Now that everything was turbulent and doubtful, Zheng Haizhu fell asleep with his head still on the pillow.
It's like investigating a case. The next step of handling the case, how to combine clues, how to adjust the lines of acting, how to make staged decisions and reports, all depend on the feedback of several spies, as well as the situation after searching for General Pony. .
Insomnia is useless, besides, in the palace, while I am going to give lectures, there are still several rounds of battles to be fought, so I need a good night's sleep to replenish my energy.
At midnight on the next day, Zheng Haizhu took Lu Xiangsheng and two girls from Songjiang School into the Donghua Gate and came to the Wenhua Hall.
The young eunuch Wang Chengen Baba'er walked down the steps, looked around, and said with his arms folded: "Master Zheng, the fifth brother has gone to invite the eldest son of the emperor."
Zheng Haizhu studied Wang Chengen's face and said: "Today I went to Ciqing Palace to meet the princesses. Lu Juren accompanied Sun Hanlin to teach Mencius to the two princes. Since he will not meet me, the eldest son of the emperor still refused to come because of illness. What?"
Wang Cheng'en, who was still a young boy, looked timid and embarrassed: "Master Zheng, Cheng'en is a slave. Talking nonsense is a capital offense."
Zheng Haizhu sighed softly and turned to Lu Xiangsheng with a hint of helplessness: "You should wait in the Wenhua Hall and listen carefully to what Sun Hanlin said about the classics and meanings."
Immediately he led him a few steps further and whispered: "Today, I have to deal with the matter in the inner court with the prince. I don't know how long it will take. I will ask Eunuch Cao to personally take the two girls out of Donghua." Come to the door and send our carriage. After you finish the lecture, don’t worry about us. It would be best if Sun Hanlin can take you to the duty room to teach you the craftsmanship."
Lu Xiangsheng knew that Zheng Haizhu was like a general who could not let go of any of his soldiers. Amidst the heavy fog, he was still thinking about how quickly he could transform from a civil servant to a Jinshi. He felt sentimental for a moment but was too slow to express his words, so he could only lower his eyes and said: "Mrs. In the inner court, be more careful."
The person leading the way in the palace today is still Wang An's confidant Cao Huachun.
Cao Huachun's eyes were like crescent moons, and he looked like he was showing off his good intentions. He smiled and said: "Master Zheng, it goes without saying that the two princesses are here, but do you know that the girl accompanying you is not from the clan?"
Zheng Haizhu followed his mood and said, "What Eunuch Cao brought to me must be good news. I guess it must be the daughter of some official's family, right?"
Cao Huachun said: "Yes, how could I say that my wife can be a master for the prince? It's so insightful. The other two female students are both from the British prince's family."
British public Zhang Weixian?
Zheng Haizhu looked more grateful, and began to think in her heart.
The Lords of the Ming Dynasty include dukes, marquises and uncles, with the highest rank being the dukes. The title Duke of England was not among the six founding princes entrusted by Zhu Yuanzhang after he conquered the world, but it was a reward from King Zhu Di of Yan after his successful usurpation of the throne.
The first generation of British Duke Zhang Fu, whose father Zhang Yu died in the Battle of Jingnan, Zhang Fu himself made great contributions to Zhu Di's seizure of the throne.
Zhang Fu went through the four dynasties of Chengzu, Renzong, Xuanzong, and Yingzong. Even at an advanced age, he had to accompany Zhu Qizhen, the Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, on his Northern Expedition, and finally died in the Tumubao Incident.
After that, no matter how useless the successive emperors of the old Zhu family were (except for Jiajing), the successive British princes of the old Zhang family were all considered powerful and held part of the military power to protect the capital.
After Zheng Haizhu came to Beijing, he carefully inquired and learned about various military forces in Beijing, including the Beijing Camp, the Five-City Military and Horse Division, the Patrol Battalion, and the Pro-Military Guards. He completed cross-corroboration from the mouths of Liu Qiao and Wang Wenyan.
The current British Duke Zhang Weixian is indeed the actual controller of the Beijing camp, but just like the border army's principle of combined civil and military governance, Zhang Weixian is also subject to the civil servants of the Ministry of War. At the same time, Concubine Zheng's brother Zheng Guotai had no military merit, but because of his sister's favor, he became the highest-ranking relative in the Ming Dynasty who was awarded the highest military rank. In fact, he had a certain amount of armed force. In the name of a government servant, he A group of hibernating snakes lie quietly on the northern outskirts of the imperial city.
Three years ago, Zheng Guotai died of illness. His legitimate son, Zheng Guifei's nephew Zheng Yangxing, directly inherited the position of left governor, which once again caused controversy in the court.
At that time, Zheng Yangxing was asked to be reduced in rank and take up the post. In addition to Donglin civil servants, there was another person with a loud voice, who is now the seventh generation British Duke, Zhang Weixian.
At this moment, Zheng Haizhu expressed his gratitude to Cao Huachun, but in fact, he was not surprised at all.
Not to mention from the perspective of future generations, the British Duke Zhang Weixian worked with Donglin to protect Zhu Youxiao's accession to the throne in the later "Palace Transfer Case". Even the ministers in the court and the powerful eunuchs in the harem would not have known that in a few years Recently, Zhang Weixian directly accused Concubine Zheng of being the instigator behind the assassination case against Prince Zhu Changluo.
Therefore, Zheng Haizhu estimated that from the perspective of Zhu Changluo, who was stepping on thin ice all the way to the Dragon Throne, among the many royal relatives, the British lineage was the most reliable. The female companion who accompanied his princess to study was not the most reliable. Who else could you choose to be the daughter of the Zhang family?
After thinking about it, the group arrived at Ciqing Palace.
Cao Huachun first led Zheng Haizhu to visit Zhu Youjian's adoptive mother, who was also the Dongli selected attendant designated by Long Live Lord to be responsible for the princess's enrollment in school.
Dong Li was recovering from a stomach illness. He was thin and pale, and his facial features, which were not soft at first, became more and more rugged. Just because of his clear eyes, elegant expression, and the so-called love comes from the heart, Zheng Haizhu felt that this Dong Li was much more pleasing to the eye than the domineering and vulgar Xili.
Dong Li politely said a few words about respecting teachers and valuing education, rewarded Zheng Haizhu with an ancient inkstone and a gorgeous dress, and then asked the teachers and students to go to the side hall for class.
Princess Zhu Huiyan of Ningde has regarded Master Zheng as one of her own, and warmly introduced her sister Princess Le'an, and the two granddaughters of British Duke Zhang Weixian, Zhang Wei and Zhang Yin.
Different from giving lectures to boys, Zheng Haizhu gave each of the girls a set of exquisite Songjiang paintings and embroidery souvenirs today, including a purse, a handkerchief, and a silk fan.
What is used as teaching aids are not warships and chariots, but exquisite embroidery products that are more than five feet long when unfolded. There are simplified versions of the maps of all nations, and several narrative scenes of foreign self-defense wars.
The two female teaching assistants from Songjiang School followed Zheng Haizhu's request and integrated their geographical knowledge and firearms operation knowledge into colorful and dazzling paintings and embroideries. It didn't take long for the princess and the Zhang sisters to listen. entranced.
Zhang Wei, the eldest granddaughter of the British duke, is twelve or thirteen years old. She seems to have a lively temper and is easy to ask questions and criticize.
She raised her head and faced Zheng Haizhu and said: "Master Zheng, it happens that we have a sister in the clan who also likes to embroider war scenes. However, these are all events from the previous dynasty, such as Huo Qubing's fight against the Huns, Hua Mulan's war for her father, Liang Hongyu Hold the drum in front of the formation."
"Oh?" Zheng Haizhu said with a smile, "Then, if Empress Dong Li agrees, can she come with us?"
Zhang Wei said regretfully: "She lives in Kaifeng, far away."
My sister Zhang Yin, who had a calm face, said at this moment: "No matter how far it is, it only takes more than half a month by water. It's interesting that that sister can come. She embroiders Bian embroidery."
Zheng Haizhu became more and more encouraging: "After we had a few classes, we went to ask Empress Dongli for instructions. Bian embroidery is so good. Do you know that our Su embroidery in South Zhili has the leading edge of Bian embroidery. After the Song Dynasty moved south, many palace craftsmen came to Susong and Hangjia and brought some of the unique needlework techniques of Bian embroidery."
Hearing this, Zhang Yin said happily: "Okay, let's talk to my father and mother about this when we get back home. Why don't we invite sister Zhang Yan to celebrate the New Year in Beijing."
Zheng Haizhu's gaze, which had already fallen on the embroidery, suddenly changed its direction and was still directed at the Zhang sisters.
"Oh, how do you write the maiden name of this relative of your clan?"
"Master Zheng is Yan with a beautiful smile."
