But Zhou Xian was very happy to be demoted like this. He had the ambition to join the army. The imperial examination was just a stepping stone to enter the official career, and joining the army was Zhou Xian’s final request. In troubled times, it was better to master a army than to be restricted everywhere in the court. At this moment, he heard Emperor Chongzhen’s statement and was ecstatic and said in a hurry: “Thank you, Your Majesty, Zhou Xian is willing to go.”

Emperor Chongzhen's face changed slightly and he asked in a deep voice: "Don't you feel wronged?"

Seeing Zhou Xian's face showing doubts, he seemed to know what he was talking about, Emperor Chongzhen had to continue saying: "The difference between civil servants and military officers, and this time he did not grant you an official position."

Zhou Xian thought for a while and replied, "In the past, Your Majesty once asked about his ambitions for being a minister. But what he said was that he was willing to be a soldier on the border. What he said at that time was indeed what Zhou Xian thought. At this moment, Your Majesty satisfied me. It was too late to ask for it, so how could he feel wronged?"

Emperor Chongzhen's face was calm, and after a while, he said, "Since that's the case, you go down and prepare. Go to Xiangyang in a few days! But it is not reasonable for you to be eager to grant a military position in high school this time. Just use the position of Zhaoxin Captain whom I once gave you to serve in Yang Sichang's army first! As for what official position you are given, he will decide everything."

Zhou Xian nodded and bowed to thank Emperor Chongzhen again. Emperor Chongzhen talked to Zhou Xian for a while, then waved Zhou Xian to leave the hall first. Seeing that the face of the crown prince Zhu Cilang was a little dim, he spoke, "What's wrong? I don't want to give up."

Zhu Cilang nodded and said, "Father, Zhou Xian has been with him for more than four years. At this moment, he is going to go to Xiangyang's army, and his ministers are really reluctant to leave."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded and comforted him, "Yan'er, I know the relationship between you and Zhou Xian. But for the king, you should never approach anyone easily, so that you can always stay awake. Otherwise, once the person you are close to is a treacherous villain, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"Father, you mean Zhou Xian..."

Emperor Chongzhen shook his head and said, "Zhou Xian's character is quite loyal and honest. Although he is still young at this moment, he is quite knowledgeable. You can rely on him in the future. But his character is too straightforward, so it will be beneficial for him to go to the army to hone it. As the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, you should also help you in addition to being in the court, outside the court. In this way, someone can help you when the crisis in the future."

"Father, why did you say that? Could it be that there is a crisis within the court?"

Emperor Chongzhen sighed and said, "In the internal civil war, the enemy has changed everywhere, and the enemy has been in the border areas. It is really hard to say what changes will happen in the future. The treasury in the court is empty, and I once called on all the nobles and officials to donate silver. These people have been blessed by the court and their families have made a fortune. But when they donated silver, they delayed from many ways. At most, thousands, and at least hundreds. In several months, they only received 200,000 taels of silver. Once the court changes, how can we rely on these people?"

Zhu Cilang also heard about this, but he was in the palace. He had no idea about this money and didn't know how to comfort Emperor Chongzhen at this moment.

Emperor Chongzhen saw Zhu Cilang's face look ugly, and smiled faintly and said, "Okay, let's not talk about it. You go out to see Zhou Xian off! Don't lose your friendship with each other because you are far away from each other in the future."

Zhu Cilang pondered for a moment, but didn't know what to say. Finally, he bowed to Emperor Chongzhen and walked slowly outside the hall.

Zhou Xian saw Zhu Cilang coming over and bowed and said, "Your Majesty."

Zhu Ciyang nodded and said, "Zhou Xian, when are you going to leave?"

"Since Your Majesty has given the order, I'm afraid it's only been a few days. What should you explain to your minister?"

Zhu Cilang shook his head and said, "I don't know the military, so how can I explain to you? Since you offended the important minister last time, the emperor sister is very brave and has spoken to you many times in front of me and my father. Follow me to the East Palace first, and I will order someone to inform the emperor sister, and you will meet again."

Seeing Zhou Xian's face strange, Zhu Cilang smiled and said, "Actually, I still hope that you will be my brother-in-law. But since you have won the Tanhua, you will definitely be valued by the court in the future. In my Ming Dynasty, foreign relatives are not allowed to rule. Once you marry a princess, you will lose all your official positions. I wonder if you are willing to do so in the future?"

Zhou Xian thought about it and found that the ancestral system of the Ming Dynasty was indeed as Zhu Cixuan said. In order to avoid the dictatorship of foreign relatives, Zhu Yuanzhang established such a policy when he was in power. He not only raised many princes, but also raised his son-in-law, uncle and other royal relatives. Therefore, some people say that the national policy of the Ming Dynasty was to raise pigs. Raising those royal relatives in just abundance would not allow them to do anything except enjoyment. Therefore, in times of crisis, they could not count on them at all.

Zhou Xian looked ugly and smiled bitterly inwardly, saying, "Let's talk about this in the future!"

When Zhu Cixuan saw Princess Kunxing coming, he said, "Imperial sister, I'll go out first. If you have anything to say, please hurry up. I don't know when the queen of mother will come."

Zhu Mei nodded. Seeing Zhu Ciyang leaving the central hall, she looked at Zhou Xian and said, "I heard that you are going to Xiangyang?"

Zhou Xian was silent for a while, and smiled and said, "Your Majesty's order just issued, let me go to Xiangyang Army to serve."

Zhu Moe shook her lips and said sadly: "You have agreed, right?"

Zhou Xian nodded and said, "In general, chaotic times are the time when men rise. You also know that I have never understood the things in the court. Now I go to the army to avoid disasters. If I do well in the army in the future, I may not be able to be appointed as a general and a marquis in the future, which is also a way out."

"Will the way out? Is it not good to stay in the palace?"

Zhou Xian was silent for a while and said, "Although the palace is good, it is only a temporary nest of peace and happiness that cannot be long-lasting. The beacon on all sides and the wolf smoke on all sides may not be completely safe."

Zhu Mai thought for a moment and nodded, "The swords and guns in the army are ruthless, you must be careful."

Zhou Xian smiled and said, "Don't worry! Master Yang is my husband no matter how he said he is, how could he treat me badly? As long as he follows him, what danger will there be?"

Zhu Mai looked up at Zhou Xian, and saw that his face was always smiling, but she felt a little uneasy, but she didn't know what to say. She was silent for a while and said, "I'll send me letters from time to time after I arrived in the army." After that, she walked out and said to the maid standing outside, "Let's go back to the palace."

Zhu Cixuan walked into the hall and saw Zhou Xian’s dull appearance, and said in confusion: “Why is it so fast? Are you angry when I see the emperor’s appearance?”
Chapter completed!