Kunning Palace.

The imperial sister-in-law Zhang Yan is setting up a family banquet to entertain Zhu Youzhen and the queen Zhou.

Now Zhang Yan has completely become a supporter of Zhu Youzhen.

Not only did Zhu Youzhen promise his step-eldest son to the imperial sister-in-law, but also because when he killed Wei Zhongxian, Zhu Youzhen handed over the Hakka family to Zhang Yan for disposal.

For Mrs. Ke, who killed her child, the imperial sister-in-law Zhang Yan ordered her to be cut alive in the Huanyi Bureau with a thousand knives.

Although Mrs. Fengsheng was not angry, and she hiccups after more than 300 knives, Zhang Yan's evil breath was completely out.

"Uncle, please drink this bar!"

Imperial sister-in-law Zhang Yan raised her glass and said with a smile to Zhu Youzhen.

"Thank you, sister-in-law."

Zhu Youzhen picked up the wine glass and drank it all.

The queen Zhou next to her was smiling with a happy face.

For Zhou, the last two days have been full of happy events.

First, her husband Zhu Youzhen promoted his father-in-law Zhou Kui to an official position, and made him an earl according to the rules of his relatives, and then Zhou was also pregnant.

According to the agreement between Zhu Youzhen and the imperial brother and sister-in-law, if a boy is born, it will be passed on to the imperial sister-in-law Zhang Yan, but it still can't dilute Queen Zhou's joy.

After all, even if it is passed on to the imperial brother Zhu Youxiao, the future throne will still be her own son of Empress Zhou, and it is a big deal to be crowned two queen mothers at that time.

What's more, Tian Guifei's little slut lagged behind her, and there was no movement on her belly until now.

"Sister-in-law, I want to discuss something with you today." After Zhu Youzhen finished drinking the wine, he said to Zhang Yan.

Zhang Yan smiled slightly, and her red face revealed a little softness.

"Uncle is now the Son of Heaven, and he can decide anything by his own sacred heart, so you don't need to ask me." Empress Zhang said with a smile.

"No, this matter is related to the palace, and I must tell the imperial sister-in-law." Zhu Youzhen said seriously.

"Oh, what's the matter?" Empress Zhang asked.

"Imperial sister-in-law, now there are a group of palace maids, who have reached the age of leaving the palace to return their membership, I think of so many people, and the age is not small, why don't you come forward by the imperial sister-in-law and find a good family for them, how about it?" Zhu Youzhen said.

When my sister-in-law, Empress Zhang, heard it, she thought it was a good thing.

The palace maids of the Ming Dynasty are generally in their twenties, and there will be a batch of places to be released from the palace.

The age of these palace maids is already considered to be an older young woman in the people, and their vision is not low, and it is easy to delay the matter of getting married.

"What does uncle mean, how are you going to arrange it?" Empress Zhang asked.

Empress Zhang has been in the palace for many years, and because she has always treated eunuchs and palace maids leniently, she is quite loved by everyone.

Zhu Youzhen's idea was to use this group of palace maids to marry the generals and leading officials of Liaoxi, Xuanda, Dongjiang, and the New Guards Army.

Because the Ming Dynasty has led the military with literature for many years, many generals have led the marriage of military officials, and they can't climb into any high-profile households at all.

And the background of the ladies of the Daming Palace is generally very good, at least they are also a proper good family, after all, women who may be favored by the emperor at any time and become concubines cannot be too bad.

In addition to the New Guards Army, other border armies have gradually become warlords, and Zhu Youzhen wants to mix these military towns with sand in the name of marriage.

For these palace maids who were married, Zhu Youzhen planned to let Empress Zhang reserve some opportunities for them to meet and reward them during the New Year.

In this way, the palace maids who marry still have a direct way to heaven, and the border generals and leading officers who marry them will naturally be closer to the royal family.

After all, if their husbands were treated unfairly by their superiors, these palace maids could send a letter directly to Empress Zhang's palace.

After Zhu Youzhen told her plan, Empress Zhang also felt that it was very feasible.

"Your Majesty's idea is indeed very good, and it is greatly beneficial to the imperial court." Empress Zhang thought for a moment, and then said worriedly: "However, so many people give marriage, and the palace always has to marry less, and it can't be too thin, and the cost is only a lot." ”

Empress Zhang clearly knew that the Ming Dynasty was already poor.

Even if Zhu Youzhen copied Wei Zhongxian's house and received a large number of atonement money from corrupt eunuch officials, he still spent more and earned less.

"Sister-in-law, don't worry, I've already thought about this matter." Zhu Youzhen smiled calmly and continued: "Every palace maid who gives marriage will all be named a clan maid, let Zongzheng enter it into the spectrum, and each person will be rewarded with fifty taels of marriage, plus one hundred acres of Huangzhuang land. ”

The Ming royal family has many imperial villages and hunting grounds forbidden gardens, under the operation of many big and small corrupt officials, these imperial palaces occupy a large area of land, and they are mainly loss-making every year.

Zhu Youzhen was too lazy to engage in any anti-corruption in Huangzhuang, and he took it all back.

Zhu Youzhen already planned to reorganize them all as a reward fief below.

"Sect girl and a hundred acres of land, well, that's a really good idea." Empress Zhang couldn't help but scream.

The identity of the daughter of the sect, for ordinary people and officers, is definitely a matter of glory lintel, even if it is the daughter of the sect who gives the surname, it is the same, a regular member of the Ming royal family!

As long as you marry the daughter of the sect, those border soldiers Qiu Ba will become relatives of Emperor Laozi.

For Zhu Youzhen, the identity of a sect girl is nothing more than adding a few names to the royal family pedigree.

"In that case, whose name are these sect girls under?" Empress Zhang asked curiously.

"King Jian Huai and other brothers all died early, so it is better to hang a few daughters and sons-in-law under their names, which can be regarded as a consolation." Zhu Youzhen said sadly.

King Jian Huai is Zhu Youzhen's second brother, and there are several other little brothers who all died at the age of seven or eight.

They are all the emperor's own brothers, they belong to the noble status, and they died young, they have no heirs at all, and there is no trouble at all with the daughters hanging in their names.

"Well, then it's decided, this matter will be handled by this palace for Your Majesty." Sister-in-law Zhang Yan said with a smile.

"Thank you, sister-in-law!"

After eating, Empress Zhou continued to stay in Kunning Palace to chat with her sister-in-law Empress Zhang, while Zhu Youzhen returned to Wenhua Palace.

Yuan Keli, who had just arrived from Nanjing, had been waiting for a long time at this time.

"Minister Yuan Keli, long live my emperor, long live!"

Yuan Keli wore a washed old official uniform and saluted Zhu Youzhen.

"No courtesy, Xu Yingyuan, give Yuan Aiqing a seat." Zhu Youzhen said loudly.

For Yuan Keli, Zhu Youzhen still appreciates it very much.

Not to mention Yuan Keli's ability, just his incorruptible style is a rare stream of light in the Ming Dynasty where corruption is a common thing.

This is not the kind of clear stream that scolds, but a real clear stream.

"Yuan Aiqing, I summoned you back to Beijing, you should know that I am going to entrust you with a heavy responsibility." Zhu Youzhen said straight to the point.

Yuan Keli hurriedly surrendered his hand, "Although the minister is old, he is willing to go to the soup for the Ming Dynasty!" ”