After Zhu Youtang Nanhaizi finished hunting, he hurried back to Qianqing Palace. He was going to see the queen tonight. He heard from some young eunuchs that the queen knew that he favored Su Yin and she was very unhappy recently.
This is also normal. History books comment on Empress Zhang's sexual jealousy, which fully shows that Empress Zhang is not a submissive little woman. Otherwise, how could she hold the heart of Emperor Hongzhi for his whole life?
The moonlight was hazy, but there was a person outside the gate of Qianqing Palace who was uneasy. This person was Han Junyan, Minister of War, who had just been elected by the cabinet and the six ministries.
In his own opinion, Han Junyan was just a small deputy censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, but he didn't know that a strong wind blew and the title of Minister of the Ministry of War was blown to his head.
Although he usually serves as a censor, he rarely impeaches officials. In his opinion, everyone is just a colleague who serves the Ming Dynasty in the court. After more than ten years of studying and finally becoming a Beijing official, why should we make things difficult for each other?
Looking at the group headed by Chief Assistant Liu Ji and others who are fighting for power all day long, why bother? Life only lasts for a few decades, and that's it for living a stable life! For example, Zhang Peng, the former Minister of War, had his property confiscated and was sentenced to death. What a confused person!
Although Han Junyan was filled with emotion, he was still a little uneasy. Why did the emperor summon him so late? I have been an official for twelve years, and today is the first time I have met the Holy Emperor alone.
Zhu Youtang, accompanied by eunuch Li Guang and Yanhai, were on their way back to Qianqing Palace when they suddenly saw a person standing outside the door. Zhu Youtang also guessed what he was wearing. The little eunuch on the side saw Zhu Youtang and was about to speak loudly, but Yanhai told him to shut up.
"In front of the door is Han Shangshu of the Ministry of War, Han Junyan?" Yanhai stepped forward and asked.
A sudden sound startled Han Junyan. He turned around and saw that in front of him, in addition to the eunuch who just spoke, the emperor Zhu Youtang was looking at him up and down. He quickly saluted in a hurry:
"Han Junyan, Minister of the Ministry of War, has met your Majesty."
"Are you the Han Junyan recommended by the cabinet and the six ministries? Well... you came quite early. Yanhai asked him to wait outside the door for a while." Zhu Youtang hurriedly entered the Qianqing Palace after leaving a few words.
"Father, do you know why His Majesty suddenly summoned me so late?" Han Junyan asked nervously.
Yanhai saw Han Junyan nervously sweating profusely, and couldn't help laughing out loud, and said, "Don't be afraid, Han Shangshu, His Majesty summoned you for something important."
"Ang...Thank you, father-in-law for telling me...Thank you, father-in-law." When he heard that there was nothing serious, Han Junyan wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a sigh of relief. "
At this moment, Zhu Youtang's voice suddenly came from Nuan Pavilion and shouted: "Yanhai, bring him in."
"Sit down and serve tea!"
Zhu Youtang took off his military uniform, changed into regular clothes, lay down on his side and said.
Han Junyan carefully took the warm jujube tea from Gong E. After taking a sip, I instantly felt the warm and sweet aftertaste in my mouth, feeling less nervous.
"Emperor Taizu once said that the Metropolitan Procuratorate impeached hundreds of officials and identified the wrongdoers. The admirals should supervise each department and should be the emperor's ears, eyes and ears. As far as I know, you have been serving as the deputy censor of the Procuratorate for twelve years. One person has been impeached, why?" Zhu Youtang suddenly asked, changing the subject.
Han Junyan, who had just become less nervous, suddenly became nervous again when he heard the emperor's cold question. He stammered: "I...I think...I think there are no officials in the court who need to be impeached. They all...all dedicated themselves to the Ming Dynasty... Try your best.”
Zhu Youtang laughed loudly after hearing this. This sudden question and smile made Han Junyan confused.
"You are a censor, but you do not carry out errands. It is a big sin. If you do not recommend the cabinet recommendations clearly, you are also guilty of harming the country!" Zhu Youtang said coldly.
Han Junyan never expected that the first time he came to Nuange to see the emperor, he would be questioned by the emperor. He was so frightened that he knelt down and said repeatedly: "I am guilty! I am guilty!"
"The candidate for Minister of War is jointly recommended by the cabinet and the six ministries. If you can't handle it, I'm not asking you alone to blame!
Han Junyan couldn't judge the taste of Zhu Youtang's words in his heart. He just wanted to submit his resignation. He wiped his sweat and said in a low voice: "I have neither talent nor virtue. The post of Minister of the Ministry of War is too important. Please ask your Majesty to find another one." Let’s choose talents!”
Zhu Youtang naturally understood Han Junyan's intentions. As one of the six central ministries, the Minister of War held a high position of authority. If he did the slightest mistake, he would be impeached by officials and disgusted by the emperor. It's better to go back and quietly be your deputy censor, and live the next life with an iron rice bowl.
He originally thought that the emperor would give him a chance, but to his surprise, Zhu Youtang's face changed slightly and he shouted: "Don't think about finding a job for yourself and do nothing with the imperial salary. If that's the case, you might as well do nothing." Stop doing it and go home and farm!"
"Ah" Han Junyan couldn't help but screamed when he heard that he was going home to farm. He quickly shook his head and said, "Then let's do it. Please give me a chance. I know what to do."
The persistence of people in this era towards being an official is something that a modern person like Zhu Youtang cannot understand. Otherwise, during the Hongwu and Yongle periods, tens of thousands of people would be killed at every turn, so people who wanted to be officials would still squeeze their heads to get in.
After all, in their view, although being an official has certain risks, as long as you don't go too far, when you enter the official career, you should make money and show off.
Seeing that Han Junyan was reluctant to part with his official position and seemed to have some epiphany, Zhu Youtang secretly rejoiced in his heart, but on the surface he still said calmly: "You can continue to work, Zuo Deputy Censor."
"It is against the rules of etiquette to hold the Ministry of War and the Metropolitan Procuratorate at the same time. If word reaches some people's ears, how should I behave?" Han Jun waved his hands to refuse, and curled his lips.
Zhu Youtang glared at Han Junyan and changed his tone: "Huh? Do you listen to me or the officials?"
Looking at this pedantic scholar, Zhu Youtang was suppressing his anger in his heart. If he continued to play coy with him, don't blame yourself for not giving him face.
Fortunately, Han Junyan noticed the change in the emperor's expression and quickly nodded in agreement, promising that he would do his job well. Zhu Youtang also expressed that he would see results immediately.
After Han Junyan left, Zhu Youtang looked through the "secret notes" wrapped in yellow cloth on the table and reviewed them one by one. Zhu Youtang looked outside and felt that it was getting late. He stood up and moved for a while and shouted: "Come here!"
Upon hearing the sound, a young eunuch from the Imperial Horse Guard trotted in and asked, "What are your orders, Grandpa Huang?"
Zhu Youtang looked at the bright candlelight in Xinan Pavilion, feeling a little lonely late at night, and said lightly: "Go to Kunning Palace and ask the queen to come, and tell her that I miss her!"
The little eunuch couldn't help but smile when he heard the sound and immediately said with understanding: "Okay, Grandpa Huang, I will go and invite the queen to come now.
The queen in Kunning Palace did not fall asleep either. She originally thought that Zhu Youtang did not come to see her because she was busy with government affairs these days. But yesterday I heard that the emperor favored the woman named "Su Yin", and I felt a little uncomfortable. Although Zhu Youtang is the emperor, and it is normal to have more concubines, he still feels a little aching in his heart. Sometimes he thinks how nice it would be if he were an ordinary woman! As the queen who is the mother of the world, she has to be generous, but the emperor has not been to Kunning Palace for almost half a month! Alas, if he doesn't come to coax me for a day, I will ignore him for a day.
Queen Zhang was thinking wildly when a palace maid suddenly ran over in a hurry.
Empress Zhang was in a daze and did not want others to disturb her. When she saw this unruly palace maid suddenly running in, she frowned and said, "Are you new here? Do you know that you cannot come in without my order?"
The little palace maid was a little angry when she saw the queen. In addition, she had just arrived and had not yet understood all the rules in the palace. She quickly whispered: "I was wrong. I will never dare to do it again next time. Please spare me!" Someone came to the Emperor's palace, and my servant ran in in a hurry and forgot to report it."
Queen Zhang's eyes suddenly lit up, she quickly arranged her clothes and asked, "Is the emperor here?"
The little palace maid shook her head and said, "It's the little eunuch from the emperor's palace who came and said that the emperor invited the emperor to go to Qianqing Palace and said that he misses the emperor."
Empress Zhang quickly straightened her clothes, looked in the mirror, and touched up her makeup. She suddenly realized that she had not been moisturized these days and her face was a little yellow. Feeling a little uncomfortable again, he hesitated for a while and sighed: "Go and send a message. Just say that I am not feeling well today and will not go. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
The little palace maid looked at Queen Zhang, bowed and then left. "
Zhu Youtang was walking back and forth in the Nuan Pavilion. When he saw the little eunuch who had just delivered the message running back, he quickly asked: "How is it? Has the queen left?"
The little eunuch made a sad face and said, "My queen said she is not feeling well tonight, so she won't come."
Zhu Youtang laughed and said: "It seems that I haven't been to Kunning Palace in the past few days, and the queen is a little bit complaining. Whatever, if she doesn't come, I will go!"
The palace maid who was keeping watch outside Kunning Palace suddenly noticed a group of people walking towards them in the distance. She was about to go over and yell at some of them for being so short-sighted and still walking around Kunning Palace so late at night. Suddenly, the young palace maid who had just entered to deliver a message said with sharp eyes: "The person who comes seems to be the emperor!"
When the other palace maid heard this, she quickly covered her mouth, thankful that she didn't shout out just now, otherwise this matter might not be simple.
Zhu Youtang ordered the young eunuch to clear the way in advance and told the maids of Qianqing Palace not to make any noise, but he walked in quietly like that time. I saw Zhang Yu'er sitting by the mirror, looking at her face carefully.
Zhu Youtang wanted to hug Zhang Yu'er from behind, but Zhang Yu'er had already seen Zhu Youtang tiptoeing in the mirror.
"Your Majesty? Why are you here suddenly? Who is the palace maid who is keeping watch today? Why didn't you inform me?" Zhang Yu'er spoke to Zhu Youtang in surprise and scolded outside the door.
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "I told them to keep quiet. I wanted to give the queen a surprise, but I didn't expect you to find out. I heard that the queen was unwell, so I came here to have a look."
Zhang Yu'er pouted and said dissatisfiedly: "It turns out it was just to see where I feel uncomfortable."
Zhu Youtang picked up Zhang Yu'er by the waist and said with a smile: "Of course I want to have sex with the queen."
Zhang Yu'er wanted to struggle, but unexpectedly Zhu Youtang hugged her tighter. When he put her on the bed, Zhang Yu'er turned around and complained, and said angrily: "Isn't your Majesty busy with government affairs? Go and have sex with your new favorite woman. Go and have fun!"
Zhu Youtang put on the clothes he had just taken off and said: "I knew the queen was angry about this. Men among the people have three wives and six concubines. How can I, as a ninety-five-year-old man, only have one woman? You see, since ancient times Which of the emperors is not the seventy-two concubines of the Three Palaces and Sixth Courtyard? Since the queen cares so much, it doesn’t matter, I will go back if it makes my heart cold!"
Zhu Youtang was pretending to get up, but was hugged by the queen from behind. After all, Zhang Yu'er was still young and had the temperament of a girl. She cried anxiously: "Don't go, I miss you, I just feel a little uncomfortable." Just come out."
Zhu Youtang turned around and hugged Zhang Yu'er tightly and said, "It's my fault that I was busy with national affairs and neglected you. I just need to pay more attention to you in the future."
Zhang Yu'er threw her head into Zhu Youtang's arms, like a little bird clinging to a human being. After a while, she said shyly: "Your Majesty, I have a concubine."
Zhu Youtang was shocked and shouted: "Huh? I'm going to be a father?"
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