As soon as Zhu Houzhao returned to Cining Palace, he went to the Empress Dowager Zhang first.

Empress Dowager Zhang is not yet thirty-five years old, but perhaps because of the recent death of Emperor Hongzhi, she did not apply much makeup and still had tears in the corners of her eyes. Because it was still the time of Emperor Hongzhi's mourning period, she still wore a thorn hairpin and cloth skirt, which was much thinner than Zhu Houzhao's impression.

"Mother Queen!"

When Zhu Houzhao came in, she smiled and shouted. Now that he had been with Empress Dowager Zhang for a long time, he didn't feel any embarrassment after calling her a new mother. She sat next to Empress Dowager Zhang naturally.

Empress Dowager Zhang only smiles when Zhu Houzhao appears, and always holds Zhu Houzhao in her arms:

"Where are you going to go out and play again? Be careful of the lights outside. Now you have a few meals a day. Your father is gone. But be good, no one will protect you now."

Whenever Empress Dowager Zhang talks about this, she can't help sobbing: "The Ai family dreamed of your father again last night. He was still reading the memorials in the Ganqing Palace. He has always been weak. The Ai family would make a bowl of tremella soup for him at night. When the Ai family delivered it last night, he was still smiling at the Ai family."

Zhu Houzhao felt very touched at this time. He understood Empress Dowager Zhang's mood very well and knew the pain of losing his close relatives. However, he did not know how to comfort Empress Dowager Zhang. He was not even used to being embraced intimately by Empress Dowager Zhang, so he pushed Empress Dowager Zhang's hand away and sat up:

"My mother, don't be sad. Although the father is old, he still has a child. The child will take good care of you. The child will also give you a title and let you enjoy the rest of your life. In the future, let your child be with you every day."

Whenever Zhu Houzhao said this, he would think of the history that Empress Zhang would face the death of his only son in 16 years, which made him even more afraid that he would die as early as Zhu Houzhao in history.

Empress Dowager Zhang was always relieved because Zhu Houzhao said this and smiled and said, "The Ai family has no other requirements, and they don't want you to be a good emperor. As long as you are safe and happy, your father is too thinking about the people and won't get anything in the end."

Empress Dowager Zhang seemed to have a very developed tear gland. Perhaps it was because Emperor Hongzhi's death that hit her too much, and she became sad again as she said that.

Zhu Houzhao was always more curious about Emperor Hongzhi's death because Empress Dowager Zhang was so sad. She couldn't help but ask: "My mother and father don't have any hidden diseases. Why did the wind and heat collapse and leave? The child has been puzzled by this."

Empress Dowager Zhang suddenly changed her face: "You just need to remember that your father died of illness. Why ask again? This is good to you! Do you know? Don't ask too much outside, don't ask people to investigate, don't make a fool of yourself."

Zhu Houzhao could only nod and said yes, but he became even more suspicious. He thought that before he said he wanted to investigate, his mother warned him first, whether his mother really knew what was hidden.

Zhu Houzhao knew that he could not ask anything from Empress Dowager Zhang, and now he was not interested in the death of Emperor Hongzhi, so he didn't ask any more questions, and just talked to Empress Dowager Zhang.

Because it was the day of fasting, at night, Zhu Houzhao and Empress Dowager Zhang simply ate vegetarian food together.

During this period, Zhu Houzhao also made a lot of money by relying on the Royal Industrial Company and the Royal Expo. Not only did he increase the treatment for the people around him, but he also increased his treatment for himself. Every meal was quite a bit more delicate side dishes. Now, Zhu Houzhao was unable to eat vegetarian food for a while, let alone dinner.

The Empress Dowager Zhang seemed to see that Zhu Houzhao could not swallow it, and said, "My son, if you persist, it will last for only twenty-seven days. The Ai family and your father ate these every day. It was nothing. Your father was worse than this when he was a child. He couldn't eat enough a few times a day. He only ate better after following your grandmother, but he didn't dare to eat too much to prevent Concubine Wan from poisoning him, so you would be happier."

Zhu Houzhao laughed as she spoke, thinking that Empress Zhang and Emperor Hongzhi were really in love with each other. She could even think of him when she had a vegetarian meal. The happy smile on her face could not be concealed, and the loneliness that flashed after she finished speaking was even more touching.

"The Ai family also hopes that you can continue to be happy like this, and you are the only one in the Ai family."

Empress Dowager Zhang's sudden words made Zhu Houzhao almost cry. Even though he was also a man, he couldn't help but think that Empress Zhang in history eventually faced the ending of her husband and son leaving one after another in her later years and was bullied by Emperor Jiajing and died in a miserable way.

"It's okay, eating with my mother is sweeter than eating delicacies!"

Zhu Houzhao said with a smile, and then said, "Mother, after the funeral of the father, my son will ask the Ministry of Rites to give you the title of honor and let you be the most respected person in the Ming Dynasty!"

Empress Dowager Zhang just smiled and said, "I am much more sensible than before, but unfortunately your father can't see it!"

At this time, an internal official came to report that the Hou of Shouning and the Hou of Jianchang came to request an interview.

Empress Dowager Zhang was happy and felt much better: "Brothers are here, let them come in."

Zhu Houzhao knew that the Marquis of Shouning was Zhang Heling, and the Marquis of Jianchang was Zhang Yanling. Both of them were the younger brothers of Empress Dowager Zhang and were also considered their uncles.

According to Zhu Houzhao's impression of these two people, his two uncles are two living treasures.

But after all, he is Queen Zhang's family and his current uncle. Zhu Houzhao never thought about what to do to them.

For a moment, Zhu Houzhao saw Zhang Heling, Marquis of Shouning, and Zhang Yanling, Marquis of Jianchang, walked in.

Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling were both busy with Zhu Houzhao and Empress Dowager Zhang, and then stood aside with a silly smile. Zhang Heling first greeted him: "The Empress Dowager and Your Majesty have to be too sad recently, and you should also pay attention to your health."

"That's right, the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty should not be sad, don't be sad!" Zhang Yanling echoed from the side.

Seeing that his two younger brothers had no appearance as a marquis, Empress Dowager Zhang sighed helplessly: "If you don't have to go to the Three Treasures Palace for nothing, what's the matter with you coming to the palace today?"

When Empress Dowager Zhang asked this, Zhang Yanling smiled and pushed Zhang Heling first, meaning that Zhang Heling would say it first.

Zhang Heling pushed Zhang Yanling for a while and asked Zhang Yanling to say it first.

The two of them shirked their responsibilities for a long time, and finally Zhang Heling stood up first: "Nothing for anything else, but you know that the Empress Dowager Sister, we two brothers now have their own mansions, but there are no decent treasures to make decorations. I heard that Your Majesty was going outside that day."

Zhu Houzhao didn't want Empress Dowager Zhang to know that she was holding a Royal Expo outside, so she coughed and said, "Two uncles, do you have anything to say, don't go so far."

Seeing this, Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling knew that Zhu Houzhao didn't want them to tell them about Zhu Houzhao's opening of the Royal Expo outside, so Zhang Heling smiled and said, "Yes, what Your Majesty said, then Weichen said directly, Weichen wanted to borrow a few royal treasures from the Empress Dowager and put them back, just those glass screens, glass beads, glass bowls, etc."

Empress Dowager Zhang was a little surprised to see this. She had always been doting on her two younger brothers. Basically, Zhang Heling, Marquis of Shouning and Zhang Yanling, Marquis of Jianchang, gave whatever they wanted. Now she was a little confused and said, "There is no glass here in the Ai family."

Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling were a little disappointed when they saw Empress Dowager Zhang say this.

At this time, Zhu Houzhao laughed and said to Empress Dowager Zhang:

"I understand what my uncles mean. Mother, you don't have it here, but I have it there. Speaking of which, I asked Liu Jin and the others to find a few skilled craftsmen when I was in the Eastern Palace, but I have given it to others. If the two uncles want it, they will buy it from me. Anyway, I will lose my identity when I go out directly to do business;
Chapter completed!