Zhang Ning entered the palace almost every day, either to report the important news collected by the secret agents, or to accompany the emperor to talk, drink tea and chat.

When Zhu Qizhen was tired from reviewing the recital, he would talk to Zhang Ning, even if he only chatted for a quarter of an hour, his fatigue would be swept away. It doesn't matter what you talk about, the important thing is that you can relax by chatting with Zhang Ning.

Only Zhang Ning is a friend of him, and he will talk to him about some topics between friends.

As a lonely emperor, it is really precious to have such a friend. Zhu Qizhen cherishes it very much.

In the middle of the afternoon, Zhang Ning entered the palace again.

Zhang Ning usually picks this hour, just early in the morning to disperse, Zhu Qizhen went back to Zhaoren Hall to eat snacks. Whether it's a matter of time or a chat, it's very suitable.

He walked to the Qianqing Palace familiarly, and suddenly a person came diagonally opposite, and said with a smile: "Yo, isn't this Lord Zhang?" ”

This person is about 30 years old, with a white face and beard, a double chin, and a very kind smile is Cao Jixiang.

Zhang Ning also smiled and said, "Yo, it turned out to be Gonggong Cao, where are you going?" "I suspect you deliberately waited for me here.

Cao Jixiang said: "Our family came back from Cishou Palace. Is Lord Zhang going to Qianqing Palace? ”

"Gonggong Cao was sent to Cishou Palace on an errand?" Zhang Ning deliberately pretended not to understand the unfinished meaning of Cao Jixiang's words, who didn't know that the Empress Dowager didn't want to see him? Cao Eunuch secretly used the Empress Dowager to remind Zhang Ning that she was able to speak in front of the most authoritative woman in the palace and could say something in front of her at any time.

"Not really. The Empress Dowager was merciful and asked our family to come over and rewarded our family with some cakes. Cao Jixiang said very proudly.

Don't underestimate these cakes, as long as they are rewarded by the emperor or the ladies in the palace, they will be very glorious.

Zhang Ning saw that he was empty-handed, and said strangely: "What about the pastry?" "You're not going to say you're being eaten, are you? However, all the ministers who have been rewarded with food must bow and bow with great value, and the ministers who have received a rare reward will also gratitatively take the food rewarded by the nobles to the ancestral hall to worship their ancestors, and tell the ancestors that their descendants have obtained supreme glory.

Of course, it is impossible for eunuchs to worship their ancestors and eat them after receiving a reward, but it is also impossible for them to eat immediately after receiving a reward. Zhang Ning believed that the Empress Dowager would not reward him for no reason.

Sure enough, Cao Jixiang said: "Our family has eaten it." ”

You're a liar. Zhang Ning said: "I don't know why the Empress Dowager rewards her father-in-law?" "Is it because you're going to do it behind your back?

"The Empress Dowager is merciful and says that our family will serve Your Majesty with all our hearts." Cao Jixiang had a smug face.

To convince the emperor, it should be Jia Xiaosi who often follows the emperor. The Empress Dowager should reward him if she wants to reward him, how can she reward you? Zhang Ning is even more sure that this product is waiting here, just to remind himself that he has the support of the Empress Dowager behind him, so that he doesn't get too close to Jia Xiaosi.

Zhang Ning smiled and said: "The Empress Dowager values Father-in-law Cao so much, how can Father-in-law Cao eat the cake rewarded by the Empress Dowager?" No matter what, it has to be enshrined for three or five days, and then it is cherished and eaten. I said Gonggong Cao, you have failed the Queen Mother's intention to reward you with snacks. ”

Cao Jixiang's face changed slightly, and he said, "What did you say?" ”

Zhang Ning's smile remained unchanged, and he said word by word: "The official said that you are disrespectful to the Empress Dowager." ”

"Nonsense." Cao Jixiang's face was hideous and said: "You are disrespectful to the Empress Dowager, otherwise how dare you disobey her old man's wishes and marry the county lord." ”

That's why you attacked Youyou and sent someone to spy on her, and accidentally learned that I quietly entered the house through the back door every night to look for her, so you sent the chess pieces buried next to King Zheng to lure King Zheng over. Zhang Ning was stunned.

"The Empress Dowager is sick, you don't let her old man recuperate, but learn her tongue in front of her old man, which makes her old man upset, if Your Majesty learns, you will definitely be sent to guard the tomb of the first emperor." Zhang Ning said. Do you think that only you will threaten Lao Tzu with a superior person? Lao Tzu will too.

Cao Jixiang's eyes showed a fierce light, stared at Zhang Ning, and said, "Lord Zhang, don't think that others don't know what you did? ”

"Huh." Zhang Ning smiled and said, "May I ask Gonggong Cao, what did this official do?" ”

Cao Jixiang was speechless for a while, glared at Zhang Ning fiercely, and walked away.

Zhang Ning watched his back disappear with a gloomy face. Jia Xiaosi and Cao Jixiang have been fighting for more than a day, firstly, Jia Xiaosi did not ask for help, and secondly, Zhang Ning did not want to stretch his hand too long, so as not to arouse the emperor's jealousy, but it was not beautiful. Therefore, he has always paid attention to the dispute between the two prisons and did not interfere. Unexpectedly, Cao Jixiang made the first move, and what made him unbearable was that this eunuch actually ambushed the chess pieces next to the Youyou father and daughter, and attacked the Youyou father and daughter.

…………

Granny Liu went back to her room after lunch as usual. She has the habit of taking a nap, and she has to sleep for half an hour every afternoon, otherwise she won't be able to open the door for Zhang Ning as soon as it gets dark.

If you miss the county lord, how can you do it?

In her sleep, she only felt panicked and couldn't breathe, so she struggled desperately. This struggle, I woke up. She opened her eyes and was startled by what she saw.

She had a tight rope around her neck, and she was almost strangled to death by this rope. The one pulling the rope was a skinny man she didn't recognize.

"Silence. If you dare to speak out, Lao Tzu will strangle you immediately. The thin man's voice was not high, but what he said carried a lot of weight, because when he spoke, his hand was so strong that Granny Liu couldn't breathe again.

Granny Liu kicked her legs and stuck out her tongue until the thin man let go of the rope, gasped twice, and said, "The good man spares his life, and the old woman doesn't shout." ”

It's a secluded place, and it's very likely that no one hears the loud cry, and you lose your life.

The thin man said: "Lao Tzu asked you, when will you go to the county lord's mansion to be a slave, and who else is there in the family?" ”

He found out clearly that Mrs. Liu's husband died early, her son had already married, and her daughter-in-law gave birth to twins for her, which was very cute.

Mrs. Liu didn't dare to hide it, and told her that she had a son, daughter-in-law, grandson, and a rough girl at home, and said: "A good man spares his life, the old woman is a slave in the county lord's mansion, and the county lord treats the old woman and son well, so as to support a family of four and a girl." ”

"The county lord treats you so well, why did you betray her?" The thin man said coldly, and his hand was hard again.

Granny Liu kicked her feet and struggled again, waited for the rope to be loosened, gasped twice, and said, "The hero is laughing, how can the old woman betray the county lord?" ”

"You didn't try it." The thin man tightened his rope again and said, "Next time, Lao Tzu may not let go." You're strong, and you have at least ten years to live, and it would be a shame to die like this. ”

Mrs. Liu is a smart person, how could she not hear the meaning of his words, and hurriedly said: "The good man spares his life, the old woman really did not betray the county lord, but someone asked about the whereabouts of the county lord, and accidentally said that she leaked her mouth." ”