Orthodox tenth year, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.
Today is the Laba Festival. According to the etiquette system, the emperor will give a banquet at Fengtianmen, so Fengtianmen is very busy at this moment.
Civil servant Wu Xun sat down in the east and west, bathing in the cold wind and enjoying the emperor's favor, and it was double the emperor's favor.
Just because of the banquet given today, the Supreme Emperor Zhu Xinkan was able to attend, which was unimaginable in the past.
The emperor showed his fatherly kindness and son's filial piety, and all the officials below were shaking their bodies in the cold wind in agreement. Zhu Jinghong felt sorry for these people.
The banquet was noisy all morning before the whole ceremony came to an end, and the half-full officials began to exit one after another.
It's not that there isn't enough food, it's that the food is cold due to the cold weather, so there's no way to eat it.
Zhu Xianming sent his father back to Ningshou Palace. The three brothers Zhu Jinghong followed him, and the other concubines left the palace with the officials.
After sending the Emperor back to Ningshou Palace, and after some false politeness, Zhu Xianming took his sons and left, and Ningshou Palace became quiet again.
Looking at the disappointed Emperor in the palace, Concubine Zhen took the medicine bowl from the hands of the palace maid and slowly came to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, it's time to drink medicine!"
After coughing a few times, Zhu Xinkan took the medicine bowl and said, "My body has become worse and worse recently. I'm afraid it won't last long..."
Hearing this, Concubine Zhen couldn't help but feel sad. After getting along with him for so many years, she still had true feelings for the Supreme Emperor.
After drinking the decoction, Zhu Xinkan said in a deep voice: "Fortunately now... I have talked it over with the fourth child. You won't have any trouble after I die!"
"Your Majesty..." Concubine Zhen had tears in her eyes. She really couldn't listen to this.
When Zhu Xinkan was dying and feeling gloomy, Emperor Zhu Xianming was leading his three sons to Kunning Palace.
The Fengtianmen state banquet is over, and there will be a family banquet at Kunning Palace at noon. Today, the juniors are also here.
At this moment, outside Kunning Palace, the prince and Prince Rui's sons and daughters were chasing each other and fighting, followed by more than a dozen palace maids and eunuchs, for fear that these young ancestors would bump into each other.
In the main hall of Kunning Palace, Princess Rui Chen Zhi and the crown prince's side concubine Jia Yuanchun were accompanying the queen to talk in the side hall.
"According to my daughter-in-law's wish, I might as well just give him a reward. On the one hand, this thing is valuable and rare, and on the other hand, it can also save money!" Chen Zhi gave his opinion.
What is being discussed now is the year-end rewards for domestic and foreign wives. Chen Zhi naturally puts herself in the empress's shoes.
"That's not to say that this is not the case for all daughters-in-law. Those below the first grade can still be given gold and silver, or wishful gold hairpins, etc..."
Chen Zhi kept talking. After all, she also had the idea of becoming a princess and then being promoted to a queen in the future. Now it is equivalent to adapting in advance.
Listening to Chen Zhi talking non-stop, the queen looked at the silent Yuanchun and asked, "What do you think about this?"
In the past, Yuanchun would have said that it was up to his mother to make the decision, but now that she is most likely to be the crown princess, her words will have to change.
"Mother, my son and I think... it is better to give silver of first grade or above as in previous years!"
"We don't have much money in the first place, so we can't save much here. If I make my subordinates think that the royal family is stingy, it will be more of a loss than a gain!"
Upon hearing that Yuanchun dared to oppose herself, Chen Zhi suddenly became furious, but she did not dare to get angry in front of the queen.
"Sister, what you said is wrong. Thunder, rain, and dew are all gifts from heaven. I should have my duty as a minister. Do we, the royal family, still want to look up to her?"
What Yuanchun said made sense, but Chen Zhi was just fighting for leverage.
At this time, Yang Qingyin said: "Each person is given fifty taels of silver. There are only fifty-two people who have received first-grade imperial orders. The total is only two thousand six hundred taels of silver, which is not a lot of money... Let's distribute them as usual!"
Since Yuanchun was to be established as the crown princess, the queen had to protect her face, so she had to speak to her at this moment.
"What the Queen Mother said is absolutely true. My daughter-in-law is short-sighted!" Chen Zhi quickly admitted her mistake. She did not dare to contradict the Queen.
"Counting the time, they should be here too, let's go out too!"
At this moment, in the main hall of Kunning Palace, the maids and eunuchs were busy, and the banquet was basically arranged.
In addition to the main position of the emperor and empress, there are eight tables on the left and right sides of the hall to accommodate the prince and his grandchildren.
As soon as Yang Qingyin arrived at the main hall, she heard someone outside reporting that the emperor was coming, so everyone hurried out to greet him.
When Yang Qingyin walked out of the door, she saw Zhu Xianming holding Prince Rui's youngest son and walking in, talking and laughing.
Behind him were the three princes, and then followed by the other royal grandsons (daughters), and Zhu Yunsheng mixed in among them.
Being called aunt, Zhu Yunsheng couldn't help but feel how beautiful she was, so she liked being with the children very much.
"Oh... the queen came out in person, this is really rare!" Zhu Xianming was quite surprised.
The queen said: "You said I didn't respect you, but now you come to greet me personally...is it still wrong?"
"It's freezing cold today, why do you have to come out in person? How can you get cold?"
Hearing the old couple's show of affection, Zhu Jinghong felt sour in his heart. He was a prince and prince, but now he didn't even have a woman.
This damn royal rule... Zhu Jinghong could only feel unhappy in his heart.
Ignoring the emperor anymore, Yang Qingyin waved to his back and said, "Chun'er, Chun'er, come here quickly!"
Zhu Muchun was the eldest son of the crown prince and the eldest grandson of Zhu Xianming. The queen was naturally dissatisfied with the cold treatment she received at this moment.
The two children came to the queen's side, respectfully called "grandmother", and were led into the palace by the queen.
After looking at the little grandson in his arms, the emperor naturally understood what the queen meant. Although he was dissatisfied, he could only keep it in his heart.
"What are you still doing? Come in!" Zhu Xianming put down his grandson in his arms.
How could everyone dare to disobey his will? They all entered the hall one by one and took their seats under the guidance of the female officer.
Sitting at the front were naturally the Crown Prince and Prince Rui, the two tables below them were Zhu Jinghong and Zhu Yunsheng, and further down were the royal grandsons.
Despite the children chasing and playing just now, everyone in the hall was sitting upright at this moment, and even their voices became extremely quiet.
Zhu Jinghong has also taken a seat. Opposite her is Zhu Yunsheng, and behind her are several attendants.
After the emperor and empress sat down, Zhu Jingyuan was the first to stand up with his cup, and everyone else followed suit.
This was a routine etiquette at a family banquet. Zhu Jinghong faced the host and said respectfully: "I wish my father, the emperor and my mother good health and longevity!"
The rest of the people also followed suit, and after the emperor and empress raised their glasses in response, everyone drank their glasses and then returned to their seats.
"Fourth child, how are you doing recently?" The queen expressed concern.
Zhu Jingyuan replied: "Reporting to my mother, my son is still healthy recently, but he has a cough from time to time!"
The prince did not tell the truth, and everyone at the scene knew it, and the queen was just looking for a reason to talk.
The next moment, I heard her say: "It seems that this girl Yuanchun has taken good care of you. I was not wrong about you!"
Praising Yuanchun at this time made Chen Zhi, who was beside Prince Rui, feel even more sad. After all, she was the only serious daughter-in-law present, and Yuanchun was just a concubine.
"My mother has given me too much credit. Taking care of the prince is my duty. How dare I take the credit!"
Yang Qingyin smiled, then looked at the emperor beside her and said, "Look, this kid is so sensible!"
Zhu Xianming responded without saying a word. He knew what the queen meant.
He is still in a tangled state about appointing Yuanchun as the crown prince.
(End of chapter)
