There were not many people at today's dinner, so it was held in a small room.
Of course, it is small compared to those halls, and it is more than enough to accommodate a dozen people.
"I am here to see Your Majesty, long live my emperor!"
"Welcoming ministers, please see the empress. The empress is a thousand years old, a thousand years old!"
Zhu Gaoyan did not block what he said before, so the news spread quickly in the palace. Su Wu and Yang Shiqi had already received the news.
"Haha, my dear, look at it, my right-hand man has already called you the Queen!"
Normally, before the emperor canonizes a concubine, it would be an overstep if other people call a concubine a queen in front of the emperor.
But Yang Shiqi and Su Wu are both old acquaintances of Zhu Gaoying. If they say this, Zhu Gaoying will certainly not be able to pursue it. What's more, Zhu Gaoying is very happy to hear others say this.
Because Zhang Yingzhen has been avoiding becoming a queen.
"You two dear ladies, please get up quickly. Tonight's banquet will be regarded as my family banquet!"
Zhu Gaoyan laughed and took Zhang Yingzhen to the top position, while Su Wu and Yang Shiqi sat on the low tables on both sides.
The hierarchy in the palace is very strict. Even if Zhu Gaoyong said it was a family banquet, the two of them could not sit at the same height as Zhu Gaoyong in the palace.
"The two adults were joking. I am just an ordinary imperial concubine. I have not done anything to help His Majesty. How can I assume the position of Queen?"
At this time, Zhang Yingzhen said modestly,
"What's more, there is only one concubine in this huge harem. I wonder if it is necessary to recruit some talented and talented concubines for Your Majesty?"
"Queen, there is no need to be modest. During His Majesty's absence, you have taken care of the entire harem in an orderly manner. You have already possessed the demeanor of a queen, and everyone is willing to elect you as the queen!"
Yang Shiqi raised his wine glass and continued.
"If the Queen wasn't taking care of things in the harem, I wouldn't have to worry about handling government affairs in the front hall!"
Yang Shiqi admires Zhang Yingzhen's ability from the bottom of his heart.
As soon as Yang Shiqi finished speaking, Zhu Gaoying's eyes fell on Su Wu. Su Wu's heart skipped a beat and he quickly echoed Yang Shiqi's words.
"What the two adults said is absolutely true. I heard that the Queen's prestige in this palace has convinced most people!"
"It is really popular that you should be the queen!"
Well, that’s right!
After Zhu Gaoyan listened to Su Wu's words, he nodded with satisfaction.
Su Wu did not know Zhang Yingzhen before, and when Zhang Yingzhen moved to the harem, Su Wu followed him to western Sichuan. Naturally, it was impossible to know what Zhang Yingzhen did in the palace.
Normally, Su Wu would not be able to say much, but under Zhu Gaoyan's coercion, he also greatly appreciated Zhang Yingzhen.
"My beloved concubine, look at what all my ministers are saying, why don't you stop trying to shirk it?"
Such was the form, Zhang Yingzhen couldn't refuse at this time, so she had no choice but to nod and agree.
"Okay, then I would like to thank you all for your kindness and Your Majesty's kindness!"
"That's right. Come on, Yang Aiqing, Su Aiqing, put aside all your worries tonight and have a drink with me!"
…
After drinking and eating, Zhu Gaoyang sent someone to send Zhang Yingzhen back to the harem, while he, Su Wu and Yang Shiqi went to the Imperial Study Room.
"Su Wu, tell Yang Shiqi what you encountered in western Sichuan and your plan. I'll read the excerpts here for a while first!"
Only then did Zhu Gaoying remember that there were still two prisoners imprisoned in the camp in western Sichuan!
Zhu Gaoding remembered that they were a boy and a girl. What were their names?
Forget it, just forget it, they are two inconspicuous characters anyway, they are probably dead now.
Zhu Gaoying then concentrated on looking at the deals in front of him. Among these deals, there were not many that required his authorization. Most of them were the transfer of some officials.
Others are those that Yang Shiqi has already approved and is consulting for his own opinions.
What else can I say, of course I am very satisfied!
Just when Zhu Gaoyan was almost finished reviewing the papers in his hand, Su Wu had already told Yang Shiqi in detail what he had encountered in western Sichuan.
"Yang Shiqi, what do you think about this matter?"
This time, Zhu Gaoying called Yang Shiqi by his full name, and Yang Shiqi could tell that His Majesty was very serious about border issues.
"Wei Chen feels that the strategy proposed by Mr. Su is indeed ingenious, but even if His Majesty promulgates a decree, there is no guarantee that those border ministers will believe it!"
"So what Yang Aiqing means is..."
"Similarly, these people also need to have someone who eats the crab first, so that they can see the benefits before they can proceed smoothly!"
Zhu Gaoying nodded, speaking lightly, but this choice was difficult.
If Zhu Gaotian's brothers are still alive, their descendants are good candidates. First, they are close to him, they know themselves and their enemies, and they are easy to control. Second, they are all a family. Let them reap the benefits first, and they are also our own family.
Got it, the fat water will not flow to outsiders' fields.
It's just a pity that they all died in the previous civil strife.
"Your Majesty, if there is such a person, Wei Chen has a candidate!"
"who?"
"Prince Canglan!"
Prince Canglan, who is he? Zhu Gaotian couldn't help but recall this person carefully in his mind, but he found that he had no impression of him at all.
"As far as Wei Chen knows, this person did not participate in the civil war between the feudal lords. Instead, he settled in a small county at the junction of our Ming Dynasty and the Western Regions, and made it his fiefdom!"
This man was what Su Wu heard from his teacher when he was young, and it was said that his teacher had also met the Prince of Canglan County.
"Although this person has always lived alone and wanted to continuously expand his power, the fiefdom where he is located has too few resources and the population is even sparser."
"So we can only endure it and develop slowly. But at this rate of development, it will be difficult for him to achieve any results before his death."
Having ambitions, having a fiefdom, and being on the frontier really meets the requirements for being the first person to eat crabs.
"According to what Wei Chen's teacher said, once the Canglan County Prince gets the power to freely use his troops, he will definitely expand his territory as soon as possible."
"And His Majesty only needs to lend him a certain amount of resources and allow him to expand his wings in a short period of time. Gratifying results will surely appear in a short period of time!"
With courage, strategy, and ambition, this Canglan King is indeed a personal choice.