Outside the Donghua Gate, a group of big eunuchs with purple were anxiously waiting for the emperor's return, and every half an hour, a little eunuch would come to inform them where the emperor's car had arrived.

Although they can be regarded as the closest people to the emperor, and their status does not allow the high-ranking officials of the six cabinets in the eyes of outsiders, they cannot appear among the officials who greet them at this moment, and can only wait in the Forbidden City.

However, even in the waiting, the eunuchs were divided into several different factions, Wang Chengen and Wang Dehua stood at the front, and behind them were Lu Qi and Zhang Xingsheng, and after these four people were the eunuchs of the next level.

Since the 24 yamen in the palace were unified into the Internal Affairs Office, the new pattern of power in the palace since Chongzhen's accession to the throne has finally gradually taken shape. Wang Chengen and Wang Dehua, the two eunuchs who were born in the palace of King Xin, are naturally the first rank most trusted by Chongzhen. And although Lu Qi and Zhang Xingsheng are slightly inferior to the previous two, they are also highly valued by Chongzhen.

These four people basically replaced the old power groups in the palace and became the representatives of the four forces that control the entire palace city today. Although the old forces in the palace were not willing to back down, after repeated purges, these most stubborn and clinging old eunuch forces have almost disappeared, and only some people who know the most about current affairs remain.

Wang Chengen kept walking back and forth in front of the palace gate, and Wang Dehua did the same, and the two would subconsciously stagger when their eyes intertwined. Although they were both born in the Hidden Mansion, the relationship between the two was not as harmonious as that of others.

However, Wang Chengen didn't have the heart to say anything about Wang Dehua today, and he was now all focused on the emperor. It was the first time since he had been assigned to serve by Chongzhen's side ten years ago that he had been separated from the emperor for so long.

To be honest, he has been anxious and very worried for more than two months, for fear that the emperor will encounter some accidents when he goes on the expedition, or some disease because no one will take care of him.

His worry about Chongzhen is not only that everything he has now comes from Chongzhen's giving, once Chongzhen has an accident, he will become an ordinary eunuch. In addition, Wang Chengen, who has served Chongzhen for nearly ten years, has also regarded the emperor as his own relative, and he can't imagine losing Chongzhen's life at all.

Although the eunuchs in the palace have been emasculated from right and wrong, it does not mean that their emotions have also been emasculated together. In fact, because of their physical disabilities, their emotions have become a little distorted, and they have become more sensitive than ordinary people.

And the change in the status and identity of a eunuch is never determined by themselves, but by the status of the master they serve. It is precisely because of this master-slave relationship of honor and disgrace that each eunuch has a high degree of loyalty to the master he serves. Without this high level of loyalty, they would not be able to obey their master's orders wholeheartedly, and naturally they would not be trusted by their master.

Of course, the reverse proves why the emperor always liked to appoint eunuchs. Even in the 21st century, private companies like to appoint acquaintances and classmates, let alone ancient kings. In the eyes of the emperor, the world is his own private property, and it is better to let these familiar eunuchs in front of him take advantage of it.

At least after these eunuchs embezzled money, they would remember to work hard to please the emperor, and those civil officials were not less greedy than eunuchs, and the most hateful thing was that after they were greedy, they always pretended to be sanctimonious and openly let the emperor be the wrongdoer.

Even a famous minister like Zhang Juzheng, when he kept collecting beauties at home and abroad in his mansion, he would also be reprimanded by Wanli, who had been lazy and escaped for a day of study.

When Wang Chengen and the others were waiting anxiously, they suddenly saw a small eunuch in the distance carrying the hem of his robe and running desperately towards the palace gate.

"Back to your fathers-in-law, Your Majesty, Your Majesty's carriage has passed through Dong'anmen." After the little eunuch ran in front of Wang Chengen and the others, he immediately reported to the waiting crowd out of breath.

Wang Chengen paused for a moment, then immediately perked up, straightened his clothes and said to his colleagues: "Your Majesty is about to arrive, everyone is ready to take over." ”

Seeing that his colleagues were busy getting prepared, Lu Qi always felt that there was something that had not been done, he rolled his eyes and thought for a while, and finally stepped forward to Wang Chengen and other colleagues with some understanding: "Two princes, should we still send someone to pass on the news of His Majesty's return to the palace to a few mothers?" ”

Wang Chengen nodded, and assigned several eunuchs around him to go back to the palace to deliver messages. While these eunuchs waited eagerly, a wide carriage soon appeared on the avenue outside the Donghua Gate, escorted by a team of guards.

When everyone was still brewing emotions, Wang Chengen had already run towards the carriage with his robe and clothes in disregard, and ran to the side of the carriage, Wang Chengen couldn't wait to shout into the carriage: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you are back, the old minister wants to kill you..."

At this moment, Lian Shanxiang had already hurried up, interrupted him awkwardly and whispered: "Princess, Your Majesty is not in the car, Your Majesty is going to Wenhua Hall in Huang Shoufu's carriage." ”

Wang Chengen suddenly restrained his emotions, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes without a trace, and said, "Your Majesty is not in the carriage, but why did the miscellaneous family just hear a voice in the carriage?" ”

Lian Shanxiang looked at the eunuchs who followed behind Wang Chengen, and couldn't help but stop talking. Wang Chengen looked back, and then instructed these colleagues: "Except for Dehua, Lu Qi, and Shengsheng to stay, everyone else has dispersed." Go back and do your own thing, today is the first day of His Majesty's return to the palace, the journey is tiring, you must prepare hot water and fresh ingredients, Your Majesty likes to eat fresh side dishes rather than warm food in the steamer, so the dining room must be well prepared, don't let Your Majesty be dissatisfied on the first day when he comes back. ”

After watching the others retreat, Lian Shanxiang said: "There is a Cui girl sitting in the carriage, and Your Majesty has an order to let the prince hand her over to Yuan Guifei for placement." Then the lower official handed her over to his father-in-law, and the lower official also needed to settle the officers and soldiers of the 1st Guards Division who came back with His Majesty. ”

After Lian Shanxiang handed over the hot potato in his hand, he hurriedly fled with his subordinates, not to mention how Wang Chengen and others had a headache and how to settle the woman, Chongzhen, who returned to Wenhua Hall with Huang Liji, began to sit down to meet with officials from various ministries.

If it weren't for the invasion of Houjin, this season would have been a time for the government to rest. Because of the Houjin bypass invasion, these officials not only did not enjoy the annual spring break, but have been busy until now. Now that the war is over, they naturally want to be recognized by the emperor for their hard work during this time.

Zhu Youzhen has never refused this kind of activity that benefits people without spending money and can increase the enthusiasm of officials. Although I didn't talk a few words with the officials of the six ministries, after meeting with hundreds of officials, it was getting dark.

After Zhu Youzhen and the cabinet ministers said goodbye, they returned directly to the harem. Although he had only left the Forbidden City for more than 2 months, when he walked into the Qianqing Gate again, Chongzhen suddenly felt that his heart began to calm down, as if he had returned home after a long journey.

However, with the feeling of going home, Chongzhen was not welcomed by his family. Before he returned to Beijing, he already knew that Empress Zhou gave birth to a princess first, and Concubine Tian gave birth to a prince.

The first thing Chongzhen did when he returned to the palace was to visit Zhou Hou, Concubine Tian and his children, but Zhou Hou was uncharacteristically cold to him, hugged his daughter for a while and was taken back by Zhou Yufeng because she cried the baby, and then Zhou Yufeng ordered him to be expelled.

Although Zhu Youzhen, who came out of the queen, was a little disappointed, he still went to Concubine Tian. But this time his treatment was even worse, and he directly ate a closed door. Tian Xiuying said that she was unwell, and the child was already asleep, so she would not let him in today.

Encountering a cold face twice in a row, Zhu Youzhen was originally quite interested, but now he was also a little angry. He didn't even bother to go to Concubine Yuan's side, and planned to go back to the Qianqing Palace directly.

However, after walking for a while, he finally calmed down a little, and couldn't help but ask Wang Chengen, who was accompanying him, in confusion: "What's the matter with the queen and Concubine Tian?" Are they not happy to see me come back unharmed? ”

Wang Chengen hurriedly shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, don't misunderstand, after Your Majesty left Beijing, several ladies prayed to the Buddha every day, and also ordered the meal to be changed to vegetarian food to pray for Your Majesty."

It was still the ministers who persuaded each other hard to let the two mothers think about the fetus, so they changed it to three days and one vegetarian. Hearing that His Majesty had won the battle on the front line, several ladies were even more happy.

Hearing that Her Majesty returned to Beijing today, Her Royal Highness the Queen began to prepare dishes yesterday, planning to cook in person and wash the dust for Her Majesty. It's just..."

Zhu Youzhen suddenly asked strangely: "It's just what?" ”

Wang Chengen replied in a low voice: "It's just that a few ladies learned that His Majesty did not return to Beijing alone, but also brought a woman back, so things became like this." ”

Zhu You suddenly felt a little weak when he heard this, and he was silent for a while before asking, "Wang Banban, then you said that I am going to see Concubine Yuan now?" Or is it better to go back to the Qianqing Palace directly? ”

For this kind of problem that will inevitably offend people, Wang Chengen chose to pretend to be stupid, Zhu Youzhen saw that he hummed for a long time and didn't say anything, and finally stopped embarrassing him.

"Forget it, it's safe to go back to the Qianqing Palace. I will send someone to deliver a dish to Concubine Yuan, no, send a dish to everyone, it will be my apology. Prepare hot water, I want to soak it well, and then have a good meal..."

Zhu Youzhen moved again, and he commanded Wang Chengen as he walked. Although the moon was obscured by dark clouds tonight, several glass lamps illuminated the road in front of Chongzhen very brightly.

After figuring out the reasons why several women in the palace had trouble with him, Zhu Youzhen was finally able to return to his dormitory relatively briskly, and the depression that had just been caused by being left out disappeared.