When Zhao Xu arrived at Qingshou Hall, he saw Concubine Zhu and Empress Meng talking, and Xiao Quan'er was not here.

Seeing Zhao Xu coming in, Empress Meng stood up and saluted, secretly winking at Zhao Xu.

Concubine Zhu did not greet Zhao Xu as usual, picked up the snacks and ate them on her own, but she took a bite and threw them back, sitting on the stool with a expressionless face.

Zhao Xu received the clear code and felt moved. He smiled and walked forward, saying, "What's wrong with Mother's wife? Who is upsetting you?"

Concubine Zhu didn't even look at Zhao Xu, and sulked, saying, "You might as well call me a little lady. During the Chinese New Year, there is no need to celebrate the Chinese New Year. I will find a place by myself. I will take Zhao Si and You'e with us, so we won't cause trouble for the official family."

Zhao Xu immediately understood and sat opposite Concubine Zhu with a smile and said, "What is the mother saying? Is anyone talking nonsense in front of you? How could I drive you out of the palace? Have a cup of tea, calm down, and tell my son what they said."

Concubine Zhu naturally didn't believe that Zhao Xu would drive him out of the palace, but Zhao Xu had planned to send Zhao Qi, Zhao Si, Zhao Ji and others out of the palace, which made her uneasy.

She looked moved, but she took the teacup handed over by Zhao Xu, looked straight at Zhao Xu, and said, "I ask you, are you determined that if the emperor returns to heaven, the harem should go out of the palace and become a monk?"

Zhao Xu was stunned and glanced at Empress Meng.

Queen Meng pursed her lips and shook her head gently.

Zhao Xu understood and said directly: "Mother, they were wrong. I intend to restore some old systems in the Han and Tang dynasties. The Tang Dynasty had such regulations, but Wu Zetian was first introduced as soon as it was implemented. My original intention was to prevent the harem from interfering in politics, not to send my mother out of the palace and become a monk."

Concubine Zhu wanted to drink tea, but finally let it go and sighed, "I believe you, but what they said was very evil. You said you want to take back the fiefdom of the royal family and reduce their salary greatly. The size of the mansion must be taken care of, the number of slaves in the royal family must be taken care of, and the number of concubines must be taken care of, but the cost of marriage and funerals must be taken care of, and their titles must be reduced..."

These are true.

Zhao Xu thought for a while and said, "Mother, you may not know the situation of the court. Now the country needs money everywhere, and my inner treasury has been taken out. As a royal family, they have enjoyed so much wealth and prosperity. Now the family and country are in trouble. Isn't it right for them to take out some money and food? If the country does not exist, where is the family? These people are short-sighted and selfish, and the mother should not be as knowledgeable as them. Wait, wait a moment, I will give my mother the title of Empress Dowager."

Concubine Zhu was still worried about these things. After all, the royal family was one with the royal family. She, the current biological mother, had to say something. She was still thinking about the explanation in her heart. When she heard Zhao Xu's last sentence, she was shocked and sat upright and waved her hands repeatedly: "Official family, don't do anything randomly. Your mother is the Queen Mother Xiang, I dare not overthrow it..."

In terms of etiquette, Concubine Zhu is just a tool to give birth to Zhao Xu, and is a "Xiao Niang". In the family of officials, "Xiao Niang" is a concubine, who can be given away at will, and has no status.

Empress Dowager Xiang is the empress of Emperor Shenzong and the legitimate mother of all the children of Emperor Shenzong. In terms of etiquette, Zhao Xu wanted to call Empress Dowager Xiang's mother, and the concubine Zhu was called "Xiao Niang" with the servants.

Zhao Xu suddenly looked serious and said, "Mother, this is not an arrogance, but a ritual and law. I am an official in the Song Dynasty, but my biological mother is an imperial concubine. Is this saying that my throne is not right? How can the emperor's mother be an imperial concubine?"

Speaking of this, Concubine Zhu is silent.

She was not from a wealthy family, she didn't study much, and she didn't understand many things about etiquette and law at all. Zhao Xu's words made her confused and didn't know how to answer.

Empress Meng sat aside, quietly without saying a word.

In fact, many Confucianism and etiquette conflicts, and these conflicts develop under constant twists and turns.

This forced Zhao Xu's grandfather, Emperor Yingzong, to launch the "Pu Dispute".

Emperor Renzong had no son, and Emperor Yingzong succeeded to the throne as a royal family. He had a fierce dispute with Empress Dowager Cao and court officials on the issue of how to call his biological father.

Emperor Yingzong firmly wanted to call it "Huangkao", which means his father, but his biological father Zhao Yunrang was King Pu and a prince of the royal family. How could he call it "Huangkao"? Isn't this a mess?

But Emperor Yingzong was very persistent. If his biological father was not the emperor, how could he be the emperor? Therefore, Emperor Yingzong wanted to posthumously respect King Pu Zhao Yunrang as the emperor, Empress Dowager Cao, and the court officials could not agree.

Therefore, Emperor Yingzong worked diligently to play a filial son, and he started arguing with Empress Dowager Cao, Ouyang Xiu and other court officials, but he refused to give in.

Emperor Yingzong held the "filial piety" in his hand, Empress Dowager Cao, Ouyang Xiu and others insisted on "ritual", and the three sides clashed violently.

Finally, a familiar scene appeared.

Emperor Yingzong promised not to respect King Pu Zhao Yunrang, and Ouyang Xiu and other court officials agreed to Emperor Yingzong call King Pu Zhao Yunrang the "Imperial Care". The biggest obstacle, Empress Dowager Cao announced the removal of the curtain.

The "Puyi dispute" ended with Emperor Yingzong's personal rule and gaining real power.

Zhao Xu can clearly see that once he proposes to respect the Empress Dowager Zhu, the court officials will inevitably strongly oppose it, including Zhang Dun, Cai Bian and others.

Because this is impacting the foundation of etiquette and law: there is a difference between legitimate and illegitimate, and the superiors and inferiors are in order.

There is no distinction between legitimate and illegitimate, and the superiors and inferiors are in chaos.

Zhao Xu was also able to clearly predict that he would win a great victory like Emperor Yingzong.

In the face of power, whether it is etiquette or Confucianism, it is only two words: need.

They will be distorted as the power needs.

Zhao Xu clearly remembered that in the late Qing Dynasty, there were two empress dowagers in East and West!

Although Concubine Zhu lived in the deep palace for a long time and did not understand the twists and turns of these etiquettes, she still showed anxiety and her nervous voice trembled, saying, "Official family, I know your filial piety. But... this matter must not be done randomly. You'd better discuss it with the ministers. It doesn't matter whether I want this Empress Dowager or not. Don't cause trouble for you..."

Although she did not understand etiquette, Concubine Zhu knew very well that she should not be respected as the empress dowager. She was just a concubine and had never had such extravagant hopes.

Seeing that Concubine Zhu looked uneasy, Zhao Xu quickly comforted him: "Don't worry, mother, I know that there are too many things now, and I can't take it into consideration for a while. Let's talk about it next year."

When Concubine Zhu heard the word "next year", her face quickly relaxed and seemed to be less nervous. She was completely fooled by the word "next year". It was only about a month before the Chinese New Year.

Empress Meng saw clearly, interrupted when she saw the opportunity, and chuckled: "Mother, these are all political affairs, so let the officials discuss with those ministers. Brother Quan is probably about to wake up, so I will accompany you to see."

Concubine Zhu stood up on her face and said, "Yes, yes, yes, I forgot this, come and go hot milk. I will tell you, no, the official family, you have to listen to me."

Zhao Xu then stood up and said, "Don't worry, Mother, I'll save it."
Chapter completed!