Chapter 5 After the Wedding
On May 19th, the emperor and empress got married. Empress Qian officially entered the harem, and the ladies inside and outside the palace kowtowed to her.
Empress Dowager Cihui and Princess Shunde wrote a letter to the emperor requesting to resign from the position of regent, and the emperor agreed, which marked the beginning of his personal rule.
Although Princess Shunde returned her position as regent, she did not completely abandon state affairs. At least the emperor did not retract his decree granting her permission to carry out the "reform of the native tribes" in Yunnan. Furthermore, the emperor allowed Princess Shunde to bring craftsmen and officials with her to Yunnan, with the intention of not only improving local production but also establishing official schools and educating the people. This meant that all of Yunnan would be governed by officials who had passed the imperial examinations, effectively giving the province true control over the region.
In addition, the emperor rewarded people for their merits in the Battle of Luchuan. Wang Ji, Jiang Gui, Mu Ang, Mu Yan, Tuotuo Boluo and others were all rewarded. Wang Ji was rewarded with a title of nobility for his achievements as a civil official and a military general, and he became very popular for a time.
Zhu Yuhuan had already enjoyed glory once before, and logically she only needed to receive the reward this time. However, considering that Zhu Yuhuan would have to take over the Yunnan affairs later, it would be inevitable that she would be criticized as an ordinary princess, so Zhu Qizhen gave Zhu Yuhuan the title of "Zhenping".
Zhu Qizhen originally wanted to use the word "Zhen Guo", but he changed it due to the opposition of Yang Shiqi and the cabinet.
The first is that the word "Zhen Guo" is often used to refer to the sons of a prince, excluding the crown prince, that is, "Zhen Guo Jiangjun". The second is that the meaning of "Zhen Guo" is not very good when used on a princess.
Although it happened in the Tang Dynasty, Princess Taiping not only had a bad end, but it was also an embarrassing thing for Emperor Zhu Qizhen. After all, Princess Taiping was accused of treason and usurpation of the throne, while Princess Shunde was loyal to the country and the emperor, and she really should not have been given this title.
In this case, Zhu Qizhen could only settle for the second best.
Princesses were often given titles based on two-character place names. Zhu Yuhuan had exceeded the normal treatment. Even though it was approved by the emperor, wasn't it an act of usurpation?
Considering that Zhu Yuhuan had previously personally supervised the army in battles and made meritorious contributions to worship his ancestors, no matter who you are, you can't help but sigh with admiration for the courtesy and attention that the four emperors showed to Princess Shunde.
But if you think about it carefully, isn’t the Princess Zhenping Shunde’s repeated achievements a return for the courtesy shown by the four dynasties?
While people outside were discussing the treatment Zhu Yuhuan received, Zhu Yuhuan was helping his mother hand over the affairs of the harem in the palace.
Before Queen Qian entered the palace, in addition to learning etiquette, she also learned how to handle harem affairs.
When Empress Dowager Cihui was in charge of the palace, she was fair and impartial, and never made any mistakes. The concubines praised her highly, and even Empress Chengxiao praised her frequently when she was alive.
At the same time, Empress Dowager Cihui never failed to compile the essays and poems of the concubines and female officials in the palace, compiling more than ten volumes over the years. Although never intended for public reading, these volumes were often used to teach the palace ladies and female officials. Even Empress Qian read two volumes while preparing for her marriage outside the palace. One cannot help but admire Empress Dowager Cihui's appreciation for women's learning. She not only admired these women but also gifted them with a pure and peaceful environment. It is no wonder that this Empress Dowager, who did not give birth to an emperor, always enjoyed a high reputation and raised a daughter as rare as Princess Shunde.
On the day after the wedding, the emperor and empress had to pay their respects to the two empress dowagers. For convenience, the three eldest princesses and Prince Qing also met in Qingning Palace to make it easier for Queen Qian to recognize the blood relatives of the four emperors.
——Before entering the palace, Queen Qian had only heard the palace maids introduce her. For example, Princess Shunde had a more luxurious dress than other princesses because of her merits. However, Queen Qian did not have the time to identify these princesses during the grand ceremony, so she could only take this opportunity to get familiar with the four of them.
"The daughter-in-law pays homage to the Queen Mother, pays homage to the Queen Mother."
Hu Shanxiang said gently, "Get up."
Queen Mother Sun also had a kind expression on her face. She said, "We are already family. No need to be so polite. Get up quickly."
Queen Qian then stood up, still a little shy, and said, "As a daughter-in-law, I should be filial to my mother-in-law. How dare a daughter-in-law be rude?"
Empress Dowager Sun frowned upon hearing this, but remained silent.
Even if virtue is an important criterion for selecting a queen, with such a personality, she would probably be a boring person in her daily life. How could she compete with Zhou Yingying?
Zhu Qizhen, who was standing by, seemed to be in a good mood. He said to Queen Qian, "Your Majesty has always been very kind and won't say any polite words to you. Usually, my brothers and sisters are not restrained around you, so you don't have to be so cautious."
Seeing Empress Qian's shy expression, Hu Shanxiang smiled slightly. She first asked if it was appropriate for Empress Qian to live in Kunning Palace and if the palace attendants were capable. Then she had the female officials around her take all the palace affairs and hand them over to Empress Qian's attendants. She said, "It is the Empress's duty to manage the six palaces. When the Emperor was young and there was no one in the harem, I temporarily took over the palace affairs, and the others assisted in handling them. Now that the Empress has entered the palace, these matters should also be handed over to you."
Empress Qian declined symbolically, saying, "My mother and mother are both highly respected. I have just entered the palace and there are still many things I don't understand. I still need your guidance and the guidance of the elders."
"With time, you'll eventually learn the ropes of the palace. The most important thing is to establish the Empress's rules," Hu Shanxiang consoled her. "If there's anything you don't know or find difficult, just come and tell us. As for the other old rules, the ladies-in-waiting and the palace maids know them all. As soon as you open your mouth, they'll reveal them. Anyone who dares to deceive their superiors or subordinates will naturally have our backs. Don't let your concerns hold you back."
Upon hearing this, Queen Qian hurriedly said, "My mother and my concubine have placed such trust in me. I will definitely not disappoint her."
After hearing Hu Shanxiang's polite words, Empress Dowager Sun took the initiative to speak: "The emperor and empress are husband and wife, and only in this way can the superiors set an example for the subordinates. The empress should take good care of the emperor's health on a daily basis."
Hu Shanxiang said so many empty words, but she didn't mention the most important thing, which was, of course, that the emperor and empress give birth to a legitimate son as soon as possible...
Empress Qian didn't understand the hidden meaning of Empress Dowager Sun's words, but she still replied respectfully, "I will keep your words in mind, mother."
Empress Dowager Sun naturally understood that Queen Qian failed to understand what she meant, and she felt helpless and resentful. However, because Hu Shanxiang was right beside her, she couldn't say much. She just responded and stopped talking.
It's really hard to get a single date with three sticks, and I don't know if I can win the emperor's favor...
Seeing this, the female official beside her introduced the four people next to her to Queen Qian.
Queen Qian had not observed carefully before, but she had secretly identified the four brothers and sisters just now. Although there were three eldest princesses, it was very easy to identify them as long as you paid a little attention.
The tallest, with a slightly tanned complexion, must have been Princess Shunde, who had returned from Luchuan. She wore a light apricot bodice with ivory-white pipa sleeves, a blue skirt, and gold jewelry, giving her an air of exceptional wealth and splendor. But Zhu Yuhuan's eyes were the most captivating. They resembled those of Hu Shanxiang, but with a sharper gaze. Beside them, with unmarried and married hairstyles, were Princess Yongqing and Princess Changde, respectively.
Zhu Yuhuan took the initiative to speak: "I met Your Highness hurriedly during the grand ceremony, and today is the official meeting. You are truly the graceful and dignified mother of a country."
Seeing her initiate a conversation, Empress Qian felt a pang of anxiety and quickly said, "You are truly too polite, Princess... I have long heard of your intelligence and talent. Not only Your Majesty, but the late Emperor also placed great trust in you. Only now, having met you in person today, do I realize how truly exceptional and brilliant you are..."
Although the eldest princess is also a lady of noble birth and ranks below the empress, the Princess Shunde in front of her cannot be treated like an ordinary princess.
Even the princes did not have such power and trust from the emperor. In addition, after the ancestor worship, many people in the folk highly respected the Princess Shunde. There were even many women who imitated the Princess Shunde. Even if they did not ride horses on the streets, there were still many women who went out to find jobs on their own.
Zhu Yuhuan could hear the intimacy and admiration in her words, so he just smiled and said, "Your Highness, you are too kind. I am just an ordinary person with two eyes and a mouth. How can I deserve such praise from Your Highness?"
Zhu Qizhen immediately said, "Big sister, what are you talking about? You are the eldest princess who returned victorious from supervising the army. It's just a compliment. Why be so modest?"
Zhu Yuhuan was well aware of Zhu Qizhen's thoughts and said with a smile, "That's all thanks to your majesty's trust and promotion. Moreover, Minister Wang and his men have also made great achievements in this battle. If you only praise me, how can you be worthy of your majesty's efforts?"
When Zhu Youtong saw that Zhu Qizhen's mouth was almost stretched to his ears, he couldn't help but roll his eyes in his heart.
Isn't it just to establish the image of an emperor in control of the situation? Now he is not in the court, why is he using his sister as a raft?
Empress Qian said shyly, "I heard about it when I was outside the palace. The princess's cloth shop has a loom that weaves like a horse at a thousand miles a day. The cloth it weaves is plentiful and high-quality. It's not only popular in the capital, but also in northern Zhili. Many people buy the cloth shop's high-quality and low-priced cloth. Now many women are recruited to weave on the loom, improving the livelihoods of many poor families."
Zhu Yuhuan brought back new loom drawings from Nanjing. With the flying shuttle, even without hydraulic support, the loom was much faster than ordinary looms, which was conducive to building a factory in the capital. Therefore, Zhu Yuhuan's cloth shop began to recruit people on a large scale.
If this happened before Luchuan, there might be someone who would say something, but now the Princess Shunde is in the limelight and even Wang Zhen has to stay away from her, so who dares to say anything?
Moreover, these families in the city had no farmland or other means to make a living, and could only rely on odd jobs in the city to make money. However, since the men in the family had to serve in the military, it was extremely difficult for them to live a more comfortable life. As a result, many women were forced to become prostitutes to make a living. From Zhu Zhanji to Zhu Qizhen, there were clear orders to prohibit and crack down on this behavior, but it was often only temporarily suppressed.
Zhu Yuhuan now employed women in the capital, implicitly giving them the opportunity to support their families and reducing the need for prostitution in many families. The results were so rapid, even more effective than the emperor's strict decree, that the censors dared not object. Furthermore, the employment relationship Zhu Yuhuan established was fundamentally different from slavery, did not violate national law, and left no one vulnerable, a situation no one wanted to avoid.
Queen Qian said seriously, "A man's loyalty and a woman's chastity lie in serving their country and their family. Your Majesty should commend the eldest princess for her loyalty, so that the people of the world can emulate her."
Zhu Yuhuan couldn't help but secretly sigh that his mother's Nüshu was not in vain, and its influence on his ideas was no small matter.
At least Queen Qian obviously accepted this theory and agreed with it deeply.
Queen Mother Sun, who was standing by, was a little unhappy when she saw the two getting along so well. She ordered the palace servant beside her, "Why don't you change the tea for the Princess and Prince Qing?"
The palace maids did not understand what Empress Dowager Sun meant, and upon hearing her words they just hurriedly served tea to the nobles.
Zhu Yuhuan didn't take it seriously and just smiled and said, "I have to go to Yunnan later and won't be able to fulfill my filial duties by my mother's side. I'll have to trouble Your Highness to take good care of her and perform filial duties on my behalf."
Zhu Qizhen heard this and said, "Big sister, what are you talking about? As long as I am here, are you afraid that someone will dare to embarrass Mother? Even if Mother no longer holds power in the palace, she is still the Empress Dowager. It is not the turn of others to ride on the head of the royal family. If anyone dares to offend Mother, I will be the first to forgive him."
Zhu Yuhuan smiled and covered his mouth, saying, "Your Majesty is very busy and there are always times when he fails to provide adequate care. Your Highness is gentle and meticulous, and will surely be able to take good care of the two Empress Dowagers."
Hu Shanxiang had just handed over the power of the palace to the empress. If there were any rumors, the person most worried about would naturally be Emperor Zhu Qizhen, who ruled the country with filial piety. Not to mention that the Empress Dowager Cihui's daughter was working for the emperor outside the palace, but the empress dowager was treated harshly, which was even more unreasonable.
Zhu Yuhuan then said to Queen Qian, "When it comes to fine things, Your Majesty has the most. I don't have much to offer. Grandma left a lot of things for the four of us siblings. Now that Your Highness has entered the palace, we have selected a few fine things to present to Your Highness. I hope Your Highness will not despise them."
When Empress Dowager Zhang passed away, all the things in her name were given to her five grandchildren. As the emperor, Zhu Qizhen had his own inner treasury, so of course he didn't care about these things. He directly divided them into four parts and gave them to his sisters and brother, who kept them in the palace for safekeeping and easy access. Considering that part of them should have been given to Zhu Qizhen's future queen, the four of them picked out the most valuable things, added some to their own, and made up a gift for the queen.
Zhu Youtong also said, "Your Highness, please do not refuse. These are all left by Grandma. You should have a share. The four of us siblings are just borrowing flowers to offer to the Buddha and adding some of our own things. If Xiaoyu gets married in the future, the princess will also have a share."
Suddenly talking about the future princess, Zhu Qiyu blushed and said a little embarrassedly: "Second sister, it's a little too early to bring up these things."
Zhu Qizhen said seriously, "I think it's quite appropriate. The Prince of Qin's Mansion will be completed soon, and it's time to find a mistress to take care of it."
Zhu Yuhuan smiled and said, "Then I'll have to ask Your Highness to take more care of Yu Ge'er."
Queen Qian knew that the five brothers and sisters had a good relationship before entering the palace. Upon hearing this, she said solemnly, "I will definitely not let down your Majesty and the princesses."
Seeing her so serious, Hu Shanxiang couldn't help but smile, but Empress Dowager Sun beside her became more and more unhappy.
The current Queen Qian looks more and more like the former Hu Shanxiang. How can she feel at ease?
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