"Your Majesty, Wang Cheng'en and Fei Zhen'e are outside asking to see you!"
While Zhu Cixiang was deep in thought, Zhou Jing, the chief guard of the East Palace, walked in and reported.
When Zhu Cihong heard this, he quickly calmed down and looked at Zhou Jing calmly.
He frowned when he saw the angry look on Zhou Jing's face and remembered that the other party did not address Wang Chengen by his official title just now, but called him by his first name.
It turned out that because Zhou Hou suddenly fell ill, Zhu Cixiang suspected that someone had secretly poisoned her, and ordered Zhou Jing and Wang Chengen to investigate thoroughly.
After some investigation, the two discovered that one of Wang Chengen's registered apprentices was the most suspicious.
Just when they were about to capture him, they did not expect that the man hanged himself first and left a suicide note, saying that Empress Zhou had treated Wang Chengen harshly and wanted to avenge him.
When Wang Chengen saw the suicide note, his face turned pale with fear. If Zhou Jing had to press for the antidote, he almost wanted to kill Wang Chengen on the spot.
Fortunately, Zhu Cixi came after hearing the news, stopped the two of them in time, and discovered that the eunuch had been strangled and then made to look like hanging, so the matter was temporarily resolved.
It's just that Zhou Jing has been very rude to Wang Chengen with cold words since then.
Although Zhu Cihong tried to persuade him several times, Zhou Jing didn't take it to heart and still went his own way.
Zhu Cixiang wanted to reprimand him severely, but it was only because he felt guilty about Zhou Kui's death and he had been in a coma for the past week that he could endure it without having an attack.
At this moment, seeing Zhou Jing becoming more and more rude, he thought about the current turmoil in the capital. If there were another turmoil in the imperial city, the situation might be difficult to deal with.
So he said seriously: "Chief Guard, I know that you are worried, but the queen mother's illness has nothing to do with Wang Chengen. You must not vent your anger on him again..."
Zhou Jing was slightly startled when he saw Zhu Cixi calling him an official, but still said angrily: "If it has nothing to do with him, why did the eunuch..."
"Chief Guard!"
Zhu Cixiang shouted down Zhou Jing's words and said sternly: "I have reminded you that the situation is critical now and I need a stable situation. Do you still remember?"
Zhou Jing was stunned for a moment, then reluctantly bowed and responded: "The general will remember it!"
Seeing his perfunctory expression, Zhu Cixiang was a little dissatisfied, but he thought that the other party was an elder after all, and if he was too harsh, Empress Zhou would be embarrassed, so he said no more and just asked Zhou Jing to invite the two of them in.
However, before Zhou Jing could go out, Zuo Yude and Ma Shiqi hurriedly walked in and reported: "Your Highness, Zhang Canran, the doctor of the Ministry of Justice, Liu Chang, the minister of the household affairs department, Dai Mingshuo, the minister of the military affairs department, and others are outside asking for an audience!"
When Zhu Cihong heard the report, he couldn't help but frowned and said, "Zhang Xin, the Minister of Punishment, didn't come?"
Ma Shiqi shook his head and said: "No, but according to the guards in front of the palace gate, Zhang Canran, Dai Mingyi and others had been waiting outside the palace before entering the palace, and they didn't enter the palace until Liu Chang arrived. I'm afraid there is something going on between them..."
"What to do with those clowns, the top priority is..."
"Chief Guard!"
Just after Zhou Jing impatiently interrupted Ma Shiqi, Zhu Cixiang shouted to stop him.
Zhou Jing was still a little dissatisfied, but when he saw Zhu Cixiang's expression changed, he swallowed his words.
Zhu Cixiang stared at Zhou Jing for a while, then said in a deep voice: "Chief Guard, there has been something unusual in the capital recently. Please go check it out on my behalf."
After he finished speaking, he did not give Zhou Jing a chance to speak, and said to Ma Shiqi: "Ask Liu Chang and others to wait at the Hongde Hall, and also ask the Chief Assistant of the Cabinet Fan Jingwen, the Minister of War Wang Jiayan, and the Minister of Personnel Jiang Derjing to come..." ....”
"By the way, there is also Zuo Maodi, the minister of household affairs, who has also been asked to wait for me at Hongde Hall."
When Ma Shiqi heard this, he was worried and said: "Your Highness, Liu Chang and others are asking for war, but they really want to force Your Highness to beg for peace from the Jurchens..."
It turned out that when the Jurchens attacked this time, Liu Xin and others took the lead in the battle.
Even before the soldiers, horses, food and grass were ready, Li Jing, Shen Zhanran and others were repeatedly asked to go to war.
Even though Fan Jingwen tried to dissuade him again and again, they just refused to listen and kept singing high-pitched tunes.
Later, Li Jing got angry and asked them to join the army, and he suppressed their arrogance.
But when the war ahead was unfavorable, especially after Shen Zhanran lost the first battle, they jumped out again.
He accused Li Jing and Shen Zhanran of wasting the opportunity to fight, and asked them to fight quickly to promote the prestige of the Ming Dynasty.
But when Gong Yonggu died in battle and Shen Zhanran was defeated again, they fell into collective silence again.
At this time, Sony happened to send someone to deliver a message, saying that the Jurchens had no intention of invading the south. It was only because of Li Jing and others' provocation that they had no choice but to fight back.
He also said that as long as the Ming court dealt with the provocateurs and promised that the Jurchens would own all the land outside the pass, they would not only stop invading the south, but would also help the Ming court deal with the rebels.
After Liu Chang and others learned about this, they jumped out again.
However, since the Ming Dynasty had never negotiated peace or made peace, although they wanted to negotiate peace, they were afraid of Chen Xinjia's disaster and did not dare to say it openly.
They just kept writing letters, accusing Li Jing and Shen Zhanran of seeking personal merit and ignoring the actual situation, which resulted in the country being in danger. It was recommended that they be severely punished.
When their suggestions were rejected by Zhu Cixiang, they once again raised the banner of war, hoping to force peace with war.
After Zhu Cixiang saw through their tricks, although he was angry, in order to maintain the stability of the capital, he only beat them secretly, but did not make it clear.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Cixiang's forbearance made Liu Chang and others even more aggressive. They took turns to appear in court as loyal ministers, attracting upright people such as Wang Zhang to participate.
Seeing that the situation was getting worse, Ma Shiqi wanted to persuade Zhu Cixiang to make an early decision, but Zhu Cixiang did not express his position for a long time. In addition, he had no good plan himself, so he could only worry secretly.
He originally thought that Zhu Cixiang would be as perfunctory as before, but he never thought that Zhu Cixiang would ask him to summon Fan Jingwen and others.
Seeing Zhu Cixiang's angry look, Ma Shiqi was worried that he would do something wrong in anger, so he reminded him.
Zhu Cixiang was silent for a while after hearing this, and said: "It doesn't matter, you just go and convey the order, I have my own arrangements!"
Ma Shiqi saw that Zhu Cixiang had made up his mind and thought that the matter would be resolved sooner or later. After bowing in agreement, Ma Shiqi hurriedly walked out.
"Cixing, before His Majesty leaves, why don't you leave a team of royal guards behind? How about we deal with them secretly and save them from making so much noise!"
Zhou Jing saw Zhu Cixiang frowning and suggested in a low voice.
Zhu Cixiang was deep in thought, but when he heard Zhou Jing's words, he couldn't help but feel shocked. At the same time, he also understood that he was too indulgent.
He immediately shouted with a cold face: "Chief Guard, didn't you understand what I just ordered?"
Zhou Jing originally thought that he had good intentions, but when he heard this, his face immediately showed a look of anger. Just as he was about to retort, he heard Zhu Cixi's voice saying: "Chief Guard, this matter is of great importance. If you don't handle it properly, don't worry." It’s my fault that I don’t show you any favor!”
Zhou Jing trembled slightly in his heart when he saw that Zhu Cixiang was rarely angry with him, and he hurriedly responded.
Then after Zhu Cixiang's expression softened slightly, he whispered again: "Your Highness, the king... Fei Zhen'e is still waiting outside. Can you let them in and see what they find."
Zhu Cixiang glanced at him and said: "I still have some important officials to deal with, please let them report later!"
After he said that, he turned around and looked at the march map ahead.
When Zhou Jing saw this, a trace of unwillingness flashed across his face and he retreated.
After about a cup of tea, Ma Shiqi came again to report that Fan Jingwen and others were waiting at Hongde Hall.
Zhu Cixiang nodded and walked towards Hongde Hall.
When he walked to the door of Hongde Hall, he heard Zhang Canran's sharp voice: "Master Fan, if according to what you said, Shen Zhanran is not only innocent, but also guilty?"
Immediately afterwards, Dai Mingshuo and others strongly criticized Shen Zhanran.
When Zhu Cixiang outside the door heard this, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
Ma Shiqi on the side saw this and was about to speak to dissuade him, but saw Zhu Cixiang striding into Hongde Hall and hurriedly followed him.
Some people died, but not completely...
