Zhu Houzhao came surrounded by Liu Jin and others.
When Zhu Houzhao appeared outside the fire scene of Qingning Palace, his whole body exuded the innocent and lively spirit unique to a child. His eyes were excited after seeing a big scene, as if he had discovered a new world.
Ever since Zhu Houzhao learned that there was a fire in Qingning Palace at night, he had not fallen asleep. He had been urging the eunuchs to go to him to find out the news, but he did not get anything useful. Seeing that it was already dawn, he couldn't help but come in person.
The majestic palace burned down to the ruins, the former glory and the current ruin... everything in front of him made him feel that his trip was worthwhile.
When Zhu Youtang saw his son, all the features on his face were twisted together.
"Your Highness, you can't come forward. It's dangerous here."
When Dai Yi saw this scene, before Zhu Youtang could say anything, he went up to grab Zhu Houzhao, but Zhu Houzhao threw his hand away.
Zhu Houzhao came straight to Zhu Youtang, and his face became a little more solemn: "You slave, you don't understand the rules. There is a fire in the palace. Why don't I come to check it out?"
Just as he was talking, a beam in the palace not far away fell to the ground with a thud due to the burning of the load-bearing pillars below. The eunuchs who were cleaning up the fire scene were startled and they all fled away.
Zhu Houzhao turned a blind eye and continued: "Didn't my father also teach my children to have compassion? Father, my children came late. I wonder if there will be any human life damage from this fire? Is the Empress Dowager okay?"
Originally, Zhu Youtang was holding back his anger and was about to order Liu Jin and other East Palace eunuchs to be taken out and beaten.
After hearing his son's words, Zhu Youtang felt both relieved and strange.
This prince has always been fooling around, why is he showing signs of humanistic care today?
Transitioned?
Knowing that a son is like a father, Zhu Youtang couldn't help but glance at the few East Palace eunuchs next to him. Needless to say, these people must have taught the prince what to say.
Zhu Youtang said: "The Empress Dowager is fine, and no one was hurt."
Zhu Houzhao immediately grinned, and after holding it back for a long time in front of his father, he finally couldn't help showing his excitement and said: "Father, I heard that it was Zhang Zhou who was outside the palace. He figured out that there was a fire in Qingning Palace last night, right? ? This person is so powerful, I have seen him before..."
"have you seen?"
Zhu Houzhao hurriedly changed his words: "My son heard about it from Zhu Feng. He said that this man has great supernatural powers. When my father sees him again, can I also ask my son to meet him? Can I ask him for advice?"
Several eunuchs nearby couldn't help but feel ashamed.
"Cough cough cough..." Zhu Youtang couldn't help but cough.
Zhu Houzhao never knew how to advance or retreat, and could not see the change in his father's face. He continued to argue: "Father, do you know that this fire started after a bolt of lightning struck from the sky?"
"Humph." Zhu Youtang responded coldly.
Zhu Houzhao's little eyes were full of curiosity and he asked eagerly: "Father, how did this lightning strike? Horizontally or vertically? Hey, don't pull it..."
Liu Jin and others were frightened when they heard this.
Originally, he had no choice but to accompany Zhu Houzhao to the fire scene, and he happened to be bumped into by the emperor. It seemed that a punishment was inevitable. This naughty kid was still talking nonsense in front of the emperor. Should he be allowed to live?
As expected, Zhu Youtang also said with a sullen look on his face: "Take him back and confine him for two days. He is not allowed to step out of the East Palace! If there is any violation, the attendants of the East Palace will also punish him!"
He probably also knew that it was useless to just restrict his son. This bastard would definitely find an opportunity to run away. Only by speaking harshly to the eunuchs and letting them stare at him could he really restrict his son's scope of activities.
"Father, I am not wrong. I am just here to help you with disaster relief..."
Zhu Houzhao finally arrived at the fire scene that he had been thinking about for a long time. He barely showed his face. Before he could fully appreciate the shock of the big scene, he was taken back.
…
…
"Cough cough cough..."
After the prince was taken away by the eunuch of the East Palace, Zhu Youtang was still coughing.
Maybe he caught a cold, maybe he was choked by the cigarette, or maybe he was angry with his son.
Xiao Jing reminded: "Your Majesty, the air here is very heavy, you should go back and rest early."
Zhu Youtang stood there and continued to stare at the fire scene in a daze.
Dai Yi said: "Your Majesty, it seems to me that the prince wants to verify what he asked about the sky fire."
"What's the explanation?" Zhu Youtang looked sideways.
Dai Yi continued: "Although many people saw that it was fire from heaven, it is also possible that everyone was talking about it to shirk responsibility, or they did not see it clearly and thought it was fire from heaven. If you ask more people to verify the direction of the lightning, you may be able to know Are they talking nonsense? The prince just expressed it untruthfully."
"Um."
Zhu Youtang looked much better after hearing this.
It turned out that the son was not fooling around, but was just concerned about how the fire started.
It’s not only because I seek knowledge, but also because I work rigorously and don’t rub sand in my eyes.
It seems that my son is still making progress.
When a group of eunuchs around saw this scene, they all admired in their hearts... Or are you so good at Eunuch Dai that you can make up for the emperor's displeasure caused by the prince appearing at the fire scene and talking nonsense?
Or how can we say that the Chief Supervisor of Ceremonies and even the twenty-fourth Supervisor are following the lead?
"Has anyone been sent to the front hall?" Zhu Youtang asked.
Dai Yi said: "Eunuch Chen has gone over to inform you."
"Alas!" Zhu Youtang sighed, "That's it, I'm going to rest first and go to Qianqing Palace. Don't disturb the queen..."
"Show off to Qing Palace!"
…
…
In front of the Fengtian Palace, the ministers were still waiting to meet.
At this time, Xie Qian was chatting with Lin Han, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites and the Northern Imperial Academy's ritual wine.
"I heard that Hengda has given birth to another child? Congratulations!"
Xie Qian smiled and expressed congratulations to Lin Han.
"Thank you very much."
Lin Han also had a bit of pride on his face.
At this time, Lin Han was sixty-four years old. He was very famous in the Ming Dynasty academic circles and was a highly respected moral model. However, his only "hobby" that was not very good was giving birth to children. Of course, he could not have a wife all the time. Life, this work requires constant concubinage to complete.
Literati are sometimes good at this, but Lin Han is among the "best".
Lin Han only had nine sons named in history, and there were even more who did not live to adulthood after birth. When Lin Han's last son, Lin Tingji, was born, Lin Han was already seventy-eight years old.
Some of these sons also left a mark in history, achieving Lin's feat of "three generations and five ministers".
And now he is only sixty-four, and for Lin Han, he is still in the peak period of childbirth.
Xie Qian first talked about irrelevant things, and then asked about necessary matters on behalf of the cabinet: "I heard that you have a man named Zhang Bingkuan coming to Beiyong. Have you ever seen him in Hengda?"
"Zhang Bingkuan? Who?" Lin Han looked puzzled.
Although Zhang Zhou's previous treatment of the little princess was no longer a secret in the circle of nobles and ministers in the court, Lin Han obviously didn't care much about it. Even if he heard it mentioned before, he would forget it.
Although Lin Han is the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, he is busy with his studies most of the time and rarely comes to the court. This is why Xie Qian hurried over to ask when he saw Lin Han.
Xie Qian said: "It's the one who offered acne medicine to the court and saved the little princess."
"Oh, is that the person you are talking about? I have also heard that he was born in Nanyong Legong, and he passed the Yingtianfu Township Examination to solve the Yuan Dynasty in one fell swoop. Many scholars criticized him, thinking that he was opportunistic and unworthy of the position. Why? , has he arrived in Beiyong?" Lin Han was still confused.
Xie Qian felt like he couldn't talk anymore today.
Zhang Zhou was forced by the emperor to serve as a scholar in the North Imperial Academy. You, Lin Hengda, served as the imperial prince to offer wine, but you didn't know?
Before Xie Qian could tell everything, he saw Chen Kuan coming over in a hurry.
"All ministers and ministers, please come back if you are absent from the morning today."
Chen Kuan's words attracted everyone's attention.
Liu Jian, the first assistant, and Tu Yu, the official minister, came forward. Tu Yu, who had a straightforward temper, asked, "Why did you quit the court?"
Chen Kuan had a sad look on his face, deliberately slowed down his tone, and said with tears in his eyes: "Dear ministers, a fire from heaven fell on Qingning Palace last night, and the fire burned for nearly midnight... All the palaces around Qingning Palace were burned down... Fortunately, the Empress Dowager had moved out the day before yesterday, and those who were serving her were evacuated in time and were not harmed."
"ah!?"
There was an uproar.
Tu Yu was shocked and said, "How could this happen?"
Chen Kuan shook his head and said that no more information could be disclosed to the outside world.
While the ministers were talking about it, they seemed reluctant to leave the palace immediately, because they also realized that it was time for them to use the topic to make a big fuss.
