The next day, at 5 o'clock, the morning court was held as usual in the Zichen Hall of the Imperial Palace.

After hearing the court officials on both sides of the hall shouted "Long live" by the court officials on both sides of the hall, they glanced at the ministers in the hall and finally set their eyes on Han Qi, who was ranked second on the left.

"Han Zhigui, come up, I have something to ask." Song Renzong Zhao Zhen, stared at Han Qi for a moment, then announced loudly.

Just as soon as Song Renzong Zhao Zhen finished speaking, Han Qi quickly stepped out of the line with his scepter and walked forward a few steps forward in Chiang Mai. He stood in the hall and lowered his head to listen to Song Renzong Zhao Zhen’s question.

"I ask you, eight days ago, I issued an edict to order you and Fan Xiwen to return to Beijing to obey the orders. Today, why did you only see you attend the court meeting but not Fan Xiwen? What is the reason? Han Zhigui, didn't you two get up to return to Beijing?" Song Renzong Zhao Zhen asked Han Qi anxiously.

Faced with the inquiry from Emperor Renzong of Song Dynasty, Han Qi immediately replied truthfully: "I asked Your Majesty that eight days ago, I and Fan Xiwen did receive the edict sent by Your Majesty to the capital on the same day, and I and Fan Xiwen did return to Beijing together.

"However, yesterday, I felt that the boat was exhausted, so I rested at the post station outside the city for half a day. Fan Xiwen said to me, Your Majesty, you want Fan Xiwen to enter the city of Tokyo, immediately enter the palace to meet the saint. Fan Xiwen then entered Tokyo before me.

"As for why Fan Xiwen failed to attend this morning court today, I am not aware of it. After yesterday's time, I went to Fan Xiwen's mansion to visit him, but was told by the people of Fan's mansion that Fan Xiwen did not return home yesterday. Everything above said is true, I hope Your Majesty will clearly observe it."

After hearing Han Qi's answer, Song Renzong Zhao Zhen was stunned, because he did write an edict to Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi that once Fan Zhongyan enters Tokyo, he will immediately go to the palace to meet the saint, and let Han Qi attend the next day's court meeting, and there is no urgent need for Han Qi to meet.

The reason is very simple. Song Renzong Zhao Zhen was extremely impressed by the theory of reform and strengthening mentioned by Fan Zhongyan in writing letters over and over again. Before that, he had always been worried that if the new law mentioned by Fan Zhongyan was implemented, it would be opposed and blocked by many court ministers.

However, a small street chief, who had been exploring the "new law" in Tokyo for more than half a month, was successfully implemented and achieved remarkable results, although he was opposed and blocked by some court ministers in the middle.

Song Renzong Zhao Zhen summoned Fan Zhongyan to Beijing so urgently, in order to entrust him with important tasks and implement new laws of reform as soon as possible. He did not want the eighth-rank street chief to implement small-scale reform methods in Tokyo, but to implement large-scale reform methods within the entire Song Dynasty, in order to make the Song Dynasty rich and strong troops, and resist the Khitan Northern Liao and Dangxiang Xixia.

What Song Renzong Zhao Zhen never expected was that he was looking forward to the stars and moon every day, and finally Fan Zhongyan came, but he disappeared after entering Tokyo yesterday. He neither returned home nor entered the palace. He immediately became anxious and angry.

After thinking for a long time, Song Renzong Zhao Zhen, who was unhappy in Longyan, waved his hand and ordered Han Qi who was standing in the hall, "Han Zhigui, you go back first!"

After Han Qi stepped down and stood back with his scepter, Bao Zheng, the prefect of Kaifeng, who was standing behind him, immediately stepped out with his scepter and bowed to Zhao Zhen, the Song Renzong sitting upright in the hall, and reported: "Your Majesty, I know where Fan Xiwen is, he..."

Before Bao Zheng finished speaking, Song Renzong Zhao Zhen was still sitting upright on the dragon throne. He immediately stood up and interrupted him. He couldn't wait to urge him: "Bao Xiren, tell me quickly, where is Fan Xiwen's current people? Hurry up and send someone to call Fan Xiwen and let him go to the palace to meet the saint immediately and attend today's court meeting."

Bao Zheng, who was interrupted, did not show any panic about the urging of Song Renzong Zhao Zhen, but replied in a humble and arrogant manner: "Report to Your Majesty, Fan Xiwen is currently in the prison of Kaifeng Prefecture.

"Because at noon yesterday, the carriage that Fan Xiwen was riding in since entering Tokyo, he walked east along Liangmen Street. Whether it was the postman riding a tall horse in front of him or the coachman driving a carriage, he rushed on Liangmen Street, seriously violating the new traffic regulations that had been issued for about seven days.

"According to the penalty of the new traffic regulations, Fan Xiwen, as the owner of this carriage, must be locked in the Kaifeng Prefecture prison with the groom and postman, and spend three days to release it.

"So, Fan Xiwen cannot come to attend today's court meeting. If Your Majesty wants to meet Fan Xiwen, you still have to go to the Kaifeng Prefecture Prison to visit Fan Xiwen in the form of a prison. In addition, unless Your Majesty issues a decree to Fan Xiwen who seriously violates the new traffic regulations, otherwise, this is the only way, please think about it."

At first, when Song Renzong Zhao Zhen heard Bao Zheng say that he was a little excited and excited in his heart, he knew where Fan Zhongyan was. However, after listening to the above words that Bao Zheng said, his heart suddenly became cold and immediately felt sad again.

After Zhao Zhen, the Emperor of Song Renzong of Song, asked Bao Zheng to join the ranks, he asked in a tentative tone to the ministers in the hall, "You have heard what Bao Xiren said just now. If I issued an edict to pardon Fan Xiwen, I wonder what you are thinking?"

When Song Renzong Zhao Zhen finished inquiry, Yan Shu, who was standing at the top of the left side of the hall, took the scepter and opposed it clearly: "I will report to Your Majesty. The old minister thought that Your Majesty would pardon Fan Xiwen for such a small matter, and Qiqi thought it was impossible.

The new traffic regulations have been implemented for less than eight days. During this period, all the offenders living in Tokyo, from princes and ministers to the people, strictly abide by them. Any violations will be punished accordingly, and no one has been granted pardoned by His Majesty.

"Now, it is unfair to pardon Fan Xiwen just because His Majesty wants to see Fan Xiwen as soon as possible. If His Majesty wants to pardon, he should be pardoned for those who have violated the new traffic regulations before, which is in line with the justice of nature.

"But if this is the case, the new traffic regulations will be in name only, which is not advisable. The old minister agrees with Bao Xiren's proposal just now. If Your Majesty insists on meeting Fan Xiwen, please go to the prison of Kaifeng Prefecture and meet Fan Xiwen."

You should know that Yan Shu and Fan Zhongyan not only served as officials in the same dynasty, but also had deep personal friendships and strong and upright nature. Fan Zhongyan had not been successful in his career before. It was under Yan Shu's strong support that he was favored by Song Renzong Zhao Zhen.

In addition, Fan Zhongyan and Yan Shu were both the literary flag bearers of the Song Dynasty at that time. The two often savored poetry and articles together, and their interests were similar, so the friendship between them was naturally quite deep.

The ministers standing on both sides of the hall, seeing Yan Shu who had a close relationship with Fan Zhongyan, had already expressed their opposition. Many of them had been offended by Fan Zhongyan before.

At this moment, they all came out of duty with their hands and agreed to what Yan Shu said just now. Many people even added fuel to the fire, thinking that Fan Zhongyan, as an important official of the court, violated the new traffic regulations and had to be punished for three days in Kaifeng Prefecture for three days, should be punished more severely.

After listening to the speeches of the court officials, Song Renzong Zhao Zhen felt that he had really miscalculated just now. He originally wanted to pardon Fan Zhongyan, but he did not expect that most of the ministers in the court actually asked to impose severe punishment on Fan Zhongyan, which demonstrated the strict laws of the Song Dynasty.

Zhao Zhen, the Emperor of Song Renzong, immediately felt helpless and announced: "Okay, okay, I will listen to what you said just now. If there is any provision for the new traffic regulations, you will punish those who violate it accordingly. You must not be punished lightly, nor should you be punished severely.

"I have to take back the special amnesty of Fan Xiwen, so you don't have to make a big fuss about this matter. The new traffic regulations cannot be abolished and should continue to be implemented in Tokyo. When meeting Fan Xiwen, the discussion ends with this matter, so you don't need to say much."

After the matter of whether Fan Zhongyan would be pardoned was stopped, there was no other important matter at today's court meeting. The morning court lasted only about an hour, and then it ended in a hurry.

After the morning court ended today, Song Renzong Zhao Zhen specially left Bao Zheng, Kaifeng Prefecture. At this time, it was almost Chen. According to the past practice, Song Renzong Zhao Zhen took a short rest in Wende Hall and used breakfast to go to Chuigong Hall to review memorials reported from all over the country and handle major affairs of the court.

After Song Renzong Zhao Zhen left Bao Zheng alone, after the ministers who participated in the morning court left Zichen Hall, he ordered Bao Zheng to immediately take him to the Kaifeng Prefecture Prison to see Fan Zhongyan. He also specifically ordered Bao Zheng to order Wang Hao, the secretary of the street, to go to the Kaifeng Prefecture Prison, to give a lecture after leaving the palace.

At about three o'clock in the morning, Wang Hao, Zhang Sanmu, and a group of street officials squatted behind the office on the empty ground in the backyard of the street officials' yamen. Each of them served a bowl of salted rice with pepper and was eating steamed buns.

Suddenly, at this moment, another magpies flew onto the Gaoda trees next to the exterior wall of the street, yelling constantly.

"Brother Hao, look at a magpies on the big tree on the exterior wall, and they were all yelling all morning. You said, will there be a big happy event in our street, Sijin, will it happen?" Zhang Sanmu bit a big bite of steamed buns, and when he was halfway through chewing, he asked Wang Hao, who was squatting next to him, curiously.

"Shiliu" Wang Hao, who had eaten a big bite of salty rice, swallowed it into his stomach, responded disapprovingly: "Brother Sanmu, you are thinking about good things all day long. Our street office is a Qingshui yamen. Whatever you encounter every day is a chore, so how can you have any big happy events!"
Chapter completed!