Qianqing Palace, Imperial Study Room.
Zhu Jianshen was leaning on the chair, sipping tea, with overflowing joy. He felt refreshed during happy events, and he felt particularly comfortable these days.
"The emperor called me here, why?" Li Qing got straight to the point.
"Ah, Li Qing, sit down and serve tea." Zhu Jianshen put down the tea cup and said with a smile, "It's nothing important, I just want to chat with Li Qing. Today is the first day of the first year of Chenghua, and Li Qing is Zhengtong and Jingtai. For the elders of the two dynasties, such a meaningful day is worthy of commemoration by our monarchs and ministers, isn’t it?”
Li Qing: "..."
What he said... sounded like a wedding anniversary... Li Qing was unable to complain. He took the tea handed over by Xiao Hengzi and tasted it carefully without answering any questions.
He knew that Zhu Jianshen was definitely not here to chat with him. No one would be so boring.
Sure enough, before he finished the cup of tea, Zhu Jianshen couldn't help it anymore and said worriedly: "Li Qing, the Ming army has not fought in fifteen years."
"The world is at peace, and the country is very fortunate." Li Qing pretended to be confused, pretending to understand.
Zhu Jian choked for a moment and said: "As the saying goes: Live in sorrow and die in happiness; this is true at the moment, but in the long run, there will be hidden dangers after all. I still want to... revitalize our military preparedness!" ωＷω.ＧoＮЬ.οrＧ
"It's a good idea that the emperor has this idea. There are many ways to revitalize military readiness, and it doesn't have to involve fighting." Li Qing said, "Drilling is also possible. The emperor can do it himself in his spare time."
Zhu Jianshen: "..."
He wanted to quickly seize military power, promote young generals through fighting, and train his own people.
Li Qing naturally knew, but this matter could not be rushed. It was not something he could decide alone. It would take a certain amount of time for the emperor and the generals to get along.
Moreover, Li Qing didn't want him to take power so soon.
The easier it is to get it, the less it will be cherished. Zhu Qizhen was too smooth at the beginning, and Li Qing was full of firepower. It only took a few years to correct the chaos. This also led to Zhu Qizhen's self-confidence and blind arrogance.
Li Qing didn't want to make the same mistake again.
He would rather want Zhu Jianshen to fight for it on his own, and for him to assist, to lend a helping hand at critical moments, or to take cover when things are about to go wrong, instead of being on the front line.
Let the emperor grow up step by step through court struggle. This is the correct way to open up.
We still have to give Zhu Jianshen some hardships and not let him go too smoothly... Li Qing thought.
Zhu Jianshen sighed regretfully and said: "I think back then, Li Qing dared to speak and act, and dared to be the first in the world, but now... sigh."
He couldn't hide his disappointment, "After all, it's my blessing and virtue that makes me shallow!"
"Your Majesty is overly concerned. I have always been on the side of the Ming Dynasty and have never changed." Li Qing said seriously, "Your Majesty, please do not doubt this."
"Can that be..."
"Your Majesty!" Li Qing interrupted and asked, "Whose side is your Majesty on?"
Zhu Jian was stunned for a long time before he said: "I am the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, so naturally I attach great importance to the country and the country of the Ming Dynasty."
Li Qing smiled slightly: "It seems that our monarch and ministers have the same goal, and we are like-minded people!"
"..." Zhu Jianshen stopped pretending and directly showed his cards: "I have just mastered a great treasure and need the help of a wise minister. Li Qing is willing to be my humerus."
"It is the duty of a minister to eat the emperor's salary and share the emperor's worries. Why did the emperor say this?" Li Qing looked surprised, "All civil and military officials in the dynasty can serve as the emperor's humerus!"
Zhu Jianshen:-_-||
"Li Qing, are you having a good year this year?"
He reminded Li Qing skillfully, hoping that Li Qing would remember the gift of gold. However, Li Qing failed to get it and said honestly:
"It's not bad, it's just the first day of the new year... haha, it's nothing. I'll eat the king's salary and share the king's worries."
"...Let's go, let's celebrate the New Year." Zhu Jianshen was young after all, and was caught off guard by Li Qing.
~
"Damn it, Li Qing is bullying people too much." Zhu Jianshen was furious and his chest heaved violently.
After a while, he calmed down, and a wry smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: The gathering of power was much more difficult than expected, and there were many obstacles in the beginning...
Xiao Hengzi observed his words and tried to please him: "Your Majesty is wise and powerful, and he is young and powerful. The time will come in a long time. Why should you be anxious about this moment? Happy New Year is the most important thing."
"Well..." Zhu Jian took a deep breath and waved his hand gently.
Seeing this, Xiao Hengzi bowed slightly, took a few steps back and turned to leave.
After taking only a few steps, he was stopped again.
"Wait, where is Zhen'er?"
Xiao Hengzi was confused: "Uh... I don't know, my wife seemed to be with the emperor last night..."
"Hiss~ It's broken." Zhu Jianshen suddenly came back to his senses and said hurriedly: "Go and look for it quickly. Hurry, go quickly."
"Yes, yes, slave, go right now."
…
At noon, Zhen'er was found by Xiao Hengzi and brought back to the inner hall of Qianqing Palace.
Seeing her ugly face, Zhu Jianshen asked with concern: "What's wrong with you, Zhen'er?"
It's been freezing all night, what did you say... Zhen'er was shaking with anger and coldness.
On New Year's Eve, the old aunt almost died.
Seeing her shivering, Zhu Jianshen roughly guessed it and apologized more deeply: "It's my negligence. Zhen'er, go and have a rest, Xiao Hengzi! Let the two palace maids boil some hot water. By the way, let's go get some auxiliary treatment." Medicine to prevent wind and cold.”
"Yes, slave, go right away." Xiao Hengzi was in a hurry.
Zhu Jianshen's nervous expression was like a warm current rushing into his heart. While Zhen'er was moved, she didn't seem so cold anymore.
"Your Majesty...this servant is fine."
"Hey? You can't be careless about this, it's better to be safe." Zhu Jianshen said warmly, "Go and have a rest."
"Well..." Zhen'er felt so heart-warming that all her grievances disappeared.
She was just about to go and lie down for a while, but she saw Xiao Hengzi leaving and coming back, with a nervous look on his face, "Your Majesty, it's not good, the Queen is here."
Xiao Hengzi was extremely nervous. He looked like he was being blocked by his wife after eating secretly.
Zhu Jianshen also felt guilty instinctively, but then he adjusted his mentality and said calmly: "Well... I understand, you can continue to do your work."
As expected of the emperor... Xiao Hengzi looked at Zhu Jianshen with admiration and went again.
Zhen'er's face was full of nervousness, "Your Majesty, what should we do? How about I hide first?"
"No, she will know sooner or later. It doesn't matter." Zhu Jianshen said warmly, "The Queen is not the kind of person with a small belly, so don't be afraid. Besides, I'm here."
After thinking about it, Zhu Jianshen said simply: "Just stay here and talk about it later."
"Your Majesty...this, this..."
"Whatever this or that, listen to me." Zhu Jianshen said very manly, "I have the final say in this palace."
Zhen'er still wanted to hide, not only out of fear, but also out of shame.
There was such a big age difference between the two. Anyone who looked at it would think that she was seducing the emperor. Once word spread, how could those officials spare her lightly?
Even a mouth can kill people. How many women in the world can withstand verbal violence?
"Your Majesty... please, please let me hide first." Zhen'er begged.
Zhu Jianshen was determined, and even a little angry: "What are you afraid of? Do you think I can't protect you?"
"Slave..."
"Just stay here." Zhu Jianshen interrupted forcefully, holding her hand and not letting go.
Soon, Empress Wu walked over in a phoenix robe and a phoenix crown. This gorgeous formal dress made her already pretty face look even more beautiful and noble. She was young but full of aura.
"I have seen the emperor." Empress Wu was very respectful.
Although her father was in the military general system, he was also a famous Confucian scholar in Shuntian and loved literature. Her mother was a famous talented woman. Wu's influence was influenced by her ears and eyes, so how could she be bad?
The aura of a scholarly family cannot be matched by Wan Zhen'er, who comes from a waiter background.
Age, origin, appearance, temperament...compared to each other, Zhen'er was completely defeated in all aspects.
She didn't even dare to look up.
"Queen, there is no need to be polite." Zhu Jianshen was also very satisfied with the Wu family, and with a sense of guilt, his tone was even gentler, "Why are you here?"
Wu's face turned red. The little girl's body was given to others, and her heart was naturally the same.
"My concubine... I was just walking around, walking around... then I came to Qianqing Palace." Wu's voice was as soft as a mosquito.
Zhu Jianshen smiled deeply and said, "Sit down first. I have something to tell the Queen."
"Well..." Wu walked to a chair and sat down, and then looked at Zhen'er.
A woman's sixth sense is particularly accurate. She could tell at a glance that this old aunt seemed unusual.
Zhu Jianshen didn't hide it, and directly showed his cards: "Her name is Wan Zhen'er, she is my personal palace maid, um..."
At this point, he felt a little embarrassed and coughed lightly: "What about that? I want her to continue to serve me."
Wu blinked her eyes and said: "The emperor is free to decide which maid he wants to serve. I have no right to interfere. The emperor does not need to discuss it with me."
"Ah, that's it." Zhu Jianshen said bitterly, "Queen, you may not understand, I mean... I like her."
Of course Wu understands!
She's not a jealous woman, the key is that Zhen'er's age... is about the same as her mother-in-law, which is somewhat difficult for her to accept.
But as a queen, she deeply understood that she had to be generous. She could not be the emperor's only woman.
If you really want to prevent the emperor from having a concubine, not to mention the queen mother, even the foreign ministers have to say a few words.
This is the case in this era. Men have harsh requirements for women, but women must be generous to men.
But the problem is... It's okay for my husband to find a young woman, but he chose a woman who is about the same age as her mother-in-law and mother. She is really... to put it harshly, she is unreasonable!
"Does the queen know?" Wu couldn't refuse, so she pulled her mother-in-law out.
Based on her understanding of her strict mother-in-law, she would not let her son find a woman similar to her own age.
Zhu Jianshen's face heated up: "Mother doesn't know yet, why don't I tell you first?"
Wu was touched by her husband's respect, but her husband's taste... she really couldn't understand.
Wu didn't even know what to say, her head was buzzing...
Zhu Jianshen asked: "Does the Queen have any objection?"
Wu: "..."
What opinions could she have? Even if she was a queen, there was no reason why the emperor should not be allowed to have concubines.
"My concubine... I have no objection." She said bitterly.
"Well..." Zhu Jianshen became more and more happy and said with a smile: "You two get along first, and I will go talk to my mother."
After saying that, regardless of what the two of them thought, they walked straight out of the inner hall...
