"How are you doing these days, Prince?" Zhang Yanling asked with a smile.
"So-so, let's keep it that way." Zhu Houzhao replied absently.
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Is that Yang Tinghe still forcing you to study hard?"
Zhu Houzhao said: "That's not the case. Scholar Yang has been much more relaxed recently. Since my uncle went there last time, he no longer pushes me too hard."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "So, it saves my face. By the way, how did you practice the military strategy I asked Eunuch Liu to bring to the prince? Doesn't the prince like these?"
Zhu Houzhao said: "I have finished studying."
Zhang Yanling said: "Then I will get a new one for the prince to learn from."
Zhu Houzhao shook his head and said: "It's not necessary. So what if you learn it? It's all fake, and you can't fight with real swords and guns. It's useless if you learn it."
Zhang Yanling was speechless, and he didn't know what was wrong with Zhu Houzhao. His whole body was wilting, as if he couldn't be interested in anything. He couldn't even be interested in military books. He didn't know what happened.
Already.
"When the weather gets warmer, I'll accompany the prince out of the capital to relax. It's really depressing to stay in the palace every day." Zhang Yanling said.
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and said: "That's not necessary. I'm fine. Uncle doesn't have to worry."
Zhang Yanling refused to give up and asked with a smile: "I think you don't seem to be in good spirits today, so I'm just asking."
Zhu Houzhao frowned and said: "Why am I not mentally well? Uncle thinks too much. If uncle is fine, I will go back."
Zhang Yanling was stunned. Zhu Houzhao's attitude was completely different from that after he came back from the last hunting trip. It couldn't be said that he was bored with himself, but he just felt weird and absent-minded. Moreover, his whole state was a little wilted. It was strange.
Very.
"Prince, don't be offended. I'm just interested and asking. Then I won't disturb the prince. I send you my best wishes." Zhang Yanling cupped his hands and said.
Zhu Houzhao nodded, turned around and was about to leave, then turned around and said again: "Uncle, that leopard... is dead!"
Zhang Yanling was stunned and said in astonishment: "Why are you dead?"
Zhu Houzhao sighed and whispered: "The queen mother ordered someone to shoot it."
There seemed to be tears in Zhu Houzhao's eyes, and he turned around and left quickly without saying a word.
Zhang Yanling stood stunned for a long time, not knowing what to say. That leopard was Zhu Houzhao's pride. Zhang Yanling clearly remembered his excitement and pride after catching the leopard, but now he was shot dead by someone sent by Empress Zhang.
, no wonder Zhu Houzhao looked wilted.
After all, Zhu Houzhao was a teenager, and catching a leopard alive should be the proudest thing he had ever done. But he was shot and killed by Queen Zhang. This represented the queen's mother's denial of his pride. This
This kind of blow must be huge. No wonder he can't lift his mood.
Any young man would probably feel uncomfortable, let alone a prince.
Zhang Yanling wanted to blame her sister for doing what she did, but on the other hand, he seemed to understand why Empress Zhang did what she did. The son Empress Zhang needs is a son who is well-behaved, obedient, and conscientious in studying and can inherit the throne and become a good emperor in the future. And Zhu Houzhao
Not at all. Capturing the leopard alive may have proved her son's bravery, but that was not exactly what Empress Zhang wanted to see in her son. So she did it. Her idea should be an exhortation and warning, but she didn't know
How much harm did this do to Zhu Houzhao.
Zhang Yanling was very speechless. This incident would definitely have a negative effect on the relationship between herself and Zhu Houzhao. The clues can already be seen. But in fact, Zhang Yanling was more worried that the relationship between their mother and son would become more unfamiliar as a result. Originally, Zhang Yanling was more worried about the relationship between mother and son.
The relationship between Empress Zhang and Zhu Houzhao is not that close, and Zhang Yanling can feel this. And this will obviously make them even more discordant.
Although Empress Zhang is Zhu Houzhao's mother, according to common sense, Zhu Houzhao should not bear grudges against his mother. But don't forget that this is the imperial family, and many things cannot be speculated with common sense. What is even more troublesome is the day when Zhu Houzhao ascended the throne.
It's not far away. Once the emperor dies and Zhu Houzhao ascends the throne, no one can predict what will happen next.
One thing can be expected. If the relationship between Zhu Houzhao and his mother is not harmonious after he ascends the throne, life for himself and his brother will definitely be even more difficult.
Brothers Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling chatted with Queen Zhang for a while. On the occasion of the New Year, they always think of the deceased people of the Zhang family. Queen Zhang also shed some tears, and the Zhang brothers naturally also felt sad. Meeting Queen Zhang
Feeling a little tired, the two brothers said goodbye and left the palace. From beginning to end, Zhang Yanling never mentioned the matter of the leopard being shot, because it was no longer necessary.
The two brothers strolled along the avenue of the palace and walked outside the palace, chatting about trivial matters. When passing by the Changchun Palace, Zhang Yanling suddenly saw a few familiar figures. Those were the two brothers Zhou Shou and Zhou Yu leading Zhou Ying.
Walked out of Changchun Palace.
Changchun Palace is the residence of the Queen Mother Zhou. It seems that the Zhou brothers came to the palace to reunite with the Queen Mother.
Zhou Shou and others also met the Zhang brothers. Unexpectedly, Zhang Yanling thought they would not look down on him. After all, the two sides had a lot of conflicts before. Unexpectedly, Zhou Shou smiled at him from a distance.
After a while, he cupped his hands and bowed from a distance, and reminded Zhou Yu and Zhou Ying beside him to salute.
The three Zhou family members were polite and in a very calm mood. Naturally, the Zhang family brothers could not lose their etiquette and returned the courtesy. The two parties did not speak, only bowed and left. However, until after leaving the palace, Zhang Yanling felt that something was wrong.
Zhou Shou's smile was a little weird, his manners were thoughtful and deliberate, and it always felt a little strange.
Zhang Yanling told Zhang Heling the doubts in his heart, and Zhang Heling laughed and said: "Brother, you are overthinking. What's so strange about this? They are afraid and have surrendered. They don't dare to mess with us anymore. Once they surrender, they will naturally behave themselves."
.”
After hearing this, Zhang Yanling had no choice but to smile and nod. Maybe he was too sensitive, his nerves were too tight, and he felt like everyone was in danger. Maybe it was true as his brother said, the Zhou family was already afraid of their brothers, and they were convinced and no longer dared to do so.
You messed with yourself.
…
Hongzhi Emperor Zhu Youtang went to bed after returning from Kunning Palace. He slept very comfortably. He was a little tired from the worship activities in the morning. He also drank some wine at the family banquet with the Queen, the Prince and the Zhang brothers at noon.
So he slept soundly. In fact, every New Year is the time when he is in the happiest mood.
When he was still a child, he lived with his mother in the cold palace of Anletang, which was dark and low and never saw the light of day. Every New Year's Eve was the happiest time for Zhu Youtang. Because there were always some things during the New Year's Day.
Surprises, such as food and clothing, and when I get into trouble, my mother will not scold me loudly.
After he became the emperor, the annual New Year's Day was the time for family reunions, which made Emperor Hongzhi feel particularly good. He cherished the family ties around him precisely because he lacked these things. Therefore, if the relatives around him committed a crime,
No matter what mistakes he makes, he always tries every possible reason to forgive them. He likes to see the people around him happy and doesn't like to look sad. He feels that he has the responsibility to make them happy and make them feel at ease.
In the evening, Emperor Hongzhi woke up. When the chamberlain stood up to serve him, he reported to him: "The old Queen Mother sent someone to ask the Emperor. I wonder if the Emperor has time to go to Changchun Palace to have dinner with her tonight, the first day of the Lunar New Year."
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Of course I'm free. Have you reported this to the queen? In the evening, the queen, I and the prince will go to have a reunion dinner with her."
The chamberlain hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the old Queen Mother said... The Emperor can go alone."
Zhu Youtang said in confusion: "Why is that? Isn't it a reunion dinner? Wouldn't it be better to take the queen and Zhao'er with us?"
The chamberlain smiled apologetically and said: "What the old Queen Mother meant was that she wanted to have some words of respect with the Emperor. The maid sent by the Old Queen to deliver the message said that she was a little sad today and even cried when she paid homage in the morning. She also said
I have only a few more years to live, maybe next year... Hey, what are you talking about? In short, I just want to have a reunion dinner with the Emperor alone."
Zhu Youtang nodded slightly, and he understood. The New Year is here, and during every festive season, there must be special feelings. At such an age, the Queen Mother naturally misses her deceased people very much. She just wants to talk to herself. She is the only one she has
Only then could she say something considerate to herself. After all, she had brought her up. She was not here for the reunion dinner, she just wanted to talk to herself. She was happy when the queen and the prince went.
Thinking of what the old Queen Mother said, "I'll have a good life in just a few years," Zhu Youtang sighed and ordered: "I ordered someone to go to Kunning Palace to report to the Queen. I will go to Changchun Palace to talk to the Queen Mother, and I will go to Kunning Palace later.
. They, mother and son, can eat by themselves, so they don’t have to wait for me."