The inner garden of the Imperial Palace, Kunning Palace.

Yesterday, Wang Tiqian sent someone to pass the word, saying that the emperor was going to come to Kunning Palace today, and asked the queen to hurry up and prepare.

Empress Zhang is gentle and graceful, known as the name of the virtuous queen, but the inner palace is controlled by Wei Zhongxian and the Hakka family, and she has always been depressed and not happy, in addition, although Empress Zhang is not a few years older than Princess Ningde, emotionally speaking, she does not want this imperial sister to fall into the whirlpool of political struggle between the emperor and the prince.

Therefore, there are many admonitions to the apocalypse on weekdays, but Zhu Youxiao refused by saying that the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics, and the relationship between husband and wife has also dropped to a freezing point.

Therefore, when she heard that the emperor was coming, Empress Zhang instructed the palace maid to prepare Gu Shunzhai's dim sum and Su Ji roast duck, which the Emperor of the Apocalypse liked, early in the morning, and also sent someone to Shangshan Jian to ask someone to prepare sweet wine.

Speaking of which, this sweet wine has also been blessed by the Duke of Qi.

At the beginning, Qi Guogong ordered people to use distillation to make a much stronger and fragrant knife than the popular sake on the market, and it was immediately popular in Liaodong as soon as it came out.

The distillation method was soon spread from Liaodong to Kannai, and after the improvement of the breweries in the Gyeonggi area, a dilution process was added, which reduced the spicy taste and increased the mellow and sweet taste, making it more suitable for ordinary people to drink.

Therefore, in recent days, sweet wine has become a popular thing in the inner palace.

At least, the Emperor of the Apocalypse liked it very much.

"Niangniang, the emperor is here soon," Empress Zhang's personal palace lady took small steps and walked to the queen who was directing her subordinates to arrange the dishes.

"Go out of the palace with the palace to greet you," the queen subconsciously put her hand together like a cloud of ink, took a deep breath, and took the palace maids and mothers-in-law in the Kunning Palace out of the house.

"Concubines greet Your Majesty, Wanfu Jin'an," Empress Zhang was in front of her, kneeling respectfully to the Emperor of the Apocalypse who had just stepped down.

Empress Zhang glanced when she knelt down, but Wei Zhongxian was not there.

"The queen is flat," Emperor Tianqi looked at his queen, his originally tense face eased a little, although he came with a purpose today, but Empress Zhang is his wife after all, and the courtesy and respect she should have should also be given: "I am busy with court politics, and I haven't come for a while, but I miss it a little." ”

"The emperor has every opportunity, and all parties in Kyushu have to work hard for His Majesty, and the concubine can get it in case, she is already deeply honored, and she doesn't dare to have the slightest extravagance."

Empress Zhang lowered her head, although her tone was light, but the meaning of those words was respectful.

For her husband, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, this historical virtuous queen also has complicated feelings - the natural relationship of respect and inferiority and the reason why husband and wife have the same root make Zhang Yan have to stand up and correct the emperor's shortcomings, although she didn't have to do it in the first place.

After everyone saw the ceremony, Zhu Youxiao was welcomed into Kunning Palace,

"The queen has a heart," Zhu Youxiao looked at a table of his favorite dishes, as well as sake with the taste of sweet oranges, and the smile on his face also came out.

"Go down," Empress Zhang first saluted the emperor, and then waved the palace ladies away.

"The concubine thought that the emperor might be tired of eating the taste of the imperial dining room, so she asked people to go outside the palace to buy some dishes, although they are not as precious and exquisite as the palace, they do have unique flavor characteristics," Empress Zhang said as she stepped forward to pour wine for the emperor.

"Well, yes, the taste is much better than the imperial dining room," Zhu Youxiao tasted it and nodded slightly, not knowing whether it was intentional or unintentional: "You can send it to Ningde, she should love to eat these small snacks." ”

Hearing Zhu Youxiao mention Princess Ningde, Zhang Yan's body stiffened slightly, and the expression on her face was a little unnatural: "Your Majesty? ”

"I came today because I want to talk to you about something," Zhu Youxiao put down his chopsticks, and his face became serious.

"Your Majesty, please speak," just for a moment, Empress Zhang seemed to know what Zhu Youxiao wanted to say, and her eyes that were originally filled with joy were a little dim.

"Ning De is young, and at the same time, as a woman, she doesn't know the current situation in the imperial court," Zhang Yan has heard it many times, every time she talks about the current situation in the imperial court, Zhu Youxiao is frowning, his body is like a dove, and the excitement and worry are almost imprinted on his face: "Although the world is safe, but the trouble of the court's elbows and armpits has not gone, if it goes on like this, there will be trouble!" Wang Mang was humble and not usurped, and now Wang Qi is fledgling, and no one in the court dares to oppose him, and the most elite soldiers and horses in the world such as Liaodong, Jingying, and Jiaodong are all in it! If I don't cheer up and cut off its power, what is the difference between me and Han Qi in today's world? ”

In the face of Zhu Youxiao's explanation, Empress Zhang lowered her head, bit her lip lightly, and hesitated: "But, Your Majesty is not afraid of the old things of Emperor Han Yingbu?" ”

Hearing Yingbu's name, Zhu Youxiao was stunned at first, and then smiled: "I am comparable to the high emperor of the Han Dynasty?" ”

Yingbu, the king of Huainan, was forced to rebel because he was afraid that Gaozu would kill the heroes.

"It seems that the queen also knows that there has been no minister who died well since ancient times, and he Wang Qi will not be an exception," Empress Zhang compared Zhu Youxiao to Han Gaozu, and the Emperor of the Apocalypse looked at his wife's gaze softened a lot, and said softly: "You can go and inform Ningde that you will get married in a month, when you encourage yourself, settle down a little, and the palace will have private contact with her, and after going to Zhucheng, report to me Wang Qi's behavior at any time!" If there is any abnormality, when 100,000 are urgent, report to me! This is a top priority! ”

Let the princess of the dynasty spy on her husband?

Zhang Yan looked at Zhu Youxiao and only felt ridiculous!

"Your Majesty, if this word spreads, won't the Heavenly Family be ashamed of the people of the world?"

"I am for the world," Zhu Youxiao narrowed his eyes and looked at Zhang Yan: "Do you have sympathy for Qi Guogong?" ”

"The concubine is for the royal face," Zhang Yan shook her head: "Your Majesty can go to someone else to do this, but it is definitely not Ningde's turn to do it!" In this way, how will Ningde deal with himself in the future? ”

"As a royal woman, it's not her turn to ask her about this matter," Zhu Youxiao shook his head, got up and finally said to the queen: "I will recruit Ningde into the palace tomorrow morning, think about how to talk to her!" ”

After speaking, Zhu Youxiao looked at a table of delicacies without moving chopsticks, and said without saltiness: "You have a heart." ”

Then he flicked his sleeves and left the temple.

Zhang Yan sat alone in place, without movement for a long time.

Since ancient times, the ruthless emperor family.

Nothing more.

Zhang Yan only felt that it was really bitter for Ningde like this.

At this time, a fast horse courier went from Chaoyangmen, not to the Tongzheng Yamen, but directly to Wei Zhongxian's mansion.

"Chitose, the Duke of Qi has left Zhucheng three days ago and is coming to the capital!"

(End of chapter)