Chapter 735: Underwater Rapids

Guangzhou is still sunny and good, but the capital is already preparing charcoal for winter. Since September, it has rained for several days in the capital, which did not rain much in autumn in previous years, and many families with unsturdy houses have to brave the rain to put linoleum and other things on the roof, and the palace has prepared braziers for the older generation of concubines. Although Empress Dowager Zhang's body has always been strong, under Zhu Zhanji's orders, the carrot charcoal for heating has also been sent to Renshou Palace in advance.

On this day, Zhu Ning entered the palace, accompanied the Empress Dowager Zhang to worship the Buddha, and used snacks to speak for a while, and when Queen Hu and Sun Guifei came to greet her, she quickly stood up and saluted. Empress Dowager Zhang ordered the concubine to sit down, and smiled at Zhu Ning: "They are all your juniors, I know you are cautious, but there is only your own family here, so you don't have to be so formal." Come, come and sit beside me. ”

Zhu Ning saw that Empress Dowager Zhang pointed to a cushion next to the couch, so she had no choice but to move it. Because she saw that it was just gossip, she answered the call while thinking about the worship in King Zhou's Mansion tomorrow, and unconsciously became a little distracted. Suddenly, she heard an announcement from outside, and immediately a spirit came back to her senses. Sure enough, she got up with Queen Hu and Concubine Sun Guifei, and saw Zhu Zhanji, who was dressed in homely clothes, entering the house with a smile.

"This is the time to deal with political affairs sooner or later, why did you suddenly come to me?"

"The cabinet is complete today, plus there are not many affairs, and the queen mother has instructed Yang Dongli to draw up votes for big and small affairs, and it is difficult for the ministers to steal half a day of leisure, so they will come to talk to the queen mother." Zhu Zhanji let Wang Jin, who accompanied him, come up to untie the Shiqinggu velvet cloak for himself, waved his hand to signal that the concubine and Zhu Ning did not have to be polite, and then stepped forward to greet the Empress Dowager Zhang, and then sat down on the brocade sent by the person next to him, and said with a smile, "Ke'er Chen really didn't expect that there are still people here to relieve boredom after the queen mother." ”

"The queen is a filial child, and with your Aunt Ning, I can't use you here. You are now the king of a country, although the ministry is full of virtue, the cabinet is full of virtuous, the military ministers and the British duke, but you can't hand over everything to others, and you can't be lazy in government affairs. As she spoke, Empress Dowager Zhang naturally used a tone of lesson, "I heard that you were still very addicted to the drama of promoting weaving a few days ago, what kind of system is this?" You must know that the plaything is demoralized, you are the emperor, what if others rise up and follow suit! ”

Empress Dowager Zhang reprimanded the Son of Heaven, and the people next to her were naturally extremely embarrassed. Queen Hu has always been kind and gentle, but she wants to persuade but doesn't know what to say at this time. And when Concubine Sun Guifei saw that the emperor lowered his head and only said yes, she remembered that Empress Dowager Zhang only mentioned Empress Hu and Zhu Ning just now, and completely forgot about herself, so she was naturally extremely uncomfortable in her heart. At this time, she couldn't hold back her emotions for a while, so she smiled and persuaded her: "The queen mother is angry, and the emperor is only idle in government affairs, so he occasionally plays tricks, and he doesn't dare to slack off......"

"I didn't ask you!" Empress Dowager Zhang suddenly interrupted her words coldly, and reprimanded in a deep voice, "You are a noble concubine, it is your duty to serve the emperor, where is there room for you to intervene in the rest of the matter?" Learn from the queen's gentleness and frugality, don't learn from those clever and charming adulterous concubines throughout the ages! Queen, you are the lord of the six palaces, and you also need to teach the concubines and daughters the commandments well! ”

After saying this, she didn't look at Concubine Sun Guifei, who was blue and white for a while, and said to Zhu Zhanji: "It's only two o'clock now, and it's not yet noon, the emperor still goes back to deal with government affairs, and there is no need to waste time with me, an old woman." A-Ning, aren't you just going back, and by the way, give the emperor a ride. ”

Zhu Ning had already known that Empress Dowager Zhang had a solemn and strict temper, but at this time, she was really surprised to see her so ruthless to the emperor. However, the Queen Mother's order could not be disobeyed, so she had to stand up and respond, and accompanied Zhu Zhanji to retire. When she got off the platform from the white marble steps in front of the palace, she saw that Zhu Zhanji's face was not good, she glanced back, and saw that Wang Jin was far away with the eunuchs, so she whispered a few words of persuasion.

"The emperor is really hard to manage every day, and it is not an exaggeration to be idle and playful. But the Queen Mother has always had this strict temper, and it is inevitable that she will speak more harshly. The heart is a mother's heart, but she bears the world, and she can't show it on her mouth and face. ”

Originally, he wanted to accompany his mother to fulfill his filial piety, but he was reprimanded for no reason, and Zhu Zhanji naturally felt how depressed and depressed he was. At this time, listening to Zhu Ning's gentle persuasion, he let out a long breath and said with a wry smile: "I just think that the queen mother is becoming stricter and stricter day by day, and she is even tighter than before. I don't know how to be diligent in government, but there are proper people to do internal and external affairs, as long as I pay attention to the appointment of virtuous people, I should make decisions when I should make decisions, and it is difficult to be free and wrong? Not to mention this time, it was just that the queen mother had just learned that I had asked Wang Jin to choose a few good ones to promote weaving, and she had already scolded me once, and even Wang Jin had suffered a few boards! ”

"Having said that, the emperor is the Son of Heaven, and if his subordinates serve one person in the world, it is inevitable that they will do what he likes. For example, if the local officials who want to increase the number of officials know about it, collect strong insects from the people, and present them to the emperor through the eunuchs, it will cause a great disaster among the people in the blink of an eye. The emperor just used this as a pastime, but he couldn't help others from figuring out the holy will. So, before you know it, that reputation may be ruined by others. ”

Zhu Zhanji, who was originally walking with his head down, listened and suddenly stopped. Turning his head to look at Zhu Ning, he couldn't help but laugh when he saw her looking directly into his eyes and not flinching: "Aunt Ning still has that temper, and she speaks in three points, so that I don't even have a reason to refute." You know Wang Jin, who is reliable and cautious, and will definitely not do anything that alarms the locality. ”

"The prince is indeed a proper person, but what if others think that he has won the holy favor by this, and they also draw gourds to pay tribute, and only lie that they were caught by chance?" Zhu Ning blocked Zhu Zhanji back, and after seeing him stunned, she sighed again, and she suddenly felt a little unbearable in her heart, "The concubine also knows that there should be work and leisure in dealing with people, but the emperor is the son of heaven, and countless pairs of eyes are staring, it is really difficult to be free." If there is a slight difference, someone will admonish what is ridiculous, and the Queen Mother will also ask and teach. If you really want to play, the emperor has to be cautious and secretive, so as not to let people take advantage of it. ”

Listening to Zhu Ning's last few words, Zhu Zhanji immediately understood the meaning, and couldn't help but laugh dumbly. Although I was still a little unhappy because of Empress Dowager Zhang's blame, I was much more relieved than the depression when I just left Renshou Palace. Empress Hu is clumsy, although Concubine Sun Guifei is dexterous, she is not a person who can talk about the important affairs of the court, and Empress Dowager Zhang is often responsible for righteousness, so along the way at this time, he gradually talked about the recent difficulties, although Zhu Ning did not answer much, but after all, he made him a lot easier.

"By the way, you might as well go to the British Mansion when you're free. You have a very good relationship with Zhang Yue's family, and now that his sister-in-law is in the British Mansion, he is naturally not an outsider. Although I sent him to Guangdong according to my words, if he was an official there and didn't want to come back, it would be difficult for me. Because I am young, the Queen Mother is afraid that I will blindly appoint young officials, so she mentioned it again and again, and even I transferred the young Hanlin Shuji to fill the six departments of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Other people's qualifications are not enough, but his qualifications are enough, and when he comes back one day, he can always make ...... Also, the British ......"

After pondering for a long time, Zhu Zhanji finally brought out the truth: "The British public resignation of the governor of the Chinese military has been refuted, and he has been on it for the second time, and I have not yet been left in China." If you go to visit the British Prince, you will say that I can't leave him, and since he has resigned as the governor of the Chinese military capital, please don't forget the duty of planning military affairs day and night. ”

These three words sound true, but Zhu Ning's heart jumped, and he was stunned for a moment before agreeing. When she sent Zhu Zhanji back to the Qianqing Palace, she had to go all the way out of the palace from Donghua Gate along the Tianjie Road, but she thought about it again and again in her heart. When passing by Wenzhao Pavilion, she saw Huang Huai walking towards this side with a large stack of music folds, and quickly stopped.

"Lord Huang."

"Lord Chenliu?"

When Huang Huai saw Zhu Ning, he wanted to salute but couldn't spare his hand, so he bowed. One is the second seat of the minister, and the other is the lord of the clan, and there is no friendship on weekdays. After saying hello at this time, seeing Zhu Ning's head signaling that he was about to leave, Huang Huai was about to leave, but as soon as he took a step, he heard a shrill voice from behind him.

"Ouch, Lord Huang, such a big stack of things, you don't call a few slaves and maids to take it, this trip to Qianqing Palace is a long way, this day looks cloudy again!" Wang Zhen, who hurriedly ran up, complained twice, and then ordered the eunuchs on the left and right to go up and take over the recital in Huang Huai's hand, and said with a smile on his face, "It just so happens that our family will go to the Qianqing Palace to report the matter of the inner study hall, and we can also help you divide some evenly." There are several people sent to this cabinet room, how do you know that you are lazy? ”

Seeing that Huang Huai just nodded and said hello, knowing that this cabinet bachelor had always been cold to the lieutenant, Wang Zhen didn't think it was wrong, and stepped forward and knelt down to Zhu Ning respectfully. When he left, Zhu Ning called the little eunuch of Renshou Palace behind him, because he asked: "During the time I came back, I have been hearing that the emperor has set up an inner study hall, what is going on?" ”

The little eunuch was walking in Renshou Palace, naturally he was first-class and clever, and he explained with a smile: "Returning to the county lord, this is the emperor's virtue and politics. The emperor said that Emperor Taizu did not allow eunuchs to read and write, but he chose to be proficient in calligraphy and arithmetic, which shows that vulgar people are unbearable. Especially now that the emperor has ordered the eunuchs to submit the cabinet with a suitable script, if they are illiterate, it will delay things. Therefore, the emperor decided to officially set up the inner study hall and selected those young eunuchs who were about ten years old to study writing in the inner study hall. The small one is that he doesn't have that blessing, otherwise he might be able to recognize two more words. ”

Zhu Ning looked thoughtfully at the back of Wang Zhen sending Huang Huai away, and then asked casually: "Then the emperor has built an inner study hall, can the queen mother and the ministers of the central cabinet of the court have any objections?" The prince just now is said to be literate and hyphenated, and he is about to teach in the inner study hall? ”

"The Queen Mother originally said that the ancestral system was so unchangeable, but the emperor said that Emperor Taizu's ban was not only for those who could not understand the text to be internal servants, and besides, teaching the internal servants to be literate was also from the Yongle years, and the Queen Mother agreed after thinking about it. As for the ministers, he gave a few words of advice, but it was not a big deal, because he saw that the emperor had already made up his mind, so he did not persuade again. I heard that several senior fathers-in-law such as Liu Gonggong, the imperial horse supervisor, and Gonghai Gonggong had persuaded them, but the emperor did not listen, and the matter was decided. As for the prince, because he taught before entering the palace, he is now a teacher in the inner study hall, but the real person in charge is a revision of the Hanlin Academy. ”

Although Wang Zhen escorted him all the way to Beijing before, Zhu Ning never liked to use eunuchs, and he was a person in the palace, so he naturally stayed away. After returning to the palace, most of the people who dealt with her were Wang Jin, Fan Hong, Liu Yongcheng, and Wang Zhen were not ranked. However, seeing his respectful greeting to Huang Huai today, she finally understood why her eldest brother Zhu Youlian had the intention of leaving Wang Zhen behind.

Such a person who is literate and hyphenated but has a low meaning is the most likable in the first place.

Zhu Ning's Zhai car stopped outside Dong'an Gate, and the little eunuch who saw him off all the way was sent back by her when he arrived at the door. Just before she boarded the car, she saw several riders galloping over and stopping not far in front of her. The man at the head glanced at her, and immediately jumped off his horse, and came forward with a smile.

"County Lord Wan'an." Lu Feng saluted with a smile, looked at Zhu Ning's complexion and said with a smile, "Our family was just ordered to go to Xuanfu for a while, who knew that I just missed your return to Beijing, and I happened to say hello here." After all, you are the county lord of the golden branches and jade leaves, why did you bring so many people into the palace? You want to go out when you go back, but please inform our family, and our family will send a few Jinyi guards to escort you. Now the personnel in this palace are a little different from before, Gonggong Liu has gone to Nanjing to replace the previous Gonggong Zheng as the garrison eunuch, Gonggong Hai was ordered to guard the Xuanfu in charge of firearms, and our family also goes on business trips from time to time......"

It sounds like it's just an ordinary chatter, but Zhu Ning is a keen person after all, and he can hear Lu Feng's voice in a moment. Nodding lightly and thanking her, she got into the car with the support of her mother, and nodded at Lu Feng before lowering the curtain: "Thank you Father-in-law Lu for your kindness, I am just living in the capital now, so I don't need to be alarmed too widely." You are the overseer of Dongchang appointed by Emperor Taizong, but do your duty, and don't worry too much about the rest. ”

It wasn't until the carriage galloped out of the long street along Dong'anmen that Zhu Ning frowned. Since the Yongle period, the lieutenant officials have gradually gained power, or go out of the town or send envoys or inspect places, almost as much as the nobles, but after all, there is still an individual system. Nowadays, the inner study hall is impressively taught by Hanlin as a teacher, teaching young eunuchs to read and write, and to say something unpleasant, which is almost equivalent to those who enter the library to study. Not only that, although the eunuchs of the older generation have left the center, they are also in important positions.

Compared with the military attache who holds military power, it is indeed much easier to use eunuchs to balance civil officials!

Although she is a woman, she doesn't have to worry about this, but after thinking about it, Zhu Ning still decided to find someone to wake up. So, she immediately instructed the groom driving in front of the car: "Don't be in a hurry to go back to the mansion first, go to Du Mansion!" ”