In Kunning Palace, Empress Zhang and Zhu Youxiao sat opposite each other, with a table placed between them, on which were several dishes and a pot of wine.
It wasn't a big scene, just ordinary home-cooked meals.
Zhu Youxiao picked up the wine pot and poured a glass of wine. He also poured a glass for Empress Zhang and said, "Have a drink with me."
"Okay, Your Majesty." Empress Zhang smiled.
The couple looked at each other, raised their glasses and took a sip together.
After being married for so many years, Empress Zhang knew Zhu Youxiao very well and knew that His Majesty had been in a very bad mood these days.
You know, His Majesty hardly drinks alcohol on ordinary nights.
The wine tonight wasn't any fancy stuff, just the average everyday wine. The food on the table wasn't fancy either, no delicacies, just the average everyday fare. Especially since there was a half-eaten pickle in a bowl on the side.
Empress Zhang didn't know why His Majesty placed this pickle here, but she knew there must be a deep meaning behind it.
Too many old ministers have died recently. Not to mention His Majesty, even Empress Zhang is a little depressed, and the court is filled with a sad atmosphere.
"Do you know why I took out a pickle?" Zhu Youxiao took a bite of the pickle. Then he picked up the wine glass and took a sip of wine. The expression on his face suddenly became wonderful.
All the facial features seemed to come together, and then he breathed a sigh of relief.
"I don't know." Empress Zhang said with a smile, "Your Majesty, please talk to me."
Zhu Youxiao nodded and said with a smile, "That was the first time I met Zhang Chong. Perhaps among all my officials, each one is outstanding, and many are famous throughout the world, but the one who impressed me the most was Zhang Chong."
"At that time, he was just a treasurer in the Ministry of Revenue, receiving a meager salary every day and living a poor life. Even so, he did not embezzle a single cent of the Ministry's money or grain."
"After we became friends, he treated me to a drink. That meal included two dishes: one was the pickled vegetables you see in front of you, and the other was this, a boiled egg."
"At that time, I even asked him with a smile, 'Don't you feel embarrassed to treat people to a meal like this?'"
"At that time, Zhang Chong told me that I was an official of the Ming Dynasty, receiving a salary from the emperor, and every penny was the blood and sweat of the people. I can now eat and dress warmly, which is better than the people of the world. I can even have a drink occasionally, which is a pleasure beyond many people. Drinking poor wine has its own unique flavor. When I couldn't drink wine, I could only watch others drink. Now I just have a cup of muddy wine every day, and I am content."
"After all these years, I still remember what he said and how he drank."
Looking at Zhu Youxiao with red eyes, Empress Zhang fell silent.
Empress Zhang knew Zhang Chong, who had passed away a few days ago.
Zhang Chong's family was small and he did not hold a high position in the government. Until his death, he was only a general manager of the Baigongyuan, in charge of the materials of the Baigongyuan.
"I asked Zhang Chong for this pickle. His son said he still drinks like this, with a pickle and a boiled egg. He's always happy, unlike before."
"Zhang Chong's son said his father used to drink for sobriety, but now every time he drinks, it's like he's drinking at a wedding."
"Although his salary was high and his life was better, he never gave up this habit. In his words, now that the Ming Dynasty was doing well and his life was better, he was happy, so every meal was like a wedding banquet."
"Zhang Chong's son said his father often mentioned that when he invited His Majesty to drink, he used these two side dishes."
Looking at Zhu Youxiao with a calm tone and red eyes, Empress Zhang reached out and held Zhu Youxiao's hand directly.
She could feel His Majesty's hands trembling, and even his body was shaking.
"There were many who followed me back then. They didn't hold high positions or receive generous salaries, and they were always frugal, even mean. But it was because of them that the Ming Dynasty is what it is today. Now, they have all left me..."
"Your Majesty, I am here, the Ming Dynasty is here, and the ministers who care about the world, Your Majesty, and the Ming Dynasty are here too. The Ming Dynasty will get better and better, and the people of the world will live better and better." Empress Zhang took Zhu Youxiao's hand and comforted him softly.
"I want to build a mausoleum." Zhu Youxiao looked at Empress Zhang and said softly.
"Your Majesty, do whatever you want." Empress Zhang looked at Zhu Youxiao and said with a smile, "Whatever Your Majesty does, I will support you."
"I want to build a mausoleum for these people and bury them there, right next to my imperial tomb. When I am a hundred years old, I will sleep with them."
After hearing this, Empress Zhang smiled and said, "Okay!"
Zhu Youxiao nodded and said with a smile, "I will order people to carve a stele to record their deeds. I will also find someone to compile a book called 'Biographies of Ministers of the Restoration' to write a book in their honor so that their reputation will last forever."
"Good!" Empress Zhang patted Zhu Youxiao's hand and said with a smile.
In fact, after so many years of marriage, it was the first time that Empress Zhang saw His Majesty so excited.
Empress Zhang always had a smile on her face, as she knew that His Majesty had been very tired.
The aging and continuous passing of ministers in the court has really put a lot of pressure on His Majesty.
The meal lasted a long time. Zhu Youxiao drank two pots of wine and ate up the pickles and two boiled eggs. Finally, Zhu Youxiao was helped to bed by Empress Zhang and fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Zhu Youxiao got up very early.
Although he drank last night, he didn't go to bed too late. He had things to do today, so Zhu Youxiao got up early and changed his clothes with Empress Zhang's help.
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