Zhou Gongyi wore Zhu Qizhen's bright yellow pajamas, rushed back to the palace overnight, it was four more ten, close to dawn, according to the route indicated by Shen Jiannan, along the gap in the roof of the Qinzheng Palace, went down, and entered it, Zhou Gongyi was delighted, looked at the surrounding environment and facilities, couldn't help but admire, and said: "In the end, the palace is different, much better than I imagined, there are too many rare treasures, if you take one or two of him, it is enough for the entire Xiaoshan to be used up for a lifetime." ”

Zhou Gongyi walked around on foot, it was really an eye-opener, the first time he came to the inner courtyard of the palace, he always felt that everything was new, and he liked to play with everything in his hands for a while.

Seeing that the sky was about to dawn, Zhou Gongyi said: "I should sleep for a while and feel what it feels like to have a dragon couch." Take off the dragon boots, lay on the bed, only to feel that the bed is unusually soft, the bedding is silky, and there is a fragrance, and said with a smile: "The dragon bed is the dragon bed, it is really comfortable, it is ten million times better than the hard bed in Xiaoshan, but it is a pity that I can only sleep for three days, if I can sleep here all the time, it is simply excellent, this time King Qin succeeds, the emperor will definitely be rewarded, I will ask him for a bed like this." ”

Not long after lying down, the guards on duty outside the palace shouted: "Your Majesty, it's already dawn, it's time for you to get up." ”

Zhou Gongyi raised his eyes, but he didn't realize that the sun had shone into the room, and sighed: "So fast, I'm not comfortable enough." Then he slowly got up and looked for the emperor's dragon robe, but saw that the dragon robe was neatly placed on the incense table next to him.

"The clothes are so neatly placed, this emperor seems to be very neat." Zhou Gongyi walked over, picked up his clothes casually, and began to wear them.

At this time, two palace maids walked in outside, and said in surprise: "Your Majesty, please let the slaves and maids change clothes for the emperor." ”

Zhou Gongyi was stunned, and said in his heart: "Yes, how can the emperor wear his own clothes, and he almost exposed his stuffing." He said lightly: "I am in a hurry and have something to do, so I will do it myself." ”

The two slaves came forward and waited carefully, Zhou Gongyi suddenly felt a little uncomfortable, he had never let others wear clothes for him in his life, and sighed secretly in his heart: "The emperor's life is simply too extravagant, even the clothes have to be worn by others, and you don't have to do anything yourself, hey... ”

The clothes were dressed, but Zhou Gongyi didn't know what to do next, just stood dumbfounded, and the two palace maids also stood dumbfounded, as if waiting for the emperor's instructions, Zhou Gongyi thought to himself, and said, "You guys go down first." ”

The two palace maids retreated, and Zhou Gongyi said in his heart: "What should the emperor do first thing every morning, he was in a hurry when he came, and he forgot to ask." But when he saw a table in front of him, there was a pile of books on the table, and he thought that they must be folded, so he stepped forward and flipped through them one by one.

Zhou Gongyi opened the top book, the content of which was the flood of the Yellow River, Zhu Qizhen had already approved it below, and mobilized the treasury to use the first two silver to relieve the disaster and repair the channel dam.

"It seems that the emperor's southern tour should be to inspect this matter." Zhou Gongyi muttered to himself.

Then I looked at the second book, the content of which surprised Zhou Gongyi, the content was that several Shangshu jointly reported Cao Jixiang, the convenience of the East Factory, the light tree of the party, and the conspiracy of the wrongdoing, and there was no emperor's instruction below.

Zhou Gongyi hesitated and said: "Didn't the emperor read this book, no, he must have read it, but he also cast a mouse taboo, there is no real evidence, but he can't, presumably the emperor knows it in his heart, and he is quiet, and it is a coincidence, this time has come." ”

"The emperor, a member of the cabinet, Lord Xu Youzhen asks to see you." Spread the news outside the door.

Zhou Gongyi was taken aback and said calmly: "Let him in." ”

Xu Youzhen walked slowly, made a great salute to the monarch and ministers, and knelt down and said: "Minister Xu Youzhen see the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor, long live." ”

"Hurry up." As soon as Zhou Gongyi said it, he suddenly felt out of shape, how could the emperor speak like this, there was no majesty at all, and then he changed his attitude and said in a different way: "Xu Aiqing, let's be even." ”

"Your Majesty." Xu Youzhen slowly started fighting, waiting for the emperor to ask.

Zhou Gongyi coughed, suppressed his throat, spoke slowly, and said, "Xu Aiqing came so early, is there anything wrong?" ”

Xu Youzhen said: "Back to the emperor, Weichen heard yesterday that the emperor has decided to tour the south in three days, I don't know if it's true." ”

Zhou Gongyi was stunned for a moment, and said in his heart: "This person's name has been heard before, he has always been honest and honest, and he does not form a party for personal gain, but it is an eventful time, so he can't say for sure, maybe it is collusion with Cao Jixiang, and I will test it first." Said with a smile: "Yesterday I and Cao Qing's family have discussed, Cao Qing's family said that three days is a good day, conducive to travel, Cao Qing's family also carefully arranged everything in the palace, this Cao Qing's family, is really worried about the country and the people." ”

Xu Youzhen said lightly: "Is the southern tour the emperor's intention, or Cao Jixiang's meaning?" ”

Zhou Gongyi smiled: "Of course I mean." ”

Xu Youzhen said: "Since it is the emperor's intention, the old minister asks the emperor to cancel the southern tour." ”

Zhou Gongyi heard something and hurriedly asked, "Why?" ”

Xu Youzhen seemed to have something unspeakable, and said: "Your Majesty, the southern tour is a matter of labor and money, and everywhere you go, what precious things are to be offered, which will cause the people to complain, Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty is the destruction of the country caused by the patrol." ”

Zhou Gongyi admired Xu Youzhen in his heart and felt that he was a loyal minister, but the real emperor didn't hear what he said, and on the surface, he should be like a real emperor, and shouted angrily: "What? Do you compare me to Yang Guang? You're so daring. ”

Xu Youzhen was frightened, hurriedly knelt down, and said: "The old minister doesn't dare, the old minister just doesn't want the emperor to repeat the mistakes of the past, the emperor believed the instigation of the eunuch Wang Zhen, and only then did he drive the expedition, which led to the mistake of being captured, Cao Jixiang and his gang supported the king to ascend the throne, the emperor suffered from seven years in prison, so that the restoration, today can no longer be blinded, the old minister is old, it is not a pity to die, but also to advise the emperor, don't make a mistake again and again." ”

Zhou Gongyi sighed after hearing this, and sighed: "Xu Aiqing is really loyal and patriotic, but Cao Qing's family is also dedicated to the people, you are all my virtuous ministers, don't slander each other behind your back." ”

Xu Youzhen was emotionally unstable, and said: "Your Majesty, please be clear, the old minister is not slandering him, he and Shi Heng are in cahoots, relying on their meritorious service, and unscrupulously cultivating party henchmen, in recent years, the East Factory and the West Factory, plus the Imperial Forest Army under Shi Heng's command, there are more than 100,000 people, the emperor, think about it, how many soldiers do you have in your hands." ”

Zhou Gongyi laughed secretly and said to himself: "You should tell the emperor these words, how do I know about this matter, how can I answer you." He said indiscriminately: "Xu Aiqing, pay attention to evidence in everything, there is no real evidence, you can't slander others, be careful that your head is not guaranteed." ”

Xu Youzhen was stunned for a moment, and said slowly: "Now that the old minister is old, he is not afraid of death, the old minister's biggest regret is that he harmed a hero like Yu Qian in the first place, if Yu Qian is here, Cao Jixiang will not be so blatant today, so the old minister wants to make up for his mistakes at the beginning and get rid of Cao Jixiang and Shi Heng, the two traitors." ”

Zhou Gongyi said secretly: "I have heard the fourth brother say that at the time of the coup, he was rescued by Yu Qian's design, and he can be regarded as the benefactor of the fourth brother, it turned out that he was killed by him, it seems that this Xu Youzhen is not a good thing, he must not get along with Cao Jixiang, and he is worried about being killed, so he has a preemptive strike." Said with a smile: "Xu Aiqing is not too careful, the Cao Qing family also strongly recommended you as the auxiliary prince, and asked you to supervise the palace affairs when I went on patrol, which shows that the Cao Qing family is open-minded and can tolerate people." ”

Xu Youzhen said disdainfully: "He can be so kind, he wants to seal my mouth with high-ranking officials and Houlu, so that I don't spoil his good deeds." ”

Zhou Gongyi was a little bored and said, "Okay, Xu Aiqing, I don't want to listen to you anymore, if there is nothing else, you can step down." ”

Xu Youzhen still refused to leave, and continued: "Your Majesty, you just listen to the advice of the old minister, so as not to regret it when the time comes." ”

"That's enough." Zhou Gongyi snorted coldly, which scared Xu Youzhen into trembling, and then said: "I don't need you to worry about my affairs, I already have a certain number in my heart, if you don't want to die so early, just shut your mouth, don't blame me for not reminding you." ”

Xu Youzhen was scolded by Zhou Gongyi, helpless in her heart, and it was futile to say anything, and sighed: "Since the emperor has made up his mind, the old minister has nothing to say,

May the emperor take care, and the old minister will retire. ”

Zhou Gongyi said to himself: "This damn Xu Youzhen, if you want to do bad things, you are really old and confused, and going against Cao Jixiang is like an egg hitting a stone, can I tell you that we already have a countermeasure?" It's ridiculous, don't worry about what you shouldn't be in charge of, and take care of your job with peace of mind. ”

Zhou Gongyi sighed: "Hmph, the good mood of the day was almost disturbed by this bad old man, the palace is so big, there must be a lot of fun places, I only have three days, I should go out for a walk." ”

Zhou Gongyi walked out of the hall, and the guards outside said, "Where does the emperor want to go?" ”

Zhou Gongyi said: "I have nothing to do, just walk around casually and stretch my muscles." ”

The guard said, "The minions accompany the emperor." ”

Zhou Gongyi said: "No need, I want to go by myself, don't come with any of you." With that, he strode forward.

The guards didn't seem to hear Zhou Gongyi speak, and kept following behind.

Zhou Gongyi felt strange, why didn't he even listen to the emperor's words, it was Cao Jixiang's order, and he was monitoring the emperor. Said coldly: "Tell you to stand down, didn't you hear?" Then pull them all out and cut them all. ”

The guard said: "Gonggong Cao ordered the servants to protect the emperor every step of the way, and they didn't dare to make mistakes." ”

Zhou Gongyi said angrily: "Do you only have Gonggong Cao in your eyes, there is no emperor like me, Gonggong Cao still wants to listen to me, who are you listening to?" ”

The guards stopped talking, and no longer followed, Zhou Gongyi snorted coldly, swaggered forward, walked and walked, and did not know how far he went, and came to a garden, the flowers and plants in the garden were lush and bright, which attracted Zhou Gongyi's eyeballs, and there was a feeling of lingering, and the whole person was intoxicated by the flowers, closed his eyes, and felt the fresh breath.

Cao Jixiang ran over quickly and said, "Your Majesty, it turns out that you are here, let the old slave be easy to find." ”

Zhou Gongyi slowly opened his eyes and said lightly: "I'm breathing fresh air, what is Cao Qing's family looking for?" ”

Cao Jixiang said: "The book in Jiangnan is looking forward to the emperor's early arrival, and there are many gift lists for gifts, please check the emperor in person." ”

Zhou Gongyi said lightly: "It turns out that this is the case, wait for me to appreciate the perfect scenery and go back to check." ”

"No, the Jiangnan envoys are still waiting in the main hall, and they are in a hurry to go back to restore their lives, the emperor should go back first, and the beautiful scenery can be enjoyed tomorrow." Cao Jixiang tried his best to persuade him.

Zhou Gongyi couldn't help it, and said helplessly: "Okay, then go back." With that, he walked towards the small courtyard next to him, but he actually forgot the way he came.

Cao Jixiang was surprised: "Your Majesty, what are you going to do, the way back is here." He pointed to the other side.

Zhou Gongyi was stunned for a moment, but fortunately, his mind was flexible, and he said smartly: "Oh, I saw that the trees in the courtyard were growing very well, and I just wanted to stop by and take a look." ”

Walking on the road, Zhou Gongyi thought in his heart, how to deal with contact with Cao Jixiang, this old thing looks like an old fox, if he makes a mistake, he will find out, and things will fail. So that Zhou Gongyi was cautious everywhere.

Back at the Qinzheng Palace, Zhou Gongyi said: "Gonggong Cao, you go down first, I am a little tired, I want to lie down for a while, and the etiquette will be sent out." ”

Cao Jixiang said: "The envoy is here, and the emperor will finish reading it in a few glances, why not hand it over in person?" ”

Zhou Gongyi sighed: "Since it's fast, then okay, I'll rest after I finish it." ”

The envoy presented the gift list, Zhou Gongyi opened it, and was dumbfounded, it was full of priceless treasures, and sighed secretly: "Where did these valuable treasures loot, there are the authentic works of Yan Zhenqing in the Tang Dynasty, and the Qingming Shanghe map of Zhang Zeduan in the Northern Song Dynasty, these two things are paid tribute by Wu Qian, the governor of Shanxi, it seems that this person is also a big corrupt official, you should pay attention to it." ”

Zhou Gongyi said: "I have read the treasures on the gift list, I like them very much, and the ministers will pass the word on behalf of me, and all the officials in Jiangnan will be rewarded one by one when I return from my southern tour." ”