One day in early October, Chongzhen stretched hard after finishing his official business.
After his fatigue had subsided a little, Chongzhen asked Wang Chengen, "It has been a year since the King of Zhao and the King of Zhou came to the capital to seek refuge, right?"
Wang Chengen counted on his fingers and said, "To answer your Majesty, it has been more than a year."
"They came to the capital from Damingfu with their widowed mother and orphans after a long journey. I haven't visited them yet, right?"
Wang Chengen nodded: "The emperor has indeed never visited him."
"Issue an order that I will personally go to the temporary residence of the Prince of Zhao to visit them at noon the day after tomorrow. I will have the Prince of Zhou and his mother, the Duke of Ying and his wife, and the Minister of the Cabinet, Fan, and his wife accompany us."
"Prepare two gifts, one for King Zhao and one for King Zhou."
The list of Chongzhen's entourage was very particular.
There were men and women, nobles and court officials.
No matter what the result is, the scene won't be too awkward.
Just as Wang Chengen was about to leave, Chongzhen called him back: "Let the queen come along as well. She has lived in the palace for a long time and has never seen the outside world. Let her see the changes in the capital of the Ming Dynasty this time."
After the news spread, both inside and outside the imperial city became busy.
The busiest were the Jinyiwei and Yongwei battalions. They scouted the travel routes in advance and arranged various visible and covert sentries.
Two days passed in a flash.
That morning, the Queen was very unusual in not wearing white clothes, but instead wearing the common clothes of the imperial palace.
The main colors of the imperial palace’s daily attire in the Ming Dynasty were red and yellow.
A bright red dress with wide sleeves, a long red silk skirt, and a red top.
She wore a dragon-phoenix pearl and jade crown on her head, which was made like a special bun with dragon and phoenix decorations on it. Her clothes were woven with gold-woven dragon and phoenix patterns and embroidered with them.
Chongzhen was used to seeing Queen Zhou wearing white clothes.
So when she changed into this outfit and appeared in front of him, Chongzhen's eyes lit up.
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