Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 24 Yu Qian, I'll treat you to a meal!
It was already winter, and the capital was covered by a sudden heavy snowfall. Snowflakes fluttered and finally landed silently on the glazed tiles of the palace, between the red walls and golden tiles, and also in Zhu Qizhen's eyes as he gazed into the distance.

He stood on the upper floor of the Qianqing Palace, looking at the world covered in silver, with mixed emotions in his heart. The heavy snow not only covered the scars after the war, but also seemed to bring a sense of tranquility and peace to the city.

The snowflakes gently touched Zhu Qizhen's face, bringing a hint of coolness, but also making him feel more awake than ever before. He took a deep breath of the fresh air, looking through the layers of snow at the ministers entering and leaving Kunning Palace.

The Queen Mother ruled the country from behind the curtain.

Most of the ministers in the court went to her to report government affairs, seemingly forgetting the existence of the emperor. This shows the prestige of the empress dowager in the hearts of the ministers.

"Your Majesty, Xu Yun, the lecturer of the Hanlin Academy, requests to see you." Shi Biao, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, came to report.

"Xu Yun? Is he the one who suggested moving south?" Zhu Qizhen frowned slightly.

"That's him!" Shi Biao snorted coldly, "He still has the nerve to come to see Your Majesty? I will chase him away right away."

"No, I'll meet him in the warm room." Zhu Qizhen waved his hand.

He turned around and went back to the warm room, where he felt much warmer all of a sudden, because there was a floor heating underneath, which was similar to the heating in his previous life.

After a while, Xu Yun came in and knelt down: "Your Majesty, I am Xu Yun, your Majesty."

Zhu Qizhen glanced at him.

He remembered this person when he read the History of Ming Dynasty in his previous life. This person was indeed talented, especially good at river management, but he always pursued fame and fortune, and he used some unscrupulous means.

According to historical records, he later participated in the "Change of the Gate", helped the Zhengtong Emperor to successfully restore the throne, and also falsely accused Yu Qian of murder.

……

Xu Yun had just returned from Zhangde. He was sent to recruit troops and to act as the censor. During the defense of the capital, Yu Qian sent 15 provincial officials to recruit troops, including him.

This shows that Yu Qian also knew that Xu Yun was a talented person, even though when Xu Yun suggested moving south, Yu Qian was so angry that he wanted to beat him.

When Xu Yun came back from abroad, he found that the other 14 censors who were sent out had all been promoted, but he was the only one who was not promoted. Not only was he not promoted, but his colleagues often ridiculed him because of his proposal to move south.

In the eyes of his ministers, he was the one who was afraid of death.

"Xu Yun, I will change your name." Zhu Qizhen smiled, "From now on, you will be called Xu Youzhen."

"Ah?" Xu Yun was stunned at first, then he kowtowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the name."

Zhu Qizhen spread his hands and said, "I know what you are asking for, but the affairs of the court still have to be obeyed by the Queen Mother. You have recruited soldiers and supervised the local areas, which is a merit. I remember all your faults and merits."

Xu Youzhen was about to cry, and kowtowed quickly: "Your Majesty, from now on, I will only be loyal to Your Majesty."

Are you kidding me?
Do you think I'm a three-year-old kid? Can I be fooled so easily?

Zhu Qizhen complained in his heart, but said: "Well, I will talk to Yu Qian later and ask him to arrange a job for you. Don't frown, Yu Qian employs people out of public interest, he won't make things difficult for you."

"I thank Your Majesty for your grace." Xu Youzhen bowed again.

"Go back and wait for news, don't be anxious." Zhu Qizhen walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

Xu Youzhen was greatly encouraged. After bowing, he retreated respectfully.

After he left, Shi Biao came to Zhu Qizhen and said with disdain: "Your Majesty, it is better not to use such people."

Zhu Qizhen smiled bitterly.

The problem is, no one wants to use me now.

This Xu Youzhen can be used. He is talented, shameless and insidious.

"Go and invite Yu Qian over. I'll treat him to a meal." Zhu Qizhen said.

"Yes!" Shi Biao took the order and left.

…The cold wind was howling and the snowflakes were falling.

Under the pavilion in the garden of the Qianqing Palace, a hot pot was steaming.

Zhu Qizhen and Yu Qian sat opposite each other, their bowls were filled with wine, the hot pot was boiling, and the aroma was everywhere.

"Old Yu, how about drinking in the snow? Isn't it a different flavor?" Zhu Qizhen raised his glass.

"Your Majesty..." Yu Qian picked up the wine glass and stood up respectfully again.

"Hey, are you annoying?" Zhu Qizhen said speechlessly, "I just said that there are only two of us here, so we don't have to follow any rules. Let's just have a drink as friends, okay?"

Yu Qian nodded and sat down.

He was somewhat touched in his heart because His Majesty was very sincere and seemed to be in distress.

After the two drank a glass of wine, Yu Qian took the initiative to fill up the glasses for himself and His Majesty, but His Majesty drank it all in one gulp. He had no choice but to pour another glass and advised: "Your Majesty, if you drink like this, you will ruin this beautiful view."

Zhu Qizhen smiled and picked up the wine glass again, but instead of drinking it in one gulp, he took a sip and said, "Yu Qian, with such a beautiful view in front of us, how about we write some poetry?"

"Okay." Yu Qian glanced over, "I'll go first."

After drinking several glasses of wine, he chanted a poem:

The north wind blows, blowing the cypress branches in my yard.

A strong tree is not afraid of the wind, and a strong moral character is still strong.

The heart remains unchanged despite all the frost and ice.

Moreover, the weather is getting warmer and the scenery is getting more pleasant, and the flowers and weeds are still lush and green.
What will happen when the wind blows through the cypress trees?
How long will the north wind last?
"What a good word, what a good word!" Zhu Qizhen praised, and after taking a swig of wine, he said, "It's my turn now!"

He looked at the carnations in the garden, pondered for a while, and then recited a poem.

He insisted that Qingshan would not relax, and Ligen was in the broken rock.

Chima Manto, Nishi-North-South-North.

After listening to it, Yu Qian found it more and more interesting. He could not help but praise: "Your Majesty, what a good poem! After hearing your poem, I have no need to say all the words of advice I wanted to give to Your Majesty."

The two of them raised their glasses and drank, their laughter shaking off the snowflakes.

Zhu Qizhen pointed at the dishes on the table and introduced them, "Old Yu, I have three dishes here, called, "Eat it and you will understand", "Look at it and you will understand it yourself". Come, have a try."

"What a good name!" Yu Qian picked up his chopsticks and started eating. "It tastes just like its name."

"It's a pleasure to drink with you, Old Yu." Zhu Qizhen took another swig.

Yu Qian felt a little dizzy and his face turned red. He looked at the heavy snow and said, "It's so cold, I wonder how many refugees will freeze to death."

Zhu Qizhen frowned slightly: "Didn't you report this matter? The court hasn't come up with a strategy yet?"

Yu Qian smiled helplessly: "After the war, the court is short of food. How can we have any strategy? Alas, I am afraid we will have to wait until the autumn harvest to have food. I hope next year will not be a disaster year.

Zhu Qizhen snorted and threw down the wine glass in his hand: "Natural disasters are terrible, but man-made disasters are even more terrible. I have learned that the fundamental reason for the sudden increase in refugees is that their land has been occupied. Princes, ministers, relatives and even eunuchs have all occupied the people's land. I don't know how much the Zhu family princes who were enfeoffed in various places have occupied. If this continues, something big will happen sooner or later."

"Your Majesty, you know it all." Yu Qian said.

"Well, I was deceived by Wang Zhen before, but now I understand everything." Zhu Qizhen looked very regretful.

If you want to seize power from the Empress Dowager, you must first win over Yu Qian.

A weak request for votes!

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(End of this chapter)