The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Zhang Zhou and Yongkang were strolling in the garden of the princess's mansion like old friends.

Apparently Yongkang also knew how to avoid it, so he asked the servants in the mansion to wait in the corner of the garden, so that they could see from a distance what they were doing but could not hear their conversation, which gave her some "opportunities".

"I actually really want to know, what exactly was the Liaodong War for?"

Yongkang started the conversation first. "The court claimed to have dispatched more than 300,000 troops to Liaodong, saying that they wanted to eradicate the hidden dangers of the Jurchens at once, but up to now, there has not been a single decent battle. The letter my husband wrote back home told me that they have been busy farming and rectifying defenses since the beginning of spring. Could it be that all these thousands of troops were dispatched to Liaodong just to cultivate land there?"

Zhang Zhou said: "The situation on the battlefield is ever-changing. How can I explain it to you, Princess?"

Yongkang said anxiously, "You can't let your son-in-law stay away for too long! If not, transfer him back. He is already the Marquis of Jingshan, and we are satisfied. Wouldn't it be good for him to return to the capital and live a few days of peace and tranquility?"

Here, Yongkang has been working hard for Cui Yuan, even asking her brother for help.

But it's no use.

According to Zhu Youtang, Zhang Zhou had the final say on matters such as sending troops and employing personnel. Since Zhang Zhou wanted to transfer Cui Yuan to Liaodong and believed that Cui Yuan was still capable, he had to follow the rules.

If you insist on acting like the emperor's sister and asking your husband to come back, that's not a bad idea. But don't even think about getting any assignment in the Beijing camp. You will only have an empty title and you won't be able to hold power when you return to the capital. Others won't be afraid of you or curry favor with you. So I ask you, do you want him to stay in Liaodong or come back?

Zhang Zhou asked with a faint smile on his face, "Princess, you care about your husband. I envy you two, a couple like gods. Unfortunately, what we are talking about now is the affairs of the court, not your family. People in high positions have to bear a lot of responsibilities. I can ask His Majesty to let your husband come back, but what can he do after he comes back? If you really miss your husband, why not just go to Liaodong and reunite with your husband? Isn't that great?"

Yongkang was a little angry.

Based on her previous temper, she would definitely scold Zhang Zhou to death. How could a dignified princess be bullied by a subject like you?
But now she has learned her lesson. The methods that work on others are futile when it comes to Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou pointed to a three-story pavilion not far from the wall and asked with a smile, "Whose is that? It looks like a good place to view the scenery."

Yongkang did not answer, and continued: "Then Duke Cai, may I ask you a question, how can we get the son-in-law to come back? What I mean is that after he comes back, he can serve in the Beijing Camp and command a battalion. After all, he is inexperienced. If he can help Your Majesty share the worries, it will be even better. As for the conditions, just name them. Even if I have to sell everything I have, I will find a way... to make this happen."

Zhang Zhou said: "Princess, are you bribing me?"

"I just want the Prince Consort to come back. We agreed that we would go to Liaodong to fight. Now they are not even fighting, but are stationed in Liaodong for a long time. He is not on the front line and has not encountered any danger, but if this goes on for a long time, won't his family be worried? After all, the Prince Consort is your brother-in-law, and the girl from the Cui family should be well-behaved, right? Can you bear to see your sister not see her brother on a regular basis?"

Yongkang saw that the usual methods didn't work, so he tried to play the emotional card instead.

Zhang Zhou turned around, as if he was going to walk towards the hall where the banquet was being held, and said casually: "We are just going to Liaodong, but the princess is so worried. If we go to the West by sea, will the princess…"

"You...don't mess around!"

When Yongkang heard this, he immediately felt that Zhang Zhou was deliberately making trouble for him and his wife, and almost said "how dare you", but when the words came to his lips, his tone naturally softened.

Zhang Zhou said, "I married the daughter of Minister Lin. Her brother is now sailing with the fleet. It has been nearly four months now, and it will probably take another half a year for him to come back, because they will not leave by ship until the end of summer to prevent hurricanes at sea. When he returns to Daming, it will be the end of the year."

What I am saying is to tell Yongkang that don’t think that I will look at you differently just because you are my brother-in-law.

Lin Yi's elder brother Lin Ting is now sailing on the ship, and the Lin family has no complaints. Why do you have such a big objection to your husband just being asked to farm in Liaodong?
"Duke Cai, are you deliberately trying to embarrass your own family?"

Yongkang was a little annoyed, but there was nothing he could do.

Compared to Lin Ting, Cui Yuan's situation seemed to be much better. He was in charge of farming in Liaodong. Even though it was a bit hard, he basically did not have to go to the fields himself. It was just that he was in agony day and night in Liaodong and did not know when he could return to Beijing. Of course he had to write a letter to his wife to complain.

Yongkang also felt the same way as she had been separated from her husband for two years.

After all, the title was already in hand, and the original plan should have been to let her husband return to the capital and live a normal life.

"Let's drink." Zhang Zhou said, "For the princess, perhaps a little drunkenness can help her get rid of her worries."

……

……

At the dinner table, Yongkang no longer mentioned anything about Cui Yuan. She seemed to be afraid that Zhang Zhou would tell her brother about this matter, and then her brother would scold her for ignoring the overall situation.

After picking up the wine glass, she really started drinking one glass after another.

Even Zhang Zhou couldn't help but remind her that she was drinking too fast.

"Is it that Duke Cai doesn't dare to drink with me? I will treat today as a Hongmen Banquet. If Duke Cai doesn't dare... I won't force you. But please remember to tell others that you are not as good as me when it comes to drinking."

Yongkang deliberately used words to provoke Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Well said, you have successfully caught my attention. If I drink today, I will be in vain for this beautiful scenery."

After saying that, Zhang Zhou picked up the wine glass and started drinking.

"Good drinker."

Yongkang continued to pour wine for Zhang Zhou.

It seemed that she had some "tricks". Apparently, the wine she had was diluted with more water, and she felt that she could drink a lot normally. With this double trick, she would definitely be able to get Zhang Zhou drunk. By then, Zhang Zhou would be drunk in the princess's mansion, and he would definitely not want to spread the word, and then it would be easy for her to control him.

But what she didn't expect was...

After a drinking contest, Zhang Zhou looked drunk, but he continued to drink one cup after another. She thought she was fine, but she felt more and more dizzy the more she drank.

When she herself couldn't tell the difference between the two wine jugs, Zhang Zhou directly poured her a glass of wine that he also drank.

After Yongkang drank it, he fell directly on the table and couldn't get up.

"You're a good drinker." Zhang Zhou smiled.

In his opinion, a woman who doesn't make trouble when drunk and just lies down to sleep is very good. Of course, after coming to Ming Dynasty, he has not seen many women who drink. Even a woman like Jiang Pingyu who comes from a wine-making family usually does not drink at all.

"Your Highness..."

When the people in the princess's mansion saw that their master was drunk, they wanted to come over to see what was going on, but when they saw Zhang Zhou sitting there, they didn't dare to come forward.

Zhang Zhou stood up and said, "The princess is drunk. I have no choice but to leave. Please help her go in and rest."

"Yes."

Several maids in the princess's mansion hurried over to help Yongkang.

Yongkang sobered up a little and just uttered a few words: "Where is this?"

Then he followed the crowd towards the main courtyard in a daze.

Zhang Zhou walked out of the hall and looked at the backs of the group of people. He couldn't help but smile. His goal was obviously achieved.

"Who told you to drink with me without knowing your own limitations? Forget about discussing business. If I need to explain everything to a princess like you who doesn't care about court affairs, won't I be wearing out my lips all day long?"

Zhang Zhou shook his head in self-mockery.

"Let's go." Zhang Zhou said.

Someone came over and said, "My eldest princess has prepared some gifts for the young lady of the prince consort's family. They are all for daily use. I hope you can take them away."

Zhang Zhou understood that this was Yongkang giving him a gift in the name of Cui Ying.

It sounds good to say this. I just sent some daily expenses to my sister-in-law. Can you say that I am bribing Zhang Bingkuan? Who said that? If you have the guts, stand up for me! See how I will deal with you!

Zhang Zhou said, "That's really a no-brainer. My family has everything they need. As for the young lady from the Cui family, she hasn't been treated unfairly in my family. The princess is really thoughtful. Please thank him for me."

The servants in the mansion originally hoped that the eloquent master would communicate these matters with Zhang Zhou.

Now the hostess is drunk and can't even speak. How can they expect Zhang Zhou to accept these gifts?

Ever since.

Zhang Zhou walked out of the Princess's Mansion easily.

When she came out, many people from the princess's mansion came out to see her off. From Zhang Zhou's observation, probably everyone in the mansion was mobilized, but the hostess was the only one who was bedridden and unable to come out because she had drunk too much.

"Let's all go back. Thank you for your hospitality. When I have time, I will invite the princess and her husband to come over for a chat." Zhang Zhou said with a smile.

……

……

When Yongkang woke up, it was already night.

Her mind was still very dizzy. She looked at the woman who was wiping her face with a warm washcloth and asked, "What time is it?"

"Just started the shift." The old woman turned around and said, "Your Highness, are you awake? It's been more than three hours. These people must have been worried sick."

"Is Zhang Bingkuan still here?"

Yongkang suddenly thought that he had finally invited Zhang Zhou over today, but before they could even say a few words, Zhang Zhou just evaded the question and he was caught.

Of course, it was his own way.

The old woman said, "When Your Highness got drunk, he left without taking anything with him. He even said thank you for our hospitality. He was unruly and didn't seem to be very nice to us. Your Highness, you are a precious person, why would you associate with someone like him?"

"Are you ignorant?"

Yongkang sat up and even shook his head vigorously to make himself more awake.

She said angrily, "Who is more glorious than him in the court and the country? His Majesty only trusts him, and whatever he says is the truth! Moreover, the title of the prince consort depends entirely on him. Even if it is to thank him for his support, isn't it reasonable to invite him to the house for a drink?"

The old woman said: "We should wait until the prince consort comes back..."

Normally, the old woman takes care of Yongkang, and his food and clothing come from the princess's mansion.

However, because of her palace background, the generally low treatment of Ming princesses, and the royal family's control over the lives of the princesses and their husbands, some powerful servants in the mansion were often not inferior to the princess in status.

From a master-servant relationship, it became a "colleague" relationship.

Yongkang said, "It was because the prince consort couldn't come back that I asked him to come. Three months later, and then another three months later. It's been almost a year now, and I've only seen the prince consort a few times? First, Ningxia, then Yansui, then Jizhou, and now Liaodong! If I do nothing and just watch the prince consort running around like this, how can I bear it?"

After hearing this, the old woman thought to herself, isn’t this what you want?
At first, you complained that the prince consort had no ability, and said that he was falsely polite, liked to make friends with bad people, and even looked down on him.

That's when he asked the emperor and even the Duke of Cai for help, to help him get a military position, and even wanted him to work hard to get a title.

Now that the title is in hand, what is the result?
You complain that your husband is away from home for a long time... No matter how you look at it, it's just you who is greedy, not anyone else's fault.

Yongkang said, "Didn't I ask you to dilute the wine I drank today? Did you get the wrong one? Call the kitchen staff. I want to question them! How much water did you dilute?"

The old woman said helplessly: "The chef also said that they are also wondering, the princess clearly mixed a little wine into the water, so it has a slight smell of wine. Normally, the princess can drink a few glasses, how come..."

Yongkang frowned.

Apparently, when it came to drinking, she had never been afraid of Cui Yuan before, and she even felt that as a woman, she could hold her own at the drinking table.

Combined with the method of adding water to the wine, she felt that she could already defeat Zhang Zhou at the table.

result……

"Was he drunk when he left?" Yongkang asked.

The old woman shook her head and said, "Nothing happened at all. His face didn't even turn red. He looked like nothing had happened. Your Highness, the Princess is someone who rolls around in the world of fame and fortune. She should know everything about the wine table. Plus, she's a Taoist priest. If he can make an elixir or something, or the legendary hangover pill, he should be able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk."

"Are you kidding me? How can you not get drunk even after drinking a thousand cups?" Yongkang said, "It must be the group of people in the kitchen who got the wine jug wrong!"

……

……

After detailed verification, Yongkang realized that there was nothing wrong with the wine.

There is only one reason, Zhang Zhou is a heavy drinker.

"Did the opportunity just miss out?" Yongkang was upset.

It's hard to have this kind of thing again after spending so much effort.

The old woman said, "But before he left, he said he would come back to invite me when he has time."

"Really?" Yong Kang's eyes lit up and he said, "Then let someone make some preparations. I'll come and visit you directly next time."

"Your Highness, you..."

"Why, is it inappropriate? As a sister-in-law, what's wrong with visiting your sister-in-law? I get along very well with that girl Yingying. It was I who facilitated this marriage. I, the matchmaker, personally went to their house, and they still have to thank me for being the matchmaker! Bring me a few jars of strong liquor this time, I don't believe... I can't drink him down!" (End of this chapter)