Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Jianshen met Wang Zhi and Wang Yue and asked them about the battle...
Finally,
He said to Wang Yue: "Wang Aiqing, do you want to continue serving in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, or do you want to enter the military commander system?"
You can't have both civil and military affairs. How can you be a civil official and a military general at the same time? From the beginning to the end, Zhu Jianshen never thought about asking Wang Yue to serve as both civil and military officials.
Wang Yue was a little embarrassed and didn't know what to choose for a while.
Seeing this, Zhu Jianshen changed his question and said, "Which one do you choose, the commander-in-chief of the Xuanfu or the censor of the right capital of the Metropolitan Procuratorate?"
The commander-in-chief of Xuanfu? Wang Yue's heart skipped a beat.
This time, he no longer hesitated and said respectfully: "I am willing to defend the country and the border for the Ming Dynasty."
"Well said!" Zhu Jianshen laughed, and then said: "You must keep this matter strictly confidential. Before you go to Xuanfu to take up a post, you will still serve as the censor of Youdu."
After a pause, "My Ming Dynasty cannot be knighted except for military merit. I believe in your ability."
"Yes," Wang Yue's voice trembled, his face flushed, "I will live up to the emperor's cultivation."
"Well, you should go back and rest first. Don't be late for the celebration party in two days."
Wang Yue responded respectfully, kowtowed heavily, and exited the hall.
Zhu Jianshen straightened his posture, suppressed his smile and said, "Wang Zhi."
"My slave is here."
"What have you gained after this battle?" Zhu Jianshen asked.
Wang Zhi pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "I have something bold to say, this slave."
"explain."
"I feel that the gains this time are more than that. I suspect..." After a pause, Wang Zhi said in a deep voice: "I suspect that someone has tipped off the news."
Zhu Jian frowned deeply: "What's the reason?"
"The people who went on this expedition were all cavalry, and we didn't bring much supplies. We were traveling extremely fast, and we also had detailed terrain maps. The march was very efficient. Even so, it was still half a beat too slow." Wang Zhi said, " This slave girl thinks that someone on the other side deliberately leaked the news to... make the bandits self-respecting."
"Hmm..." Zhu Jianshen slowly leaned back in his chair, with a wry smile on his face. The smile was full of helplessness and fatigue.
It was not only civil servants who were enriching their own pockets, but also military generals. Because successive generations of emperors were wary of military generals, especially border generals, this also resulted in their confidence.
'It's time to do something about the generals...'
Zhu Jianshen took a deep breath, sat up again, and said, "Do you have any evidence?"
Wang Zhi shook his head.
"..."
After a moment of silence, Zhu Jianshen asked again: "If you also serve as the eunuch guarding the Xuanfu, can you be sure to put an end to this trend?"
"have!"
Wang Zhi answered simply.
Zhu Jian smiled deeply and said, "If you are brave, after Wang Yue goes to Xuanfu to take office, you will come with him."
After a pause, he added: "You will still serve as the commander of the West Factory, and you can go back and forth between the capital and the Xuanfu at will."
"yes!"
Wang Zhi was excited. In this case, he could make military achievements again.
Seeing Wang Zhi like this, Zhu Jianshen felt somewhat apologetic in his heart, and said with a smile: "Go to Yongning Palace and pay tribute to the imperial concubine. Don't go to the Royal Horse Prison these days. Take a rest in the palace and go back to the palace after the celebration banquet." busy."
"Yes, I obey your order."
Wang Zhi kowtowed and said, "My slave, please leave."
~
Yongning Palace.
Wang Zhi stopped in front of the palace holding the gift box and asked someone to report it. After getting permission from the empress, he entered the palace.
"My servants pay homage to the Imperial Concubine. Your Majesty is in good health." Wang Zhi bowed with great respect, and his attitude was as respectful as that of the Emperor.
"No gift."
Zhen'er held up a hand and said to the left and right: "Everyone, please step back."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The slaves bowed and retreated.
"Wang Zhi, what did the emperor reward you?" Zhen'er asked.
"Your Majesty, please..." Wang Zhi glanced around to make sure the slaves couldn't hear him, and then whispered: "Your Majesty, your slaves will also serve as the eunuchs guarding the Xuan Mansion."
There was pride on his face, as if he was a promising junior showing off to his elders, and also seemed to be repaying the elders for their efforts.
This slave has done justice to the empress... Wang Zhixin said.
It's not good to be too lively... Zhen'er sighed secretly.
"Your Majesty, have I not embarrassed you?" He asked reservedly.
Zhen'er secretly smiled bitterly: Wang Zhi, Wang Zhi, you are about to be in disaster, do you know?
She felt sorry for Wang Zhi, but the emperor's husband was more important, so she didn't say it explicitly, but just asked: "Wang Zhi, do you want to be a guard?"
Wang Zhi nodded.
He is only twenty-two years old, he is young, he is ambitious, and he also wants to use this method to improve the status of the empress in the palace. He wants to repay the person who pulled him out of the sea of misery.
If it weren't for the empress, he would still be washing clothes in the laundry department or doing dirty work like cleaning toilets. How could he be as glorious as he is today?
Zhen'er sighed softly and did not persuade her again.
Some words cannot be said clearly.
I will do my best to protect you... Zhen'er said something in her heart, then smiled and said, "Let's eat here this noon."
"Yes." Wang Zhi nodded happily, opened the wooden box, and took out the mink velvet fur of excellent quality, "I have been looking for this item for a long time, and this is the only item that is worthy of the queen. It is cold in the weather, but this thing is cold-resistant and looks good. Haha... please... The queen is happy to accept it."
Zhen'er nodded with a smile: "Well, I accept it. Don't be polite here. Sit down."
"Hey," Wang Zhi put the mink fur back into the wooden box and placed it on the table aside.
He turned his head and sat down. Seeing Zhen'er in a daze for a moment, Wang Zhi couldn't help but said softly: "My dear, you have grown old."
"There is no ageless person. Madam, I am over fifty years old. It is abnormal for me not to grow old." Zhen'er smiled and pushed the sweet-scented osmanthus cake on the table to him, "There is still a while until lunch time. , pad your belly first.”
"Well, thank you, empress."
~
"Xiaoqian, it's time to drink medicine."
"Hmm..." Qian took the medicine bowl and drank it in one gulp, enduring the bitterness.
Zhu Qizhen hurriedly handed over the candy, "Eating a piece of candy will make it less bitter."
Qian opened her mouth to hold it, and said softly: "Husband, from now on, just let the slaves make the medicine."
"I am also idle when I am idle. This medicine contains your husband's love for you." Zhu Qizhen said a wisecrack with a smile.
However, Qian didn't smile.
After a moment of silence, she said: "If you want to make medicine again, please use your last prescription."
Zhu Qizhen's smile suddenly froze. He wanted to cry, but he held it back. He looked very funny.
After a while, he forced out a smile and said warmly: "Okay, I'll do whatever you want."
"Husband... I'm sorry." Qian said apologetically, "I can't grow old with you anymore."
"Hey~ What are you saying that you're sorry for? If you really want to say sorry, it's because your husband is sorry for you." Zhu Qizhen lowered his head and smiled. The smooth and flat floor was now blurry and uneven.
He blinked, raised his head again, and said warmly: "Take a rest for a while, my husband will call you during lunch."
"Well, let's go for a walk in the afternoon."
"Okay, it's up to you." Zhu Qizhen stood up and helped her lie down, "Go to sleep quickly."
Today he no longer reads the storybook...
After taking the new medicine, Qian's complexion improved slightly, and Zhu Qizhen's uneasy heart calmed down a little.
Now that autumn has entered, the weather is no longer as hot as midsummer, and the wind brings the refreshing coolness of autumn, which is very pleasant when blowing on the face.
The old couple strolled around the garden, with the slaves far behind them, not daring to get close easily.
"Husband, I just heard from my slave that the emperor hosted a banquet for the soldiers today. Where is the war?" asked Qian.
"It's Mobei." Zhu Qizhen said with a smile, "The soldiers won a great victory and gained a lot in this battle. Naturally, the emperor wants to entertain the meritorious soldiers."
"Well...the emperor is a rare British master, so husband, don't worry about the situation of the court." Qian's Rourou said. She knew that her husband didn't want to be the emperor anymore, but she didn't really give up.
Her husband has expressed concerns about the current situation of the court more than once, but she understands that as an emperor and a courtier, no matter who is right or wrong, it is better not to worry.
"I understand," Zhu Qizhen sighed faintly, "I just... think he uses a eunuch so highly... Forget it, let's not talk about it."
He remembered that it was time for him to reuse Wang Zhen.
But it should be said that the authority he gave Wang Zhen was far less than the authority Zhu Jianshen gave Wang Zhi.
Zhu Qizhen was indeed a little worried. He was afraid that the eunuch group would lose control.
After decades of separation, he didn't know this son well. Although his son's political achievements were far ahead of him, his ability to grasp the overall situation... he didn't know very well.
Of course, he gave a large part of the credit for his son's achievements to Lee Sin.
But he didn't know that compared to guiding him step by step, Li Qing didn't help his son very much, and he was almost in a free-range state.
Due to Zhu Jianshen's ambition, Li Qing's attention has shifted from the court to outside the Ming Dynasty.
Qian advised: "Although you are father and son, you have been separated for too long. You are not a roundworm in his belly, so how do you know his intentions? Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. You have to believe in him."
After a pause, "Even if you don't believe him, don't you still believe Mr. Li? Mr. Li said he is a rare hero."
Zhu Qizhen said with a smile: "You know that I have no intention of being emperor for a long time."
"I understand," Mrs. Qian nodded, "What I mean is that since you have let it go, let it all go. Don't worry about things you shouldn't worry about, and let yourself really relax."
Zhu Qizhen smiled helplessly: "As my husband, I will obey the Queen's will."
"I hate it, husband," Mrs. Qian lightly punched his arm and said with a pout, "Is this a shrew?"
"Of course not, small money is best." Zhu Qizhen quickly coaxed and took out the storybook from his arms, "Are you tired? How about my husband reading a paragraph to you?"
"The slaves are still here. You are the Supreme Emperor. Let them see..."
"What's the matter?" Zhu Qizhen snorted: "Who dares to laugh at me? Besides, it's not embarrassing to tell you a story."
He pulled Qian to sit down, opened the storybook to the place where he talked last time, and cleared his throat: "Continued from the previous chapter..."
~
Fengtian Temple Square.
Zhu Jianshen raised his glass and said, "Wang Yue, Wang Zhi, and all my dear friends have done the most for this great victory. I am very pleased!"
The generals stood up in a hurry, raised their glasses and said, "It depends on the power of God on the emperor, and the lives of the soldiers on the other. How dare I ask for credit and respect the emperor?"
On the other side, the civil servants also stood up and said, "Respect your Majesty."
"Haha... merit means merit," Zhu Jianshen smiled heartily, drank the wine in one gulp, and asked the group of civil servants, "Dear ladies, do you think so?"
"The Emperor's Holy Might."
The civil service group responded positively and expressed admiration for Wang Yue in their hearts.
Really give credit to our civil servants!
