Great Ming Dynasty Wen Chao Gong

Chapter 145 Don’t lie flat

In the Palace of Qianqing, the emperor had just finished reading the biography of his relatives in the "Book of Han", and then opened the "Book of the Later Han" to read the biography of the queen in it. Just looking at it, the emperor frowned.

At this moment, the chamberlain came to report that the queen was coming.

"Why is the emperor still reading so late? This is the lotus seed porridge cooked by my concubine." The queen came in.

"The war in Korea was tense before, but now I finally have some time to read some history books as a reference for governance. Let's put down the bowl of porridge for now."

"I have something else I want to discuss with Your Majesty."

"Huh? What's the matter? If it's about that book, don't mention it. Don't worry about the affairs of the previous dynasty." The emperor's tone suddenly became stern.

"Since when did I take care of the affairs of the previous dynasty? I haven't heard anything about the book. How could your Majesty just doubt me?" the queen said a little aggrieved.

"Ah, I've been a little troubled recently and my temper has gotten a little bad. What does the queen want from me?"

"Your Majesty, do I need to make some preparations for my concubine's marriage in advance? I only have a daughter, so I have to carefully choose a husband."

"Xiao'er is still so young, so don't worry."

"My boss came back from North Korea. Except for a day off on the first day, he was very busy afterwards. Did he suddenly have any entertainment today?" Lu Zhang asked.

"Your Majesty, my wife is already twelve this year. Choosing a consort cannot be done right away. If we delay any longer, my wife will become a big girl."

"It should be the young minister of Honglu Temple." Zhang Xiao also answered softly.

"Why are you talking about Princess Yongning again? I will definitely find a good husband for my wife. Don't worry, Queen."

"It's okay. I can still afford your monthly salary. It just so happens that these jobs have disappeared recently, so you can prepare for the exam with peace of mind. If you pass the exam and start a serious official career, it would be meaningless for me, a fifth-grade official, to be a staff member."

"Master, why did you drink so much?" Lu Zhang saw Zhang Xiao who was a little drunk and quickly ordered his servants to bring towels and tea.

"Your Majesty must choose carefully. You cannot be like Princess Yongning. You must find someone who is healthy, has good character, and has a good family tradition. Even if the official is younger and the family is poorer, it doesn't matter."

"It's not really a social event. His Majesty canceled all my errands. Now that I'm no longer in the Hanlin Academy, Wang Cifu hosted it and asked a dozen colleagues from the Hanlin Academy to hold a farewell banquet for me."

"Huh? All errands have been cancelled?"

"How come my boss has lowered his rank to half a rank?" Lu Zhang asked helplessly.

"Unknowingly, my wife has grown so big. I was negligent. I will arrange for someone to choose her."

"Don't bother me. I can still wipe this towel myself. I'm not so drunk."

"Which new location did the boss go to?" Lu Zhang asked in a low voice.

At the same time, Zhang Xiao, who had finished the farewell banquet at the Hanlin Academy, returned home somewhat unsteadily.

"Students don't dare."

"It's all my family members who say thank you. Speaking of which, I haven't seen Lao'er for a while. You can bring Lao'er to see me some other time."

"Then I will thank Your Majesty on behalf of my concubine."

"If I hadn't reminded you, Your Majesty would have forgotten this matter. I know that Your Majesty prefers Sister Zheng, but I am also His Majesty's eldest princess." The Queen was still a little unhappy.

"Yes, so I will be unemployed until the new appointment document comes out. Even if the appointment document comes out, it's hard to say when I will take office. The Beijing Inspection Service has just ended, and there are many officials who need to be adjusted. I just The fifth-rank officials have to be queued to the back."

"I still remember it, but I was really busy the past few days. It just so happens that the queen's birthday is coming soon. During the birthday ceremony, queen, you can also ask if there are any suitable candidates. I will also arrange for Chen Ju to go there. filter."

"I was scolded by His Majesty. Do you want to hear what happened?"

"Whatever the boss says, the students will definitely follow the boss."

"I'm serious, you can really prepare for the imperial examination. If you have a reputation and a resume of working with me, you can go further in the officialdom in the future."

"Students will definitely pay attention to the imperial examination."

"By the way, Lu Zhang, I still need to trouble you. Let's sort out the manuscripts together. What should be handed over will be handed over."

"Okay boss." Lu Zhang nodded and agreed.

Zhang Xiao just collected the information and took the opportunity to rest, waiting for the official appointment document to arrive. Of course, as soon as the official appointment document arrives, Zhang Xiao still has to go to Honglu Temple to report.

But when he arrived at Honglu Temple, Zhang Xiao was confused for a while. The style here was very different from that of the Hanlin Academy. It seemed very quiet inside.

"Who are you? Why do you come to Honglu Temple?" an official asked when he saw Zhang Xiao approaching.

"I am Zhang Xiao, the newly appointed Shaoqing of Honglu Temple." Zhang Xiao showed the appointment document issued by the Ministry of Personnel.

"Oh, it turns out to be Zhang Shaoqing. Why is Zhang Shaoqing not wearing official uniform? I am the Xu Ban of Honglu Temple. My surname is Xu Minghui and my courtesy name is Yanjie. Zhang Shaoqing can just call me Xu Xu Ban." The official replied.

"Oh? Then Xu Xuban, could you please take me to Honglu Temple for a walk? I don't know where my young minister's seat is yet."

"Zhang Shaoqing, please come with me." Xu Xuban respectfully invited Zhang Xiao to Honglu Temple.

Zhang Xiao followed Xu Xuban in, but not all of them were on duty.

When he arrived at his study room, Zhang Xiao sat in front of the desk. After waiting for a long time, no one reported to him or arranged things. Zhang Xiao simply picked up the etiquette regulations on the desk and started to study.

"Zhang Shaoqing, I was out on errands just now and couldn't bring you back. Oh, by the way, I am Xu Zheng, the minister of Honglu Temple, also known as Hongru. Zhang Shaoqing, just call me Xu Keqing." I don't know how long it took, Honglu Si Qing entered Zhang Xiao's study and greeted Zhang Xiao directly. "Your Majesty, please see Xu Keqing."

"I don't want to take it seriously. Zhang Shaoqing, you came from the Hanlin Academy. You may become a higher official than me at any time."

"Zhang has lived overseas for a long time and is still not familiar with the etiquette of the court. I would like to ask Xu Keqing to give me some advice. Now I am serving as Zuo Shaoqing of Honglu Temple. Do I have any work to arrange now?"

"Zhang Shaoqing, Honglu Temple is not as good as the Hanlin Academy. The Hanlin Academy is the hub of the imperial court, so it is naturally very busy. Although Honglu Temple also has a lot of official duties, it still has more retreat work. When it comes to paying tribute, offering sacrifices, festivals and other important things, , it is necessary for Honglu Temple to be busy, and it is mainly the dozens of prefaces of Honglu Temple who are busy. After all, the etiquette has been stipulated, and we don’t need to change anything. Xiao Guicao can just follow it. Of course, there is one more thing, start During court meetings, Honglu Temple will also send personnel to check the appearance of officials to see if they are disrespectful in front of the emperor. But you also know that His Majesty has not made an early court appearance for several years. So Honglu Temple is not too busy now. That is to hand over some memorials and send people to assist when there are ceremonies, that's all." Xu Zheng explained.

"Then according to Xu Keqing's affairs, I, the young minister, don't have any specific job?" Zhang Xiao was still a little confused.

"Currently, there is nothing that needs to trouble Zhang Shaoqing, but in a few days, the Queen Mother's birthday will come. Honglu Temple will also help organize the birthday ceremony. However, these are all things that have rules. As long as you are prepared , it is a credit to the birthday ceremony that there are no mistakes. Zhang Shaoqing, you come to the Yamen as usual every day, and if there is nothing special, make your own arrangements. Honglu Temple is always busy when it is busy, and it is free when it is free. Zhang Shaoqing, you don’t have to Worry."

"Thank you Xu Keqing for your advice." Zhang Xiao thanked him.

In the imperial study, the emperor held a memorial and became more and more delighted as he read it.

"The battle between Dong Yiyuan and Li Hualong was good. They lured the enemy deep and beheaded countless people. Subahai's son repeatedly invaded Tu'er, and this time he was completely defeated. Moreover, Tu'er himself was seriously injured, and Tu'er was seriously injured. Rabbit's cousin Boyan'er died in the battle. This time, the remaining troops of Subahai can be said to have suffered heavy losses. There were 500 prisoners alone, so this time the Mongolian casualties were probably thousands, not counting Those who fled and disappeared. In this way, the eastern Mongolian tribes will be frightened and dare not easily invade the border. I will issue an order to the cabinet, and Dong Yiyuan and Li Hualong will be rewarded heavily." The emperor said happily.

"This is indeed a great victory." Chen Ju said.

"Chen Ju, why don't you look very excited when you hear the news? Is there something else going on? What is that in your hand?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this is a memorial from Honglu Temple sent by the Ministry of Jianzhou."

"Oh? Let me have a look." The emperor took the memorial and read it.

As he watched, the expression on the emperor's face was somewhat uncertain.

"Nurhachi actually wants to come to the Ming Dynasty to pay tribute at this time. What is his intention? Chen Ju, please call Zhang Xiao over."

"Your Majesty, it would be inappropriate to summon Zhang Xiao now," Chen Ju reminded.

"Why is it inconsistent with etiquette?"

"Zhang Xiao was originally in the Hanlin Academy. The Hanlin Academy was originally responsible for consulting on political affairs, so it was reasonable to call Zhang Xiao here. Moreover, Zhang Xiao also set a job for himself to walk around the imperial study room, then It is even more justified. Now Zhang Xiao is the young minister of Honglu Temple. Honglu Temple does not have the function of consulting on political affairs, and Zhang Xiao is only the young minister of Honglu Temple. There are still ministers in Honglu Temple, so Zhang Xiao is directly If Xiao is called, the hierarchy of positions at Honglu Temple will be messed up."

"That's true. But it doesn't matter. Didn't Nurhachi's memorial come from Honglu Temple? Moreover, when Nurhaci did come to Beijing later, he was also received by Honglu Temple. I called the young minister of Honglu Temple to ask about the situation. , it shouldn’t be a big problem.”

"What your Majesty said is absolutely true."

"By the way, I ordered you to find a musician who can play this Atlantic piano. Have you found one? The Queen Mother's birthday is coming soon, so you have to hurry up and find a candidate."

"Reporting to your majesty, the ministers have not found any musicians who can play this instrument. The musicians in the palace said that although they have seen some Western instruments, this is the first time they have seen this Atlantic instrument. When the musicians saw this Atlantic instrument, they didn't know what to do. Use it for fear of getting damaged."

"How can I, the great Ming Dynasty, be stumped by a Western instrument? Wait, do you think Zhang Xiao can play this Atlantic Qin? After all, he has been in Nanyang for many years, and he has heard about so many overseas secrets. This instrument He should be able to do it too." The emperor suddenly thought of something.

"Zhang Xiao may be able to play, but whether he can do it or not, the ministers don't know."

"It's okay. Send someone to call him and ask him." The emperor ordered.

Just like that, after a while, the eunuchs in the palace hurried to Honglu Temple, but missed the opportunity, and then went to Zhang Xiao's home.

"Who wakes up first from a big dream? I know this all my life. If you sleep enough in the spring in the thatched cottage, the sun will get late outside the window. Wenhua, look at this beautiful sun. It's great to sleep in the sunshine and lie in bed." Zhang Xiaoyouzaiyouzai said.

"My boss, although you have moved to the left now, you can't neglect government affairs like this. Do you want to buy a feather fan scarf? Are you really Mr. Wolong at home?" Lu Zhang said helplessly.

"I've been here for several days. I really don't have to do anything important. It's not my turn to do anything that doesn't matter. My subordinates have all done it. Forget it, I went too often, Hong I'm afraid Mr. Lusi thought that I was competing for performance and coveting his position. That's all, I'm going to take a day off to rest for a while. I didn't even get a good rest for a few days after coming back from North Korea."

"This... okay, boss, you just have to be aware of it." Lu Zhang said.

"Xiao Cui, Xiao Hua, give me a hard time, and practice the elegant words of the capital in your free time. This is no longer North Korea, so be careful." Zhang Xiao ordered the two North Korean maids.

"My boss, now I'm wondering if His Majesty is angry because you brought these two Korean maids back. Why don't you just send these two Korean maids away. I'll just say it bluntly. If my boss thinks I'm talking It didn’t sit well with me, so he fired me, and Lv also accepted it,” Lv Zhang said.

The two Korean maids' faces turned pale, and they both knelt down without daring to say anything more.

"Wenhua, why are you doing this? These two girls have very pitiful family backgrounds. Now that they are sent out, they are in a foreign country and they are weak women. They don't know what they will suffer outside. . Okay, okay, I'll get up." Zhang Xiao couldn't pretend anymore and quickly got out of bed.

At this moment, the old servant hurried in at the door.

"Old Wangtou, didn't you say that if there is no urgent matter, please don't enter my bedroom." Zhang Xiao was a little unhappy.

"Master, it's an urgent matter now. Someone from the palace has arrived at the door." The old Wangtou said.

"What? Help me pack my clothes. I'll go out to greet you right away." Zhang Xiao was stunned for a moment, but after he came to his senses, he quickly ordered,

After tidying up urgently, Zhang Xiao hurriedly left the bedroom and walked outside the door of his home.

"Eunuch Gao, what kind of wind has brought you here?" Zhang Xiao went to the door and saw that this was his old acquaintance Gao Huai.

"Zhang Shaoqing, this is not the time to be polite. His Majesty wants you to enter the palace immediately and report on the relevant matters. As for what the report is about, Gao doesn't know."

"Ah? But I'm no longer in the Hanlin Academy?" Zhang Xiao was a little confused.

"It's too late to explain, Zhang Shaoqing, please get in the car." Gao Huai pointed to the carriage parked at the door.

(End of this chapter)