Zhou Kui saw that Chen Yuanyuan agreed, so he took his leave and went straight to the palace to meet Emperor Chongzhen.

Chongzhen met with Jiading Bo Zhou Kui in the south study.

Zhou Kui sat down in a bowful manner, and said while looking at Chongzhen: "It has been three months since the old man came to see the emperor, and the emperor was slightly clearer than a few days ago. The state affairs are heavy, and the emperor works hard, but you should also pay attention to the dragon body, and the combination of work and rest is. "This is to speak with the identity of the old man.

"Hehe, what the prince reminds me is that I should pay attention. Is there anything going on here? Chongzhen asked.

"Hehe, don't hide it from the emperor, the old man knows that the emperor is worried about state affairs, and it is difficult to sleep at night, I am both a subordinate and a close relative, and I have been thinking about how to do my part to the emperor. The old man went to Jiangnan a few days ago, took in a few Kabuki, and put them in the mansion for careful training, thinking that one day he would dedicate it to the emperor, so that the emperor could evacuate and be happy in his spare time. Coincidentally, the day before yesterday, the court won the battle, and it was estimated that the emperor should be able to relax, so he entered the palace to ask His Majesty. ”

"Oh? Now the treasury is full, the summer grain is harvested, the interior is stable, and the robbers have become grasshoppers after the autumn for a few days. Now that the militia has won a great victory in Tongzhou and retreated from the Qing army, I should also rest for a few days. Chongzhen said happily that Chongzhen has never had a preference for women, but Zhou Kui is attentive, and he is not easy to refuse.

"I heard that the one who led the militia to defeat the Qing army this time was the little eunuch who was originally waiting by the emperor's side?" Zhou Kui asked.

"It's Wang Qiang."

"Oh, that's no wonder!" Zhou Kui deliberately said in a strange tone.

"Huh? What's so weird about that? Chongzhen really asked curiously.

I only listened to Zhou Kuiyan: "At noon today, that Wang Qiang brought Zhou Yanru, Yang Guangguang and others to my house, saying that he was going to hold a celebration banquet, that Wang Qiang actually sat in the chief, and the old man was still strange at the time, that Zhou Yanru is a cabinet scholar, and now Zai Fu, Yang Guangguang is also a six-part scholar, how to be willing to succumb to Wang Qiang, now it seems that this Wang Qiang led the militia to repel the Qing army and solved the danger of the capital, which is a great contribution, this Wang Qiang has the emperor's trust, holding the division of the tiger and wolf, and it is natural for the ministers to support him to take the seat. ”

"Oh?" Chongzhen was slightly surprised, he didn't expect Wang Qiang to be so domineering outside, and even the six Jiuqing wanted to let him! I didn't feel that my face was gloomy.

That Zhou Kui continued: "That Wang Qiang was originally just a little eunuch who was in charge of transmitting the decree in front of the emperor, and he rose to such a high position in just two years. In time, I am afraid that no one in the court can match, and the emperor has one more pillar of ministers, and the old man here congratulates the emperor first. ”

Zhou Kui said eloquently, Chongzhen's face became more and more gloomy, and a thought flashed in his heart: "Wei Zhongxian!?" ”

Zhou Kui observed his words and looks, and knew that Chongzhen's heart had already attacked, but he didn't seem to be aware of it, and deliberately said with a bitter face: "In this way, the old man has a difficult matter, and he asks the emperor to make the decision for me." ”

"Well, what's the matter?" Chongzhen asked.

"Your Majesty, there is a girl named Chen Yuanyuan in a group of Kabuki brought back from Jiangnan, who is beautiful and fragrant, and has good piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and originally wanted to be sent to the palace to serve the emperor. But at today's luncheon, Lord Wang named Yuanyuan to sing and dance with wine, and asked the old man for the banquet, wanting to marry Yuanyuan and go back to be a concubine. ”

"This Wang Qiang is so arrogant! How dare he! Chongzhen couldn't help but say.

Zhou Kui sighed lightly and continued: "Alas, that Yuanyuan knew that Wang Qiang was his father-in-law, and since he didn't want to, he only cried and died, and the old man couldn't bear it, but Wang Qiang was in a high position, and he was a close minister of the emperor, and he also heard that the generals of the militia were his brothers in life and death, and the old man couldn't afford to offend, so he was really in a dilemma!" ”

After Zhou Kui's reminder, Chongzhen gasped, and the thoughts of suspicion became more and more suspicious: "Five thousand peasants were actually trained by him to become a division of tigers and wolves, by the way, there are still musket teams and cannons!" How could the militias have such good weapons? Where did the cannon come from? How did I not know beforehand? This Shang Dayong, Li Gang, and the gang of prisoners who were raised from prison were all saved by Wang Qiang, so they naturally followed Wang Qiang with all their hearts; Wang Qiang actually has so many friends at a young age, what is he going to do? There are also these ministers in the DPRK and China, and even the cabinet scholars went to pat Wang Qiang's sycophants! Obviously, he led the militia to repel the Qing army and made a great contribution, why did this kid push the credit to Lu Xiangsheng, he was so deceitful and pretentious, in order to maintain obscurity! To avoid suspicion! It's terrible that this kid has such scheming! This is clearly a little Wei Zhongxian! The more Chongzhen thought about it, the more he felt that Wang Qiang was terrifying, and his face turned red.

That Zhou Kui looked at Chongzhen's face, and expected that his words had already worked, and he couldn't help but be secretly happy in his heart. I only heard Chongzhen say coldly: "Guozhang, even if you dedicate Kabuki to the palace, you will hand it over to the queen for placement, as for Wang Qiang, you can rest assured, a little eunuch is afraid that he will not be able to turn the sky." ”

"Obey the order, I will be relieved to have the emperor's words." Zhou Kui's goal was achieved, and he quickly withdrew and returned home.

After Zhou Kui left, Chongzhen's anger did not subside, but he thought of how to rectify Wang Qiang but made a difficulty, although Wang Qiang was arrogant, but there was no sign of rebellion, he ran a special zone, issued treasury bonds, and ran the market can be described as outstanding achievements, this time he led the militia to make a great contribution, if I rashly deal with him, I am afraid that it will cause criticism among the subjects of the world, saying that I killed the heroes in vain! Thinking of this, Chongzhen's mind turned again, thinking of Wang Qiang's good come, this Wang Qiang has always been loyal to me, and he will not hide anything from me, running a militia group and transferring prisoners are all for the will, and saving Shang Dayong is also for the sake of military supplies, and he pleaded with me in person; He said that he did not understand military affairs and did not take credit, which was also reasonable; If he really has such a deep scheming, how could he run to the Guozhang's Mansion for a courtesan. Is this kid loyal or traitorous? If he is loyal and I kill him, wouldn't it be another Yuan Chonghuan? If it is a traitor, if I don't kill him, won't I raise a tiger and become a trouble, and sooner or later it will be Wei Zhongxian! This can't be killed and can't be raised, so what? Chongzhen thought left and right, wandered, and muttered.

Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Zhe, the eunuch of the Six Palaces, entered the south study. This Lin Zhe is already over sixty years old, his god is old, his steps are faltering, a few teeth have fallen out of his mouth, his speech is leaky, and he is a little slurred, Lin Zhe said to Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, which palace are you staying in tonight, where is the dinner used, please give instructions, the old slave hurried to prepare." ”

"Let's stay in Kunning Palace, and dinner is also used by the queen." Chongzhen said casually.

"Obey the order, the old slave will go back to the queen, so as to prepare quickly." After Lin Zhe finished speaking, he turned around and was about to quit, Chongzhen had an idea, and said in his heart: "There is!" He stopped Lin Zhe and asked, "Lin Zhe, how old are you this year?" ”

Lin Zhe bowed down and replied: "Back to the emperor, the old slave has fifty of his canines this year, and the old slave entered the palace at the age of eight, and he has been following the queen mother for more than fifty years this year, and has served three masters successively, and he ------ "Lin Zheren's old mouth is broken, and he asks one answer to ten.

Chongzhen interrupted Lin Zhe with a smile and said, "Okay, okay, I know that you have worked hard, I was wondering if it was time for you to cultivate?" ”

When Lin Zhe heard this, he was shocked, thinking that Chongzhen was going to drive him out of the palace gate, so he hurriedly knelt on the ground and said, "Huh? Your Majesty, you don't want me! Did the old slave make you angry, or did the queen mother and queen have any dissatisfaction? The old slave has been in the palace all his life, there is no merit and hard work, I have served three generations of masters, and I have been following the queen mother, loyal, and ------,! Ho ho. As he spoke, he broke his voice and wept bitterly.

Chongzhen saw Lin Zhe's injury, felt pity, and hurriedly got up to help Lin Zhe and said softly: "Alas! You old thing, when did I say I didn't want you anymore, you have been in the palace for so many years, and no one has said a word about you, what do I not know. But after all, you are old, and you are so busy all day long, I feel distressed when I see it, so I want you to be more idle and enjoy your old age in peace. Even if you are reluctant to let me go, you can still stay in the palace, but I want to find you a deputy, share your burden, and appoint a younger person to be the general manager. Sooner or later, when you can't do anything, you have to train me to be a capable manager. ”

When Lin Zhe heard Chongzhen say this, he burst into tears and laughed, and said, "That's the case, I scared the old slave just now." I don't know which father-in-law the emperor wants to appoint to take over my class? ”

"Oh, what do you think of Wang Qiang?" Chongzhen asked.

"You mean Xiao Duozi? Yes! This prince is smart and clever, capable and kind, the queen mother and queen love to see him, but now that he has been released, people may not be willing to come back, right? Lin Zhe said.

Chongzhen smiled and said, "You don't have to worry about this, I have my own charter." You go and report this matter to the Queen Mother and the Queen, and it's settled. ”

"The slave obeys." After Lin Zhe finished speaking, he staggered out the door.

Chongzhen immediately ordered: "Come here, go to Tongzhou to spread the decree, and Xuan Wangqiang will enter the palace tomorrow!" ”