Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 175 Queen Mother Li Reveals Her True Feelings

Five days passed in a flash after the wedding.

As Zhang Juzheng regained consciousness, the officialdom of Beijing fell silent again. For five consecutive days, countless officials came to visit him and requested to meet with the Prime Minister to show their loyalty.

There are old members of the Zhang family and there are fence-sitters who change their minds at the first sign of trouble.

Even when the Prime Minister was still unconscious, the Zhang family was still treated with great favor. Now that the Prime Minister has woken up, who among those officials with ulterior motives would dare to act rashly?

At this moment, I wanted to put down my airs and act like a coward to the guard at the door.

He only wished to be able to go in and meet the Prime Minister to show his "filial piety".

Zhang Yunxiu rejected all the invitations on the grounds that his father had just recovered from an illness and was not suitable to meet guests.

He and his newlyweds have been in love for the past few days, and they want to take each other with them wherever they go, just like a kangaroo.

In addition, his father had recently regained consciousness, and Zhang Yunxiu was in a good mood, and he had such a beautiful woman by his side. After several days of indulgence, even Zhang Yunxiu's iron body gradually became a little overwhelmed.

This morning, Zhang Yunxiu had just brought Xu Ruoxi to the living room and sat down.

Suddenly, Zhang Fu walked in from outside with a flattering smile on his face, and said that the Queen Mother had ordered to summon Xu Ruoxi to the palace.

Xu Ruoxi was startled, looked at her husband timidly, and asked, "My husband, what could the Queen Mother want from us?"

"I don't know. Zhang Fu, tell me." Zhang Yunxiu deliberately teased her and pointed at Zhang Fu and asked.

Zhang Fu took the order and replied with a smile: "I heard from the eunuch in the palace that the Empress Dowager was very happy to hear that the master had woken up. She worshipped the Buddha and burned incense to fulfill her vows that day. The reason why she invited the young lady to the palace today is probably because the master has woken up."

Xu Ruoxi suddenly understood.

Soon but somewhat embarrassingly.

Life, old age, sickness and death are all determined by fate. My father-in-law's illness has nothing to do with me. It's just that he should have been well, but I just happened to marry him. It was just a coincidence.

Now everyone in the Zhang family attributes this achievement to her.

She felt like she was walking on thin ice.

Seeing his wife shrink back, Zhang Yunxiu smiled and rubbed her head: "Go ahead, the Queen Mother is a very nice person, approachable, dignified and generous. Just treat her as an elder."

"Oh." Xu Ruoxi nodded and asked, "Then will you go, my husband? Why don't you come with me to the palace?"

She was unfamiliar with the capital city, let alone the inner palace.

She would feel much more at ease if her husband went too.

"Why, it's only been a short while and you're already reluctant to leave me?" Zhang Yunxiu joked with a smile, shaking his head and said, "The Queen Mother only summoned you by name, but not me. How could I dare to enter the palace without being summoned?"

After saying that, he ordered someone to take Xu Ruoxi to change her clothes and then send her to the palace.

Inside Cining Palace.

Empress Dowager Li stood bent over in front of the table, on which was placed a four-foot-long piece of top-quality rice paper used exclusively by the royal family.

She picked up the snow-white rat-whisker pen and wrote lightly on it.

"I came back to Yanshi in early February, with a graceful and righteous manner and long skirts."

"Ganquan Fu has not been sold in Jinmen, who is asking Zixu in Xuanshi?"

"Taiyi burns fire on the east wall at night, and Tianchi transforms into fish in the north sea."

"Spring is everywhere in the world every year, and the generals and ministers with royal ornaments serve in the imperial palace."

After finishing the poem, Empress Dowager Li also wrote a dedication after the poem: "Respectfully quoted the poem of Mr. Taiyue."

Then he took out his own seal and stamped it.

This was the 26th year of Zhang Juzheng's reign in the Jiajing reign, when he was only 23 years old. As soon as he entered the capital, he saw the princes and dukes in fine clothes and galloping horses. Instead of being discouraged, he became confident in his own knowledge.

So I picked up my pen and wrote this poem.

Secretly made a vow to strive for the top position among the ministers!

That year he ranked ninth in the second class of high school and was selected as a Shujishi.

Now, when Empress Dowager Li read it, she felt the young man’s vigor and vitality.

He seemed to see an uninhibited and talented scholar leaping out of the paper. While he was rejoicing, the steward Wan He came to report: "Empress Dowager, the young lady of the Zhang family has arrived."

"Ah, we're here so soon." Empress Dowager Li was slightly surprised, then she put away the rice paper, pointed at Wan He and ordered, "Take this new lady to the flower hall, let's go change clothes."

Soon, Empress Dowager Li changed into a pleated skirt made of western cloth that was as thin as a cicada's gauze and whiter than snow and walked into the flower hall.

With bright eyes, white teeth and a sophisticated temperament, no one dares to disrespect her.

Seeing this, Xu Ruoxi quickly stood up and bowed to Empress Dowager Li, saying, "My humble concubine Xu Ruoxi greets the Empress Dowager. May you live a thousand years."

Empress Dowager Li smiled and walked forward with swaying lotus steps. She personally helped Xu Ruoxi sit on the embroidered couch.

The two sat next to each other.

Queen Mother Li extended her hand and touched Xu Ruoxi's white chin. She then looked at her sparkling almond eyes and said with a smile, "She is indeed a beautiful woman, stunningly beautiful, and has the scent of ink all over her body."

"The Empress Dowager praises me so highly, I'm afraid I can't live up to her praise." Xu Ruoxi replied nervously.

"Don't be nervous. Just treat this place as your own home." Seeing Xu Ruoxi's nervousness, Empress Dowager Li held her hands and comforted her, "You are the granddaughter of Grand Tutor Xu. It is only natural that we treat you as a junior."

Xu Ruoxi nodded, and her tense body relaxed a little.

"Logically speaking, you two are newlyweds, and we shouldn't disturb you. But I'm bored in this palace alone, and I heard that you are a master of the guzheng, so I want to listen to some music with you."

Empress Dowager Li said as she clapped her hands and shouted, "Someone come."

Immediately, seven or eight young and beautiful palace maids walked out slowly, holding string instruments and guzhengs.

Everyone knelt down and bowed, then sat down, gently moved their hands, and sang softly. For a while, the hall was filled with music and singing, and the melodious singing spread throughout the hall.

"I am too sentimental to throw away his deep affection."

"I wake up in the morning feeling drowsy, the pink gauze curtains are hung with golden hooks."

"Alone and without company."

"Lazy Linghua is afraid of combing her hair."

"Who can keep the love, who can keep the love?"

"."

The voice was gentle and sad, and Xu Ruoxi's nose felt sore, and she looked to the side unconsciously. She saw that Empress Dowager Li's eyes were red, and a few crystal tears rolled down her fair cheeks.

Just one song.

Queen Mother Li wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to speak in a calm tone: "Xi'er, you are a blessed person. The most important thing for a woman in this life is a man's heart."

"I don't think the boy from the Zhang family is a playboy. You should just live a good life."

Xu Ruoxi didn't know why the Queen Mother said this, but since she had spoken, Xu Ruoxi could only nod and agree: "Don't worry, Queen Mother, I will serve my parents-in-law well and help my husband and children."

"Yes." Empress Dowager Li nodded with a smile and pulled Xu Ruoxi to the window.

Outside the window, the weather is fine and the sun is shining brightly.

The golden sunlight poured down from the dome and fell on the flowerbed in the courtyard, reflecting a strange brilliance. A breeze blew, bringing with it the refreshing fragrance of flowers.

Empress Dowager Li turned her head and stretched out her jade hand to touch Xu Ruoxi's cheek.

Then he took off a jade hairpin from his head and inserted it into Xu Ruoxi's head: "It looks really good. After all, it's good to be young."

"Queen Mother."

Xu Ruo shouted nervously, and Queen Mother Li smiled and shook her head, waving her hand and saying, "Okay, when you have nothing to do in the future, come to the palace more often to accompany me, so that I won't be lonely here alone."

"As long as the Queen Mother summons her, Ruoxi will come at any time." Xu Ruoxi replied quickly.

"Hehehe, if I summon you in the middle of the night, and your husband can't find you, won't he be worried crazy?" Empress Dowager Li was stunned for a few seconds, then burst out laughing and fell backwards.

The palace maids who had not yet left were also startled.

It had been a long time since they had seen Empress Dowager Li laugh so wildly.

(End of this chapter)