The Ming Dynasty started with caution

The sun is shining at noon, adding a touch of warmth to the harsh winter.

Coming out of Dongnuan Pavilion, the cold wind made his nose feel cold, so Yan Chengjin hurriedly put on the mouth of the human cage.

The next moment, Chai Sheng stepped out of the hall from behind him and said with a smile: "Master Yan, I do not intend to exclude you, but it is the best policy for all officials to perform their duties."

Among the nine ministers, the ministers of the six departments are ranked first, followed by the censors of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Although they were of the same rank, Yan Chengjin was ranked behind Chai Sheng in terms of official position, but Yan Chengjin did not take him lightly.

"Master Chai is right, let's see how Pang Wei fights."

The Ming Dynasty conquered Annan during the Yongle period. Since then, Annan and the imperial court have maintained a state of tribute or cold war.

In other words, none of Liu Jian's generation had fought against Annan.

Not familiar with Annan's terrain, military preparations and city defense.

More importantly, the imperial court had been trading iron tools with Annan for three years. I don’t know how many armors and swords Annan made with these iron tools.

Military preparations are no longer what they used to be.

Chai Sheng stroked his beard and smiled: "Don't worry, Mr. Yan. Pang Wei is recommended by my official. It's just a Fan country. They can capture Tokyo City in less than half a year."

I wanted to say that I couldn't say March, but he was modest.

Yan Chengjin didn't want to talk to the pretentious person, so he walked down the imperial steps and turned into the alley leading back to the Metropolitan Procuratorate for duty, when he saw Mr. Zhu and Li Qing'e coming.

Mr. Zhu looked forward, looked dignified, and showed his magnanimity in every gesture.

She was a first-class lady conferred by the imperial court and grew up in the Duke's Mansion.

As he walked, he warned her, "You come from a humble background, and you are no more beautiful than a lady from an official family. When you met the Queen Mother, you stood quietly aside."

Li Qing'e Zhenzhen responded softly.

Although Mrs. Zhu didn't care about her, she didn't feel sorry for her. With Mrs. Zhu around, the Li Mansion was in good order.

When Mrs. Zhu saw Yan Chengjin, she greeted softly: "Master Yan."

Li Qing'e stood behind Mrs. Zhu and nodded slightly.

Yan Chengjin was a little confused: "Is there something wrong with Mrs. Zhu entering the palace? I don't seem to have heard that there is a banquet in the harem."

"Your Majesty ordered me and my wife to enter the palace to visit the Empress Dowager," said Zhu.

Yan Chengjin's heart trembled slightly. Historically, Empress Dowager Zhou was supposed to leave last year, but it lasted until this year. Could it be that she was leaving soon?

"Mrs. Zhu will go first. I have something to say with Qing'e."

Madam Zhu said: "Qing'e is not married yet, Master Yan should be careful not to let anyone gossip about Miss Li."

After saying that, he walked towards Renshou Palace under the guidance of the little eunuch.

Yan Chengjin looked at Li Qing'e: "Let me go to Renshou Palace with you. I know that it will be extremely uncomfortable for you to follow Mrs. Zhu."

Zhu grew up in the Duke's Mansion. No matter how reasonable he was, he still had a domineering arrogance.

Li Qing'e came from a humble background, so she was inevitably ashamed of herself.

In addition, Li Qing'e's mother is Qin Ling, but Li Dongyang loves her very much, and jealousy is inevitable.

After all, where there are many wives and concubines, there will be palace fights.

Li Qing'e's cheeks turned slightly red. She was wearing a moon-white fur coat and standing beside the red palace wall, looking very graceful.

"The Empress Dowager Zhou seems to be unwell. The Empress ordered all women of the third rank and above in the capital to come to the palace to visit her. She also asked Te Tei to ask me by name to follow Madam Zhu into the palace."

Yan Chengjin is a second-grade official. If Li Qing'e marries him, she will at least be granted the title of wife.

However, not now, Ming Dynasty has strict regulations on granting wives.

Yan Chengjin must have a certain official age. For example, only when he reaches Li Dongyang's age can Li Qing'e be granted a royal title.

Yan Chengjin followed Li Qing'e to Renshou Palace. It was not a peaceful place where married women gathered, and he taught her some coping methods on the way.

Renshou Palace,

After crossing the threshold, Zhou Yu dropped a hundred taels of silver and rolled aside.

Zhu Houzhao picked up the silver happily: "Ah, I found one hundred taels of silver!"

"I lost one hundred taels of silver. Can Your Highness return it to me?"

"Fortunately you met me."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Zhu Houzhao happily put the money into his arms: "If you meet someone else, maybe I will return it to you."

Zhou Yu's face turned livid, as if his parents had died, and he felt a burst of physical pain.

The two of them walked into the dormitory one after the other.

Empress Dowager Zhou was half lying on the phoenix, her face was rosy, even though she was a little swollen, she looked even more kind.

Empress Zhang looked serious, holding half a bowl of porridge in her hand: "Isn't Your Majesty here yet?"

"Reporting to your Majesty, I have informed you that Your Majesty seems to have something important. I will go there again." The eunuch Wei Tai said hurriedly.

After the ladies of each order saluted, they stood on both sides in front of the phoenix, leaving a way out according to their seniority and inferiority.

Empress Dowager Zhou patted Empress Zhang on the back of her hand: "The Ai family can eat and sleep. Why did you ask the emperor to come?"

When Empress Zhang saw the Queen Mother's bloated appearance, she felt a little unbearable because her father was also ill like this.

The doctor calls...it's called returning to light?

Zhu Houzhao took Empress Dowager Zhou's hand and said, "Grandma-in-law is right. My son is not born yet. Please take a look at him before leaving."

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became weird.

The ladies had obviously never seen this kind of world, and their faces were a little flustered.

Empress Zhang scolded angrily with a straight face: "Stop talking nonsense! Stand aside and wait for your father to come and see how he punishes you!"

Life and death are determined by fate, wealth is unpredictable, and the emperor's great-grandmother is miserable in the palace.

Zhu Houzhao didn't think that passing away was a sad thing. The great-grandmother of the emperor often said that she wanted to see the late emperor and the great-grandfather of the emperor.

Outside Renshou Palace,

Yan Chengjin sent Li Qing'e to the palace gate, "I am not summoned, so I cannot enter the Queen Mother's bedroom. Please go in."

"Hmm!" Li Qing'e just responded softly amidst the noise.

Zhu Houzhao saw Li Qing'e coming in, and was more certain that the person talking outside was Yan Chengjin: "Lao Gao, I heard your voice, come in quickly!"

Yan Chengjin's face was stiff, Zhu Houzhao was also inside?

He turned around and wanted to leave quickly, but heard the voice of Empress Zhang: "Yan Qing's family is here, let's come in and pay our respects together."

After a while, Yan Chengjin walked into the hall and bowed to the Queen Mother and Empress Zhang. The Queen Mother looked at him, hesitant to speak, but could not call out his name.

"Your servant Yan Chengjin greets the Grand Empress Dowager."

Mrs. Zhu was somewhat proud. Although she was not a biological daughter, she was considered the son-in-law of the Li family: "Empress Dowager, this is the son-in-law of a noble lady. He will marry Qing'e in more than 20 days."

Empress Dowager Zhou smiled: "Happy event, happy event. I know Li Qing's family. When the time comes, the queen will prepare a generous gift for me."

"Your servant obeys your command."

Yan Chengjin stepped aside and stood next to Zhu Houzhao. Behind him was Zhou Yu, who was waiting for Zhu Houzhao with great hatred, as if someone owed him a hundred taels.

Empress Dowager Zhou ordered people to give him a seat and not to be restrained. The eunuch brought up snacks and fruit plates.

The noble ladies chatted with smiles on their faces, but they were polite.

After a while, when Empress Zhang finished her preparations and looked at Empress Dowager Zhou again, she saw that Empress Dowager Zhou had closed her eyes: "Empress Dowager?"

Empress Zhang reluctantly stretched out her finger and probed Empress Dowager Zhou's breath, and was suddenly startled.

"Call Wang Ji to the palace!"

"Call the imperial physician!"

"Go quickly!"

A sharp shout broke the peace in the bedroom. Yan Chengjin looked at the face of Empress Dowager Zhou. The ladies were so frightened that they wanted to shout, but they didn't dare to.

Zhu Houzhao took a few quick steps and went forward to hold Empress Dowager Zhou's hand.

...

East Warm Pavilion.

Emperor Hongzhi quickly read the memorials. If he finished reviewing them as soon as possible, he could spend more time with Empress Dowager Zhou.

Xiao Jing reminded in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the queen sent someone to urge you to go to Renshou Palace to have a look."

"Have all the ladies entered the palace?"

"They are all here. The queen gave them snacks. Renshou Palace is very lively."

Emperor Hongzhi gradually smiled. With the queen taking care of the harem, I can handle the affairs of the court with peace of mind.

At this moment, there was a thump! The door was knocked open.

Thinking it was an assassin, Xiao Jing looked up in shock, only to see that it was the young eunuch: "I don't want to live anymore!"

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager... has passed away!"

Good evening everyone, there are two plots, and I have been struggling to decide which one to write, because if I choose one, I can't write the other, so I'm a little late, sorry~ The ranking has dropped a lot due to the two-month ticket at the end of the month, so I'm still begging for votes, thank you everyone~ Good night