Chapter 65 Thunder
Zhu Yuhuan and Xu Wangzhi were sitting in a private room. Seeing her contented appearance, Xu Wangzhi couldn't help but ask, "I heard that the court has been arguing fiercely these past few days over the Luchuan expedition. How can you still be in the mood to come out for tea and listen to opera?"
Zhu Yuhuan took a sip of Longjing tea and said with a smile, "No matter how much they argue, there will always be a solution in the end. Besides, His Majesty has already made a decision. No matter how much they argue, it won't change the result. In that case, why should I bother?"
Xu Wangzhi scratched his head and said, "That... does make some sense." She sighed and said, "Forget it, I don't understand these court affairs. I'm already worried enough just by being busy with the charity hall and teaching those students..."
Zhu Yuhuan comforted him, "Don't worry too much. My mother will release a group of elderly female officials from the palace in the near future to run the charity hall. There are also female officials from the Imperial Food Bureau who are in charge of medicine. Although they don't have much experience in treating patients, they are very experienced in identifying different types of medicinal herbs. I'm sure they can help you teach some of your students."
Xu Wangzhi's eyes lit up, but then he became a little confused and asked, "If we let those ladies-in-waiting leave the palace, won't the palace be short of manpower?"
Zhu Yuhuan said with a smile, "It seems that you are not well-informed. His Majesty previously brought many women from the Changping Imperial Farm into the palace. If he wants to promote female officials in the future, he will have to choose from among them."
Xu Wangzhi uttered an exclamation, his expression somewhat subtle, and said, "Didn't the Empress Dowager pass away not long ago? To rashly allow someone into the palace like this..."
"Your Majesty is using the title to relieve Empress Dowager Cihui's worries. This is also filial piety. If it gets out to others, what will happen?"
Xu Wangzhi said angrily, "The emperor is always right, no matter whether it is right or wrong. I have learned my lesson."
Zhu Yuhuan was amused by her words, then said seriously, "Minister Zeng is not in good health. I'd appreciate your attention and help me take care of him while I'm away. He will be of great use in the future."
Xu Wangzhi said confidently: "Don't worry, I can definitely handle this little thing."
Zhu Yuhuan nodded slightly and was about to say something when someone knocked on the door and whispered something to Han Guilan. Han Guilan then quickly walked over to Zhu Yuhuan and said, "Your Highness, we have a guest."
Xu Wangzhi was not interested in these things. After hearing Han Guilan's words, he waved at Zhu Yuhuan and said, "I'll just drink tea and read here. Your Highness can go about his business and don't worry about me."
Zhu Yuhuan smiled and said, "Okay, I'll be back soon."
Zhu Yuhuan and Han Guilan left the private room together. There were no people in the corridor at this time, so Han Guilan spoke up, "It's the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister who have arrived. They probably want to see His Highness."
Zhu Yuhuan raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Come together?"
"We came together."
Zhu Yuhuan thought about it and said, "Let's go and meet him."
Han Guilan hesitated and asked, "Your Highness, do you really want to go? I'm afraid they'll ask you to persuade His Majesty to retract his order. Even if Your Highness can refuse, it won't look good on the surface."
Zhu Yuhuan half-jokingly asked, "Do they dare to glare at the dignified Princess?" Seeing Han Guilan's embarrassment, she continued, "In fact, they themselves understand that once His Majesty decides to do something, they can't persuade him. It's completely different from when the Emperor was still alive."
During his last border patrol, Zhu Zhanji once thought about leading his troops to raid the Tatars himself, but was finally persuaded by Yang Rong. Regardless of whether this decision was correct, it at least proved that Zhu Zhanji himself would listen to advice. However, Zhu Qizhen was completely different. He had never been the type to listen to advice since he was a child, but rather had more of a heretical spirit.
Han Guilan couldn't help but sigh and said, "Your Highness is right..."
"It just so happens that I have a few words to say to them. Since they've come to my door, I might as well take this opportunity to give them some advice."
Zhu Yuhuan entered the private room and saw the two of them sitting there drinking tea. When they saw Zhu Yuhuan coming, they all stood up to greet him.
Seeing this, Zhu Yuhuan waved his hand at the two men and said, "You two are both pillars of the country and the court, and you are important ministers to several generations of emperors. Why should you be so polite?"
The two men still politely saluted Zhu Yuhuan. After they sat down again, Yang Pu said to Zhu Yuhuan: "Your servants know that the battle of Luchuan must be fought, but..."
Zhu Yuhuan didn't wait for him to finish and took the initiative to speak: "I will be away from the capital this year, and the court will rely on the two elders to pay more attention."
Her tone of voice was not harsh, but it was quite intimidating. The two people who had their own plans stopped and stared at Zhu Yuhuan in amazement.
After a moment's pause, Yang Pu hurriedly asked, "Why do you say that, Your Highness?"
Since the death of the Grand Empress Dowager, Wang Zhen had become increasingly daring. He first embezzled troops to build temples and then recruited many civilians to become monks, all in an effort to curry favor with the late Grand Empress Dowager and curry favor with the Emperor. Only Princess Shunde offered any degree of intimidation to him, and Zhu Yuhuan was able to mediate the conflict between the Emperor and the officials.
For both officials and the emperor, it was the best outcome for Zhu Yuhuan to stay in Beijing. Although he probably only had a few years left to assist in the administration, one year of relief was better than no year at all.
When Zhu Yuhuan suddenly mentioned leaving the capital, the two's first reaction was that Zhu Qizhen wanted to arrange a marriage for Zhu Yuhuan, the female Taoist priest chosen by the late emperor, and marry Zhu Yuhuan off, so Zhu Yuhuan was thinking of leaving the capital.
For Zhu Yuhuan, the eldest princess, assisting in the administration was already a high level of power that she could touch. Even so, she could not escape the emperor's suspicion, and marriage was not a bad way out.
But the emperor is not yet old enough to officially rule the country. If Princess Shunde just leaves like this, how embarrassing will it be?
Zhu Yuhuan noticed the two old men were so worried that they were confused. He couldn't help but laugh and said, "It's nothing else. I just guess that His Majesty will send me to join the army and conquer Luchuan soon."
Yang Shiqi and Yang Pu looked at each other, and finally Yang Shiqi was the first to ask, "Is this... also what the Duke of Ying proposed to His Majesty that day?"
Zhu Yuhuan shook his head and said, "That's not the case. I was there that day, and the Duke of Ying didn't say anything like that."
Yang Pu couldn't help but ask, "Why is that? Luchuan is so dangerous, why would His Majesty appoint the regent princess to go there in person? If something goes wrong..."
Zhu Yuhuan waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "Your Majesty originally had no such intentions, but the current situation forces Your Majesty to do so."
Yang Shiqi was startled for a moment, but soon understood. He said, "Your Highness means... that we are pushing too hard, and Your Majesty is worried that we are not fully committed to the war, so you want to send the Princess?"
It is one thing that Zhu Yuhuan herself is qualified for this position, but the more important reason is that Zhu Yuhuan is of royal blood and a royal princess, so it is natural for her to hold the title of emperor.
Not to mention that if Princess Zhu Yuhuan was also in the army, the officials would not dare to slack off in any way. If the eldest princess made a mistake, it would not be a crime that could be erased with just a few words of defense.
Zhu Yuhuan said with a smile, "Your Majesty probably does have this intention. More importantly, if I continue to stay in the capital, I am afraid I will hinder the progress of certain people. Now there is a ready-made opportunity. If I don't use this opportunity to let me leave the capital, how can he do what he wants?"
Although she did not mention the man's name, how could the two people present not know that the person she was talking about was Wang Zhen?
Fighting a war takes a lot of time, not to mention the southwest expedition to Luchuan. Zhu Yuhuan would be away from Beijing for at least a year or two, and Empress Dowager Cihui's control over government affairs was far inferior to that of Empress Dowager Zhang. As a result, Zhu Qizhen was almost the only one in charge of government affairs, no longer needing to consult with others.
For Yang Shiqi and others, leaving all matters to Zhu Qizhen was no different from directly handing over all government affairs to Wang Zhen.
When Zhu Yuhuan returns from Luchuan, the emperor should also be formally married and start a family. At that time, there will be more reason for Princess Shunde to stop assisting in the administration.
Doesn't this mean that all government affairs fall into Wang Zhen's hands?
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