In the Duke Cheng's Mansion, the sun was rising. Zhu Yi was sitting in the study, holding a volume of ancient books in her hands, but her mind had already wandered to nowhere.
The servants who were sent out sent back the news one by one. Although he did not leave the palace, the prince was ordered to go to Nangong to pay his respects. He was well aware of all the discussions in the government and the public.
However, the more he knew, the more restless Zhu Yi became, especially since the two decrees of the Supreme Emperor and the Emperor were still not in direct conflict.
However, there is no doubt that this is a real confrontation in the court.
At this point, many things were beyond his control.
Outside the study, the old housekeeper's voice sounded, respectful and cautious, saying.
"Young Master, the British government has just sent someone to urge them. It is said that Prince Consort Jiao, Lord Chen, and several other adults have already gone..."
Hearing this, Zhu Yi's face hesitated. He put down the book in his hand and asked instead of answering the steward's words.
"Is Qingfeng back?"
"Back to Master, not yet."
Zhu Yi frowned, got up and walked back and forth in the room for a few steps. Finally, he sighed, sealed the memo that had been written on the desk and pressed it on the bottom of the desk, then turned around and opened the study
door, commanded
"Prepare the car and go to the British government!"
"yes……"
The old housekeeper bent down and agreed, taking two steps back to get ready. However, before his voice could finish, another polite and somewhat fake voice sounded.
"What's wrong, young master? Do you need to go out in a hurry?"
Zhu Yi followed the sound and saw that there was an extra person at the corner of the corridor. He was dressed in green clothes and a small hat. He was not eye-catching at all. He had a smile on his face, but it made him feel chilled.
"Eunuch Shu?"
After being stunned for a moment, Zhu Yi recognized the person coming. While feeling surprised, she quickly stepped forward to greet him.
Shu Liang didn't put on any airs, he also took two steps forward and offered his hand neatly.
"I've disturbed my young master's trip, but I won't be delayed for long. Young master, can I come inside to talk?"
Zhu Yi nodded, stretched out his hand and said.
"This is natural, please, father-in-law."
After entering the room, perhaps knowing that Zhu Yi was in a hurry to go out, Shu Liang got straight to the point and said directly.
"Originally, Qingfeng should have come to deliver the message this time, but this matter is of great importance, so our family feels it would be more appropriate to go there in person."
"Since the British government has just urged the young master, let's not talk nonsense and talk about the most important thing."
As he spoke, Shu Liang took out a tightly folded piece of paper from his sleeve and placed it in front of Zhu Yi.
After a slight hesitation, Zhu Yi reached out and took it, unfolded it and saw that there was nothing else on it, only a vigorous and powerful regular character.
allow!
There is no beginning or end, but the writing is bright red and dyed with cinnabar.
"this……"
Zhu Yi hesitated for a moment, as if unsure, and looked up at Shu Liang inquiringly.
So, he saw Shu Liang gently nodded to him and said.
"His Majesty's handwriting, young master, our family is here to congratulate you in advance..."
"This this……"
Although she had been looking forward to this for a long time, when the surprise arrived, Zhu Yi was still a little confused. She was holding the piece of letter paper in her hand, which had no beginning and no end, and was a little incoherent for a moment.
Shu Liang just looked at it with a smile, but he was not in a hurry to comfort Zhu Yi.
After a while, Zhu Yi calmed down, cupped her hands to Shu Liang, and said.
"Don't worry, father-in-law. Your majesty's kindness will be unforgettable by Zhu Yi. As a member of the Chengguo Duke's family, we will do our best to support your majesty, lead the horse and kick the horse."
Shu Liang turned slightly to the side, then stretched out his hand to help Zhu Yi up. He rarely put away the fake smile on his face and said seriously.
"I think Your Majesty will be very pleased that the young master has such thoughts."
Zhu Yi calmed down, but did not forget Shu Liang in front of her. She cupped her hands again and said.
"I will not forget your majesty's kindness, but I also want to thank my father-in-law for speaking kindly to your majesty. Now that the house is in decline, there are not many items that can be used. However, my father still left some ink marks before. I will let him go later."
Send it to father-in-law."
Although Zhu Yong likes to associate with literati, he was born as a military commander. Even as a prince, he may not have any attainments in calligraphy.
What's more, the calligraphy treasure of the former Duke of Chengguo didn't look like it when it appeared in the hands of Admiral Dongchang.
Therefore, even though it is said that, what Zhu Yi actually sent there is obviously not really Zhu Yong's calligraphy, but it was just a tacit understanding.
However, what surprised Zhu Yi was that after hearing this, Shu Liang became more solemn, shook his head and said.
"Thank you for your kindness, young master. Since it is the calligraphy treasure of the Duke of Guo, it would be inappropriate for our family to refuse. However, if you say something nice in front of His Majesty, we dare not accept the credit."
"Everything our family does is based on His Majesty's orders. We will do whatever Your Majesty says. If we don't want to, we won't do anything else."
Shu Liang said these words seriously, and Zhu Yi naturally listened seriously.
After listening to this, his evaluation of the Dongchang eunuch could not help but rise to a higher level.
The eunuchs in the palace were unable to carry on the family line and lost their most important thoughts, so most of them were greedy for glory and wealth.
For eunuchs, greed for money is already the most trivial fault.
However, Dudu Shuliang is not greedy for money!
Zhu Yi said that the Duke's Mansion was in decline, but it was just a modest remark. It was such a big Duke's Mansion, and Zhu Yong had only died two years ago, and there were so many treasures at the bottom of the box.
Since he has taken action, it will naturally not be ordinary.
Shu Liang would not fail to understand this, but not only did he not double down on blackmail like an ordinary eunuch, he even expressed his attitude so solemnly.
To put it bluntly, just one sentence...
You can send things and you can receive things, but Eunuch Shu won't do anything for you!
He won't put in a good word for you just because he took your treasure, nor will he show mercy to you just because he took your money.
Or, in Eunuch Shu's own words, he would do whatever the emperor said.
He is just a dog under the emperor's hand, and a dog does not have his own thoughts, let alone his own selfishness!
This is Shu Liang's positioning of himself. After seeing this clearly, Zhu Yi not only did not feel contempt for Shu Liang, but on the contrary, she felt a sense of admiration.
There are countless smart people in the world. Many times, it is not difficult to figure out which path you want to take. However, there are very few people who are really willing to do so and agree with the path they want to take from the bottom of their hearts.
Treating yourself completely as a loyal dog and accepting this identity without any dissatisfaction from the bottom of your heart is not something that everyone can do.
No wonder, with so many eunuchs in the inner court, Shu Liang had no power and power, but he could become the emperor's most trusted eunuch in such a short period of time.
If he wants to hire people, he doesn't need to look at anything else. Just having this awareness is enough!
After a moment of silence, Zhu Yi did not speak, but Shu Liang acted as if nothing had happened, putting a patterned smile on his face again and said.
"It's almost time. It's time for the young master to go. I'm afraid the British government is already waiting impatiently..."
Outside the gate of the mansion, the housekeeper had already prepared a carriage. Zhu Yi sat in the large carriage. After once again sighing at Shu Liang's cleverness, she turned her mind to her own family.
Zhu Yi pinched the memorandum in her sleeve and took a deep breath. Things have come to this point, and she must not let things slip.
After walking for about a stick of incense, the carriage stopped leisurely in front of the British Palace.
When the porter saw that it was the carriage of Duke Chengguo, he hurried to report it. After a while, Zhang Xi hurried out.
Seeing this situation, Zhu Yi was a little surprised, but he immediately stepped forward and cupped his hands.
"Why did Shibo come out in person? My nephew came a little late. I'm rude."
"It doesn't matter, let's talk as we walk."
Zhang Shi's face was obviously not very good, but at the door of the mansion, he still didn't say anything, grabbed Zhu Yi's arm, and started walking inside.
At this time, Zhu Yi also realized that something was wrong, so he took two steps and was almost shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Xi.
Immediately afterwards, Zhang Mi's angry voice was deliberately lowered.
"Didn't I tell you to come over earlier to discuss it? It's better now. We haven't reached an agreement yet. Jiao Jing and the others have an idea first! You can..."
Zhang Min spoke hurriedly, as if he wanted to explain something to Zhu Yi in advance.
However, before he finished speaking, as soon as he turned around the corridor, he saw from a distance in the courtyard of Erdaomen. Jiao Jing was taking Ningyang Bo Chen Mao, Jiang Yi from Dingxi Houfu, Zhu Jian, Xu Youzhen and others.
Welcoming them together.
"Young Master, you are late. Did something happen on the way?"
The two sides soon met each other. Faced with Jiao Jing's smiling greetings, Zhu Yi moved away from Zhang Min without leaving a trace, and said with the same smile.
"Some troubles occurred in the mansion, and they were temporarily dealt with. The Prince Consort also knows that now that the number of people in the Chengguo Palace is withering, and my brother-in-law is still young, I have to deal with all the big and small affairs in the mansion, so Fang came a little late.
"
"Haha, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, I just arrived."
What Zhu Yi didn't expect was that today's Jiao Jing seemed to be a little too enthusiastic. He walked up directly, took his arm just like Zhang Shi just now, and then led him towards the flower hall.
The posture was as if this was not the British prince's palace, but his consort's palace.
Zhu Yi frowned and glanced at Zhang Shi next to him, only to see dissatisfaction and helplessness on his face, but he didn't say anything more.
So, a group of people entered the flower hall and sat down each.
Afterwards, Zhang Xi cleared his throat and prepared to speak, but Jiao Jing was still there and rushed to speak before Zhang Xi could speak.
"You must have seen the court discussions in the past few days and the Emperor's decree yesterday. Today I and the Second Master have invited you here. One is to discuss how to rescue Ren Hou, and the other is
The main thing is to think of ways to meet the Supreme Emperor again."
"Young Master, we have just had preliminary discussions, but we haven't come up with any useful solutions. Duke Cheng Guo has many connections in the court. Is there anything I can do?"
Zhu Yi frowned and subconsciously glanced at Zhang Min next to him.
You know, this is the second time that Jiao Jing has taken over the conversation since he arrived at the British government residence. As a guest, this is a very rude behavior.
However, the strange thing is that except for Zhang Xi, who was a little dissatisfied on his face, everyone present looked like they should be doing what they should.
And, more importantly, for some reason, Zhu Yi always felt that many people present were observing him secretly, intentionally or unintentionally.
She secretly felt a little vigilant in her heart. When no one spoke, Zhu Yi thought for a while and said.
"The matter of Marquis Ren has become a big deal. Now that the emperor is personally intervening, and the Third Division has also intervened, it will not be easy to find a way to rescue him. What's more, Marquis Ren is currently imprisoned in the imperial edict. The specific status of this case,
I don’t know anything clearly, so if I take any rash action, I’m afraid it will be counterproductive.”
It should be said that these words are quite satisfactory and are in line with Zhu Yi's usual moderate and low-key style.
On weekdays, the relationship between Zhu Yi and Ren Li can't be said to be bad, but it can't be said to be good either. At this time, it would be abnormal to be too enthusiastic. This balance is just right.
However, what Zhu Yi didn't expect was that after saying these words, everyone present had different expressions. Zhang Hao sighed, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he still didn't say anything.
As for the other people, they looked at each other twice, with a little surprise on their faces.
Before Zhu Yi could think clearly about the joints in the middle, he heard Jiao Jing ask again.
"So, the young master means to leave it alone?"
Zhu Yi had already noticed something was wrong, but the words had already arrived, so he could only nodded slightly and said.
"Things have not yet reached their worst situation. The Ministry of Punishment is still investigating this case. Before the case is clear, it is easy to appear passive in whatever you do. Therefore, the best way is to wait and see what happens and wait for the Ministry of Punishment to take action.
After that, it will be more appropriate to wait for the opportunity to come up with ideas.”
After the words fell, the expressions of everyone present became more and more wrong. In fact, Jiang Yi, Zhu Jian and others began to say something in a low voice.
Seeing this situation, Zhu Yi also slowly darkened his face. Now that the matter has come to this, if he still can't see that others are targeting him, he is really a fool.
However, before he could get angry, Jiao Jing's face darkened and he said coldly.
"My young master, do you really think that now is not the time to rescue Ren Hou, or have you never thought of rescuing Ren Hou from the beginning?"
Zhu Yi was shocked, but she didn't show it on her face. She just slowly glanced at everyone present, and finally turned her gaze to Jiao Jing opposite, narrowed her eyes, and asked in the same cold voice.
"Prince Jiao, what do you mean?"
Jiao Jing didn't say anything, but this time, Zhang Xi spoke with a complicated expression.
"Young Master, there are no outsiders here. Please tell the truth. Why did you stop Ren Li from doing anything at the court meeting?"
At this time, Zhu Yi finally understood what the problem was. He took a deep breath, stared at Zhang Shi, and asked in a cold voice.
"Second Master, what did you tell them?"
Zhang Xi also seemed to have a guilty conscience and turned away without speaking. At this time, Jiao Jing said.
"Young Master, the Second Master has said everything that needs to be said. Now, it's your turn!"
This chapter has been completed!