Yao Weiji had already received the holy decree, and thought about it behind closed doors in a proper manner, and did not go to the palace to ask to see the Queen Mother. The emperor was very satisfied with Chu Zheng's errand, and immediately let Chu Zheng go back to the East Palace.

When Chu Zheng returned to the East Palace, as soon as he stepped into the gate, he saw a person pacing back and forth in the courtyard, looking worried.

The corners of his lips couldn't help but rise a little, and Chu Zheng walked quickly to Huo Sijin, "Are you waiting for me?" ”

In the past twenty years, loneliness had become Chu Zheng's habit, but today he suddenly realized that it was a very beautiful thing for someone to wait. The years are quiet, nothing more than this.

Huo Sijin turned his head when he heard this, and when he saw that it was Chu Zheng, his eyes involuntarily became bright, "Your Highness, you are back." ”

Chu Zheng nodded slightly, the corners of his lips still raised.

Huo Sijin also smiled, "Tell Your Highness, the little marquis and the county lord of Yongjia have already left, and everything has been arranged, Your Highness can rest assured." ”

"You do things, this palace is naturally at ease." Chu Zheng said with a smile.

After telling the errand, Huo Sijin said what he really wanted to say, "Your Highness, what did Your Majesty say to you?" But what do you do with Cheng Enhou? ”

Chu Zheng was not surprised that Huo Sijin could expect this, he nodded and said, "As you expected, the Marquis of Cheng'en was stripped of his title, and his official position was reduced to the fifth rank. ”

Hearing this, Huo Sijin's face changed slightly, "Cutting the lord and demoting, then this holy decree ......"

"Father ordered the palace to go to Yao's house in person to read the holy decree."

Huo Sijin immediately blurted out, "Your Majesty, this is asking Your Highness to put on a black face, and those who don't know are afraid that they will think that the Yao family was cut down because of His Highness." ”

Indignant, it is very appropriate to describe Huo Sijin at this moment. The emperor's order, Chu Zheng had to agree to it as a minister and a son, Huo Sijin was just angry that the emperor was so cold to Chu Zheng. She had expected that the emperor would have such thoughts, the emperor's favor for Chu Zheng was not as deep as he had shown, but it was just the emperor's checks and balances. knew that Chu Zheng and the Yao family were not on good terms, but he wanted Chu Zheng to announce the decree, one was to exacerbate the enmity between Chu Zheng and the Yao family, and the other was a temptation for Chu Zheng.

"It's okay, the Yao family was demoted by the palace at the suggestion of the palace." Chu Zheng said lightly, "Since I failed to accept the grace, it is natural to cut the title of the Marquis of Chengen." For so many years, the Yao family has made no achievements in the government and politics, and they can not set an example for the DPRK and China, but they have played a counterproductive role, embezzling public funds, being arrogant and lascivious, and the court and China are in a miasma, Yao Weiji is the first culprit, and he should have been cut off a long time ago. ”

He has wanted to do this for a long time, and this time he did it on purpose, just to cut the title of the Yao family, so as to set an example.

Huo Sijin pursed her lips and was silent for a moment, what Chu Zheng said was clearer than anyone else knew, the official style of the DPRK and China was very poor, and most of the officials in the DPRK and China did not want to make progress, more precisely, they used their enterprising spirit on how to cling to the powerful and get promoted to make a fortune.

"What is the situation in the court, not only Your Highness knows, but Your Majesty also knows it in his heart, but he has been slow to do it, His Highness can know the reason?"

Hearing this, Chu Zheng replied: "There are many officials in the DPRK and China, it is impossible to demote them all, and His Majesty is not willing to do it easily without a comprehensive solution." ”

If you make enough effort to be more serious about this matter, then the entire court can be paralyzed.

"And ......" Chu Zheng then said lightly, "Your Majesty cherishes feathers and doesn't want to do it yourself, it's best to have someone do it for him, if it works, it's better, if it doesn't work, then just push that person out." ”

Huo Sijin frowned slightly, "Since Your Highness knows, why do you want to be the first person to come out?" Your Highness, you have only recently returned to Beijing, and your position of influence is not yet very stable.

Changjin knows that His Highness is majestic and strategic, and he has a brave and loyal heart, but it will take some time, Your Highness, you ......"

Huo Sijin didn't say the next words, she reminded herself in her heart that she was just a strategist and should not beak His Highness.

Chu Zheng took over, "You want to say that this palace shouldn't be so breathless, right?" ”

Huo Sijin's face stiffened slightly, how should she answer, yes, or no?

With his head slightly lowered, Huo Sijin said in a low voice: "Your Highness, you said this yourself. ”

Chu Zheng was stunned for a moment, and then the corners of her lips rose more deeply, and her eyes fell on Huo Sijin, her head hanging slightly, revealing a small slender neck. Obviously he is a man, but his skin is very fair, and his snow-white neck contrasts sharply with his crimson earlobes, which makes Chu Zheng think of the red plum blossoms blooming in the snow......

Suddenly, the smile on Chu Zheng's face froze, and under the sunshine, he saw a small hole in her earlobe.

"Changjin, do you have pierced ears?"

Hearing this, the flush on Huo Sijin's face faded instantly, and she hurriedly covered her ears.

When she was a child, she was still unreasonable, crying and asking Mama Xi, obviously she is a daughter like Huo Zhirou, why Huo Zhirou can wear a bright and delicate skirt and beautiful jewelry, but she can't. After listening to her crying, Mama Xi felt sorry for her that she was obviously a female Jiao'e but wanted to be a man, so she did a bold thing, pierced her earlobe, but kept filling it with paste, plus she had never worn earrings, the ear piercing was not big, and it was filled with cream, so it was difficult to be found even if she looked closely.

She hung her head just in time to expose her earlobes, and at this time, when the sun was at its strongest, everything was clearly visible, including the tiny ear piercing.

Huo Sijin gritted his teeth, then raised his head, and said curtly: "When I was young, I was ignorant, I didn't know the difference between men and women, and I saw that my sister at home had pierced ears, so I begged my grandmother to stab me with a hole too." Your Highness, don't laugh at Changjin, that was all when you were a child. ”

Only women are pierced, and Nanchu has never had the habit of men's piercing.

Chu Zheng didn't seem to take this matter to heart, and only smiled faintly.

"Your Highness, Changjin is not blaming His Highness, it's just that although the Yao family doesn't have the talents to do it, there are still Empress Dowager Yao and Empress Yao in the palace, Your Highness, you can't be unscrupulous." The best way to relieve himself is to change the topic and make Chu Zheng forget about ear piercing.

Chu Zheng's eyes condensed slightly, "How many catties and taels does the Yao family have, the palace is very clear, Your Majesty keeps the Yao family, not entirely for the sake of the queen mother, but more often to use them to balance the prince of the palace." The enemy on the surface is not to be worried, and the third prince Chu Li, who is really worth scrutinizing, is lurking in the shadows. Isn't that what you said to Hongu? ”

Huo Sijin's eyes lit up, "Your Highness, do you still remember?" This is what she said to Chu Zheng when she first took refuge in Chu Zheng, but I didn't expect him to really take it to heart.

Chu Zheng smiled and nodded, of course he remembered, remembered every word she said.

"There is a grudge between the palace and the Yao family, and it doesn't hurt to deepen it a little, and it is impossible for the palace to fight with the Yao family. But Changjin can do something for the main palace......"

Chu Zhengfeng's eyes were slightly picked, "The reason why the Yao family was cut down is because the military salary offended people who shouldn't be offended, but the most hateful thing is the person behind it." ”

Isn't the driving force behind it Chu Li!

Huo Sijin instantly understood, and immediately nodded in response, "Your Highness, rest assured, this matter will be handed over to Changjin." "The nails she buried in the Chengenhou Mansion can just play a role in this matter.

"You have the talent to govern the country, and this palace originally had the intention of letting you enter the court as an official and achieve a lot of achievements, but I didn't expect that later you became a strategist of this palace and performed treacherous calculations for this palace." There was no lack of emotion in Chu Zheng's tone, "Changjin, is this really what you want?" ”

Because of that weird dream, there seems to be a kind of traction in the dark, Chu Zheng believes that Huo Sijin is the future prime minister, so he promoted her, just to make her a good prime minister.

But the trajectory of things continued to exceed his expectations. Not only did she not become the prime minister, but she didn't even enter the court, but instead entered his east palace and became a strategist who calculated in the dark.

Chu Zheng thought of this, both regretful and a little guilty-he was too selfish.

"Your Highness, maybe Changjin didn't express it clearly in the past." Huo Sijin looked at Chu Zheng with a straight face, "Then this time, Changjin will make it clear and understand." ”

Huo Sijin looked at Chu Zheng and said: "Changjin doesn't want to establish any merits, all he wants is His Highness to ascend the throne, so that other villains can't fail their plans." Although Chang Jin is a tricky and calculating, and his methods may be despicable, Chang Jin never thinks of himself as a despicable person. ”

Those who use despicable means are not necessarily despicable people.