The Yiku Palace was first built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign and was originally called the Wan'an Palace. It was renamed the Yiku Palace in the 14th year of the Jiajing reign.
"Yi" means assistant, and the queen's bedroom is Kunning Palace.
Yikun means assisting the queen in managing the harem.
Concubine Yuan lived in the Yikun Palace, and her status in the harem was self-evident.
She said there was a cat in the Yiku Palace that could do backflips, but Chongzhen naturally didn't believe it.
At that time, looking at the cat is fake, staring at his body is real.
He knew clearly the purpose of Concubine Yuan's actions.
They were simply afraid that he would send Zhu Ci Zhao to the battlefield and that he would encounter an accident.
"I'm busy lately, let's go another day!" Chongzhen politely declined Concubine Yuan's invitation.
Concubine Yuan's pink face suddenly turned pale, and she began to worry about Zhu Cizhou's future.
"Zhu Ci Zhao," Chongzhen looked at the 17-year-old boy, "I heard that you are both civil and military?"
Zhu Ci Zhao's face flushed red: "I dare not hide it. Although I cannot compare with my father in literature and martial arts, I am much better than ordinary people."
"Oh," Chongzhen calmed down a little, "Do you know that the Mongols sent hostages to Beijing?"
"I have heard something."
"The oldest of these protons are fifteen or sixteen years old, and the youngest are only six or seven years old. Starting tomorrow, I want you to hang out with them every day."
"Every day...mixed together?" Zhu Cizhao was a little surprised by this task.
He was ready to go to the battlefield, but he didn't expect that the task Chongzhen gave him was to hang out with the hostages.
"Yes," Chongzhen smiled, "Don't treat them as hostages, treat them as friends."
Seeing that Zhu Cizhao was still somewhat confused, Chongzhen nodded towards Wang Chengen, motioning him to explain.
Wang Chengen took over the conversation and continued, "Your Highness Prince Ding needs to make friends with these people and build good relationships with them! Help them learn to read and write, learn to ride and shoot, and help them spend money freely."
"These people are descendants of Mongolian nobles and will inherit the ruling power in the future. Becoming friends with them will be beneficial to the subsequent governance of Mongolia! Your Highness is smart and should be able to understand the reason."
Zhu Ci Zhao was so shocked by this task that he was speechless.
Not just him.
Concubine Yuan and Zhu Cijiong beside them also widened their eyes in a daze.
Concubine Yuan was the first to react. She tugged at Zhu Cizhuo's sleeve and said, "Why don't you accept the decree and thank me?"
In her opinion, this decree was the best one since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, without a doubt.
"Oh, yes!" Yong Wang Zhu Ci Zhao hurriedly saluted Chongzhen and said, "Your son obeys your order.
"Get up." Chongzhen waved his hand.
After taking a sip of tea, Chongzhen asked Prince Ding: "Zhu Cijiong, I will not be dissatisfied with my arrangement, right?"
"I do feel a little uncomfortable, but your Majesty has his reasons for doing so, and I accept it calmly." Prince Ding Zhu Cijiong answered honestly.
"I am very pleased that you can say this. But there is a war in Liaodong, so we cannot keep you in the capital for long. Go back and pack up, and prepare to go to Liaodong in three to five days."
"Your son obeys your order."
"There is one more very important thing that I need to tell you in advance."
"Please let me know, Father."
"I cannot break the rule that vassal kings do not command the army."
Zhu Cijiong looked up at Chongzhen, and immediately understood, "I understand."
Chongzhen's goal had been achieved, so there was no point in continuing the dinner.
After eating for a while, Prince Ding Zhu Cixiong and Prince Yong Zhu Cizhao said goodbye and left.
They all had their own palaces in the palace, and they would go back to rest under the guidance of eunuchs.
Concubine Yuan was reluctant to leave, but was politely declined by Chongzhen.
After resting for a while, Chongzhen got up and went to Kunning Palace.
Queen Zhou was in Kunning Palace, raging against the eunuchs and palace maids.
After she lost her temper, Empress Zhou's personal maid pointed at four or five eunuchs and yelled, "Xiao Longzi, Xiao Qing, you guys didn't sprinkle water when you swept the floor, and the dust choked the Empress. Come, drag them out and beat them!"
"Yes!" More than a dozen eunuchs dragged Xiao Longzi and others out and beat them with sticks.
After the fight, Queen Zhou was still not satisfied, and she vented her anger at everyone for a while before she calmed down her anger.
Empress Zhou's personal maid came outside the courtyard and pointed at everyone present and said, "Prince Ding is going to be sent to the Liaodong battlefield. The Empress is in a bad mood after knowing this. You should be careful when you do things and never make the Empress angry again."
"Yes." A group of eunuchs and palace maids knelt on the ground and responded in unison, trembling.
"Everyone, step back!"
The eunuchs and palace maids were as if they had been pardoned, and they immediately ran out crawling.
With Queen Zhou's actions, the news that Prince Ding Zhu Cijiong was about to go to the battlefield quickly spread throughout the harem.
The harem is the queen's world.
but...
There are also traitors in the harem.
There are traitors among court officials and there are traitors among nobles.
The purpose of Queen Zhou's action was to spread the news.
By then, someone would naturally stop Zhu Cijiong from going to Liaodong.
The Queen's actions were within Chongzhen's expectations.
He neither exposed nor stopped it.
Instead, he chose to acquiesce.
There were two purposes for sending Zhu Cijiong to Liaodong.
One is to train him and make him the prince's assistant.
Based on his understanding of the prince, he would definitely not be able to fight against the civil service group alone after ascending the throne.
I need help.
Zhu Cixiong and Zhu Cizhao are the best candidates.
The second is to use Zhu Cijiong to take back some military power.
Take it openly!
Of course, this kind of conspiracy will definitely encounter resistance from court officials.
When they arrived at Kunning Palace, Queen Zhou was crying alone.
Seeing Chongzhen coming, Empress Zhou wiped away her tears and said, "I am late in coming to greet you, Your Majesty, please forgive me."
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