Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 321 Birthday (asking for monthly ticket)

The fourth day of May is Queen Wang’s birthday.

Early that morning, arrangements were made in Kunning Palace...

According to the original convention, ladies of honor did not enter the Kunning Palace when they entered the palace to pay homage to the emperor. However, this was an exception during the Chenghua period. Unlike the six eastern and western palaces, the emperor basically would not set foot here. Even if there were occasional palace celebrations, they were directly held in the Kunning Palace instead of being moved to the Wenhua Hall or the garden behind the palace.

Zhu Youtang and his wife had been trying on dresses early in the morning. Zhu Youtang's dress didn't fit him well, and a few palace maids wanted to go over to help him put it on, but Zhang Yu waved them away.

Zhang Yu personally went forward to help her husband tidy up his clothes.

"Yu'er, don't tire yourself out."

Zhu Youtang cared about his wife very much and allowed her to do whatever she wanted.

Zhang Yu smiled sweetly and said, "I'm not tired at all. When we get there, remember what you're going to say, right?"

"I know."

Zhu Youtang hesitated for a moment and then said, "I will congratulate my mother on her birthday, and then ask my wife and others to carry the mirror over for my mother to look at it personally.

"We don't have to eat in Kunning Palace at noon... In the afternoon, I will go to Qingning Palace in person and give the bigger mirror to the Empress Dowager, so that the Empress Dowager will not be angry with me."

"Hehe, just remember."

Zhang Yu was very happy.

Her husband remembered everything she said and did exactly what she said, which gave her a great sense of accomplishment.

Look, who said that the prince must be high and mighty, and that I, as the prince's consort, must be submissive? If this doesn't happen to me, will things be reversed?
"Yu'er, you will meet many mothers and concubines when you go to Kunning Palace this time. Will it be awkward for you?"

Zhu Youtang asked worriedly.

Zhang Yu didn't take it seriously and said with a smile, "I have already visited each palace before, haven't I? Although I have only met most of the mothers once, I can tell who is who...

"Anyway, we are not the main characters today. We will just deliver the gifts and leave right after the birthday greetings, right? Anyway, the banquet has nothing to do with us. So, there is no need to worry about me."

Because a large number of ladies of honor entered the palace that day, it was not appropriate for Zhu Youtang, as the crown prince, to stay in Kunning Palace for too long, so the young couple just went over to pay their respects to express their filial piety and then left. Zhang Yu himself did not need to stay in Kunning Palace for too long.

To put it bluntly, the two of them went to celebrate their old mother's birthday in front of many ladies of honor, and the rest was arranged by Queen Wang.

However, all the palace banquets were organized by the inner court. The only day of Queen Wang's birthday would be the ladies going to Kunning Palace. And they did not go there every year. In many years, the ladies were exempted from the ceremony of entering the palace to pay homage.

It was exempted in the past because Concubine Wan was still alive and everyone knew who was the actual person in charge of the six palaces.

Even now, the affairs of the six palaces are mostly handled by Concubine Shao, who inherited the political legacy of Concubine Wan. Queen Wang's title as the mistress of the harem is mostly just a cover.

……

……

Inside Kunning Palace.

The Queen herself was also covered in jewels and jade, but she only attended events in her best attire once or twice a year.

Most likely he will appear at Qingning Palace...

Regardless of whether Queen Wang was favored or not, as the legitimate daughter-in-law, she had to attend any celebrations held by Empress Dowager Zhou. Just like when Empress Dowager Zhou was promoted to the title, she also personally attended the event to congratulate her.

Not to mention the celebration in the Fengtian Hall, she later went to the Qingning Palace to join the ladies in the celebration.

She understood that she was just a vase. She had to go wherever she was needed in the palace. No one would respect her too much if she said a few polite words. She also never cared about other people's gossip.

In other words, it's useless even if you care because you can't win the fight.

It would have been fine that she couldn't compete with Concubine Wan in the past, but now Concubine Shao and those young concubines also looked down on her from the bottom of their hearts. Of course, they still respected her on the surface.

"Empress, the birthday gifts from outside the palace have basically been delivered. Would you like to see them?"

Eunuch Zhou Chong walked up to Queen Wang and held a gift list in his hand.

Although Queen Wang didn't care much about material things, she still took it, held it in her hand and unfolded it to take a look.

There were quite a few things listed above, including some gifts from other concubines, but none of them caught her eye.

"Congratulations, Queen. His Majesty specially sent a jade ruyi."

Zhou Chong reminded with a smile.

"Really?"

When Queen Wang heard that her husband had sent her a birthday present, she was cheered up. She quickly put down the gift list in her hand and stood up to take a look.

Afterwards, Zhou Chong had the jade ruyi presented to Queen Wang.

Queen Wang held it in her hand and cherished it so much that even little stars appeared in her eyes.

Regardless of whether she was favored by her emperor husband or not, she cared about her husband very much. After all, she entered the palace when she was young, and the only care she received for most of her life came from Zhu Jianshen. Although that kind of care was perfunctory, for a woman like her who lived in the deep palace for a long time, a little care given by her husband through his fingers made her feel warm.

"Okay, okay!"

Queen Wang also felt that her husband was very different from before.

When Concubine Wan was alive, her husband was dismissive even on her birthday, as if he didn't even remember the event.

Now he actually took the initiative to send her a birthday present. Thinking that her husband had not set foot in Kunning Palace for more than half a year, she felt a little jealous. Even if a Buddhist was pure-hearted and abstinent, he could not help but have some thoughts in his heart.

After all, she is less than 40 years old, and she basically never goes out, doesn't bask in the sun, and doesn't get her fingers wet with water. She is well maintained and still has charm, but even so it is useless because the emperor doesn't like her.

"Have all the ladies entered the palace?"

Queen Wang asked.

“All are here.”

Zhou Chong said attentively, "Didn't Your Majesty ask about the Crown Princess' mother before? She is here too, following the procession of ladies of honor. I have specially moved her seat forward. If you want to ask her questions, you can always call her to the front row."

"it is good."

Queen Wang now has a new "mother-in-law".

Although Zhu Youtang was not her biological son, according to regulations, she was the legal mother after all. Now that her son had a wife, and his wife had his mother, she wanted to sit down and have a good talk with Jin as this was her first time entering the palace to attend such a celebration ceremony to show her closeness.

"Then make arrangements. After the banquet is over, let her stay alone and not show off in front of others. Sigh! Time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, the prince has grown up and has already started a family and a career."

Queen Wang felt relieved when she thought that the prince had grown up. She had no son, and the children born to other concubines were estranged from her, but the prince was very filial to her and often came to visit her.

This is also related to the fact that Zhu Youtang lost his mother in his early years. Although Queen Wang is not his blood relative, they have been sticking together for warmth over the years, and they are like real relatives.

……

……

The birthday banquet officially begins.

Queen Wang sat in the main seat. The phoenix throne was set up outside the Kunning Palace, and in front of it were many neatly arranged tables. However, no bowls or dishes had been placed on them yet, and the stools and other things had been put aside.

There were more than 160 ladies in Beijing who attended the birthday banquet. Since it was only the Queen's birthday, the elderly ladies from various families did not come to the palace to pay their respects. In other words... basically no "old ladies" over 50 years old came. Instead, all those who came were the wives of officials of the fifth rank and above in Beijing.

Because it takes nine years to pass the imperial edict, this is actually a kind of honor for officials in Beijing. However, some people did not take it seriously and missed the audience on the grounds of being ill. The main reason was that Queen Wang had an extremely special status, and some officials did not want to be associated with her so they found excuses to refuse.

“There are more people than before.”

Queen Wang sat there, looked at the procession of ladies in the distance, and said to Zhou Chong who was standing beside her.

Zhou Chong smiled and said, "Yes, four years ago, only about a hundred people came."

A birthday banquet was also held here four years ago. At that time, Concubine Wan was at the peak of her career, so even more people did not come.

"Empress, would you please allow the ladies to come forward and take their seats?" Zhou Chong asked.

"Don't worry yet."

Queen Wang refused directly, and then explained, "Wait a minute, my son... Two days ago he sent someone to say that he would come in person with his wife today, and he also said that he had prepared a great gift for me. I am looking forward to it very much. If the ladies of honor are blocking the way in front, it will be difficult for my son to get close to me."

Queen Wang deliberately came out first and waited, allowing the other ladies to watch from a distance. She wanted people to see with their own eyes the close relationship between her and the crown prince.

To put it bluntly, she is also a person who cares about her reputation.

Now that Concubine Wan is dead and the prince has started a family, although the emperor will not attend her birthday banquet, as long as the prince comes in person and brings gifts, it is enough to show that the prince regards her as his mother. Others also know that the prince's biological mother passed away long ago, so from now on... she is the real empress dowager.

Let me ask you, the ladies of the imperial court, how should you tell your husbands when you return home?

Now is the perfect time for Queen Wang to demonstrate her status as the mistress of the six palaces. She never had this idea before, but now she has the ambition, mainly because Concubine Wan has passed away.

That ghost always lingers in the mind of everyone in the palace, whether good or bad, it makes people worry about it.

"The Crown Prince is here."

Zhou Chong first went to see the breathless eunuch who came to report, then quickly turned back and spoke to Queen Wang in a surprised tone.

"Okay, please come over here quickly."

When Queen Wang heard that her son had arrived, she was so happy that she stood up to greet him.

In the past, under the suppression of Concubine Wan, she did not think her son had much ability, but now the situation is different... The position of the crown prince is becoming increasingly stable. Concubine Wan and Liang Fang have encountered problems one after another. No one has mentioned the matter of changing the crown prince for a while, and her son is still serving in the Wenhua Palace. From now on, every time he expresses his concern for her, it will make her proud.

Zhu Youtang, Zhang Yu and his wife came forward, surrounded by a group of East Palace attendants.

Many court ladies had never seen the prince's appearance before. Even though they were a little far away, they still looked at him from afar. Many of them were paying attention to the graceful princess beside the prince... They couldn't help but wonder in their hearts, what kind of daughter could enter the palace and become the princess?

Although no powerful families responded when the Crown Princess was being selected, it was because they were afraid that they would not be chosen. After all, the chance of being selected was too small. It would be embarrassing, but the worst thing was that they would be detained in the palace and unable to return.

But if she is really chosen as the Crown Princess and even the Empress of the Ming Dynasty in the future, she will certainly be the best among women and the model of the elegant ladies of the time. Who would not envy her?

"Your son pays respects to the Queen Mother. I wish you happiness as vast as the East Sea and a long life as great as the Southern Mountains."

When Zhu Youtang saw Queen Wang, he knelt down and kowtowed to her.

Zhang Yu also knelt down.

Queen Wang said in surprise, "My son, there is no need to do this. Get up quickly, get up quickly. Crown Princess...you should also get up. You are all good children. Give us your rewards quickly."

Having said this, Queen Wang deliberately glanced at a group of court ladies standing in the distance on the right who were watching the excitement.

After Zhu Youtang stood up, he immediately called the people behind him to come forward.

Jiang Cong brought a few people and came closer, carrying something covered with red cloth.

Zhu Youtang introduced: "To celebrate the Queen Mother's birthday, I have brought a mirror today. I hope the Queen Mother will like it."

"This is……?"

Queen Wang couldn't help but look over curiously.

Zhu Youtang gestured and said, "Please let your mother take a look at it herself."

"it is good."

Queen Wang couldn't help herself and walked over to see the gift her son gave her.

When Queen Wang lifted the red cloth and saw a half-length mirror inside, her eyes lit up.

As the queen, she had some channels of information and knew that her husband had once gone to ask his mother-in-law in person for a small round mirror. At that time, she was very curious about what it was. Today, she finally saw it with her own eyes, and it was such a large one, which was a great honor for her.

"My dear, what is this?"

Queen Wang asked in a loud voice, intending for the ladies in the distance to hear.

Zhu Youtang replied respectfully, "In reply to your mother's words, this is a glass mirror. It is a birthday gift that my beloved concubine and I carefully prepared for you... Although it is just a mirror and is not expensive, it is also a token of my heart. I hope your mother will not despise the gift for being too insignificant."

Queen Wang was pleasantly surprised and said, "My son, what are you talking about? I am so happy to receive this gift... Quick, quick, move the mirror to the most prominent position and place it together with the jade ruyi given by His Majesty."

Now Queen Wang, who had lived in the deep palace for a long time and had little sense of existence, suddenly felt proud.

Not only did her husband send her a gift on her birthday today, but her son also brought her a gift personally and was extremely respectful to her, reflecting the double respect that the emperor and crown prince of the Ming Dynasty had for her. This seemed to be the most glorious moment in her more than 20 years in the palace, and she couldn't help but be excited.

"Emperor, please find a place to sit down."

Queen Wang looked at Zhu Youtang eagerly and said.

Zhu Youtang glanced at his wife and made up his mind. Then he followed the plan they had agreed on and answered respectfully, "Mother, today is the day when the ladies of honor come to the palace to celebrate your birthday. It is not appropriate for me to stay here. I will just do my best to show my appreciation. My beloved wife and I will have plenty of time to reunite with you in Kunning Palace later."

Queen Wang smiled and rolled her eyes at her son, saying, "Look at you, you didn't even stay for a while after you came. But you're right, it's not appropriate for you two to stay here today, it's too noisy. How about this, after you're busy for the past two days, when you have some free time, come over for dinner, and we can chat."

Zhu Youtang bowed respectfully: "Yes, mother."

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(End of this chapter)