Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

After much persuasion, Zhang Shikang finally persuaded my mother to go back.

When he crawled into the bed again and hugged Chen Zhuer's soft body, he fell asleep without even having time to talk about trade.

After traveling for twenty days in a row, Zhang Shikang was indeed exhausted.

The next day, the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Shikang slept in and had just gotten up when Wang Chengen from the Imperial Household Department came to the Duke of Yingguo's mansion with a smile on his face.

Zhang Shikang had guessed it long ago, but there was nothing he could do.

When they arrived at the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Chongzhen had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing Zhang Shikang walk in, Emperor Chongzhen stood up from the dragon throne and greeted him.

"Shikang, you are finally back. I... missed you so much!" Emperor Chongzhen said with a smile.

Zhang Shikang wanted to pay his respects but was stopped by Emperor Chongzhen.

"You're dark again. You must have worked hard outside."

"If Your Majesty were to be exposed to the sun outside for a year, you would be no different from me," Zhang Shikang said helplessly.

"I would like to, but I am busy with government affairs every day and only have a few moments of leisure in the afternoon.

That's all, it's because you, Shikang, shared the military affairs with me." Emperor Chongzhen sighed.

Ever since the last time Zhang Shikang instigated an imperial expedition, Emperor Chongzhen has actually always been yearning for external influence.

But his identity determined that he could not leave the court at will.

“I don’t agree. I remember that before Emperor Yingzong, the emperor of our Ming Dynasty would often leave the capital. Even if he didn’t leave the capital, he would go on tours in the city in disguise.

But no matter what, it's boring to stay in this deep palace."

Zhang Shikang made no secret of the fact that he had no interest in Brother Chongzhen's life, which was too boring.

"After the incident with Emperor Yingzong, the court officials, thinking of the emperor's safety, used various methods to imprison him behind high walls. Over time, this became the ancestral rule.

Oh, ancestral rules, everything is ancestral rules, but Your Majesty, when have you ever seen them offering 60 taels of silver for skinning and stuffing straw?

They say they are concerned about His Majesty's safety, but who knows if they are afraid that His Majesty will often leave the palace to understand the situation and find out about the despicable things they are doing.

I told you, Your Majesty, you can go out of the palace with me more often in the future. Your Majesty has no idea how lively it is outside.

I want to tell your majesty that this time when I went to the Zheng family, I gained a lot of knowledge. "

At this time, Wang Chengen came in with a row of palace maids, each holding a dish in her hand.

Wang Chengen knew that Zhang Shikang had not even had breakfast, so he immediately explained to Emperor Chongzhen and arranged a royal meal.

Now that the imperial court is no longer short of money, the expenses in the palace have naturally returned to what the emperor should have, and even the breakfast has six courses.

Moreover, these six dishes are a perfect combination of meat and vegetables, and are served with fragrant millet porridge.

Although the Ming Dynasty had plenty of money, it did not care about luxury when it came to food, unlike the Qing Dynasty, which relied on Manchu and Han banquets for every meal.

Six dishes plus steamed buns and porridge are enough for the emperor and his ministers. Just ask the Shangshenjian to prepare whatever you want to eat. Why bother with all that nonsense?

You should know that more than a year ago, when Zhang Shikang just entered the palace and ate the imperial meal for the first time, the dinner was so shabby that Zhang Shikang couldn't even eat it.

This shows how much changes have taken place in just over a year.

The emperor and his minister were already very familiar with each other. Emperor Chongzhen just pointed with his finger, and Zhang Shikang sat down towards the dinner table while talking.

“The Zheng family’s mansion is very grand. Although it is not as tall as the imperial palace, it is unique and elegant, and exudes low-key luxury everywhere.

Your Majesty, how long has it been since you last ate sea cucumber, abalone, shark fin, and bird's nest?

There are also deep-sea seafood that I have never seen before. Damn it, Zheng Zhilong eats it every day!!!"

Zhang Shikang said angrily.

Of course, he said this not because he thought Zheng Zhilong had done anything wrong, but because he was envious and jealous.

For a foodie, every day that he doesn’t eat bear paws and abalone is a waste of life.

Emperor Chongzhen saw that the boy was about to go crazy again, so he immediately waved his hand and drove out the palace maids and other people in the hall.

Wang Chengen and Fang Zhenghua were guarding outside the hall, one on the left and one on the right, as if they were saying that no one could get in even if the king of heaven came.

"If you like it, Shikang, I will ask the Imperial Kitchen Supervisor to prepare it later. There is nothing in this world that I cannot eat." Emperor Chongzhen said in a very domineering manner.

He had indeed not eaten those things for a long time, but Emperor Chongzhen did not care much about food.

Three meals a day, just enough to keep you full.

But as he said, he is the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Even if he wants to eat anything flying in the sky, running on the ground, or swimming in the water, no matter how difficult it is, his subordinates can get it. He just doesn't want to be extravagant and wasteful.

But for Zhang Shikang, he was willing to spend this money.

"No, no, I was just saying this casually. Your Majesty, why bother spending money? Hehe, I'm so sorry."

Zhang Shikang grinned with joy. Although he said so, it was just like when he was a child accepting red envelopes from his elders. He said no with his mouth, but his hands had already opened his pockets.

People always have some pursuits, and Zhang Shikang's pursuits have always been just four words: eating, drinking and having fun.

As for those metaphysical spiritual aspects, I'm sorry, I'm just an ordinary person.

"Also, the Zheng family has seven or eight dance troupes, including Oriental women, Persian women, Southeast Asian women, and even a black dance troupe. Your Majesty, do you think this is outrageous?"

Zhang Shikang gestured, as if he felt that Chongzhen couldn't understand it at all, so he explained:

"Black people are those who are completely black, pitch black, except for their teeth and the whites of their eyes, everything else is black!"

"Shikang, I have seen black people." Emperor Chongzhen said calmly.

"Oh, what? Have you seen this?" This time it was Zhang Shikang's turn to be surprised.

"In the early years, when the Ryukyu Kingdom came to pay tribute, they brought a few, saying that they were bought from maritime traders," Emperor Chongzhen explained.

"Is that so?" Zhang Shikang felt that his attempt to show off had failed, so he continued:

"Your Majesty has definitely never done that to a black person. Zheng Zhilong is really the best. He can do that. Tsk tsk.

But Oriental women and Persian women are still good, one is reserved and reserved, the other is full of charm, I regret not taking them away."

Zhang Shikang picked up a piece of food with chopsticks and ate while speaking.

"How dare Zheng Zhilong secretly give you a woman?" Emperor Chongzhen frowned suddenly, seeming very angry.

"What's the matter? Your Majesty, I am the current Grand Marshal. Isn't it normal for him to curry favor with me?" Zhang Shikang didn't know why Brother Chongzhen suddenly got angry about this, and asked in some confusion.

"If you need it, I will arrange it. Zheng Zhilong has ulterior motives, so you'd better have less contact with him. No, you'd better stop looking for women outside!" Emperor Chongzhen said dissatisfiedly.

He was the only one who knew about Zhang Shikang's little hobby. Emperor Chongzhen had long been thinking about how to win Zhang Shikang's heart, but he did not expect that Zheng Zhilong would get there first. Of course, he felt a little unhappy.

"Oh, sir... well, Your Majesty, you don't know what happened in Nanjing, do you?"

……