After Zhu Houzhao arrived at the Cining Palace, many eunuchs and serving girls kowtowed!
"Your Majesty has arrived!" the eunuch shouted.”
In the Ci Ning Palace, Bai Muxue became nervous. She had just been conferred the title of Lady by the Empress Dowager. Although she did not know the rank of a Lady's concubine, she knew that from today onwards, her fate was closely linked to the Emperor.
Could it really be that youth?
Until now, Bai Muxue still could not believe it.
When Zhu Houzhao entered Ci Ning Palace, Bai Muxue saw that familiar face!
It was him!
It really was him!
He was like a brother next door who saved her from getting lost…
At that moment, Bai Muxue felt as if she had seen her family. The Ci Ning Palace was a foreign place. The Empress Dowager was dignified, and the entire Ci Ning Palace was filled with solemnity.
After Zhu Houzhao appeared, Bai Muxue had a strange feeling. It was as if she had found a harbor that she could rely on in an unfamiliar place.
In the Ci Ning Palace, Zhu Houzhao saw Bai Muxue and Ouyang Jing 'er. Suddenly, he understood.
"Zhao 'er is here. Come, sit beside mother.”
"I conferred the title of a lady just now. I think this girl is very good…"
Bai Muxue lowered her head shyly and said,""Your Majesty…"
In Cining Palace, Zhu Houzhao left after chatting with the Empress Dowager for a while.
Bai Mu Xue was led to Chuxiu Palace by a eunuch.
……
Shangguan Haitang had already entered the palace, but she found that there seemed to be something strange in the palace.
The East and West Chambers seemed to be secretly competing with each other, neither of them willing to submit to the other…
The next day, the sky was bright.
Forbidden City, Xuanzheng Hall.
Pa!
Pa!
Pa!
After three whipping sounds, the civil and military officials crossed the Golden Water Bridge and stepped onto the white stone square to arrive at the Golden Palace Hall.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Zhu Houzhao sat on the dragon throne and said with dignity,""Everyone, please rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After the officials stood up, Zhu Houzhao looked around at the officials and said,""Do you have any memorials to report?”
Liu Jian, the chief assistant of the cabinet, quickly walked out of the court and cupped his hands."Your Majesty, I have something to report."
"Correct."
"Your Majesty, under the pursuit of the Ming Dynasty's affiliated kingdoms and generals like Wang Shouren, the Jurchen tribe has been gradually wiped out.”
"The remaining 10,000 people have already retreated to the mountains.”
"I advise you to reorganize the three guards of Jian Province and set up another city as a border fortress.”
"Firstly, it can defend against external enemies. Secondly, they could use this big city to deepen the relationship between Ming and the other affiliated kingdoms.”
As he finished speaking, Zhu Houzhao said thoughtfully,""If we build a city outside the three guards of Jian Province, wouldn't it be easy for other races to surround this city if they came?”
" Your Majesty," Liu Jian cupped his hands and said," the Jurchen and Yeh Nala tribes in Jianzhou have retreated into the mountains. They won't be able to invade the border of Ming Dynasty for the next hundred years…"
Without waiting for Liu Jian to finish, Zhu Houzhao said solemnly,"I didn't ask you if the Jurchen would commit the same crime, but if a strong enemy attacked and surrounded them, what should we do?!”
Liu Jian's expression froze. After pondering for a while, he said,""Your Majesty, we can build two more small cities outside this city.”
"These three cities have the same function as the three guards of Jian Province. They are the horns of each other and help each other.”
"In times of peace, these three cities can strengthen the trade between Great Ming and the affiliated kingdoms and neighboring countries, and use this to collect taxes to maintain the economic stability of the cities.”
"During the war, the appearance of these three cities acted as a buffer, giving Great Ming enough time to mobilize troops to aid the border.”
The chief assistant of the cabinet answered the emperor's questions fluently.
Zhu Houzhao's originally serious face finally revealed a faint smile.
"Someone, bring me a pen and paper!"
The eunuch heard this and quickly started to grind the ink.
Zhu Houzhao suddenly stood up and wrote a line of words on the paper.
The border city was located in a dangerous place and suppressed the barbarians…
It was named the Zhennu Pass!
When Liu Jian received the Emperor's calligraphy paper from the eunuch, his heart felt as if it had been hit by a raging sea.
The domineering aura of a ruler and the might of a great country were fully displayed on this line of words.
Vigorous and powerful, the aura of a king!
The sun was the most difficult place in the world!
……
Inside the Golden Palace.
The civil and military officials were still panicking because of the Emperor's might a second ago, but in the next second, they were crying tears of joy because of the Emperor's holy act.
Although it was only a short line of words on the Xuan paper, it was comparable to a million soldiers intimidating the border.
Just as all the officials in the court were praising him, a bugle call sounded outside the palace.
"West Hall Governor Yu Huatian is already waiting outside the hall.”
Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but look outside the hall.
This time, Yu Huatian personally led a hundred factory guards to North Korea to announce the imperial edict, showing the might of the Empire's High Ambassador.
To a certain extent, he had also made a considerable contribution in the battle to exterminate the Jurchen in Jianzhou.
"Announce!"
The eunuch took a step forward and announced loudly,""His Majesty has decreed that Yu Huatian, the Governor of the West Military Yard, would like to see you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Governor of the West Hall, Yu Huatian, stepped into the hall.
Under the gazes of all the officials, Yu Huatian stepped into the hall alone and bowed respectfully."I am fortunate that I did not fail your orders. I have returned to the court and have come to report to Your Majesty.”
Zhu Houzhao nodded slightly.”
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Although Yu Huatian was the Governor of the West Hall, he was a eunuch and could not step into the court.
Today was the first time he appeared in the Golden Palace.
In the past, Yu Huatian had fantasized about stepping into the throne room and discussing state affairs with the officials.
But today, even if it was only for a moment, Yu Huatian had already tasted the joy within.
"My dear minister, you went to North Korea to read out the imperial edict and made a contribution. I will naturally reward you well.”
"Come on! Pass on my edict, reward Yuhuatian 100 pieces of silk, 1,000 taels of gold.”
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhu Houzhao nodded slightly and said,"You may leave first!"”
"Yes."
……
After the retreat.
Inside Yangxin Hall.
Zhu Houzhao casually flipped through the memorials submitted by the ministers.
Yu Huatian, the supervisor of the West Chamber, drew the route he had taken and the topography of North Korea on paper and presented it to the Emperor.
Zhu Houzhao flipped through the blueprints and muttered,""What are your thoughts on this trip to North Korea?”
Yu Huatian cupped his hands and said,"Your Majesty, I have come to North Korea to receive Your Majesty's royal prestige. Only then did I know how powerful the empire is."”
Zhu Houzhao nodded slightly and stood up.""The recruitment of the West and East Chambers and the Embroidered Uniform Guards should be carried out as soon as possible.”
"Yes."
Just as Zhu Houzhao and Yu Huatian were discussing this matter, a series of hurried footsteps sounded outside the palace.
From time to time, a young eunuch ran in with fear and trepidation and said in a panic,""Your Majesty, something bad has happened."
"The eunuch who inspected the dishes in the imperial kitchen is dead!”
Boom!
Yu Huatian's heart suddenly trembled!
He instinctively thought of something. Someone was trying to harm the Ming Emperor!
How bold!
Damn it! Damn it!
Bang!
Zhu Houzhao suddenly stood up and said with a cold expression,""Where is the corpse now?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, he is still in the imperial kitchen. The imperial physicians of the Imperial Academy of Medicine have already gone to check.”
"Yu Huatian!"
When Yu Huatian heard this, he cupped his hands and said,"I'm here."”
"Investigate this matter thoroughly!"
These four words were as heavy as a mountain.
Harming the Ming Emperor was not a small matter.
When the emperor was angry, blood flowed for thousands of miles.
As the emperor's hawk, if the West Chamber couldn't investigate this matter, everyone from him to the guards would be beheaded.
Damn it! Damn it!
Just who was this person that had the guts to do something so outrageous?
"This subject will obey!"
Yu Huatian turned around and left Yangxin Palace Hall, rushing to the imperial kitchen.
At the same time, the entire Forbidden City was also under martial law. No one was allowed to enter or leave at will.
In the imperial kitchen.
Because the young eunuch who was inspecting the dishes had died of poisoning, the imperial chef who was responsible for cooking for the emperor naturally became the first suspect.
The moment Yu Huatian's venomous gaze landed on the imperial chef, he was so frightened that he knelt on the ground and trembled.
"Men, bring him to the West Hall!"
Hong ~
The imperial chef was so frightened that he immediately collapsed to the ground and begged,"Please spare my life, Governor! Even if I had a hundred guts, I wouldn't dare to harm His Majesty!”
"Please spare my life, superintendent!"
At this moment, the royal chef no longer had any dignity to speak of. He used all means possible to beg Yu Huatian for mercy.
However, Yu Huatian's cold face did not show any emotion.
Just as the guards of the West Hall were about to go up and capture him, the imperial chef rushed to the stove in fear and smashed his head against it.
Fresh blood dyed the ground red, and a series of terrified screams sounded.
When Yu Huatian saw this, he frowned slightly but did not say anything.
Once he entered the West Hall, his life and death would no longer be under his control.
Especially the torture tools and punishments inside, it was simply worse than death.
Even though the royal chef admitted that he had not done this, he was still willing to die in order to avoid being tortured.
However! The death of the royal chef did not mean that the matter had been resolved.
If the real murderer could not be found, more people would die.
"Come on!"
"Bring all those who can come into contact with the dishes to the West Hall!”
"Yes, sir."
"Spare me, Governor! Spare me, Governor!”
The palace maids and eunuchs knelt on the ground in fear.
They also wanted to commit suicide like the imperial chefs, but not everyone had the courage to do so.
Under the escort of the factory guards, dozens of palace maids and eunuchs were all escorted out.
The imperial physician who was examining the poisoned eunuch immediately became nervous.
"Imperial Physician Wang, do you know what poison killed him?”
Yu Huatian's cold voice rang in his ears.
Imperial Physician Wang's heart suddenly trembled and he said truthfully,"Supervisor, it's the poison of the Seven-Step Snake!”
"Seven-Step Snake!"
Yu Huatian's eyes narrowed as he thought to himself.
The poison of the Seven-Step Snake was extremely poisonous. If one was bitten by a Seven-Step Snake, they would die in less than an incense stick's time. It was difficult to cure!
However! It was also because of the characteristics of this poison that Yu Huatian's gaze instantly locked onto the outside of the palace.
Only outside the palace could one get such poisonous snakes.
Who had the ability to bring in poisonous snakes from outside the palace without anyone noticing?
One must know that the Forbidden City was heavily guarded. Other than the eyes and ears of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, there were also the West and East Chambers, the palace masters, and so on.
It was not an easy task to bring such a venomous snake in.
"Men!"
"Supervisor."
"Immediately arrest all the eunuchs and palace maids who have been entering and leaving the Forbidden City in the past few days and interrogate them strictly!”
"Understood!"
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]