The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 56
The back hall of Renshou Palace.

Zhang Zhou followed Zhu Youtang and went inside.

Zhu Xiurong jumped into the inner curtain.

Behind the gauze curtain, a distinguished old lady was sitting on a wide chair covered with yellow upholstery, while on the other side was a beautiful lady in her 30s who was very charming and virtuous.

Needless to say, Zhang Zhou knew these two, one was Queen Mother Zhou, and the other was Queen Zhang.

Zhu Youtang made an introduction first: "Grandmother, grandson brought Zhang Zhou."

As he said that, Zhu Youtang smiled and nodded to Empress Zhang, and Empress Zhang got up to salute Zhu Youtang.

Even if the husband and wife are deeply in love with each other, they don't need to stick to etiquette at ordinary times, but in front of the old lady, they still have to show it.

Zhang Zhou also hurriedly saluted the Empress Dowager Zhou and Empress Zhang, because he was meeting the female relatives in the inner palace, so he didn't need to kneel down, and he just bowed his hands, claiming that he didn't need to use "chen".

"I have seen the Empress Dowager and the Empress."

The Empress Dowager Zhou looked at Zhang Zhou with soft eyes, as if she admired Zhang Zhou, pointed to the chair beside her and said, "Sit."

This is obviously not for Zhang Zhou, and the specifications of the chair are not something Zhang Zhou can enjoy.

Zhu Youtang sat down, but someone prepared a chair for Zhang Zhou, so Zhang Zhou, who has not even been admitted to the Jinshi, is qualified to sit in a place like Renshou Palace, although he only sits. Close to the position between the inner curtain and the outer room, next to it is a brazier like an incense burner, which is very warm.

"Grandmother, are you still in good health?"

Zhu Youtang first expressed concern to the Queen Mother Zhou.

"Fortunately, Emperor, you really have a heart. If you weren't there last night, the Ai family wouldn't be able to sleep so soundly. It was just like that when the late emperor was there. Of course, this Zhang Qing's family is also credited."

The Queen Mother Zhou was very satisfied with the filial piety of this grandson.

But afterward, the Empress Dowager Zhou's expression became less gentle, and she said coldly, "Emperor, have you found the root cause of this fire?"

Zhu Youtang said: "Grandmother Hui, this fire was all caused by thunder and fire. I have asked people present, and almost everyone agrees, and it cannot be faked."

Empress Dowager Zhou looked stern. Last night she could have a warm temper, but that was just a turning point, and now it is time for her to attack: "Even if it is Tianhuo, shouldn't we find the root cause behind it? Yesterday Li Guang, today is also Li Guang. Guang, disasters are always coming, first it was the little great-granddaughter of the Ai family, and now it has all fallen on the head of the Ai family. Do you want the palace to have no peace in the future?"

I'm coming.

Zhang Zhouxin said, Li Guang, you are unlucky for a reason. It doesn't matter if God doesn't cooperate with you. The key is that the Queen Mother, who even dared not disobey the emperor, is throwing stones at you.

These words are equivalent to a lesson to the emperor.

Zhu Youtang also didn't defend his doting on Li Guang, he didn't want to annoy the Empress Dowager Zhou.

At this moment, Zhang Yong hurried in and said to Zhu Youtang: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, Eunuch Xiao is out to see you."

Zhu Youtang looked at the Empress Dowager Zhou, meaning that this is your territory, and you have the final say on whether you want to see Xiao Jing or not.

Empress Dowager Zhou said: "Ke Gong? I'm an acquaintance, let him in."

Only then did Zhu Youtang wave his hand, motioning for Xiao Jing to enter the hall.

Xiao Jing came in with hasty and heavy steps, and after seeing several people present, he knelt down next to Zhang Zhou, of course facing the empress dowager who was in charge.

"What's the matter?" Zhu Youtang asked.

Xiao Jing was a little afraid to say.

Zhu Youtang said: "They are all from my own family, but it doesn't matter."

There is something wrong with Zhang Zhouzhuo, there are all your "family members" next to you, it seems that I am not.

Xiao Jing said with a bit of horror on his face: "Your Majesty, the note you asked the servant to deliver, the servant gave to Li Guang...then...he...he killed himself."

"what?"

Zhu Youtang immediately stood up, ignoring the intention of going out to check in person immediately regardless of the people present. Obviously Li Guang's death shocked him a lot, which did not meet his expectations.

The Empress Dowager Zhou was puzzled, Li Guang died before my side put pressure on the emperor?Is Li Guang so loyal to the monarch and the country?

Empress Dowager Zhou calmed down instead, and asked lightly, "Emperor, what's going on?"

At this time, except for the Queen Mother Zhou who was still sitting, the rest of the people present stood up, even Queen Zhang and Zhang Zhou were no exception.

The emperor is standing, how can a courtier sit down?
Only then did Zhu Youtang think of something, and he glanced at Zhang Zhou with complicated eyes.

Then he said to the Empress Dowager Zhou: "I sent someone to deliver a note to Li Guang earlier, it was written by Bing Kuan... There are only four words, white rice and yellow rice, and I haven't figured out the meaning of it. Who would have thought... ...Is there any help?"

The Empress Dowager Zhou first looked at Zhang Zhou with soft eyes, probably because she felt that Zhang Zhou's actions were in line with her will, and with a prophecy plus four words, she drove Li Guang to death.

But when she turned her head to face the emperor, she said impatiently: "What can I save? There are so many incidents in the palace, why are they all caused by him? It is the royal family's responsibility not to kill him, but to let him commit suicide and apologize." Benevolence."

Xiao Jingdao: "Your Majesty, this person is...unable to be saved."

After Zhang Zhou heard this, he was very happy.

Did I force Li Guang to death? I borrowed the hand of the emperor to kill Li Guang.

Li Guang thought that you already knew about his corruption and perverting the law, so he was so frightened that he quickly committed suicide, and he didn't dare to take poison or hang his neck, because he knew that he had to die as soon as possible. Huawu, the most strange poison in China since ancient times, can also torture people for several hours before they die.

Wiping the neck is the best option, and you can leave a whole body.

"Ugh!"

Zhu Youtang sighed heavily. He probably didn't expect that Li Guang would die so easily, but he also said before that Li Guang should know his fate. Obviously, the emperor also made the assumption that Li Guang might commit suicide to apologize.

But Zhu Youtang still had regret on his face.

It is not easy for the emperor to admit his mistakes, let alone...

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty, this Daoist Li has been buying pills all the time, why didn't His Majesty send someone to his house to investigate?"

Zhu Youtang seemed to be awakened in an instant, and said, "Hurry up...to see the books on He Dan's recipe and talismans in his house, and to see what immortal grass..."

"This..." Xiao Jing was very embarrassed.

I'm not an alchemist, and I don't understand those fairy things.

"Bingkuan, you and the people from Dongchang will investigate." Zhu Youtang also realized this and said something to Zhang Zhou.

If you don't understand, I'll send someone who knows how to do it.

Turning around, I found that the Queen Mother Zhou was staring at the two of them, the monarch and his ministers. That probably meant that Li Guang was haunted, right?After a person is dead, why go to his house to find a panacea?
Zhu Youtang hastily added: "Bingkuan, before leaving the palace, go to the fire site of Qingning Palace, and you can also go to Yuxiu Pavilion later, if there is a place where Fengshui has been disturbed, you can give some pointers."

While Zhang Zhou was taking orders, he couldn't help but look at the Empress Dowager Zhou, but at this moment, the Empress Dowager Zhou's gaze was not as kind as before.

Zhang Zhou is very clear.

In dealing with Li Guang, he and the Queen Mother Zhou were comrades in arms fighting side by side in the same trench, but when they left the trench, they became enemies.

Perhaps in Zhou Taihui's eyes, he is the next Li Guang.

"Returning to Your Majesty, I don't know much about metaphysics, I'm afraid it's difficult to be competent... Besides, I have to prepare for the next year's Chunwei exam."

Zhang Zhou told Zhu Youtang in the form of refusal.

I am very sorry that Li Guang died, but unfortunately, I have no ability to replace Li Guang, and I am a scholar, or a candidate who is preparing to take part in the examination, why should I engage in those alchemist matters every day?
This can be regarded as a statement of attitude to the Queen Mother Zhou.

Don't be hostile to me.

I am a good person.

Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "Bingkuan, don't push things around when you encounter problems, do it if you have the ability, you don't need to belittle yourself. I just let you go and have a look, and it won't delay your preparation for the exam."

Only then did Zhang Zhou cup his hands and said, "I obey the order."

……

……

Zhang Zhou and Xiao Jing left Renshou Palace, Dai Yi, who was standing at the door, looked at Zhang Zhou differently.

Once Li Guang died, for the internal system of the palace, it was tantamount to the downfall of a big tree, which would cause the power system of the palace to be re-divided. The biggest change was Zhang Zhou.

Because it was Zhang Zhou who led all these power changes.

"Eunuch Xiao, where are we going?" Zhang Zhou Zhou asked with a relaxed smile.

Xiao Jing didn't even dare to raise his head in front of Zhang Zhou, and reminded him sullenly: "Mr. Zhang, is Your Majesty not going to say anything? Go to the fire scene of Qingning Palace first."

Zhang Zhoudao: "Why are you still called Mr. Shang? Don't dare to be."

Xiao Jing respectfully said: "You deserve it. Please come with us."

Out of the range of Renshou Palace, Dongchang fanzi approached, and Jinyiwei's Tiqi, gathered at least 40 to [-] people at once.

Just the sound of these people's boots on the ground is intimidating.

This ostentation made Zhang Zhou feel that although the eunuchs in the imperial palace were headed by the chief inspector of ceremonies, but in terms of real power in his hands, it was the Duke of Dongchang who was more powerful.

When Zhang Zhou and Xiao Jing arrived at the scene of the Qingning Palace fire, the cleaning of the fire scene was basically finished.

There was an incense table in front of the fire, as if they were worshiping something, and a large number of Jin Yiwei and eunuchs were watching.

"Everyone stop, Mr. Zhang is here." After Xiao Jing arrived at the scene, he said loudly to the people present.

Then a group of guards and eunuchs came over. At first Zhang Zhou thought that these people came to meet him, but he didn't think that when they saw him, they fell to their knees.

This made Zhang Zhou very embarrassed.

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, I am not here to accept your worship, so why do these things?
"What is this for?" Zhang Zhou couldn't help smiling wryly and looking at Xiao Jing next to him.

Xiao Jing said with emotion: "They are all the people who guarded the fire outside Qingning Palace last night. They witnessed the sky fire with their own eyes. Now that Li Guang has passed away, they regard you as an immortal teacher with great supernatural powers."

"Ha ha."

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, this group of people have experienced the fire, and still have the aftereffects of false recognition of immortals?

On the spot, a person who looked like the General Banner of Jinyiwei kowtowed and said, "Little man Zhang Yun, I saw the divine fire descending from the sky yesterday, and I am grateful for the divine power of the Celestial Master. Please pray that the Celestial Master will bless the palace in the future."

Xiao Jing leaned over and reminded in a low voice: "Yang Peng's man, Yang Peng was planted by Li Guang'an in the East Factory."

This seemed to remind Zhang Zhou that now that the trees had fallen and the monkeys were scattered, Li Guang's people were anxious to find a new home.

(End of this chapter)