I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 522 We are a loving family
Everyone looked at Zhu Yijun, but Zhu Yijun disagreed.

Don't think that the Ming Dynasty was dead and dull, thinking that everyone was poisoned by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, and that women all had bound feet and never stepped out of the front door.

In order to win favor from the emperor, the concubines in the palace all possessed special skills and were extremely competitive.

Not to mention the records of previous dynasties, in history, the grandson of Emperor Wanli, the famous prodigal son and diligent emperor Chongzhen, had favorite concubines including a music expert who was originally from Suzhou, proficient in various musical instruments, and good at playing and singing; there was also a "new-age woman" who was good at riding and shooting, and was very skilled in polo and archery.

Only the daughters of small families would bind their feet from a young age in order to marry into a wealthy family and achieve class leap, to satisfy the hobbies of some perverted men.

If one wants to carve out a path among the wealthy and powerful, or even among the colorful world of the imperial palace, one must cultivate various interests and hobbies from a young age, which is even more cruel than the after-school interest classes of later generations.

Being good at playing the musical instrument, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing and dancing are standard features, but how can one dance well if one has bound feet?

If you don't learn riding and archery, wouldn't you be anxious if the emperor likes it?

It is always good to have many skills, this has been the truth since ancient times.

What's wrong with forming a women's polo team?
You scholars and literati had fun with official and private prostitutes in the East and West Courtyards in Beijing, the Fourteenth Floor Teaching Building in Nanjing, as well as in Xiheyan and Caochangchang in Beijing, and the east of Wuding Bridge and the south of Huitong Bridge in Nanjing.

Openly taking prostitutes as concubines, and "sharing" concubines. In the deep mansions, all kinds of perverts dare to play.

Not to mention moral bottom line, there is already a moral vacuum.

As a result, when it comes to me, I have to set high standards. Concubines must read "Biographies of Women" and observe women's virtues to set an example for the world. If I set up a women's polo team, you would criticize me and say that the country will be destroyed; if the harem listens to more operas, you would say that it is a waste of time.
You are running wildly in the perverted boudoir pleasure. There is no most perverted, only more perverted.

I'm just having some normal boudoir fun, what's wrong with that?
If you dare to say that again, I will beat you to death!
Zhu Yijun smiled and nodded, "It just so happens that there is an open space in the West Parade Ground, and there is also a stable of the Imperial Horse Administration, which houses dozens of fine horses that were paid as tribute from the southern and northern deserts and the Hequ in the northeast.

I go there to ride horses all the time, and you guys can form a polo team and it will be just right for me."

Xue's eyes lit up, "Your Majesty, do you agree?"

"What's not allowed?
The harem is not a birdcage, and the concubines cannot be raised like canaries. This is not allowed, that is not allowed. I am depressed every day, with a droopy face, and my mood is also implicated.

I've been dealing with government affairs for a day, and when I come back, I'm looking at you with a bitter face. What's the point? Polo team, I agree."

"But Your Majesty, if the outside court heard about it, they would impeach you," Wang Lan'er advised.

"Let them impeach. My cabinet is filled with impeachment memorials. These civil servants are lenient with themselves and strict with others. If you want to impeach them, do so now.

If you have any hobbies, just tell me and I will allow them to do it for you."

Imperial Concubine Song Liuli said: "I can sing a few songs and I also like to paint. I beg the emperor to allow me to paint everywhere in the West Garden.

I also heard that there is a singing girl named Yonggeer in the Jiaosifang, who has a unique singing voice. I want to learn from her."

"Okay, it's settled. Just invite her here and place her in the Pear Garden." Zhu Yijun responded immediately.

Xu Youlian said quickly: "I can dance a few songs. I heard that there is a dancer named Xie Man'er in the teaching office who is proficient in more than ten kinds of dances. I want to learn dancing from her."

"Sure, we'll put them all in the Pear Garden."

Zeng Wan'er said: "Your Majesty, I can't do anything else but embroider some flowers and birds on silk. I heard that there are two embroiderers in the needlework department of the palace who are praised as the needlework of heaven.

I want to learn.”

"Okay, you can ask two embroiderers to come to your place regularly to teach you needlework."

After Zhu Yijun finished speaking, he looked at Dong Linglong and Ge Xiuyun.

The two chuckled, "Your Majesty, we have joined the Queen's women's polo team."

"That's a good thing." Zhu Yijun turned and looked at Wang Lan'er.

We have to find something for these women in the harem to do. It can relieve their mood on the one hand, and it can also give them a place to rely on. They should not play palace intrigues for no reason and make the harem a mess.

What are you looking for to do?
Of course, it is what they are most interested in and want to do the most.

Hobbies and interests are the biggest driving force.

Wang Lan'er was hesitant. She was the most orthodox and old-fashioned among the concubines, but she was smart and knew that if she said she wanted nothing, it might offend the emperor and she would be overshadowed by the other concubines.

After that, she became mediocre, no longer favored by the emperor, and finally neglected and died in depression.

That won't work!
Wang Lan'er hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I like Kunqu Opera and want to learn how to sing from Chunxi Opera's female role, Chun Xiuniang."

"That's perfect. We can all be together in the Pear Garden."

Zhu Yijun turned to Wanfu and said, "Wanfu, as the chief eunuch, please arrange the requests of the ladies."

"Yes, I obey your order."

"The West Garden was repaired and reinforced last year, and a high wall was rebuilt to the north of Xi'an Gate, Lingxing Gate, Yuhe Bridge, Chengguang Hall, and Qianming Gate.

The north side is big enough for the ladies to play in. Liu Yi. "

"The servant is here."

"Just keep a close eye on it."

"According to the order."

After more than 20 years of reinforcement and improvement by Emperor Jiajing, the high walls of Xiyuan became city walls, and the security was as strict as that of the Forbidden City. When Zhu Yijun, the grandson of the emperor, began to rule, he also reinforced the defense of Xiyuan.

The Zi Zheng Bureau, where people often came and went, was placed in the Baochaosi, and was separated from the Western Garden by a separate wall.

The Silijian was placed in Lingtai, inside the Western Garden, separated from the Zizheng Bureau by the Yongshou Gate.

Empress Xue and the other concubines bowed to Zhu Yijun and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you."

Zhu Yijun laughed, "Now we are all a family, living together, the most important thing is that we are all happy."

To be honest, Zhu Yijun learned a lot from his grandfather, the Emperor Jiajing, in terms of handling state affairs and playing political games.

Now that he had a family, the thoughts that came into his head were all the ways of thinking he had developed as a senior civil servant, and had nothing to do with Emperor Jiajing.

Because in his later years, Emperor Jiajing was indifferent to all desires, and he only had Zhu Yijun by his side. He had no family life, and it had no influence on him in any way.

However, Zhu Yijun's way of thinking about family, although he tried hard to integrate with the times, still seemed very unique and even somewhat shocking.

But this is exactly the effect Zhu Yijun wanted.

I want to rebuild a new Ming Dynasty, from head to toe, inside and out. Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang built the Ming Dynasty, and I reshaped it. The women chattered and talked, and their cheerful voices were like a group of larks singing.

Zhu Yijun looked at them with a smile and felt that they were like the excited female students who had just joined their favorite club.

But are they middle school students or college students?
This evil feudal society is so perverted. I want to eat two crystal clear red grapes to calm my nerves.

As they chatted, the girls were attracted by Dong Linglong's words.

She talked about life on the grassland, the blue sky and white clouds, the endless green grassland, the cloud-like flocks of sheep, and the herdsmen riding on their horses and singing.

In her mouth, it is the Ming Dynasty version of poetry and distant places.

Zeng Wan'er said with longing, "I really want to ride a horse on the grassland, see the grassland that Sister Linglong mentioned, and live in a felt tent there."

Zhu Yijun had just finished eating a piece of watermelon and wiped the juice from his mouth and hands with a towel.

"The temporary palace is being built in Chengde City on the Luan River. It should be completed next year. By then, I can take you to Chengde to escape the summer heat. The summer there is cool and refreshing, and there are endless grasslands."

"really?"

"Of course it's true. Han and Mongolia are one family. The left wing of Mongolia has become a citizen of the Ming Dynasty and also my relative. I believe it won't be long before the right wing does the same.

Relatives, we must always visit each other frequently. In the future, I will spend the summer in Chengde City, and I will also meet with the dukes of the front, back, left, and right wings of Mongolia.

Sitting together, drinking and singing, riding horses and shooting arrows, a family should act like a family. "

Zhu Yijun's words made the girls' eyes sparkle with stars, and their faces were full of longing.

They were similar in age to Zhu Yijun, the oldest was only seventeen or eighteen years old, and the youngest was only fifteen. In later generations, they would still be young and beautiful girls, at an age when they were most lively and active, and had infinite longings for the future and a better future.

Zhu Yijun's "indulgence" made their natures gradually reveal themselves.

"I really hope that the railway in Chengde City will be repaired soon so that we can live there."

Zhu Yijun's heart moved, and he said, "Now that you mention it, I remember that Chengde Xingzai is where we will live in the future.

It doesn’t have to be luxurious, but it has to be elegant and comfortable.”

The girls nodded repeatedly.

Yeah!
"Well, I am worried that the people in charge of the construction of the Ministry of Works may be too vulgar and make Chengdexing look like the courtyards of nouveau riche or landlords, which is extremely vulgar.

I have to send someone with taste to take a look and supervise the production on site for two or three months."

Zhu Yijun pointed at Feng Bao with his right hand and said, "Feng Bao, you go to Chengde City and stay there for three months to supervise the construction of the imperial court. Remember, it is fresh and elegant, and the accommodation is comfortable.

Just watch the construction going on, the rest is for city defense, don't interfere."

Feng Bao was startled. Before he could reply, Xue Baoqin asked, "Is Feng Bao going?"

The words were full of doubt.

"Feng Bao was proficient in calligraphy and painting. He was good at writing in the Ouyang Xun style and was well-known in the inner court and the outer court. He was also good at flower and bird painting. One of his paintings of hundreds of flowers could be sold for hundreds of taels of silver in Liulichang.

His house is the most elegant.

'The bamboo in the wind spreads its clear rhythm, the locust tree in the smoke condenses its green appearance. I think about the elegance in the forest for a long time, and the solitude is the essence.'

It can be said that even the most remote corner of Feng Bao's house is full of elegance and refinement, without a trace of vulgarity."

Xue Baoqin exclaimed: "I never thought Feng Bao was so talented and refined."

Feng Bao felt a little proud to be praised by both the Emperor and the Empress. Just as he was about to say something humble, Zhu Yijun spoke again.

"Not only that, Feng Bao is also proficient in the art of medicine and knows how to cultivate one's character. He also knows how to enjoy life. This is well-known in the inner court and the outer court."

Proficient in the art of medicine!
Boom-hum——!
It was as if a bronze bell was struck in Feng Bao's mind, and he understood instantly.

The emperor asked me to go to Chengde to supervise the construction of the imperial palace, not because I was elegant and refined, knew how to enjoy life, and knew how to live comfortably.

The emperor is criticizing himself.

The Emperor is very clear about Gao Gong’s affairs!
He was well versed in the art of medicine, so he could naturally see Gao Gong's hidden illness. He secretly instructed the spies at the post station to irritate Gao Gong every day and supply him with a large amount of strong liquor.

It was hard for Gao Gong, who was originally depressed and full of resentment, to avoid trouble.

The emperor knew very well that he not only wanted to avenge the public humiliation he suffered at the hands of Gao Gong in the Taiji Hall, but also wanted to eradicate his ally Zhang Juzheng.

Now that Gao Gong is dead, Zhang Juzheng is the Prime Minister and holds great power. The Emperor does not want him, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, to have a close relationship with Zhang Juzheng.

So he made up an excuse and sent himself to Chengde for three or four months.

When I come back, the Imperial Household Department will definitely be very different, and some of my power will definitely be taken away.

Feng Bao felt that he was the monkey in the chapter novel "Journey to the West". No matter how much he jumped, he could not escape from the palm of the emperor, the Buddha.

"I obey your order! I will carefully supervise the construction of Chengde Xingzai, making it elegant and graceful, so that His Majesty and the ladies can live comfortably."

Feng Bao knelt down resignedly and accepted the order.

The others were unaware of it and all praised Feng Bao.

Yang Jinshui noticed something unusual, and asked softly, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Feng is in charge of the Imperial Household Department. If he goes to Chengde to do the imperial errand, what about the Imperial Household Department?"

"Ask Chen Ju to take care of it. Go and help out when you have time."

"According to the order."

Feng Bao glanced at Yang Jinshui, who responded respectfully and humbly, and couldn't help feeling a little nervous.

I was too hasty in the Gao Gong matter and ended up falling flat on my face!
One step wrong, step by step wrong.

I didn't expect Yang Jinshui to get ahead of me, so it would be troublesome to catch up with him later.

Oh! I really regret it! I shouldn't have been so impulsive!
Yang Jinshui seemed to notice Feng Bao's regret. He turned to Feng Bao and smiled harmlessly.

(End of this chapter)