Seeing her father bowing like this, Empress Zhang quickly stood up and said coquettishly, "Father, what are you doing? Come on, come and chat with your daughter."
Zhang Guoji also came over with a smile. The father and daughter sat in the pavilion, drinking tea, chatting, and talking about some family matters.
Empress Zhang listened very carefully. Although she lived well in the palace and the emperor doted on her, she was still young and had just gotten married, so she missed home very much.
Just like a wanderer away from home to study, Empress Zhang was very happy to hear her father talk about these things.
On the other side of the West Garden, Zhu Youxiao was lying in a rocking chair, his face covered with a palm-leaf fan, his eyes squinting as he rested.
Accompanied by the warm wind and gentle sunshine, this feeling is so lazy.
Chen Hong walked carefully to his side and said in a low and respectful voice: "Your Majesty, the father-in-law has entered the palace."
Zhu Youxiao didn't say anything, but just waved his hand gently to indicate that he understood.
Chen Hong bent his body and stepped aside, not saying anything more.
In fact, Zhu Youxiao did not expect that the father-in-law would come so soon. It seemed that he was really impatient.
But this is also a good thing, at least I can finish the work quickly.
Zhang Guoji and the queen continued their conversation. After talking about family matters, Zhang Guoji turned the topic to the royal business.
"Daughter, has His Majesty told you what to do?"
Empress Zhang shook her head and said, "Your Majesty won't tell me, and I won't ask. This matter of the previous dynasty has nothing to do with the harem."
As she spoke, she looked at Zhang Guoji and asked, "It seems that this was not done by father, right? It seems that it has nothing to do with father, right? In this case, father, don't worry about it, let them make trouble on their own!"
Empress Zhang felt that these things were very bad. Although she didn't know why, she subconsciously didn't want her father to get involved, so she said such words.
"That's not what I meant." Zhang Guoji said with a stern face, "I am now in charge of the Imperial Household Department. How can I say that the affairs of the Imperial Household Department have nothing to do with me? No matter what happens in the Imperial Household Department, I cannot be separated from it."
Empress Zhang looked at her father helplessly, not knowing what to say. She could only say helplessly, "But I really don't know anything. As the Empress, how can I ask about the affairs of the previous dynasty?"
"What you said is true. As the queen, you should naturally help His Majesty and advise His Majesty. This is the queen's duty."
Zhang Guoji said again: "This matter involves the entire Imperial Household Department, so it is a big deal. I don't have many people under me in the Imperial Household Department now, but this is a good opportunity."
"Right now, Hu Fei is struggling to protect himself, and the entire Audit Department is in a state of panic. This is my chance to help them win over the people. Once I win them over, I won't be alone in the Imperial Household Department anymore."
"The most important thing is that I have the Audit Department at my disposal. I can be considered a hero and now have a place to use my talents. Those ministers in the court have a lot of criticisms, and they all have selfish motives."
"Isn't this a good thing? As long as we make an agreement with the merchants, we won't have to spend money on the palace expenses anymore. How much money can we save? Besides, this matter involves the harem, so it's your responsibility as the queen to take charge."
As Zhang Guoji spoke, he looked at his daughter with sadness on his face.
He now just wanted his daughter to help him. Given the degree of favor his daughter enjoyed before His Majesty, this matter would definitely not be a big problem. As long as his daughter asked, His Majesty would definitely agree.
Glancing at her father, Empress Zhang felt helpless and could only smile bitterly, saying, "Father, why do you have to take on this official position? Wouldn't it be better to go home and study, and wander around in your spare time?"
"Why do you bother to work so hard in the Imperial Household Department? Why don't I go to His Majesty and ask for your resignation? It would be nice for you to go home and enjoy your old age."
After taking a look at Empress Zhang, Zhang Guoji forced himself not to curse.
It was really impossible to curse. The person in front of him was not only his daughter, but also the empress of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhang Guoji could only swallow a mouthful of blood and patiently explain, "I haven't read the books of sages all these years in vain. It's just that I've been unlucky these years. I've failed the imperial examinations repeatedly, so I've never had the opportunity to realize my ambitions."
"Now that the opportunity has come, how can I, as a father, give it up? As for enjoying my retirement, at my age now, it's not too late to live another twenty years."
Looking at her father's determined face, Empress Zhang felt even more helpless.
But she also knew that she still had to help with this matter, otherwise her father might cause some trouble.
Empress Zhang coaxed and persuaded him, saying, "If that's the case, let your daughter go and speak to His Majesty. Until then, father, please do nothing and wait patiently for news from your daughter."
"Don't worry about that. I will be waiting for your news." Zhang Guoji said with a smile.
In his heart, his daughter's words must be particularly effective with the emperor; as for other ministers, they are not so effective.
After all, what men in the world fear most is pillow talk.
Isn't that the case with me? Well, all men are like that.
So this time, things will definitely be successful.
Zhang Guoji smiled excitedly. As long as he could accomplish this, he would truly succeed.
Thinking that he would be in complete control of the Imperial Household Department, Zhang Guoji couldn't help but feel happy.
In Zhang Guoji's opinion, the Imperial Household Department would definitely become even more powerful in the future, perhaps even becoming as powerful as the Cabinet. By then, his own status would surely rise, and he might even be remembered in history.
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