The crown prince Zhu Cihong has been very upset recently, and as a result of the court discussion that day, Empress Zhou finally followed the advice of Emperor Chongzhen, not only gave Fang Yuan the duke of Dingguo, but even granted Fang Yuan the right to conquer the Zheng family.

The wind was turning so fast that he was completely caught off guard. If the father and mother reconcile with Fang Yuan, his good days will come to an end.

Zhu Cihong has had no way out since the day he put Chongzhen under house arrest, not to mention that it also involves Fang Yuan's jealousy for snatching away his imperial sister. In public and private, he must also fight with Fang Yuan to the end.

In the East Palace, Zhu Cihong was half-lying on the couch embroidered with python brocade robes, holding a palace maid in one hand, up and down his hands, holding a wine glass in the other, and desperately pouring wine.

Xiao Linzi, the chief eunuch of the East Palace, entered the dormitory lightly and reported, "Prince, there is a secret escort sent to the East Palace." ”

Zhu Cihong scolded him listlessly, "What secret report? Get lost! ”

Xiao Linzi leaned closer and whispered, "He claims to be a secret envoy from Nanjing City and Yongwang's Mansion." ”

"I have no relationship with this Fourth Emperor Brother, what did he do when he suddenly sent a secret report?"

Zhu Cihong sobered up a little, immediately sat up, sent all the palace maids back, and ordered Xiao Linzi to summon Nanjing's secret envoy into the East Palace.

Xiao Li Zi respectfully entered the East Palace, and knelt on the ground at Zhu Cihong, "The slave maid is the head of the palace of the Yongwang Mansion, see His Royal Highness the Prince, Chitose Chitose Chitose Chitose." ”

Zhu Cihong was a little dizzy, and asked impatiently, "What's the matter with King Yong, tell me quickly!" ”

Xiao Lizi presented the secret fold that he had deceived from Zhu Cijiong, and respectfully presented it, "This is a secret report from King Yong to the prince, please take a look at the prince." ”

Zhu Cihong opened the secret fold, swept his eyes slightly, came to his senses suddenly, and then looked at the payment, it was indeed the big seal of the Yongwang Mansion, and hurriedly got up and said, "This, the emperor's brother, what is he?" ”

Xiao Li Zi hurriedly said, "Your Royal Highness the Prince, King Yong is very dissatisfied with Governor Fang's preference for King Wu Yue, and is willing to stand on the side of His Royal Highness the Prince!" ”

Zhu Cihong frowned, and he still couldn't believe his empty words, "What good is it for the imperial brother to stand on my side?" ”

Xiao Lizi said, "King Yong can become the ruler of Nanjing City, all depends on the completion of the queen mother and the crown prince, if you don't stand on the side of the prince, where can King Yong keep the position of the vassal king who governs Nanjing?" ”

Zhu Cihong believed his words, but no matter what kind of effort Zhu Cizhi had, the secret letter sent was tantamount to the timely rain of manna after a long drought. It doesn't matter if this secret fold is true or not, as long as he has this secret fold, he can persuade his mother again, and he must not compromise with Fang Yuan.

Zhu Cihong accepted the secret fold, and asked Xiao Linzi to take Xiao Lizi down to entertain her, and went directly to Queen Zhou.

Kunning Palace

Zhu Cihong handed over the secret fold sent by King Yong from Nanjing City to Empress Zhou, and fanned the flames and said, "Queen Mother, you have seen it!" Fang Yuan simply wanted to set up the imperial court and make the queen mother and me all his puppets. The goodwill being conveyed at the moment is just a delaying tactic. ”

Empress Zhou looked solemn and read the secret fold on Zhu Cizhi, and sighed deeply, if it is said that the prince is suspicious of Fang Yuan and fanned the flames, King Yong was brought to Jiangnan by Fang Yuan, and Qiu'er was also sent by Empress Zhou to secretly supervise, and the judgment of the two of them should have eighty percent credibility.

Zhu Cihong knelt under the knees of Empress Zhou, crying and said, "Queen Mother, Fang Yuan will not let go of his sons." If Fang Yuan gains power, Erchen will definitely die. If the queen mother really wants to negotiate peace with Fang Yuan, she will kill her sons first and show Fang Yuan the sincerity of the peace talks! ”

Empress Zhou's beloved son was heartfelt, helped him up, and said with a sigh, "Prince, if Fang Yuan can be solved, doesn't the queen mother want to solve it?" But now that Fang Yuan holds the richest capital and sixteen mansions in the south of the Yangtze River, and his soldiers are strong, we have nothing to do with him. Even Mr. Hong believes that he can only win over, not fight; Inspector Sun has also repeatedly opposed the war, what else does the queen mother have? ”

Zhu Cihong's eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness, and he said coldly, "Since Fang Yuan wants to delay the army, we will plan and pretend to make peace talks." When Fang Yuan marched south to the Zheng clan, we took advantage of his main force to go south and the defense of Nanzhili was empty, and immediately tore up the peace treaty and joined forces with Zuo Liangyu. We attacked Nanzhili, Zuo Liangyu attacked Zhejiang, and carved up Fangyuan's territory. ”

Empress Zhou frowned and said, "If you go back on your word, the credibility of the imperial court will not be disregarded?" If you really do this kind of thing that violates morality, it will inevitably put everyone in danger for the princes everywhere, how can the Ming court have the face to become the co-master of the world? ”

Zhu Cihong cried and said, "Queen Mother, now that Fang Yuan's knives are hanging around our necks, what do you care about morality or not?" In the world of great contention, strength is king, as long as Fang Yuan is destroyed, the imperial court can have two capitals and three provinces, which warlord dares to talk too much? ”

Empress Zhou asked hesitantly, "If we attack Nanzhili, Fang Yuan will give up attacking Fujian and return to confront us, what should we do?" ”

Zhu Cihong looked up at Empress Zhou and said, "I will privately send someone to contact Zuo Liangyu and Zheng Zhilong to contain Fang Yuan from Zhejiang and Fujian." Then contact some remnants of the Donglin Party, if Fang Yuan dared to give up the attack on Fujian and return to the army to rescue, he would spread the news that two or three million war bonds would default in Nanzhili and Zhejiang. ”

"Those two or three million pieces of silver are related to the vital interests of 100,000 families and 500,000 people. It was easy for us to provoke a revolt of nearly a million people in Nanzhili. When the time comes, Fang Yuan will be left and right, and he will inevitably lose ground! ”

Empress Zhou asked again, "If Inspector Sun is unwilling to conquer Fang Yuan, who will the imperial court send to crusade against Nanzhili?" ”

Zhu Cihong hurriedly said, "And Zhou Yuji, the governor of Shanxi!" We can secretly transfer Zhou Yuji back to the capital to discuss the sneak attack on Nanzhili. ”

Queen Zhou closed her eyes slightly and took a deep breath, although Zhu Cihong's suggestion was risky, the chance of success was not small, should you bet on this shop?

Zhu Cihong saw that the queen mother was still hesitating, and kowtowed violently, "Queen mother, this is a godsend opportunity to eradicate Fang Yuan in one fell swoop, recover Nanzhili, and Zhongxing Daming, if you miss it, you will lose all the games!" ”

For the sake of the future of her parent-child Zhu Cihong, although Queen Zhou was a little hesitant, she actually had no extra choice, and suddenly opened her eyes and said, "Okay, okay, let's do both." On the bright side, the imperial court came forward to entrap Fang Yuan, which made him neglect to take precautions. Behind the scenes, it is up to you to go to the secret meeting with Zhou Yuji and send someone to contact Zuo Liangyu and Zheng Zhilong. Remember, all secret actions, do not need to inform the cabinet before the matter is completed, after Fang Yuan sent troops, then order the cabinet to quickly draft a decree, and immediately send troops to recapture Nanzhili. ”

A month later, Xiao Lizi returned to Suzhou City from the capital, and in a secret house at Fengqiao Wharf, he reported the harvest of his trip to the capital to Xiaoyuan and Qin Zhan.

The crown prince Zhu Cihong rewarded Xiao Lizi and ordered him to return to Nanjing to contact Zhu Cizhi, and took the opportunity to cooperate with the outside world, and when the imperial army crusaded against Fang Yuan, Nanjing City also hung up the anti-flag. After the matter was completed, Zhu Cizhi was appointed to govern Nanjing City, and he would never lose it.

Xiao Yuan saw the prince's reply, and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth, "This prince Zhu Cihong is really ambitious and talented, and he is stupid." Such a major military secret, dare not verify it clearly, and credulously believe a eunuch who sent a letter. This kind of idiot also wants to sit on the world, heh! ”

Xiao Li Zi hurriedly invited the credit and said, "Mrs. Yuan, this is also a small acting, wow!" What about the small 4,000 taels of gold that Mrs. Yuan promised? ”

Xiao Yuan put the prince's reply on the table and asked, "Xiao Lizi, the people with you can kill people and kill people?" ”

Xiao Li Zi hurriedly said, "According to Mrs. Yuan's instructions, it will be all solved on the boat, and I will throw it in the river to feed the fish." Please rest assured that Mrs. Yuan will never spread half a word. ”

Xiao Yuan covered his mouth and chuckled lightly and said, "Really? Take a sip of water and take a breath! ”

Xiao Lizi drank all the tea on the table in one gulp, and asked about Jinzi.

As soon as the tea was in his stomach, there was a sudden sharp pain in his abdomen, and Xiao Lizi knew that the tea was poisoned. He just wanted to shout, but Qin Zhan's big hand covered his mouth and pinched his neck with the other.

Xiao Lizi couldn't scream anymore, and could only moan in mumble.

Xiao Yuan approached his frightened eyes before he died, and said with a chuckle, "This time, I am truly relieved, and not half a word will be passed out." ”

After less than a quarter of an hour, Xiao Lizi was no longer alive.