Zhou Xian's face was stunned and did not react for a moment. Gao Tian was beside him and quickly reminded him in a low voice: "Young Master, kneel down and accept the order!"

Zhou Xian looked back at Gao Tian, ​​showing gratitude. Then he turned around and turned to Wang Chengen to kneel down and whispered: "The common man Zhou Xian received the order."

Wang Chengen slowly spread out Huangling and chanted loudly: "In accordance with the will of heaven, Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty issued an edict: Zhou Xian, the son of Zhou Tianhong, the minister of Taipu Temple, is mellow in nature and both civil and military. He killed the captain Sahalian in the outer formation and safely escorted the Mongolian Khan Abuna back to the Ming territory. He made great contributions! I highly praised him and specially appointed him as the sixth-rank Zhaoxin Captain of the court. From now on, he will enter the palace to accompany the prince to study, and I will be honored here."

Zhou Xian heard it a little confused. What kind of official position is this Zhaoxin Captain? It sounds like a military officer, but why haven’t he heard it before? Could it be that he is in charge of military power now? And is that the accompanying student accompanies it? Zhou Xian was a little confused and thought that since he couldn’t figure it out, he wouldn’t think about it for the time being. Seeing that Wang Chengen had finished reading it, he quickly responded loudly: “Zhou Xian, thank you for your edict.”

Wang Chengen handed the imperial edict to Zhou Xian's raised hands and smiled faintly, "Mr. Zhou, get up quickly! From now on, you have to go to the palace to accompany you to study. The prince is still young, but his temperament is gentle. I think there should be no big problem with Mr. Zhou serving him. Tomorrow, after you arrive at the Wumen Gate, let the guards notify us. This is the first time our family will lead you to pay homage to His Highness the Prince. After that, the father-in-law next to the prince will do it for him."

Zhou Xian bowed and said, "Then I'll thank you for your father-in-law." As he said that, Zhou Xian turned to Gao Tian and said, "Old Gao, the weather is hot. Go and get some money and invite Eunuch Wang and the brothers outside the door to have a cup of hot tea."

Gao Tian responded, turned back, and soon turned out of the inner room. Gao Tian followed Zhou Tianhong for many years and understood the etiquette of the court. The purse he took out was at least 100 taels. Zhou Xian handed it to Wang Chengen and smiled and said, "Eunuch Wang, this is a little bit of my wish. At that time, I will be bothering you to allocate it to the brothers outside the door."

Wang Chengen smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Zhou, we will pay attention to this little thing. We have been delayed here for a long time, and we have to go back here, just in case the emperor summon me if there is something to do."

Zhou Xian nodded and bowed and said, "Zhou Xian respectfully sends his father-in-law."

Zhou Tianhong picked up the imperial edict and looked at it for a long time, and finally a strange smile flashed on his face. He turned to Zhou Xian and said, "This Zhaoxin Captain is a Wusan rank, and has no real power and does not control the army. But from now on, you can directly receive the salary of the sixth-rank official in the court. It is a relative honorary title to show His Majesty's kindness."

Seeing Zhou Xian frowned, he seemed to be a little disliked. Zhou Tianhong smiled and said, "Don't think that this is just a false position, but since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, you can really get it with a military merit. Now that you are still young and have this at the bottom, you will definitely have a bright future in the future. This accompanying student is not an official position in the court, but can only be regarded as a small playmate who will accompany the prince to study."

Zhou Xian said sadly: "How can this Your Majesty be like this? It's not enough to give me a false position, so I'll go with his son to study. In this way, I won't be suffocated every day?"

Zhou Tianhong pointed to Zhou Xian speechlessly and said, "You! You are so wild now. If His Majesty hadn't received me today, I wouldn't have known that you made such a big noise in Wuyang City? I think this is great. At least you can pick up your temperament and make you more stable."

Zhou Xian said with a puzzled look: "Father, your majesty has met you, what did you say!"

Zhou Tianhong's eyes showed a smile and said, "I'll be blessed by you boy. I have completed my mission this trip outside the border. Your Majesty has promoted me to the Minister of Taipu Temple. He also said that you are a talented person, so I can cultivate it well."

Zhou Xian smiled and said, "Then congratulate my father. You see, you are now in charge of the horse. Can you get me a royal horse to ride in the future?"

Zhou Tianhong said angrily: "Do you think the imperial horse is so easy to ride? Let me tell you that those masters who teach the prince are great scholars in the court, and it is difficult for ordinary people to get a word for them. The blessings you get now are a good opportunity that some scholars dream of in their lifetime but cannot get. Also, Your Majesty asked you to study with him, which contained another meaning. In the future, learning more, reading more, and speaking less in the palace will be beneficial to you."

Zhou Xian looked puzzled and said, "Father, what do you mean?"

Zhou Tianhong sighed and said, "You are not yet eleven years old, even if you make great contributions this time, but in Your Majesty, you are still a child, a child who may achieve something in the future. He gave you the position of Zhaoxin Captain to commend your contributions this time. Letting you accompany you to study is a sign of closeness. At present, the prince is only seven years old, and you are only four years older than him. Your Majesty wants to find someone who can help the prince in the future and deserves his full trust. This Zhaoxin Captain is not important. Letting you accompany the prince to study is the greatest gift."

Zhou Xian pondered for a moment, and finally nodded, "Father, the child understands."

Zhou Tianhong was silent for a while and said, "Xian'er, this time you can be valued by Your Majesty so much. In addition to making great contributions, you also have to benefit from the strong recommendation of Yang Sichang, the commander of the three towns. He is in the capital now, and I will prepare a generous gift for you tomorrow. When you come back from the palace in the evening, you will personally bring the gift to him."

Seeing that Zhou Tianhong looked bad, Zhou Xian asked curiously: "Father, is this the only thing?"

Zhou Tianhong hesitated and said, "Yang Sichang is a man with great talent, far beyond me, and is deeply trusted by His Majesty. If you can use this to cling to him, it will be of great benefit to you in the future. But his reputation has always been poor and he is small-minded and cannot tolerate anyone. I don't know whether this move is right or wrong? But my Zhou family is not a noble and high-ranking official, and I am not a person who is good at dancing. I can provide you with very little assistance in the future? This is an opportunity, and I think I can fight for it."

Zhou Xian smiled bitterly and said, "Father, you seem to be a little too arrogant. What is my identity now, and what is the identity of Master Yang? How could he be able to cling to him if he wants to? Moreover, he recommended the child because he can help him realize some of his plans, perhaps not because he values ​​the child at all."
Chapter completed!