Summary of the previous chapter: A few days later, the second sister-in-law Qiao Yu left. Immediately afterwards, an oral message suddenly came from the palace, saying that the Apocalypse Emperor Zhu Youxiao was going to summon the imperial officials of the third rank or above...
Watching the eunuch from the West Factory leave, Ma Xiaoquan also frowned.
Emperor Tianqi Zhu Youxiao eats well and sleeps well, is young, and usually pays more attention to taking care of his body. In addition, he himself is always wielding some carpentry chisels, saws, and moving wooden boards. Generally speaking, he
His body should also be in good shape.
But... the father-in-law of Xichang just said that the emperor was not feeling well, which puzzled Ma Xiaoquan.
"What's wrong?" Li Qinghan came up and saw Ma Xiaoquan frowning and asked.
Ma Xiaoquan shook his head: "I feel something is wrong, um, but I can't put my finger on it."
"Oh, that father-in-law just now was..."
"Oh, that father-in-law is from Xichang"
"Oh, I heard that the emperor is ill. Is it serious?"
Ma Xiaoquan shook his head again: "I can't tell. The emperor just happened to summon me. I'll find out when I go take a look."
"good"
...
Ma Xiaoquan came to the palace and met Emperor Tianqi Zhu Youxiao.
Zhu Youxiao's expression was not very good, but when he saw Ma Xiaoquan, he nodded kindly and said: "Ma Aiqing, you are here, here you are, sit down."
Ma Xiaoquan did not dare to neglect, and of course he did not dare to sit down. He quickly bowed forward and said: "Your Majesty, your dragon body is not in good condition. I hope you can take good care of it."
Zhu Youxiao chuckled: "I'm not in the way, but I felt it was strange, so I went to Ma Aiqing alone."
Ma Xiaoquan was a little surprised: "Your Majesty, I listened to the father-in-law who came to deliver the decree. Your Majesty, you have summoned all the officials of the third rank and above. Why did the Emperor say that there is only one minister?"
"Shhh" Zhu Youxiao stretched out his right index finger and made a whispering movement to his mouth, and then he whispered, "If I don't do this, I'm afraid it will arouse some people's suspicion."
"Someone? Who?"
Zhu Youxiao thought for a moment and murmured: "Donglin Party, Wei Zhongxian..."
"Your Majesty," Ma Xiaoquan was shocked. Although what Zhu Youxiao said was very simple, Ma Xiaoquan understood the meaning behind it.
Zhu Youxiao stretched out his hand to stop him, nodded and said: "Actually, I know everything, but I can't do anything, I can't do anything..." As he said that, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help crying.
Ma Xiaoquan secretly sighed in his heart. In fact, it was really hard for him to let a kid like Zhu Youxiao, who was barely twenty years old, bear the fate of a country.
"Your Majesty, have you met all those officials of third rank and above?"
Zhu Youxiao nodded: "I met those who I thought were promising, but they disappointed me. What I just said to you, Ma Aiqing, I didn't say to the others."
"Why?"
Zhu Youxiao glanced at Ma Xiaoquan: "Because I believe in you, well, it should be said that the only person who can make me believe now is Ma Aiqing."
When Ma Xiaoquan heard this, he quickly knelt down and said, "I thank you for your favor. I will certainly live up to your grace."
Zhu Youxiao stepped forward to help Ma Xiaoquan and patted his shoulder: "Ma Aiqing, okay, I know you know what to do. Please step back. I feel a little uncomfortable and want to take a rest."
With that said, Zhu Youxiao turned back to pick up a cup of tea and took a sip.
Ma Xiaoquan nodded and was about to leave when he suddenly smelled a faint scent of tea.
"Well, Your Majesty, your tea tastes really good."
Zhu Youxiao put down the tea cup and chuckled: "Oh, you said this tea, well, this tea was sent by the emperor's brother Zhu Youjian. He said it can soothe the mind and refresh the mind. I have been drinking it for several months, and it really works.
This effect."
"Oh? So magical?"
Ma Xiaoquan just said it casually. Unexpectedly, Zhu Youxiao nodded proudly and said, "How about I give you a taste?"
"Your Majesty, I don't dare!"
"Eh? Would you like some tea? What's wrong with you? But the emperor said that I won't give this tea away, so I'll make an exception and give you a small bag. Just try it. Well, you can't talk nonsense.
Ah, haha”
"Yes." Ma Xiaoquan stepped forward respectfully, and Zhu Youxiao handed him a small tea bag. Ma Xiaoquan took the tea bag, carefully put it in his pocket, and then bowed and exited.
Not far out of Yangxin Hall, Ma Xiaoquan met King Xin Zhu Youjian.
"I would like to express my regards to the prince." Ma Xiaoquan saluted Zhu Youjian respectfully.
Zhu Youjian hummed and asked, "Ma Xiaoquan, have you gone to see the emperor?"
"Replying to the prince, I just went to meet the emperor."
"Oh, how is your brother's health?"
"The emperor doesn't look too good, but overall it's okay. Your Majesty, do you also want to see the emperor?"
Zhu Youjian chuckled: "Of course, the emperor brother is ill. As a younger brother, I naturally have to go to pay my respects. Well, by the way, I will bring some tea to the emperor brother."
Ma Xiaoquan raised his head and glanced at the thing in Zhu Youjian's hand, and his heart was suddenly shocked. What Zhu Youjian was holding was exactly the tea bag that Zhu Youxiao gave him just now, but it was much larger than what Zhu Youxiao gave him.
.
Ma Xiaoquan thought of Zhu Youxiao's arrangement and lowered his head without speaking.
Zhu Youjian didn't notice the change in Ma Xiaoquan's expression. He nodded and left in a hurry, seeming very anxious.
...
Back at Ma's house, Ma Xiaoquan called Dongfang Qingxue.
Dongfang Qingxue made good tea and knew a lot of tea leaves. Ma Xiaoquan handed the tea bag given to him by the emperor to Dongfang Qingxue and said: "Qingxue, help me see what is in this tea bag."
Tea?"
Dongfang Qingxue did not open the tea bag quickly, but first took the tea bag to her nose and smelled it.
Dongfang Qingxue smelled it a few times, put it down, and then brought it to her nose and smelled it a few times.
"What's wrong, Qingxue, isn't it?"
Dongfang Qingxue put down the tea bag and shook her head: "It's not wrong, but I think it's weird?"
"What's so strange? Have you never seen this tea before?"
Dongfang Qingxue opened the tea bag and looked at the tea leaves inside, and shook her head: "I have never seen it before. Well, my Dongfang family is mainly engaged in tea business. I have seen a lot of tea leaves with my grandfather and father since I was a child, although I can't say that I can't say hundreds of them.
I know it, but I know more than ordinary tea merchants, but this tea...well, although it has the fragrance of tea, it doesn't have the characteristics of tea."
"It doesn't have the characteristics of tea? How can I say this?"
Ma Xiaoquan doesn't understand tea and rarely drinks tea. He doesn't understand what Dongfang Qingxue said.
