As soon as Zhu Ying left, the emperor once again conveyed the gag order to everyone in the Qianqing Palace.
"No word of what Zhang Qing and Wang Qing came to talk about today should be leaked. Otherwise, they will be punished with life-long hard labor as before, and they will not be pardoned!"
During the previous selection of a son-in-law, despite his repeated prohibitions, someone still couldn't help but leak the news, and with the order of sitting in front of him, the palace official almost spread the news on the front foot, and was exposed on the back foot. He was always lenient to his subordinates. The emperor was so furious that he punished the palace servant for fifty years and punished him as a slave in clothes. The servant who had seduced him into leaking the news was killed with a cane.
Not only that, the Queen Mother even ordered that if the palace servant was beaten to death or maimed, the executioner would be guilty of the same crime; if he died in the Huanyi Bureau within three years, the director of the Huanyi Bureau would be also guilty of the same crime. The chamberlain who had previously leaked the information to her was In Xu Meiren's palace, Xu Meiren deprived her of her title and was kept in a claustrophobic palace. The rest were all assigned to the various palace gardens to clean up. For a time, the whole palace was as silent as a cicada, and they no longer dared to pry into the Qianqing Palace.
As for the palace servants in the Qianqing Palace, no one dares to have extramarital affairs. The palace servants are waiting for their old age to be released from the palace; several chamberlains are waiting for the opportunity to be promoted. No one wants to get in trouble. The Queen Mother and the Emperor were on the point of purging the palace.
Therefore, no one knew the news that the emperor personally acted as a matchmaker for Zhao Guogong's second son, Zhu Erlang, Zhu Tingjie, and the niece of Yin Wangjie of Shuntian Prefecture. As for Wang Jie's report on the new textile machinery and Zhang Shou's presentation of the drawings, no one dared to do so. It's a lie.
In this quiet and peaceful atmosphere, the Winter Solstice finally arrived. This was Zhang Shou's first time to participate in such a grand event. He was dragged to the rehearsal three days in advance with other doctors from the Imperial College. The posture reminded him of various events in later generations. A rehearsal for a kind of party. Moreover, just as he had to attend some parties because he wanted to ensure exposure, he could not skip the Winter Solstice Gala.
The lady patiently taught him various experiences of the day several times - from how to deal with internal emergencies; to how to fill the stomach in advance to prevent starvation; to what kind of clothes to wear under the official uniform and prepare under the official boots. What kind of method can be used to prevent the freezing of hands and feet in the sudden cold weather in the capital? As a result, Zhu Ying, who was listening next to him, couldn't help but complain.
"Every time the emperor talks about the three major dynasties of Zhengdan, Wanshou and Winter Solstice, he sighs and complains about it. Can't it be simpler and not so complicated and grand? This is actually good for everyone!"
Zhang Shou immediately laughed. This was exactly the same as many people in later generations complained about the formality and tediousness of various meetings. When he saw the madam glaring at Zhu Ying angrily, he coughed and said: "Yingying, after all, there are so many envoys from all over the world gathered here." , many of them are even foreigners with different hair colors and skin colors. The court wants to declare martial law, so everyone has to reluctantly play their roles."
Thanks to Taizu, low-ranking officials have been spared many court meetings; what is even more grateful is that the summer is earlier and the time of the court meeting is delayed in winter; of course, the emperor is even more grateful. If it were not for the purpose of purging the academic style of the Imperial Academy, he, a doctor of the Imperial Academy, would The number of court visits will probably be much more. Of course, while he was happy, many of his colleagues were simply heartbroken, as if they were mourning the loss of their heirs, such as Yang Yiming of Suixingtang.
During the pre-rehearsal of the Winter Solstice dynasty meeting this time, he saw with his own eyes that Dr. Yang, who was much older, was so excited that his eyes filled with tears, and his forehead even turned purple when he kowtowed. At that time, he wanted to remind the other party that the emperor had no power at all. If you don't come, it's better to save your energy for the Winter Solstice Assembly, lest you be unable to brew your emotions by then.
At this time, Zhang Shou did not mention the joy of his colleagues when they attended the Winter Solstice meeting. Seeing that Zhu Ying also began to remind him to put special cushions on his knees, he plausibly said that this was the invention of Emperor Taizu, and began to teach the secrets of official uniforms.
He couldn't help but smile at the small heater's clever trick, and accepted the kindness one by one.
However, he thought he was prepared, but when it came to the lengthy Winter Solstice meeting, he realized that he had thought simply.
The envoys gathered together and hundreds of officials surrounded the grand scene. The grand scene was extremely spectacular. Compared with the blue bricks on the ground in front of the Taihe Hall in the Forbidden City in later generations, the ground today is smooth and flat. Together with the splendid and carved palaces, plus the
The officials in neat uniforms, countless envoys in strange costumes, and the indescribable solemnity cannot be compared to any party or meeting.
If there hadn't been that endless worship dance, maybe this would have been a very fresh experience...
Moreover, he witnessed with his own eyes that an old official with gray hair on his temples fell down and fainted, and was hurried away. He also heard someone whispering on the side, saying that the chief officer had persuaded this person, saying that there was no need to hold on, but
He was choked back by the fact that it was an honor for him to be a minister of the Ming Dynasty to attend the Winter Solstice Palace Meeting. He had just felt a little compassion and suddenly felt that he should not have too much compassion.
There is a fundamental difference between people in this era and people in his time - not everyone is Zhu Ying, and not everyone is a unique emperor, because only these two people have the ability to be unique -
-Most people have their own persistence, even if this persistence seems strange to him.
Relying on youth - the capital provided by time travel; good physical strength - recently the physical strength to stand up in the Imperial Academy every day, and by the way, he also plays swordsmanship twice a day; coupled with the handsome, elegant and gentle gentleman will always be forgiven - in fact, there are more
It was the envious and jealous looks of his colleagues... Zhang Shou finally made it to the end of the open-air court meeting.
A total of one and a half hours, not a long time, but these three hours of standing in the cold wind, even with ear warmers and hand protection, he still felt that he had been baptized from beginning to end. Fortunately, after it was over, a group of chamberlains immediately pushed him
The ginger soup heated over charcoal fire was brought to the table, and each person drank a bowl. It warmed the stomach and heart. Zhang Shou saw a large number of middle-aged and elderly officials, all of whom looked like they had finally come to life.
At this time, he heard Chu Kuan's familiar voice: "Everyone's winter solstice gift, the emperor will order people to send it to various government offices to comfort you all for your hard work for the country all day long!"
As soon as these words came out, many officials naturally praised the saint in succession, and many others were also happy. When Zhang Shouzheng was about to leave the palace with other people from the Imperial Academy, someone suddenly came out and intercepted him. It turned out to be the second prince.
Over the past few days, the second prince had instigated his eldest brother to go to the weaving and dyeing workshop to inquire about it. The second prince began to wait for Zhang Shou to lead his men and follow the same pattern against his eldest brother. However, he found that not only did nothing happen to the eldest prince,
On the contrary, he walked in and out in high spirits. The eldest prince's palace was full of guests all day long, many of whom were famous wealthy businessmen from Jiangnan and representatives of large and prominent families.
Now he couldn't sit still. After he tried his best to find out, the eldest prince actually bought a large number of new textile machines at a high price. He had been discussing cooperation with a large group of wealthy businessmen and wealthy families in Jiangnan for the past few days. He almost didn't know.
Passed out from anger.
He wanted this eldest brother who was not worthy of his virtue to be trapped in the same quagmire as himself, and had no intention of letting him get any other benefits!
Zhang Shou, Zhang Wu, Zhang Lu, and Zhao Guogong Zhu Jia all did it on purpose. They must have felt that he, the second prince, had no hope of inheriting the throne, so they went to curry favor with the eldest prince!
The second prince, who was mad with hatred, could not stand this cowardice, so he had to use all the skills he had around the eldest prince, and ordered to find out what the new spinning machine was at all costs. The hard work paid off, and he went forward and back.
After defeating more than a dozen spies who had been infiltrating the eldest prince's side for a long time, he finally learned the worst news for him.
The spinning speed of the new spinning machine is said to be six times that of the old spinning machine... at least that's what the eldest prince claimed to the people of Jiangnan!
At this time, the second prince who had intercepted Zhang Shou had a gloomy face. His anger alone made him want to burn Zhang Shou to pieces. Finally, he knew where this place was. Seeing other people avoiding him like snakes and scorpions, he looked at him with a sarcastic expression.
He said in a low voice: "Dr. Zhang is really good at playing tricks on me and at the same time lifting my eldest brother to the sky. Do you really think that he must be the future... prince?"
In his anger, he almost called the future prince the future emperor. But even so, the resentment was still palpable. Seeing Zhang Shou smile and not answer, he suddenly became even more angry: "What, Dr. Zhang?"
Dare to do it but dare not say it?”
"Haha." Zhang Shou laughed again, and then he saw that the second prince seemed to explode for a moment, and he said slowly, "The second prince just thinks that you haven't got the spinning machine, but the eldest prince borrowed it.
This handover of a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River has brought fame and wealth, so I feel unhappy. Instead of blaming others, you can actually do something that will destroy the boat, no, both parties will suffer."
The second prince suddenly became suspicious, and then said in a contemptuous and disdainful tone: "Do you think I will believe you?"
"Believe it or not, that is your business, Second Prince." Seeing that everyone around him had almost left, Zhang Shou said nonchalantly, "Second Prince, if you are not resentful of the eldest prince taking advantage of him, just go to the Emperor and tell the matter
Just poke it out. Just say that the new textile machinery benefits the country and the people, how can it be allowed to be monopolized by others for their own selfish purposes?"
He summarized what Zhu Ying reported at that time and what Wang Jie of Shuntian Prefecture said in front of the emperor. Seeing that the second prince's face suddenly turned green and white, he smiled and said: "That's all I have said. The second prince slowly thought about it."
,Farewell."
After walking far away, when Zhang Shou turned around casually and saw the second prince still standing there blankly, he knew that the second prince still couldn't make up his mind. The reason was simple. The second prince was probably still
He thought that if he had a chance to get the blueprints or textile machinery from the eldest prince, he would not only benefit from it, but also win over other famous families.
In the face of current interests, even if there is no awareness, such a person still wants to seize the direct descendant? Haha...
When Zhang Shou returned to the Imperial Academy, as soon as he entered the doctor's hall, he found that the faces of all the imperial doctors were very wrong. Especially Yang Yiming, who had been so excited about the Winter Solstice Dynasty and wanted to devote himself to it, his eyes were even more wishful.
Swallow him in.
Although he didn't know what happened, Zhang Shou had long been accustomed to the hostility of his colleagues, and he simply pretended not to have seen it at this time. But before he could go to Zhou Jijiu and Luo Siye as planned, he nodded in front of Zhou Jijiu and Luo Siye, and then returned by himself.
When he went to his Banshan Hall or Jiuzhang Hall, he saw Luo Siye coming out of it and nodding towards him with a smile.
"Dr. Zhang, the Winter Solstice gifts that the Emperor just gave to everyone in the Imperial College have been delivered to the Imperial College."
He paused, and then added: "Lu Chan, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, came in person. He also said that your copy of Zhan Shifu Zuo Zanshan and Hanlin Shidu should be sent to the corresponding yamen.
Yes, but knowing that your affairs are complicated, in order to prevent you from running around too much, he also sent it directly to the Imperial College."
After hearing this, if Zhang Shou still didn't understand that those weird looks just now were actually expressions of envy, jealousy and hatred, then he would have lived two lives in vain. Sure enough, the next moment, he only listened to Luo Siye's words
The more enviable part.
"Dr. Guozi's winter solstice gift is a can of tea, a box of cakes, a pot of wine, and five pounds of mutton."
Zhang Shou couldn't help but have a very funny thought in his mind as he listened. It was all food. Is this because he was afraid that the Imperial Academy Supervisor would be too poor to eat?
"The winter solstice gifts from Zuo Zanshan of Zuochunfang, Zhanshi Mansion, are a new imperial book, a Xuancheng pen, a pot of wine, and a box of cakes."
This is half food and half elegant things, but in the final analysis, it is still not worth a lot of money. Zhang Shou is still calculating the value in a philistine way.
"The winter solstice gift given by the imperial minister is..." At this point, Luo Siye paused. Thinking of the winter solstice gift given by two high-ranking officials, himself and Zhou Jijiu, he felt that his qualifications of more than ten years were nothing more than this. "Yes
A silk robe and a copper incense ball."
As soon as he finished speaking, he had only known that Zhang Shou had received three winter solstice gifts, so the envious academic officials of the Imperial Academy finally started buzzing and whispering again. Among them, Yang Yiming, who was a lot older, even had angry eyes.
There is no doubt that the Hanlin Academy's rewards are the most generous and elegant - yes, in their eyes, rewards of robes and sachets are more elegant than rewards of books and pens. This perception is common in the court
Fortunately, Zhang Shou was not of high rank and the reward was a copper sachet ball. If it had been silver, I'm afraid the other people's expressions would have been even worse.
However, Luo Siye seemed to be well aware of the characteristic of never stopping to speak without surprising, and finally said another sentence.
"In addition, the emperor said that he greatly appreciated Dr. Zhang's advice and gave him a Shu brocade robe. Lu Chan also sent a message that the emperor was right."
When Zhu Ying and Wang Jie entered the palace together before, she ran very fast, so when Zhang Shou asked the emperor for an answer, she was naturally hesitant and vague. If she couldn't avoid it, she would go back to the palace to ask specifically. Zhang Shou was helpless.
At the same time, naturally I said no need.
At this time, after receiving this relatively formal reply, he couldn't help but smile, and then he smiled and cupped his hands to Luo Siye and said, "Thank you, Shao Sicheng, for conveying this."
When Zhang Shou received three New Year's gifts and one special gift in the Imperial College, and was extremely famous among his colleagues, the second prince also received the New Year's gift as a prince. The two dry words
A piece of clothing material, two jars of royal wine, and nothing else.
Faced with such a desolate scene, he finally made up his mind.
"Get me the blueprint of the spinning machine. No matter how many people die, I will definitely get it!"