When lunchtime was approaching, Zhu Houzhao, who had originally agreed to come to dine with Zhang Yanling and the Queen Mother, changed his mind. The young eunuch from the Qianqing Palace put down the food box he had brought and conveyed Zhu Houzhao's words to Queen Mother Zhang and Zhang Yanling.
"The Queen Mother, Mr. Zhang, the Emperor said that today he is sleepy and has no appetite. So he will not come to eat at noon. The Queen Mother and Mr. Zhang are invited to eat by themselves. The Emperor specially ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare several dishes as a reward. The Emperor said, please invite Marquis Jianchang After lunch, go to Qianqing Palace to see you."
Queen Mother Zhang's face darkened. After the little eunuch left, Queen Mother Zhang sat at the table angrily and said coldly: "Brother, you saw it too. This is how he treated her mother. He didn't even have a meal. I don’t even want to eat here.”
Zhang Yanling smiled bitterly and consoled her: "Second sister, don't be angry. The emperor is young and doesn't know much about the ways of the world. In a few years, when he gets older, he will understand the kindness of his parents."
Empress Dowager Zhang sneered: "My son, Mo Ruomu, will not change. He knows better than anyone else that he hates his mother. I don't know why the Ai family is so disgusted by him."
Zhang Yanling comforted her in a low voice: "Second sister, why do you have to say it so seriously? Maybe he just feels uncomfortable in front of you and is a little afraid. How can you say it is disgust? Some things still need time to slowly dissipate. The more you care, the more you care. The more you force it, the more counterproductive it will be. No matter what, he is also your son."
Empress Dowager Zhang breathed a sigh of relief and said: "That's all, I don't care about this anymore. If he doesn't come, the two of us, brother and sister, can talk more freely. Fortunately, he is still very good to you. The Ai family doesn't want him to hate him because of it. Mother is harsh on your brothers."
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "The emperor understands in his heart that it is not like this. Second sister, let's eat. I'm very hungry. It's rare for us siblings to be reunited today, so don't talk about unhappy things."
Empress Dowager Zhang showed a smile and said: "That's right. We, sister and brother, haven't had a good meal and talked for a long time. My sister also wants to hear about your trip to Ningxia to suppress the rebellion this time."
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Let's talk while eating. Let me see what dishes the emperor rewarded."
Zhang Yanling reached out and opened the food box and prepared to take out the dishes given by Zhu Houzhao. However, Empress Dowager Zhang snatched the food box away and said in a deep voice: "My sister has cooked so many dishes for you, why do you still eat these? Royal meal" The food in the room is unpalatable.”
After that, Empress Dowager Zhang shouted loudly toward the outside: "Someone, please pour out all the vegetables in this food box."
Zhang Yanling was stunned and thought to herself: It seems that the knot between the Queen Mother and the Emperor is really deep. How come the relationship between mother and son has become more and more different is a problem that needs to be solved.
The two siblings sat down to eat, and the Queen Mother Zhang personally served Zhang Yanling with food and wine. She didn't eat much herself, but there was heartfelt joy on her face as she watched Zhang Yanling eat and drink. Zhang Yanling knew that the Queen Mother really loved her. As the eldest sister, she treats herself, the younger brother of the Zhang family, like a mother. This kind of love from the heart can never be faked.
No wonder Zhu Houzhao was a little jealous because of this. Empress Dowager Zhang was indeed much kinder to her than to Zhu Houzhao. At least in terms of feelings, that was the case.
The two siblings talked and got along very well. When it came to countering the rebellion, Zhang Yanling naturally would not say anything that would worry her, but would only talk to her about unimportant things. Try not to let Zhang Yanling worry about it. The Queen Mother was frightened and panicked.
The meal was in a happy mood. Zhang Yanling ate half a bottle of wine and a large bowl of rice, feeling satisfied.
After making tea and sitting down, Empress Dowager Zhang told Zhang Yanling that the emperor's wedding needs to be put on the agenda. A woman named Xia who entered the palace in last year's draft has been selected. The emperor should have got married and raised a child long ago, but it has been delayed. It's been a year, and now we can't put off this matter any longer.
Empress Dowager Zhang asked Zhang Yanling to mention this matter when she went to see the emperor later and ask for his opinion.
Zhang Yanling felt a little sad after hearing this. As a mother, it is very sad that she has to ask her son's opinion through other people's mouth for her son's marriage. However, as the uncle of the country, he does have this responsibility. Mention It doesn't hurt to mention it.
After drinking a cup of tea, it was already late in the morning. Zhang Yanling was thinking about going to see Zhu Houzhao, so she stood up and left.
Empress Dowager Zhang was also a little tired at noon and did not try to persuade her to stay. She only told Zhang Yanling that in the evening she would have a decree to reward Zhang Yanling, and asked Zhang Yanling to go back to the palace to inform the female family members in the mansion after meeting the emperor. Zhang Yanling knew that she had made a meritorious service, and her family members would also be rewarded. He thanked Empress Dowager Zhang first and then took his leave.
On the way from Jingren Palace to Qianqing Palace, Zhang Yanling kept thinking about some of the changes that had happened to the Queen Mother. The changes in her sister, the Queen Mother, were huge. Before, she lived a very simple life, and her clothes, clothing, and residence were all. She was extremely frugal, but this time when she entered the palace, both the living equipment and her dress were completely different.
The clothes he wears are gorgeous, the jewelry he wears is exquisite, and his residence has been renovated with exquisite carvings and decorations. In the past, coming to the palace to eat with his second sister was simply an experience of remembering the bitter and savoring the sweet. The dishes on the table were always simple meals. They were not allowed to drink too much wine, and they were very frugal and simple. But this time, the table was full of wine and food, all of which were of good quality, which can be called a luxury.
That's all. What's more obvious is that her mental state seems to have completely changed.
Empress Dowager Zhang used to be a cheerful and lively person, but after her brother-in-law Zhu Youtang passed away, she cried all day long, remained silent and dazed, and she seemed to have aged many years. She could not get over it for a long time. But Now, Queen Mother Zhang's eyes were filled with light. That light was full of hope and vitality.
Zhang Yanling feels that her sister seems to be more energetic than her brother-in-law Zhu Youtang was when he was still alive. It is as if she has been reborn. This feeling is still different. This cannot be simply attributed to her sister just getting over the grief of losing her husband. .The feeling was hard to describe, but it felt familiar. For a moment, Zhang Yanling couldn't place her finger on it.
Empress Dowager Zhang did not know how to read the Book of Songs or copy the sentences in the Book of Songs before. She also read books before, but her preferences were the same as Zhu Youtang's. She read some history books and the difficult-to-understand I-Ching Buddhist scriptures. Zhu Youtang did not She likes to read the Book of Songs and says that some of the poems and essays in the Book of Songs are "too frivolous", which my sister naturally agrees with. But the Book of Songs on the table and the copied text show that it was completely influenced by Zhu Youtang. That’s all.
Thinking about the content of the copied verses and the portrait of the back hanging in the tent, Zhang Yanling always felt that something was wrong here. What was wrong specifically, but he could not tell.
Zhang Yanling thought about it all the way, and finally decided not to think about these things. In any case, Queen Mother Zhang is in a good state and mood now, and this is what she wants to see. Therefore, there is no need to think too much. As long as she It's good to be happy.
…
In the back hall of Qianqing Palace, Zhu Houzhao and Zhang Yanling were sitting on the corridor opposite each other, drinking tea and chatting.
When Zhu Houzhao woke up from his nap, he was in good spirits and mood. The monarch and his ministers talked happily.
After chatting some gossip, Zhu Houzhao suddenly changed the topic, put away his smile and said to Zhang Yanling: "Uncle, I have something to ask you."
"Excuse me, Your Majesty." Zhang Yanling said hurriedly.
Zhu Houzhao said: "You said in the palace this morning that Liu Jin sent Zhou Dong to search for bribes. Do you really have any evidence?"
Zhang Yanling was stunned and said: "Why does the emperor ask this?"
Zhu Houzhao smiled and said: "Uncle, I won't hide it from you. When I was in the palace in the morning, I suddenly felt that you were trying to excuse Yang Tinghe, so you said that deliberately. In fact, you have no evidence at all, right? You just want to scare Liu Jin and make him Don’t pursue Yang Tinghe’s accusation, right?”
Zhang Yanling looked at Zhu Houzhao in surprise. He knew that Zhu Houzhao was smart, but he didn't expect that he was smarter and more sensitive than he thought. It turned out that he was aware of all this.
"Uncle, don't worry. I don't want to hold you accountable for anything. I just hope that I can live in peace. During this time, I was exhausted mentally and physically. I couldn't sleep at night because of Zhu Zhixiu's rebellion. Now that the rebellion has subsided, I I just want this matter to be settled and not cause any more problems," Zhu Houzhao said.
Zhang Yanling was silent, thinking about how to respond.
But Zhu Houzhao smiled and said: "There is no need for my uncle to tell me the truth about this matter. I just feel that my uncle is not the kind of careless person. Without conclusive evidence in hand, my uncle will not stand up and accuse Liu Jin. I would rather believe it." What you said is true. However, I have some thoughts of my own, and I won’t hide them from you.”
Zhang Yanling said softly: "Your Majesty, please speak."