Huangming

Chapter 30 A Budding Romance, A Beautiful Woman Adds Fragrance to the Night

Li Ruhua nodded and replied, "Your humble servant obeys."

He was actually somewhat disappointed.

The quickest and easiest solution now is to impose additional taxes on Liaodong.

After all, by the later stages of a dynasty, it was extremely difficult to get money from wealthy people.

On the contrary, they can squeeze more money out of the poor.

Although this is like draining the pond to catch all the fish.

but.
If this is not done, the Ming Dynasty will be unable to continue. It will not even be able to pay the salaries of its officials, so how can it support the war in Liaodong?

After reviewing the memorials presented at court that day, Zhu Youxiao decided not to keep these officials any longer.

"Court is adjourned!"

The officials stood in attendance and bowed, watching the Ming emperor rise.

Zhu Youxiao then left the Wenhua Hall and headed towards the Ciqing Palace.

During today's regular court session, Zhu Youxiao was aware of the factional struggles within the court.

But at this point, everyone hasn't fallen out yet and can still work together.

As for the thorough investigation of corruption, it was indeed an opportunity for Zhu Youxiao to seize power.

However, it also comes with huge risks.

It was noon when we returned to Cining Palace.

He got up at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM) and by the time the morning court session ended, almost three or four hours had passed. Coupled with his battles of wits with his officials, Zhu Youxiao's stomach was already rumbling.

Huang Hua had been waiting in Cining Palace for a long time. When he saw Zhu Youxiao alight from the imperial carriage, he hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Your Majesty, would you like to have a meal?"

Zhu Youxiao nodded and then entered Duanben Hall.

And today's lunch was also served by the palace servants.

The staple food was glutinous rice porridge, cooked with plain water without sugar or salt, symbolizing "sorrow and bitterness".

Served with unleavened bread, without oil or salt, it is called "mourning bread," symbolizing the pain of losing a loved one.

Side dishes included pickled cabbage, boiled tofu, and stewed mushrooms.

There are two drinks. One is chrysanthemum and licorice soup, which is made by decocting wild chrysanthemum and licorice to clear heat and reduce internal fire, in accordance with the saying that "grief harms the body".

One is unsweetened almond milk.

When Zhu Youxiao first started eating vegetarian food, he was impressed by the chef's superb skills, as he could make even simple dishes so delicious.

However, after eating vegetarian food for several days, no matter how good the imperial chef's cooking was, Zhu Youxiao didn't have much of an appetite.

With no oil or fat in his stomach, the primal craving for meat arose from the depths of his heart.

"Your Majesty, please have some."

The person serving Zhu Youxiao today is a palace maid.

She wore a light purple satin palace dress, and her figure, not yet of marriageable age, was as slender as a tender willow.

She was one of the five palace maids sent by Consort Li, and her name was Zhang Yun'er.

After investigation by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, it was found that the palace maid Zhang Yun'er had a clean background and was from a respectable family in Zhuozhou, Shuntian Prefecture. She had no connection with Consort Li in the palace. She was sent to Cining Palace simply because she was beautiful.

In addition, her surname was Zhang, which reminded Zhu Youxiao of a concubine of Emperor Tianqi in history, a woman with a tragic fate, so he kept her by his side to serve him.

People need food to survive; you'll get hungry if you skip a meal.

So be vegetarian!

Stick to this for about twenty days, then you can take some tonics.

Zhu Youxiao ate in a hurry, only eating until he was about 70% full, and then he couldn't eat anymore.

After the meal was removed, Zhu Youxiao went to his desk to study.

To put it more bluntly, it's about recognizing and writing characters. "Ahem."

The young girl lowered her head to grind ink when she suddenly heard Zhu Youxiao cough lightly. She abruptly raised her eyes, her two willow-leaf eyebrows furrowing slightly in surprise.

"His Majesty."

Zhang Yun'er glanced up at Zhu Youxiao with some fear, only to find the emperor on the throne staring straight at her, which frightened her so much that she quickly lowered her head.

From the West Second Palace to the Qianqing Palace, then to the Huiluan Palace, and finally to the Ciqing Palace.

In just a few days, she was treated like cargo, being transported back and forth, and the fourteen-year-old girl was naturally somewhat panicked.

Moreover, the young man before him was the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. If he did not serve him properly, he would lose his head and have his entire family wiped out.

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; how could she not be afraid?
"Can you read?"

Zhu Youxiao had no interest in intimidating young girls.

Zhang Yun'er nodded and said, "This servant can read."

Zhu Youxiao gestured for her to come forward, and the girl lowered her head and carefully walked to Zhu Youxiao's side.

"Don't be so formal, I won't eat people."

Zhu Youxiao took the wolf-hair brush and said with a smile, "Yun'er, I have something I need your help with."

Assistance?

Thinking about the content of the poem, Zhang Yun'er became even more shy.

Does His Majesty intend to...?
Seeing that she had not spoken for a long time, Zhu Youxiao reached out and used his fingers to lift the girl's smooth, jade-like chin, and the two looked into each other's eyes.

At this moment, Zhu Youxiao noticed the woman's blushing face, and then turned to look at the poem "Guan Ju" on the table, and immediately understood the crux of the matter.

He couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly.

This girl actually misunderstood him!

Although he was fond of women, he was not so indiscriminate as to be desperate for them.

"You misunderstand. What I meant was to teach me to write."

These past few days, Zhu Youxiao has been cramming on knowledge at Duanbentang whenever he has free time. There are significant differences between simplified and traditional Chinese characters, but with some time, he can still match them up one by one.

But to practice calligraphy, you need to know the tricks of the trade.

Now, Zhu Youxiao's calligraphy is completely terrible, like something a dog chewed. It's extremely difficult.

As the saying goes, "one's handwriting reflects one's character." If this emperor were to need to revise some memorials in the future, would his handwriting be presentable?
As for why we didn't invite those great Confucian scholars to teach...

Firstly, Zhu Youxiao did not want his ministers to see his vulnerable side.

Most of the officials in the outer court are not simple. If they are given the title of imperial tutor, wouldn't they be able to control themselves?
Secondly, those old, pedantic scholars in their seventies and eighties, how can they compare to the pleasure of a young woman adding fragrance to their sleeves?

Zhu Youxiao assured that the primary reason was the first, not the second.

"I see."

Zhang Yun'er breathed a sigh of relief, but felt inexplicably disappointed.

"This servant's handwriting is only so-so, I'm afraid I won't be able to teach Your Majesty properly."

Zhu Youxiao immediately grasped the brush and said, "Do I need to use beautiful handwriting to pass the imperial examination? As long as it's not crooked, it's fine."

Just as the two were practicing calligraphy, Wei Chao slowly entered Duanben Hall. Upon seeing this scene, he immediately turned around and retreated.

At that moment, Zhu Youxiao's voice came.

What brings you here?

Wei Chao bowed deeply, his head pressed against the marble floor.

"Your Majesty, Minister of Revenue Li Ruhua requests an audience!"

(End of this chapter)