Chapter XVI. The Philosophical Questions Raised by the Empress Dowager
Zhu Shou didn't understand the life of the royal family, let alone the Queen Mother. In his memory, Zhu Houzhao didn't understand his mother either. The pictures that came to his mind were all related to the middle-aged woman in front of him.
Endless doting, endless indulgence.
For example, when he was eight years old, he accidentally killed a young eunuch. Liu Jin and Eunuch Liu were just a step too late to take him away from the body. As a result, he was punished by Queen Mother Zhang and knelt on the bluestone road of the East Palace for two days and one night.
You know, it was late autumn at that time, and the late autumn in the capital was not only full of red leaves, but also a bone-chilling chill.
Zhu Shou only remembered that from then on, Boss Liu was like an extremely docile puppy in front of Empress Dowager Zhang, barking from a distance. Even after he ascended the throne, Boss Liu gradually ascended to a high position, but every time he passed by Ci
Ning Gong always comes to kneel down and say hello.
Even the most ignorant otaku, with this kind of memory, will know that the kind-hearted middle-aged woman in front of him is not as kind and gentle as she appears.
"Zhao'er, are you still angry?" Queen Mother Zhang's voice came from beside her.
This is in the side hall of Cining Palace. There are four large tables with rich delicacies and seasonal fruits. The four empresses are sitting behind the tables, sitting gracefully without moving their chopsticks, because the Queen Mother and
The emperor is still chatting.
In front of Zhu Shou, there were two dining tables, one for himself and the other for Queen Mother Zhang. The two sat side by side.
There was only a plate of fried vegetables, a plate of shredded chicken in thick sauce, a bowl of rice, and a small bowl of egg drop soup on the table.
The two dining tables were exactly the same, and the portion was not large. Judging from Zhu Shou's appetite, it was completely unsatisfactory.
There was no eunuch in charge of the dining table, nor was there a constant stream of eunuchs and maids waiting in front of the four empresses.
The normal royal eating procedures such as serving dishes, laying out dishes, inserting poisonous silver needles, tasting meals, etc. are completely absent on these two tables.
Several gold-rimmed smokers beside the dining table emit bursts of rich aroma, which is refreshing and refreshing.
"No, mother... mother, the child is not angry. It's just that Wang Banpan is weak and may not be able to bear the punishment of the rod." Zhu Shou had no choice but to find an excuse to cover up his uneasiness about this kind of alternative royal family relationship.
"What a child who has not grown up." Empress Dowager Zhang smiled, picked up a piece of green vegetables, and handed it to Zhu Shou's bowl. "You haven't come to eat with me for more than two months. Come and try the newly picked vegetables."
The dishes, by the way, these chickens belong to that little flower. If you go to feed it, it almost pecks you."
Zhu Shou was stunned for a moment, but he didn't expect that these things were actually made by Empress Dowager Zhang herself. Zhu Houzhao's memories suddenly flooded into his mind: In Cining Palace, a flower garden was specially opened for Empress Dowager Zhang to grow vegetables and raise chickens.
, and I often accompany her to pick vegetables, wash vegetables, and feed chickens.
He suddenly remembered what happened before he ascended the throne. At that time, his father was still there, and he was still the prince of the East Palace. He was messing around all day long. Only in front of his mother, Queen Mother Zhang, would he act coquettishly like a child and behave like a child.
Much more convergent.
This alternative royal life is actually pretty good, at least it doesn't have that cold-blooded flavor.
Since Zhu Shou time traveled, what he has been most afraid of is the so-called royal love. He has never even been to the palaces of Queen Xia, Concubine Wu De and Concubine Shen Xian.
In addition to not being familiar with these three people, there is another meaning, that is, these three are Zhu Houzhao's wives. Zhu Shou has unconsciously distinguished himself from Zhu Houzhao these days. Even though they are the same person, Zhu Shou has always been
Resist thinking of yourself completely as Zhu Houzhao.
Only Concubine Wang Zhao was the first girl he pushed down in this world. There was an inexplicable intimacy between him and her. This was the reason why Zhu Shou always stayed in Concubine Wang Zhao's palace...
"Silly boy," Empress Dowager Zhang touched Zhu Shou's hair lovingly and said slowly, "Since you don't understand, I will tell you about the trivial matters in the palace. Wang Banpan grew up with you.
The relationship is different from others. When Liu Jin and others grow old, he will be the chief eunuch of the Si Li Jian, as well as Su Jin, Chen Jing and other junior eunuchs. These people are all your personal followers. They are different from others. Not only
They are your slaves and also your ministers, so they cannot indulge in their behavior."
"Then what did Wang Banban do wrong?" Zhu Shou was a little confused. He searched Zhu Houzhao's memory and couldn't find the reason.
"You don't understand the rules of these slaves and concubines, because you are the emperor and don't need to understand," Empress Dowager Zhang smiled and pointed at the four empresses, "But they and these slaves, everyone understands what is going on.
There are things that should be done and things that should not be done. If Wang Wei did not stop Concubine Wang Zhao before she came in, he was derelict in his duty and should be punished."
"There are many slaves who have neglected their duties," Zhu Shou said a little arrogantly, "If it wasn't a big mistake, I wouldn't have beaten them."
Empress Dowager Zhang stretched out her hand and tapped his forehead, and said slightly angrily: "Silly boy, if it weren't for the fact that he is your companion, in Cining Palace, if you make such a mistake, you will be beaten to death.
, Compassion does not command troops, the state has its own laws, and every family has its own rules, and there is no room for carelessness."
Zhu Shou nodded as if understanding, picked up a piece of green vegetable and ate it. Unexpectedly, it tasted pretty good, so he ate a few more.
The shredded chicken with thick sauce was also good. The more he ate, the more he felt like a family. It seemed that this was not the Cining Palace of the Ming Dynasty, but the three-bedroom and one-living room of later generations.
Empress Dowager Zhang saw it in her eyes, and a smile spread across her lips. She took a bowl of soup from the hand of the palace maid beside her and handed it to Zhu Shou: "Here, drink it. Eat slowly, and no one will compete with you."
Zhu Shou took the bowl naturally, took a big sip, and said with a smile: "Thank you, Mom."
After I finished speaking, I realized something was wrong and quickly changed my words: "Thank you, mother."
The Queen Mother Zhang patted her son's shoulder lightly and said, "As a family, you don't need to be so formal. A few days ago, your grandpa and uncle came to my place as guests. The Queen Mother is taller than the Queen Mother, and she is very different from me."
Zhu Shou did not answer his mother's words and suddenly said: "Second uncle killed two more businessmen a few days ago. Mr. Li Ge showed me the details."
Empress Dowager Zhang smiled nonchalantly and said, "Li Binzhi can turn a small matter into a big deal. Liu Jin knows how to deal with it."
For the royal family, two small businessmen are just as good as two ants being trampled to death. How can anyone care about the life and death of two ants?
But Zhu Shou didn't think so. He came from a later generation and had some moral values that the emperors of the Ming Dynasty did not have. Let alone two people being killed, even if two dogs were crushed to death, he, an otaku, would show mercy.
heart.
Perhaps seeing her son's hesitant expression, Empress Dowager Zhang picked up a jade Ruyi from her side, put it in her hand, and turned it slightly to one side. Ruyi fell to the ground and broke into two pieces.
"Do you know why the jade Ruyi broke?" Queen Mother Zhang asked calmly.
Zhu Shou answered honestly: "It fell to the ground."
"Why did it fall?"
"Mother's hand turned over."
Queen Mother Zhang stared at her son and said slowly: "It's not that my hand turned over, but that this jade Ruyi lost its position. Do you remember what your father once said?"
A picture suddenly appeared in Zhu Shou's mind: Emperor Hongzhi holding a scale, next to him smiling, and Queen Mother Zhang holding him.
The way of an emperor is first and foremost about balance.
This was the original intention of Emperor Hongzhi. He also cited several examples to illustrate the importance of balance. Ministers cannot be allowed to form a force, divide and divide again, and then find a balance point...
If the court officials are too strong, support the eunuchs in the inner palace; if the eunuchs are too strong, support the court officials. Among the court officials, if the civil servants are too powerful, support the military ministers; if the military ministers are too strong, support the military ministers.
Just support civil servants.
If a local power is too strong, it will support neighboring powers to fight against it; if an enemy country is too strong, it will support another enemy country.
In a word, an emperor, like a person holding a scale, must always control the balance of weight.
"I am a woman, and according to the ancestral teachings, I am not allowed to interfere in politics," Empress Dowager Zhang suddenly said loudly, "Empress Xia, did you hear what the Ai family said?"
The four empresses stood up quickly, walked to Queen Mother Zhang's desk, and said, "When I return to Queen Mother, I will bear this in mind."
Empress Dowager Zhang waved her hand and told the four people to retreat, then turned to her son and smiled: "You see, this is the position. The king has the authority of the king, and the ministers have the way of being ministers. Only by following their own path and keeping their duties can the world be peaceful.
"
Zhu Shou asked in confusion: "Mother, I understand all these principles, but what does it have to do with my second uncle's murder?"
What he said today is probably the most he has said since time travel. It is no wonder that the people he usually comes into contact with are either servants, eunuchs, or women, and they are not the ones he can talk to on an equal footing.
The Queen Mother was the only person in the Ming Dynasty who could control him, so she naturally spoke more.
"I can't be involved in politics. How do you deal with your second uncle? My mother can't say much," said the Queen Mother Zhang, "but as the old saying goes, the punishment is not good enough for a scholar-official."
Empress Dowager Zhang's words couldn't be more clear: The life and death of ordinary people is a trivial matter that you don't need to worry about. If you want to deal with your uncle, you are slapping yourself in the face. The laws of the Ming Dynasty are used to control the people.
It is not used to control the royal family. The face of the Tian family is much more important than the law.
The memory from Zhu Houzhao gave Zhu Shou such a conclusion.
After walking out of Cining Palace and sitting on the imperial chariot, looking at the eunuchs, maids and guards around him, Zhu Shou's face and behavior became heavy.
You must know that he is not the real Zhu Houzhao. He came from time and space and is an otaku from later generations who eats and waits for death.
But this does not mean that he has no thoughts. Queen Mother Zhang's words have deeply stimulated the depths of his thoughts.
This made the question that he had never thought about and dared not think about come to his mind again: Am I Zhu Shou or Zhu Houzhao?
It was almost dusk, and the colorful sunset gave Zhu Shou's eyes a faint color. The surrounding palaces were lurking like wild beasts, and the palace walls on both sides looked eerie and solemn, seeming to tell the story of the bloody deeds that happened in the previous dynasty.
.
This made Zhu Shou feel a little depressed and confused.
When I come to this world, am I just going to hang out and wait for death and play with women every day? Or should I complete the mission of Lolita? Or should I conquer the grasslands and dominate the world? Or really build a powerful fleet and compete with Spain and Portugal in the world?
After traveling through time, Zhu Shou began to think about the philosophical question of "who he is" for the first time.