In the Chinese New Year's Eve, the smell of festivities filled the inside and outside of the palace, and the atmosphere of the New Year temporarily diluted the gloom caused by the war in Liaodong.

On the night of the thirtieth day of the Chinese New Year's Eve, Chongzhen held a family banquet in the Nuan Pavilion and invited his sister-in-law, Empress Dowager Zhang Yan and Concubine Liu, to have a reunion dinner together.

Concubine Liu was the concubine of Emperor Wanli, Chongzhen's grandfather, Mingshenzong. In the sixth year of Wanli, the imperial court selected beauties among the people for the wedding of Emperor Wanli, and finally selected three women. One of the women, Wang Xijie, was made queen, and Liu was canonized as Concubine Zhao at the age of 21. Concubine Liu Zhao was one of the earliest concubines around Emperor Wanli, but she was not favored and had no children.

In the forty-eighth year of Wanli, Emperor Wanli died of illness. Concubine Wang Gong's son Mingguangzong ascended the throne, but died in the "Red Pill Case" in less than a month. Ming Xizong ascended the throne, and there was another "palace transfer case" in the harem court. After the incident subsided, the concubines who were nominally qualified to be the queen mother at that time had all passed away, and only Emperor Zheng had the highest title, but she had done everything to harm others and herself for more than 30 years, and was hated by the court, and Concubine Liu Zhao had a generous personality, and she loved the kings for many years, and was quite respected, and was named the imperial concubine, living in Cining Palace, and in charge of the queen mother's seal.

Concubine Liu Zhao, who has been in the palace for more than 40 years, finally made a name for herself. However, the Liu family, who has a docile personality and is accustomed to the ups and downs of many sisters in the harem, has long been well versed in the way of survival in the harem, and has not been carried away by the title of concubine. It was at her insistence that Empress Zhou was chosen.

During the Apocalypse, the eunuch Wei Zhongxian and the nurse Ke were rampant, because Concubine Liu was quiet and inactive, neither with Ke Wei nor provoking Ke Wei, so she survived the seven years of the Xizong Dynasty safely. After Chongzhen ascended the throne, she became more prestigious in the court and palace.

During the banquet, Concubine Liu said, "Your Majesty, I heard that you have rarely been to the queen and concubine recently."

Concubine Li, that is, the historical Tian Guifei.

"Back to the concubine, yes, because after all, the grandson has just ascended the throne and is busy with government affairs." Chongzhen said respectfully, in front of this elder whom he should call his grandmother, he would not put on any shelf.

"It's a good thing to be diligent, but you also have to go around the harem a lot, and it's good to spread grace." Concubine Liu said.

"The words of the concubine, the grandson must be remembered." Chongzhen said.

"I'm old, and I don't have a few years to live. The affairs of the state are not something that women like us can interfere with, but I hope that in my lifetime, I can see that His Majesty has an heir, then I can go with peace of mind. Concubine Liu said wistfully.

Zhang Yan on the side took Concubine Liu's hand and said, "What are these words, Concubine, you will definitely live a long life."

"That's it, the concubine will definitely live a long life." Empress Zhou and Concubine Li said in unison.

"That's right, Concubine Niang, you must live a long life. When the time comes, your great-grandchildren, great-great-great-grandchildren, future grandchildren, and grandchildren can all accompany you here to dine and share the joy of family. Chongzhen also catered to the way.

"Haha, then I'm not going to be an old goblin?"

When Chongzhen heard this, he was not happy, and said: "What are these words, you, you are a fairy in the sky."

Chongzhen's words coaxed the old man to be happy, and Concubine Liu said with a smile: "Don't be stunned, let's eat, the dishes are going to be cold!"

Only then did everyone realize that they hadn't moved their chopsticks yet.

"Ahh By the way, Grandpa Gao, bring that one. Chongzhen suddenly remembered something.

After a while, Gao Shiming came over with a copper plate, and dozens of silver coins were placed on the plate.

"...... this?" Everyone asked.

Facing everyone's questions, Chongzhen explained: "This is a silver coin made by the Treasure Source Bureau, which is going to be used in place of silver in the future. These will be given to the concubine first, the imperial sister-in-law, the queen and the concubine, you also have it, and I will reward you with the people below. ”

After that, Chongzhen picked up a silver coin, put it to his mouth and blew it, and then brought it to Concubine Liu's ear and said, "Listen, Concubine."

"Huh? There is a crisp sound, which is rare. Concubine Liu said in surprise.

Zhang Yan and the others also picked up a silver coin, blew it vigorously, and then put it to their ears to listen, and they were all very surprised. Chongzhen, on the other hand, was completely ignored and ate the dishes by himself.

That night, Chongzhen went to bed early under the service of Empress Zhou (without that), because the next day there was to be a great pilgrimage on the Yuan day.

Early the next morning, Chongzhen wore a crown dress under the service of Empress Zhou and the palace maids. Seeing Queen Zhou and several palace maids busy coming and going, Chongzhen felt that this crown dress was too troublesome to wear, no wonder it couldn't be worn often.

Holding Zhengui and walking out of the warm pavilion, the cold wind hit, Chongzhen shivered, but then a heat wave rose from his heart.

Today is the first day of the first year of Chongzhen; Beginning today, my time has officially arrived; From today, the flag of Daming will flutter in the wind again.

Sitting on the jade chariot, Chongzhen did not feel sleepy for the first time. In the previous pilgrimage meetings and a pilgrimage on the winter solstice, he had carried out it with sleepy eyes, but this time, he felt unprecedented mental energy.

In front of the Imperial Palace, Chongzhen stepped down the jade chariot and stepped up the marble steps step by step.

He is enjoying this feeling now, domineering, mighty.

Chongzhen entered the Imperial Palace, and Gao Shiming shouted loudly: "Your Majesty has arrived!"

The ministers knelt down and kowtowed three times.

Chongzhen walked to the throne, glanced at the ministers, sat down, and said, "Excuse me"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The ministers rose up in response.

"Chen Shi Fenglai, congratulations to Your Majesty on the joy of the New Year, and wish me a great Ming dynasty for thousands of generations." Shi Fenglai, the first assistant of the cabinet, was the first to appear.

Shi Fenglai was the first place in the 35th year of Wanli, the second in the Huiyuan, the second in the palace examination, and was awarded the Hanlin editor. In July of the sixth year of the Apocalypse, he was promoted to the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, a scholar of the East Pavilion University, and entered the cabinet. In October, he was promoted to the crown prince and a scholar of Wenyuange. In November, he was promoted to Shaobao and Prince Taibao, Hubu Shangshu, and Wuyingdian University Scholar.

When Shi Fenglai entered the cabinet, it was when Wei Zhongxian was in power, Shi Fenglai flattered him with softness, and he was powerful, but he also did some "calm and protecting" things, such as the Chinese envoy Li Mingdao wanted to hire a civilian ship to transfer, and Shi Fenglai stopped it. Shi Fenglai calmly defended him, moved Xizong, and "secretly revealed" the rescue, so that Wen Zhenmeng was saved from great disaster. The Huangji Hall was completed, Wei Zhongxian talked about his merits, and Shi Fenglai tried to introduce the ancestral system, thinking that he had no military merits and should not be shaded. But the holy decree came from the palace, and Shi Fenglai refused to accept it.

Since Wei Zhongxian was sent to the central capital Fengyang to guard the mausoleum, Shi Fenglai has been worried that he will be liquidated by the emperor. And he can only obey the emperor's words above the court, there is no way, if he wants to live well, then he can only rely on His Majesty today.

And there are a lot of impeachments of Shi Fenglai, but Chongzhen ignores them, he doesn't plan to let Shi Fenglai step down, because if he wants to suppress civil officials, he needs an obedient cabinet chief, and Shi Fenglai is undoubtedly the best candidate.

For the sake of his own safety, Shi Fenglai has always followed Chongzhen's words, no matter what Chongzhen says, he is "seconding". This made Chongzhen very satisfied.

After Shi Feng, the first assistant of the cabinet, came to congratulate him, the ministers sang congratulatory speeches one after another.

When he was grinding out of his ears by the congratulatory message, the morning greeting session finally ended.

"Zhongqing, today is the first day, I am happy with Qing, in order to show joy, I have a reward today, come."

Then, from outside the hall, dozens of small eunuchs with trays walked in, and in the tray, there were neatly stacked silver coins.

"These are made of silver, and I will reward them to the Qings, so they should be the Qings' money!" Chongzhen said that he was planning to start promoting silver coins among officials, and in order to increase the officials' curiosity about silver coins, he added: "You put the silver coins in your mouths and blow them, and then put them in your ears and listen to them."

After listening to Chongzhen's words, those ministers tried to do it, and when they heard it, heh, there was a sound, it was a crisp hum.

"Your Majesty, what is this?" A minister couldn't hold back the curiosity in his heart and asked.

"This is a silver coin made by the Treasure Source Bureau, I am going to replace the silver tael with this silver coin, a silver coin is made of one tael of silver, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty's move is wonderful."

"If this coin is introduced, it will save a lot of trouble."

"Your Majesty deserves to be called the Son of Heaven."

For a time, there was constant flattery in the court.

And the unified view is that "this move is wonderful", although Chongzhen also guessed that the ministers would definitely agree, but he didn't expect to agree so quickly.

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Today's double watch will be sent, and we will continue tomorrow.