By the time the voices in the Wenhua Hall became quiet again, Emperor Chongzhen had come to his senses and had an idea in his mind.
However, at this time, it was almost dusk. Emperor Chongzhen knew that there were still things waiting for him to deal with in the harem, so he stopped discussing the matter and went back to the harem.
Sure enough, Queen Zhou was already waiting for him. After the ceremony, he complimented Emperor Chongzhen on his martial arts, and then said to Emperor Chongzhen with a hint of worry: "Your Majesty, there is something... there is something..."
She said it once but failed to say it out. Obviously, she still couldn't make up her mind about talking to Emperor Chongzhen about this matter. She didn't know what the consequences would be. However, she felt it was really shameful not to say anything. If a foreign minister found out and impeached her, she didn't know what the final consequences would be.
Seeing her like this, Emperor Chongzhen sat relaxedly. The queen's personal maid rubbed her shoulders, stretched out her hand to signal, and asked Queen Zhou to sit next to her. Then he smiled and said: "When husband and wife talk about things, do you still need to hesitate? Is it possible that in the palace?" Is there anything else outside the palace that you cannot tell me?"
Hearing this, Queen Zhou did not hesitate, and immediately said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, I feel that Xun'er has gone too far. As the prince, he should focus on governing the country and ensuring peace. However, He He……"
"How is he?" Emperor Chongzhen said a little unhappy after hearing this, "I have already said that there is no need to hesitate, just say what you want!"
"He went to build that steam engine, but he was only perfunctory with the teachings of Confucius and Mencius and the art of emperors." Empress Zhou said it in one breath. Seeing that Emperor Chongzhen seemed a little disapproving, she immediately added, "But he is a prince. Isn't this not doing his job properly? When I complained about him, he talked back to me and said it was His Majesty's intention. I really couldn't do anything about him, but I couldn't go to war over it and let outsiders laugh. Your Majesty, You have to take care of this!"
Emperor Chongzhen actually already knew about this matter through the feedback from eavesdropping seeds. At this time, he pretended to hear it for the first time, nodded and said: "I understand, let's do this, send the prince and his younger brothers and sisters, and let the other concubines come with me, I will tell you!"
"..." Upon hearing that Emperor Chongzhen was so aggressive, Empress Zhou was immediately unhappy. Criticizing the prince in front of so many people, what if people start coveting him and shake the foundation of the prince?
She was silent for a while, and then she had to say to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, isn't this a bit inappropriate? What if..."
"What's wrong?" The smile on Emperor Chongzhen's face disappeared, "Didn't you ask me to discipline you?"
After finishing speaking, he told Wang Chengen who was waiting at the door: "My companion, go and deliver the order!"
"My servant obeys the order!" Wang Chengen, in front of Emperor Chongzhen, of course did not care whether the queen agreed or not, and immediately left with the order.
When Empress Zhou saw it, she couldn't help but feel very regretful. If she had known this, she would have stopped talking about it. Now, not only are the sisters allowed to see the joke, but the prince’s younger brothers and sisters are also allowed to see the prince’s joke!
However, the emperor's authority was getting stronger and stronger. Although she was a queen, she did not dare to contradict the emperor's intention. She could only take it one step at a time.
Emperor Chongzhen had just returned, and everyone was paying attention to the emperor's movements. Therefore, as soon as the decree was issued, those who were qualified to come, including the lord and prince, rushed over immediately.
Prince Zhu Cixiang was actually a little afraid of meeting Emperor Chongzhen. Although he contradicted his mother and even used his father as a shield, when he was in front of Emperor Chongzhen, he got stage fright again. Because in his heart, he didn't know that everything his mother said made sense. However, he was just interested in what his father said!
Empress Zhou actually didn't know that Zhu Cixiang was about seventeen years old. He had been in the palace for a long time and had not experienced any hardships. He was in a period of youth rebelliousness. It's like a cow being forced to drink water. The cow can hold its neck straight but won't drink. No matter how hard it is pressed, it's useless.
Because of the butterfly effect, Concubine Tian did not die of her son, so she did not die prematurely due to excessive grief. At this time, she was the same as Concubine Yuan. Looking at this posture and the expression on the queen's face, she could roughly guess what was going on. For a moment, they all secretly looked at the emperor's expression, and then looked at the prince. They couldn't help but feel a little sympathy in their hearts. Was this because he had been betrayed by his mother, and would he be punished?
When Emperor Chongzhen saw everyone gathered, he smiled and said: "I have often been on military expeditions in recent years, and I have been away from the palace for a long time. There are indeed some things that have been omitted. Look at my prince and princess, they have grown a lot taller, haha... …”
Hearing this opening statement, Queen Zhou couldn't help but feel regretful again. If she had known this, she would have found another time to talk about it. The reason why the emperor wants to talk about the prince in public must be because on the first day he came back, he bothered him with unhappy things.
While she was thinking this, she saw Emperor Chongzhen looking at the prince and asking without a sullen face but without a smile: "I heard from your mother that you have been working on that steam engine?"
Facing his father, Zhu Cixiang was not as brave as a leopard to lie, so he immediately replied honestly: "Back to my father, I am indeed working on that steam engine!"
"How's it going?"
Hearing this question, Zhu Cixiang raised his head and glanced at his father, as if he was not angry, and then bravely answered: "My father already explained the truth when he taught his son, and now he has Got one."
At this point, he wanted to prove to his father that he had this ability, so he immediately raised his voice and emphasized: "Really, the steam engine that Erchen built can already beat things steadily!"
No matter what, I believe there is a big difference between getting nothing done and getting results.
With his status as a prince, Song Yingxing's guidance, and the help of a large group of princes accompanying him, he already knew the principles of steam engines, and with the wisdom of Ming craftsmen, he was able to make a prototype. In fact, the problem was not that big.
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen finally showed a smile on his face and asked him: "Why don't you listen to your mother and insist on focusing on this steam engine?"
When Zhu Cixiang saw his father's smile, he became bolder. He glanced at his mother secretly, and regardless of what his mother thought, he immediately replied to Emperor Chongzhen: "My father once said that this steam engine If it can be built, self-propelled carriages, ships, etc. will definitely bring about earth-shaking changes to the Ming Dynasty. Erchen thought, since this steam engine is so important, as the prince of the Ming Dynasty, I will naturally do my part. Strong!"
After he finished speaking, he lowered his head and said nothing. Anyway, he had already said it. Whether he lived or died, was criticized or something else, he just let his father decide!
The others all looked at him, and then at Emperor Chongzhen. At this time, they were a little confused as to what the emperor's attitude was on this matter.
Only Queen Zhou was certain in her heart, secretly complaining about her stupid son: You are the prince! Even if this kind of thing is important, just let the craftsmen do it. At worst, if you do it later, give more rewards. This is what an emperor should do! Your father is so wise and powerful, how can you quibble over it?
But who would have thought that after hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said with a look of relief: "It seems that you listened carefully to what I taught you. Very good!"
Hearing such affirmative words, Zhu Cixiang couldn't help but immediately raised his head and looked at his father with surprise. Is this true? Have you been praised?
Others were a little stunned when they heard this. They were even thinking, had the emperor been away from the palace for a long time and forgotten that Zhu Cixiang was the prince?
Emperor Chongzhen glanced at them and found that the adults were mostly surprised, while the children were mostly surprised. Obviously, they had different ideas.
But no matter what they thought, Emperor Chongzhen continued to the prince: "Governing the world and managing the Ming Dynasty are mostly done by those ministers. And whoever becomes the emperor, whether it is me or you in the future, the most important thing is, It is to know what the general trend of the world will be. The world today is undergoing changes that have not happened in thousands of years. If you want the Ming Dynasty to remain at the top of the world, you must have a clear understanding."
Hearing what he said was so serious, even Queen Zhou didn't think about the prince for a moment, but listened to him with her ears pricked up.
"The world of the future is a world where natural knowledge is used to transform the world. As I said in that lecture, if the steam engine is built, the changes in the Ming Dynasty will indeed be earth-shaking. As long as we continue to improve the steam engine, we can bring about Come to the things I said. This is the overall situation. I value this. As the prince, you also value this. It will definitely set an example for the people of the world. The continuous application of natural knowledge will be recognized by the people of Ming Dynasty. Create it. This is something that benefits the country and will benefit the future. I am very pleased that you are interested in this and are taking the initiative to do it!"
Having said this, he looked at the other princes and princesses, and said to them: "The same goes for you. Don't think about leading troops to fight, conquering the world, and stabilizing the four directions. I will defeat all enemies! As for you, do it. Do what you want to do, make a name for yourself, contribute a different kind of strength to the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, leave a mark in the history books, and leave a wealth for future generations, it will be your capital to leave a name in history!"
Emperor Chongzhen's meaning was already very obvious by this time. It is to encourage these princes and princesses to learn natural knowledge, then choose something that interests them, and then make a name for themselves. Instead of receiving a title and then waiting to die!
In this way, there is another advantage, that is, the demonstration effect will be greater, which will definitely promote the development of science and technology in Ming Dynasty.
Miaoshuwu
