Knowing that Cui Yuan was there, Huang Jin still came in at this time to report.

This is not when Huang Jin is picking, waiting for Cui Yuan, a person with great influence in the clan, to report and deal with it.

With Huang Jin's character, it can only mean that this incident has just happened. The stakes are too high to be left unreported.

"Are you checking it out?"

"The slaves and maids have already locked up several slaves and maids who know about this in the direct room of the celebrant and the celebrant first, and they will rush over to report to His Majesty for disposal."

After Empress Dowager Jiang died last year and returned to Anlu for burial, Zhang Zuo was also old and was arranged to go back to supervise the construction of the Xian Mausoleum, and he will also guard there in the future. Now Huang Jin has been promoted to the head of the celebrant and has become the first minister.

Zhu Houxi nodded: "Well done." Renshou Palace doesn't need to check, ask the one who denounced, if he didn't report it early or late, why he reported it today, and who instructed it. Investigate secretly first, don't make a noise. ”

For people like Empress Dowager Zhang, Zhu Houxi never expected her to recognize her own problems. Is it strange that she would pray to curse Zhu Houxi's family?

The informant has said that he has been praying for many years, so it can be seen that he has known it for a long time.

So the focus is not on Empress Dowager Zhang herself. has kept her for so many years, Zhu Houxi only thinks that she no longer exists, why do you do anything to her at this time?

On the contrary, it was at this point in time to report it, indicating that there were already people in the harem who couldn't hold it back.

The emperor made such a statement, and Cui Yuan breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

As a first-hand witness to the incident when Empress Dowager Zhang sprinkled on the empress, and then was taken to Fengxian Hall by the emperor, and then put under house arrest, Cui Yuan knows how sensitive this point in time is.

For more than a year, news of the funeral has been frequent. Now, the news of the new funeral of the empress and the death of Zhang Fujing has entered Beijing, and the emperor himself may be at the moment when his emotions are most likely to get out of control.

If the Son of Heaven is angry, not to mention other troubles, the biggest trouble is that his own harem will begin to unsettle everyone.

At this time when the princes and princesses are gradually growing up, if they know that there are ambitious people in the harem, which concubine will not plan for their own lives and their children, and will be forced to join this battle on their own initiative?

This is the problem that erupted immediately after the harem lost its owner.

Zhu Houxi was silent for a long time, and then said: "I originally planned to be like Taizu and Taizong, and no longer establish a queen, only to use the concubine to enter the concubine and take care of the harem. Now it seems that it is also simple. ”

Cui Yuan sighed with him and replied: "Your Majesty is benevolent, and the harem miscellaneous affairs cannot be like Taizu and Taizong." ”

The harem can, of course, be without an official queen.

But as long as there are concubines in the harem, some people will always fight. The back position is vacant, and with that glimmer of hope, the open and secret battles will be more intense.

If Zhu Houxi is such a ruthless king, he will do it ruthlessly after catching one or two typical examples, or if he will deal with any signs of that kind in the future, then he can suppress it.

Here's the thing: Zhu Houxi is not that kind of person.

I don't want to rely on pressure, and I want the harem to have so many disputes to give me a headache, and I hope that my sons and daughters can be in harmony, which is what makes Zhu Houxi difficult.

But now it seems that we have to kill this trend first.

Who is the one who planned this?

……

What happened in the palace is not known to the outside for the time being.

Lu Bing has a new task, Huang Jin can't make a fuss, and the information he can get under the secret visit is limited.

After a whole day, he could only report the progress in front of Zhu Houxi.

“…… The slave is incompetent, and His Majesty forgives the sin. ”

In the Heart Cultivation Palace, Huang Jin kowtowed, and Zhu Houxi didn't blame him.

Since last year, so many people in and outside the palace have left, especially the death of the Empress Dowager Jiang, the transfer of personnel and affairs in the harem, and some people have taken advantage of the loopholes to connect them first, which is normal.

Zhu Houxi is now looking at the most important records.

Renshou Palace is under house arrest, and the eunuchs and old palace maids serving in it rarely leave. If you leave, you won't leave the palace, but just do some necessary things after registration.

And whenever anyone else goes to Renshou Palace, it must also be recorded.

Zhu Houxi looked at the record and asked, "Here, have you checked the ministers and female officials who have been in contact with Renshou Palace since last year?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, the slaves and maids have only secretly checked the behavior of these slaves and maids before and after. Except for the slaves and maids of Renshou Palace, the rest of the slaves and maids all have their own missions, and it is impossible to remember their daily actions so carefully. ”

"Take it to me."

The first record is that of the ministers and female officials who have been in contact with Insugung Palace since last year.

The second information is the envoys of these ministers and female officials, and some of the deeds that can be secretly found before and after the contact with Inshou Palace.

In one day, Huang Jin took out these two things, and he had already put a lot of thought into it.

Zhu Houxi also knew why he didn't continue to investigate, because what the emperor wanted to know was that someone instructed the eunuch of the Renshou Palace to come and report it yesterday.

Those who are qualified to command the eunuchs of Renshou Palace are naturally people with weight in the harem.

In addition to the big eunuchs such as Huang Jin, the most likely ones are naturally the concubines.

So the two documents corroborate it, and there are only four people who are conspicuous: Wen Jingyi, who originally served the Empress Dowager Jiang, Zhang Qiaomei, who served Sun Ming since she was a child and followed her into the palace as the head of the female officials of Kunning Palace, Yin Fang, the eunuch in charge of Duanben Palace in the East Palace of the Prince, and Tian Yu, the eunuch in charge of Yong'an Palace where Duan Concubine is located.

Zhu Houxi looked at Huang Jin: "Yin Fang is your godson, I asked him to go to the East Palace, did you ask him first?" ”

Huang Jin kowtowed: "Every year on the birthday of Renshou Palace, the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince have to send people to go there according to the rules." Last year, the slave maid also went on behalf of His Majesty. ”

This is the reason why Wen Jingyi, Zhang Qiaomei, and Yin Fang appeared in Renshou Palace.

"What about Tian Yu?"

"I don't know Wang He, the eunuch in charge of Renshou Palace. Wang He entered the palace when he was in the temple of filial piety, but Tian Yu entered the palace after His Majesty's imperial pole. ”

Zhu Houxi looked at the record and said: "But the two of them have met three times in the Imperial Prison, in the Salary Division, and in the Huanyi Bureau?" Yesterday, I met in the shrine prison and received incense lamps together? ”

It is said that the perennial Buddha chanting in Renshou Palace has always used incense lamps. On the side of the concubine, is it also for the queen to worship the Buddha?

Huang Jin only said: "Please Your Majesty, how to check the slave next?" ”

Zhu Houxi didn't speak.

Renshou Palace is already a key object of vigilance in the palace, although it is only a secret investigation, and such preliminary clues can be obtained soon.

But the concubine?

Even if his father is Cao Cha, who is now the secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and there is a great hope of entering the State Hall this year, it will be her turn to be the queen?

This concubine gave birth to a total of three daughters for Zhu Houxi, and it was difficult to give birth to an heir.

Zhu Houxi thought about it for a while, and suddenly his face became even more ugly.

"What is Tian Yu's popularity in the palace?"

Huang Jin hurriedly replied: "He is known for his harmony, his popularity is very good, and he gets along well with the twelve supervisors, four divisions, eight bureaus and the heads of various palaces." ”

"Which ones do you have the best relationship with?"

"That's not true, it's just a smile when you meet people." After Huang Jin finished answering this sentence, he lowered his head.

Zhu Houxi's eyes were cold: "If you still know something, just say it, don't answer until I ask." ”

“…… Your Majesty forgives your sins. Huang Jin kowtowed, "Na Tian Yu...... got the grace of the concubine, and married the female official Tong Ruiying of Yong'an Palace, and the palace has always been praised by the two of them for their deep affection. That Tong Ruiying knows a lot about the art of Qi Huang, and has always been reused by concubines. Over the years, the three princesses in Yong'an Palace have occasionally been slightly ill, and she has done a lot of work. In the last five or six years...... Tong Ruiying has a lot of dealings with the female officials of the palace who gave birth to the prince. Duan Concubine is looking forward to having a son, and sending him to ask about the food recipe, this is also a common thing......"

It used to be ordinary, but now it's unusual.

But at present, it is just speculation, and Zhu Houxi and Huang Jin can't think that she is a suspect because of these intersections and because Duan Concubine has been begging for a son.

The key question is, who doesn't know about the emperor's wise harem? Instructed this matter, it will be known as soon as it is investigated. If it is found out that it is the concubine who is the mastermind, what hope can she have? did not give birth to an heir, and hated the emperor.

Unless there is a proper follow-up method for dealing with this matter, there is a plan that makes it difficult for Zhu Houxi to refuse.

And that King and ...... of Inshou Palace Since he dares to denounce it, I am afraid that he will not let go even in the face of Zhu Houxi himself.

Zhu Houxi closed his eyes a little tiredly: "I remember, the people in charge of the palace of the virtuous concubine and the concubine are all old people, right?" How is the friendship with Wang He? ”

“…… His Majesty was aware of everything, and he was originally Wang He's godson. In the past, Wang He was ineffective in the An Concubine Palace, and after An Concubine was unlucky, Wang He also got their intercession, and finally only went to Renshou Palace. ”

"Go tell Lu Bing first, and let him check Wang He. Family, people, how have you been socializing lately...... I have to think before I decide. ”

An Concubine had a difficult birth, half of it was because of physical problems, and a small half of it was Wang He, who was in charge at the time, who drank a little wine and informed the imperial doctors that it was slow. Although it is very likely that timely notification will not change the final result, Zhu Houxi, who faced his concubine's dystocia and two lives for the first time, still inevitably had to deal with Wang He.

To be sent to be the head of a palace, Wang He himself must be recognized, or by the great eunuchs in the palace. Hongzhi Dynasty entered the palace, and even the two godsons could be arranged to the palace of the virtuous concubine and the concubine respectively, if he himself was not very good, how could he go to the palace to serve in the concubine palace?

At that time, he was also old, and someone helped to intercede, and after Zhu Houxi calmed down, he just let him go to Renshou Palace.

In the harem, any disposition, eunuch or palace maid, after a long time, will bear some unexpected results at the right time.

But this matter is obviously not so simple, because Wang He's two godsons are in the palace of Concubine Xian and Concubine Shu respectively.

Why did he kill his two godsons? Do you think that their intercession for him in the past backfired? Is it better to stay in Renshou Palace than to be expelled from the palace that year?

Unless someone promised him something...... What was promised to him, he thought it was worth it, and that he should be able to get it.

Lu Bing had more things to check, but Zhu Houxi looked at the other three people bitterly: Wen Jingyi, Zhang Qiaomei, and Yin Fang.

Are they really just going to Renshou Palace for a walk?

If Duan Concubine wanted to do this, it was impossible for Cao Cha not to know.

With Cao Cha's involvement, he should be very clear: in the eyes of the emperor, the crown prince is the fundamental problem. And judging from the clues that have been known so far, if this matter is to be disposed of, it will be the prince who will be advantageous.

In other words, the king and the people involved, the emperor can just use the name of disposing of the people related to him, and tell the harem in the way of disposing of the eunuchs in charge of the two concubines in the palace, that the prince will not move.

Concubine Duan could not give birth to a son, but she had three daughters.

If she can't give birth to a son, she won't threaten the prince.

Under today's rules, this also means that if Duan Concubine becomes the queen, the crown prince has three concubines as ministers of the humerus.

And before Sun Ming's illness was not very serious, another thing to worry about was: the prince will be seventeen soon, and you can consider the matter of the crown princess......

Unfortunately, she saw that after Cao Cha returned to Beijing, Mrs. Cao Cha entered the palace to visit the niece and granddaughter brought by Duan Concubine.

Although she is only twelve years old, Sun Ming likes it very much.

The key point is: The son of Cao Cha's elder brother, who has been studying new studies and new laws with Cao Cha, who has been an official in Guangdong, has been the champion of Jiajing for 17 years.

Only twelve years old, what is the crown princess? Speaking of which, it is nothing more than to help Zhu Zaiqian pull more helpers.

Zhu Houxi now feels bitter: Does the prince know about this matter, and does he participate?

This matter is not another alternative to Sun Ming's arrangement, if Zhu Houxi does not agree to her to let Sun Lan enter the Kunning Palace.

But didn't Zhu Houxi already promise her?

……

In the Forbidden City, Empress Dowager Jiang is gone, Sun Ming is gone, and Zhu Houxi can no longer find anyone to tell this kind of depression.

No matter how handy he may have been in state affairs, the issue is now his family affair.

Although his family affairs are state affairs.

After confirming some things in his way, Zhu Houxi left the Heart Cultivation Palace.

In a few banquets, Zhu Houxi came to Sun Ming's Zi Palace.

"Zaiqi, you're young, let's go back and rest first."

“…… Yes, Father. ”

Zhu Houxi stood there, his back to Zhu Zaiji, who was kneeling at his side.

"The others also step down first, and I will talk to the queen and the crown prince."

"Yes......"

Zhu Zaiqian became nervous, he didn't know why his father wanted to retreat from everyone, and even let the fourth brother leave first, and only talk to him alone.

After a few small sounds in the hall, there was a complete silence, except for the beeping of the oil lamp.

Zhu Houxi quietly looked at Sun Ming's coffin, and his eyes gradually became rosy.

Is it that there are too many concubines in the harem, and she knows that she can't live long, so she can only put all her hopes on herself and try her best to arrange everything for her son?

Zhu Houxi was not sure, he turned his back to Zhu Zaiqian after a long time, and said softly: "You may be the prince for a long time, and your father will always teach you attentively." Study hard, practice slowly, and there will be no surprises, understand? ”

Zhu Zaiqian thought that he was here to calm his heart, and suddenly his heart was warm, and he replied in a choked voice: "Erchen understands." ”

"Yin Fang is still powerful?"

Zhu Zaiqian was stunned for a moment: "He...... Erchen thought he was still powerful. ”

Zhu Houxi turned to look at him: "In the past few days, Yin Fang has been waiting here?" ”

Zhu Zaiqian felt that something was wrong, and his father's eyes were a little sharp.

He thought about it for a moment and said with some nervousness: "Most of the time I have been here, but I have also been out a few times. ”

"How many times?"

“…… Erchen didn't notice. ”

Zhu Houxi looked into his eyes and paused for a while before asking, "He came over from your grandmother's palace to serve you after the Duanben Palace was built." The old man in Qingning Palace, do you know who he has the most contact with? ”

"It's supposed to be Bunji. Grandmother's grace allowed him and Wen Si Yan. ”

Zhu Houxi remembered that in the past, Empress Dowager Jiang often assigned Wen Jingyi to dangle in front of his eyes, and she once represented Empress Dowager Jiang's desire for her son to have an heir as soon as possible. Whether it is using her as a nurse, or her son is moved when he sees her surging mind.

In the end, Zhu Houxi did Lin Qingping.

Father and son talked, Zhu Houxi just wanted to confirm one thing.

"Did Yin Fang report everything to you?"

Zhu Zaiqian palpitated in his heart, and when his father asked this, his eyes became sharper.

He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Major matters will be reported, but trivial and miscellaneous matters...... Father, should they all be repaid? ”

Zhu Houxi distinguished his eyes and continued to ask, "What about the past few days, have there been any major events to report to you?" ”

Zhu Zaiqian listened to Yin Fang who he asked every question, and immediately replied: "In the past few days, the sons and ministers have been guarding here, and there is no major event in the Duanben Palace." ”

Zhu Houxi nodded, turned around again to look at Sun Ming's Zigong, and slowly spoke: "Before the mother's spirit, you have to remember that you can't lie about it." What your mother wanted me to do before she died, I did so in your presence. You don't know, I'm relieved. ”

Zhu Zaiqi's voice trembled a little: "Father, what's wrong?" ”

Zhu Houxi shook his head, stepped forward, gently stroked the coffin with his hand, his voice was soft, but what he said made Zhu Zaiqi's heart tremble: "Remember, the people around you can't hide anything from you, even if it's for your good." And there are some things that you must hide from the people around you. Did you tell your mothers what they promised on her deathbed, and appease their hearts? ”

“…… If the son does something wrong, the father forgives the sin. ”

"It's not a sin. Ming'er, he's still too young after all, and he has a lot to learn......"

Zhu Zaiqian is sure that Yin Fang is probably in trouble, but isn't he Huang Gonggong's godson, a person who his grandmother and mother also feel very trusted?

What did he do?

When Zhu Houxi returned to the Heart Cultivation Palace, Zhang Qiaomei, Wen Jingyi, and Yin Fang were still kneeling there.

The master of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor of the Forbidden City, returned to the three of them, sat down, and said nothing.

One is one of the two Shang Palaces in the Forbidden City, the head of the female officials of the Kunning Palace.

One is the secretary of the Shanggong Bureau, after the death of the Empress Dowager Jiang, she went to Duanben Palace to restrain all female officials from seducing the prince.

One is the eunuch in charge of the East Palace.

Zhu Houxi finally opened his mouth: "The eunuch Wang He, who is in charge of Renshou Palace, and the Empress Dowager Cishou who denounced it last night have been praying for many years, this matter, Zhang Qiaomei, do you know?" ”

The three of them have been kneeling here for a long time, Zhang Qiaomei has been Sun Ming's personal maid since she was a child, she has been confused for a long time, and then her face suddenly turned white, and she suddenly said: "Your Majesty, slave maid...... I don't know ......."

Yin Fang also trembled suddenly, and couldn't help but look at Wen Jingyi.

Zhu Houxi also looked at Wen Jingyi: "What about you?" Wen Si Hu? ”

“…… The slave doesn't know. ”

"Well, I don't know." Zhu Houxi said slowly, "One is from the queen's palace, and the other is from the palace, and I can't ask you strictly, so as not to shake the court, yes or no?" ”

"Your Majesty, the slaves really don't know......" Yin Fang kowtowed repeatedly.

"If you don't know, say you don't know, and you say you don't know what to do on their behalf?" Zhu Houxi looked at him coldly.

"The slave and the maid are wrong, the slave and the maid really don't know, the slave and the maid ...... their mouths"

Zhu Houxi looked at Huang Jin in the voice of his full palm: "You ask him, does he know?" ”

Huang Jin also knelt down: "Yin Fang! Do you know about this matter these days, do you know it before! ”

"Slave maid ......" Yin Fang kowtowed to Zhu Houxi first, and then cried again, "Slave maid really doesn't know......"

"He has always been honest, just like a slave, Xu really doesn't know." Huang Jin actually had the courage to help him beg for a favor, "Let me ask you, do you know that Wen Si Yu often goes to Yong'an Palace!" ”

This is the new situation that Huang Jinshun learned again.

This time, Yin Fang knew, but she argued: "It was also the concubine Niangniang who came to invite her, so she went......"

"The prince regards you as a close minister." Zhu Houxi's eyes showed a cold light, "Did you tell Wen Jingyi everything the prince told you?" ”

“…… The slave knows the mistake, Your Majesty spares your life, Your Majesty spares your life......"

But at this moment, Wen Jingyi is the most calm.

Zhu Houxi glanced at him, and finally looked at Zhang Qiaomei: "I promised the queen, what you heard, don't be killed." I just want to know one more thing, this matter, did you know before? ”

Zhang Qiaomei burst into tears: "Your Majesty...... There is no such thing...... The queen told the slave maid that there was no such thing! His Majesty has made arrangements, and the slave maid will be ordered by the queen to go to the palace to take care of the prince in the future. ”

Zhu Houxi's eyes narrowed.

After all, it was confirmed that Sun Ming did have another secret arrangement. Originally, it may not be like this, but since he has released some attitudes to Duan Concubine, Kunning Gongyin can endorse one or two in the back. How to do it is the matter of the concubine and the matter of Cao Cha.

The other plan should have been aborted, because Zhu Houxi agreed to Sun Ming and agreed to her first choice.

But how can a person who has been planted with a seed in his heart hold it back?

Zhu Houxi opened his eyes before looking at Wen Jingyi: "Why are you?" Because Qiaomei went to Duanben Palace, there is no place for you? ”

Wen Jingyi calmly kowtowed and replied: "The slave maid is just serving the queen's mother's decree, if Yong'an Palace is called, there is no need to see outside." ”

"Even if the situation changes?"

"The slave is stupid and rude, Your Majesty has always known, where does the slave and maid understand the situation?"

Zhu Houxi looked at her and saw a trace of resentment in her eyes.

It seems that she is not pretending, but where does this resentment come from?

She is also one of the top female officials in the palace, and now she is the head of the female officials in the East Palace.

is thirty-five years old, and after more than 20 years in this era, Zhu Houxi felt extremely helpless after thinking about it for a while.

"Just because in the past, you only said a few words after winning your mother, and you had hopes, but in the end it was in vain, and now you want to make my harem unpeaceful, and the concubines and concubines are panicking?"

"The slave doesn't understand. The concubine asked, and the slave maid did not see the queen at the behest of the queen. The rest of the things, the slave and the maid really don't know. ”

Zhu Houxi understood, Firewall.

Kunning Palace and East Palace, what they released was just an attitude, and they didn't participate in how to implement the plan.

Sun Ming is still exhausted, but she misses people's hearts.

Did Wen Jingyi make any suggestions in it, reminding this entry point that can implicate the two palaces of Concubine Xian and Concubine Shu in one fell swoop?

Zhu Houxi couldn't help but feel tired.

When Sun Ming was there, the harem was peaceful. After Sun Ming went, the first palace fight that Zhu Houxi had to face turned out to be because of Sun Ming's "last life".

But when she promised her, why didn't she remind herself that she had other arrangements? Did you forget, or did you know that it was extremely difficult for Sun Lan to enter the palace to take over her position, and there were hidden worries?

She has done so much for her son with good intentions, doesn't she believe that her husband will not shake the status of the crown prince?

Or is it that the life in the palace over the years has made her no longer as simple as she was back then, and she only bets on "trust"?

So far, this fruit is all the result of the cause planted by himself, including Wen Jingyi's resentment.

It was Concubine Duan who knew through her that Zhu Houxi had agreed to Sun Ming and was ready to let Sun Lan enter the palace, so did she start?

If Sun Ming didn't have this request, what would be the plan for the future? Why did Concubine Duan cross Concubine Xian and Concubine Shu to sit in the position of the queen?

No, it's probably still this plan.

If you want to maintain the status of the crown prince, the concubine who can't give birth to a daughter is indeed better than the virtuous concubine who already has the eldest son of the emperor and the concubine who gave birth to the emperor's seventh son.

Help her to take the position, and take advantage of the situation to knock the virtuous concubine and the concubine. In addition, Cao Cha's niece and granddaughter can become the crown princess, and they can be close to each other. Even if Yang Shen can't become the general assistant, and there is another staunch princeling Cao Cha in the State Palace, wouldn't the prince be very stable?

Faced with such a situation, Zhu Houxi's reaction became very crisp.

The depressed mood these days and the anger after this incident have turned into three cold words: "Xuan Cao Cha!" ”

Cao Cha, who was still playing to avoid suspicion because Zhang Juzheng entered Beijing, is now another national relative who has the hope of becoming one of the giants of Wenchen after Sun Jiao, he wants to progress too much!

(End of chapter)