Chapter 68: Empress Dowager Li Sends a Jade Beauty at the Cloud Terrace

Behind the Qianqing Palace is a small hall, separated from the Emperor's sleeping quarters by only two walls. In the past, if the Emperor had nothing to attend to, he would choose to come here to rest for a while.

Just past noon on this day, Zhang Juzheng slowly stepped into the small hall.

Looking inside, the Wanli Emperor was sitting on the dragon couch within the hall with a nervous expression, and the Qianqing Palace manager, Wei Qing, stood with his hands hanging down to the Emperor's left.

Inside the scarlet curtain behind the Emperor, a graceful figure was faintly visible.

It was none other than Li Taihou.

"Your subject, Zhang Juzheng, pays his respects to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager." As he walked up, Zhang Juzheng bowed to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

The Wanli Emperor waved a hand, said "no need for formalities," and then ordered Wei Qing to bring over a small stool for him.

As soon as Zhang Juzheng sat down, he impatiently raised an issue: "Your Majesty, you ordered the Ministry of Revenue yesterday to re-approve the silver for Princess Yongning's marriage, and your subject believes this is inappropriate."

"First, according to old regulations, twenty thousand taels of silver for a Princess's wedding is already the highest standard and cannot be easily changed."

"Second, the nation is not yet wealthy. Although it is summer now, the winter clothing for the two hundred thousand frontier troops in the North must be prepared in advance. At one tael per set, these two hundred thousand taels of silver would be enough for every one of the two hundred thousand frontier troops to wear new clothes."

"Furthermore, regarding the Yellow and Huai Rivers..."

The Wanli Emperor listened with a constrained expression, rubbing his small hands, until Li Taihou interrupted: "Master Zhang, this was all my idea. If you have any questions, just ask me."

"Ah, yes." Zhang Juzheng turned his head to look at the graceful figure beneath the curtain.

Li Taihou parted her red lips slightly and continued, "I was thinking that now that the nation is slightly more prosperous and there are nine million taels of silver stored in the Taicang, taking another two hundred thousand taels would be of no consequence."

"Empress Dowager!" Zhang Juzheng exclaimed.

"Listen to me finish first," Li Taihou waved her hand, interrupting him. "This is not me being extravagant, but a consideration made after careful thought. The nation has enjoyed peace for a long time; it is only right to let all the people of the world see how this nation is at peace."

After hearing this, Zhang Juzheng weighed the pros and cons in his heart.

Two hundred thousand taels of silver is not a lot, but it is not a little either. If he gave it like this, how would the people of the world view him? How would the more than two hundred thousand frontier troops in the North view him? How would they view the Emperor? Would they say the Emperor only cares about his small family and not the great family of the world?

Having figured this out, Zhang Juzheng's voice became resonant: "Your subject has just considered it carefully again; increasing the silver by another two hundred thousand taels is indeed inappropriate. I hope the Emperor and the Empress Dowager will think thrice!"

The Wanli Emperor's face flushed; he did not look at Zhang Juzheng, but instead looked behind the curtain from time to time. After a moment of silence, Li Taihou, surrounded by several palace maids, walked out from behind the curtain.

At thirty-eight years old this year, because she maintained herself extremely well, she looked to be only in her early thirties.

Her appearance was like a flower, her skin as white as snow, her breath like orchids; she wore a bright yellow long dress with a phoenix-tail pattern, with bright eyes and white teeth, and a graceful temperament.

As she lowered her brows and raised her eyes, there was an indescribable sense of elegance and nobility.

According to custom, when female members of the palace receive ministers, it must be done behind a curtain.

Seeing Li Taihou come out, Zhang Juzheng was secretly startled and lowered his head, not daring to look.

Yet, Li Taihou's long dress had been scented with special spices, and as she moved, wisps of fragrance drifted into his nostrils.

He found it awkward to look up, and awkward not to look up.

Li Taihou also sized up Zhang Juzheng, and seeing that he had aged significantly, she could not help but think of the time they first met.

That was ten years ago, when the Longqing Emperor had just passed away; Zhang Juzheng, who was not yet fifty at the time, looked much more scholarly than he did now.

"Mother!" The Wanli Emperor called out when he saw the Empress Dowager, then welcomed her to sit on a chair to the side.

With everyone seated again, Li Taihou stared at Zhang Juzheng, and her first words were of concern: "Master Zhang, you look much older than before; you must take care of your health."

"My Wanli reign cannot do without you." "Many thanks for the Empress Dowager's concern." Zhang Juzheng thanked her, thinking it would not do to clash head-on with Li Taihou. After pondering for a moment, he added, "Empress Dowager, those two hundred thousand are truly too much. How about this: let the Ministry of Revenue squeeze out one hundred thousand to be used for the Princess's wedding banquet."

"Hmm, that is fine." Li Taihou nodded, turned her head to look at the Emperor, and asked with a smile, "Jun'er, what do you think?"

"Great, one hundred thousand is great!" The Wanli Emperor clapped his hands and shouted.

At this moment, Zhang Juzheng poured a basin of cold water over them: "The one hundred thousand I speak of comes from the 'Redemption Silver' paid by the Artisans to buy back their household registration, as the Emperor knows. Therefore, I ask that Your Majesty first use money from the Treasure Note Treasury to cover it; at the latest, in ten years, the Ministry of Revenue should be able to settle the account."

"This?" Upon hearing that he had to pay out of his own pocket, the Wanli Emperor immediately soured his face and muttered, "How can the Emperor be made to pay out of his own pocket? A Princess's marriage is a major affair of the state; how can it use money from the Inner Treasury?"

"Your subject did not say it must be used, only that Your Majesty should advance it, and it will be returned in full when the time comes," Zhang Juzheng continued.

The Wanli Emperor wanted to say more, but Li Taihou knitted her brows and waved her hand to interrupt: "Enough... enough. Yongning is your sister, and besides, this money is just the imperial court borrowing from you; surely you aren't afraid he will renege on the debt?"

"Your subject obeys the decree." Wanli pouted his small mouth and nodded indignantly.

Li Taihou nodded slightly, looked at the Emperor, and pointed at Zhang Juzheng, saying: "Emperor, when the Late Emperor passed away, he appointed four Gu Ming Ministers. Gao Huzi and Gao Yi have both passed away, and now only Master Zhang and Eunuch Feng remain."

"If you encounter anything in state affairs that you do not understand, you must humbly seek advice from Master Zhang and Eunuch Feng."

"Your subject understands." The Wanli Emperor replied timidly.

As they spoke, the sun grew hotter, steaming fragrant sweat onto Li Taihou's cheeks. Li Taihou, who already had fair skin, looked even more moving after being moistened by the sweat.

Zhang Juzheng sought an excuse to take his leave, but Li Taihou stopped him and said: "It is almost time for a meal; Master Zhang, why not stay in the palace and have a meal before you go?"

"I know you love lotus seed soup the most. The lotus seeds in the palace have just ripened today; it is just right for you to taste, Master." As Li Taihou spoke, her eyes lowered, and a faint red flush appeared on her beautiful cheeks.

Zhang Juzheng wanted to decline, but upon seeing the Empress Dowager's gaze, his heart softened, and he agreed.

The group moved to the Qianqing Palace, where the Imperial Kitchen had already prepared the meal.

The Emperor and Li Taihou sat at the head of the table, while Zhang Juzheng had a separate small seat, sitting below the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

During the meal, Zhang Juzheng did not look to the side; he was seen gracefully stroking his beard with one hand, then taking a small sip of the lotus seed soup.

"How is it?" Li Taihou asked nervously.

"Fragrant and sweet; it is truly a holy item for dispelling the summer heat." Zhang Juzheng put down the small bowl and answered with a smile.

"If Master Zhang likes it, you can eat more." Li Taihou smiled, then suddenly thought of something and asked, "I heard that last year, Qi Dashuai sent you a pair of Tatar beauties?"

"Your subject... your subject..." A trace of panic appeared on Zhang Juzheng's face.

The Wanli Emperor, who had not spoken until now, clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "Right, tall Tatar beauties, but they were chased away by Master Zhang's son, Zhang Yunxiu."

Li Taihou glared at her son, then looked at the panicked Zhang Juzheng and comforted him: "Master Zhang's side indeed lacks a pleasant companion."

"Yu'er!"

"This servant is here." A palace-attired woman of about twenty years old walked out.

It was Li Taihou's personal female official, Wang Yu.

Li Taihou pulled Yu'er to her side, looked at her fluttering almond eyes, and touched her fair, smooth chin before forcing a smile and saying: "From now on, you will follow Master Zhang out of the palace to take good care of Master Zhang for me and for the Emperor."

"This servant obeys."

(End of this chapter)