The back hall of Renshou Palace.
Zhang Zhou followed Zhu Youtang and entered.
Zhu Xiurong jumped into the inner curtain.
Behind the gauze curtain, a distinguished old woman was sitting on a wide chair covered with yellow cushions, and on the other side was a beautiful and elegant woman in her thirties who was very graceful and had a virtuous and quiet atmosphere.
Needless to say, Zhang Zhou knew these two people, one was Queen Mother Zhou and the other was Queen Zhang.
Zhu Youtang made the introduction first: "Grandma Huang, your grandson has brought Zhang Zhou."
After saying that, Zhu Youtang smiled and nodded to Queen Zhang, while Queen Zhang stood up and saluted Zhu Youtang.
Even if the couple is deeply in love and usually doesn't need to be polite, they still have to show it in front of the old lady.
Zhang Zhou also hurriedly saluted Queen Mother Zhou and Queen Zhang. Because he was meeting the female family members of the inner palace, there was no need to kneel down, and he just cupped his hands. There was no need to use "chen" when he called himself.
"I have met the Empress Dowager and the Empress."
Queen Mother Zhou looked at Zhang Zhou with a soft look in her eyes, as if she admired Zhang Zhou very much. She pointed to the chair beside her and said, "Sit down."
This was obviously not meant for Zhang Zhou, and the specifications of the chair were not something Zhang Zhou could enjoy.
Zhu Youtang sat down and had someone prepare a chair for Zhang Zhou. Therefore, Zhang Zhou, who had not even passed the imperial examination, was actually qualified to sit in a place like Renshou Palace, even though he could only sit on it. Close to the position between the inner curtain and the outer room, there is a brazier that looks like an incense burner, which is very warm.
"Royal Grandma, are you still well?"
Zhu Youtang first expressed concern to Queen Mother Zhou.
"Fortunately, Emperor, you are really thoughtful. If you hadn't been here last night, the Ai family wouldn't have been able to sleep so soundly. When the late emperor was here, it would have been just like this. Of course, the Zhang Qing family also deserves credit."
Queen Mother Zhou was very satisfied with her grandson's filial piety.
But then Empress Dowager Zhou's expression became less gentle, and she said coldly: "Emperor, have you found the root cause of this fire?"
Zhu Youtang said: "Back to the emperor's grandmother, this fire was all caused by thunder and fire. I have asked everyone present, and almost all of them agreed. There is no way to lie."
Empress Dowager Zhou looked stern. She could be gentle last night, but that was just a turning point. Now it was time for her to attack: "Even if it is Tianhuo, shouldn't we find the root cause behind it? Yesterday Li Guang, today it is Li Guang." Guang, disaster is always coming, first it was the Ai family’s little great-granddaughter, and now it all falls on the Ai family. Do we want the palace to have no peace in the future?”
I'm coming.
Zhang Zhouxin said, "Li Guang, you are unlucky for a reason. It doesn't matter if God doesn't cooperate with you. The key is that the Queen Mother, who even the emperor dare not disobey, is trying to make trouble for you."
These words were equivalent to a lesson to the emperor.
Zhu Youtang did not defend his favor for Li Guang because he did not want to annoy Empress Dowager Zhou.
At this moment, Zhang Yong hurriedly came in and said to Zhu Youtang: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother, and Eunuch Xiao are outside asking for an audience."
Zhu Youtang looked at Queen Mother Zhou, meaning this is your territory, you have the final say whether you want to see Xiao Jing or not.
Empress Dowager Zhou said: "Ke Gong? We are familiar with him, let him come in."
Zhu Youtang then waved his hand, signaling for Xiao Jing to enter the palace.
Xiao Jing came in with rapid and heavy steps. After seeing a few people present, he knelt directly next to Zhang Zhou. Of course, he was facing the Empress Dowager Zhou who was in charge.
"What's the matter?" Zhu Youtang asked.
Xiao Jing was a little afraid to say it.
Zhu Youtang said: "They are all members of our own family, but it doesn't matter."
Zhang Zhou thought something was wrong. He was surrounded by all of your "family members", and I didn't seem to be the one.
Xiao Jing said with a bit of horror on his face: "Your Majesty, the note you asked your slave to send was given to Li Guang...and then...he...he committed suicide."
"What?"
Zhu Youtang stood up immediately, intending to go out and check it out in person regardless of the people present. Obviously, Li Guang's death shocked him greatly, and it was not in line with his expectations.
Empress Dowager Zhou looked puzzled, Li Guang died before I even put pressure on the emperor? Is Li Guang so loyal to the monarch and the country?
Empress Dowager Zhou's expression calmed down and she asked lightly: "Emperor, what's going on?"
At this time, everyone present stood up, except Queen Mother Zhou who was still sitting, including Queen Zhang and Zhang Zhou.
The emperor is standing, how can a minister sit down?
Only then did Zhu Youtang remember something and glanced at Zhang Zhou first with complicated eyes.
Then he said to Queen Mother Zhou: "I sent someone to deliver a note to Li Guang earlier. It was written by Bingkuan... There were only four words, white rice and yellow rice. I didn't figure out the meaning. Who would have thought... …Is there any help?”
Empress Dowager Zhou first looked at Zhang Zhou with soft eyes. She probably felt that Zhang Zhou's decisive actions were in line with her wishes. She used a prophecy and four words to force Li Guang to death.
But when she turned back to face the emperor, she said with impatience: "What to save? So many things in the palace are all caused by him? If you don't kill him, but let him commit suicide and apologize, he is already a member of the royal family." Benevolence and righteousness.”
Xiao Jing said: "Your Majesty, this person is...cannot be saved."
After Zhang Zhou heard this, he felt very happy.
Was it me who forced Li Guang to death? I borrowed your hand from the Emperor to kill Li Guang.
Li Guang thought that you already knew about his corruption and perversion of the law, so he was so frightened that he quickly committed suicide. He did not dare to take poison or hang his neck, because he knew that he had to die as soon as possible. There is no option of jumping off a building these days, and there is no cyanide to die quickly if you take poison. Hedinghong is the most strange poison in China since ancient times. It can torture people for several hours before they die.
Wiping the neck is the best option, and you can still leave a whole body.
"well!"
Zhu Youtang sighed heavily. He probably did not expect that Li Guang would die so simply, but he had said before that Li Guang should know his fate. Obviously the emperor also made the assumption that Li Guang might commit suicide to apologize.
But Zhu Youtang still had regret on his face.
It is not easy for the emperor to admit his mistakes, let alone...
Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, this Taoist priest Li has been getting elixirs all the time. Why doesn't Your Majesty send someone to his house to investigate?"
Zhu Youtang seemed to be awakened in an instant and said: "Go quickly... take a look at the books on elixirs and talismans in his house, and look at the immortal grass..."
"This..." Xiao Jing was in a dilemma.
I'm not an alchemist, and I don't understand those fairy stuff.
"Bingkuan, you and the people from Dongchang go and investigate." Zhu Youtang also realized this and said to Zhang Zhou.
If you don’t understand, I’ll send someone who knows.
When I turned around, I found that the Queen Mother Zhou was glaring at the two of them. That probably meant that Li Guang's ghost was still there, right? When a person dies, why should he go to his house to find some magic elixir?
Zhu Youtang quickly added: "Bingkuan, before you leave the palace, go to the Qingning Palace fire scene. Later, you can also go to Yuxiu Pavilion to have a look. If there are places where Feng Shui has been changed, you can give some advice."
While Zhang Zhou was taking orders, he couldn't help but look at Empress Dowager Zhou. At this time, Empress Dowager Zhou's gaze was no longer as kind as before.
Zhang Zhou knew it very well.
In dealing with Li Guang, he and the Queen Mother Zhou were comrades fighting side by side in the same trench, but once they got out of the trench, they became enemies.
Perhaps in Zhou Taihui's eyes, he is the next Li Guang.
"Your Majesty, I don't know much about metaphysics, so I'm afraid I won't be qualified... Besides, I still have to prepare for the exam in the coming spring."
Zhang Zhou told Zhu Youtang by refusing.
I am very sorry that Li Guang died, but unfortunately, I am unable to replace Li Guang, and I am a scholar and a candidate preparing to take the examination. Why should I do those alchemist things every day?
This can be regarded as a clear statement of attitude to Queen Mother Zhou.
Don't be hostile to me.
I am a good person.
Zhu Youtang frowned and said: "Bingkuan, don't hold back when things happen. Just do it if you have the ability. There is no need for you to belittle yourself. I just let you go and have a look. It won't delay your preparation for the exam."
Zhang Zhou then raised his hands and said, "I obey your order."
…
…
Zhang Zhou and Xiao Jing left the Renshou Palace. Dai Yi, who was standing at the door, looked at Zhang Zhou differently.
Li Guang's death was equivalent to the fall of a big tree for the palace's internal system, which would reorganize the palace's power system. The biggest variable was Zhang Zhou.
Because it was Zhang Zhou who led all these power changes.
"Eunuch Xiao, where are we going?" Zhang Zhou asked with a relaxed smile on his face.
Xiao Jing didn't even dare to raise his head in front of Zhang Zhou, and reminded with a dull head: "Mr. Zhang, your Majesty, won't you tell me? Go to the Qingning Palace fire scene first."
Zhang Zhou said: "How can you still call me Mr.? I don't dare to do so."
Xiao Jing said respectfully: "You deserve it. Please come with us."
After leaving the scope of Renshou Palace, Dongchang Fanzi approached, as well as the Tiqi of Jinyiwei, and at least thirty or forty people gathered at once.
Just the sound of these people's boots hitting the ground is terrifying.
This scene made Zhang Zhou feel that although the palace was headed by the eunuch who was responsible for the ceremony, the real power in his hands was that of the Dongchang Changgong.
By the time Zhang Zhou followed Xiao Jing to the scene of the Qingning Palace fire, the fire scene was basically ready.
There was an incense table in front of the fire, as if worshiping something, and there were a large number of royal guards and eunuchs standing guard.
"Everyone stop, Mr. Zhang is here." After Xiao Jing arrived, he shouted to the people present.
Then a team of royal guards and eunuchs came over. Zhang Zhou originally thought that these people came to meet him, but he never thought that when they saw him, these people fell to their knees.
This made Zhang Zhou very embarrassed.
Zhang Zhou thought to himself, I’m not here to accept your worship, so why do I do this?
"What is this?" Zhang Zhou couldn't help but look at Xiao Jing next to him with a wry smile.
Xiao Jing sighed with emotion: "They were all the people who guarded the fire outside Qingning Palace last night and witnessed the sky fire with their own eyes. Now that Li Guang has passed away, they regard you as an immortal master with great supernatural powers."
"hehe."
Zhang Zhou thought to himself, this group of people have experienced fires, and still have the sequelae of mistakenly identifying immortals?
On the spot, a man with the appearance of the General Banner of the Imperial Guard kowtowed and said, "Little man Zhang Yun, I saw the divine fire descending from the sky yesterday. I am grateful for the divine power of the Heavenly Master. I ask the Heavenly Master to bring more blessings to the palace in the future."
Xiao Jing came over and reminded in a low voice: "Yang Peng's people, Yang Peng was placed in Dongchang by Li Guang'an."
This seemed to remind Zhang Zhou that now the trees are falling and the hozens are scattered, and Li Guang's people are eager to find a home.
