Faced with his wife's aggressiveness, Zhu Youtang could only reluctantly explain: "Queen, the matter is settled. If you change it at will, how can I explain it to the imperial grandmother?"
At the critical moment, the only choice is to use the old lady as a shield.
"If Your Majesty can't save face, let me tell you, then the Empress Dowager can't be unreasonable, right?" Empress Zhang was very insistent.
She absolutely couldn't stand it when her two younger brothers suffered a loss, both for money and face.
Zhu Youtang wanted to say, are you the one who is being unreasonable?
He quickly took out a rational posture of presenting facts and reasoning, and said seriously: "Queen, actually I went out today and saw the wood and stones piled up by He Ling and Yan Ling in the Di shop. They were all...substandard goods. I I even bought some back. If you don’t believe it, I’ll have someone bring some for you to see.”
"Your Majesty, someone is now accusing the Zhou family of having bad information. In order to let the concubine give up, you actually said that He Ling and Yan Ling were inferior? Isn't this confusing right and wrong?"
Queen Zhang was furious.
Once the little woman's stubbornness breaks out, even nine cows can't pull her back.
Zhu Youtang obviously made the most common mistake in quarrels between men and women, trying to suppress the woman's sensibility with reason.
At this time, men are reasonable. If they talk more, they will be wrong. If they don't talk, it will be wrong.
"Besides, what's wrong with His Majesty taking hundreds of thousands of taels of silver property from Li Guang's house and using some of it to give to my concubine's brother? Doesn't it mean that His Majesty only sees the imperial court and no concubine? Ugh... I don't think I'm the concubine. It’s time to marry into the palace…”
Queen Zhang used another trick.
cry!
Crying, making trouble, and even hanging himself, Zhu Youtang couldn't resist it.
"Queen, I'm sorry, I'll think about it again and see if I can find a compromise..." Zhu Youtang hurriedly comforted his wife.
Zhu Youtang was also very depressed at this time.
I was thinking, if anyone cares about the money in my wallet, I will slap them with a slap in the face. Even the senior minister of the cabinet will not give me face.
But if my queen and I want... there should be no separation between husband and wife...
My little private money! This is no longer possible!
Empress Zhang said: "I want your Majesty to go and tell the Empress Dowager to leave the supply matter to He Ling and Yan Ling! If you don't go, I will go in person!"
"Don't……"
Zhu Youtang was really scared, and finally said helplessly, "Let me think about it. I will go back and review the memorial first, and I will tell you the news later."
…
…
Zhu Youtang returned to Qianqing Palace.
Sitting there, he had no intention of doing anything at all. He said that reviewing the memorial was just an excuse to deal with Empress Zhang. He hesitated again and again, as if he wanted to muster the courage to go to Empress Dowager Zhou to complain.
The royal grandmother loves me the most. At this time, she should be concerned about the harmonious relationship between my husband and wife, right?
"Your Majesty..." Xiao Jing appeared in front of Zhu Youtang, "The Queen Mother please come over."
Zhu Youtang felt a thump in his heart at first, thinking that the old lady's call would definitely be bad, but then he thought about it again, maybe the emperor's grandmother was reasonable and asked me to go over and discuss the matter again?
Just when Zhu Youtang was excitedly preparing to see Queen Mother Zhou.
Xiao Jing was very confused and asked: "Your Majesty, I don't know where to stack the batch of wood purchased from Zhang's warehouse."
These words were like a basin of cold water poured on Zhu Youtang's head.
The Zhang brothers actually dared to ask for one hundred and three thousand taels for their pile of junk... When Zhu Youtang thought of this, he had the urge to hit someone.
Moreover, he had clearly said in front of his son that if the materials of the Zhou family were the same as those of the Zhang family, he would rather use neither. So in order to satisfy his wife, would he now destroy his own principles and use broken materials to build Qingning Palace?
If the emperor lets it go, can he still swallow it back?
"Show off at Renshou Palace!"
Zhu Youtang's face suddenly became as gloomy as a rainstorm. Xiao Jing didn't get a reply to his request and didn't dare to ask any more questions.
…
…
Inside Renshou Palace.
Empress Dowager Zhou didn't hesitate and immediately explained her intention: "...the Ai family heard about it. There was a rumor that officials were impeaching the two younger brothers of the Ai family for purchasing stones and wood, saying that the quality was poor and that they meant to fool the emperor and the court. I'm sorry. When the family heard this, they were furious. If they were this kind of people, the Aijia would definitely be the first to not spare them."
"Royal Grandmother, actually..."
Zhu Youtang was about to explain, but Queen Mother Zhou reached out to interrupt him.
Empress Dowager Zhou said: "The Ai family was afraid that His Majesty would not be willing to abandon his filial piety because of his private life, so he went to the Taiji Factory to look at it. The materials were all good. It was obvious that some officials were deliberately confusing right and wrong. Emperor If you don’t believe it, send someone to investigate and see if this is really the case.”
Zhu Youtang's face turned red.
He was embarrassed to say that I had personally gone to see it. Different from what Yan Guan said, the Zhou family used good materials, while the Zhang family used inferior materials.
Empress Dowager Zhou said again: "Emperor, if you send someone to verify that everything is correct, you shouldn't break the rules and buy the one with the lowest price. The two younger brothers of the Ai family are also bent on destroying the Qingning Palace." After repairing it, they have to spend so much money to purchase it at once, which is a lot of pressure for them. Jun Wuxiyan, Emperor, you won't regret it, right?"
"yes!"
Zhu Youtang heard that the purpose of the old lady's pressure on him was to get a positive answer from him. Despite the hidden worries of marital discord, he still gritted his teeth and said so.
no way.
This is the rule.
The emperor cannot be the first to take the lead in disobedience.
Also because the Zhang brothers are shameless, if the quality of the materials on both sides is similar, it doesn't matter if Zhu Youtang chooses the more expensive one, but the difference is nearly 40,000 taels of silver, and the more expensive one is still inferior. How can the emperor destroy it? The principle in your heart?
"Okay, the Ai family believes in you. If you want to deal with court affairs, the Ai family won't bother you too much."
"Grandson, please leave."
…
…
When Zhu Youtang returned to Qianqing Palace, he was no longer sulking there, but sighing.
Dai Yi, Xiao Jing and Chen Kuan stood nearby, not daring to breathe.
This is the emperor's family matter, who dares to take care of it?
"Hey! Is there anything going on in court? Everything that should be decided has been decided!"
Zhu Youtang seemed to feel that he was delaying state affairs for the sake of things around him, so he couldn't help but look up at the three eunuchs.
Dai Yi then said: "Your Majesty, there is a memorial saying that Wang Junmen, the governor of the military affairs of Shaanxi, Gansu, Yansui, and Ningxia, has set off from Yansui and returned to the capital. He also wrote a memorial to thank the emperor for the medicine. "
"Um."
Zhu Youtang nodded.
Wang Yue wants to return to the capital. This has been decided long ago, so there is no big problem.
"There have been discussions in the court early in the morning, saying that it is time to decide on a candidate to succeed Wang Junmen. The cabinet will request an order to be discussed at court tomorrow morning." Dai Yi added.
"Okay! Is there anything else?"
Zhu Youtang looked distracted.
Dai Yi added: "There is also a... British public thank you form."
"Thank you?" Zhu Youtang frowned upon hearing this, "What tricks is the British Master doing?"
It seems that in Zhu Youtang's mind, Zhang Mao is just a troublemaker, and he will cause trouble for him whenever he has nothing to do.
Dai Yi reminded: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? You previously ordered Mr. Zhang Zhouzhang to go to his house to see a doctor for his son..."
"Oh. That's what happened. Didn't Bingkuan not go?"
"Mr. Zhang didn't go, but he sent the second son of the Zhu family to deliver the prescription, but he was kicked by Mr. Zhang. As a result... Mr. Xiao went to tell him, and then the Zhang family followed Mr. Zhang's instructions. I took the medicine for a while...and now my condition has improved greatly and I can already walk!"
"Yeah?"
Zhu Youtang was originally in a bad mood, but when he heard this, he immediately became energetic.
A long-lost smile finally appeared on his face, and he felt joyful that "I really didn't believe him wrong."
Dai Yi presented the form of thanks to Zhu Youtang and said, "Your Majesty, please take a look at it."
Zhu Youtang read a thank-you note that was full of flattery, and he felt very good after reading it without missing a word.
"Yes. It seems that Bingkuan is indeed a capable person. I feel more relieved if I let him treat my illness."
Zhu Youtang originally thought that asking Zhang Zhou to treat fertility problems was just a matter of giving it a try. The probability of success was at most half and half. Seeing this, his confidence doubled.
Xiao Jing also smiled and said: "Yes, Your Majesty, soft foot disease is an incurable disease among the people. Even the miracle doctors are helpless."
Dai Yi said: "What's so strange about this? Even acne can be cured, and soft foot disease is nothing."
Zhu Youtang put down the thank you form, and suddenly thought of something, and said: "As soon as I was happy, something suddenly came to my mind. The Queen asked me to purchase all the wood and stone from Shouning Hou and Jianchang Bo. I shouldn't have According to Queen Fu, just find a place to repair it, find a bright spot, and buy back the Zhang family wood and stone materials!"
Dai Yi, Xiao Jing and Chen Kuan all looked confused.
What is wrong with the emperor?
Knowing that all the Zhang brothers have is crap, they still want to purchase it?
This kind of money should be reimbursed by the Ministry of Revenue. The Ministry of Revenue will not be taken advantage of. Only the royal family can provide the money themselves... Is the emperor having trouble with his own wallet?
But little did they know that when the emperor heard that Zhang Zhou had the ability to cure diseases and save people, the first thing he thought of was to make a villain with his wife. And now his wife is still angry with him. If he just spent tens of thousands of taels to buy harmony between husband and wife, In Zhu Youtang's view, it was nothing.
Just break the material.
Anyway, he took back a lot from Li Guang, so he treated it as a loss of money and avoided disaster. Anyway, didn't the queen mention that he took the money and didn't give it to the Zhang family?
"Your Majesty, what are you doing here?" Dai Yi couldn't help but ask.
"Ah, this..." Zhu Youtang was also speechless.
It's simply the problem of the century.
What can be repaired with that broken material? Can the imperial government's projects be so fooling?
Zhu Youtang thought for a long time and felt that he couldn't answer. He shook his head and said, "Xiao Jing, go ask Bingkuan."
"His Majesty?"
Xiao Jing didn't understand for a moment.
Shouldn't we ask the minister first about this kind of thing?
Ask Zhang Zhou directly what to say?
"Yes, first go to the cabinet department and ask the three cabinet elders what their opinions are. After comprehensively adopting their opinions, you can ask Bingkuan. If it doesn't work... then buy them back and pile them up! Or they have If you have a better perspective, you can come back and tell me, and I will consider it comprehensively."
Zhu Youtang thought about it for a long time.
Since you don’t know what to repair, then just buy those scrap materials and leave them alone. Finally, you won’t violate my personal promise, right?
"yes!"
Xiao Jing couldn't let this happen.
He could only bite the bullet and go to the cabinet and Zhang Zhou for advice.
…
…
Xiao Jing went to the cabinet to check in first, since the road was very close after all.
After arriving, he briefly greeted the three cabinet ministers, and he also got straight to the point.
The three cabinet ministers heard what Xiao Jing meant, and Liu Jian came out to express his doubts: "It is already the early winter season. Except for the Qingning Palace, which needs to be repaired at this time, other projects have basically stopped. Why does Your Majesty want to increase the construction in such a hurry?" Project? You want me to wait and provide advice on where to repair it? "
Xiao Jing didn't hide it anymore and said bluntly: "Actually, His Majesty just doesn't want the information of the two uncles of the Zhang family to rot in his hands."
It's okay not to mention the Zhang brothers here. After mentioning it, Liu Jian didn't even want to give him any face, but he said patiently: "There is no errand to repair the palace now."
"Ah?" Xiao Jing didn't expect Liu Jian's answer to be so blunt.
Xie Qian next to him smiled and said, "What's the quality of this batch of materials?"
Of course Xiao Jing couldn't say that they were all a bunch of junk. He smiled bitterly and didn't answer.
He didn't answer, but the three people in front of him were all discerning people, and they knew it immediately.
The price was high, and the quality might not be that good. The emperor actually had to arrange an errand to purchase this batch of materials...
What is the emperor doing?
Could it be that the inner palace has too much money to spend and must find a way to spend it?
Without spending money, the emperor will feel uncomfortable?
Li Dongyang also said: "It is difficult to restart the project before winter. If you really want to purchase it, you might as well discuss it with the superiors to see if there are any defects everywhere, or they can be filled in batches."
Li Dongyang still fully considered the relationship between the ministers and the emperor and could not embarrass the emperor casually.
If the quality of this material is not good, it must not be used in one place, otherwise no one will be able to afford it if something goes wrong, and the emperor will eventually hold the person who came up with the idea accountable. Only by using it in different places can we minimize this incident. Influence.
(End of chapter)
