A family dinner is being held in the Forbidden City. There are not many people attending the banquet, but it is extremely noble. This day is the birthday of Zhang Jin, the mother of Empress Zhang.

After her husband Zhang Luan died, Zhang Jin lived in the palace with her daughter.

Empress Zhang brought her mother to the palace to support her. This was the first time in history, but who is Zhu Youzhang the only emperor in history who reigned for eighteen years and only married the queen but did not take concubines in her life?

Zhang Jin lives in Ciqing Palace and is treated vaguely better than Emperor Chenghua, the Empress Dowager Wang.

After all, there were women outside the royal family living in the palace, and the etiquette was very strict. Even if it was the birthday of my mother-in-law, Zhu Youzhang and his wife had to invite their two brother-in-law when they took their son to celebrate their birthday. This made it legitimate and would not make people gossip about the emperor.

But in fact, Zhang Jin is nearly fifty years old and Zhu Youzhang is just over thirty years old. No matter how short a woman is, he will not have any thoughts about his mother-in-law.

"Grandma, I wish you good health, longevity and a hundred years of life." Because there are only his own family, Zhu Youzhang did not object to his son's festive words at this time.

Zhu Youzhang lost his mother since childhood and had a good relationship with his wife. He also treated Zhang Jin as his mother and was happy, which made him feel a different kind of family warmth.

"well."

Zhang Jin was very reserved in front of Emperor Hongzhi. She was just an ordinary woman. Her husband died early, but fortunately, her daughter could become the mother of a country, and the emperor favored her daughter alone. She never dreamed that one day she could live in the palace and enjoy endless wealth and food.

As for the two sons, they were also granted the title of Marquis and Bo, and the Zhang family can be said to be glorious for a while.

Queen Zhang smiled and said, "Mom, the emperor said, I'm going to choose a time to promote my rank, so that our Zhang family will have two marquises."

Queen Zhang has two sisters above and two younger brothers below. She is not very old at home, but she is the most enjoyable one because her eldest sister and second sister both married men who are seriously inconsistent with their age for the sake of family interests, one is Xu Qiong, the other is Wang Jiao, and even the eldest sister is just Xu Qiong's concubine.

A teenage girl married an old man in her fifties as a concubine. If this is true love, who would believe it? However, this was Zhang Luan's last resort, because Zhang Luan was not a court official when he married his daughter. He was just a student in the Imperial College. He had no money to manage and could only sacrifice his daughter's happiness to obtain political capital.

It was Zhang Luan's determination that made Xu Qiong listed the three daughters of the Zhang family as the main candidates when Zhu Youzhang selected the crown princess and successfully married the crown prince. Zhu Youzhang ascended the throne, and the three daughters of the Zhang family became the queen, and relying on their beauty, gentleness and wisdom to monopolize the harem. The Zhang family quickly rose.

One person is enlightened and the chicken and dogs are ascending to heaven, which refers to the situation of the Zhang family.

Now Zhu Youzing said that he would raise Zhang Yanling's rank as a marquis. Before Zhang Jin could react, the two brothers Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling quickly got up from their seats and knelt down to thank him.

"We are all our own family, so we don't have to stick to etiquette and law."

Zhu Youtang waved his hand and said with a smile, "Today's country is too big for a long time, and I will never return without getting drunk."

The Zhang brothers had a bit of glory on their faces. Emperor Hongzhi regarded them as his family. The emperor's brother-in-law was treated with such courtesy, which was unprecedented. As soon as they sat down, they saw the little guy next to them looking at them with a special look. His bright eyes were shining with strange brilliance, and he couldn't help but feel a trembling in his heart.

"Father, I have something to tell you."

After halfway through the family dinner, Zhu Houzhao put down her chopsticks and said obediently.

Zhu Youzhang had a few glasses of wine at this time, and was slightly drunk. When he heard his son's words, he smiled and said, "What's the matter? Let's listen."

"Um."

Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "The child wants to go out of the palace and see what his second uncle said about the capital."

"Your second uncle?" Zhu Youzhang looked at Zhang Yanling in surprise. At this time, Zhang Yanling was avoiding his sister's questioning gaze. After hearing this, he quickly said, "Go back to the emperor, I only occasionally mention the scenery of the capital to the prince. Perhaps he yearns for something outside."

Zhang Heling looked at his younger brother complainingly and said, "Your Majesty, maybe Yanling just said casually, the prince took it seriously."

Zhu Youtui smiled and said, "Speaking of this, I have never seen the daily life of the people in the capital. Every time I go on a tour, I have to close the road. Now, I think about it, the emperor, I don’t understand people’s livelihood. Prince, what did your second uncle tell you?"

"Back to the Emperor"

Zhang Yanling was about to take the lead, but was interrupted by Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao said innocently: "Father, my second uncle said that the world outside is not peaceful. There are many beggars on the streets of the capital. They are dressed in tatters and beg for food and money from others everywhere. There are also many people setting up stalls on the streets to sell things, constantly shouting to attract customers to come. And there is also the poor girl who kneels on the side of the road, puts a straw on her head, and sells herself to her father. Not only does the government not help, but also takes away the money for the girl to sell herself to her father."

These words not only scared Zhang Yanling, but also made the birthday party suddenly change its taste.

Seeing that her husband's face turned cold, Queen Zhang couldn't help but scolded: "Second brother, do you tell the prince this on weekdays?"

"Sister Queen, my minister didn't tell the prince. Maybe the prince heard some rumors and thought it was true."

Zhang Yanling was so angry that this naughty child really dared to say anything!

The world is indeed that true, you know it in your heart, what are you talking nonsense in front of your father? I don’t know that your father is even worse than you. What is the real Ming capital like? He has never seen it at all?

Zhu Houzhao said with a small mouth: "No, then I asked several gentlemen again, and they also said that the world is difficult and the people are not easy to live in peace, so those who are ministers should worry about the country."

Hearing this, Zhang Yanling cursed in his heart again: "Which lecturer who is not open to his eyes says these nonsense?"

Zhu Youzhang put down his wine glass and asked with a stern face: "Brother Jianchang, is there any such thing?"

"Nothing happened, your majesty."

Zhang Heling quickly explained to his younger brother, "Actually, Yanling often talks about things outside to the prince, and wants to increase the prince's experience. The prince is very moved by the sufferings of the people, so he often asks about this. Yanling is just telling the prince to know some of the sufferings of the people and let the prince understand the sufferings of the people."

After saying this, Zhu Youting's face finally looked a little better.

It is a good thing that my son learns to care about the sufferings of the people when he is so old! As for the brother-in-law to say it a little exaggeratedly, it is not a sin, but a merit. In his opinion, before his son becomes an adult, he should have said something to scare him and let him know how difficult it is to be the lord of the world.

Seeing that Zhu Youting's face gradually improved, there was a little smile on his slightly drunk face, Queen Zhang smiled and said, "It's okay for me to say these words, but now under the rule of the Emperor, my Ming Dynasty is in good weather and prosperity, and the country is prosperous and the people are safe. How can I say something to deceive the prince? I really think this is a chaotic world?"

"The Queen Mother, it's really true that I'm selling myself to bury my father."

Zhu Houzhao was unyielding and was about to tell the truth about the girl he saw selling herself to bury his father, which made Zhang Yanling very anxious. Zhang Yanling thought to himself: "This kid is not afraid of suffering from his butt. If he continues, he will not be able to reveal his exit from the palace? Tong Yanwuji, if he says a few more words, he will definitely not be able to hide the secret. At that time, the marquis he saw was about to get will probably fly away!"

"Back to the Emperor."

Zhang Yanling decisively interrupted the little nephew, "I did say some things about selling children and daughters and burying my father, but they all come from the contents of folk tales, which quote some stories from the previous dynasty, but they were taken seriously by the prince. Your Highness, you should not be serious. Some things should be realistic!"

Queen Zhang smiled and nodded, saying, "Yes, my son, your uncle is right. You can't listen to many things, just rain."

"It's true to see it!"

Zhu Houzhao nodded obediently and said, "Oh, the emperor understands." After that, Zhu Houzhao looked at Zhang Yanling with a squint, deliberately confronting Zhang Yanling's gaze, allowing Zhang Yanling to see the anger contained in his eyes, meaning that if you don't let me "see it for the truth", then I will fight to the death and even give you.

As soon as Zhang Yanling breathed a sigh of relief, he saw his nephew's straight and cruel eyes, and felt a little scared: "It's bad, it's bad, this kid deliberately wants to cause trouble for me." Thinking of this, he didn't dare to look at Zhu Houzhao, so he had to toast the emperor's brother-in-law, let Zhu Youtang drink two more glasses, and let the banquet end early.

After about a cup of tea.

"No, I'm drunk, so let it go. It's not too early to disturb the rest of the country." Zhu Youtang drank a few more cups, blushed, and stood up and staggered and could hardly walk. He was very eager for Queen Zhang to help him.

In Zhu Youting's eyes, his wife is perfect, beautiful, generous and caring, gentle and virtuous, and knowledgeable in the boudoir. Occasionally, he also wants to show a little intimacy with the queen in front of his brother-in-law and mother.

"Your Majesty, you must be careful."

Queen Zhang understood her husband's intentions and asked Zhu Youting to put her arm on her shoulders, bear the weight of her husband's body, and helped Zhu Youting get up and leave the palace gate.

"Mother, I've said goodbye to you for the Emperor. The prince, I'm leaving, and I'm going to go back to the East Palace before dark. Brother, please help your mother in and rest. Second brother, when you go out from Donghua Gate, you will send the prince back to the palace by the way."

"Yes, Queen."

Zhang Heling stood up and helped Zhang Jinshi into the inner hall to rest.

Zhu Hou took a look at the backs of Emperor Hongzhi and Empress Zhang, then looked at Zhang Yanling, and wanted to chase after him: "Father, Queen Mother, and the child have seen some things."

Before he could take two steps, the person was already stopped by Zhang Yanling: "Prince, don't worry, you and the emperor are not on the same path."

Zhu Houzhao looked at the door first, and saw that his father and mother had gone far away, then shouted: "This is my family. You can go whenever you want, and go wherever you want. Do you have to take care of the second uncle?"

Zhang Jin, who had not yet entered the inner hall, turned around and asked in surprise: "Crown Prince, is there anything wrong?"

"It's okay, it's okay, mom, you and your elder brother come in, I'll send the prince back to Xiefang Palace." After Zhang Yanling said that, he was glanced at by his brother again.

Zhu Houzhao was secretly happy and thought to himself: "Mr. Shen taught me so well. As long as I pretended to say a few words to my father, my second uncle would be so scared that he turned pale. Then I can't give him a good look as if he was told by Mr. Shen, so that he would feel scared!"

"No need to send me my second uncle. I recognize the way back to Eunuch Liu, I'm leaving!"

Zhu Houzhao shouted and walked out of the hall gate. Liu Jin, who was waiting in the distance, came over to salute. Zhu Houzhao suddenly shouted: "Eunuch Liu, I'm tired, you carry me back."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Liu Jin quickly squatted down and let Zhu Hou shine on his back.

Seeing this situation, Zhang Yanling clearly angered his nephew, so he heard the brat muttering there: "Wait, next time, you must tell your father what you plan to be. It's best to deprive your current title, and you can't even get in the palace gate!"

Zhang Yanling became more and more amused and crying.

When did the little nephew learn this set of cruel and ruthless methods? No one can teach him how to do this?

Zhang Yanling looked at Liu Jin's old face with a charming smile again, and his face suddenly became cold, thinking to himself: "It must be the old eunuch Liu Jin! The prince was beaten and I was stripped of my title and salary. He would not suffer any loss inside and outside."

"Why should the prince be so anxious? Some things are so anxious that they can't eat hot tofu. You might as well go to the back of Xiefang Palace and let me explain the situation to the prince?"
Chapter completed!