Imperial Palace, Xinuang Pavilion.
Zhu Xiurong is now an older child who is about to celebrate her seventh birthday. At this time, she is sitting on a stool and looking seriously at Zhu Houxuan lying on a small bed. Her eyes are shining as if she has discovered a new world.
Zhu Youtang is not here, only Concubine Xian is there.
Concubine Xian seemed very unconfident when facing Queen Zhang, and even when facing Zhu Xiurong, she seemed hesitant to speak.
"Princess...the prince's illness has not recovered yet, so I don't want to infect you." Concubine Xian said.
"It's okay." Zhu Xiurong said very clearly, "I have been seriously ill. My father said that my life is very hard, and it will not be easy for God to take me away in the future. I look at my brother, and my mother and concubine don't need to look at me more. I After reading it, I left.”
Considering Zhu Xiurong's age, she doesn't mean any harm, but she just makes the regular attendants in Xinuan Pavilion feel nervous.
After all, Zhu Xiurong was also a direct descendant of the Queen. She thought it was fun to come see her brother who was not yet one year old. But if she wanted to pick her brother up and play with him, and something went wrong... the one who would be blamed in the end would be Aren't they a group of servants who have no say?
Fortunately, Zhu Xiurong had no intention of getting involved. She might simply think that a child less than one year old was cute, like a big toy.
"Mother, it's so warm here. Can I come here more often in the future?" Zhu Xiurong asked.
"Yes... yes." Concubine Xian couldn't refuse, "But we moved here only because the prince was ill. After the prince recovered, we moved back."
Zhu Xiurong said: "He is still so young. Wouldn't it be troublesome if he catches a cold? I have had colds. Every time I have a runny nose, cough and shortness of breath, it's so boring. Hehe, he smiled... so cute."
Just as she was talking, Ning Tong walked in from the door. It was the time once a day for her to check on the little prince's condition.
Zhu Xiurong was very happy to see Ning Tong. He almost jumped up and said, "You are the miracle doctor they call you, right?"
Ning Tong looked confused.
Where did this little girl come from?
Concubine Xian said: "Mrs. Ning, this is Her Royal Highness the Princess."
Ning Tong said in her heart that no one in this palace can afford to offend. An inconspicuous little girl is the princess of the Ming Dynasty. She is... the only daughter of the current emperor? The little girl who was once pulled back from death due to acne by Zhang Bingkuan?
It is widely spread among the people that Zhang Zhou treated Zhu Xiurong and used it to induce the magic medicine to prevent and treat smallpox.
In addition to being grateful for Zhang Zhou's kindness, the people also regarded Zhu Xiurong as the "lucky star" of the Ming Dynasty.
look.
Daughters of other royal families would still get sick. If it weren't for the emperor's daughter getting sick, Zhang Banxian would not have won the emperor's trust and spread the magic medicine widely in the Ming Dynasty, and used it to benefit the people. It can be said that this little princess It is a beacon for the people.
After the ceremony.
Zhu Xiurong went up and pulled Ning Tong's sleeve and said: "Doctor Goddess, you are so powerful, can you teach me medical skills? I want to learn! In the future, when my brother gets sick, I will treat him."
It turns out that Zhu Xiurong came to Xinuang Pavilion not only to see his brother, but also to use the heater. The other purpose was to meet the goddess doctor who was rumored to be very evil in the palace. To Zhu Xiurong, this was like... Hope in a boring life.
There is not often anything new in the palace, but a goddess doctor came forward when the Imperial Hospital was helpless to deal with her brother's condition and cured her brother...
This may be more vivid and real than those false stories, and it makes her yearn for it.
Ning Tong said: "Your Royal Highness, the common women don't know much about medical skills, so I can't teach you anything."
Zhu Xiurong tilted his head slightly and said with a puzzled look on his face: "How is this possible? There are rumors that your medical skills are so good that even the imperial doctors at Tai Hospital can't compare with you. I want to learn medical skills from you, and I won't harm you. Human.”
Just as he was talking, the eunuch from Kunning Palace came through the door and walked up and said, "Your Highness, the Queen is looking for you everywhere. I would like to pay my respects to the Concubine Xian."
The eunuch of Kunning Palace was quite powerful after all. When he came in, he first spoke to Zhu Xiurong and then greeted Concubine Xian.
His words also showed that Queen Zhang actually did not know that her daughter came here. It was Zhu Xiurong who was running around in the palace.
It was also because she started to grow up and had certain opinions. In addition, Zhu Youtang doted on her little cotton-padded jacket. There were no taboos for her anywhere in the palace. She could go wherever she wanted. She just had to go to Fengtian Palace to watch the excitement while her father was in court in the morning.
But she had done it more than once or twice before getting up in the morning to watch the minister go to court.
Zhu Xiurong said: "I came to see my brother and learn the medical skills from the goddess."
The eunuch said: "Your Highness, it is useless for you to study medicine. Someone will diagnose your illness. There is also Master Zhang Xian."
Zhu Xiurong pursed his lips and said, "You all say that Master Zhang Xian is great, but I have never seen him before. I have long forgotten that he treated me before."
The eunuch didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He wanted to pull the princess away, but he knew that he was not qualified to do so. He wanted Concubine Xian to help, but now he was in Concubine Xian's territory. This was still the official room where the emperor usually rested and dealt with things, but it was temporarily changed to A place for living and working.
Perhaps if Zhu Houxuan had not been ill, Zhu Youtang would not have returned to Qianqing Palace to handle official duties.
Ning Tong said: "Your Highness, Duke Cai did not come to treat your acne in person. He calculated that you were going to be sick from afar and sent you the medicine all the way. No one understood why he did this at the time."
"Really?" Zhu Xiurong asked, "How do you know?"
Even the people around him looked at Ning Tong curiously, wondering how do you know so many secrets?
Ning Tong thought.
Back then, Zhang Bingkuan instigated my ex-husband to come to the capital to deliver medicine. After delivering the medicine to the Duke's Mansion to discuss selling grain, he was still bragging in front of me and being disrespectful to me. I have personally experienced this. How could I do that? What if you don’t know?
Ning Tong said: "The daughter of the people already knew Cai Guogong at that time."
"Then tell me about it?"
It was rare for Zhu Xiurong to see a stranger in the palace, and a woman like Ning Tong who seemed to be independent and independent. This quality was not even found in Empress Zhang and Concubine Xian.
Women in this era rely too much on men, and people like Ning Tong, who have taken the lead and established their own business, have an indescribable fortitude in their bodies, and what she said is what Zhu Xiurong has said in the past. It was so out of reach that it immediately attracted Zhu Xiurong's attention.
Ning Tong said: "The daughter of the common people has to diagnose the third prince first. Can Her Royal Highness the Princess wait for the diagnosis before talking?"
"Um."
Zhu Xiurong looks very naughty, but one good thing about her is that she is very reasonable.
She is not as unruly and willful as the little girl, probably because this quality has been passed on to Zhu Houzhao too much, so that all she embodies is curiosity about the whole world.
…
…
Just when Ning Tong was returning to Zhu Houxuan for a follow-up visit.
Zhu Youtang also received a new letter from Zhang Zhou, mentioning some time and plans for his upcoming return to the capital.
"Your Majesty." Li Rong came in, because there was no need to announce his entry and exit. After he came in, he just said hello to the emperor and told him that he was here. Then he waved his hands and made several people stand upright with sweat on their heads. The little eunuch retreated.
Zhu Youtang did not raise his head.
Li Rong said: "The little princess entered Xinuang Pavilion and didn't come out for a long time."
Zhu Youtang said with an indifferent expression: "It doesn't matter, Xiurong is usually well-behaved. She has long said that she wants to see more of her brother. The last time he hugged her, she showed her sister's love for her brother. Also As she has a pure and good character... the same goes for Concubine Xian, so nothing will happen to her. Maochun, look, Bingkuan will be back soon."
Zhu Youtang would not easily share memorials about Zhang Zhou with others, so this time it was rare for him to show them to Li Rong.
Li Rong took it over, scanned the entire article at a glance, and said with a smile: "After Cai Guogong returns to the court, there will definitely be a new atmosphere in the court. From now on, His Majesty will have more room to display in the court."
Zhu Youtang said: "Yes, I hope that he will stay in the court. If anything happens, I can discuss it with him. Even if there is a dispute with the ministers, he will come out to speak for me. But I know , This will put him on the opposite side of his ministers, and he will always be separated from those people."
Having said this, Zhu Youtang looked a little sad.
Li Rong saw it.
The emperor wanted to respect Zhang Zhou, but at the same time he was afraid that this kind of respect would make Zhang Zhou a loner in the government and the public, and Zhang Zhou would encounter too many unnecessary criticisms.
"Bingkuan hasn't decided exactly when he will return to Beijing. What I mean is to let him choose a good time and I will go out of the city to greet him personally." Zhu Youtang said with a smile.
Li Rong hurriedly persuaded: "Your Majesty, your dragon body is the most important thing. It will be extremely cold after autumn this year. In a few days... I'm afraid the temperature will drop again..."
Zhu Youtang said: "This year's first snow has not fallen yet. My idea is that on the day Bingkuan comes back, the first auspicious snow in early winter will fall. Bingkuan and I will walk in the snow to let the ministers and the people know that Bingkuan and I are sympathetic to each other, so that even God can be inspired..."
While Zhu Youtang was talking, he seemed to be looking forward to the beautiful scene of "Auspicious Snow Welcomes Bingkuan".
This shows that in order to prevent you from being criticized, I reluctantly asked you to leave the capital and go to the south of the Yangtze River. Now I finally welcome you back. Even God is moved by this.
Li Rongdao: "Isn't this... not easy to calculate?"
This is embarrassing.
"Others can't do it, but Bingkuan can't do it? I just hope that the first snow will not fall in these two days. Otherwise, the atmosphere will be ruined!" Zhu Youtang said, "I also hope that the people know that where there is Bingkuan, the weather will be smooth in the coming year. In this way, Let him accumulate reputation among the people, so there will be much less criticism against him, and it will be easier for him to establish himself in the government in the future."
Li Rong said with emotion: "Your Majesty served Cai Guogong in both the government and the public. He is truly a saint of great grace."
Zhu Youtang shook his head and said: "You can say that to others, but forget it about Bingkuan. He has a lot of kindness to me and Daming. Besides, this snow is not something I can tell when it will fall. Watch him."
Li Rong asked for instructions: "Are all the officials from the DPRK and Central Government also going to welcome it that day?"
"No need." Zhu Youtang said, "This is a personal relationship between me and Bingkuan. Why bother the courtiers? If I go to court to greet him, I'm afraid people will gossip again. Besides, I also want to welcome the prince. go!"
Not only to welcome Zhang Zhou, after all, Zhu Houzhao was also returning to the court with Zhang Zhou.
If there is such a snow when Zhu Houzhao returns to the court, it will also show that this prince can still be recognized by God.
"Okay, let's go to Kunning Palace and see the queen. Speaking of which, I haven't seen her in a while..."
After hearing this, Li Rong thought to himself, Your Majesty still remembers your wife?
…
…
Inside Kunning Palace.
Zhu Youtang, Queen Zhang and Zhu Xiurong sat down to eat. In the past, it was common for a family to sit down and eat together. But since Zhu Houzhao left and Concubine Xian gave birth to Zhu Houxuan, Zhu Youtang seems to have lost interest in Kunning Palace. Recently Let alone staying the night, he rarely even showed up.
"Father, my son wants to learn medical skills from Ning Nvguan. Her medical skills are very powerful. They are all saying... When I learn it, my father and mother, as well as the emperor's brother, younger brother, and mother and concubine will fall ill." We can diagnose their illnesses.”
When Zhu Xiurong saw Zhu Youtang, he quickly put forward his ideal.
Study medicine.
As a princess, she does not need to learn the Four Books and Five Classics. She can at most learn to read and write, as well as an introduction to women's studies that involves the three cardinal principles and five constant principles.
Zhu Youtang said: "Ning is not suitable to teach you."
"Why?" Zhu Xiurong asked with a puzzled look on his face.
This makes it difficult for Zhu Youtang to answer.
Queen Zhang asked: "Your Majesty, since Mrs. Ning was the former wife of Marquis Anbian, Marquis Anbian has made great contributions to the country and has never remarried. Why not let them remarry? After the woman got married, she left the house. It is degrading in itself.”
Empress Zhang was so enthusiastic about helping Ning Tong and Zhu Feng to match up, so she naturally wanted to prevent Ning Tong from being affected by her husband.
She could also see that Concubine Xian was easy to deal with, as she was from a small family.
But this Ning Tong was not simple. After Zhu Feng became famous, she decisively divorced her. With Zhang Zhou's help, a commoner girl was qualified to associate with the palace.
If she becomes a concubine, there will be no peace in the palace.
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "This is a matter for the young couple. I will not interfere too much. Ahem...Bingkuan will return to Beijing recently."
Obviously Zhu Youtang didn't want to talk about this topic.
As an emperor, it's okay to help Bingkuan get married, but that boy Zhu Zhijie still wants to win my favor? He also needs to show enough ability.
But recently Zhu Zhijie... has really disappointed me.
"Xiurong, don't be sad. What I mean is that Ning's medical skills are all learned from Bingkuan, your imperial brother's Mr. Zhang. He will return to the capital soon, and let him enter the palace occasionally in the future. , let him teach you, won't you be able to learn faster?" Zhu Youtang still cares for his daughter.
Zhu Xiurong blinked and asked innocently: "Father, is Mr. Zhang really powerful? I have asked many people this question, and they all said it differently. But Ms. Ning also said that he is actually very powerful."
"Haha." Zhu Youtang smiled and glanced at his wife.
Empress Zhang knew what her husband meant. She said: "Your Majesty, Bingkuan is a first-class capable minister in our Ming Dynasty. It can be said that there is nothing in heaven and earth that he does not know, even things about ghosts and gods." He can figure it out. Your two uncles used to be very picky about him, but now they both admire him very much and say that they want to learn from him after he comes back."
Originally, Zhu Youtang was quite satisfied with his boasting.
But Empress Zhang was obviously a bit "smuggled in private goods", and she was not satisfied if she mentioned the Zhang brothers.
"Queen, He Ling and Yan Ling have been in the capital recently, and it's a bit embarrassing. You should take good care of them when you have time." Zhu Youtang did not specify what was going on.
Anyway, the Zhang brothers have a lot of things to say, so whipping up the whip can always keep these two boys quiet for two days.
Queen Zhang said: "They don't have positions in the Beijing camp. Your Majesty should give them better opportunities to gain experience."
Zhu Youtang said impatiently: "Then let's discuss it together after Bingkuan comes back. In fact, many of the errands in the Governor's Mansion have been idle recently, and it doesn't matter if they are empty. After all, the Tatars now don't dare to do anything at will. In this situation, at this time, we still focus on important things.”
The so-called big event is probably Zhang Zhou's return to the dynasty.
Before Zhang Zhou comes back, everything can be put on hold.
"Yes." Empress Zhang was different from the past. She seemed very docile and no longer argued.
She seemed to hear some clues.
If you want your two younger brothers to get good jobs in Beijing, you must first make a fuss about Zhang Zhou, or at least win over Zhang Zhou first.
"Father, where are the ministers?" Zhu Xiurong was afraid that his father would forget his request.
Zhu Youtang smiled and touched his daughter's little head and said, "When Bingkuan comes back, you will officially become his teacher and go to school with your brother."
"Yes." Zhu Xiurong nodded firmly, "It's best to add Miss Ning. She speaks very interestingly, and I want to learn from her."
When Zhu Youtang saw that his daughter was obsessed with Ning Tong, he thought to himself, what if Ning Tong's daughter had taught her something bad?
A woman thinks about how to be independent... This is not a good social trend.
"Okay! Ning will also teach you in the future, but not to learn medical skills, but to learn skills to assist me and your brother in running the country in the future..."
"I know, Father, thank you, Father!" Zhu Xiurong said how happy he was.
…
…
Zhang Zhou is about to return to the capital.
There are many people who come to Zhu Youtang to express their opinions and express that they want people with connections in their family to move closer to Zhang Zhou.
The Empress Dowager Zhou would naturally mention the children of the Zhou family to him. Even his sister, Princess Yongkang, took advantage of the opportunity to pay homage to the Empress Dowager Zhou when she entered the palace. She specially requested an order to go to Qianqing Palace to meet Zhu Youtang and proposed to let the eldest princess become the consort. Cui Yuan studied with Zhang Zhou.
"Yongkang, I have taken care of you in the past, but it was also because your mother and concubine died young. Why are you even more ignorant of the rules now?"
Zhu Youtang was slightly dissatisfied with Yongkang.
Yongkang's mother was Guo Huifei. When Guo Huifei passed away, Yongkang was only thirteen years old.
Although Zhu Youtang didn't have much affection for his father, he still took good care of his younger brothers and sisters.
Yongkang said: "Brother, the men from other families can be generals and prime ministers, why can't my family be the same? Now Zhang Zhou is Cai Guogong. With such a capable man, anyone who follows him can get ahead. Is it possible? You even trust outsiders, but you don’t even trust your brother-in-law? Cui Yuan is also motivated, and he also wants to make contributions and help the country to be safe."
Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "My brother-in-law is a scholar. Do you want him to go to war?"
"It's okay." Yongkang said, "As long as he can make progress, he can do anything. I'm afraid that the emperor won't give him a chance."
"That's only if Bingkuan likes it. When Bingkuan comes back, you can ask your consort to sign up with those who are interested in studying the martial arts hall. We'll wait until they pass the exam!" Zhu Youtang said casually.
"take an exam?"
Yongkang was also shocked.
I am the eldest princess of the Ming Dynasty. What kind of martial arts hall does my husband go to and have to take exams?
"Treat everyone equally!" Zhu Youtang's tone seemed non-negotiable.
(End of chapter)
