The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 50 Unstoppable

October 25, this was a very ordinary day.

But because of Zhang Zhou's fire warning, the palace, especially outside the Qingning Palace, was crowded with people as if they were approaching an enemy.

Originally, Dongchang was responsible for this matter, but in the end Li Guang was worried, and personally took Chen Xi, Yang Peng and other trusted eunuchs to Qingning Palace to check the disaster prevention situation.

"Tianshi." Seeing Li Guanglai, Xiao Jing was overjoyed for no reason.

If you tell the emperor about this, you Li Guang said that there will be no fire, but you are still nervous enough to check it yourself, then there is an article to do.

Li Guang sent Xiao Jing aside.

The power of the eunuchs in the palace was clearly defined. Although the eunuchs like Li Guang were usually respectful to Li Guang, they did not fight each other.

Only then did the person in charge of fire prevention in Qingning Palace be called over.

The leader is Zhang Yun, who was born in a hundred households in Jinyiwei. He is now a member of Dongchang and Yang Peng's confidant.

"All ready?" Li Guang asked.

Zhang Yundao: "Tianshi, don't worry, even a fly can't fly over now."

Yang Peng on the side said coldly: "I thought you were asked to watch the inmates in prison? I'm asking you, do you have any preparations for fire prevention and disaster prevention?"

Zhang Yun hurriedly added: "Currently, 50 people are deployed outside the Qingning Palace. In addition to the eunuchs who can be called at any time, there are nearly a hundred people. Six large water tanks have been added, and the water is full. Fire dragon equipment Everything is ready, the Empress Dowager is not here tonight, after nightfall, no fireworks are allowed in the six palaces around the Qingning Palace, anyone who ignites the fire will be captured on the spot..."

After hearing Zhang Yun's explanation, Chen Xi said to Li Guang: "Li Tianshi, look at this preparation, is it okay?"

"En." Li Guang nodded slightly.

Zhang Yun said with a smile: "Don't worry, everyone, no matter what, I won't be able to start this fire today."

After making a round of inspection, Li Guang felt that it was almost time to leave, so he didn't forget to call Yang Peng and Zhang Yun over.

"Listen up, everyone. If there is a real possibility of a fire tonight, if the person is taken down, whether it is intentional or not, he will be tortured and asked to confess that he took money from Zhang Gongsheng outside the palace and set it on fire in the palace. Do you know?"

"understand."

There is no need for Li Guang to teach such things as framing, as everyone in the palace knows this.

Chen Xi also chimed in and said, "It seems that Zhang Gongsheng is doomed."

Li Guang glared at him and said, "I hear what you mean, is there going to be a fire tonight?"

"No, no." Chen Xi hurriedly explained, "It's the little one who didn't speak well, how could that person have the strength to set the palace on fire?"

But he felt that something was wrong. Just now he clearly said that if there was a fire, Zhang Zhou would be pulled out. If everyone felt that Zhang Zhou was incapable of setting the palace on fire...then it would be difficult to turn around.

……

……

Just when Li Guang led people to inspect the fire prevention progress of Qingning Palace.

Zhu Youtang was also listening to Xiao Jing's report in Qianqing Palace.

"This Li Guang keeps saying that there will be no water leaks. Why do you want to check? Is it just because he is responsible?" Zhu Youtang also became suspicious after hearing Xiao Jing's truthful report.

Xiao Jingdao: "The old slave also heard that Eunuch Li ordered to send more people to the Qingning Palace tonight, and even sent his capable men to wait there. Some people said... or to frame up... A matter of framing."

Zhu Youtang interrupted Xiao Jing's words: "There is no need to talk about rumors and gossip. It's getting late, and I'm going to Kunning Palace too. Keep an eye on it tonight."

"Yes."

Xiao Jing originally thought he had the opportunity to criticize Li Guang.

Only now did he realize that without this fire, Li Guang would not have damaged Li Guang's image in the emperor's mind.

……

……

into the night.

Everything in the palace is peaceful.

Zhu Youtang invited his family, including Empress Zhang, Zhu Houzhao, Zhu Xiurong, and even the old mother of Empress Zhang, Mrs. Jin, who often stayed in the palace for a few days, to Kunning Palace early on, and the three generations had a dinner together , and then went to the palace to rest with the queen.

The emperor who adhered to the monogamous system, Kunning Palace was Zhu Youtang's inner house, and many palaces and pavilions originally prepared for concubines in the palace were almost abandoned and in disrepair.

The couple slept until midnight when there was a noise outside.

"His Majesty……"

The maid in charge of serving the night went to the phoenix couch to wake Zhu Youtang up at the risk of being punished by the emperor and empress.

"What's the matter?"

Zhu Youtang sat up and looked at the panic-stricken palace maid.

The palace maid knelt down and said, "Eunuch Xiao, the supervisor of ceremonies, asked to see him outside, saying that it was Qingning Palace...something happened!"

"Ok?"

Zhu Youtang almost jumped off the bed, he didn't even bother to put on his clothes, he was only wearing the unlined clothes inside, without his boots, and was about to run outside the hall.

Empress Zhang hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, get dressed. It's cold outside... What are you still looking at? Help Your Majesty change!"

"Yes, yes, get dressed."

Zhu Youtang may not have slept well, or he may have been frightened, and he was also a little out of his mind, and his breath was uneven when he spoke.

……

……

Now Kunning Palace is also busy.

Zhu Youtang put the clothes on indiscriminately, and Empress Zhang and the maid next to her helped.

At this time Xiao Jing had been summoned into the Kunning Palace, knelt on the ground and kowtowed continuously, atone for his "dereliction of duty".

"What's going on?"

Zhu Youtang got angry and his breath was not smooth, but this time he didn't cough.

The middle breath seems to be more full than before.

Xiao Jing said with a sad face: "Qingning Palace...is flooded."

Zhu Youtang grabbed the hollow jade pillow and threw it towards Xiao Jing, but he missed the throw and hit no one.

Zhu Youtang was filled with anger in his heart, and shouted: "If you are so on guard, can you still catch fire?"

Xiao Jing cried: "Your Majesty calm down, the dragon's body is important, this fire, the old slave and others really can't guard against it...it's...it's the sky fire!"

"what?"

When Zhu Youtang heard this, he was also dumbfounded.

Empress Zhang, who was next to her, helped her husband tie his belt and said, "What sky fire? Don't talk nonsense!"

Xiao Jing continued to cry with a mournful face: "Everything has been prepared outside Qingning Palace, but a bolt of lightning hit the chi kiss of Qingning Palace, and then the beams caught fire. The fire is getting bigger and bigger, and the firefighting is still going on."

Hearing this, Zhu Youtang knew that he could no longer blame anyone.

He murmured to himself: "It's all in his words, it's all in his words..."

Empress Zhang comforted: "Your Majesty, hasn't the Empress Dowager moved to Renshou Palace? It's good that you are fine."

"Yes, yes, it's good that people are fine."

Zhu Youtang had finished dressing at this time, and he walked out with Xiao Jing as if in a daze, and the sky to the west was still bright when he saw it from a distance.

Obviously the fire hasn't been extinguished yet.

It is estimated that it will not be extinguished before it is burned.

"How many palaces were burned?" Zhu Youtang asked.

Xiao Jingdao: "The east and west halls, and the last three small palaces... are all implicated. Fortunately, there is no wind tonight."

"No wind, no wind..."

Zhu Youtang still didn't recover from the shock after hearing about the fire, and he was just talking mechanically about what he heard.

At this time, Dai Yi also came in a hurry, and when he saw Zhu Youtang, he knelt down immediately.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager sent someone to send a message, please go over."

"Ah? The imperial grandmother also knows?"

Zhu Youtang originally wanted to tell the Empress Dowager about this matter in the next day, so as not to frighten the Empress Dowager Zhou and disturb the old man's rest.

But the Empress Dowager Zhou was not careless. After all, Qingning Palace was where she lived, which was equivalent to her own house. Even if she temporarily moved to another place, she would still pay attention to the situation of Qingning Palace that night.

Xiao Jing asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, the fire is dangerous, you should stay away."

This means, the fire has not been extinguished, why go to the fire scene?It is more important to appease the Empress Dowager.

"Yes, yes, drive Renshou Palace!"

Just as Zhu Youtang was talking, there was a sudden "boom" of thunder in the air, as if it happened directly above his head, the sound was loud, and Zhu Youtang was defenseless.

This sound almost made him lose his footing and collapse on the ground.

As the emperor of Ming Dynasty, Zhu Youtang seemed to feel the power of divine punishment for the first time.

There is probably nothing in the world that the emperor fears, only God's will.

"Your Majesty!" Xiao Jing and Dai Yi rushed to help.

"I'm fine. Let's drive to Renshou Palace. If you send more people, put out the fire quickly, and then... there will be no more accidents. Could it be that all of this is God's will?"

(End of this chapter)