Emperor Zhengde

Chapter 38 Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling

As soon as Zhu Houzhao returned to the Cining Palace, he went to see Empress Dowager Zhang first.

Empress Dowager Zhang was not yet 35 years old, but perhaps because of the recent death of Emperor Hongzhi, she did not wear much makeup, and there were still traces of tears in the corners of her eyes. Because it was still the mourning period for Emperor Hongzhi, she still wore a straw hat and cloth skirt, and looked much thinner than Zhu Houzhao remembered.

"Mother!"

When Zhu Houzhao came in, he called out with a smile. Now that he had been with Empress Dowager Zhang for a long time, he did not feel awkward in calling her mother and sat down next to her naturally.

Empress Dowager Zhang would only smile when Zhu Houzhao appeared, and she would always hold him in her arms:
"Where have you been playing again? Don't go out and play around. Be careful of the lights outside. You only eat a few meals a day now. Your father is gone, so you have to behave yourself. No one will protect you now."

Empress Dowager Zhang couldn't help sobbing whenever she talked about this: "I dreamt of your father again last night. He was still reading memorials in the Qianqing Palace. He has always been weak, so I would personally make him a bowl of Tremella soup at night. When I brought it to him last night, he was still smiling at me."

Zhu Houzhao was always particularly touched at this time. He understood Empress Dowager Zhang's feelings and knew the pain of losing a loved one, but he didn't know how to comfort her. He was not even used to being held in her arms intimately, so he just pushed her hand away and sat up:
"Don't be sad, mother. Although father is old, I am still here. I will take good care of you. I will also give you a title of honor so that you can enjoy the rest of your life. From now on, let me accompany you every day."

Whenever Zhu Houzhao talked about this, he would remember the history that Empress Zhang's only son also died in the 16th year. This made him even more afraid that he would die early like Zhu Houzhao in history.

Empress Dowager Zhang was always comforted by Zhu Houzhao's words and said with a smile: "I have no other request, and I don't want you to be a good emperor. I just want you to be safe and happy. Your father cared too much about the people, and in the end he got nothing."

Empress Dowager Zhang seemed to have well-developed tear glands, or perhaps the death of Emperor Hongzhi was too much of a blow to her, and she became sad again as she spoke.

Zhu Houzhao was always more curious about the death of Emperor Hongzhi because Empress Dowager Zhang was so sad, and couldn't help asking: "Mother, my father didn't have any hidden illness before he died, why did he die of a fever? I have always been puzzled by this."

Empress Dowager Zhang's expression suddenly changed. "You just need to remember that your father died of illness. Why bother asking any more questions? This is good for you! Do you understand? Don't ask too many questions outside, and don't let people investigate blindly. Don't make up stories out of nothing."

Zhu Houzhao could only nod in agreement, but this also made him more suspicious. He thought that his mother had already warned him before he even said she would investigate. Could it be that his mother really knew some hidden secret?

Zhu Houzhao knew that he could not get any information out of Empress Dowager Zhang, and it was not appropriate for him to show too obvious interest in the death of Emperor Hongzhi, so he did not ask any more questions and continued to chat with Empress Dowager Zhang about family matters.

Because it was a fasting day, Zhu Houzhao and Empress Dowager Zhang simply had a vegetarian meal together in the evening.

During this period, Zhu Houzhao also made a lot of money relying on the Royal Industrial Company and the Royal Exposition. He not only improved the treatment of the people around him, but also improved his own treatment. Every meal had five or six exquisite side dishes. Nowadays, Zhu Houzhao could hardly put down his chopsticks when eating vegetarian food, let alone dinner.

Empress Dowager Zhang seemed to see that Zhu Houzhao was having trouble swallowing, so she said, "My son, hold on a little longer. It won't take more than 27 days. Your father and I ate the same food every day. It's nothing. Your father was even worse off when he was young. He couldn't eat enough several times a day. He ate better after he followed your great-grandmother, but he didn't dare to eat too much for fear that Concubine Wan would poison him. You are the happiest."

Zhu Houzhao saw that Empress Dowager Zhang started laughing as she spoke, and thought to himself that Empress Zhang and Emperor Hongzhi were truly a loving couple. She could even think of him while eating vegetarian food. The happy smile on her face could not be concealed, and the hint of loneliness that flashed across her face after she finished speaking was even more touching.

"I also hope that you can continue to be happy like this. You are the only one in my heart."

Empress Dowager Zhang's sudden words almost made Zhu Houzhao cry. Even though he was a man, he couldn't help but think of the historical ending of Empress Zhang, who eventually lost her husband and sons one after another and was bullied by Emperor Jiajing in her later years, leading to her miserable death.

"It's alright. Eating with mother, even if it's just coarse grains and vegetables, it tastes better than eating delicacies from land and sea!"

Zhu Houzhao said with a smile, and then said: "Mother, after the funeral of the emperor, I will ask the Ministry of Rites to give you a title of honor, so that you can be the most respected person in the Ming Dynasty!" Empress Dowager Zhang just smiled and said: "You are much more sensible than before, but it's a pity that your father can't see it!"

At this time, a eunuch came to report that Marquis Shouning and Marquis Jianchang came to request an audience with the emperor.

Empress Dowager Zhang was delighted when she heard this, and her mood became much better: "My brothers are here, let them in."

Zhu Houzhao knew that Marquis Shouning was Zhang Heling and Marquis Jianchang was Zhang Yanling. Both of them were younger brothers of Empress Dowager Zhang, and therefore his uncles.

According to Zhu Houzhao's impression of these two men, his two uncles were two funny guys.

But after all, they were Empress Zhang's family and his uncle, so Zhu Houzhao never thought of doing anything to them.

At one moment, Zhu Houzhao saw Zhang Heling, Marquis of Shouning, and Zhang Yanling, Marquis of Jianchang, walk in.

Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling both bowed to Zhu Houzhao and Empress Dowager Zhang, then stood aside with silly smiles. Zhang Heling greeted them first, "The Empress Dowager and Your Majesty should not be too sad recently, and should take care of their health."

"That's right, Queen Mother and Your Majesty, don't be sad, don't be sad!" Zhang Yanling echoed from the side.

Seeing that her two younger brothers had no bearing to be marquises, Empress Dowager Zhang sighed helplessly: "No one comes to the palace for no reason. What are you doing here today?"

When Empress Dowager Zhang asked this, Zhang Yanling chuckled and pushed Zhang Heling, meaning to let Zhang Heling speak first.

Zhang Heling pushed Zhang Yanling and let Zhang Yanling speak first.

The two of them pushed the issue for a long time, and finally Zhang Heling stood up first: "It's not for anything else, but as you know, Queen Mother, my two brothers now have our own mansions, but we don't have any decent treasures to decorate them. I heard that His Majesty went out that day."

Zhu Houzhao didn't want Empress Dowager Zhang to know that he was holding a royal exhibition outside, so he coughed and said, "My two uncles, if you have anything to say, just say it directly. There's no need to go so far."

Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling knew that Zhu Houzhao did not want them to tell others about the Royal Fair, so Zhang Heling smiled and said, "Yes, Your Majesty is right. I will tell you directly that I want to borrow some royal treasures from the Queen Mother to display at home, such as glass screens, glass beads, glass bowls, etc."

Empress Dowager Zhang was somewhat stunned by this. She had always doted on her two younger brothers, and basically gave Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling whatever they asked for. But now she didn't quite understand, and just said, "I don't have any glass here."

Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling were somewhat disappointed to hear Empress Dowager Zhang say this.

At this time, Zhu Houzhao laughed and said to Empress Dowager Zhang:

"I understand what you two uncles mean. Mother, you don't have it, but I have it. To be honest, I asked Liu Jin and others to find a few skilled craftsmen to make it when I was in the Eastern Palace. But I have already given it away. If you two uncles want it, buy it from me. Anyway, it would be beneath my dignity for me to do business directly.

I'll give you a cheap price, how about 10,000 taels for a glass treasure? These things are worth 20,000, 30,000, or even 40,000 or 50,000 taels of silver outside. My two uncles can still make money if they sell them, and even make several times the profit!"

(End of this chapter)