Inside the Kunning Palace.

Queen Zhang was lying on the couch, and she was not very sick, but in order to hook Zhu Youji, she pretended to be very sick to avoid illness, which was also one of her methods.

This trick was also very effective before, but since Zhu Youzhu had a new favorite, these tricks seem to be a little clumsy, this time it dragged on for a long time, Zhu Youzhu came to visit her condition, Queen Zhang has not seen her husband for two or three days, and it is very different from seeing her three or four times a day before and being inseparable at night.

"Didn't the Imperial Doctor come to see him?" Zhu Youzhu sat on the chair next to the couch and asked.

Empress Zhang said: "The people from the Tai Hospital have come and prescribed a prescription, but they haven't seen any good. ”

Zhu Youzhu asked again: "Didn't the daughter of the Ning family come over?" The ladies in the palace are sick, I asked her to pay more attention, and you can't hide the doctor, the queen. ”

Because Ning Tong has a close relationship with Concubine Xian, Queen Zhang has a problem with this, and Zhu Youzhu also knows this, so let Queen Zhang let her mind go a little more, and let Ning Tong come over for diagnosis and treatment if she is sick.

Empress Zhang was a little angry and said: "Ning has been here, but she can't come up with a plan, she hasn't learned medical skills for a few days, and even the imperial doctor can't diagnose and treat well, what can she do?" ”

Between the words, Empress Zhang was very dissatisfied with Ning Tong.

Zhu Youzhu said: "Speaking of which, the daughter of the Ning family is just a substitute for Yu Bingkuan when he is not in Beijing, and then the consultation of the female relatives in the palace, so that Bingkuan is inconvenient after all." If she can study for a while longer, she may be able to make a difference in the palace. ”

Empress Zhang asked: "The concubine tries her best to adjust her body, but she has been upset recently, and she will always think crankily when she can't see His Majesty." ”

"Hmm."

Zhu Youzhu is not hard-hearted in the end, seeing that his wife is so "dependent" on him, he still has some pity, he nodded and said: "Go back and let Bingkuan come to see you." ”

"Thank you Your Majesty for your concern."

Even if Empress Zhang resisted Ning Tong and the imperial doctor, she knew that Zhang Zhou would probably see that she was pretending to be sick when she came, but she still had to accept it, because the emperor was willing to find Zhang Zhou, a "busy man", to see a doctor, which was already a manifestation of her husband's most cherishing of herself.

After all, even Concubine Xian's side, if she is sick, she just lets Ning Tong come to see, and her treatment seems to be much higher than that of Concubine Xian.

"Mother, I'm back." At this moment, Zhu Xiurong jumped in from outside.

was still holding food in his hand, and when he came in and saw that Zhu Youzhi was also there, Zhu Xiurong hurriedly hid the food behind him: "Erchen asks my father for peace." ”

Zhu Youzhu frowned and said, "Didn't I already tell you that you need to eat more and eat less when it's not night?" Just don't listen! See how thin you are now? ”

Based on Zhu Youji's life experience since childhood, he has no chance to eat snacks, and eating is a very happy thing for him.

"Got it." Zhu Xiurong obediently admitted his mistake.

"How are you studying lately? Is there progress? Zhu Youzhu asked.

Zhu Xiurong looked up at Queen Zhang, and seemed to wonder why her mother was so sick that she needed to be bedridden, obviously when I came over in the morning, the queen mother was fine.

Empress Zhang said: "The girl's family can't learn much, Your Majesty should not embarrass her." ”

"Nope." Zhu Youzhu seems to be very insistent on educating her daughter, "As a princess, in addition to learning the necessary Four Books and Five Classics, learning basic knowledge, but also using this to understand things, for the daughter of the royal family, there is no saying that a woman is virtuous if she is not talented." is like Yongkang, she is more and more willful now because she was not good at school before. ”

Zhu Youzhu has the limitations of the times.

From his point of view, Yongkang is so unreasonable, all because he doesn't study well, and as for the more detailed reasons, Zhu Youzhu doesn't bother to pay attention to them.

Empress Zhang said to her daughter: "Xiurong, do you hear that?" Your father told you to study hard, and you will definitely study hard with your husband in the future. ”

Zhu Xiurong said: "Father, why can the imperial brother have so many gentlemen to teach him, but not his sons?" ”

Meaning, favoritism, I don't accept it.

Zhu Youzhu said: "Didn't I ask the speaker of the East Palace to tell you too?" You are not too young, in addition to literacy, first learn the four books, if there is deeper knowledge, I will find someone to teach. That's it, I still have something to say to your queen mother, so you can step back first. ”

"Oh."

Zhu Xiurong was about to leave after saluting, still holding on to his own food.

When she saw her father's gaze a little grim, she could only reluctantly hand over the snacks to the female officer on the side and leave with a suffocated mouth.

"Your Majesty, there is still no need to be too harsh on Xiurong." Empress Zhang felt a little sorry for her daughter.

Loving mothers have many defeated children, Queen Zhang's attitude towards Zhu Houzhao and Zhu Xiurong is basically the same, they are both conniving and spoiling, she does not deliberately teach her children.

It is precisely because of her "strength" that Zhu Youzhi has deficient in taking care of Zhu Hou.

Of course, after having Zhang Zhou, the situation has improved greatly, in addition to Zhang Zhou can be Zhu Houzhao's half old father, Zhu Youzhi also has more self-confidence, and finally he can not be taboo about his wife's reaction, and treat Zhu Houzhao with strict requirements in everything.

Even so, Zhu Houzhao's temperament is difficult to restrain him.

Zhu Youzhu said: "The prince is stubborn, I don't believe that several children will be different from me, only self-denial and revenge will make achievements in the future." I demand the same from them, the prince should be like this, and the princess should be like this. ”

……

……

Ningxia Town.

Yang Yiqing led the troops back to the town, and with his soldiers and horses, there were also Li Yan and Zheng Ying's two groups of people, at this time Li Yan and Zheng Ying both wanted to clear up their relationship with Zhu Hui, so they didn't obey Zhu Hui's military orders at all, but chose to listen to Yang Yiqing and Qin Hong's dispatch behind him.

Cui Yuan himself was not the leader of the troops, and after arriving in Ningxia Town, he had no official duties for him to do.

After a day's rest, he wandered around the town and bought something to take back as gifts for his wife and relatives.

He still came with a certain intention of visiting.

When he came back from the market in the afternoon, Xu Shizao, a military general who had followed him for meritorious service, was waiting for him, and hurriedly greeted him, and said excitedly: "Cui Yuma, I have now been ordered to transfer Yulinwei as a guerrilla general, and I am specially waiting for you to come back and resign with you, and leave early tomorrow morning." ”

Xu Shi was just a deputy of a thousand households and a real officer, serving as a garrison during the war, and generally leading a hundred soldiers, if necessary, he would transfer two more hundred households to him, but it was definitely not to the point of being able to lead a thousand people.

This time, he was directly promoted to guerrilla general, and guerrilla general is not a permanent position, but is a temporary position like the chief military officer.

And the guerrilla general basically has to be above the level of Wei Commander to be responsible, and Xu Shi is only a wartime merit, so he directly skipped from the post of deputy Qianhu to Zheng Qianhu, and was promoted to Wei Commander Servant, which is already a promotion beyond the rank, but directly to Yulinwei, the garrison of Yansui Town, to Qin Hong's side as a general, this status improvement is obvious.

Xu Shi also seemed to know very well who he relied on for his promotion, so he came to say goodbye to Cui Yuan, and at the same time, he came to offer his courtesy.

Cui Yuan said: "That's congratulations." ”

Xu Shi's face was also a little excited, and after talking to Cui Yuan, he quickly talked about Cui Yuan's military reward.

Cui Yuan sighed: "I'm still waiting for the notice from the imperial court, and I don't know why, you're so fast." ”

Xu Shidao: "I heard Uncle Xiangcheng say to the lowly position, it was the old Qin Ministry who personally named and transferred the lowly post to Yulinwei, and the specific military merit reward, I think the imperial court is still deciding, the war has just ended, according to the past practice, three or four months and other military merits are also commonplace." It's only been less than ten days now, Cui Juma, you don't have to worry, you can at least be promoted to the Lord of the Marquis and get a ticket. ”

"I don't dare to think about it." Cui Yuan was embarrassed.

I didn't wait for anything to happen, but I had the courage to call for a rush forward before the war, and I didn't even encounter any decent danger on the battlefield, and I didn't personally fight the Tatars, so I was given a knighthood that I didn't dare to think of for the first half of my life?

Forget it.

No matter how big the head wears and how big the hat is, if you don't do that delusion, you won't be disappointed.

Xu even said: "Uncle Xiangcheng wants to see you, do you want to lead you to see you?" ”

"Hmm."

Cui Yuan thought that Li Yan had some important official business to look for him, and after putting down the things he bought, he went out with Xu Shi and went to the military camp in the east of the city.

……

……

After Cui Yuan saw Li Yan, Xu Shi hurriedly said goodbye and left.

Li Yan even retired his relatives and called Cui Yuan to the inner hall and showed Cui Yuan a few local performances.

"It's ...... Why? Cui Yuan didn't understand.

Li Yan said: "Cui Ju Ma has made meritorious deeds, so there is no need to worry about being held accountable afterwards, but many people in the army are now in danger, Your Majesty just sent troops into the Hetao, there are five soldiers and horses, plus Ningxia, Guyuan, Shaanxi and other places of soldiers and horses, not to mention more than a dozen roads, miscellaneous nearly 100,000 soldiers and horses, but the Tatars are still less than 30,000 soldiers and horses." If you don't get credit, you're afraid of getting a sin. ”

Cui Yuan was still curious and asked, "Didn't you win this battle?" ”

Li Yan sighed: "It's because he won the battle that he was afraid of being liquidated, needless to say, Baoguo Gong is now thinking about finding a backer to get out of trouble." Local people are also moving around, and Cui Yuma hasn't seen anyone who has come to pay respects recently? ”

Cui Yuan thought about it and shook his head.

After he arrived in Ningxia Town, he patronized and wandered around, and there was really no one to talk to him.

"Maybe ......" Cui Yuan pondered the words, "I don't usually serve in the army, they probably think it's useless to look for me." ”

Li Yan said: "The role is great, I just learned the news, Your Majesty is directly headed by Cai Guogong in the court, and the military department is used to rectify the military defense and other things in the border towns, Cui Yuma and Cai Guogong have a very close relationship, in the future, you are the candidate to lead the troops, and most of the military and political affairs in the three sides and other places will fall on your shoulders, you say a word, it is more effective than others to say ten sentences and a hundred sentences." ”

"Huh?"

Cui Yuan was taken aback.

Am I so important now?

I haven't even figured out my own military exploits, so you think I can help others?

Li Yan said with a smile: "Cui Juma has not been on the side of the note except for the impeachment of the Duke of Baoguo, right?" ”

"Hmm." Cui Yuan nodded.

"That's the time to go to the last one, report the situation in the northwest to Your Majesty, so that Your Majesty and the Ministry of War know what the current situation is, even if some people have not been a frontal enemy with the Tatars on the battlefield, it does not mean that it must be caused by neglecting military aircraft, and the specific situation must be clearly distinguished."

"Xiangcheng Bo means ......"

"In the future, I want to learn more from Cui Yuma, even if I stay in the northwest and continue to command the army, it is also excellent."

When Cui Yuan heard this, no matter how dull he was, he could hear it.

Before anyone else could talk to him, Li Yan was the first person to look for him cheekily.

Cui Yuan asked bluntly: "Uncle Xiangcheng, I want to ask you, are you also afraid that after this battle, you will be held accountable by the imperial court?" ”

"I ...... Didn't I fight with Cui Yuma? In the past few days, I have never closed my eyes, the affairs of the army, I dare not slack off for a moment, cross the Yellow River to send soldiers and horses, but I gave nearly half of the soldiers and horses to Cui Yuma, can you ...... Aren't we working together? Under is the leader on the south bank, and you are ...... on the north bank."

Li Yan tried his best to defend himself, and almost spoke a little incoherently.

Cui Yuan said: "I understand. ”

Li Yan saw Cui Yuan's unhurried appearance, and he was angry in his heart, and said in his heart, do you understand that there is a fart?

Let you play, and write a lot of credit for my work, will you be able to?

"But I'm really not familiar with Cai Guogong, but I'm with Wang Shilang of the household department...... I have only met a few times, and he also gave me books for me to study on my own......" Cui Yuan was about to talk about his family history, and suddenly found that Li Yan was looking at him with ill-intentioned eyes, so he had to sigh with emotion, "Then I will play to the court and try to state what I see." Uncle Xiangcheng doesn't have to worry, I believe that Your Majesty will see everything and will not miss your military exploits. ”

"Yes, yes."

Li Yan was responding on his lips and thinking in his heart.

It's okay for Your Majesty to turn a blind eye, but I'm afraid that if you really think about it, except for your Cui Yuan and Yang Yiqing's people, the rest of the generals will be killed together.

……

……

Beijing, inside the theater.

It was already May, and the weather was getting hotter, Zhang Zhou sat at the window, feeling the night breeze while watching people carry drinks inside.

The good show on the stage hasn't started yet, and Zhang Zhou doesn't care, after all, the good shows are all arranged by himself, and he already knows the content, just watching the performances of others, the fun is not as strong as that of ordinary audiences.

"Brother Zhang."

On the same day, Zhang Zhou held a banquet to entertain the guests, and Zhu Feng was the first to arrive.

He was still very strange why Zhang Zhou would take the initiative to invite a banquet, he also thought that he was only invited to one, and when he went upstairs and saw a pile of wine jars, he hurriedly said, "So much wine, do you have to drink it tonight?" ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "No, this is a gift from others." You also know people, Princess Yongkang. ”

She ...... Bringing you wine? ”

Zhu Feng was also surprised.

What is this road number?

Even if you Yongkang Changgong wants to reconcile with Zhang Zhou and prepare to give gifts and wine...... That's too insincere, isn't it? How much is this worth? Isn't it more practical to give gold, silver and jewelry?

"Someone will come in a while, you go down and help me receive it." Zhang Zhoudao.

She ...... In person? Zhu Feng was even more surprised.

Zhang Zhou didn't answer.

Liu Gui came in with a wine jar and said, "Master, the car of the princess's mansion has been parked outside, look ......?"

"I'll come." Zhu Fenggang was ordered to welcome Princess Yongkang, and when he heard this, he took the initiative to ask for help.

After Zhang Zhou waved his hand, Zhu Feng followed Liu Gui downstairs to greet people.

……

……

When Princess Yongkang entered the private room of the theater, she was dressed in brocade clothes, but she frowned, obviously very dissatisfied with the place where Zhang Zhou received her.

Generally, a meeting of the level of the royal family and nobles will definitely be in a private courtyard or a place like a pavilion, not in public, and an identity like the eldest princess naturally can't go in and out of the market as often as Ning Tong.

Yongkang is a person who pays attention to identity and pomp.

"Brother Zhang, Her Royal Highness the eldest princess has arrived." Zhu Feng saw that Zhang Zhou didn't get up to greet him, so he hurriedly reminded him.

Zhang Zhou turned his gaze away, still sitting there, and said with a smile: "The eldest princess is here, please take a seat." ”

If she was an ordinary person and dared to be so rude to her, Yongkang would have had a seizure a long time ago, but she knew that this kind of seizure was meaningless this time, after all, it was now a courtesy, and it was not good to ask someone to do something, but if she tore the scene, she was afraid that her imperial brother would not give herself face first.

You wait!

Yongkang seems to have secretly made up his mind in his heart that he can't suffer dumb losses.

"Your Highness, please be seated." Zhu Feng even personally moved a chair for Yongkang, which seemed very attentive.

"Zhijie, you also sit." Zhang Zhoudao.

"No...... No need. Zhu Feng looked at the scene, probably smelling of gunpowder from the negotiations between the two armies before the battle, and he was still a little embarrassed beside him.

Zhang Zhou said: "You don't want to sit, just right, go out and help me welcome someone." ”

"Who?" Zhu Feng asked.

"You'll know when you go." Zhang Zhou waved his hand, Zhu Feng thought that Zhang Zhou was looking for an excuse to let him avoid for a while, and then went downstairs.

Wait for someone to go.

Yongkang said coldly: "Cai Guogong is really good at putting on a show, and it is useless to send someone to ask for help several times, is this sure that the palace will come to the door in person to apologize?" The palace mentioned your matter in the Empress Dowager before, but it was based on the facts, and there was no deliberate intention to target it, you won't hold a grudge, right? ”

"Oh, where, where, how can I hold a grudge. I still feel guilty about the gift from the eldest princess, I should have given the gift to the door. Zhang Zhoudao.

Yongkang saw Zhang Zhou's politeness, and his momentum naturally rose a little: "This wine was bought as a gift, you are a capable person in front of the imperial brother, and you can afford it." ”

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "I have always refused gifts from others, but I will not refuse this gift from the eldest princess, because I happen to be the one who is good at this cup." His Majesty told me that I should look at the arrangement of a position for Cui Juma, and I proposed that he stay in Ningxia and come back after three years. ”

"What did you say?"

Only then did Yongkang know that Zhang Zhou was hiding a knife in his smile.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty did not say anything about this, and mentioned the matter of Cui Juma's knighthood, with Your Majesty's intentions, Cui Juma's military merits can be knighted, or not." It's all up to whom. ”

"Compared to whom?" Yongkang's momentum disappeared in an instant.

It was like a rainbow before, but now it is ...... It's like the end of a strong crossbow.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Naturally, compared with the previous military merit cases, if it is compared with the military merits obtained by Anbian Marquis and Weining Marquis, it is not far behind." ”

"Then the marquis!" Yongkang grabbed the white road.

Zhang Zhou shook his head and said: "But if it is compared with Xinjian Bo, it will be much inferior, Your Majesty's meaning, the threshold for knighthood will be set in the future." Xinjian Bo won the knighthood with his military exploits, and there were at least tens of thousands of enemies killed, and those who wanted to be knighted in the future, even if they were not as good, they should be similar. ”

"You ......"

Yongkang almost jumped up on the spot, and his lungs were about to explode.

It's not enough to kill 2,000 enemies, but you have to kill nearly 10,000 enemies? Five times as much military merit? Is this a problem? It's just a pastime! (End of chapter)