The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Being upgraded beyond the upper limit of Zhu Houzhao's imagination, Yan Chengjin was not surprised. If eyes could kill, Zhu Houzhao would have been killed thousands of times by the ministers present.

Li Dongyang's old face flushed. He never expected that he would be ashamed of bringing shame to his daughter.

Emperor Hongzhi had already petrified. He opened his mouth and could not speak for half a day. His mind was blank. There was such a reason in the world.

Zhu Houzhao looked around blankly, raised his head slightly, timidly glanced at Emperor Hongzhi, and then looked at Li Dongyang. Fearing that he would be beaten, he lowered his head honestly.

Li Dongyang took advantage of the situation and said, "My daughter is of humble origin and is not worthy of Your Highness. As Your Highness's teacher, I should do my duty. Please don't blame me for being too strict."

My daughter is definitely better than Chunxiao and Qianjin in the Yan Mansion. If the prince saw Qing'e's appearance, he would slap his thigh angrily.

But it doesn't matter anymore. Qing'e seems to have a crush on someone, but I don't know who this guy is.

Emperor Hongzhi felt a little embarrassed: "Don't take it to heart, Li Qingjia, the prince and Yan Qingjia, please leave."

It was an hour later when Emperor Hongzhi finished reading the book.

Coming out of Fengtian Hall, Zeng Jian lowered his head. He also presented his daughter's list. It was so difficult to stand out from hundreds of beautiful girls.

It is said that Changning Bo and Ningshou Hou are also running for the selection of concubines.

The prince's mind is really unpredictable.

Zeng Jian suddenly thought of Yan Chengjin. This kid is steady and thoughtful. He is familiar with the prince and may know the prince's mind.

Holding a glimmer of hope, he left the palace, returned to the mansion to change his official uniform, and went out to Yan's mansion.

He asked along the way, but no one knew where Yan Chengjin's mansion was.

He changed the way of asking and asked about the mansion of the welcoming pine. This time he finally got some clues.

Zeng Jian was sweating profusely as he wandered around in the alley in the northwest corner of the capital.

Seeing a few Jinyiwei, he stepped forward and asked, "I am Zeng Jian, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works. How can I get to the mansion of Anding Bo?"

The Jinyiwei raised his hand and pointed, and the mansion in front of him was right in front of him.

Zeng Jian wanted to curse, he had walked around the mansion three times, how come there was not even a plaque?

What he didn't know was that there were too many people visiting the welcoming pine, so Yan Chengjin ordered people to take down the plaque for a while.

From the outside, it was naturally an unnamed house.

Zeng Jian knocked on the door gently, and heard a sentence from inside: "Odd changes, even does not change, sir, if you can match the secret code, I will open the door."

He thought for a long time, but couldn't think of it, so he had to announce his home address: "I am Zeng Jian, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works, and I am here to inform your young master."

After a while, Yan Chengjin opened the door and saw Zeng Jian standing outside.

Zeng Jian complained: "If you don't hang a plaque in your mansion, how can others find it? It happens that I work in the Ministry of Works. I will ask the craftsmen to send you a big plaque one day."

"People often visit my father, so I have to hang a plaque. What do you want to see me for?"

Zeng Jian smiled and said: "This time I came to choose a concubine for the prince. To be honest, I also submitted a book."

Yan Chengjin thought for a while and said: "Just wait for the news from the palace. I can't do anything."

Zeng Jian sighed: "You don't know, if your majesty can treat everyone equally, I have no complaints, but the Zhang brothers and the Earl of Changning also submitted a book to your majesty. It's the daughter of a scholar. You know that the emperor has always liked to choose concubines from the common people. The Zhang brothers are the brothers of the queen. If you say a few good words, this..."

In order to prevent the harem and the ministers in the court from colluding and causing chaos, Taizu selected most of the queens and concubines of the Ming Dynasty from the common people.

Empress Zhang was the daughter of Zhang Luan, a student of the Imperial Academy. She was born in a humble family. Empress Dowager Zhou was not born in an official family either. The selection of concubines in the Ming Dynasty was conducive to solving the gap between the rich and the poor.

The Zhang brothers found the daughter of a scholar and said some good things in front of the queen. It is estimated that the position of the crown princess was secretly selected.

It is quite uncomfortable to have an unfair selection of concubines.

Zeng Jian pondered for a few times and shook his head: "I am very ashamed. I do have some selfish motives. I hope my daughter can be selected, but I am more afraid that the Zhang brothers will recommend her to Your Majesty for their own interests and harm the Ming Dynasty."

Yan Chengjin remembered that Zhu Houzhao had no offspring in history. I wonder if it was because of the crown princess, or was Zhu Houzhao too long?

Yan Chengjin carefully considered and deduced what kind of impact would it have if Zhu Houzhao had offspring.

Zeng Jian reminded him, "My dear nephew?"

Yan Chengjin said respectfully, "I do have some superficial opinions, but I don't know whether I should speak them out or not?"

"My dear nephew, please speak up, don't be polite!"

Yan Chengjin said, "I wonder how many brothers and sisters you have?"

Zeng Jian counted in his heart, "I have nine brothers and sisters, seven children, and my family is also a prominent family in my hometown. Why are you asking this?"

"This is your advantage. If you can give birth, you can stand out."

Zeng Jian was stunned.

"Your Majesty knows the character of Ningshou Hou very well. If you know that he recommended you, you will definitely have some doubts. Your Majesty does not need to worry."

Zeng Jian's eyes lit up, "My dear nephew, do you have an idea?"

Yan Chengjin thought about the wording and expressed his views on how to magnify his advantages, how to take the lead, and how to win the heart of the prince.

These days, when Yan Chengjin entered the palace, he often saw many beautiful girls, followed by eunuchs and palace maids into the palace in batches. It is said that Emperor Hongzhi and Empress Zhang met in person, and even the Empress Dowager was there.

A side hall in the palace.

Emperor Hongzhi and Empress Zhang sat on the throne. They had seen many beautiful women in the past few days and were a little tired. They waved their hands to ask Xiao Jing to change people.

At this time, a beautiful woman came in and attracted the attention of Emperor Hongzhi and Empress Zhang.

Different from the previous beautiful women.

This woman's head decoration was very simple, with very few jewelry, and even the makeup on her face was very light, as if her family could not afford rouge and powder, but it did not hide her beautiful appearance.

Emperor Hongzhi raised his eyes and asked, "Whose daughter are you?"

"My daughter Zeng Yuanyuan is the daughter of Zeng Jian, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works. My father has seven children. I am the third in the family. The family is prosperous. It is a large family with a prosperous incense in Huguang, where my father is originally from. Although my father lives in the capital, he often returns to visit his relatives when he has free time." Zeng Yuanyuan said softly.

When other beautiful women introduced themselves, they all talked about music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but her father asked her to say this. Zeng Yuanyuan was blushing at this moment.

Little did they know that the family was prosperous and the incense was flourishing.

These eight characters were like a hammer, and every word hit Empress Zhang and the Empress Dowager hard.

Looking at each other, the Empress Dowager and Empress Zhang both smiled.

Eunuch Xiao Jing came in and said, "Your Majesty, Mr. Li from the cabinet has something to report."

Emperor Hongzhi looked at the Empress Dowager in embarrassment.

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "The Emperor has been here for three days, and I guess he has delayed many court affairs. There is no need to accompany him anymore. Wait until I and the Empress choose the person we like, and then tell the Emperor."

"Then my grandson will take his leave." Emperor Hongzhi walked out of the side hall slowly.

In the warm room,

Li Dongyang and the other two had been waiting here for a long time. When they saw Emperor Hongzhi coming in, Liu Jian hurriedly saluted: "Your Majesty, the northern barbarians have invaded recently, and the capital is under martial law. The officials in charge of the Beijing Camp are old and weak. I think it's time to change them."

The Beijing Camp is the reserve force in the court, so it should not be neglected.

But who should be chosen to take on the important task?

Emperor Hongzhi asked, "What do you think, Mr. Li?"

Li Dongyang said, "I think Duke Ying, Zhang Mao, is a man of virtue and talent, and has a high prestige in Beijing. How about we recommend Duke Ying?"

Liu Jian said, "I think Duke Cheng, Zhu Fu, is also a good choice."

Emperor Hongzhi thought for a moment and looked at Xie Qian, "What do you think, Mr. Xie?"