The wooden gate is closed, and it is flanked by towering stone walls, the walls are smooth without a single gap, and the whole wall has a gray color, which looks very solemn. The walls were thick, and there were spear-wielding sergeants patrolling them, and the sergeants had serious expressions, not smiling, and their eyes were vigilantly scanning back and forth below.

Especially Zhou Quan, an outsider standing at the door, could bear the most eyes, but what was strange was that although there was a watchtower on the city wall, there were no archers inside, and when he looked up, all the patrolling sergeants were armed with spears and wearing leather armor.

Crunch!

The heavy wooden door was opened, and Li Tu, who was tense all over, flashed out sideways from the inside, the door opened very small, allowing only one person to walk sideways, and the narrow gap made people not see the situation inside at all.

After Li Tu, there were cavalry one after another, and now the cavalry company is almost becoming Zhu Youxiao's personal guard company, and it has almost personally guarded Zhu Youxiao's safety in recent times.

After coming out, Li Tu carefully observed the surrounding situation, and only relaxed after repeatedly confirming that there was no danger, and then he nodded to Zhou Quan, who had been standing, and said hello. Li Tu had a very good relationship with Zhou Quan, and he often had to take care of him when he was in the Imperial Horse Prison.

In the face of Li Tu's kindness, Zhou Quan also responded with a smile, but his smile was a little far-fetched, obviously hiding something in his heart.

After five or six cavalrymen came out, Zhu Youxiao also came out, surrounded by everyone and stood still, dressed in armor, looking at Zhou Quan lightly.

"Slaves and maids, see His Royal Highness the Prince." Zhou Quan saluted first, and due to the different affiliations, he used a more formal title.

"Get up." Zhu Youxiao bowed slightly, "Zhou Quan, what are you looking for in this palace?" ”

"Your Highness, please allow the villain to report closely." Zhou Quan looked cautious, even if there were no other outsiders around, he subconsciously looked around.

"Come here." Zhu Youxiao frowned, but finally allowed it, they all came out to meet people, how could they listen to what the other party said. He and Zhou Quan are old acquaintances, and the other party also intends to move closer to him, and there is no problem in terms of safety.

After waiting for permission, Zhou Quan looked happy, then took a few steps forward, lowered his head and whispered in front of Zhu Youxiao, "Your Highness, the slave maid saw that Cao Huachun, the personal eunuch of Xili Niangniang, secretly went to the forbidden army's shift room in the middle of the night, and seemed to say something. And the eunuchs who are Zheng Guiren's cronies are the same, secretly contacting the forbidden army of the Imperial Horse Prison. ”

Zhou Quan softly described in detail what he saw and heard that night, he himself was the old man of the imperial horse eunuch, he had been there on an errand since he entered the palace, and now he was in his prime, and his memory was not bad, and he even told all the generals who were contacted by the eunuchs that night.

Name, position, subordinates, personality and hobbies, etc., 1510, very detailed. And this statement lasted for half an hour.

At this time, it was noon, the sun was very high, and Zhou Quan, who was dressed in a light silk gauze robe, was already sweating profusely, and then Zhu Youxiao, who was in armor, was only slightly moist on his forehead, and there was no trace of sweat. He stood motionless and listened for half an hour, and his mental head did not wilt under the sun's rays, but became more and more vigorous, and his eyes flashed brightly, so bright that even the sun's brilliance could not be stopped.

"Your Highness's eyes are as bright as the morning star, extremely bright, obviously the kung fu has entered the inner heart, and the point of strengthening the muscles, bones and blood marrow is really wonderful." Looking at Zhu Youxiao's state, Zhou Quan was extremely impressed, and the awe of the prince in his heart deepened.

"Oh, Grandpa Zhou also has a dabbling in martial arts?" Zhu Youxiao glanced at him in surprise, he didn't expect this eunuch to know so much about martial arts.

"Ahem! There are many warriors of the forbidden army under the command of the Imperial Horse Supervisor, and there are also generals who have trained their internal strength, but they are not as strong as His Royal Highness. The slave maid has been serving in the Imperial Horse Prison since she entered the palace, and she naturally understands it after seeing a lot. Zhou Quan bent down and explained with a smile.

"Oh, really?" Zhu Youxiao's heart moved, and he had some ideas, but then the pressure continued, the most important thing at present is to ascend the throne as the emperor, and everything else is trivial, and he will plan and rectify it in the future.

"Your Highness, Wan'an, the important matter that the slave and maid said has been reported, and I respectfully ask to retire." Seeing Zhu Youxiao's intention to further woo him, Zhou Quan was also single, not entangled, and retired directly. For him, today's goal has basically been achieved, and this important information is enough to serve as his advancement step and be rewarded after the crown prince ascends the throne.

Moreover, Zhou Quan is not a stupid person, from entering the palace at the age of ten to now at the age of forty, he has been struggling in the palace for thirty years, he has no connections and godfather, he has long practiced a delicate mind, Zheng Guifei and Xi Li Xuan's personal eunuch actions, as long as you know a little about the grievances and feuds between the current prince and these two, you will know what is going on.

Although the inside story of the Ciqing Palace murder case and the attack case were secretive, for the eunuchs who were in it, as long as they had a heart, it was not difficult to find out the news, and it was precisely Zhou Quan who was such a caring person.

Since Guangzong was seriously ill, it was just a day, and the entire Forbidden City was weird, countless undercurrents were surging, eunuchs were shuttling everywhere, palace maids were running, and those who had the ability and ambition were all working hard to bet.

"Go ahead!" Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and asked the other party to step back, how could he not know what Zhou Quan meant, but now that the matter is serious, he has no extra time to accept the newcomer, and everything is said after September 1st.

Looking at the direction of Zhou Quan's departure, Zhu Youxiao fell into deep thought, he didn't expect that Zheng Guifei and Xi Li Xuanshi, two stupid people in history, would actually start to act now, and they were also directly trying to win over the forbidden army.

What are they going to do? Who taught them to do this? Who is behind this? Who's involved? Is it the Donglin Party or the other three parties?

Countless doubts surrounded Zhu Youxiao's heart, which made him feel turbulent and mixed for a while.

"Your Highness? Your Highness? Suddenly, Li Tu's voice sounded, making Zhu Youxiao wake up from deep thought.

"Let's go back!" Zhu Youxiao shook his head and walked back. He found that he paid too much attention to the development of external forces, and neglected the inside of the court, resulting in such important news that an outsider had to tell him.

With a creak, the heavy wooden door closed, and through the crack, which would open a little wider, we could see that countless white tents were laid among them, and groups of soldiers armed with spears marched through them in an orderly manner, their steps were in unison, the formation was strict, and their expressions were solemn, all of them elite domestic soldiers.

Time passes little by little, especially recently, and everyone feels that time is passing so slowly, which is extremely painful.

In the Qianqing Palace, Xili's sleeping palace.

Xi Li Niangniang lay lazily on the bed, and somehow she knew that the annoying cicada chirped, buzzing non-stop, making people unable to lift a little spirit.

Today's Qianqing Palace can be said to be the most bizarre moment since the Ming Dynasty, the prince lives here, his favorite concubine also settles here, and even the concubines of the previous dynasty do not leave, it is really upside down, and the imperial power is ignorant.

Just as Xi Li Niangniang was lazy and enjoying the coolness, Cao Huachun, whose eyes were red and bloodshot, walked in. Today's eunuch Cao can be described as a proud horse's hoof, who has just taken office as the eunuch of the imperial horse eunuch, and in the blink of an eye, he has gone from being penniless to the current power-leaning inner court.

With a smug smile on his face, he strode in. Between walking, although he still guarded the distinction between monarchs and ministers, his expression was completely devoid of the eunuch's usual flattery, and his high-spirited stride was eye-catching.

"How's it going, Omemo, are things going well?" Seeing the new Imperial Horse Supervisor palm print coming in, Xi Li's eyes lit up, he sat up from the bed, and asked with some eagerness.

Due to the fierce movements, the placket on Xi Li's chest slid down, revealing the snow-white skin on his chest and the deep career line, and the white and delicate semicircular outline, which made Cao Huachun swallow his saliva violently.

Xu noticed Cao Huachun's gaze, Xi Li's face turned slightly red, he pulled the placket of his clothes, and then pretended to be indifferent, and continued to ask, "Big companion, is the trip to the forbidden army going well?" I boasted about Haikou in front of Concubine Zheng, saying that it had been done for a long time, and there was no problem. Don't disgrace me! ”

"Rest assured, there is no problem for the slave and maid to go out." After swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Cao Huachun's eyes moved away from Xi Li's chest and patted his chest for assurance.

"It's just ......." Cao Huachun suddenly frowned again, which made Xi Li feel tight.

"Just what?" She hurriedly asked, and her heart was pounding.

Although Xi Li's IQ is okay and has reached the passing line, it is obvious that the method of winning over the forbidden army is not something she can come up with and implement, everything is Cao Huachun's attention, she just came forward to call the shots, and now her own masterminds are frowning and worrying, which makes her a little flustered in vain.

"Don't worry, the slave maid is just a close eunuch who bumped into the imperial concubine Niangniang in the squad rooms of the forbidden army, and the other party seems to be doing the same action as us." Cao Huachun hurriedly comforted Xi Li and told her not to panic.

"Oh, I thought it was a big deal, so that's the case, isn't it good for Concubine Zheng to win over the forbidden army, so that our strength will be a little more, and it will be easier to abolish that little when the time comes." Xi Li patted her chest and put her mind at ease, she didn't notice Zheng Guifei's intentions at all.

"This ......." Xi Li's indifferent appearance made Cao Huachun dumbfounded, he wanted to explain, but he opened his mouth but didn't know where to start.

"Niangniang, this matter must not be negligent, the original agreement was that we controlled the imperial horse prison army, and Zheng Guifei issued a posthumous license with the respect of the imperial concubine, abolished the position of the crown prince, and established the emperor's five sons as the emperor, so that the two parties have their own side and cooperate with each other." Cao Huachun said the original agreement in one breath, and then continued to analyze without stopping.

"The imperial concubine is already deep-rooted and powerful in the inner court, and now she is winning over the forbidden army, and she is holding the posthumous photo, and she has the dignity of the imperial concubine, in case she wants to compete with her mother for the custody of the fifth brother, we have no name to resist."

"What can I do?" For her own interests, Xi Li is still shrewd, she understood it at once, but after she understood, she had no solution, and could only look at her companion with a help-seeking gaze.

"Don't worry, slave maid has a good way." Cao Huachun deserves to be an elite eunuch from the Inner Book Hall, but after being silent for a while, he has a way to break the situation.

"We can follow the tricks of the Empress Dowager Cisheng back then, look for support in the outer court, as long as we find Zhang Jiangling who is willing to support Niangniang, then great things can be expected, and we no longer have to be afraid of the imperial concubine to seize power." Cao Huachun had a bright smile on his face.

And I can follow the example of Feng Yongting back then, in charge of the ceremonial supervisor, holding the power to criticize red, and becoming a veritable internal minister. Cao Huachun didn't say this, but he kept circling in his heart.

"So I'll leave it to you." Xi Li was overjoyed and entrusted everything to Cao Huachun. And Cao Huachun was also quite happy, and after saluting, he turned around and went out, preparing to go to the outer court to find candidates for a new round of Iron Triangle.