Huangming

Chapter 266 Kun Ning's Duties, King Chu Enters the Capital

The tenth day of the fifth month of the first year of the Tianqi reign.

The summer sun shone through the clouds and onto the inner training ground of the West Garden of the Forbidden City, making the blue brick ground slightly hot.

In the arena, Zhu Youxiao was dressed in a black, tight-fitting martial arts uniform with a jade belt around his waist. The elaborate and heavy dragon robe was removed, making his figure appear even more upright.

He held a bow in his left hand and an arrow in his right, his arm muscles slightly bulging, his eyes fixed on the bullseye a hundred paces away.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The sound of arrows cutting through the air rang out one after another as they flew past with a strong wind and landed firmly on the target.

Although not every shot hit the bullseye, they all landed within the target circle, only an inch or so from the bullseye, and not a single one missed the target.

The guards and eunuchs behind him held their breath, and only dared to murmur a word of praise when the last arrow landed steadily.

"Your Majesty, you have great archery skills!"

Zhu Youxiao put down the longbow, stretched his sore shoulders and arms, and a thin layer of sweat had appeared on his forehead.

When things are a little less stressful in the court these days, he comes to this inner training ground to practice martial arts, drawing his bow, slashing with his sword, and practicing horsemanship every day without fail, and has managed to develop some rudimentary skills.

This skill is only suitable for strengthening the body.

He could draw a bow that could split three stones, and cleave firewood with a sword; he was naturally much stronger than a weak scholar.

But if we're talking about actually going into battle, this skill is like a child playing around; he might not even have the strength to charge into battle in armor.

He gazed at the arrows scattered across the target, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips.

As the emperor, defending the land and protecting the borders ultimately depends on the soldiers under his command. His own "skills" are merely to keep the emperor healthy and allow him to stay up a few more nights reviewing memorials.

"Your Majesty, wipe your sweat."

Fang Zhenghua, a eunuch from the Imperial Horse Administration, stepped forward lightly, holding a snow-white brocade handkerchief in both hands, and bowed to present it to Zhu Youxiao.

His eyes were respectful, but he was secretly observing the emperor out of the corner of his eye.

The young emperor's black military uniform was slightly soaked with sweat, and a few strands of wet hair clung to his temples. His usual composure when reviewing memorials was now replaced by a sharp and heroic air.

Zhu Youxiao took the handkerchief and casually wiped his forehead and neck. The sweat rolled down his face, leaving a refreshing coolness. He let out a long sigh and laughed, "That was refreshing! These few arrows were more comfortable than sitting in the Qianqing Palace for half a day."

As he spoke, he handed the handkerchief back to Fang Zhenghua, turned his gaze to the other man, and his tone gradually became more serious.

"Have the people from the Imperial Horse Stables been training diligently lately?"

The question was asked lightly, but it carried a weight that could not be ignored.

The soldiers under the Imperial Horse Administration were all elite guards protecting the palace. In addition to their regular guard duties, they were also responsible for managing the imperial horses and accompanying the emperor, making them the emperor's "personal shield".

If these people dare to neglect their duties in battle, how can they protect him if something unexpected happens?
Fang Zhenghua's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant goes to the training ground every day to supervise. The Warriors Battalion and the Four Guards Battalion of the Imperial Horse Administration put on their armor and practice martial arts at dawn every day. Their training in archery, horsemanship, swords, spears, and firearms never stops, and they dare not slack off in the slightest."

Zhu Youxiao listened and slowly nodded, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the calluses left from holding the bow.

"That's good."

He paused, then looked up at the distant martial arts arena.

"When you have some free time another day, bring them to this inner training ground, and I will personally inspect them."

His tone was unreadable, yet it made Fang Zhenghua dare not be negligent.

The emperor's personal inspection of the horse training was the greatest test for the Imperial Horse Administration, and no mistakes could be tolerated.

He bowed and replied, "This servant obeys the order and will make the arrangements immediately."

After stretching and warming up, the restlessness gradually dissipated.

Zhu Youxiao then turned around and prepared to travel to the Qianqing Palace.

With national affairs being so complex and time not to be wasted, the day's administrative work will begin here.

Soon, the emperor's carriage arrived at the Qianqing Palace, and Zhu Youxiao, surrounded by palace attendants, entered the East Warm Pavilion.

The East Warm Pavilion was quiet, with only the soft sound of turning pages and occasional whispers.

Lu Xiang-sheng and Ni Yuan-lu from the Grand Council were already waiting at the desk. Both of them had solemn expressions and several military reports marked with the word "urgent" were spread out in their hands. When they saw Zhu You-xiao enter, they quickly stood up and saluted.

With these two capable advisors to strategize and analyze the pros and cons, he was spared a lot of work in screening and selecting documents, allowing him to focus more on reviewing the mountain of memorials.

Zhu Youxiao sat down on the dragon throne, picked up his vermilion brush, and had just made a few annotations on a memorial concerning the allocation of grain supplies in Liaodong when Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, tiptoed forward, bowed, and whispered, "Your Majesty, Wang Tiqian and Luo Sigong have returned after finishing their business and are waiting outside the hall."

Zhu Youxiao paused slightly, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.

The task they were assigned was, of course, to put pressure on Zhang Xianyong, the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips as he put down his vermilion brush and said, "Let them in."

"As ordered."

Wei Chao withdrew in response, and shortly afterward, Wang Tiqian and Luo Sigong entered the East Warm Pavilion one after the other.

It was summer, and the sun was scorching. The two must have rushed here, as they were both drenched in sweat.

Wang Tiqian's python robe was mostly wet, clinging tightly to his body, his hair stuck to his forehead, and beads of sweat trickling down his cheeks; Luo Sigong's flying fish robe was the same, with dark water stains on his chest and back, and even the jade belt at his waist looked damp.

Fortunately, ice chests were placed on all four sides of the East Warm Pavilion. Large blocks of ice slowly melted in the copper basins, and a cool breeze spread through the openwork carvings, making it like a simple air-conditioned room. This dispelled much of the summer heat, preventing the two from losing their dignity in front of the emperor due to the sweltering heat.

"Your humble servant Wang Tiqian (your subject Luo Sigong) greets Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The two knelt down on the ground, their voices still slightly panting from their journey.

"How is the matter progressing?" the emperor asked slowly.

Wang Tiqian quickly crawled half a step on his knees, then slowly stood up, a smile spreading across his wrinkled old face as he bowed and replied:

"Thanks to His Majesty's good fortune, Zhang Xianyong is quite sensible. Upon hearing that his son was to be punished, he immediately relented, offering 400,000 taels of silver. He even said he would use Longhu Mountain's connections in Jiangnan to procure provisions, warships, and warhorses for the court. This servant thinks he is truly afraid."

"Oh?"

Zhu Youxiao raised his eyebrows slightly, and the smile on his lips became more genuine.

"Zhang Xianyong is usually obsessed with alchemy and talisman drawing, but he's a sensible man. He knows when to back down."

Seeing that the emperor's complexion had eased, Wang Tiqian tentatively asked, "He is currently waiting outside the palace, wishing to personally express his gratitude to Your Majesty. Would Your Majesty like to meet him?"

Zhu Youxiao slowly shook his head, his gaze returning to the military report on the table, his tone becoming somewhat indifferent: "There's no need to rush to see him."

"It's not too late for him to come see me after he has gathered the silver, warhorses, and warships and made all the necessary arrangements."

He is the emperor, the ruler of the world; how could he allow others to see him so casually?

If you want to see him, you have to show enough sincerity.

Besides, he still remembers Zhang Xianyong's previous disobedience to the imperial decree and refusal to enter the capital!
Wang Tiqian's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed and replied, "This servant understands, I will go and tell him to do his job well."

"in addition."

Zhu Youxiao changed the subject, pulling out a memorial from the pile on his desk. The cover bore the vermilion seal of the Chu Prince's residence.

"This is an urgent report from Prince Fu in Chu, saying that Prince Chu will be entering the capital soon. You two need to make arrangements in advance and get the reception done properly."

"Is the King of Chu going to the capital?"

Wang Tiqian and Luo Sigong were both taken aback. They subconsciously exchanged a glance and saw surprise in each other's eyes.

When a prince takes up his fief, he is not allowed to leave his fief without imperial permission. The fact that the Prince of Chu suddenly wants to go to the capital is clearly not an ordinary matter.

The two of them quickly understood, grasping about 70-80% of the situation.

His Majesty must have seized some leverage over the King of Chu to warrant this "imperial decree to enter the capital."

It seems that after giving Longhu Mountain a warning, they will have to go and "teach" this vassal king a lesson.

Wang Tiqian smiled bitterly to himself: This Western Depot Director and Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander looks more and more like a street extortionist.
Today they extort money from the Zhang family, tomorrow they swindle the King of Chu; they've become a "shady" operation in His Majesty's hands.

Is the Forbidden City a hideout for organized crime?
Although the thought crossed his mind, the old eunuch dared not show it on his face.

"Your servant obeys! I will make proper arrangements and will not dare to make the slightest mistake!"

Whether it was reprimanding the Celestial Master or "entertaining" the vassal kings, His Majesty's decree was law, and they only needed to carry out it with their swords.

Zhu Youxiao nodded, waved his hand, and his gaze returned to the memorial on the table: "Go down."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave!"

As Wang Tiqian and Luo Sigong disappeared outside the warm pavilion, Zhu Youxiao tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his eyes gleaming.

The 400,000 taels of silver squeezed from Zhang Xianyong, plus the warships, horses, and provisions, amounted to a considerable sum, enough to reward the soldiers on the Liaodong front and provide compensation for those who died in battle.

This timely "blood transfusion" finally allowed the border troops to catch their breath.

His gaze shifted to the memorial from the Chu King's residence, a cold, sharp smile curving his lips. Next, it was the Chu King's turn.

As a prince of the Ming Dynasty, I receive a salary from the imperial court and occupy a fertile fiefdom. Now that the country is in danger, how can I hide in my fiefdom and be a bystander?
How can one be worthy of the status of a son or grandson of the dragon without spending a considerable amount of money?
Lost in thought, Zhu Youxiao kept writing on the memorial, annotating, marking, and issuing orders, until the sky outside the window gradually darkened and the palace lanterns in the hall were lit one by one. Only then did he put down his pen and rub his throbbing temples.

Looking up, I saw Lu Xiang-sheng and Ni Yuan-lu still standing by the desk with their hands at their sides. Both of them had dark circles under their eyes, but they still straightened their backs and stared intently at the official documents on the desk, obviously still pondering the military dispatch they had just dealt with.

"You've all had a long day, go back and rest." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, his tone unusually gentle.

Upon hearing this, the two immediately bowed respectfully, their movements meticulous: "Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty!"

Their faces showed no sign of fatigue, but rather an undisguised excitement.

For these two patriotic ministers, being able to participate in confidential matters before the emperor and personally plan important military and national affairs was an immense honor.
Even if it's a non-stop job day and night, I'm happy to do it.

At this moment, they were like two wound-up "nuclear-powered oxen and horses," hoping to share more of His Majesty's burdens.

"Your Majesty, please leave!"

The two bowed again and slowly left the warm pavilion, their steps light as if they were walking on clouds.

Zhu Youxiao watched the two figures with a smile.

With such loyal and dedicated ministers, the Ming Dynasty might be able to hold on a little longer.

As soon as Lu Xiang-sheng and Ni Yuan-lu's footsteps disappeared at the end of the corridor, Zhu You-xiao put down his vermilion brush and said to Wei Chao, who was standing to the side, "Prepare the carriage for Kunning Palace. The Empress and I will have dinner together."

The emperor and empress had only been married for a few days and were deeply in love.

During these days, Zhu Youxiao stayed at Kunning Palace almost every day, eating and living together. Their intimacy and warmth were no different from that of a newlywed couple in an ordinary family.

"Slave, you obey!"

"Prepare the carriage for Kunning Palace!"

The imperial carriage traveled very fast and soon arrived at the gate of Kunning Palace.

The palace servants had already knelt to welcome them from afar, while Empress Zhang Yan was already standing below the steps waiting. Her bright red phoenix robe accentuated her rosy complexion. When the imperial carriage stopped, she quickly curtsied and bowed, her voice as gentle as a nightingale's song: "Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you."

Zhu Youxiao strode forward, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her up.

Gazing at the exquisitely beautiful face before him, his eyes were full of laughter, his tone tinged with a hint of mockery: "Your Majesty has kept you waiting. I'm quite hungry right now, so please have your dinner quickly. There are still important matters to attend to—tonight I'll teach you a few new positions, I guarantee you'll..."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhang Yan's face was already flushed, and even the roots of her ears were tinged with the color of rouge.

She gently pulled her hand away from his grasp, lowered her eyes, and whispered, "Your Majesty... perhaps we should go inside and have our meal first, the food is getting cold."

As she spoke, she turned slightly to the side, leading Zhu Youxiao into the hall. Beneath her wide robe sleeves, her fingertips curled up subtly, revealing a hint of girlish shyness.

Seeing her like this, Zhu Youxiao chuckled and stopped teasing her, letting her take his sleeve and step into the warm and cozy bedroom.

The emperor and empress sat on either side of a rosewood dining table, while palace servants filed in, bringing out one exquisite dish after another.

Behind the crystal curtain, silver candlelight illuminated a table laden with delicacies: amber-colored braised fish slices lay on a white porcelain plate, emerald green vegetables complemented the glistening roasted pigeon, and bird's nest soup steamed with wisps of heat. Even the serving dishes were gilded and painted imperial porcelain. At a glance, the food was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, showcasing the exquisite details of royal standards.

Zhu Youxiao ate half a bowl of green rice porridge and tasted a piece of pine nut and jujube paste cake while being served by palace maids. Seeing that Empress Zhang Yan was only sipping the soup, he raised his hand to signal the palace servants to leave, leaving only two personal maids in the hall.

"Now that you've become Empress, have you encountered any troublesome matters in the harem?" He put down his jade chopsticks, his tone as casual as an ordinary couple chatting.

Zhang Yan paused slightly in her hand holding the spoon, looked up at Zhu Youxiao, nodded gently at first, then shook her head, her voice gentle yet firm:

“There are bound to be some minor frictions, but as the Empress, I should handle these domestic affairs properly and dare not let Your Majesty be distracted by matters of the inner palace.”

She wasn't lying.

Since taking control of the imperial seals, Zhang Yan had already secretly begun to manipulate things:

First, under the pretext of checking palace regulations, he gradually replaced the old staff in key departments such as the Shanggong Bureau and the Gongzheng Division, and installed trusted old people in the palace.

Then, the "Inner Palace Regulations" were revised again, with the provisions such as "prohibiting the private transmission of information between inside and outside the palace" and "strictly investigating witchcraft and sorcery" being bolded and rewritten. By punishing two eunuchs who had privately possessed talismans, the emperor made an example of them to deter those who wanted to take advantage of the situation.

Nowadays, the female officials in charge of the six bureaus and one department are mostly capable people personally selected by her, especially the head of the Shanggong Bureau and the head of the Gongzheng Department, who are her trusted and capable confidantes.

The Shanggong Bureau and the Gongzheng Division, one in charge of the inner palace's official seals and the other wielding the power of punishment and investigation, held both firmly in her hands. No matter what happened in the inner palace, it could no longer escape her notice.

Zhu Youxiao looked at the composure in her eyes and understood what was going on.

He placed a piece of crystal pork knuckle in Zhang Yan's bowl and said with a smile, "It's good that you know your limits. But if you really encounter something difficult, you don't have to force yourself. Just tell me."

Zhang Yan blushed slightly and replied softly, "Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty."

Managing the imperial harem was certainly not a smooth process.

Just a few days ago, when the Imperial Utility Bureau was ordered to inventory the rewards and treasures accumulated in the Imperial Treasury over the years, they encountered a lot of open and covert resistance.

The old eunuchs in charge of the treasury were well aware of the tricks of the trade. They would make excuses, such as saying that the account books were old and moldy, or that the keys were lost, and so on, clearly afraid that their embezzlement would be exposed when the inventory was taken.

In the end, it was only after Zhang Yan secretly asked Zhu Youxiao for instructions and borrowed agents from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern and Western Depots to intervene, under the pretext of checking the palace, that those deeply entrenched forces were suppressed and the investigation of the inner treasury was gradually pushed forward.

Zhu Youxiao naturally saw all of these things.

He knew that the empress he had married was by no means a delicate woman who only knew how to apply makeup, but a capable and virtuous wife.

With her in charge of the inner palace, I can indeed save a lot of energy and concentrate on dealing with important military and political affairs in the court.

"On the first and fifteenth days of this month, you may issue a special decree to summon the families of the meritorious officials of Liaodong and bestow upon them a fine reward, so that they may also feel the Emperor's grace."

Zhu Youxiao put down his jade chopsticks, his tone carrying a hint of consideration.

"As for the other noblewomen, you should also pay close attention to their movements and current situations."

His words were quite profound.

It was a regular practice for the Empress to receive the court congratulations from noblewomen at Kunning Palace on the first and fifteenth of each month.

By bestowing precious jewels and palace flowers upon the wives of high-ranking officials, the emperor not only showed his appreciation for these meritorious officials but also used the empress's favor to send a signal to the court officials, indirectly consolidating imperial power.

When encountering those restless women who either secretly associate with other women in the harem or interfere in government affairs by relying on their husbands' power, the palace rules can be used to publicly reprimand them, or even reduce their eligibility to enter the palace, thus putting pressure on the forces behind them.

Not to mention, when the women gathered, they could glean a lot about the current situation and activities of the court officials from casual conversations such as "Is your husband busy with official duties lately?" or "I heard that a new baby has been born into the family?"

In the future, when there are princes or when members of the royal family need to form marriage alliances, the interactions among these noblewomen will allow for a more precise selection of suitable in-laws, thus extending the influence of the royal family to various noble families.

"I understand."

Zhang Yan lowered her eyes and replied, her fingertips gently twisting the handkerchief, but a knowing smile flashed in her eyes.

She had already instructed her female officials to prepare a detailed list of procedures for summoning noblewomen, and even the style of the palace flowers to be bestowed as a reward had been carefully selected.

The emperor used political maneuvering to control the men in the court, while the empress used kindness and power to win over the women in the inner quarters. This was an unspoken understanding between the couple.

"I'll be at ease when you get things done."

Zhu Youxiao reached out and gently touched her cheek with his fingertips, his tone filled with affection.

"If you encounter any fools, like the last time the Imperial Treasury was searched, and you want to borrow the Imperial Guards, just tell me. As for any other uncertain matters, feel free to let me give you some advice."

Hearing this, Zhang Yan felt a warmth in her heart. She looked up at the emperor, hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty... But right now, I do have a small matter that I would like to ask Your Majesty to share."

"Oh?"

Zhu Youxiao raised an eyebrow, placed the jade chopsticks beside the gilded food box, leaned forward slightly, and asked with interest, "What could possibly stump you?"

Zhang Yan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her voice even further: "His Majesty has been staying in Kunning Palace these past few days, and my two younger sisters who entered the palace with me... I'm afraid they'll be neglected. If this continues, rumors will inevitably spread that I'm jealous and can't tolerate others..."

"Hahaha!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao burst into loud laughter, which echoed throughout the hall, carrying a hint of mockery.

"My Empress is virtuous and kind; who would dare to gossip like that? I'll rip out their tongue!"

After saying that, without waiting for Zhang Yan to say anything more, he stood up and picked her up in his arms.

Zhang Yan gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, the pearl hairpin at her temple trembling slightly with the movement.

Zhu Youxiao looked down at the reddened earlobes of the person in his arms, his tone ambiguous: "It seems that my 'training' you these past few days hasn't been enough, you've even learned to worry about these trivial things. Tonight, I must teach you a good 'lesson'!"

He carried Zhang Yan and slowly walked towards the inner room of the hall.

Upon seeing this, the palace maids and eunuchs serving outside the palace quickly and efficiently cleared away the leftover food on the table, and one by one they withdrew in silence, leaving the tranquility of the entire Kunning Palace to the Emperor and Empress.

Before long, faint sounds of a woman's soft moans and a man's low laughter could be heard from deep within the warm pavilion.

The moonlight outside the window quietly climbed up the window frame, illuminating the intertwined figures on the window paper.

Tonight, Kunning Palace is destined to be a sleepless night.

……

PS:
Five thousand six chapters!
(End of this chapter)