Chapter 38 Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling
As soon as Zhu Houzhao returned to Cining Palace, he first went to Queen Mother Zhang.
Empress Dowager Zhang is not yet thirty-five years old, but perhaps because of the recent death of Emperor Hongzhi, she does not apply much makeup, and there are still tears in the corners of her eyes. Because it is still the mourning period for Emperor Hongzhi, she is still wearing a Jingchai sarong. He looked much thinner than Zhu Houzhao's impression.
"Mother!"
Zhu Houzhao smiled and called out when he came in. Now that he had been with Empress Dowager Zhang for a long time, he didn't feel any embarrassment in calling her "Mother" and sat down next to Empress Dowager Zhang naturally.
The Queen Mother Zhang would only smile when Zhu Houzhao appeared, and she would always hold Zhu Houzhao in her arms habitually:
"Where have you been? Don't go out and play around. Be careful of the lights outside. Eat several meals a day now. Your father is gone, but be good. No one will protect you now."
Empress Dowager Zhang couldn't help but sob every time she said this: "The Ai family dreamed of your father again last night. He was still reading the book in the Qianqing Palace. He has always been weak, so the Ai family would personally cook a bowl for him at night. When Aijia delivered the white fungus soup last night, he was still smiling at Aijia.”
Zhu Houzhao was particularly touched at this time. He understood the mood of Queen Mother Zhang very well and knew the pain of losing a close relative, but he didn't know how to comfort Queen Mother Zhang. He was not even used to being held in the arms of Queen Mother Zhang affectionately. , just pushed away Queen Mother Zhang’s hand and sat up:
"Mother, don't be sad. Although my father is old, he still has a child. He will take good care of you. He will also give you a royal title so that you can enjoy the rest of your life. From now on, the child will accompany you every day."
Whenever Zhu Houzhao said this, he would think of the history that Queen Zhang would face the death of her only son in sixteen years, which made him even more afraid at this time that he would die as young as Zhu Houzhao in the original history.
Empress Dowager Zhang always felt very relieved because Zhu Houzhao said this, and said with a smile: "The Ai family has no other requirements, and they don't want you to be a good emperor. As long as you are safe and happy, your father is too good for the people." After thinking about it, I got nothing in the end.”
Queen Mother Zhang seemed to have well-developed tear ducts. Perhaps the death of Emperor Hongzhi was such a shock to her that she became sad again as she spoke.
Zhu Houzhao became even more curious about Emperor Hongzhi's death because Empress Dowager Zhang was so sad. He couldn't help but ask: "Mother, my father had no hidden illnesses. Why did he die in a sudden heat? The child has always been puzzled by this."
Empress Dowager Zhang suddenly changed her expression: "You just need to remember that your father died of illness. Why ask again? This is good for you! You know? Don't ask too many questions outside, and don't let people check blindly. Don't Create something out of nothing.”
Zhu Houzhao could only nod in agreement, but because of this, he became more suspicious. He thought that his mother had warned him before he said he wanted to investigate. Could it be that his mother really knew something hidden.
Zhu Houzhao knew that he could not get anything out of Empress Dowager Zhang's mouth, and it was difficult for him to show too obvious interest in the death of Emperor Hongzhi now, so he did not ask any more questions, and just continued to chat with Empress Dowager Zhang.
Because it was a day of fasting, in the evening, Zhu Houzhao and Queen Mother Zhang simply ate vegetarian food together.
During this period, Zhu Houzhao also made a lot of money by relying on the Royal Industrial Company and the Royal Exposition. He not only improved the treatment of those around him, but also improved his own treatment. Each meal also included five or six exquisite side dishes. Now, Zhu Houzhao Even though I was eating vegetarian food, I couldn't take off my chopsticks for a while, not to mention it was dinner.
Queen Mother Zhang seemed to realize that Zhu Houzhao was having a hard time swallowing it, so she said: "My son, if you continue to persevere, you will only last twenty-seven days. It doesn't matter if the Ai family and your father ate this every day back then. Your father still had it when he was a child." It's worse than this. I can't even eat enough in a day. I eat better after following your grandmother, but I don't dare to eat more to prevent Wan Guifei from being poisoned, so you are happier."
Zhu Houzhao laughed when he saw Empress Dowager Zhang talking. He thought that the empress and Emperor Hongzhi in this picture were really married. She could think of him even while eating fast, and the happy smile on her face could not be concealed. She even said The flash of loneliness after finishing is even more touching.
"The Aijia also hopes that you can continue to be happy like this. You are the only one in the Aijia."
Empress Dowager Zhang's sudden words made Zhu Houzhao almost cry, even though he was also a man, and he couldn't help but think of the historical Empress Zhang who eventually faced the end of her husband and sons leaving one after another in her later years, and was bullied by Emperor Jiajing and died miserably.
"It's okay. Even eating rice bran vegetables with my mother is sweeter than eating delicacies from the mountains and seas!"
Zhu Houzhao said with a smile, and then said: "Mother, after the funeral of the emperor, my son will ask the Ministry of Rites to give you a title and make you the most respected person in the Ming Dynasty!" Empress Dowager Zhang just smiled: "You are more sensible than before. Too much, it’s a pity that your father can’t see it!”
At this time, an eunuch from outside came to report that Shouning Hou and Jianchang Hou had come to request an audience.
Queen Mother Zhang was overjoyed and felt much better: "My brothers are here, let them in."
Zhu Houzhao knew that the Marquis of Shouning was Zhang Heling and the Marquis of Jianchang was Zhang Yanling. Both of them were the younger brothers of Empress Dowager Zhang and could be considered their uncles.
According to Zhu Houzhao's impression of these two people, his two uncles were two living treasures.
But after all, they were Empress Zhang's natal family and her current uncle, and Zhu Houzhao never thought about what to do with them.
Suddenly, Zhu Houzhao saw Shouning Hou Zhang Heling and Jianchang Hou Zhang Yanling come in.
Both Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling were busy. Zhu Houzhao saluted the Queen Mother Zhang, and then stood aside with a silly smile. Zhang Heling greeted first: "The Queen Mother and Your Majesty should not be too sad recently, and should pay attention to their health."
"That is, the Queen Mother and Your Majesty should not be sad, don't be sad!" Zhang Yanling echoed from the side.
Empress Dowager Zhang saw that her two younger brothers were not in good shape to be princes, and she sighed helplessly: "I don't go to the Three Treasures Palace for anything. What do you mean by coming to the palace today?"
When Queen Mother Zhang asked, Zhang Yanling smiled and pushed Zhang Heling first, meaning to let Zhang Heling speak first.
Zhang Heling pushed Zhang Yanling and asked Zhang Yanling to speak first.
The two of them pushed back for a long time, and finally Zhang Heling stood up first: "It's not for anything else, but as you know, sister Queen Mother, we two brothers now have our own mansions, but we don't have any decent treasures to decorate. I heard Your Majesty went outside that day.”
Zhu Houzhao didn't want Queen Mother Zhang to know that he was holding a royal exposition outside, so he hurriedly coughed and said: "Two uncles, if you have anything to say, just say it. There is no need to go so far."
Seeing this, Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling knew that Zhu Houzhao didn't want them to tell them about Zhu Houzhao holding a royal exposition outside, so Zhang Heling smiled and said: "Yes, what your majesty said is true. Then Weichen, just tell me, Weichen wants to Ask the Queen Mother to borrow some royal treasures to display, such as glass screens, glass beads, and glass bowls.”
Empress Dowager Zhang was a little stunned when she saw this. She had always doted on her two younger brothers. Basically, Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling would give them whatever they asked for. But now she didn't quite understand. She just said: "There is no glass here in the Ai family." .”
Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling were a little disappointed when Queen Mother Zhang said this.
At this time, Zhu Houzhao laughed and said to Empress Dowager Zhang:
"I understand what my two uncles meant. You don't have it here, Queen Mother. I have it. Speaking of which, I asked Liu Jin and the others to find a few skilled craftsmen to make it when I was in the East Palace, but I have already given it away to my two uncles. If you want it, just buy it from me. Anyway, it would be disrespectful for me to do business directly;
I'll give you a cheap price. How about ten thousand taels for a piece of glass treasure? These things are worth two to thirty thousand or even forty to fifty thousand taels of silver outside. The two uncles can still make money by selling them. Even huge profits several times over! ”
(End of chapter)