In the early morning, a touch of sunshine fell in the Qingyuan Palace. Emperor Zhu Chengyuan sat on the dragon chair and looked thoughtfully at the faintly red floor that was illuminated. At this time, Qiu Sihai, the official of the Great Interior, walked in slowly and bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Huangfu asks to see you." ”

The emperor came back to his senses and said softly, "Xuan." ”

Huangfu Leng walked into the main hall quickly, bowed his head and saluted: "Emperor Fu Leng sees Your Majesty." ”

"The emperor doesn't have to be polite, get up and speak." The Emperor laughed.

Huangfu looked at the sunlight shining in coldly and smiled: "Your Majesty, the weather is really good today. ”

"I think you're in a good mood, let's say, what's the good news in Annan Province?" The Emperor asked.

Huangfu smiled coldly and said, "Your Majesty is wise, nothing can escape your eyes." ”

The emperor laughed and scolded: "Don't be a sycophant, I don't know what kind of character you have?" ”

Huangfu lowered his head coldly and smiled slightly, and said: "Qin Xiaoqin of Annan Province sent back the news, Ye Chen had eliminated a big gang in Annan Province a few days ago, the Qinglong Gang, and there were no casualties on his side, but many people from the Qinglong Gang were injured during the fight. ”

Emperor Zhu Chengyuan stood up and walked down the steps slowly, this was already the best news he had heard in half a month. In the past half a month, there has been an endless stream of twists and turns from all over the country, but none of them can make him worry.

Huangfu Leng continued: "That night, the Annan Provincial Inspectorate and the Provincial Government Yamen jointly conducted an operation to check the large and small shops, gambling halls, and brothels of the Qinglong Gang in the city, and Ye Chen took the people of the Anjiang Association to the Qinglong Gang's nest. ”

The emperor frowned and asked, "In this way, this Qinglong Gang is not a big deal, even if the people and businesses on the periphery are seized, it won't be just like that, the two dozen hairy boys of the Anjiang Society, right?" ”

Huangfu sneered, raised his head and said: "This kid is still a little brave and strategic, he not only asked Qin Xiaoqin to help, but also found another gang to join forces to deal with the Blue Dragon Gang, so dozens of people in the headquarters of the Blue Dragon Gang were powerless. ”

The emperor said, "It's a bit interesting, so that the other gangs will shift most of their attention from the relationship between Ye Chen and the government to that gang." ”

The cold-faced Hades was rarely excited, and said with a smile: "The magic is in this gang he is looking for." ”

"How?" Emperor Zhu Chengyuan looked at Huangfu suspiciously and said coldly.

"This gang is called the Kudong Gang, a gang of poor people on the wharf in the east of Annan Province, which usually lives on the goods of the ships on and off the wharf, never harms the people, and even sends a little food to the poor people around during the New Year's holidays. Ye Chen somehow moved their helper Li Daniu, and contributed people and efforts. And our people were unscathed, and they also occupied the initiative in the north of Annam Province. Huangfu replied coldly.

Emperor Zhu Chengyuan was interested and said: "It hasn't been a few months since he was able to have such results, and your eye for picking people is really unique." ”

Huangfu sneered: "That is the credit of Your Majesty's martial arts, and Weichen does not dare to take credit." ”

The emperor pointed at him and smiled: "Have I praised you?" No, I'm sending you more and more like Rice now. ”

Huangfu was slightly stunned, then waved his hand and said, "Lord Lai's cheeky minister may only be able to look forward to him in this life." ”

The emperor smiled: "Don't be modest, I think you are between the two of you." ”

Huangfu sneered and bowed his head and said nothing. At this time, a little eunuch ran in and bowed down, and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Lai and Master ask to see you." ”

The emperor looked at Huangfu and sneered: "You see, just mention him and come, let them in." Then he turned to Qiu Sihai and ordered: "Let someone bring a comfortable chair for the master, and add thick cushions." ”

"Yes." Qiu Sihai took the order and left.

Rice walked in with his master in his arms, and the two were just about to salute, but the emperor immediately stepped forward to help the master and said with a smile: "Sir, I said that you don't need to salute when you see me in the future." ”

Weng Shixiao smiled and said: "The gift of the monarch and the minister is still indispensable. ”

The emperor said helplessly: "Sir, you used to be my teacher, so I will have to pay a big salute when I see you in the future." ”

The old master hurriedly leaned over and said, "Your Majesty can't help it, the old minister will listen to Your Majesty in the future." ”

The emperor smiled and said, "I heard that you still insist on walking from the city gate to the Qingyuan Palace, why didn't the teacher listen to the persuasion, your current body is the most important thing." In case you stumble, those doctors of the Imperial Observatory must not scold me to death. ”

"Your Majesty said with a smile, the old minister's body is clear to himself, and walking around more is also good for the body, besides, isn't there a little scholar to support him, it will be fine." Weng Shixiao insisted.

The emperor had no choice but to give up.

Rice on the side said: "Your Majesty, the minister heard about something, and I don't know whether to talk about it or not. ”

The emperor looked at him and scolded with a smile: "If I don't let you say it, won't you say it?" I don't know you yet? ”

Rice is ashamed, his own image! He opened his mouth and said: "The people below say that there is a man named Sun Dacheng in Huaisu County, Annan Province, who specializes in opening kilns and burning porcelain for dignitaries. A month ago, a woman took a piece of paper to the imperial city to accuse Sun Daecheng of murder and cremation, but because there was no evidence and he was not from Gyeonggi Province, no one paid attention to it. He observed the emperor's face, and seeing that there was no change, he continued: "But a few days ago, the woman's body was found in a grove on the western outskirts of Gyeonggi Province. ”

Emperor Zhu Chengyuan frowned and said: "This kind of thing should not be handled by your cabinet, just leave it to the local government to deal with." ”

Rice didn't speak, just looked at Huangfu Leng.

The emperor gave him a cold look, and then said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the minister has also heard about this matter, but the case does not involve civil and military officials, and the minister is not easy to meddle in this matter, so it should be handed over to the local government." ”

The Emperor hummed and did not continue to speak.

Seeing this, Rice said stubbornly: "This woman is a distant cousin of a subordinate in the minister's mansion, half a month ago, her subordinate asked the minister's subordinate to investigate the matter, but due to the distinction of duties, the minister did not dare to show favoritism, so she asked her to go back to Annan Province to find someone from the provincial yamen, but who knew that she had unfortunately died a few days ago!" ”

The emperor was expressionless, looked at Rice and said, "Why didn't she go to the Annam Provincial Government to deliver the paper, but went directly to Gyeonggi Province, is there any hidden secret?" ”

Rice bowed her head and said seriously: "Your Majesty, this Sun Dacheng she sued is the distant cousin of General Li's third lady, Sun, who is used to being arrogant and domineering on weekdays, and there is no evidence, she may feel that no one in Annan Province dares to take care of this matter, so this woman will run to the imperial city to hand over the complaint." ”

The emperor frowned and said, "Which General Li?" ”

"The queen's brother, General Lee Lin-ho of the Gyeonggi Provincial Defense Battalion," Rice said word by word.

The emperor fell into deep thought, it was incredible that a small matter could involve the Li family. But the emperor knew in his heart that the empress would definitely not intervene in this matter, and he didn't even know that this relationship was still separated from her by 108,000 miles! The reason why Rice wants to mention the queen mother is because of Li Linhu's relationship.

The Emperor looked at Rice and asked, "Have you investigated this matter?" ”

Rice hurriedly leaned over and said, "The minister doesn't, the minister doesn't dare!" ”

The emperor said solemnly: "You don't have to worry about this matter, I have my own arrangements." It's time to go to court in a while, so get ready to prepare. ”

"Yes." The people answered.

Above the court, the imperial historian Xiuwen jumped out again to criticize the emperor for not paying attention to the people of the world, although he said that he fought the world on horseback, he still needed literati to rule the world. And the generals scoffed, and the two sides fought with each other, and they did not fight for reason until the end of the early dynasty. The emperor seemed to be accustomed to this kind of controversy in the court, quietly watching the strange state of the people below, and from time to time he had to take a sip of the herbal tea in the hands of the little eunuch next to him, as if the imperial history platform was not criticizing him but the generals.

After the end of the early dynasty, the emperor left Huangfu Leng and the rest of the people retreated.

The two came to Qingyuan Palace, and as soon as they entered the door, Emperor Zhu Chengyuan sneered at the emperor behind him, put his index finger to his lips and made a silent movement.

When Huangfu was still wondering, he saw the old master Weng Shixiao leaning back on the chair and falling asleep. He couldn't help but sigh that the master who had dedicated his life to Dahua was still old after all.

The master did not go to the court, this was specially approved by Emperor Zhu Chengyuan, because his body no longer allowed him to stand on top of the court for a long time, and the emperor ordered that the master could sit and listen when he went to the court, but the master felt that this was against the courtesy of the monarch and refused, so His Majesty the Emperor had no choice but to let him not go to the court, and if there was something, he would send someone to inform him.

The emperor asked Huangfu Leng to stand in place and wait for him for a while, and he lightly bypassed the master and walked to the innermost dormitory of Qingyuan Hall to take out a blanket and cover the master. The master also seemed to feel this warmth, slowly opened his eyes and then apologized: "Your Majesty forgives me, the old minister accidentally fell asleep." ”

The emperor looked down at the old man, who was also a teacher and friend, and said with a gentle smile: "It's okay, if you don't feel comfortable sleeping here, I can ask someone to buy another soft bed for my husband in the dormitory inside." ”

The master hurriedly picked up the blanket and got up and said, "Your Majesty has tormented the old man, how can the old man He De make His Majesty so loving." ”

Huangfu smiled coldly on the side: "Sir, Your Majesty is not joking with you, I think it's okay." ”

The master said angrily: "Nonsense, if the old minister sleeps on the bed here, won't he become a wicked person who is a disobedient offender!" If the people of the world knew, they would not have smashed the old man's backbone. ”

The emperor smiled: "It's not that serious, your contribution to my Dahua is well known, and no one will say it." ”

Huangfu Leng also nodded in agreement, but the master swore to die, so the emperor had to give up. He really treats the master as his elder, maybe the master's position in his heart is not even realized by Emperor Zhu Chengyuan himself.

Seeing that the master was no longer asleep, the emperor also let go of his voice and said: "Huangfu Leng, you also heard what Rice said before the last dynasty, what do you think?" ”

Huangfu sneered: "Since Your Majesty has left Weichen behind, he must have already thought of a countermeasure. The minister dared to guess His Majesty's thoughts, hoping that His Majesty would forgive his sins. ”

The emperor looked at Huangfu Leng with interest and said with a smile: "Let's hear it." ”

Huangfu Leng continued: "First, let Qin Xiaoqin, a thousand households in Annan Province, investigate this matter, because this involves the big people of Gyeonggi Province; Second, His Majesty wanted to use Ye Chen to deal with this matter. ”