother and the emperor's responsibility, and finally came out. So, brother, I who am wandering between you and my ideals, shouldn't I also find a way to end it?
Anyway, he is still my best friend.
As he walked out of the temple, the sunlight made Zhang Heng squint his eyes slightly. Then, he saw the beautiful girl standing at the foot of the stairs.
The position of Shizhong has undergone significant changes throughout history. In the Qin dynasty's official system, Shizhong was an additional official under the Chancellor, responsible for tasks such as picking up and filling in gaps, providing guidance, accompanying the emperor, carrying the imperial seal, and taking care of the emperor's daily life. At times, there could be dozens of people holding this position.
Many times, in order to allow the royal relatives to enter and exit the Forbidden City, the emperor would grant them this official position. However, there were also commoners who were recruited due to their special talents, such as Sang Hongyang, who served as a Palace Attendant at the age of 13 during the Han Wu period. Huo Qubing also held the position of Imperial Attendant.
So, although both were attendants, Xiang Ru was just a small shrimp at this time. As for Zhang He, he basically belonged to the emperor's special gift.
Continue to knock on the pink vote.
Thank you all for your support.
