Half a month passed.
Zhu Houzhao's reputation value surged.
Zhu Houzhao looked at the soaring reputation points and began to secretly calculate what he should use these reputation points to exchange for next.
The earthquake in the Twelve Southern Prefectures.
In the past period of time, due to the subsequent participation of the imperial court, the disaster was effectively controlled. The people also received relief, and the situation in the disaster area slowly stabilized.
Places like Ningguo Prefecture and Changzhou Prefecture, where the earthquake was less severe, had already begun post-disaster construction during this period of time.
During the entire earthquake relief process.
Zhu Houzhao's United Department Store had played an important role.
From the beginning of the earthquake, he had actively stepped forward to give porridge to the victims.
The United Department Store that distributed porridge in the name of the Crown Prince, even the local government runners and soldiers had to stand up obediently to help them maintain order.
In the end, even though the imperial court had distributed relief food, it was still not enough.
However, due to the inertia formed in the past few days, the citizens still flocked to the United Department Store.
The porridge stall that was originally set up at the entrance of the government office had to be temporarily moved to the entrance of the United Department Store.
As a result, the imperial court started to provide relief, but very few people knew the inside story.
Most of the commoners still thought that they had been relying on the Crown Prince's porridge stall to survive.
In just a few days, the reputation of the Ming Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao was unparalleled in the disaster area.
The earthquake victims who had no words of thanks all wrote letters to the people, thanking the Crown Prince for his benevolent act.
Even the call for Zhu Houzhao to ascend the throne began to spread in the south.
……
In the capital.
Palace of Heavenly Purity.
East Warm Pavilion.
Empress Zhang opened the food box and scooped out a bowl of porridge. While stirring it with a spoon, she said softly,
"Your Majesty, I heard that you forgot to have breakfast again today!
ChenQie knows that these government affairs are important, but your health is the foundation of Ming Dynasty's prosperity!”
Emperor Hongzhi smiled and looked at Empress Zhang with tender eyes. Hearing her words, he replied softly,"
"After I washed up, I heard that the southern prefectures sent memorials.
I thought it was about the earthquake disaster, so I went over to read it.
But who would have thought that these were all letters from the people of the south.
Every mansion has it, a whole big box. When I was happy, I forgot about eating.”
When Empress Zhang heard this, she frowned slightly and said angrily,
"You! He didn't even know how to lie and forgot about it when he was happy. Could it be that Xiao Jing and the other servants didn't remind him?
It's all because you're afraid of wasting time and want to read more of the Book of the People praising the Crown Prince!”
Emperor Hongzhi's heart was hit by Empress Zhang. He chuckled and did not show any signs that his lie had been exposed. He praised,
"The Empress understands me!"
"Humph! Open your mouth!" Empress Zhang raised her spoon and fed Emperor Hongzhi. After Emperor Hongzhi ate the porridge, Empress Zhang's expression slowly returned to normal.
A moment later.
After finishing a bowl of porridge, Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand and shook his head at Empress Zhang, indicating that she was full.
Empress Zhang didn't force her and asked the palace maid to remove the food box and replace it with tea.
Empress Zhang stole a glance at Emperor Hongzhi, then leaned forward and said softly,"
"Your Majesty, ChenQie has something to say, but I don't know if it's appropriate now. If ChenQie says something wrong, please don't blame ChenQie.”
Emperor Hongzhi raised his eyebrows and revealed an inexplicable look in his eyes.
"What's the matter? Empress, just say the word."
Empress Zhang pondered for a moment and deliberated her words before asking tentatively,"
"The Great Ancestor once said that in the Great Ming Dynasty, men marry at the age of sixteen, and women marry at the age of fourteen. As for Pin 'er's marriage, shouldn't it be arranged in advance?”
Emperor Hongzhi was stunned for a moment. After a long while, he regained his senses and said with some uncertainty.
"Empress, isn't it a little earlier?”
"Still early?" Empress Zhang frowned and said directly,""If ChenQie remembered correctly, when ChenQie entered the palace, the emperor was only seventeen, right?”
"Uh…really?" Emperor Hongzhi's expression suddenly became a little awkward. He rubbed his nose and smiled awkwardly before continuing to ask,
"Then does the Empress have a suitable candidate for this?”
Empress Zhang shook her head. Seeing that the Emperor had no intention of opposing, she continued,
"Pin 'er conquered the northern borders and expanded his territory.
I have also heard about the earthquake in the Twelve Prefectures of the South. Pin 'er's contribution to the disaster relief this time is significant.
Just as the Emperor had said, the commoners of the southern prefectures wrote to the people for the sake of the Crown Prince.
Has this ever happened in the past dynasties?"
When Emperor Hongzhi heard Empress Zhang's words, he kept nodding his head to show his approval.
Seeing this, Empress Zhang went straight to the point and said,
"If that's the case, then why would ChenQie still bother to choose for him?
Just hold a talent selection. With the Crown Prince's support among the people, ChenQie wants to come.
This selection would definitely be a grand event of the dynasty.”
After saying this, Empress Zhang did not forget to look at Emperor Hongzhi teasingly and said with slight jealousy,
"Of course, if the emperor has the intention, he can also take the opportunity to select some people to fill the harem.
Otherwise, there were thousands of houses in the palace, but only ChenQie served. ChenQie would be fine if she was tired.
But the world's endless mouths, this concubine is really…sigh!”
Empress Zhang ended her words with a sigh.
When Emperor Hongzhi saw Empress Zhang's state, he quickly went forward and comforted her.
It was only after Empress Zhang's worries turned into a smile that Emperor Hongzhi stopped comforting her.
……
The selection of talents.
With Emperor Hongzhi's approval, it was decided.
Soon after, the courier soldiers carrying the imperial edict began to run out of the capital and toward various parts of Great Ming.
In just a few days, the matter of this talent selection began to become known to the world.
After hearing the news, countless women of the appropriate age went to the local government offices to register.
So in a short time, the matter of the prince's selection of talents.
It began to be held in full swing in various places.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]