When Zhen Qin led Baochai to Ningshou Palace, Zhu Jinghong came out of the East Palace.
Originally we were just having a meal with the prince, but after the prince got drunk, he started to complain with runny nose and tears.
Even if Yuanchun tried to persuade him, he could not stop the prince from pouring out his bitterness.
Of course, while listening to the prince's nonsense, Zhu Jinghong also learned some new news.
For example, the current situation in the court is that because of being suppressed at the Great Court Meeting, more people are now turning to Prince Rui's Mansion.
A very obvious phenomenon is that there are more and more memorials to impeach officials in the East Palace. Some people even impeach the prince directly, saying that he has friends with diplomats in Jinling and Jiangbei.
These impeachments are not groundless, so it is difficult for Zhu Jingyuan to cope with it. He has recently written a lot of self-defense memorials.
In other words, although the court is calm on the surface, it is already turbulent secretly.
In fact, if the emperor's holy birthday festival was not approaching and the emperor deliberately suppressed this matter, I am afraid that there would have been a big commotion.
Walking out of the East Palace, Zhu Jinghong couldn't help but sigh: "In the position of the prince, if you do more, you will make more mistakes, if you do less, you will make more mistakes, if you don't do more, you will make more mistakes... It's so difficult!"
"Fortunately, I'm not the prince yet... This matter won't bother me for the time being!"
Putting aside these messy thoughts, Zhu Jinghong rushed towards the palace. He was going to Kunning Palace to inquire about the situation.
When he was about to pass the Qianqing Palace, he was stopped by a voice behind him.
"stop!"
Naturally, the emperor was the only one who could speak to him like this in the palace.
"What's going on in a panic?"
Turning around and looking at the emperor surrounded by eunuchs, Zhu Jinghong saluted quickly: "Dad... my son is going to pay his respects to his mother!"
"Excuse me at this time? When did you become so filial?"
It is said that morning and dusk are the time to relax, but it is noon now, so it is not the right time to say goodbye.
Before Zhu Jinghong could make up a reason, Zhu Xianming asked: "Aren't you training in Shanglinyuan? How is your training going now?"
"The training is okay, much better than when I first came here, but my son still feels it is not enough, and he must keep improving!"
Zhu Xianming also walked towards the deep palace and asked as he walked: "So, are you still serious?"
Following the emperor, Zhu Jinghong smiled and replied: "Dad, my son can't calm down when studying. You don't need anyone to teach you how to do these things!"
Glancing at Zhu Jinghong, Zhu Xianming said coldly: "I can't calm down while studying... It seems that you are very proud!"
Zhu Jinghong quickly replied: "This... son has absolutely no such intentions!"
"Shanglinyuan is training troops. I'll have some time to watch in a few days. You'd better practice well, otherwise... I won't let you go lightly!"
Under the emperor's scolding, Zhu Jinghong trembled unconsciously, and then replied: "Yes!"
"My son just has a request!"
Not making demands at this time seemed like a waste to Zhu Jinghong.
"explain!"
"To protect the majesty of the army, my son wants to replace the soldiers with new armor, and I ask my father's permission!"
If everyone changes, it will be more than 1,500 sets.
The bodyguards of the Zhijun army use armor, and a set costs about twenty taels, which is equivalent to a year's harvest of a well-off family.
More than 1,500 sets of armor, converted to nearly 30,000 taels, which is already a considerable expense.
Seeing that the emperor did not express his position, Zhu Jinghong continued: "Dad, don't you understand that people rely on clothes and horses rely on saddles?"
"I want you to teach me?" The emperor's voice suddenly became louder.
"My son doesn't dare!"
Putting his hands behind his back, Zhu Xianming thought: "I remember that the Northern Four Guards replaced more than 3,000 sets at the beginning of the year, and they are still 90% new after use. Can you just ask a few commanders to smooth them out?"
The armor is updated in batches. A guard with more than 5,000 soldiers can receive 700 or 800 sets each year, and it can be replaced in seven or eight years.
Zhu Jinghong immediately explained: "Dad, this time we are showing it to the envoys from various countries. We are wearing half-worn clothes. Wouldn't it make the chieftain envoys of the Khan Alliance think that we in the Ming Dynasty can't even wear new armor?"
"Let me tell you... if you want to replace them, just replace them with new ones. You can approve more than a thousand pieces and give the sergeants a set, one set for each person!"
More than 1,500 sets, more than 30,000 taels of silver, Zhu Jinghong said it easily.
Seeing that the emperor still did not express his position, Zhu Jinghong was heartbroken and said: "Dad... you can't afford such a small thing, can you?"
"What did you say?"
Zhu Xianming stopped and looked at his son beside him with cold eyes. Zhu Jinghong was so frightened that he quickly lowered his waist.
"It's just some armor. I'll give you fifteen hundred sets, one set for each of you!"
Speaking of this, Zhu Xianming said in a stern tone: "If you can't achieve the results you mentioned, humph... I'll expose you!"
Zhu Jinghong's throat surged, and he suppressed the uneasiness in his heart and quickly replied: "Yes...yes!"
Continuing forward with his hands behind his back, Zhu Xianming said: "Go back and write a note and submit it to the cabinet. After the Supervisor of Ceremonies approves it, you can go to the Ministry of Works to collect it with your ticket!"
Although Zhu Jinghong could go to the Ministry of Works to get something with just a word from the emperor, Zhu Xianming did not want to use his "privilege" at this moment.
After all, the rules and decency of the imperial court also needed to be maintained by him as the emperor.
"yes!"
"Let's go... let's go see your mother together!"
"Dad, are you going to Kunning Palace too?"
"Um!"
"Then you go first, my son will go back and write a memorial, and then go and say hello to your mother later!"
It would be completely uncomfortable to go to Kunning Palace with the emperor. Of course Zhu Jinghong would not go with him.
So before Zhu Xianming could say anything more, Zhu Jinghong ran away without looking back, which made Zhu Xianming snort coldly.
"This traitor!"
After cursing, Zhu Xianming turned around and walked north.
Entering Kunning Palace, the queen was sipping tea in the side hall. Zhu Xianming walked in with his hands behind his back, looking unhappy on his face.
After sitting down, Zhu Xianming spoke first: "Qingyin, why do you have to ask me to come over? Why can't you go to Qianqing Palace to tell me?"
"Then the emperor always comes to see the queen!"
Seeing that Zhu Xianming was so arrogant, Yang Qingyin raised her eyes and looked at him: "You are so angry, it seems who made you angry again!"
"Don't interrupt, tell yourself...how many times have I been to Kunning Palace? How many times have you been to Qianqing Palace?"
"Are you done?" Yang Qingyin said calmly.
"you……"
Zhu Xianming was helpless and finally waved his hand: "Tell me...why did you ask me to come?"
"Sheng'er's attendant has been chosen!"
"Um!"
After picking up the teacup and responding, Zhu Xianming asked: "Who is the last one?"
Zhu Xianming knew about the three designated ones, so he only asked the last one.
"Miss Xue family!"
"Which Xue family girl?" Zhu Xianming didn't think of it for a moment.
He thinks about too many things every day, how can he remember the little Jinling Xue family.
"The Xue family of Jinling, the Xue family who saved Lao Shisan, chose their daughter!"
Only then did Zhu Xianming understand, and he immediately said, "Because her family saved Lao Shisan, you chose her?"
"Of course not. Among the girls selected today, she is the most outstanding. She is a rare good child!"
Putting down the tea cup, Zhu Xianming said in surprise: "It's rare for you to praise someone like this. It seems that this girl is very popular with you!"
"Who wouldn't like a girl like this!" When she said this, Yang Qingyin thought of her youngest son and secretly thought that this little bastard really knows how to pick.
"Just make your choice. Is this why you called me here?" Zhu Xianming raised his head and asked.
Unexpectedly, Yang Qingyin was not in a hurry to reply. Instead, she arranged her clothes and put on a very formal air.
"of course not!"
"Why is that?" Zhu Xianming became alert.
"I heard that many people are impeaching the fourth child in the court now. What's going on?"
Zhu Xianming got angry when he mentioned this, and immediately said: "He made the mess himself, you have to ask him!"
(End of chapter)
