After visiting Lianghuai, Zhu Youxiao did not go to other places. Although other places also needed reform, Zhu Youxiao could not monitor every place.

After releasing all these things, Zhu Youxiao could hand them over to the people under his control. With a model, it couldn't be done too badly. He could just send people to supervise secretly.

In the golden autumn of October, Zhu Youxiao finally returned to the capital.

Just like when Zhu Youxiao left, the capital was still prosperous. What was happening in the south of the Yangtze River had no impact on the capital, but instead gave it a boost.

Thanks to the communication between the Imperial Household Department, trade between the north and the south expanded significantly, and the issue of the Jiangnan Maritime Customs Office was also put on the agenda.

This time, a large number of merchants were dealt with in Jiangnan. The charges used in many places had nothing to do with maritime trade, but many smuggling merchants were dealt with.

Some people made a fuss for a while, but it was of no use.

As for the Japanese pirates along the coast, they couldn't make any trouble at this time. After all, the imperial navy was cruising along the coast, and the pirates didn't dare to get close.

The current Ming Dynasty is no longer the same as before.

After returning to the palace, Zhu Youxiao went to see Empress Zhang and his son first.

Zhu Cixuan, the eldest son of the Ming Dynasty, was now a grown-up boy.

After meeting Zhu Youxiao, Zhu Cixuan saluted respectfully in a serious manner.

Empress Zhang stood behind her son and looked at Zhu Youxiao with a smile.

"Alright, excuse me." Zhu Youxiao said to his son, "Go and have fun. Your father still has something to say to your mother."

"Yes, father." Zhu Cixuan agreed and turned to walk outside.

But he kept looking back every few steps, with curiosity in his eyes, as if he really wanted to know what his father and mother were going to discuss.

Empress Zhang walked over to Zhu Youxiao, gave him a reproachful look, and said, "My prince has been thinking about you and talking about you for the past few days. Are you just going to send him away like this?"

"Boys need to be stronger." Zhu Youxiao said with a sullen face, "What's the point of always clinging to your father?"

The two have been together for eight years and know each other very well.

How could Empress Zhang not know what Zhu Youxiao was thinking? She just rolled her eyes at Zhu Youxiao and said nothing more.

Zhu Youxiao brought back a woman from Jiangnan. Empress Zhang already knew about this, but she chose not to say it.

In Empress Zhang's opinion, the emperor had too few women. In the past two years, some people had begun to write letters to the emperor, hoping that Zhu Youxiao would marry more women and not always be surrounded by the few women in the palace.

This time the emperor went out and brought back a woman, which was still a little too few.

Zhu Youxiao didn't care. He glanced at Empress Zhang and said, "I brought someone back with me this time. I'll send her to your place to serve you. She's quite good and her massage skills are amazing. Let her massage you later and you can enjoy it."

After hearing this, Empress Zhang immediately laughed and pulled Zhu Youxiao aside and said, "In your Majesty's eyes, am I the kind of person who is so jealous?"

This is actually a bit harsh.

In fact, Zhu Youxiao's behavior could easily make Empress Zhang think that Zhu Youxiao thought she would be jealous. The person is in your hands, you'd better not kill him, this is the subtext.

However, Zhu Youxiao really didn't think so. He simply waved his hand and said, "He who comes from outside doesn't know the rules. I'll put him by your side and teach him a lesson."

In this imperial palace, Empress Zhang has a very high status.

There were not many women in the entire palace, and no one dared to challenge Empress Zhang's status.

Although they had been married for eight years, the emperor's favor for Empress Zhang had only grown.

All kinds of rewards were delivered on time. There were many rewards at ordinary times, and all kinds of things were sent to Empress Zhang. All the new things were given to Empress Zhang.

Zhu Youxiao would stay with Empress Zhang for half a month in a month.

With her eldest son by her side, who would dare to look down on such a queen?

If nothing unexpected happens, she will definitely be the empress dowager in the future.

If you provoke her now, you will be dead when she turns the tables!

Unless you can kill her son during the fight for the throne, it is better to be honest.

After hearing this, Empress Zhang looked at Zhu Youxiao helplessly and said, "If this gets out, I don't know what people outside will say about me."

"What do they do?" Zhu Youxiao said indifferently: "Okay, come back and stop nagging about these things. Go take a bath and wash off the dust on your body. Come with me."

As Zhu Youxiao spoke, he pulled Empress Zhang towards the back.

Although she appeared shy and unwilling to do anything, Empress Zhang still followed him obediently, feeling very happy in her heart.

The bathhouse in the palace was a place Zhu Youxiao often went to and it was also a place he liked very much.

The decoration here is very good, and someone has already prepared water.

At this time, there was no one to serve the queen and the emperor. The palace maids and eunuchs were all outside and no one could come in.

The couple took a bath inside.

After being away for so long, we had some personal conversation.

Of course, as we were talking, we started to touch each other.

The final thing is beyond words.

Two hours later, Zhu Youxiao and Empress Zhang finished their bath.

Zhu Youxiao walked out of the house in high spirits, casually wearing a simple long gown with his hair gathered behind his back.

Empress Zhang followed Zhu Youxiao, her makeup complete and her face rosy. However, she had changed her clothes, which were obviously not the ones she had worn when she first entered.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!