Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 219: The Mistress of the East Palace

It didn't take long.

More than thirty attendants of the Eastern Palace all went to the Duanjing Hall. However, according to their ranks, only seven or eight people with the title of stewards were qualified to enter the Duanjing Hall.

They are basically eunuchs.

Although there were many palace maids in the palace, the highest rank they could be promoted to was basically female official. The eunuchs who really managed things were mostly from the Twenty-Four Eunuchs. After all, eunuchs had official ranks, and even if a palace maid made the highest position she could only get the title of Madam. Generally, she had to be very close to the prince or the emperor, or she had to be a woman from the palace who had served as the emperor's wet nurse. This was quite rare.

Zhang Yu immediately noticed a female official standing at the edge who was in her thirties and had a relatively ordinary appearance.

"who is she?"

Zhang Yu pointed and asked.

Zhu Youtang glanced at her and answered casually, "Her name is Lu Fang, you can call her Fang'e, she is in charge of the maids in the East Palace."

"Your servant Fang'e pays homage to the Crown Princess."

Lu Fang quickly kowtowed to Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu smiled and nodded, "Since you are the one who arranges the maids here, why don't you arrange two caring ones to follow me and help me with some daily trivial matters? Is that okay?"

"I will follow the orders of the Crown Princess."

Lu Fang said quickly.

Zhu Youtang asked, "Do you want me to introduce them to you one by one?"

Zhang Yu smiled slightly and replied, "Didn't His Royal Highness tell me their names? Let me think about them for a while and then I will gradually get to know them."

"You guys step back first."

Zhu Youtang also felt a little uncomfortable with so many people gathering here, so he waved his hand to send them away.

Even Tan Ji and Jiang Cong, the two eunuchs in the Eastern Palace who were most trusted by Zhu Youtang, consciously left the hall and closed the door when they left.

After everyone left, Zhang Yu tiptoed to the door of the outer room, listened for a while, and came back to ask in a low voice: "That Fang'e, was she a member of Anxi Palace before?"

Zhu Youtang was shocked and asked, "Yu'er, how did you know that?"

Zhang Yu said cautiously, "My second brother told me... Yanling said that after I arrived at the East Palace, I should first find out who are the spies planted by others, so that I can be careful and guard against them, but not show it."

After hearing Zhang Yu's words, Zhu Youtang was stunned.

The power struggle within the palace has almost entirely revolved around him in the past two years, but he himself seemed to stay out of it and never asked about it.

Or rather, he simply doesn't understand these things.

Now his newly-married wife seems to know the ins and outs better than he does.

Zhang Yu frowned slightly and asked, "Do you think I shouldn't be so sensitive and shouldn't bring it up?"

Zhu Youtang hurriedly shook his head: "No, no... Yu'er, I know you are doing this for my own good. Even my old partner often told me that you should not have the intention to harm others but you must be on guard against them. But... Grandma Wan of Anxi Palace has passed away..."

Zhang Yu opened his big innocent eyes and explained, "It is precisely because I regard the prince as the most important person in my life that I care about all this.

"Also, even if Concubine Wan passed away, her relationships and connections remained, and someone must have inherited her will. For example, Liang Fang continued to harm the prince, didn't she? So Fang'e must have a new master, but we don't know who it is for the time being."

"You're right."

Zhu Youtang looked a little sad when he said this, and said with a little grievance, "They may think that I am not worthy of being the crown prince."

"No, there are just ambitious people who want to seize the throne!"

Zhang Yu said in an encouraging tone, "The Crown Prince is kind and upright, why can't he do something just because someone says he can't do it? Even if Concubine Wan is gone, don't we still have Concubine Shao? Concubine Shao will definitely do everything she can to help her son get to the throne. I have sufficient reason to suspect that Fang'e is currently obeying Concubine Shao.

"In addition to Concubine Shao, there are many people who used to surround Concubine Wan, who want to use conspiracy and trickery to alienate the father-son relationship between the Crown Prince and Your Majesty and destroy the foundation of the Eastern Palace. We must not let their calculations succeed."

Zhu Youtang was deeply touched. He looked at Zhang Yu, nodded heavily, and said, "I understand, but I'm worried... that I'm not capable enough."

Zhang Yu smiled and said, "Before, no one consulted with you. You were isolated and helpless, and could only passively accept everything... But now you have me, right? We are in the same boat, husband and wife, and we will face all difficulties and obstacles together... As the saying goes, there will always be a time to ride on the wind and waves, and set sail to cross the vast ocean. The final victory will surely belong to us."

Zhu Youtang was so moved by these powerful words that he couldn't help but walk over and hold Zhang Yu's delicate hand.

The couple finally had further contact.

"It's getting late."

Zhang Yu leaned on Zhu Youtang's shoulder, blushing and shyly said, "Should I clean up first? No need for outsiders to come in, I can do it myself. At home, I do all these things by myself."

"You've suffered, Yu'er."

Zhu Youtang said with heartache.

"How can I suffer... Girls from ordinary families are like this. Do you think that even if you are oppressed, you will have so many people around you to serve you?"

When Zhang Yu said this, he actually felt a little jealous.

Look at the prince. Even if he suffers all kinds of grievances, he is still surrounded by people and all he needs to do to get anything done is move his mouth.

As for me, I have to do everything myself since I was a child.

Zhu Youtang said: "I will treat you well in the future and never leave you."

"Ah."

After hearing these moving words, Zhang Yu was deeply moved.

No matter what, her new husband couldn't be any better to her, it even seemed a little unreal.

Her husband doesn't look like the high and mighty prince at all. He's not even as good as an ordinary rich young man. He's so humble and polite, and even very caring towards his wife... It's hard to find such a man in this world.

……

……

The candlelight flickered and the lamplight was dim.

It was still a little chilly in the north in February, but the house was very warm.

They were newlyweds and were about to have their wedding night, but unfortunately, both of them had little experience, so they were just busy doing many things for no reason. It was hard to say whether Zhu Youtang was in the lead or Zhang Yu was the host.

Fortunately, everything that should have been done went smoothly.

You need to have dinner to fill your stomach at night, but once you start to get busy, you won’t be able to take care of anything else.

It was not until very late that Zhu Youtang got up and informed Tan Ji to ask Fang'e to bring the wine and food into the room, but he only ordered them to be sent to the outer room and not to enter.

Then Zhu Youtang took the thing to Zhang Yu with trembling hands.

Zhu Youtang, who should have had everything he had, lived up to all the requirements of filial piety in taking care of his newlywed wife.

"You'd better change your clothes, so you don't catch a cold."

Zhang Yu said this as he casually put on a coat.

Zhu Youtang hurried over to help.

Perhaps because he felt the room was a little dim, Zhu Youtang went to the cupboard and took out a few red candles and lit them.

"Don't order anymore. Be frugal."

Zhang Yu spoke out to stop him.

"Ah."

Being frugal is a good thing. After hearing this, Zhu Youtang felt that his wife's words made sense. It was rare to find someone as kind-hearted as him. He blew out the candles he had just lit in one breath.

"Want to get up early tomorrow?"

Zhang Yu asked.

Zhu Youtang was a little confused and shook his head, "I don't know, maybe I need to get up early! I've seen the ceremonial arrangements, and I vaguely remember that I have to meet the two palaces tomorrow, and then go to the various palaces to meet the mothers, and the most important thing is to meet the queen mother... She is very good to me. Every time I go there, she will invite me to dinner. It feels very kind."

Zhang Yu nodded, and she was secretly glad in her heart.

Before entering the palace, Yanling had already explained the current situation in the palace to me clearly. If I were to figure it out on my own, with the prince's silence and restraint, how could I ever understand the relationships behind it?

The key point is, which people are friendly to the East Palace, which people are indifferent but not making things difficult, and just live their own lives behind closed doors, and which ones are malicious and want to get rid of the East Palace as soon as possible...

These are all great subjects.

……

……

The day after the wedding.

On February 13th of the 23rd year of Chenghua, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess had an audience with the two palaces.

When having breakfast early this morning, Qin Ji's face was beaming with joy. Looking at the couple sitting at the table and talking intimately, his face was full of satisfaction.

The prince finally got married!
Just by looking at their loving and affectionate appearance, Qin Ji knew how harmonious the young couple was.

During breakfast, the prince wanted to put all the food on his plate into the princess's bowl...

This level of concern... is simply unprecedented.

The last time I saw the prince so concerned about something was when he was reading late into the night a letter sent by the Crown Princess from outside the palace.

"Can't eat anymore."

Zhang Yu kept reminding Zhu Youtang.

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "It's okay, it's okay, you can try them all."

Zhang Yu looked at Zhu Youtang with affectionate eyes. Zhu Youtang seemed to be more excited and actually stood up to pick up the dishes himself.

Qin Ji quickly dissuaded him: "Your Highness, please sit down and let this old servant come."

"Don't, don't!"

Zhu Youtang doesn't need Tan Ji's help.

I'm picking up food for my wife, why are you joining in?
Will she think I'm considerate or that I'm capable?
How come you don’t have good eyesight?
Zhang Yu looked up at Tan Ji and asked curiously, "Eunuch Tan, what are your plans for the next few days?"

"Don't dare to take it seriously."

Qin Ji hurriedly said, "My lady, you can call me by any name you like."

Zhang Yu thought for a moment and said, "I'll still call you my old partner, just like the prince."

"It is my honor to be favored by your Majesty."

Qin Ji couldn't help but glance at the prince. At this moment, the prince was looking at his little wife with a happy face. He didn't even bother to eat and had no time to pay attention to him.

Tan Ji said: "Today I will meet the two palaces. First I will meet the empresses of each palace, and finally I will go to Kunning Palace. This old slave will accompany you throughout the whole process, and there will also be female officials and assistants to assist you.

"Tomorrow is the day for washing and feeding. We will go to the Qianqing Palace to pay respect to His Majesty, and there may be a banquet. The day after tomorrow is the day for visiting the temple, and we will go to the Fengxian Palace. The day after that is the day for celebration, and we will accept the congratulations of the ladies in Beijing. The prince and the princess will have a meal with the empress dowager."

Zhang Yu nodded and said, "I understand."

Zhu Youtang heard about such a busy schedule and asked with some concern: "My beloved, is this too tiring?"

"fine."

Zhang Yu smiled and consoled, "Since the ceremony is arranged like this, then just follow the rules. Besides, isn't this what we newlyweds should do? After a few busy days, we should be able to relax.

"Oh, by the way, my dear wife, I still have some clothes and daily necessities at my mother's house. When can I have them delivered to the palace?"

"This……"

Tan Ji seemed very embarrassed.

He thought to himself, if you want to bring these things into the palace, it would only take a word for you.

But who can blame the current crown prince for having to keep a low profile? Even you, the newlywed crown princess, don’t have as prominent a status as in the previous dynasty?
I'm afraid I have to consult the eunuch in charge about this matter.

Seeing Tan Ji's hesitation, Zhu Youtang asked hurriedly, "My dear, is there any difficulty?"

Qin Ji knew immediately that the Crown Prince must have promised the Crown Princess in advance, and said hurriedly, "Let me arrange it... Find a chance in the next few days and send her to the palace."

"Thank you very much."

Zhang Yu is very polite.

Since others have helped her, she would express her gratitude without any pretense.

But to the servants, this thank you seemed redundant, and Qin Ji said hastily, "I don't deserve it."

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "What's wrong with my wife? You have helped us a lot, and I can't thank you enough. You may have to worry more in the future, and I'm leaving everything in this palace in your hands."

Hearing this, Qin Ji was so moved that he almost cried out loud.

What's the point of not being able to leave the palace and being dangerous... As long as I can do things for the Crown Princess, it would be worth it even if I die immediately after leaving the palace.

……

……

Zhang Mansion.

After a night, the yard was still a mess and the maids were cleaning it up.

Zhang Luan drank all day yesterday and didn't think he would get up early, while Zhang Heling was also sleeping in the house.

Zhang Yanling got up early, washed and dressed, and was ready to go out after breakfast... After all, he had undertaken a big deal worth 5,000 taels of silver, which was done in the way of Industrial Ming Dynasty. The high cost meant that the construction would be large-scale and costly, so he had to personally supervise it.

His sister got married successfully, and her husband was the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, so he felt relieved of a heavy burden from his shoulders. He had always been worried that because of his time travel, his sister would lose the position of Queen that was within her grasp.

As for whether he had humiliated his sister according to the established historical development, we may not know until later. At least from Zhang Yanling's perspective, if his appearance changed this beautiful marriage, it would be unfair to his sister.

From the perspective of marital harmony, with the careful care of Zhu Youtang, a man who protects his wife, Zhang Yu had a very happy first half of his life. What Zhang Yanling really wants to do now is, first, to improve his brother-in-law's weak body so that he is no longer a sickly person, and second, to help his sister give birth to more children...

The rest depends on how he performs on the stage of the Ming Dynasty.

"A night has passed, and I don't know what has happened... My son is behind that high wall, when will there be hope?" Jin got up early in the morning and expressed her sorrow and melancholy.

Now she no longer has to make breakfast or clean the yard. The living conditions at home have improved so much and so fast that as the mistress of the family, Jin has a rare chance to relax.

Once people have nothing to do, they will inevitably have all kinds of wild thoughts. Now I am sitting there complaining about everything, missing my good daughter who married into the palace.

Zhang Yanling spat out the mouthwash in his mouth, leaned over and comforted her, "Mother, why are you worried? Sister is going to the palace, not a dangerous place."

"Alas! Once you enter the palace, it feels like a deep sea!"

Jin sighed and said, "Maybe I won't see her again in the future... my poor daughter!"

If marrying the Crown Prince of the East Palace is considered a miserable fate, then I don’t know what kind of marriage in this world is a good marriage. Zhang Yanling didn’t know whether to laugh or cry for a moment, and could only continue to comfort her:
"Mother, I've already told you that it's very difficult for you to see my sister now, but when my brother-in-law ascends the throne in the future, it will be very easy for you to enter and leave the palace, and you can even live in the palace for a long time. Maybe by then you will find my sister annoying."

"Yanling, mother knows you are comforting me, but have you ever thought about this? Now even the crown prince is being bullied in the palace, how can your sister not be wronged? Moreover, the crown prince only married your sister at the moment, so naturally the couple love each other, but if he has more concubines in the future, there will always be intrigues. What's wrong with saying that your sister has a hard life?"

Jin himself felt deeply touched.

Not only did she marry a husband with little ability, but she was also able to take in a concubine.

If the husband is like this, how can the prince be any better?
"What are you arguing about so early in the morning?"

Zhang Luan came out of the room, stretching lazily and shouting impatiently.

Zhang Yanling came forward and greeted him: "Dad, good morning. You drank so much yesterday, why didn't you take a rest?"

"No need. My father is going to visit Li Zisheng's mansion today... He said before that when I become the crown prince, he will really arrange for me to fill a vacancy in the Honglu Temple... Do you think I can't go and ask?"

Zhang Luan seemed to have an inexplicable desire to become an official. He would work hard to strive for the slightest hope. Zhang Yanling admired his cheap father's persistence and did not say anything to stop him. Instead, he encouraged his father to go early and come back early. If there were any problems, he would help solve them when he returned.

(End of this chapter)