When Jiajing heard that the imperial concubine Shen mentioned his two sons, a strange look flashed in his eyes, but it quickly disappeared, and then he asked softly.
"Oh, so what did they say to you?"
When the imperial concubine Shen heard this, she shook her head and responded.
"No, the people they sent left in a hurry every time after putting down the gifts."
After Jiajing listened to Shen's story, he gently held her in his arms, looked calm, and spoke comforting words.
"Since it is a gift from them, you should keep it well."
"This is considered a part of their wishes, isn't it?"
After hearing Jiajing's comfort, Mrs. Shen felt relieved, snuggled into Jiajing's arms and whispered.
"Okay, Your Majesty."
After a while, Jiajing was seen gently stroking Shen's long, silky hair and saying softly.
"I suddenly remembered that there are still some things that need to be dealt with. Let's do this for today. I will come to see you another day."
After Jiajing finished speaking, he kissed Shen's smooth forehead.
"Well, Your Majesty should put state affairs first!"
Shen left Jiajing's arms reluctantly, her face full of shyness, and said so.
"Don't worry, I will make time to see you soon."
Jiajing comforted him with a warm smile on his face.
"Your Majesty, walk slowly."
"Um."
After Jiajing responded, he left Shen's room without looking back.
When Lu Fang saw the emperor coming out, he hurriedly greeted him with a respectful expression.
"His Majesty!"
"Um."
Jiajing's expression at this moment was so gloomy that even Lu Fang was shocked.
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?"
"Let's talk about it after we go back to Yangxin Palace."
At this moment, Jiajing was not in the mood to answer Lu Fang's doubts. Instead, after leaving these words, he walked away on his own.
"What happened?"
"Could it be..."
Lu Fang forcibly suppressed her chaotic thoughts, and then followed Jiajing's footsteps step by step.
…
Soon, Jiajing took the dragon chariot back to the Yangxin Hall, while Lu Fang followed Jiajing anxiously, not daring to make any sound.
After stepping up the stairs and returning to Yangxin Hall, Jiajing was seen sitting directly on the dragon chair.
He just kept silent, stroking the dragon head carved on the dragon chair with his hand, not knowing what he was thinking.
"Your Majesty, please have some tea."
At this moment, Lu Fang came to Jiajing with a cup of hot tea and said respectfully.
"Um."
Jiajing just responded without saying much.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for being brave. What happened?"
"Slave, look at you..."
Sensing Jiajing's gaze, Lu Fang trembled and did not dare to say any more.
Jiajing quickly looked away from Lu Fang, then took the cup of hot tea from Lu Fang's hand, took a sip, and then spoke.
"Lu Fang, I want you to check on my two sons."
"I'm not dead yet, yet you dare to do this behind my back!"
After hearing the emperor's words, Lu Fang's face turned pale in an instant. All the possibilities she had previously speculated were ruthlessly shattered by the emperor's words.
Lu Fang's face was full of fear, and then he knelt on the ground with a thump, and there was a hint of crying in his words.
"His Majesty!"
Jiajing took in the expression on Lu Fang's face and knew that Lu Fang might have misunderstood him, so he immediately shook his head and explained.
"What I want is for you to find out when they started giving gifts to the imperial concubine."
"You don't need to get involved in the rest!"
After listening to the emperor's explanation, Lu Fang finally reacted and responded respectfully.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
"I thought you were going to let me go..."
Before Lu Fang finished speaking, he was interrupted by Jiajing.
"Don't worry, I have my own sense of discretion and will not let you get involved in this matter."
After receiving the emperor's assurance, Lu Fang felt relieved and said respectfully.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Well, get up."
Jiajing waved his hand casually, signaling Lu Fang to stand up.
"Your Majesty, do you want me to ask people from Dongchang to investigate this matter now?"
"Well, remember, don't make any mistakes."
After Jiajing finished speaking, he looked away from Lu Fang and then gave instructions.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After Lu Fang responded, she quickly left the Yangxin Hall.
Soon, Jiajing was the only one left in the huge Yangxin Hall. He slowly stood up from the dragon chair, looked around, and said silently to himself.
"You can only take what I give to you!"
"Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."
…
Forbidden City, Cabinet.
After Jiajing left, everyone in the cabinet did not dare to delay for a minute, and quickly compiled the improved plan into a detailed report.
"Phew, it's finally done."
Yan Song looked at the perfected plan in front of him and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes, now I can finally report to His Majesty!"
Xu Jie on the side heard this and also followed up.
Zhang Juzheng was quite satisfied looking at the improved plan in front of him.
Not only will he retain all the "three-step" strategy he proposed before! In addition, everyone has also proposed many highly feasible measures.
If the strategy I proposed earlier was just a skeleton, now, the improved plan has truly become flesh and blood and is extremely feasible!
"As long as this plan is implemented, it will be just around the corner for our Ming Dynasty to occupy Japan's silver mines!"
Zhang Juzheng looked away, thinking this.
Later, Yan Song summoned his subordinates and gave these instructions.
"Submit this report directly to His Majesty!"
"Yes, Mr. Yan Ge."
When the subordinate official heard this, he immediately looked stern and responded.
Soon, the former subordinate took the report compiled by the cabinet and embarked on the journey to Yangxin Palace.
"It's getting late, it should be time to go off duty."
Xu Jie looked back, looked around, and said this.
"Well, it's time to show up."
Yan Song took over the conversation and turned his attention to the remaining people.
"Father, please go back first!"
"The child has to stay and discuss the specific charges."
After listening to Yan Shifan's explanation, Yan Song nodded and responded.
"Um."
Then, Xu Jie was seen smiling, and then he took a step forward and said to Yan Song.
"Old Yan Ge, let's go. Anyway, we can't help much if we stay here."
"Well, let's go then."
Yan Song nodded, then followed Xu Jie's footsteps, and the two walked out of the cabinet together.
Gao Gong saw Yan Song and Xu Jie leaving the cabinet one after another.
After taking a deep breath, he glanced at Yan Shifan and Zhang Juzheng one by one and said slowly.
"Two of you, let's discuss how the navy should charge."
"If you two have any suggestions, just put them forward!"
As soon as Gao Gong finished speaking, Yan Shifan stood up and spoke.
"I think that when the imperial navy performs corresponding escort missions, they should be charged according to the value of the goods they transport and the degree of danger!"
"Well, yes, not only that, those merchants who hire the imperial navy to perform escort missions must also bear the daily expenses of the soldiers on the ship!"
"I think we should..."
(End of chapter)
