The ruthless emperor at the end of Ming Dynasty forced Chongzhen to abdicate at the beginning Chapter 295: Nanjing Imperial Palace is the Real Imperial Palace
Chapter 295: Nanjing Imperial Palace is the Real Imperial Palace
Chapter 295 The Nanjing Imperial Palace is the real palace
"Hong'er..."
Zhu Cixiang only waited for half a stick of incense in front of the Fengtian Palace before Zhang Yan hurried over surrounded by a group of palace maids and female soldiers.
"Long live my emperor! Long live!"
When the royal guards and maids kneeling around them saw the Queen Mother's expression, they didn't know that this young man was really the emperor. In panic, they immediately shouted and kowtowed in unison.
They were secretly glad in their hearts that they did not stop him just now, and the female soldiers and maids behind Zhang Yan also knelt down and worshiped. Most of these people recognized the emperor Zhu Cihong.
"See the Queen Mother." Several guards behind Zhu Cixi also quickly saluted Zhang Yan.
"Auntie..."
As soon as Zhu Cixiang was about to say hello, Zhang Yan grabbed his arm excitedly and said reproachfully: "Xian'er, you are too reckless. You didn't send someone to notify you in advance. You just entered the city quietly.
What happens if there is an accident?"
"Haha, kid, don't you want to give your mother-in-law a surprise?" Zhu Cixiang said with a smile.
"You, you are a father now, and you are still like this..." Zhang Yan complained while looking at Zhu Cixiang carefully, her eyes full of care. It was obvious that she was still very concerned about him after two years apart.
Zhu Cixi was also very concerned about Zhang Yan. Now he saw that her face was even more sad than two years ago, and there was even a trace of inexplicable sadness. He said with some guilt: "Mother, I have really worked hard for you these past two years.
"
Zhang Yan shook her head: "It's not too late for my mother-in-law to be happy to see the Ming Dynasty becoming stronger and stronger day by day. It won't be hard, and Xun'er must be exhausted from the long journey, right? It's better to follow my mother-in-law back to the palace first."
"It's okay, it's windy outside." Zhu Cixiang nodded, then helped her towards the harem.
The surrounding imperial guards and maids finally relaxed their tense minds when they saw that the emperor and the queen mother were as close as mother and son, just like an ordinary mother and son.
"Hong'er, are your father and your mother in good health?"
"Well, don't worry, aunt. My father's health has recovered a long time ago, and my mother is also doing well. I just miss my aunt from time to time."
"I feel relieved now." Zhang Yan nodded and sighed.
"By the way, Auntie, why don't you see Huang Mei and Xu Lan?"
"That damn girl, you haven't been seen all day now. I don't know where I went today. It seems that she was spoiled by you. Is there any princess in any dynasty who is like her, and she is still in her twenties?"
Marry..." Zhang Yan said and began to complain.
"Haha, it seems that the emperor's sister has made my uncle angry in the past two years. I will teach her a lesson when she comes back. However, the emperor's sister's marriage cannot be delayed any longer." Zhu Cixi could only nod.
The two of them chatted all the way to the Qianqing Palace. With the arrival of Zhu Cixiang, the atmosphere in the entire harem suddenly became lively and busy, and it was no longer as dull and deserted as before.
This time, Zhu Cihong walked all the way, either by carriage or horseback. He did not cross the state and counties with great fanfare. He always chose to rest directly at the post station. It was indeed a dusty journey and he felt quite tired.
Now, as soon as I return to the luxurious and warm palace, I don't want to move at all, letting the palace maids manipulate me.
Zhang Yan also changed her usual leisurely attitude and personally commanded the palace maids. The female soldiers were busy and busy, allowing Zhu Cixiang to enjoy a real imperial life.
For example, compared with the frivolous and free-spirited maids in the Beijing Palace City, the maids in the Nanjing Palace are obviously several grades higher in terms of body shape and behavior.
Obviously, what kind of master there is, there are also what kind of servants.
Both Zhu Cixiang and Lady Hong were informal and not very particular, and Empress Zhou didn't care about things, so the maids in the harem naturally developed a loose temper.
Zhang Yan attaches great importance to manners, so the maids in Nanjing City are simply replicas of her. They are all trained to behave dignifiedly, like ladies.
At this moment, even the dozen or so maids responsible for taking Emperor Xiao Zhu's bath did not dare to step beyond the thunder pool.
However, seeing that they were all shy and cautious, Zhu Cixiang felt quite strange, and for a while he had a lot of fun playing with them in the big tub.
Obviously, Emperor Xiao Zhu didn't really dislike playing games with the maids in the bath, but just didn't like playing with the maids in the imperial palace in Beijing.
Now, as soon as they arrive in the south of the Yangtze River, their true colors are revealed and they cannot control themselves, which shows how lethal the women from the south of the Yangtze River are.
After soaking for a full hour, until Zhang Yan sent someone to urge him, Zhu Cixi left the bathtub still unsatisfied. After being served by the maids, he finished dressing and went to the side hall.
In the side hall, a table of delicacies from the mountains and seas has been prepared, and Zhang Yan and Princess Kunxing have been waiting for a long time.
Seeing Zhu Cixiang come in, Princess Kunxing immediately came forward with surprise and saluted: "My sister pays homage to the emperor. Long live the emperor. Long live the emperor."
"Okay, get up quickly and let Brother Huang take a good look..."
Zhu Cixiang quickly pulled her up and looked at the imperial sister he had not seen for more than two years with joy.
Princess Kunxing is only a little over one year younger than Zhu Cixiang. She has actually turned 20 this year. Not only is she tall and graceful, she is less immature and shy and more capable than she was two years ago.
Obviously, having been the president of the Royal Chamber of Commerce for more than two years, both his abilities and temperament have matured a lot.
"Haha, has the imperial sister found the one she likes in the past two years?"
Zhu Cixiang's question was just a casual one, but it made Princess Kunxing blush. She hugged his arm and whispered: "Brother Emperor, why do you make fun of others as soon as we meet? Didn't you say that I will make the decision on this matter myself?"
?”
"But you can't keep putting off finding your consort. You were still young before, so the emperor didn't force you, but now you can't put it off any longer."
"Brother Imperial, but my sister really likes to be the president of this chamber of commerce and the president of the bank, can't we wait any longer?" Princess Kunxing's tone became pleading.
"Nao'er, please don't mess around any more. Men are getting married when they are young, and women are getting married when they are young. They are girls from ordinary families. There are very few who have not left the government at your age, let alone a royal princess. No matter what happens this year
We also need to find a consort."
Zhang Yan was afraid that Zhu Cihong would soften her heart and agree to her again, so she said solemnly without waiting for Zhu Cihong to speak.
"Royal sister, you should listen to your mother-in-law. There is no conflict between these two things. Even if you find a consort, you can continue to take care of the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce and the bank."
Zhu Cixiang nodded and said, he did not expect that the imperial sister who used to be well-behaved and sensible would now be obsessed with finance and business, so much so that she no longer even wanted to find a consort.
"Brother Emperor, is this true? After my sister gets married, can she really continue to help Brother Emperor manage banks and chambers of commerce?" Princess Kunxing was overjoyed.
"No, Xun'er, Xun'er must not show her face again after finding her consort." Zhang Yan refused.
"Brother Emperor..." Princess Kunxing did not dare to refute Zhang Yan's words, so she could only look at Zhu Cixi with a look of help.
"This... Auntie, let's talk about this later. The child is also hungry."
Seeing both of them staring straight at him, Zhu Cixi felt a headache for a moment, so he had to fight.
"Then let's talk about it later!" Zhang Yan nodded knowing that now was not the time to talk about this matter.
After the three of them sat down, looking at the table full of delicacies, Zhu Cixiang also had a great appetite and started eating immediately, while Zhang Yan and Princess Kunxing kept picking up food and pouring wine, one on the left and the other on the right.
As for the serving maids, they were sent out long ago.