Although it was the New Year, the weather was still a bit cold. The 16-year-old Wanli Emperor was now a teenager with some beard on his chin.
Although he still looked a bit young, he was no longer the 10-year-old little emperor.
Because of these years of exercise, Zhu Yijun's body looked very strong. He rarely got sick and his body was very healthy.
"Imperial Majesty, the Empress Dowager invites you over!"
Zhang Hong was a bit old and walked with a hunchback. In these years, Zhang Hong had won the trust of Queen Dowager Li.
After Feng Bao died, Zhang Hong took over his position. In these years, Zhang Hong had been diligent and managed the palace well.
Compared to Feng Bao, Zhang Hong was much better. He was reasonable and knew when to advance and retreat. He could be considered a good eunuch.
Putting down the memorial in his hand, Zhu Yijun nodded with a smile, "Okay, let's go!" Then he stood up and walked to the back.
Since three years ago, Zhu Yijun began to put his attention on political affairs.
He would read all the memorials that were sent in. Of course, they were all meaningful memorials.
He saw how the cabinet drafted opinions and how his teacher, Zhang Juzheng, handled political affairs. He pondered, asked, and learned. These were the main things Zhu Yijun did in these three years.
Of course, he never changed the cabinet's opinions.
Since the implementation of the examination, Zhang Juzheng's power grew and he basically controlled the entire court.
In the third year of Wanli, Zhang Siwei was promoted to the Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion. In addition to Zhang Juzheng and Lv Diaoyang, there was a third Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.
Zhang Siwei was also the representative of Shanxi and Shaanxi's gentry, but she still couldn't shake Zhang Juzheng's position.
When Zhu Yijun arrived at the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful, there were already many people there.
Sitting above were Empress Dowager Chen and Queen Dowager Li. Both of them believed in Buddhism, so they had things to talk about. They usually studied Buddhism together.
The two of them were very interested in inviting the Master to preach, sculpting the golden body of the Buddha statue, and repairing the temple.
Usually, Zhu Yijun didn't care much about this. With Zhang Hong taking care of things, everything went smoothly. This was also why Zhu Yijun was satisfied with Zhang Hong.
Zhang Hong also believed in Buddhism, but he didn't know if it was true or not. Anyway, he made the two Empress Dowagers very happy.
Most importantly, he knew how to maintain the stability of the Royal Family. He had never tried to sow discord between Queen Dowager Li and Zhu Yijun.
Even if something really happened, Zhang Hong would send someone to inform Zhu Yijun immediately to prevent any misunderstanding between the mother and son.
In this aspect, he was miles ahead of Feng Bao!
Below the two Empress Dowagers, the Princess and the Prince were all present. King Lu, Zhu Yiliu, was nine years old this year. This little fellow was born with a strong head and a strong brain.
Two years ago, Zhu Yijun sent him to study at the Palace of Education. He even made Zhang Juzheng accept him as a disciple.
This matter didn't require much effort. After all, Queen Dowager Li really loved her son.
If she loved her son, she would find him a good teacher. Who was the best teacher in the world?
In Queen Dowager Li's eyes, it was Zhang Juzheng.
Not to mention others, Zhang Juzheng had taught his son well. He was a talented person.
Zhu Yijun only mentioned that he would send Zhu Yiliu to study at the Palace of Education. He would be personally taught by Zhang Juzheng. Queen Dowager Li immediately agreed excitedly.
On Zhang Juzheng's side, there was no need for Zhu Yijun to say anything. Queen Dowager Li personally made the request.
Zhang Juzheng's side naturally had no problems. In recent years, Zhang Juzheng's position as the Grand Secretary had stabilized. The support from the Palace could not be said to be small.
All the memorials that Zhang Juzheng submitted were approved. All the memorials that Zhang Juzheng drafted were approved.
What Gao Gong wanted to do in the past, Zhang Juzheng had accomplished today.
In order to maintain this situation, Zhang Juzheng had put in a lot of effort.
Not to mention others, Zhang Jing had received a lot of things from Zhang Juzheng. From the news from the inner court, there were hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.
Not to mention calligraphy and painting, Zhang Juzheng even arranged a position for Zhang Jing's younger brother, a Baihu of the Imperial Bodyguard.
On Queen Dowager Li's side, Zhang Juzheng did not fall behind. First, he opened the door of business for Wu Qingbo's Mansion. He asked Wu Qingbo to always put in a good word for Zhang Juzheng.
At the same time, the gifts from the Palace did not stop. Several statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva were sent in.
Zhu Yijun was really helpless and helpless about this kind of thing, but more than that, he was angry.
People who wanted to do things had to rely on bribery to gain a foothold. For example, Zhang Juzheng, Qi Jiguang, and even before that, Hu Zongxian.
The atmosphere in the Imperial Court was like this. There were many people like this, and most of them were greedy.
Even Zhang Juzheng did this, not to mention the others below. The whole Daming Palace was running down an evil path.
Zhu Yijun looked and looked, but did not say anything.
Other than King Lu, Zhu Yiliu, the other princesses were also there. There were four princesses left in this generation, and none of them were married.
The oldest was Princess Shouyang, Zhu Yaoe. She was 14 years old this year, and looked slim and elegant.
Princess Shouyang, Zhu Yaoe, was the eldest daughter of Queen Dowager Li, and Zhu Yijun's biological brother.
After Princess Shouyang, there was Princess Yong Ning. She was 12 years old this year, Queen Dowager Li's second daughter, and Zhu Yijun's biological brother.
After Princess Yong Ning was Princess Rui An. She was 10 years old this year, Queen Dowager Li's third daughter, and Zhu Yijun's biological brother.
Queen Dowager Li had two sons and three daughters, five in total. Emperor Longqing died early, or else she would have given birth to more.
Although Queen Dowager Li was a palace maid when she entered the palace, she was very beautiful!
The key was that she gave birth to a son in her first child. Emperor Longqing still loved Queen Dowager Li very much.
The last princess was Princess Yan Qing. She was 8 years old this year, and her biological mother was old Concubine Wei. She was the youngest sister of Zhu Yijun.
Princess Yan Qing was standing next to old Concubine Wei at this time. Seeing Zhu Yijun come in, she hurriedly supported him.
Compared with Zhu Yijun's three biological sisters, Princess Yan Qing did not have much contact with Zhu Yijun.
Zhu Yijun did not feel anything. It was good to have several sisters. Whether it was food or gifts, everyone had a share.
However, Princess Yan Qing always felt more restrained. He did not know if it was because of old Concubine Wei.
Zhu Yijun nodded to her with a smile, and then looked at the other three sisters. Seeing that they also supported him gently, the corner of his mouth twitched.
He did not know if it was because he spoiled them too much, but his three sisters had a tendency to be a little crooked.
Especially the youngest sister, Princess Rui An. The little girl was originally young, and she had no impression of Emperor Longqing. Her impression was only of her brother, Zhu Yijun.
Zhu Yijun also spoiled this little sister very much. Having lived two lives, Zhu Yijun raised her as his daughter.
With the emperor's indulgence, the little girl jumped up and down, and had a princess's temper.