"Master is going to the northwest? Why is it so sudden?"
When Zhang Zhou's inner court heard the news that he was going to the Xuan Mansion, a feeling of reluctance spread.
Zhang Zhou knew that the woman in his inner house didn't even know where the Xuanfu was, but in the minds of the people of the Ming Dynasty, there was already a barren land from the capital to the west beyond Juyongguan.
Zhang Zhou smiled and comforted: "I'm not going to fight, I'm going to make money. Mingshan is going with me."
Wang Mingshan stood there, but her face turned slightly red.
Zhang Zhou didn't even expect this reaction.
Jiang Pingyu said: "Master, I'm afraid Mingshan can't go with you. She is pregnant. I'm afraid..."
"Um?"
Zhang Zhou didn't expect this.
After questioning Wang Mingshan in detail, from her Tiangui to her diet and daily life, Zhang Zhou found that he might have really neglected the woman in the back house recently.
"Don't you know how to diagnose diseases? Can't you just diagnose your sister?" Han Qing was still puzzled.
Isn’t it said outside that my master is a miracle doctor? There are also many people who use various methods to send greetings to the house, saying they want to ask Zhang Zhou to treat his illness. As a result, Zhang Zhou can’t even diagnose whether a woman can get pregnant?
Zhang Zhoudao: "Do you think I'm a god? Although I know that the Hua pulse is a happy pulse, but unfortunately... I don't know this business. It's best to rely on sight and inquiry. Mingshan, this is a good thing. You don't have to be embarrassed and stay in the capital.
Take good care of your baby.”
Zhang Zhou was in a happy mood.
It has been ten months since I came to Daming. If I could farm well from the beginning, it would be the harvest season now.
As a result, we have just sown seeds now...
It's not with Jiang Pingyu and Han Qing, but with Wang Mingshan.
Zhang Zhou thought to himself, it seems that he can still gain something from his usual passion for gymnastics.
"Haha." Zhang Zhouzhi said proudly.
Jiang Pingyu asked: "Didn't the master want to marry that young lady of the Lin family? What should I do about this...?"
The marriage between Zhang Zhou and Lin Yi is already in progress, and the next step is to discuss the time for their wedding. But since he is going to the northwest to organize the army, practice artillery and open mines, this matter will naturally be postponed.
Anyway, he and Lin Yi are already engaged, and the boiled duck cannot fly. The "Da Ming Huidian" has not been completed yet. Recently, Zhu Youtang just plans to transfer Lin Han to be the right minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Lin Han's official position has not been determined yet.
, the wedding can just wait a little longer.
"Don't be in a hurry. It won't delay me getting married and taking concubines after I come back."
Zhang Zhou suddenly felt that it would not be bad to stay in the capital and live a petty bourgeoisie life.
The three women in the inner house looked at each other in confusion. They did not think that Zhang Zhou had the ambition to make achievements on the battlefield.
Jiang Pingyu asked: "I have just entered the imperial court, why do you need to go to the northwest in person?"
Zhang Zhoudao: "Isn't that because I'm very capable? Don't worry, I'll go there in one piece and I'll come back in one piece..."
Wang Mingshan looked at Zhang Zhou's face eagerly, Jiang Pingyu withdrew her gaze, and as for Han Qing... her eyes were already looking down unconsciously.
…
…
Zhang Zhou was going to Xuan Mansion to lead the army, and he was sent by the right minister of the Ministry of War. Many distinguished officials came to visit him that day, but unfortunately none of their greetings were sent.
Zhang Zhou also made it clear that he would not accept private visits from anyone, nor would he accept any gifts or invitations before he went on an expedition.
Who will go to the northwest with the army is the emperor's arrangement. Even if he is the general secretary of Xuanda, he only follows orders and has no power to actively choose.
Zhang Zhou was scheduled to leave the capital at noon the next day. Zhu Youtang also said that he would go to Deshengmen in person to bid farewell to Zhang Zhou.
Even though someone would arrange the expedition for him, he still had no leisure these two days.
The women at home always need to be "settled". In addition... the women in the palace also need him to "settle".
In the afternoon of the same day, he was invited to the palace by Xiao Jing. Xiao Jing only roughly explained that the Empress Dowager Zhou called him there to discuss some secrets with him... He was not clear enough, but Zhang Zhou knew that he was doing it for Zhu. Regarding Youtang's acceptance of the concubine, the Empress Dowager Zhou was probably afraid that if Zhang Zhou went to the Xuan Mansion, either Zhang Zhou would belch, or she would have already burped when Zhang Zhou came back.
The two people involved in the plan seemed to have to settle the matter before Zhang Zhou went on the expedition.
When Zhang Zhou arrived at Qingning Palace, he found that in addition to Zhu Youtang, Empress Zhang, Zhu Houzhao and Zhu Xiurong were also there. It was as if a family was having a family reunion and had to find an outsider to come and cause trouble for them.
"Bingkuan, come quickly and let Aijia have a good look."
Queen Mother Zhou was so enthusiastic when she saw Zhang Zhou entering the palace that she almost made Zhang Zhou think that his surname was Zhu.
Zhang Zhou walked over and saluted, and the Empress Dowager Zhou smiled and said to Zhu Youtang and his wife: "The Ai family has passed its seventy years. Bingkuan is the pillar of the Ming Dynasty. If the Ai family is no longer around in the future, the emperor, if you have any worries, just ask him alright."
It sounds like he admires Zhang Zhou very much.
All I have to do is tell Zhang Zhouming that from now on, the matter of the emperor taking concubines and giving birth to sons will be left in your hands.
Zhang Zhou thought to himself, are you an old lady still afraid of death?
Don't worry, you are still alive. Your grandson will not live much longer than you, the difference is only one year.
…
…
The young and old of Lao Zhu's family gathered together and sat there drinking tea and chatting, while Zhang Zhou seemed like an outsider, sitting nearby and listening.
"The Ai family knows that Bingkuan is going to the Xuanfu, but there are always many things in their hearts that they are worried about. The Ai family wants to take advantage of Bingkuan's departure to help the Ai family with divination and divination."
Empress Dowager Zhou was very direct in speaking and doing things.
Zhang Zhou knew that the only person in the entire palace who dared to cause trouble for the emperor and empress so directly was none other than the Empress Dowager Zhou.
But people have the confidence.
Who makes Zhu Youtang's father be so responsible and filial to her, and also raise his grandson? More importantly, he can understand the "weakness" in the heart of the current emperor?
Zhang Zhou discovered that these powerful women in the palace were taking advantage of the weaknesses in Zhu Youtang's character.
Zhu Youtang said: "Emperor Grandma, Bingkuan can sometimes calculate a person's lifespan, but you have to wait until the end is approaching. If you make a prediction just like this, it will not be accurate due to the changes in many things."
Zhu Youtang thought that Queen Mother Zhou was afraid that she was about to die, and wanted Zhang Zhou to calculate for her how many years she had left to live.
Little did he know that Queen Mother Zhou’s drunkenness was not about drinking.
After hearing the emperor's words, Empress Zhang couldn't help but glance at Zhang Zhou. She was probably also interested in Zhang Zhou's "according to the will of heaven". If Zhang Zhou could calculate so many things... wouldn't it be possible in the future? Just ask Zhang Zhou?
What else is there to treat infertility? Just ask if I can have a baby and that’s it.
Empress Dowager Zhou smiled and said: "Emperor, you are wrong. The Ai family does not care much about life expectancy. Everyone must know destiny. If Bingkuan gives it to the Ai family, it will allow the Ai family to live two more years. The Ai family will not act against nature like this. Everything is just for the national destiny of the Ming Dynasty. The Ai family wants Bingkuan to calculate whether your lineage will be prosperous in the future and whether it will be able to flourish in the future."
"The fate of the country..." Zhu Youtang sighed and glanced at Zhang Zhou.
Zhu Youtang had already made the same request to Zhang Zhou.
The answer Zhang Zhou gave at that time was that many things cannot be calculated. The longer the time goes, the less reliable the calculation results will be. Since it is unreliable, why is there any need to calculate?
Zhang Zhou did not fool Zhu Youtang on this point. After all, the changes in humanities under the butterfly effect are traceable.
But there are some things... Zhang Zhou knows even if he doesn't have to calculate them.
If Zhu Youtang continues not to have concubines, there is a high probability that Queen Zhang will not give him another child, and Zhu Youtang will only have Zhu Houzhao as his heir... Zhu Houzhao will be surrounded by countless women in the future, regardless of whether he indulges in sex and damages his body. Regardless of whether he was infertile to begin with, the possibility of Zhu Houzhao giving birth to a son... was not higher than 20%.
The result is... Lao Zhu's family will most likely be cut off from the Xiaozong lineage.
Queen Mother Zhou looked at Zhang Zhou with a smile and said: "Bingkuan, can this be counted?"
Zhang Zhouwei said: "Everything in this world can be calculated. Whether it is accurate or not is another matter. I have also mentioned to Your Majesty that the further things are in the future, the more unpredictable they will be and the harder it will be to predict them in advance."
"Oh, it doesn't matter, the Aijia just want to hear your calculations about your majesty's descendants. Even if it's not good, the Aijia is willing to listen."
Queen Mother Zhou was very insistent.
This persistence can actually be seen by everyone. Does Queen Mother Zhou want "the truth"?
Maybe Queen Mother Zhou felt that what Zhang Zhou said would definitely meet some of her expectations, so no matter what the outcome was, what Zhang Zhou said was what she wanted.
Zhang Zhou looked at Zhu Youtang and his wife and said, "Your Majesty, can I..."
Zhu Youtang did not answer, but first said to Dai Yi beside him: "Send the prince and princess back respectively."
"Farewell, Father, I also want to hear it. I also want to have younger brothers and sisters, I, I..."
Zhu Houzhao was about to show off his childish temper and shouted to stay and listen. When he saw Zhang Zhou's sharp eyes, he suddenly realized that he might be spoiled if he stayed, so he kept silent.
"Father, emperor, mother..." Zhu Xiurong looked very aggrieved.
Empress Zhang asked: "Your Majesty, should I also retire first?"
From then on, Empress Zhang revealed that she also wanted to know Zhang Zhou's calculations on this matter, but she seemed to know the general situation well and was not prepared to stay and listen.
Zhu Youtang said: "Let the children go back first, and the Queen will stay and listen together."
As Zhu Youtang spoke, he gave Zhang Zhou a "firm" look, as if telling Zhang Zhou, Bingkuan, since I have left the queen behind, you know what to say, right?
Zhang Zhou thought.
I have fallen into a wolf's den. The old lady is going to put pressure on me to find a way to get the emperor to have a concubine, and the emperor wants to appease the queen...
So what is the truth, and does it still matter?
…
…
Divination tools were prepared for Zhang Zhou on the spot.
But Zhang Zhou didn't intend to use it. Instead, he looked at the people standing around.
"Everyone, please step back. No one is allowed to come within twenty steps of the palace. If something happens, you will be notified of coming in." Zhu Youtang ordered the eunuchs and maids sternly.
Immediately under the control of Xiao Jing and Jiang Lu, everyone around Qingning Palace left the area that might form a "wall with ears".
The emperor was not prepared to let others know how many heirs he had, which was considered normal by the palace servants.
In fact, Xiao Jing and others also felt that the emperor and the Queen Mother Zhou asked Zhang Zhou to calculate, not just because they wanted to fool people with God's will, but also because they felt that Zhang Zhou was really capable of calculating.
If Zhang Zhouzhen didn't have the strength to achieve God's will, who would believe what he said?
Waiting in the Qingning Palace, only the Empress Dowager Zhou Zhou, Zhu Youtang, Empress Zhang and Zhang Zhou followed.
Zhang Zhou was still sitting there, showing no intention of getting up and calculating.
Empress Dowager Zhou said: "Bingkuan, it's time to start."
"Yes, Bingkuan, don't be rigid. You can calculate how to calculate." Zhu Youtang's face also became more expectant.
In the past, he wanted Zhang Zhou to calculate the fate of the country more, but Zhang Zhou always dealt with him. He also had no temper. The thing was that what Zhang Zhou had done had already met his requirements for governing the country, and he did not dare to expect Zhang Zhou to do anything. Able to understand and change.
Now Queen Mother Zhou is indirectly helping him, allowing Zhang Zhou to be considered "big". Zhu Youtang also wants to know how many children he has in his will, or how far his lineage can develop.
Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, since I am here to make calculations, I hope you will not blame me for what I say next."
"Bingkuan, have you made your calculations?" Queen Mother Zhou asked.
"Yes." Zhang Zhou said, "I have never relied on the evolution of stars or the formation of hexagrams to predict heaven's secrets. The so-called many mysterious and empty spaces are just blinding methods and cannot be done accurately. The method I use is to contact God's will in my heart. It cannot be changed by humans..."
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "So, your method cannot be taught to others?"
Zhang Zhou said with an embarrassed look on his face: "Your Majesty, I have gone off topic."
"Oh, go ahead and tell your story." Zhu Youtang said, "No matter how you calculated it, tell me the result."
Zhang Zhou said: "I estimate by God's will that your Majesty's lineage... does not have flourishing branches and leaves."
"You...what are you talking about?" Queen Zhang came out first to interrupt Zhang Zhou.
Empress Dowager Zhou said with a straight face: "Listen to Bingkuan."
Zhang Zhou was silent for a while.
It seems to be saying, Your Majesty, please silence the people around you first, otherwise I won’t be able to continue speaking.
Zhu Youtang then came out and said: "My heirs are not prosperous. In fact, I have always insisted on marrying only the queen, and this has been decided. These years were when I was in the prime of the Spring and Autumn Period, and there were not many heirs born. Bingkuan Actually, that’s not wrong.”
Empress Zhang originally felt that Zhang Zhou's words were very inappropriate and meant to be directed at her.
But after listening to her husband's words, she instantly felt that what Zhang Zhou said was completely reasonable.
After all, her fertility alone is comparable to three thousand Fendai in the Sixth Palace?
Zhu Youtang asked: "What about the prince?"
Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, the prince is young now, and I am afraid it will be even more difficult for me to forcefully calculate his future heirs."
You may not be able to calculate accurately, but you actually asked me to calculate your son?
Can we calculate according to the established rules?
Empress Dowager Zhou frowned and said: "Bingkuan, your test... is very one-sided. Nowadays, the Ming Dynasty Dragon Si is so thin that even everyone can see it. Do you still need to make the calculation?"
Zhang Zhou said: "The Empress Dowager, please forgive me, but my abilities are limited."
"You..." Queen Mother Zhou was very angry. She asked you to cooperate with the Ai family to put pressure on the emperor and ask him to accept a concubine. You actually said that your abilities are limited?
Or are you saying that you have been bribed by the Queen and are ready to speak to the Queen?
Zhang Zhou continued: "In fact, I know what the government and the public are most worried about now, which is that the dragon heir is too weak and what will happen in the future. What many people want to mention is that only when the branches are thick can the leaves be luxuriant, so I want your majesty to give more branches.
To grow leaves.”
"Isn't this wrong?" Although Queen Mother Zhou felt unhappy after hearing Zhang Zhou's words, she was a discerning person.
She could see that Zhang Zhou's purpose was the same as hers. It didn't matter what Zhang Zhou said. What mattered was what Zhang Zhou did.
Zhang Zhou said: "But now the prince is in good health. Although I cannot calculate the prince's future lifespan, I can estimate that even if the prince has minor illnesses or disasters in the next twenty years, he will be able to survive smoothly. Since the prince can grow up healthily,
, then whether Long Si is flourishing now, actually... it depends on people, right?"
When Zhang Zhou said this, Queen Mother Zhou was stunned on the spot.
She would never have thought that Zhang Zhou would start from calculating the health of the prince in the next twenty years, and actually make a truth come true.
After Empress Zhang heard this, she looked at Zhang Zhou not only with admiration, but also with admiration.
Empress Zhang asked with concern on her face: "Can the prince really... grow up safely in the next twenty years?"
Zhang Zhou said: "I can't see that he will be in serious trouble. Even if there is, I and the imperial doctors should be able to save him from danger."
"Your Majesty, that's great." Empress Zhang took her husband's arm and looked at him with a moved face, as if all this happy life was given to her by her husband.
Just the cuddling look of this little bird... made Queen Mother Zhou frown secretly after seeing it.
Sure enough, they were all taking advantage of her grandson's weakness.
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Yes, if the prince can grow up without any illness or disaster, I will feel relieved, and there is no need to be so demanding about some things."
"Haha." Empress Dowager Zhou smiled and said, "Well Bingkuan, why don't you calculate whether the Ai family will be free from illness and disaster in the next ten years."
"Royal Grandmother..."
Zhu Youtang heard that the old lady was angry, so she was so arrogant.
"Okay, Bingkuan, have you thought of anything else?" Queen Mother Zhou asked.
Zhang Zhou said: "There are still some things that cannot be done accurately, so it is difficult to explain clearly."
Queen Mother Zhou originally wanted to lose her temper, but after hearing these words, she accepted it with peace of mind.
This is the skill of speaking.
Zhang Zhou said "there are still some things", that is to tell her that some things should be said to the emperor alone, that would be effective. Now, on the grounds that the prince will be safe and healthy for the next twenty years, he will fool the queen and talk to the emperor alone.
It's much easier.
So old lady, please be patient. I have a way to convey the results you want to His Majesty.
"Bingkuan, the Ai family has always been worried that the prince's future life will have some ups and downs, and Ming Dynasty may... Bah, bah, bah, it's because the Ai family can't speak. Now the Ai family is relieved."
Empress Dowager Zhou was very knowledgeable.
If you don't want to say it, the Aijia won't ask.
I'll leave it to you to tell the emperor himself.
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "The imperial grandmother and grandson have gone back with the empress and the others. Tomorrow Bingkuan will go to Xuanfu to attend the prime minister's military affairs. I still want to have a night talk with him at Bingzhu."
"Okay, let's go." Queen Mother Zhou smiled.
The harmonious and joyous scene returned to the palace again, as if there had been no previous episodes and there was no quarrel between the family.
