Chapter 66: Emperor Jiajing Taking a Sauna
Chapter 66: Emperor Jiajing Taking a Sauna
In the Western Garden, a side hall next to the Wanshou Palace was shrouded in mist and wisps of hot air were rising.
Huang Jin endured the high temperature and wiped the sweat off his face as he served Emperor Jiajing.
Emperor Jiajing lay comfortably in the large bathtub with running water, his face was rosy due to the heat, but he was not afraid of the scorching heat of August.
Huang Jin wiped the sweat off his face and stood behind Emperor Jiajing, enduring the high temperature.
Emperor Jiajing, who was enjoying a comfortable soak in the pool, turned around and looked at Huang Jin, who was sweating profusely, and suddenly smiled.
Emperor Jiajing said with a smile: "You still haven't cultivated enough. Look at my immortal body, it is already immune to cold and heat."
Huang Jin quickly replied: "The Emperor is an immortal, and I am just a mortal without spiritual roots. How dare I compare myself with the Emperor?"
Emperor Jiajing was also happy to hear Huang Jin's words.
Ever since he moved to Xiyuan, he felt that his cultivation had greatly improved. Not only did he become immune to cold and heat, but he was also full of energy.
Therefore, Emperor Jiajing always believed that his current state was a reflection of his successful cultivation.
But in fact, his current condition should be that he has taken too many pills, which has caused body dysfunction, so he is not afraid of the cold or heat and is soaking in the pool in this hot August weather.
However, we have to praise the good health of Emperor Jiajing. He can still be full of energy even though he exercises like this every day.
If it were any other emperor who practiced Taoism and took elixirs, he would probably have killed himself within a few years.
Emperor Jiajing practiced for decades and lived to be sixty years old before his death.
This shows that Emperor Jiajing's physical fitness can be said to be gifted.
If he had not been superstitious about cultivating immortals and taking these pills regularly, he might have had no problem living to be eighty or ninety years old.
Unfortunately, he just believed in the path of cultivating immortality.
Emperor Jiajing stretched his body comfortably and said with emotion: "San'er is really good at enjoying life. Look at this bathroom. I built it based on San'er's renovation. It's really comfortable!"
After soaking in the hot water, Emperor Jiajing was not afraid of the cold and went to soak in the cold water pool.
The alternation between hot and cold made Emperor Jiajing so comfortable that he couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Huang Jin also hurriedly moved to the cold water pool at this time. Feeling the coolness coming out of the cold water pool, Huang Jin felt like it was a sweet rain and was so comfortable that he almost cried out.
While soaking in cold water, Emperor Jiajing asked again, "What has San'er been doing these past two days?"
Huang Jin replied: "Prince Yu recently went to the Shunyi Industrial Park. According to the report from the spy, the Shunyi Industrial Park should be put into use in the near future."
When Emperor Jiajing heard that the Shunyi Industrial Park was finally going to be put into use, a smile appeared on his face.
"Not bad, not bad. After all this trouble, it's finally over. I can't wait any longer."
Huang Jin also followed the words of Emperor Jiajing and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, this industrial park was not easy to build, but it is finally completed. I believe that with this industrial park, Prince Yu will definitely be able to make more money for Your Majesty."
When Emperor Jiajing heard about making money, he couldn't help but smile happily.
After being in charge for so many years, Emperor Jiajing truly experienced what difficulty was.
Silver is needed to defend against Anda in the north, to expand the capital, to pay the officials' salaries, and to cultivate himself.
Moreover, if there was a disaster, flood or drought anywhere, they would need money. However, the imperial court only collected 7 to 8 million taels of silver in tax revenue each year, which seemed to be insufficient wherever they were spent.
Two years ago, some ministers suggested taking back Hetao. However, when the accounts were calculated, it turned out that it would cost two million taels of silver in military expenditure, and there was no guarantee that it could be taken down. This made the then Emperor Jiajing very angry.
The court has a limited amount of money, which is not enough to spend. How can it dare to squeeze out another two million taels of silver and waste it?
Moreover, Hetao is so far away, and it would cost money to defend it if we take it. If we don’t defend it, wouldn’t it be a waste of effort?
So after careful consideration, Emperor Jiajing rejected the plan to take back Hetao and decided to try to maintain the status quo first, and then talk about taking back Hetao after the court's tax revenue improved.
Anyway, Hetao was not lost by him, but by his uncle, Emperor Xiaozong Zhu Youtang. His eldest son, Emperor Zhengde, struggled for sixteen years and even fought the Battle of Yingzhou, but failed to get it back.
What's more, Emperor Jiajing inherited the throne from a side branch. As an emperor from a side branch, he was naturally weaker than the previous emperor. If he did not focus on internal affairs and get rid of those disloyal ministers who tried to threaten the emperor with etiquette and laws, but instead tried to take over Hetao, which was risky and thankless, then he would have a problem with his brain.
Therefore, although the Hetao area was recovered several times after Emperor Xiaozong, it could never last long.
Apart from Emperor Jiajing's laziness, the biggest reason was lack of money.
If you have money, who wouldn't want to be an emperor who makes great achievements and recovers the old territories?
Unfortunately, strength does not allow it.
Now, Zhu Zaigui not only made money from all his efforts, but also made a lot of money.
How could this not make Emperor Jiajing happy and excited?
Although most of the money was still in Zhu Zaigui's palace, as long as it was not in the Ministry of Revenue, Emperor Jiajing felt that the money was his.
As long as he needs it, how can a son not respect his father?
Moreover, in the past few months, Emperor Jiajing has also received tens of thousands of taels of commission from Huang Jin, which has almost made him smile to his heart's content.
It's been many years since I felt so happy.
From this we can see that Zhu Zaigui has become a cash cow in the eyes of Emperor Jiajing, so whenever he has nothing to do, Emperor Jiajing can't help but ask Huang Jin what Zhu Zaigui is doing now.
Huang Jin has now figured out the habits of Emperor Jiajing, so as long as the information is sent by the secret agent in Prince Yu's Mansion, he will check it first and prepare it for Emperor Jiajing to inquire.
After Emperor Jiajing soaked in the cold water pool for a while, Huang Jin handed him a large towel. He rolled the towel up to his waist and said, "Follow me to the sauna room."
When Huang Jin heard that Emperor Jiajing wanted to sit in the sauna room, she was so frightened that her face turned pale. "Your Majesty, please spare me. I am a lowly mortal and cannot endure the high temperature of the sauna room."
After hearing Huang Jin's plea for mercy, Emperor Jiajing couldn't help but snort, "You are still too bad. When I really want to ascend to the upper realm in the future, you still haven't cultivated enough. How can I take you to the fairyland with me?"
Huang Jin smiled flatteringly and said, "The emperor will be a true immortal by then. If you can enlighten me, I can follow the emperor and ascend to heaven, right?"
When Emperor Jiajing heard what Huang Jin said, he laughed again and felt that what Huang Jin said made a lot of sense.
Therefore, Emperor Jiajing no longer forced Huang Jin to go to the sauna room with him, and went in alone to enjoy it.
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(End of this chapter)