When Zhu Cihong heard the report, he knew that someone in the palace must have secretly communicated the news, and Liu Chang and others would come.
Because if Liu Chang wanted to see him, he would have come with Zhang Xin and Chen Biqian before, and would not wait for Zhang Xin to be blocked before coming again.
It seems that Liu Chang gave him a warning at the city gate. He was worried that meeting him immediately would offend him, so only Zhang Xin and Chen Biqian came to ask for an audience.
It can be seen from this that what Zhang Xin said about the city gate should be just a cover, and his real purpose may still be Shen Zhanran.
Zhu Cixiang wanted to understand this and became calmer. ..
Just when he was about to ask the young eunuch to bring Liu Chang and others in, he suddenly remembered that since Zhou Hou was ordered to reorganize the palace, the relevant informants lurking in the palace had been removed. How could anyone inform Liu Chang today?
Could it be that after Zhou Hou fell ill, Liu Chang and others took the opportunity to bribe the palace people?
He thought this and immediately denied it.
Because based on his understanding of Zhou Hou, not to mention that Zhou Hou was only ill for a few days. Even if he was ill for more than a month, there was no way he would not know about the bribery of the palace people.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible for Hou Zhou to detect Lu Jiude's spy in the palace and replace him.
Then he thought about Zhu Yuyao's expression that seemed a little strange when he went to Kunning Palace just now.
He had not paid much attention to this matter before because he was worried about Zhou Hou's safety. Now that he thought about it carefully, Zhu Yuyao was not only a little surprised when she saw him at that time, but also seemed to be evasive in her words.
"Could it be that Queen Mother..."
"Your Highness, since Jiang Shangshu feels that I am enforcing the law unfairly, and Mr. Liu and others are here now, we might as well let them come in to comment!"
While Zhu Cixiang was deep in thought, Zhang Xin shouted angrily.
After he finished speaking, he glanced at Jiang Dejing provocatively.
When Jiang Dejing heard this, he said with disdain: "Justice is in the heart of the people, how can it be that a large number of people can take advantage of it!"
"Don't say that just Liu Chang and a few others will be given to Shizhonghe Yushi. Even if there are ten times more, I will not be afraid of you!"
Zhang Xin saw that Zhu Cixi didn't speak, so he took the opportunity to retort: "How dare you call yourself an old man in front of His Highness, but do you still have His Highness in your eyes?"
Jiang Dejing knew that he had made a mistake, and was speechless for a moment. Just when he was thinking about how to explain, he heard Zhu Cixiang's voice: "Master Zhang, please don't mess around!"
"Mr. Jiang once instructed me to study Shangshu under the orders of my father. He has a teacher-student relationship with me. Don't call yourself an old man. Even if you reprimand me, it is in line with etiquette!"
When Jiang Dejing heard this, a warm current suddenly surged in his heart, and he looked at Zhu Cixiang with gratitude in his eyes.
Zhang Xin was stunned for a moment and then came to his senses.
He knew that Zhu Cixi was trying to defend himself and that it would be useless to argue anymore, so he once again proposed to let Liu Chang and others in.
Zhu Cihong also understood what Zhang Xin meant, but he calculated the time and thought that his troops should be arriving soon. After a sneer in his heart, he asked the young eunuch to bring Liu Chang and others in.
But when he saw Liu Chang followed by several generals in armor, and Liu Chang and others looked sullen, the murderous intention in his heart became even stronger.
You must know that this is his palace, and those generals were not the ones who were ordered to go out on the expedition. At this moment, they actually entered in armor. It was clear that Liu Chang and others wanted to use soldiers to put pressure on him.
After Jiang Dejing saw those generals, he immediately scolded them, but the other generals refused nonchalantly on the grounds that they were inspecting the capital.
Jiang Dejing was not easy to fool. Just when he was about to refute, Zhu Cihong stopped him and asked Liu Chang with a smile what he was doing here.
Liu Chang smiled proudly, and just as he was about to speak, there was a burst of noise outside the door.
Immediately afterwards, Zhou Jing walked in wearing a military uniform.
Zhou Jing first looked at the generals coldly, then said that the guards had assembled and asked when the drill would start.
Zhu Cihong had previously transferred Zhou Jing out of Duanben Palace because he felt that Zhou Jing was acting a bit domineering and was worried that he would cause trouble and make things difficult for Queen Zhou.
Seeing him coming in a hurry now, I felt quite touched.
After Zhu Cixiang gave the casual instructions, he originally wanted Zhou Jing to step back, but he didn't expect that the other party would respectfully stand in front of him on the left.
Liu Chang saw this
situation, he gave a wink to a general beside him.
After the general nodded slightly, he slowly retreated.
Later, Liu Chang talked about Shen Zhanran, claiming that Shen Zhanran was suspected of collaborating with the enemy, and asked Zhu Cihong to capture him.
Jiang Dejing heard this and immediately refuted it.
Dai Ming said that upon seeing this, the others rushed to support Liu Chang.
Although Jiang Dejing was quick in thinking, it was difficult for him to defeat four hands with two fists, and he soon fell into a disadvantage.
Just when Jiang Dejing was tired of dealing with it, Fan Jingwen, Zuo Maodi, Meng Zhaoxiang and others arrived in time.
Although Fan Jingwen did not speak much due to his status as chief assistant, Zuo Maodi and Meng Zhaoxiang had no scruples.
For a time, there was a lively bickering in Duanben palace.
Zhu Cixiang, on the other hand, sat upright and calmly, watching the two groups quarreling.
In this way, the two sides argued for almost an hour, but there was no result.
Zhu Cixiang thought that his troops should have entered the city at this moment, and when he was about to get up and end the farce, he suddenly saw a young eunuch coming in to report that more than a thousand soldiers had gathered outside the Meridian Gate, claiming that if Zhu Cixiang did not punish Shen Zhanran, they would not I will protect the capital again.
When Jiang Dejing and others heard the report, they all looked angry.
Liu Chang and others looked at Zhu Cihong with smiles on their faces and asked him to make a decision early to avoid turmoil in the capital.
Zhu Cixiang looked at everyone coldly and shouted in a deep voice: "Where is Wang Jiayan, Minister of War?"
As soon as he said this, the smiles on the faces of Liu Chang and others became even stronger.
When Zhu Cixiang saw this, he couldn't help but be shocked.
At this time, Jiang Dejing stepped forward and reported: "Your Highness, Wang Shangshu has been suffering from cold a few days ago and is now bedridden..."
After Zhu Cihong heard this, he relaxed a little.
Because although he was confident that he could control everyone in the capital with the troops and horses in his hands, if there was no one to mediate, it would be very easy for a fight to break out over time.
Furthermore, even if there was no war, he would not want to keep this army in the capital for a long time.
So when he saw the expressions of Liu Chang and others just now, he was worried that Wang Jiayan had been poisoned.
Hearing that he was just sick, he nodded and said to Zhou Jing: "The King is the humerus of the country. Now that he is ill, I have no time to spare. Please go and express my condolences on my behalf!"
Zhou Jing was worried about Zhu Cixiang's safety and wanted to refuse.
Then he thought that the generals were now forcing the palace, and Duan Bengong's power alone would not be able to suppress them all.
So after he bowed and agreed, he hurried out.
When Liu Chang saw this, his smile became even stronger.
He was about to further force Zhu Cixiang when he suddenly heard Zhu Cixiang's voice saying: "Since the generals are having sex outside the palace, who of you dares to accompany me to have a look?"
As soon as Zhu Cixiang said this, everyone on Liu Chang's side, as well as Jiang Dejing and others, looked surprised.
Seeing the expressions of Liu Chang and others, Zhu Cihong sneered again in his heart.
It turned out that when he saw the general who nodded to Liu Chang sneak out, he knew that the general was going to move reinforcements.
He was originally worried that the other party would incite a large army to come, but now that he heard that there were only a thousand people, he knew that Liu Chang's side did not control many troops, and he felt much relieved.
He believed that as long as he suppressed this group of people, the other people who were waiting and watching would surely turn to him, and then he would have nothing to worry about.
While Zhu Cixiang was deep in thought, Chen Biqian stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, I would like to go check it out on your behalf!"
When Zhu Cixiang heard this, he glanced at Chen Biqian in surprise, nodded and said, "Okay, count you in!"
"But who else is willing to go with me?"
After Jiang Dejing was surprised, he was about to step forward to dissuade him.
At this moment, seeing that Zhu Cixiang, who had always been weak, suddenly changed from his normal state and was in high spirits, he felt that he should not give advice at this time, so as not to hurt the opponent's spirit.
Then he remembered that the soldiers guarding the Meridian Gate had been replaced by Jinyi guards a few days ago. As long as Zhu Cixiang did not go out of the Meridian Gate, there should be no danger, so he stepped forward and asked to accompany him.
Subsequently,
Fan Jingwen, Zuo Maodi and others all expressed their willingness to go.
When Liu Chang and others saw this, they were stunned and stepped forward to ask for the order.
Zhu Cixiang nodded with satisfaction, then took fifty personal guards and rushed towards the Meridian Gate with everyone.
