The twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month marks the day when the Empress Dowager Zhou moves into a new house.
Half a month after the construction of Qingning Palace was completed, Zhu Youtang also wanted to show his filial piety and let his imperial grandmother live back in this carefully built palace before the Chinese New Year.
Zhang Zhou was also invited to attend the ceremony that day.
The emperor and his wife were also present, with Zhu Houzhao following behind. Zhu Xiurong was left in Kunning Palace at a young age, and together with eunuchs such as the eunuchs and other eunuchs, there were hundreds of people who accompanied Empress Dowager Zhou in her move. There are so many people.
"Emperor, you are very determined. In just a short period of time, Qingning Palace will be renovated."
Empress Dowager Zhou stood at the door of Qingning Palace and smiled at Zhu Youtang.
Zhu Youtang said: "It's all Bingkuan who worked hard, and the Qingning Palace was completed under his supervision."
"Okay." Queen Mother Zhou looked at Zhang Zhou who was not far away, and nodded slightly as if she was also very satisfied with Zhang Zhou, "Emperor, if you have merit, you will be rewarded."
"What the Imperial Grandmother said is absolutely true. My grandson will help you in!"
Zhu Youtang looked extremely filial and personally helped the old lady go inside.
Queen Zhang on the side saw this scene. Although she did not show any direct expression, Zhang Zhou had noticed the vague impatience and disgust in her eyes.
This woman will be jealous of whomever her husband treats well.
…
…
Inside Qingning Palace.
As soon as everyone came in, they noticed something different.
Zhu Houzhao shouted: "Why is it so warm here? It's so hot, take off your clothes!"
As he spoke, Zhu Houzhao took off his coat and threw it to Liu Jin who was following him.
Zhu Youtang said with a straight face: "No nonsense."
Zhu Houzhao ignored it and ran directly to the radiator hanging nearby, looking at it curiously.
Queen Mother Zhou was also very happy and asked: "Emperor, is this the heating you mentioned earlier?"
"Yes, Grandma Imperial." Zhu Youtang came to inspect the situation in person two days ago. Having learned the specific situation, he took up the task of explaining, "Grandma Imperial, you see, the hot water flows in through the copper pipe next to it. It’s hot when you put it on.”
Empress Dowager Zhou went over to try it herself. She put her hand on it and quickly retracted it: "It's a little hot."
The newly added heater in the palace, the person responsible for boiling water did not dare to slack off at all, he could make it as hot as possible.
Zhang Zhou followed him in and estimated that the temperature in the room had soared to thirty degrees, while it was freezing cold outside. The temperature contrast was so great that it was no wonder that Zhu Houzhao had to take off his clothes as soon as he entered.
"Open the window and get some air."
Queen Mother Zhou herself couldn't bear it.
She couldn't just take off her clothes like her great-grandson, so she had to find another way.
Then Xiao Jing hurried over and ordered someone to open a few side windows.
Empress Dowager Zhou said: "It's really not easy, Emperor. If you do this, won't you waste firewood?"
Zhu Youtang looked at Zhang Zhou with a smile, and then turned around and replied: "Don't worry, Grandma Huang, I have asked, this is more economical than using charcoal for heating, and it is not even half of the previous materials."
In the past, charcoal was lit for heating, and the air was directly heated by the temperature of the charcoal fire. Now, ordinary charcoal can be used to boil water, which increases the utilization rate.
"That's good."
Empress Dowager Zhou knew that Sun Tzu now admired diligence and thrift in governing the country, and she could not take the lead in waste.
Zhang Zhou's move not only made her feel warm, but also fit in with the royal family's theme of frugality. Of course she was happy.
Zhang Zhou thought on the sidelines, how much is that bit of charcoal worth? This set of copper pipes alone is enough to burn charcoal for more than ten years...
But that’s fine, just think of it as helping me cultivate talents.
Zhang Zhou used the matter of making copper pipes to contact the craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry. These people could not only help cast copper pipes, but also cast other metal fittings. Zhang Zhou could be said to have found a group of talents who could be used by him. , with Xiao Jing as the thread, these people have been able to help him complete the research and development of some castings.
It's a pity that these people are eating royal food, and the craftsmanship has been passed down from generation to generation.
Craftsmen cannot split up or change jobs.
Many people have long wanted to leave the craftsman's household, and Zhang Zhou also thought that he could take advantage of this and attract this group of people. This would not only solve the problem of household registration transfer, but also provide high salaries, which would surely attract the top group of people.
"Father, it's so nice here. I also need heating in the East Palace..."
Zhu Houzhao heard that his father's introduction there was so good, and he thought that he was usually shivering with cold and smoky at night, so of course he wanted to do it.
"Nonsense!"
Zhu Youtang was showing his filial piety here, and there was a young boy telling him what unfilial piety meant.
Empress Dowager Zhou smiled and said: "Emperor, don't blame the prince. He is a child and has a straight temper... Come here and let the Ai family take a look."
"OK."
Zhu Houzhao pretended to be innocent and cute and ran to the old lady.
Even Zhu Houzhao knew that this imperial grandmother doted on him even more than her parents, so she could act cute and coquettish in front of the old lady.
Empress Dowager Zhou touched her grandson's head and said with a smile: "The Ai family is getting old. When the Ai family is no longer around, you can live here, okay?"
"Uh..." No matter how nonsense Zhu Houzhao was, he could tell that this was a question that could not be answered casually.
Zhu Youtang said: "The imperial grandmother will live forever."
If you say you live a long life, you don't live for many years. You can only live for a thousand years.
Empress Dowager Zhou sighed: "People must know their destiny and cannot force it. Now the Ai family is surrounded by four generations, and they are satisfied. The Ai family's only extravagant thought is to see the prince grow up, to see the prince get married and have children in the future. Let the five generations of the Ai family live under one roof..."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youtang and his son had no reaction.
Queen Zhang's expression on the other side changed instantly.
Zhang Zhou, as an outsider, could see it most clearly. The old lady didn't say anything about Queen Zhang, her granddaughter-in-law, but she used her strength to beat Queen Zhang "to pieces."
The Ai family can't persuade you and your wife, so I don't expect you and your wife, but your great-grandson's head office, right?
Zhu Youtang seemed to hear nothing and said with a smile: "The Imperial Grandmother must be able to see it. Prince, why don't you go clear the cushions for the Empress Dowager? Bingkuan, come and sit too..."
…
…
It seemed like a harmonious family, with four generations of grandparents and grandchildren. Although one generation did not appear, they were still together.
Zhang Zhou felt that he shouldn't be in this kind of place.
However, Zhang Zhou also found it quite interesting to see the overt and covert fights between the royal family, especially his grandmother and his grandson's wife.
After Queen Mother Zhou sat upright, she finally took off her cloak.
Because it's too hot.
Afterwards, he chatted with his grandson as if gossiping were commonplace, and basically ignored Empress Zhang.
Then it led to a seemingly "alternative" topic: "...The Ai family heard that a talented woman appeared in the capital recently, and she wrote a poem that was widely read, and paper in Luoyang was very expensive for a while!"
"Yeah?"
Zhu Youtang said in his heart, I am the emperor, so naturally I will not know about such things.
Empress Dowager Zhou stretched out her hand, and Jiang Lu next to her took out a piece of paper. Empress Dowager Zhou handed it to Zhu Youtang and said: "Emperor, look at it. The Ai family never thought that Ming Dynasty could produce such a talented woman." "The fragrance of tea must be poured out. I just said it was ordinary at that time." This sentence alone is comparable to Li Yian!"
Zhu Youtang took the paper and looked at the words on it, a little confused.
Zhang Zhou was observing Queen Zhang.
Old lady, do you want to be more obvious?
Your grandson is a fool and doesn't understand anything about the relationship between men and women, but can your grandson-in-law understand it? No matter how inexperienced she is, can't you tell that you intend to praise this talented woman and recommend her to the emperor...
"The Ai family doesn't understand much, please give me a taste." Empress Dowager Zhou still wanted to ask.
"What poem is it? Can my son, please, read it?"
With the mentality of a naughty child, Zhu Houzhao felt that wherever he went, he should be the center of attention. As a result, he wanted to join in on the conversation about talented poets.
According to Zhu Houzhao, isn't it just like "flying down three thousand feet, sharing the beauty of the beauty of the moon for thousands of miles"?
I also understand poetry!
After reading it, Zhu Youtang nodded and said: "It's very good. There is sadness in the elegance, but I don't know why she has such a mentality."
It is difficult for ordinary people to understand.
A little girl who has never left the court, has never experienced the hardships of the world, let alone experienced enemies of the country, hating her lover and dying in vain. How could Li Qingzhao be in the state of mind to write such poems?
From the poem, it seems that he really likes drinking. Is he really trying to imitate Li Yian?
Empress Dowager Zhou said: "This girl is the daughter of Lin Hengda, the Jiu Jiu of Beiguozijian. It's a coincidence that she came to the palace a few days ago. The Ai family also met her in the palace houyuan. She was born with a beautiful face and a gentle and elegant appearance..."
All I have to say is, Your Majesty, why don't you bring this person into the palace as a concubine?
Aijia has passed the test for you, it’s okay!
"Royal Grandma, can we say something else?"
Empress Zhang finally couldn't help it, and interrupted Empress Dowager Zhou's further discussion on the matter in a "fairly polite" tone.
Empress Zhang suddenly interrupted, making the scene somewhat awkward. Even Zhu Youtang didn't expect that his wife would be so straightforward. Then he seemed to belatedly understand that the empress was trying to protect his match.
Empress Dowager Zhou's face suddenly turned as dark as the black cat hiding in the dark behind the room, and her pupils seemed to have a black line that could burst out sparks at any time.
But because her grandson was still there, she couldn't have a seizure.
Zhang Zhouxin said, coming, coming.
After waiting for a long time, I finally saw this scene of the struggle between the grandmother and the grandson's daughter-in-law. No matter how awesome and filial you are, even if you have no mother-in-law and no conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, this is not the case.
Be a filial son and grandson, but also want to maintain a good relationship between husband and wife?
Do you think you are a saint?
Zhang Zhou took advantage of this moment and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, I wonder if you can show me this poem?"
Zhu Youtang seemed to have finally found the bottom of the steps, and said with a forced smile: "Emperor Grandmother, Bingkuan's poetry is not low. A previous peach blossom poem was also widely circulated in the capital. Bingkuan, please take a look!"
After saying this, he asked Dai Yi to pass the paper to Zhang Zhou. He also gave Zhang Zhou a look that said, "Hurry up and resolve the embarrassing situation."
Zhang Zhou took the paper, glanced at it and put it down, saying, "From my perspective, this poem is a bit meaningless."
Queen Mother Zhou frowned and looked at Zhang Zhou and said, "Bingkuan, why do you have such an opinion?"
Zhang Zhou said: "The second young lady of the Lin family has not left the court and has not experienced the world. How can she have such a deep understanding of life, separation and death? From my perspective, this poem does not seem to be written by a woman, but it seems to be written by a man who misses his deceased wife. He has never Experience, what’s the meaning of ‘at that time’?”
"you……"
After hearing this, Queen Mother Zhou felt that Zhang Zhou's words were reasonable.
But she was still a little annoyed.
Who are you helping?
(End of chapter)
