At this moment, Empress Dowager Sun's mood was also extremely complicated.
She had dreamed back countless times in the middle of the night, feeling unsatisfied with her arrogant son. She had also looked to the north, worrying about whether he would be able to have enough food and clothing in Yibei. Whenever she faced various open and covert attacks,
When she was exhausted mentally and physically, she also felt resentful towards her son who insisted on doing whatever he wanted and asked her to clean up the mess.
However, these countless emotions turned into a mother's heartache for her son at the moment she saw him.
During this year, Empress Dowager Sun became much more haggard, but so was Zhu Qizhen.
Empress Dowager Sun looked at the person in front of her. She was no longer the proud and proud emperor a year ago.
At this moment, he was thin, with a sense of silence all over his body. He was obviously the most noble emperor, but his skin was as rough as that of an ordinary person.
There was a faint glimmer of water. Empress Dowager Sun wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, stretched out her hand to help Zhu Qizhen up, and looked at him.
"Okay, okay, everything is fine, Queen Mother. Just come back, just come back... Get up, get up, the ground is cold, come in quickly..."
So, surrounded by a group of palace maids and chamberlains, Empress Dowager Sun took Zhu Qizhen into the Nuan Pavilion, and then found a side hall, changed out of the cumbersome and heavy dress, and put on a soft gold-woven dragon robe. The mother and son
, then he sat down in the Nuan Pavilion.
After a short period of calm, the two people's moods gradually stabilized, but the feeling of closeness became stronger and stronger.
The love between mother and child is thicker than water.
Although the Empress Dowager Sun once complained about Zhu Qizhen's hatred of iron, Zhu Qizhen also felt resentful because the Empress Dowager Sun established a new emperor.
But when mother and son met, everything was relieved.
In the huge palace city and the noble heavenly home, nowadays, only the relationship between mother and child is the most unbreakable.
After sorting out her thoughts, Empress Dowager Sun sat beside the couch. She had already ordered someone to heat the stove and prepared various small things such as backrests, hand stoves, and tea cups.
The low table is even more exaggeratedly filled with all kinds of snacks.
Seeing Zhu Qizhen sit down, Queen Mother Sun looked at him distressedly and said.
"My son has suffered a lot this year. He has been living in the bitter cold in the north. He has lacked clothes and food. He has lost a lot of weight. These pastries are specially prepared by the people of the Ai family. You can try them."
Zhu Qizhen held the stove, a smile finally appeared on his face, he picked up a piece of snack from the plate and stuffed it into his mouth, and said.
"It's been a long time since I've tasted the palace's craftsmanship. When I was in the north, I often missed the snacks made in the small kitchen of my mother's palace. Unfortunately, there were only cattle and sheep on the grassland. Fortunately, my mother and queen were still missing me.
I often bring you some clothes and shoes so that I can always think about you."
Hearing this, Queen Mother Sun felt a little depressed again, sighed softly, and asked.
"Have you met the Queen?"
Zhu Qizhen nodded silently, his expression also very complicated, feeling distressed and guilty.
Although he only had a brief conversation with Queen Qian for less than a quarter of an hour, from every move of the other party, he could not help but see that this woman was deeply affectionate for him, and he could also truly feel the deep love that this woman had for him during this year.
The suffering she suffered was no less than her own.
The charcoal fire in the stove crackled, and Queen Mother Sun remained silent. After a long time, she finally spoke.
"In the past, the Ai family always felt that Mrs. Qian was useless, but she has all kinds of bad things, but her deep love for you is worth everything. She is a good wife, and she is like this because she is worried about you, so,
You...don't let her down."
Zhu Qizhen nodded heavily, put down the heater in his hand, stood up and bowed, saying.
"Don't worry, Queen Mother. After traveling to Yibei, I have learned more about the warmth and coldness of people in the world, and deep love is rare. The Queen is my first wife. No matter what she becomes, I will treat her with all my heart. As long as I live, I will never let her down.
Every cent."
The solemnity of these words finally made Queen Mother Sun gently nod her head and said: "That's all. You have been busy all day today, don't stand, sit down."
So Zhu Qizhen sat down across from him again and chatted some more. Empress Dowager Sun brought up business and said.
"Now that you have returned to the capital, we, mother and son, will have plenty of time to talk. It's getting late today, and the Ai family has two important things to ask you."
Seeing this situation, Zhu Qizhen also cheered up, sat up straight, and said: "Mother, please speak."
Empress Dowager Sun waved her hand and asked Wang Jin to take away all the irrelevant palace maids and chamberlains, and then Fang spoke.
"The first thing is about Nangong. Now that you live in Nangong, you must carefully select the personnel to serve you. There are some things... you must be careful about. The Ai family has selected those who will serve you personally. Although there are only a dozen, but
They are all loyal, reliable, considerate and capable, and you can take them away soon."
"However, when you are in Nangong, you must have someone in charge so that many things can be done on your behalf. But now, most of the eunuchs you once trusted in the palace are no longer here. So, who should you choose for this person?
Get an idea."
Hearing this, Zhu Qizhen also frowned.
This is indeed a problem. As big as Nangong, there is always a need for a eunuch in charge. If this person is capable, he can help him deal with all kinds of messy things, making him much less worried.
However, as Empress Dowager Sun said, the eunuchs he once knew and trusted were now being beaten, killed, and exiled. There were not many eunuchs he still knew in the palace, let alone effective ones.
If there was such a person, he would have been promoted long before his northern expedition, how could he wait until now?
At this time, Wang Jin on the side suddenly said: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I think of someone who might be able to command you."
"Who?" Queen Mother Sun and Zhu Qizhen asked at the same time.
Wang Jin bowed, spit out a name, and said.
"Ruan Lang!"
Zhu Qizhen frowned and thought for a long time before he managed to get some impression and asked: "Do I remember this person? It seems that he was by my side in the early years?"
It's not really his fault for being forgetful, it was just too long ago.
Speaking of which, this Ruan Lang can be regarded as the eunuch who grew up with him. He was one of the eunuchs sent by the late emperor to take care of his food and daily life.
But later, because he and Wang Zhen didn't get along, and Zhu Qizhen regarded Wang Zhen as a half-master, Wang Zhen found an opportunity and threw him into the imperial prison to sit on the bench.
In terms of familiarity, Zhu Qizhen had indeed not seen him for a long time.
Empress Dowager Sun, however, had some impression and said: "The Ai family of this man remembers that the late emperor personally selected the eunuch to serve the prince. He was honest and loyal. Although his ability was not outstanding, he did things properly."
When talking about Ruan Lang, we have to mention Jin Ying.
At the beginning, when the capital was in turmoil and King Yin was spying on the throne and trying to force the palace, Queen Mother Sun was forced to retreat. Jin Ying once suggested that she should protect Wang Jin and Ruan Lang.
Although many things happened later, Empress Dowager Sun also had many different views on Jin Ying.
However, at least in this matter, she still believed in Jin Ying's judgment. After all, Wang Jin had been very useful so far.
What's more, Ruan Lang was originally selected by the late emperor. At that time, the late emperor valued Zhu Qizhen very much when he was still the prince. Naturally, he was very cautious when choosing people to serve. Therefore, no matter how capable he was, at least this person had a commendable character.
Believe it.
This is the most important thing for Zhu Qizhen right now!
Although they only had a few short conversations, Queen Mother Sun could feel that although her son had resentment towards Wang Zhen in words, it was not too deep.
After years of serving and teaching, he still couldn't let go of it, or maybe there was something else hidden in that civil war...
Empress Dowager Sun did not want to think too much about these things, but she did not want her son to have another ambitious and talented person like Wang Zhen appear next to her.
Ruan Lang has been keeping a low profile for many years, working hard and never complaining. He was selected by the late emperor and is loyal and reliable. He is the best candidate.
Empress Dowager Sun thought for a while and said: "There are not many available manpower at the moment. Since Ruan Lang is available and has been by your side in the early years, we might as well bring him into Nangong for the time being. What do you think?"
Zhu Qizhen didn't have anyone he liked very much. After thinking about it for a while, he agreed and said, "Listen to the queen."
Ruan Lang is just a young eunuch who serves as the imperial eunuch, but he is not really a eunuch with a strong sense of presence.
Although Empress Wang is now in charge of matters in the harem, Empress Dowager Sun is still there because of her status. It is not a big deal for her to want someone.
What's more, this is different from Shu Liang's matter. Zhu Qizhen wanted Shu Liang and made it clear that he wanted to torture him to death.
However, Empress Dowager Sun wanted Ruan Lang to be reused. Even if this matter was spread, it would be fair and aboveboard.
So, this matter was settled like this.
However, this is just an appetizer. Although it is difficult to find the eunuch in charge of Nangong, it is still a matter of the harem. It is not difficult for Queen Mother Sun. What is really difficult for her is...
"On the way back, Ren Li should have told you that the emperor specially formed a new Beijing Guard to 'protect' Nangong. The Ai family is a little unsure about this matter, so I would like to ask what is in your mind