"Zhang Xuexi, the chief secretary of Chengezhiyuan, has met your majesty. Long live your majesty!" Zhang Xuexi walked into the room and saw a man wearing the emperor's uniform. He knelt down and saluted.
"I'm free of charge." Yun said with a smile.
Zhang Xuexi saluted again and stood up. At this time, he realized that Wen Yuan was also there, so he quickly saluted and said, "I have met His Highness the Crown Prince."
While saluting Wenyuan, he glanced around. This was a small room with a table in the middle of the room. There were many plates on the table, filled with vegetables, and the fragrance was overflowing; Yun Wenyuan and his son
Sitting at the table, it seems that he is having a meal.
'It would be too disrespectful to meet the ministers during the meal.' Zhang Xuexi suddenly thought angrily.
"You don't have to be polite." Wen Yuan didn't like him, but he suppressed his unhappiness and said.
"Xuexi, why are you so polite? You have been given the marriage as the consort, and we are a family. There is no need to be polite to me or Wen Yuan." Yun stood up and walked to his side, saying with a smile.
"Your Majesty, sir," Zhang Xuexi wanted to say something more, but was interrupted before he could finish his words: "You should call yourself my son-in-law. Just call me father-in-law, and you can call Wen Yuan your husband."
Even some clan members called Wen Yuan "Lang Jun" instead of calling him according to his seniority. It would be better for Zhang Xuexi to be called him like this.
After hearing this, Zhang Xuexi remembered that he was already a prince-in-law. Although he had not yet officially married, the marriage decree had been issued. Unless a huge change occurred, the royal family would never regret it, and the scholars also regarded him as a prince-son-in-law.'
I was so nervous. It was the first time I was summoned to the palace to have an audience with His Majesty. I even forgot for a moment that I had been given the marriage as your consort.' Zhang Xuexi thought to herself.
"What are you thinking about?" Yun asked again.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Taishan, my son-in-law, just now was very excited because he was summoned to the palace for the first time. He forgot for a moment that he had been given the marriage as the consort." Zhang Xuexi said honestly.
Yun immediately laughed and laughed for a while before saying: "You, can you forget this? How excited are you?"
"My son-in-law, I can't describe how excited I am. I just know that I have never been so excited before." Zhang Xuexi said.
"Haha, I won't be so excited after entering the palace a few more times. Okay, I won't say more, and the food is already cold. Xuexi, you sit on the chair on my right and Wenyuan on the left. The bowls and chopsticks are already there
It's ready for you." Yun pulled him to the table.
"How dare I sit and eat with His Majesty!" Zhang Xuexi immediately said again, and changed his name.
"I have already said that we are all a family, so what's the problem with you sitting next to me to eat? Besides, even if you are not in this status, it is normal for ordinary officials to eat with me. You don't have to worry, just sit down
." Yun said.
Wenyuan glanced sideways at his father. In his early years, his father often ate with his ministers, but in the past ten years, except for the Zhengdan dinner, he rarely ate with his ministers. It was not a common occurrence at all. But Wen Yuan
Yuan Ye would not expose his father's words, but just stood aside and stared at Zhang Xuexi's expression.
"But," Zhang Xuexi hesitated again, and then sat down, but only half of his buttocks was next to the chair, and he didn't dare to sit down fully.
Yun also sat down with a smile, and ordered his servants to serve him food and rice. Only then did Zhang Xuexi notice that the plate on the table was very strange. The plate was not only rectangular, but also divided into pieces. There were more than ten pieces, just like
Many small plates were set on a shelf. While he was watching, a young eunuch picked up the plate in front of him, put food on the small plate, put more than ten small plates with the food on it, and brought it back to him.
before.
"I like the meal sharing system, but it seems very alienating for a family to eat together, just like a Zhengdan banquet and a meal for civil servants and generals. So I ordered the internal officials to supervise the making of such a plate, with a little of each dish on it.
If the same dish is not enough, order the eunuch to add more. In this way, although the meals are divided, you can still eat at the same table." Seeing Zhang Xuexi's somewhat confused look, Yun explained.
After that, the three people, who can also be called a family of three, began to eat. Yun chatted with Zhang Xuexi while eating. The two of them chatted for a while, and Yun asked: "Has there been any progress in the research on steam engines in the past two days?"
"No." Zhang Xuexi shook his head and said, "I have been very worried about the marriage these days and have no intention of studying steam engines."
"What's there to be worried about? Are you unwilling to become the consort?" Yun's voice immediately turned cold.
"Your Majesty, His Highness Guangling is young and beautiful, and he is kind to me. How can I not want to become the consort? But after all, I don't know the temperament of His Highness Guangling, and I don't know how to get along with His Highness in the future, so I am a little worried. Moreover, I am still a little confused.
Cuo. Chen never thought that he would marry a princess. Even in his dreams, he did not dare to think so. His relatives in his family never dared to have such daydreams. Therefore, after the imperial edict was read out, no one in his family knew.
At a loss." Zhang Xuexi's voice was trembling, but he managed to speak fluently. He was very scared at this time. Yun's cold voice just now almost scared him to the point of peeing, and it took him a lot of willpower to hold back.
I had the urge to kneel down to apologize and said these words.
"I see." Yun's expression became warm again, and her tone of voice became gentler. "You don't know Guang Ling, so you feel uneasy. This is indeed very normal. But you don't have to worry like this. Although Guang Ling is different from ordinary women in the boudoir,
But she has a gentle temperament and is very suitable for you. When you get married in the future, you will definitely be harmonious."
"I dare not lie to His Majesty. Even if His Majesty said so, I and my family will still feel uneasy." Zhang Xuexi added.
"Haha, this is human common sense. After all, you have never gotten along with Guang Ling, so you are naturally doubtful of what others say. If you don't talk about this, why did you change your title again? You should call me father-in-law." Yun said with a smile.
"Yes, my son-in-law knows." Zhang Xuexi said hurriedly.
"What did we talk about just now? Oh, speaking of you not interested in studying steam engines. Xuexi, this is not possible. Your wedding will not be held until at least November. Don't you want to study steam engines in these eight months? Steam engines are
It is of great benefit to the country and the people. If it can be improved as early as possible, it can pull heavier objects and be used in more places, it will be a good thing for the court and the people. So you have been doing these few months
We must also study the steam engine seriously and continue to improve it to benefit both the court and the people." Yun said.
"Yes, I, my son-in-law, know it. My son-in-law will definitely work hard to improve the steam engine." Zhang Xuexi said hurriedly.
Yun nodded and added: "It goes without saying that steam engines can be used in many places in the future. Many factories will be greatly improved in efficiency due to steam engines in the future. But I had another idea the day before yesterday. I want to talk to you about it to see if it can be done.
Realize. Do you think it is feasible to use steam engines on track carriages instead of horses to drive vehicles?"
"Use steam engines on tramcars instead of horses to drive vehicles?" Zhang Xuexi repeated subconsciously. He didn't speak for a while, but his eyes became brighter and brighter. After a while, he said loudly: "Okay!"
"What?" Yun had been silent when Zhang Xuexi was thinking about it, and now he asked.
"Your Majesty is not only talented in literature and military skills, but also has such a keen intuition in science. He is truly the most versatile person in history." Zhang Xuexi did not immediately explain why he said 'yes'. Instead, he stood up and stood in front of Yun with a solemn expression.
said.
Yun wanted to say a few words with a smile, but was affected by Zhang Xuexi's expression. He couldn't say what he wanted to say, and said with a very solemn expression: "I don't dare."
"This is your minister Meng Lang. How can I comment on your majesty and ask your majesty to punish my sins?" Zhang Xuexi came back to his senses and said in a panic.
"What's this? There's no need to apologize." Yun Ye came back to his senses and said with a smile, and then said: "Let's not talk about it anymore. Judging from your appearance, what can be done by using a steam engine on a rail carriage instead of a horse to drive the vehicle?
arrive?"
"Your Majesty, this will definitely be possible in the future." Zhang Xuexi said: "The steam engine can pull the lever. As long as the wheels of the vehicle are modified and connected with the steam engine, the vehicle can be driven forward. However, the current steam engine is not big enough.
It is small, heavy, and requires coal to be used as fuel, so it cannot be done. But I will definitely be able to improve the steam engine enough to drive the vehicle."
"Okay!" Yun said: "If a steam engine can be used to drive a vehicle, it will be of great use to the court. During this period, you will study how to install the steam engine into the car. If you can develop a steam engine that can drive the vehicle before the wedding,
, and the speed of the vehicle is no slower than that of the carriage within ten miles, I will confer you the title of Earl, and let the whole world know that this is the position of Earl that you earned by yourself, not because of your status as consort."
"I thank your Majesty for your grace. I will definitely work hard to research a steam engine that can drive vehicles." Zhang Xuexi bowed and said.
"Okay." Yun said again.
During the second half of the meal, Yun kept discussing the problem of steam locomotives with Zhang Xuexi. From time to time, Yun mentioned some of the train structures that were developed by later generations, seemingly unintentionally, which repeatedly made Zhang Xuexi's eyes light up. Wenyuan was completely reduced to a foil, sitting on the
Listening to the conversation between father and brother-in-law.
After the meal was finished and Zhang Xuexi also left the palace, Wenyuan Tongyun said: "Father, did you summon Zhang Xuexi today just to let him study the steam engine that drives the vehicle?"
"This is just one of the purposes." Yun said: "After the steam engine was developed, the first thing my father thought of was to use it to drive vehicles. Although steam locomotives were mostly not as good as rail carriages in the early days, not only were they not as fast, they were not necessarily as expensive.
It's small, but the running speed of rail carriages can no longer be accelerated, and the weight of the goods pulled can no longer be increased. However, as the objects pulled by steam locomotives become heavier and heavier in the future, they will run faster and faster. Sooner or later,
It will surpass the tramcar and the cost will be reduced.”
"As for the use of faster and larger transportation, Wenyuan, you should be able to understand. This means that the Ming Dynasty can transport many soldiers, including grain, grass, and ordnance to distant places in a shorter time, and these soldiers can get off the steam locomotive.
When fighting, you will not be exhausted by long-distance marches. Whether it is to go to foreign countries or to quell rebellions, it will be of great use. The biggest drawback of the military arrangement that emphasizes internal affairs and neglects external affairs will also be solved. Not to mention saving money
of manpower and food.”
"So my father must strongly support Zhang Xuexi in improving the steam engine and creating a steam engine for driving vehicles. Wenyuan, if my father's generation cannot see steam locomotives that are faster and carry more weight than rail carriages, you will never give up after you succeed to the throne.
We must continue to support research.”
"Father, don't worry, my son will definitely support the improvement of steam engines." Wenyuan agreed.
"That's good." Yun said with a smile.
He added: "As for the other purpose of announcing Zhang Xuexi's entry to the palace for his father, it is to see him again. Although Zhang Xuexi was an honest man before the imperial decree of marriage was issued, I have no other purpose except being addicted to research.
Hobby, a very clean and self-sufficient person, but people can change. My father announced his entry into the palace, and mentioned your eldest sister several times, just to see with my own eyes whether he has changed because of becoming the consort, and turned into a person that my father hates.
. It seems that he has not changed yet, but the imperial edict has only been issued for two days, so he may not have time to change. In the next few months, the father will often call him into the palace, and also ordered Jin Yiwei to send people to keep an eye on him. If he changes
If you become someone that my father hates, my father will definitely not let your eldest sister marry him."
"Father, the decree granting the marriage has been read out. Even if Zhang Xuexi has changed, how can we prevent the eldest sister from marrying him? Do we need to break off the engagement?" Wen Yuan asked.
"I won't break off the engagement." Yun said, "Let him die in an accident. Although being a widower has a bad reputation, it is better than breaking off the engagement."
"Killed Zhang Xuexi? But, father, if someone finds out doing this, won't it affect his father's reputation? And if Zhang Xuexi dies, who will continue to study steam engines?" Hearing his father's words, Wen Yuan was stunned for a moment.
, said.
"Of course my father will not give the order himself. Even if he is found out, someone will take responsibility for the matter. You don't have to worry. As for studying steam engines, my father plans to let Zhang Xuexi bring a few apprentices to study with him."
"Of course, these measures are just for precaution, and my father will not insist on executing him; and the most important thing is your eldest sister's wish. As long as your eldest sister is still willing to marry Zhang Xuexi, my father will not be against him.
What about him? But if your eldest sister doesn't want to marry him again, your father will kill him immediately." Yun said again.
"Father, even so, there is no need to execute Zhang Xuexi, as long as he is injured and becomes disabled, and then actively proposes to terminate the engagement." Wenyuan said. Although he wants to be a benevolent king in the future, the health of an outsider is
Obviously, his own sister's happiness is not as important.
"That's not bad. But it will still affect your eldest sister's reputation. It's best to put him to death. But there is no need to say more about this now. We will discuss it after it actually happens." Yun said a few more words and stopped this.