Royal Palace, Renshou Palace.
In front of the palace gate, Dai Yi was about to go in and give Zhang Zhou his final instructions.
"...Don't say too much when you see the Queen Mother. She is probably concerned about the current status of the reconstruction of Qingning Palace, and then she wants to ask about His Majesty's performance..."
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Just answer whatever you ask, how many mistakes can you make?"
"Uh...yeah."
Dai Yi was helpless. Mr. Zhang still liked to be straightforward when speaking. It's okay to see others being straightforward, but when it comes to this old lady... I'm afraid that this straightforward personality may lead to bad things.
When Dai Yi went in to pass the message, he came out with a slightly embarrassed look on his face: "Mr. Zhang, please."
"Aren't you going to come with Eunuch Dai?" Zhang Zhou asked.
Dai Yi shook his head and said, "We can just wait outside."
"Why do you have the nerve to let Eunuch Dai wait outside?"
Even though Zhang Zhou said this, he also knew that Queen Mother Zhou's intention could not be changed by Dai Yi, so he followed the young eunuch inside.
Zhang Zhou also knew his purpose of coming here.
The Empress Dowager Zhou seemed to be asking him to interpret her dreams or talk about the current situation in the palace, but most of the time she mentioned the emperor's concubines.
How could Dai Yi be allowed to observe such matters?
After entering, Zhang Zhou found that there were many chamberlains standing in the hall. The maids and eunuchs were standing on both sides, as many as a dozen of them. The Queen Mother Zhou was looking at him with a gentle and appreciative smile on her face.
Next to Empress Dowager Zhou was her trusted eunuch Jiang Lu.
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…
After a brief greeting, Zhang Zhou was qualified to take a seat.
Queen Mother Zhou glanced at both sides first, and finally her eyes fell on Zhang Zhou.
Zhang Zhou understood instantly.
Empress Dowager Zhou was reminding him, don't think that if Dai Yi is not here, you can say some random things. It is impossible for the Ai family to meet a man like you alone outside the palace. You'd better know what can and cannot be said.
Take charge yourself.
"I heard that Bingkuan has been teaching the prince recently, and you have taught the prince well. It seems that you are not only good at controlling Xuan Kong, but you can also do your duty as a teacher."
"The Empress Dowager is so complimentary."
Empress Dowager Zhou said: "The Ai family has also heard that you have recently given His Majesty a prescription for conditioning, mainly for the Ming Dynasty Dragon Si. What is the effect?"
Zhang Zhou said: "I can't see the effect after a while."
"oh."
Queen Mother Zhou nodded, "What do you think of Ai Jia's health?"
Zhang Zhou said with a flattering smile: "The Empress Dowager is in good health and looks good. I think she has been eating and sleeping well recently. Even if she has occasional dreams, it should not disturb the tranquility of the Empress Dowager." .”
"hehe."
Three or two sentences, one question and one answer, very in line with the rules.
The people next to me didn't understand, and just took it as a polite greeting.
But Queen Mother Zhou understood what Zhang Zhou meant.
Now let's get back to the topic, saying that if you occasionally have dreams, it won't disturb your peace. It just reminds you that you made up the dream. If others don't know, of course I know. I can also understand your purpose of telling the emperor about this dream.
"If you have time, I really should let you come and treat the Ai family."
Queen Mother Zhou seemed to be lamenting her insomnia and dreaminess.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "The Empress Dowager is fine. She does not need diagnosis and treatment. She may occasionally have nightmares due to depression. She only needs to take care of her carefully and take the medicine according to the prescription."
This means that your disease is not in your body, but in your mind.
It's a heart disease.
The matter of taking medicine according to the prescription means - look here, look here, come on, the time has come to seek medical advice, please ask questions!
"Well." Queen Mother Zhou said, "Then how do you think the emperor's illness should be treated?"
Queen Mother Zhou saw that Zhang Zhou was a smart man.
He changed the topic directly, instead of talking about his own illness, he talked about Zhu Youtang's illness.
The meaning is also obvious - since you know the root cause of the Ai family's heart disease, when it comes to the emperor's concubine giving birth to a child, you should treat the emperor instead of me, the old woman.
The following should be the time for doctor-patient dialogue.
Zhang Zhou spoke eloquently: "I believe that your Majesty's illness is an internal disease, but it needs to be treated externally."
"Oh? What is external treatment of internal diseases?"
Queen Mother Zhou suddenly became interested.
This brings up an important issue.
The root cause of the emperor's illness and the old lady's heart ailment is that the emperor has few heirs.
Is it the emperor's problem or the queen's problem?
Also, would it be a solution if the Emperor Dona's concubines were allowed to enrich the harem?
Then there is a key point...how to get the emperor to agree to a concubine?
Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty's disease is a disease outside the body, but the cause is inside. This is related to your Majesty's past experience and his own five senses. It is both a physical disease and an inner disease. If the internal disease is not treated, If you rush to donate medicine, your Majesty will not be cured no matter how hard you are."
It means that if the emperor does not accept his concubine, it is because of his internal illness.
If you don't cure the emperor's heart disease, but just rashly marry the concubine, using the emperor's "intimacy phobia" to think of accepting a strange woman and using her to expand the royal family, he is Definitely wouldn't agree, even if I were asked to mention it, it would be in vain.
Queen Mother Zhou thought for a moment and grasped the key.
She asked: "How to treat internal diseases?"
This is a question to Zhang Zhou, since you know the root cause of the emperor's illness and his psychological rejection of strange women, how can you change this situation?
Zhang Zhou said: "The Empress Dowager, didn't I tell you that internal diseases need to be treated externally? I also suggested that Your Majesty go out more often to see the local customs and customs outside, appreciate the scenery along the way, see the sunshine, and be open-minded. , when you have a nostalgia for the scenery, your internal illness will naturally be cured without medicine!"
"Really? Hahaha... It makes sense, it makes sense."
Queen Mother Zhou seemed to feel enlightened after hearing this, with a bit of surprise on her face and a hearty smile.
…
…
There were more than a dozen people standing nearby. They all listened to Zhang Zhou's words, but no one understood them.
When Queen Mother Zhou laughed, everyone was confused.
What are you talking about about internal diseases that can be treated externally, and what kinds of diseases can be cured without medicine? Playing charades? After all, they are all talking about treating the emperor's illness. What's the riddle in this?
This Mr. Zhang can even predict heavenly fire. Maybe he is so unpredictable that we can’t understand what he is saying?
But Zhang Zhou's last words about treating diseases were telling Queen Mother Zhou not to think about curing the emperor's illness.
If you want to think about it, first find a woman, let the emperor meet her outside, and slowly get in touch with her, so that the emperor can break the fear of strangers in his heart. When the emperor becomes very interested in this woman and changes from a stranger to a familiar one, what will happen then? There is no need to treat the heart disease, the emperor will take the initiative to ask for a concubine.
It's just a matter of order.
In the end, should I get a concubine first, or should I find a concubine for the emperor first?
The only way for the emperor to get out of the shadow of his heart disease was to let him get in touch with society and women on his own, and other people's righteousness and the like were ineffective.
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…
Queen Mother Zhou can be said to be an old fox...
Only those who have thought hard about the emperor's concubine for many years, thought of various ways, racked their brains, and cared about the emperor very much will understand the meaning of Zhang Zhou's words.
This is also based on her age and maturity.
If it had been anyone else, even old eunuchs like Jiang Lu who had been working in the palace for many years would not have been able to grasp the essence of these medical remarks.
This also reflects the brilliance of Queen Mother Zhou.
She didn't let Dai Yi listen inside, because besides her and Zhang Zhou, the only person who might understand the hints of their conversation was Dai Yi.
Let Dai Yi wait outside, and go back and find someone to tell Dai Yi... If it was said through someone else's mouth, Dai Yi would not be able to figure it out even if he was beaten to death. The two were talking about treating diseases, but they talked about giving the emperor a concubine. superior.
But Dai Yi really doesn't understand the purpose of Queen Mother Zhou looking for Zhang Zhou?
On this issue, in fact, except for the people from Kunning Palace, almost everyone in the palace has the same opinion, but no one dares to express it.
Empress Dowager Zhou smiled and said: "No wonder His Majesty has always praised you in front of the Aijia. You speak so well. In just a few sentences, you can explain the cause of His Majesty's illness so clearly. It seems that you are the only one who can diagnose His Majesty's illness! Even the Aijia We all like you."
After saying this, the surrounding eunuchs and maids were also thinking about it.
There are so many people in the hospital, but they are not as good at treating diseases as a scholar from outside the palace? Even if he is a Taoist, I have never heard that he can make elixirs.
"The Queen Mother, do you have anything else to ask about medical treatment?" Zhang Zhou asked for instructions.
Empress Dowager Zhou said: "I leave the treatment to you. There is one more thing I want to ask you. How is the construction of Qingning Palace?"
Zhang Zhou said: "The construction is currently being stepped up. I went to see it before and the ground has been repaired. It is estimated that it will be completed before the year and you can move in at the beginning of the year."
"Then you should pay more attention." Empress Dowager Zhou said, "His Majesty also mentioned that you have to prepare for the exam. I hope you will be a Jinshi in the next year. The Ai family is here to congratulate you on your high school. In the future, when you enter the court, I often think of coming to see you. Meet the Ai family. There are a few nephews from my family over there. If they are not good enough, you can help them and cultivate them more."
Come again?
Zhang Zhou wanted to say, now that I am the most popular person, you just want to send your children to me?
It seems that the British father Zhang is not the only one who looks forward to Sun Chenglong.
Empress Dowager Zhou said to Jiang Lu who was standing aside: "Send Zhang Qing's family out. If anything happens later, let Uncle Chang Ning go and have a look. Let's keep in touch with each other in the future and don't let our friendship become estranged."
"Yes." Jiang Lu accepted the order, originally expecting to talk about something.
After a cursory discussion of treatment, Zhang Zhou was sent out. Jiang Lu didn't even scratch his head.
…
…
When Jiang Lu came back, Queen Mother Zhou still had a calendar book in her hand.
"The Queen Mother..."
Empress Dowager Zhou sighed: "What a pity. When he celebrated his birthday last month, the emperor spared his wife the congratulations."
Jiang Lu didn't understand the situation for a while.
"But the Ai family has been a little depressed lately and always wants to meet outsiders. Logically speaking, the time for the autumn report is coming soon, right?"
"Yes, in a few days."
In China, Spring Prayer and Autumn Annunciation are important sacrificial activities. It is regarded as a festival and represents the royal family's hope for good weather in the world. The Tiantian ceremony and other rituals are all evolved from this.
With the harvest in autumn, it is natural to thank God for the feedback and pray for a good harvest in the coming year.
Empress Dowager Zhou smiled and said: "Then let Your Majesty make arrangements for the married women to enter the palace, and the Ai family can meet them and chat about the family affairs."
"this……"
Jiang Lu was surprised.
The Empress Dowager Zhou had never liked to interact with her concubine outside. When her concubine entered the palace, she rarely met with the Empress Dowager. She basically went to the Empress and the Empress Dowager.
Why did the Empress Dowager Zhou go against the norm and let her married woman enter the palace this time?
"Follow the instructions of the Aijia, just go and talk to the emperor. Forget it today, we will talk to you in the next two days, so as not to make His Majesty think that the Aijia is too deliberate!"
Queen Mother Zhou obviously had her own plan in response to Zhang Zhou's remarks about treating illnesses.
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the other side.
Dai Yi had ordered others to send Zhang Zhou to Qingning Palace, while he secretly found a young eunuch serving in Renshou Palace to inquire about the conversation inside.
"Mr. Yin, that Master Zhang just talked to your Majesty about the prince's studies and the treatment of His Majesty. Master Zhang said that internal diseases should be treated externally, and that His Majesty should go out for more walks. Then he asked about rebuilding Qingning. The progress of the palace, and congratulations to Master Zhang Xian for his early high school... That’s really nothing else.”
"Gone?"
Dai Yi was shocked.
The Empress Dowager Zhou wanted the emperor to accept a concubine, so she had to put it openly. Since the Empress Dowager Zhou knew that Zhang Zhou was favored now, wouldn't she let Zhang Zhou persuade the emperor to accept a concubine?
Being so easy-going and low-key obviously doesn't fit the old lady's style.
(End of chapter)
