When Shen heard this, her face was filled with joy. Just when she was about to show Jiajing the results of her embroidery work in recent days, she accidentally discovered that Jiajing's thoughts seemed to have drifted far away.
After realizing this, Mrs. Shen immediately stepped forward, came to Jiajing's side, and asked softly.
"Your Majesty, have you encountered any troubles recently? If you don't mind, you can tell me about it."
Hearing this, Jiajing suddenly came back to his senses and immediately answered subconsciously.
"Uh, no."
It was obvious that Shen was not very convinced by Jiajing's rhetoric. She did not speak, but stared at Jiajing with a pair of big, watery eyes, with a look of suspicion on her face.
Seeing this situation, Jiajing knew that he could not hide it from Shen, so he could only sigh helplessly, and then pointed to the empty seat next to him: "Come, sit down!"
When Shen heard this, she couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief, and immediately sat down on the empty seat next to Jiajing without thinking.
As soon as Shen sat down, Jiajing smelled a light fragrance similar to mint, which was refreshing.
After that, Jiajing calmed down, turned his gaze to Shen, and said slowly.
"Just now, the British Duke Zhang Rong came to me to intercede. He said that as a price for reducing the clan's expenses, he hoped to give some compensation to the clan and the nobles!"
"In addition to the imperial examination, let me hold separate examinations for the clan and nobles, and select suitable talents from them!"
After patiently listening to Jiajing's narration, Mrs. Shen couldn't help but frown and turned to speak.
"Your Majesty, to be honest, there were people from the clan who wanted me to come forward and say a few good words in front of Your Majesty, but I was rejected by me on the excuse of being unwell."
"Now it seems that this is what he should be referring to!"
After listening to Shen's narration, Jiajing's inner vigilance was raised to the highest level. He sneered and then said to himself: "Huh, these guys are really scheming. They even got my idea." It’s coming to my beloved concubine!”
Shen was keenly aware of Jiajing's signs of anger and quickly explained.
"Your Majesty, the people from the clan only came to see me once. After I rejected them, they never came to see me again!"
After listening to Shen's explanation, Jiajing's face looked much better, and he immediately said, "Humph, I guess they know each other!"
When Shen saw Jiajing caring so much about her, a warmth suddenly flowed through her heart.
Immediately, he snuggled into Jiajing's arms, raised his head, and asked.
"So Your Majesty, are you worried about holding examinations for the clan and nobles separately from the imperial examinations?"
Jiajing looked at Shen's slightly red face, nodded slightly, and then spoke.
"Well, that's right, this is what I'm worried about!"
When Jiajing said this, he changed the topic and continued to add.
"Logically speaking, there is no need to doubt the loyalty of the clan and nobles to my Ming Dynasty!"
"Besides, I also want to make good use of this power to deal with those civil servants!"
When Jiajing said this, he couldn't help but think of the virtues of the Eight Banners disciples of the Qing Dynasty in later generations, and he couldn't help but feel a chill.
The proposal put forward by the British Duke Zhang Rong blatantly opened the door to convenience for the clan and nobles.
Jiajing knew very well that if he could not deal with the disadvantages, not only would he not be able to make good use of the power of the clan and nobles, but it would also cause constraints on himself.
"I have to think of a way to make them useful to me!"
Jiajing said this and immediately fell into deep thought.
Not to mention anything else, the total number of clan nobles in the Ming Dynasty now totals millions of people. This force cannot be ignored by Jiajing. No one wants the Ming Dynasty to continue to exist more than them.
After all, the Ming Dynasty is here, and their privileges are there. Once the Ming Dynasty falls, there are only two endings waiting for them, either they will be hung on the city tower by the angry peasant rebels in public, or they will be hung on the city tower by foreign enemies to destroy the people. of resistance.
In short, once the Ming Dynasty falls, these originally aloof clans and nobles will not be able to escape the liquidation no matter what!
It is precisely because of this that even though Jiajing drastically reduced the clan's expenses last time, those clans whose interests were harmed only dared to complain a few words and play tricks behind their backs, but did not dare to take any actual actions. .
On the one hand, it was because they did not have the strength to fight against the emperor, and on the other hand, it was because those discerning people in the clan could see that the emperor's move was to extend the life of the Ming Dynasty.
If the treasury is allowed to continue to be empty like this, if there is any natural or man-made disaster and the people's lives are lost, they will rise up and make trouble. In order to suppress the peasant uprising, the imperial court will have to send a large number of troops to encircle and suppress it.
In this process, the already empty treasury of the imperial court will become even more empty in the process of suppressing the rebellion. In order to maintain daily expenses and the military expenses required to suppress the rebellion, the imperial court will also have to impose additional taxes. tax.
And this will create an endless cycle of suppressing the rebellion - emptying the treasury - raising taxes - more people revolting - suppressing the rebellion.
In this cycle, no matter how powerful a country is, it will not be able to sustain it for long. If a foreign enemy invades at this time, the imperial court will be unable to organize forces to resist. In the end, it can only lead to one outcome, which is the destruction of the country.
In order to avoid this outcome, the clans collectively acquiesced in Jiajing's previous actions. No matter whether Jiajing sent troops to raid the homes of many vassal kings such as Hui Wang, Gui Wang, Zhao Wang, etc., they just pretended not to see it.
After all, as long as the butcher's knife doesn't fall on you, you can accept it!
After the series of drastic reforms in Jiajing, the clans and nobles were surprised to find that the already decrepit Ming Dynasty was beginning to regain its vitality, and its national power began to rise steadily, even almost surpassing the period of Zhu Di, the founder of the Ming Dynasty.
They felt that they had their share of credit for this, and it was time to ask the emperor for compensation. This was also the case when the British Duke Zhang Rong came to Jiajing to intercede.
After thinking about it for a long time, Jiajing came back to his senses and muttered to himself silently.
"Well, on the one hand, we must make good use of the power of these clans and nobles, and on the other hand, we must not let them become powerful and threaten my power. The balance between this is difficult to control!"
At this moment, Shen on the side seemed to have suddenly thought of something, and turned her gaze to Jiajing, with an inexplicable look in her eyes.
"Your Majesty, I suddenly thought of a way. I wonder if I should tell you about it?"
When Jiajing heard this, he suddenly became extremely excited. After that, he heard a "pop", Jiajing kissed Shen's face that was like egg white, and urged him.
"If you have any ideas, my dear concubine, just say it!"
Facing Jiajing's encouraging eyes, Shen organized the words in her mind before speaking out her thoughts.
"Your Majesty, this is what I think. Since the British Lord has asked you to hold examinations for the clan and nobles separately from the imperial examinations, you might as well agree to his request!"
Facing Jiajing's slightly puzzled expression, Shen paused for a moment and then continued to add.
"For the clans and nobles who enter the official career in this way, you can impose certain restrictions on the official positions they can hold."
When Shen said this, Jiajing had fully understood what Shen meant and added excitedly.
"I understand. What my concubine means is that as long as the clan and nobles do not enter the official career through the imperial examination, I have to set up an insurmountable barrier on their heads. For example, civil servants can only hold four positions at most. If you are a high-ranking official or military attache, you can reach the highest level of a partial general."
"Well, Your Majesty is right. This is what I mean."
When Shen said this, a look of panic appeared on her face again, and she immediately added to Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, my concubine's idea may still have many shortcomings. Your Majesty, just listen to it and don't take it seriously!"
Seeing this, Jiajing immediately held Shen's hand and said seriously.
"My dear, there is no need to be humble, you really helped me a lot this time!"
After hearing what Jiajing said, Mrs. Shen lowered her head in embarrassment and said timidly.
"I...I, my concubine, just...just hope that I can help His Majesty!"
Then, perhaps to ease the embarrassment, Shen suggested to Jiajing.
"By the way, Your Majesty, do you want to see my concubine's embroidery in recent days?"
"Well, if that's the case, then take it out and show it to me!"
When Jiajing heard this, he nodded slightly and immediately gave instructions.
"Please wait a moment, Your Majesty, I will go get it for Your Majesty right now!"
After Mrs. Shen finished speaking, she slowly stood up from her seat, came to the place where the embroidery was placed earlier, and began to rummage around.
Jiajing looked at Shen's figure rummaging for things, and couldn't help but have a smile on his face. Then he turned his eyes to the night scene outside the window and said silently to himself.
"That's great!"
That night, Jiajing did not choose to return to Qianqing Palace, but chose to stay in Ganlu Palace for the night. The couple chatted for a long time and chatted for most of the night before falling asleep.
In the early morning, Jiajing woke up first. Looking at Shen's peaceful sleeping face, Jiajing couldn't help but feel a trace of love and pity in her heart.
Then, without disturbing Mrs. Shen, Jiajing was seen quietly getting up from the bed, putting on her robe under the service of the maid, and then walked out of the room.
Shortly after Jiajing walked out of the room, Lu Fang came up to him and said respectfully.
"His Majesty!"
When Jiajing heard the words, he responded in a subtle way, and immediately sent for Shen's personal maid to give instructions.
"We must take good care of the daily life of the imperial concubine, especially in terms of food, incense, candles, etc., and we must not let anyone else do it. If you need anything, just ask it, do you understand?"
When Shen's personal maid heard this, she immediately knelt on the ground in fear and assured Jiajing.
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, slave...slave knows that I will do my best to take good care of the imperial concubine!"
Seeing this, Jiajing nodded, quickly turned his eyes away from the maid, and said slowly.
"Well, good, get up!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty!"
After receiving Jiajing's permission, Shen's personal maid stood up from the ground tremblingly and responded repeatedly.
After that, Jiajing turned his gaze to Lu Fang, who was still stunned in place, and gave instructions.
"Lu Fang, why are you still standing there? Why don't you follow me quickly?"
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
After Jiajing finished speaking, Lu Fang came back to her senses and followed Jiajing's steps step by step towards the outside of Ganlu Palace.
Along the way, Lu Fang looked at Jiajing who was walking in front, her thoughts were racing, and she began to make calculations.
"Your Majesty is paying more and more attention to the Imperial Concubine. If this trend continues, if the Imperial Concubine gives birth to a son for Your Majesty, by then, the mother will be more valuable than the son. Not only will the Imperial Concubine become the new queen of the Ming Dynasty, but she will also become the new queen of the Ming Dynasty. The child here will also become a veritable prince!"
Lu Fang thought so and couldn't help but pray in her heart.
"Mother, even if it is just for your own sake, you must let the child in your belly be born smoothly!"
…
After leaving the Ganlu Palace, Jiajing did not choose to take the Dragon Boat Festival, but chose to walk back to the Qianqing Palace.
And Lu Fang also followed Jiajing's footsteps and returned to Qianqing Palace.
After resting for a while, Jiajing turned his gaze to Lu Fang and gave instructions.
"Lu Fang, go and ask the imperial kitchen to bring me some food. I'm a little hungry!"
When Lu Fang heard this, she immediately looked stern and said respectfully.
"As ordered, Your Majesty, I will send someone to inform the imperial kitchen right now!"
Just when Lu Fang was about to leave, Jiajing's voice sounded behind him again.
"By the way, I'll stop by the cabinet later and call Yan Song and Xu Jie over. Tell me that I have something important to discuss with them!"
When Lu Fang heard this, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and responded respectfully.
"As ordered, Your Majesty, I will definitely bring the message to you!"
Seeing this, Jiajing nodded slightly towards Lu Fang and spoke unhurriedly.
"Well, without further ado, let's get going!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Seeing that Jiajing had nothing more to say, Lu Fang nodded, and then walked out of Qianqing Palace with steady steps.
As soon as Lu Fang walked out of Qianqing Palace, he summoned a eunuch and gave him instructions.
"For my father-in-law, tell the imperial kitchen to send His Majesty some food!"
The eunuch who was summoned by Lu Fang casually, after listening to Lu Fang's instructions, his face was full of respect, and he immediately responded with tears of gratitude.
"Yes, Eunuch Lu, I will definitely handle this matter well!"
After that, Lu Fang suddenly waved his sleeves and walked towards the cabinet.
(End of chapter)
