Beijing, Kunning Palace.
Zhu Cixiang served Empress Zhou with a solemn expression. After drinking the decoction, he asked with concern: "Empress, are you feeling better today?"
Seeing Zhu Cixiang's haggard face, Zhou Hou couldn't bear it in her heart. She forced a smile and said, "Lang'er, you don't need to worry!"
"Queen Mother is just tired. She will be fine after two days of rest!"
When Zhu Cihong heard this, he couldn't help but lower his head and said: "It's all because of the unfilial piety of the sons and ministers. If the sons and ministers had come back earlier, the queen mother would not be so angry with Chen Chang and the others!"
As he spoke, a murderous intent suddenly surged into his eyes.
But when he looked at Queen Zhou, he looked worried again.
Although Zhu Cixiang had concealed his murderous intent, Empress Zhou still noticed something strange about him and couldn't help but grab his hand and said: "Lang'er, Queen Mother knows that you are filial, and Chen Chang and the others are indeed hateful!"
"But now there are dangers inside and outside the capital, and there are many soldiers and generals supporting them. If you deal with them now, it will definitely cause disaster."
"So no matter how reluctant you are, for the sake of the overall situation, you must not attack them now, do you understand?"
Although Zhu Cixiang was reluctant, seeing the worry on Queen Zhou's face, he nodded and said, "Don't worry, Queen Mother, my son has grown up and won't mess around!"
Queen Zhou also saw that his words were not sincere, but she still smiled and nodded: "Okay, my mother's Lang'er has grown up, my mother will be relieved!"
When Zhu Cihong heard this, he knew that Zhou Hou was still worried, so he hurriedly comforted him with soft words.
It's just that although he said he wouldn't kill Chen Chang and the others, in his heart he wanted to kill them immediately.
It turned out that Zhu Cihong, Shen Zhanran and others had just defeated Hauge when Li Guo led his army to attack.
Since they had just experienced a major war and had not had time to rest, they had to go on the defensive.
Unexpectedly, Li Guo was extremely ferocious this time and captured two of their defense lines one after another.
Fortunately, Shen Zhanran's skillful use of suspicion tactics temporarily stabilized the battle situation.
Just when they were resting and preparing to counterattack, news of Huang Degong's defeat came again, which frustrated the morale of the army.
In desperation, they had to go on the defensive again in order to restore morale.
Unexpectedly, rumors were swirling in the capital at this time, targeting Shen Zhanran.
Zhu Cixiang was very angry because of the unfavorable situation of the war. At this moment, seeing Liu Chang and others maliciously making false accusations, he reprimanded the cabinet and punished Liu Chang and others.
After Fan Jingwen received the order, he originally wanted to punish Liu Chang and others severely, but due to the obstruction of Zhang Xin and others, the cabinet finally reprimanded him calmly, which made Liu Chang and others even more arrogant.
Seeing that things were getting worse and worse, Zhou Hou was worried that it would affect the war ahead, so he summoned Liu Chang and others.
Unexpectedly, Liu Chang not only refused to accept the call, but also reprimanded those who came because he was not allowed to participate in politics in the harem.
When the visitor returned to the palace to report the matter, Queen Zhou was so angry that she vomited blood on the spot, and then passed out again.
When Zhu Cixiang learned about this, he was immediately furious. He was about to kill Liu Chang for the crime of disrespect, but was dissuaded by Shen Zhanran.
Because Shen Zhanran felt that the combat power of the Ming soldiers was weaker than that of the Jurchens, and they were only on par with the rebels. The reason why they were able to maintain the war situation and achieve a slight victory was all due to the strong support of the capital.
If changes occur in the capital due to the disposal of Liu Chang and other clowns, it will be difficult to deliver food, wages, firearms and other items in time, which will inevitably affect the war situation.
In addition, Liu Chang's words are also justified. If Zhu Cihong punishes Liu Chang for this, it will give opportunities to some censors with ulterior motives.
Therefore, he suggested that Zhu Cihong should tolerate the matter for now and deal with it after the war is over.
At the same time, he was worried that after Zhou Hou fell ill, Liu Chang and others would take the opportunity to interfere and withhold or delay military supplies, so he suggested that Zhu Cihong lead his troops back to Beijing.
First, Liu Chang and his men can be restrained to prevent them from being too presumptuous and harming the loyal people in the court.
Furthermore, logistical support can also be provided to prevent military pay and other matters from affecting morale.
Zhu Cixiang was worried about Zhou Hou's safety at the time, so he agreed.
However, he originally planned to bring only two to three thousand troops back to Beijing, but Shen Zhanran said that the situation in Beijing was unpredictable and insisted that he bring 10,000 troops.
Before leaving, Shen Zhanran also told him,
Don't be tit-for-tat with Liu Chang and others. If the other party insists on his order to deal with him, you can respond first. Stability is the priority. .z.
After Zhu Cihong wrote down each of them, he led his army back to Beijing.
On the way back to Beijing, he had thought about the matter more seriously, but he didn't expect that the reality was more serious than he imagined.
When he hurried to the capital with hundreds of personal guards, the soldiers at the city gate actually refused to allow him and his personal guards to enter the city on the grounds that their origins were unknown and they might threaten the safety of the capital.
Although Zhu Cixiang's bodyguard showed his waist card, the other party ignored him.
When he asked to see the general guarding the city, the soldier refused and said he was not there.
When all the guards saw this, they were furious and almost started a fight with the soldiers guarding the city. Unexpectedly, more than a thousand soldiers and horses rushed out of the city gate and surrounded them.
However, the soldiers seemed to have some scruples. They just kept shouting but did not dare to take action.
When Zhu Cixiang saw this, he knew that this was probably a threat given to him by Liu Chang and others.
Although he was angry, he suppressed it.
Just as he was about to leave and wait for the army to arrive before forcing his way into the city, Liu Chang happened to pass by.
After Liu Chang's explanation, the soldiers defending the city admitted their mistakes and asked Zhu Cihong for forgiveness.
At this time, several more censors appeared. After accusing the soldiers of being rude, they also interceded on their behalf.
Zhu Cixiang sneered and forgave the soldiers, but on the grounds that his subordinates were disadvantaged, he asked one of his bodyguards to temporarily guard the city.
Although Liu Chang and others objected, Zhu Cixiang ignored them at all. After leaving 300 personal guards behind, he rushed to Kunning Palace with the remaining 200 people.
When he came to Kunning Palace and saw Princess Zhaoren sitting on the ground crying alone, without even a maid beside her, he couldn't help but be shocked.
Zhu Cixiang hurriedly stepped forward to pick up Princess Zhaoren, checking whether Princess Zhaoren was injured and asking for details.
When he learned that Princess Zhaoren only fell accidentally, he relaxed a little.
At this time, Zhu Yuluo, who came after hearing the sound, saw him and immediately showed a smile on her face, but then she frowned and said, "Brother, my mother didn't tell you not to come back, why did you come back?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Cixiang instinctively said: "I have not received a letter from my mother..."
As soon as he spoke, he knew that Liu Chang and others had intercepted Zhou Hou's letter. To avoid Zhu Aona's worry, he changed the subject and said, "Sister, is the queen okay?"
Zhu Ayao smiled forcefully and said, "The queen is just... just tired. She just took medicine and fell asleep!"
He said, paused, and continued: "You have just returned to the capital. I think you have a lot of things to deal with. You should go about your business first. I will send someone to inform you when the queen mother wakes up!"
When Zhu Cixiang heard that Zhou Hou was fine, he completely let go of his worries.
After leaving a hundred personal guards to guard outside Kunning Palace, he returned to Duanben Palace and summoned Fan Jingwen, Jiang Dejing and Huang Nilu to discuss matters.
Unexpectedly, the palace official told him that Huang Nilu was assassinated last night and was still bedridden.
When Zhu Cixiang heard about this, he couldn't help but be shocked.
He knew that Huang Nilu was quite loyal to Zhu Yuanzhang, and he was just thinking about whether to visit him in person and inquire about the situation in Beijing. When a young eunuch came in and reported that Zhang Xin, the Minister of Punishment, and Chen Biqian, the Minister of Works, were outside seeking to see him.
