Bao Zheng followed the eunuch out of the side hall, and then walked into a large and quiet room. Sandalwood was burning in the room, which made people feel calm and peaceful. Bao Zheng had only taken a dozen steps, but he already saw a bead curtain in front of him. Bao Zheng knew that he could not step forward, so he immediately knelt down and saluted: "Bao Zheng, a common man, kowtows to the emperor. Long live the emperor. Long live the emperor."
At this time, a violent cough was heard inside the bead curtain, followed by a long and disturbing silence. Just when Bao Zheng was a little confused, he heard the voice of a lazy woman behind the bead curtain: " The Emperor has given you permission to be free! Bao Zheng can come into the study!"
When Bao Zheng heard the voice, he became even more confused. Didn't he come to see the saint today? How could a woman be speaking?
Since Bao Zheng got the woman's promise, he immediately stood up and went inside the bead curtain. As soon as Bao Zheng stepped into the bead curtain, he saw that the room was filled with various books. On one of the steps, there was a golden carved dragon desk, and behind the desk was a spacious dragon chair. On the dragon chair Sitting there was a pale-looking, long-bearded elder wearing a dragon robe. On the chair next to the elder sat a graceful-looking young woman wearing a phoenix robe.
At this time, Bao Zheng heard a familiar voice: "Bao Zheng! You saw the emperor and the empress, shouldn't you salute?"
Bao Zheng followed the sound and saw that there was an eunuch beside him. That eunuch was actually Liu Mei, the head of Longhu Hall!
Although Bao Zheng had already saluted just now, he had to salute again now. Just when Bao Zheng wanted to kneel down again, the emperor, who was originally sick and had no strength to speak, gasped and said: "Bao Zheng! You were summoned by me. No need to be polite! Come here!" Give Bao Zheng a seat!"
Bao Zheng couldn't help but be a little surprised after hearing the emperor's words. Since ancient times, only powerful people or close ministers of the emperor could receive a seat from the emperor himself. Bao Zheng had just met the emperor for the first time, and the emperor gave him a seat. It was really weird.
The queen on the side said in a cold tone: "Your Majesty, Bao Zheng has no official title, and he has no fame. I'm afraid there will be criticism in the court for your favor."
The originally weak emperor was now sitting on the throne, feeling excited, and his pale and bloodless face instantly shone with a strange flush. He said: "I'm not dead yet! It's not your turn to take charge! Why don't Liu Mei take the queen and leave quickly?"
After listening to the emperor¡¯s reprimand, the queen¡¯s face turned blue and white. Liu Mei, who was on the side, stepped forward and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, since your Majesty has given the order, please ask Your Majesty to return to the palace."
The queen's face was condensed at this time, she looked at Liu Mei angrily, and said in a bad tone: "I am very angry today, and I am not as knowledgeable as you. The study here is very stuffy today, and I still don't want to sit down. , let¡¯s find a nice day tomorrow and sit down for a few hours.¡±
Bao Zheng heard what the queen said. Although it seemed that he was talking about Liu Mei, he was actually referring to Sang Huai. The conversation was directed at the emperor, obviously hoping that the emperor would die soon so that he could occupy the upper study room and rule as he pleased without any supervision.
After hearing what the queen said, the emperor was so angry that he gasped and coughed violently. The queen didn't even look at the emperor, and immediately walked out of the study with Liu Mei's support.
Bao Zheng watched the queen twist her waist and leave coquettishly, and couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. This queen must be the famous Empress Liu Liu E in history. She was a strong woman known as the Empress Wu of the Song Dynasty. She gave birth to a son through her womb. The current prince Zhao Zhen is actually the adopted son of Empress Liu, but she claims that Zhao Zhen is her own. As a biological son, Zhao Zhen has always been kept in the dark and has called Liu E his mother since he was a child. Although Empress Liu is known as Zhao Zhen's biological mother, she never raised the young Zhao Zhen. Instead, she was raised by Yang Jieyu, a cowardly and kind-hearted person. Zhao Zhen has been with the kind-hearted Yang Jieyu since he was a child. Perhaps this is also the reason why Zhao Zhen has a simple and kind nature.
The historical event of Empress Liu giving birth to a son through surrogacy has always been talked about by literati. Later, some literati used opera scripts to fabricate the "civet cat for the prince" scene in the Bao Gong case. Bao Zheng transformed into a black-faced Qingtian in the opera, but he brought the vicious Queen Liu to justice. Perhaps because he had grown up watching Bao Gongan since he was a child and was very familiar with the "civet cat swapping for a prince", Bao Zheng had a feeling of disgust towards Queen Liu.
?? Memories of studying history in his previous life flashed through Bao Zheng¡¯s mind, but it all happened in a flash of lightning. At this time, a palace maid moved a chair and came over.
Since Bao Zheng got the emperor's permission, he immediately sat on the chair with half his buttocks. The emperor on the dragon throne saw Bao Zheng's cautious behavior and couldn't help showing admiration, and said: "I have heard Lord Kou mention you many times, and the prince has also talked about you to me many times. I saw you in person today. You are indeed a talented person. Bao Zheng! Did you know that I am looking for you today???, what did you do? "
Bao Zheng's mind was racing. From the conversation between the Emperor and Empress Liu just now, he could vaguely guess some clues, and he immediately said: "Although the common people have some ideas, they are too abrupt, but they dare not express them clearly, and Your Majesty¡±
Although Bao Zheng didn't say it clearly, he already hinted that he was in the study room. There were many ears and eyes, so it was not convenient to speak directly.
The emperor nodded at this time, and was about to stand up and give instructions, but after a violent cough, he gave up and said: "Except Bao Zheng, everyone retreated a hundred steps away. The imperial guards obey orders! If anyone dares to take even a step forward, he will be killed without mercy!"
The emperor gave an order, but he heard footsteps outside the house. Bao Zheng didn't see many guards in the room at first. Then he heard the footsteps and realized that the guards were all hiding in hiding places. The maids and eunuchs in the study room all hurried out of the room, fearing that they would offend the moody emperor if they walked too slowly.
When Bao Zheng and Emperor Zhao Heng were the only two people left in the study room, Zhao Heng said: "Now that I have blocked them, if you have any ideas, just say it."
Bao Zheng stood up at this time and said seriously: "If Bao Zheng's guess is correct, the emperor only wants to see me for one thing! That is to train Bao Zheng, with the intention of making Bao Zheng the right-hand man of the prince!"
There was a hint of surprise in the emperor's eyes, and he couldn't help but said: "Kou Zhun has always told me that Bao Zheng is smart, and today it seems that he is indeed well-deserved. The prince is still young, and almost all the people around him have various talents. I got close to him because of this purpose. I asked the prince to travel south with Kou Zhun, just to let him learn the way of governing the world and experience the suffering of the people. The other purpose was to let him find someone he could trust. But the prince was I have chosen the only person I can trust, and that person is you Bao Zheng!"
Zhao Heng finished speaking in one breath, but then he gasped and coughed violently.