The sky gradually brightened, light blue, pink, and then as if hearing a command, the scarlet sun lazily climbed up from the horizon.

The sunlight shines on Guangning City, as if it is inlaid with gold edges.

The city woke up, the streets woke up, the houses woke up, the people woke up, and the smoke from the cooking stoves rose to welcome another bright day.

Zhao Mengzi excitedly pushed open the courtyard door. His mother was in the kitchen, adding fuel to the fire. When she heard the sound, she happily called out, "Is it Mengzi who's back?"

"Mom, I'm back!" Zhao Mengzi responded loudly, using his voice to tell his mother that he was fine and doing well.

Zhao Mengzi walked into the kitchen after lifting the straw curtain, smiling and holding a piece of horse meat with skin and bones in his hand.

"Mom, I got another reward." Zhao Mengzi raised the meat in his hand and said, "I've never eaten horse meat before."

The mother looked her son up and down. Seeing that Hu Huanshi was intact except for some dirt, she turned her attention to the horse meat. Smiling, she reached out to take it and placed it in the wooden basin on the stove. She said with a smile, "Why haven't you eaten it before? You were still young at that time, so I'm afraid you don't remember it."

Zhao Mengzi chuckled and scratched his head, then fetched a basin of water and went outside to wash up.

"Brother, brother," a naughty teenager ran out of the house and asked excitedly and urgently, "Was it the Jiannu who were attacking the city last night with all the cannon fire and shouting?"

Zhao Mengzi laughed heartily, patted his brother on the head, and said, "It wasn't the Jiannu who came to attack the city. It was the General who tricked hundreds of Jiannu into the city, trapped them inside the city wall, and then killed them all."

"Strategies?" The kid tilted his head and thought for a moment before saying, "It's in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Zhuge Liang loved to use strategies."

Zhao Mengzi smiled and nodded, saying, "Brother, you came at a good time. I cleaned up the battlefield and gave you a piece of horse meat to try."

"Horse meat, isn't it delicious?" The naughty child almost drooled. He threw all the strategies and Zhuge Liang out of his mind and ran to the kitchen, still shouting, "Mom, mom, I want to eat horse meat."

Zhao Mengzi poured out the dirty water and looked at the long spear standing on the courtyard wall. He couldn't help thinking: It's a pity that I am just a volunteer. It would be great if I were a soldier. I could climb down the city and chop off heads, and I could get twenty taels of silver for each head.

Although it was a bit dangerous, I didn't see many of those brave soldiers die. Instead, I saw them receiving money with smiles on their faces.

Otherwise, I should learn horseback riding and archery. Just run around outside the city, wow, two hundred taels of silver!

When Zhao Mengzi thought of this, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva, and his desire to join the army became stronger.

The meal was ready soon, and Zhao Mengzi and his family sat around, eating horse meat stewed with cabbage, and they were very happy.

Bang, bang, bang! Suddenly, a gong sounded outside. Listening carefully, I heard the captain shouting, "The government has ordered that all carpenters, blacksmiths, and stonemasons, all volunteers, take your tools and weapons and assemble at the parade ground immediately!"

Zhao Mengzi put down his bowl, and his mother comforted him, "Son, have another bowl. There's still time. Don't worry."

Oh, Zhao Mengzi hurriedly drank a bowl of hot soup, stood up, dressed, picked up the spear, and walked into the street with his head held high under the concerned gaze of his mother and brothers.

On the top of the city wall, the prefect Gao Bangzuo found Xiong Tingbi and said, "Sir, summon the carpenters, blacksmiths, and all the volunteers in the city, but are the Jiannu planning a massive attack on the city?"

Xiong Tingbi nodded slightly and said, "I saw the Jiannu entering the forest early in the morning to cut down trees, and I guessed they were going to attack the city with all their might. That's why I'm mobilizing the city's volunteer craftsmen to forge equipment and make all the necessary preparations."

Gao Bangzuo hurriedly asked, "Sir, how much time do we have left to prepare? Is it still in time?"

Xiong Tingbi smiled faintly and said, "The Jiannu need to build weapons and recall the troops that were attacking Youtunwei. It will take at least two or three days to prepare everything."

Gao Bangzuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but then he heard Xiong Tingbi give another order: "Please ask the prefect Gao to send people to collect porcelain jars and earthenware pots, as well as a large amount of straw ropes and rags."

"Are these things also used to defend the city?" Gao Bangzuo asked in confusion.

Xiong Tingbi smiled and nodded, saying, "That's right. This was designed by His Majesty, and it should be a very powerful weapon for defending the city."

Is this the Emperor's craft again? Gao Bangzuo didn't ask any further questions, but turned and left.

……………….

The morning light is bright, illuminating the capital and the imperial palace.

After Zhu Youxiao finished washing up, he did some chest expansion exercises comfortably, let out a long breath, and sat down at the dining table.

"Your Majesty, this dish was made by me." Queen Zhang Yan personally arranged the dishes and chopsticks, and introduced it to the young emperor with a warm smile.

Zhu Youxiao nodded, picked up the food with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, chewed and savored it, and smiled and praised: "I have known for a long time that Baozhu has been a good housekeeper since she was a child, and she can cook and wash clothes. Today I have finally tasted your cooking skills. Hmm, the taste is fresh and delicious."

Zhang Yan was one year younger than Zhu Youxiao, and she still had a girlish heart. When she heard the praise, her heart was filled with joy, and her face was filled with an even happier smile.

"Sit down and have dinner together." Zhu Youxiao gently put his arm around the queen's waist and pinched the soft flesh.

Zhang Yan's face flushed, and she moved lightly to sit next to Zhu Youxiao, holding chopsticks and serving dishes, serving him attentively and attentively.

Zhu Youxiao had become accustomed to this kind of treatment and did not refuse or demand it. He ate his meal, but he seemed to be slightly uneasy.

"Your Majesty." Zhang Yan also saw that the emperor was worried, so she changed the subject and said slowly, "I have almost completed the release of the palace maids. The first batch now has a total of 2,643 people."

Zhu Youxiao smiled and said, "Baozhu has the final say on matters concerning the harem. If you have any difficulties, please tell me."

Zhang Yan lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly and said, "Well, I feel I'm still short of some silver."

Zhu Youxiao hummed and said, "I calculated that it's not enough. If you want more, just issue an imperial decree and have the Imperial Household pay it."

Zhang Yan looked up at the emperor, nodded vigorously, and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will definitely handle this matter well to demonstrate your majesty's kindness and frugality."

Zhu Youxiao was still very confident in Zhang Yan. Traditional women, according to the Ming Dynasty tradition, were women who were educated in accordance with the "Instructions for Women" and strictly abided by the "Three Obediences and Four Virtues".

Although she lacks a bold and free personality, as a queen, her stern character is quite stylish.

Besides, Zhang Yan did not think that she was poisoned by feudal ethics and was happy with it. So why did Zhu Youxiao bother to ask for trouble and tell her that she wanted women's liberation?

Smiling and patting Zhang Yan's hand, Zhu Youxiao said, "The nursing home and the Imperial Grace Courtyard outside the city need to be expanded. Don't be stingy with the money you should spend. Since it's a good deed, you should do it from beginning to end, without leaving any loose ends."

"I understand." Zhang Yan was very serious. After all, this was the first big thing after she became the master of the harem. How could she mess it up and disappoint the emperor?

Zhu Youxiao ate and drank his fill, put down his bowl and chopsticks, and said, "I'm done eating. I'll go back to the Palace of Heavenly Purity and attend the morning court later."