Hongli was a little tempted by what he said, but after thinking about it, he still shook his head and said: "Having said that, the risk of this matter is too great. If something happens to you, how can I explain it to the Queen Mother and Concubine Yu?
"
"Where the Queen Mother and E Niang are, I will personally explain it. I just ask the Emperor for permission!" Seeing that Hongli was silent, he added: "If I say I will come back alive, I will definitely come back alive. Ever since I was a child, what has happened to me?
Have you ever been disappointed?"
"You have indeed never let me down." With that said, Hongli walked up to Hongzhou and said in a deep voice: "Lao Wu, I ask you for the last time, have you really thought about it?"
Hong Zhou nodded without hesitation, raised his head and said: "Since childhood, the fourth brother has always protected the younger brother. Whenever he gets something good, he never forgets to give the younger brother a share. After the fourth brother ascended the throne, he immediately confederated the younger brother.
As a prince, Xu Chendi has the honor of being inferior to one person and superior to ten thousand people. This brotherhood has never been forgotten for a moment. Now that the fourth brother is in trouble, if I stand by and watch, how can I have the face to call myself "Chendi" in the future?
?!"
Since Hongli ascended the throne, Hongzhou has strictly adhered to the distinction between emperor and ministers. Regardless of whether he is in front of him or behind him, he is called the emperor. The title of fourth brother has not been used for a long time. Now he suddenly calls him this, which reminds Hongli of the past decades.
, the years he and Hong Zhou supported each other.
After a long time, he leaned over to help Hong Zhou up and sighed: "It seems that unless I suppress you as the emperor, you will not change your mind."
"Fourth brother should know that doing this is the best for the Qing Dynasty and the people of the Qing Dynasty." Facing Hong Zhou's answer, Hongli sighed deeply, "Of course I know, I am just worried about you..."
He patted Hong Zhou's arm,
He said solemnly: "That's all, I promise you, but to ensure your safety, I will order one hundred and seventy-nine spies to follow you to Shengjing to protect your safety. Before you return to Beijing, you will have full authority.
Command, don’t disobey!”
Hong Zhou looked at Hong Li in astonishment. Ever since the Qing Dynasty entered the country, the emperor had been in charge of a group of spies. Except for the emperor, no one knew the identity and specific number of these spies, let alone their command. Back then, Kangxi
When I was still alive, Yinreng had been the prince for more than thirty years, but he still had no regard for the secret spies.
We only know a little bit about it, which shows how deep it is hidden; but now Hongli not only asked the spies to follow him into Shengjing, but also gave him full command. I think he is the first person to receive this favor since the founding of the Qing Dynasty. One hundred
Seventy-nine should be the total number of secret agents. In other words, Hongli will have no secret agents available before he returns to Beijing.
After coming back to his senses, Hong Zhou quickly said: "The secret agent has always been subordinate to the emperor alone, and I would never dare to send him. As for my safety, the emperor can rest assured that I will bring the palace guards with him.
It’ll be okay.”
"You are going to the Dragon Pond and the Tiger's Den this time. How can a few guards protect you?" As he said that, Hongli clapped his hands twice. Not long after, a black figure whose face could not be seen appeared in the Yangxin Hall.
He said in a hoarse voice: "I see you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty's greetings!" He didn't even look at the prince Hongzhou, let alone say hello. In their eyes, except for the emperor, there was no difference between a prince and a beggar. As long as Hongli gave an order,
He would break Hong Zhou's neck without hesitation.
"Within two days, recall one hundred and seventy-eight of your spies to secretly protect Prince He and go to Shengjing. Unless all of you are dead, Prince He must not be harmed in any way. Do you understand me?"
A strange look flashed across the eyes of the spy leader. This was the first time he had received such an order since he became a spy. However, he did not ask any more questions and said as he was told: "I obey the order!"
Hongli nodded and said again: "In addition, before returning to the capital, all of you must obey the command of Prince He, but you must not violate any orders he gives."
If Hongli's words just now surprised him, then this time, he was shocked and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely impossible. Ever since Lord Shunzhi established the secret agent camp, he has made a decree, and all the secret agents have only obeyed
The current emperor's orders are that Prince He is just a prince, and for him to command the servants and others is really against the order of Lord Shunzhi!"
Hongli's eyes were cold and he said: "Are you using Master Shunzhi to suppress me?"
The spy leader heard the anger in his words and said quickly: "I don't dare. I just think there is something wrong with this matter. Please think again." They have too many secrets about Hongli and the royal family. As long as they command them
If someone has even the slightest evil intention, it will lead to a disaster.
Hongli snorted coldly and said: "Anyway, do as I say, remember?"
Seeing that his mind was made up, the spy leader had no choice but to agree. Two days later, he would take all the spies and secretly follow Hong Zhou to Shengjing.
When Hong Zhou was about to exit the Yangxin Hall, Hong Li called him and said solemnly: "Lao Wu, you promised me that you must come back safely!"
"My brother obeys the order!" After exiting Yangxin Palace, Hong Zhou came to Cining Palace. In the past few days, Concubine Yu had been staying in the palace to accompany Ling Ruo to worship the Buddha. Sure enough, when they arrived at Nuan Pavilion, Concubine Yu was accompanying Ling Ruojuan.
He did not interrupt while copying the Buddhist scriptures, and stood quietly aside. When Ling Ruo raised her head after copying the Buddhist scriptures, he stepped forward and saluted, "Hong Zhou, please give my regards to the Queen Mother, and my regards to E Niang!"
"No courtesy." Ling Ruoci smiled and said, "When did you come in? Why didn't you say anything?"
"Hong Zhou saw that the Queen Mother and E Niang were copying Buddhist scriptures, so he didn't dare to disturb them." As he said this, he looked at Concubine Yu and said with concern: "When my son came to say hello the day before yesterday, he heard E Niang saying that she was a little depressed. Today
My son is feeling better now. If he still feels uncomfortable, can he refer it to the imperial doctor?"
Concubine Yu said warmly: "It's okay. Not long after you left the day before yesterday, the Queen Mother summoned Dr. Zhou for E Niang to see her. After a few doses of medicine, everything was fine. You don't have to worry."
Ling Ruo smiled and said: "Hongzhou is really filial to his sister. He will remember it firmly in his heart just by your casual words."
Concubine Yu signaled the palace attendants to put away the copied Buddhist scriptures and said with a smile: "In terms of filial piety, who can be better than the Emperor? Over the years, the Emperor has always thought of the Queen Mother and has not allowed the Queen Mother to be upset at all."
Ling Ruo smiled, then turned to Hong Zhou and said, "Why are you coming here just now? Hasn't the morning ceremony already started?"
Hong Zhou hesitated for a moment, then lowered his eyes and said, "Returning to the Queen Mother, I just discussed the matter of Shengjing with the Emperor for a while."
Ling Ruo's eyelids twitched slightly, and she fiddled with the Buddha string in her hand and asked, "Is it about Hong Zhou?" Hong Li had mentioned the incident in Hangzhou Mansion to her, so when Hong Zhou mentioned Sheng Jing, she guessed a lot.