"Let's go back to the palace." Wang Tigan hurriedly ordered the palace servants to wait on him. After taking two steps, he turned to the stunned Zhang Yu'er and said, "Don't kneel there like an idiot. Your blessing has come. Hurry and hold Lady Bai tightly and follow the emperor back to the palace."

Zhang Yuer blinked her eyes. Although she didn't quite understand how important this "poop scooper" was, she understood that he wanted her to take care of the cat.

She quickly got up, brushed off the snow on her body and head, held Xiaobai in her arms, trotted to catch up with the team, and returned to the Qianqing Palace with the emperor.

…………

A cold half moon floated among the clouds, and the remaining snow reflected the moonlight, illuminating the open space under the steps outside the palace with a white blanket.

The palace was warm and cozy. The young emperor was listening to Liu Ruoyu reading a memorial. In the warm room outside, the new "poop shoveler" Zhang Yuer was playing with Xiaobai.

It was obviously a little female cat, but it didn't like to be petted by the handsome, intelligent, elegant and invincible emperor, and was actually close to a palace maid. Even Zhu Youxiao found it strange.

"Your Majesty, Xu Guangqi, Junior Chancellor and Censor of Henan Province, has submitted a petition of resignation." Liu Ruoyu's report interrupted Zhu Youxiao's confusion and cheered him up.

Who, Xu Guangqi?! Wow, a famous figure, actually in the capital, but what does this departure mean?

"Why did Xu Guangqi resign?" Zhu Youxiao perked up, then frowned and asked, and began to search his mind for the memories of Emperor Tianqi.

In the fused memory, in the first year of the Tianqi reign, Xu Guangqi submitted a petition to return to Tianjin to recuperate; in June, Liaoyang fell, and he was summoned back to Beijing, and then nothing happened.

Just reading the memorials, he resigned and returned home to recuperate, but Liu Ruoyu knew something about what had happened before, although not very clearly.

"I heard that after Lord Xu was summoned back to the capital, he urged the use of red-haired cannons to defend the city, and therefore disagreed with the Minister of War..."

Humph! Before Liu Ruoyu could finish, the young emperor slammed the table, his face full of anger, "It's the Minister of War Zhang Heming again, a piece of shit."

Liu Ruoyu lowered his head and pretended to read the memorial, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

After a while, the young emperor's voice was heard, "I do not approve Xu Guangqi's resignation. I will send an eunuch to summon him to the Qianqing Palace for an audience tomorrow."

"Yes, I obey your command."

The young emperor seemed to still have some lingering anger. He paused for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Bring me a list of all the officials in the Ministry of War. I want to see if there are any who can be used."

"Yes!" Liu Ruoyu agreed, but he didn't quite understand why the emperor was so angry and even implicated all the officials in the Ministry of War.

Others may not know, but doesn’t Zhu Youxiao know how great a figure Xu Guangqi is?

He was the first person in China to open his eyes to the world, was well-versed in both Chinese and Western learning, and initiated the first "Western learning coming to the East". Zhu Youxiao felt that he deserved to be called great just for translating "The Elements of Geometry".

The imperial court failed to make use of such a national treasure, but instead people like Zhang Heming seized high positions and blocked the way for talented people. How could Zhu Youxiao not be angry and furious?

"Meow!" Xiaobai ran in at some point, jumped onto the desk and called out to Zhu Youxiao.

Zhang Yu'er followed in timidly, standing with her head slightly lowered, her hands twisted together, her fingernails squeezed white.

Zhu Youxiao shook his head helplessly and reached out to touch Bai Niangniang's big head.

Xiaobai only let him touch him twice, then ran away with a "meow" and jumped into Zhang Yuer's arms again.

Watching Xiaobai rubbing Zhang Yuer's full chest affectionately, Zhu Youxiao complained, "You're a little female cat, okay? Why doesn't the principle of like repelling like apply?"

Zhang Yu'er held the cat, bowed and was about to leave, but Zhu Youxiao had already ordered: "Just stay there. I'll feel better if I look after Xiaobai."

"Yes, I will obey your order." Zhang Yu'er responded respectfully, but did not dare to sit down. She stood there holding the cat and stroking Bai Niangniang with her hand.

Zhu Youxiao picked up the tea served by the palace maid and drank it slowly, his thoughts turning back to Xu Guangqi and the Red Cannon.

Xu Guangqi could be called a versatile talent, having both passed the imperial examinations and possessed a profound understanding of science. This was a characteristic of the ancients, as many scholars were like him, specializing in medicine, divination, and mathematics, which impressed Zhu Youxiao immensely.

However, Zhu Youxiao believed that being versatile was great, but in order to fully utilize one's intelligence and energy, one still had to be specialized.

Of course, the ancients didn't have that kind of environment. Without academies of science and research institutes, what other options did scholars have besides taking the imperial examinations and becoming officials?

Otherwise, Xu Guangqi should stop staying in officialdom. The hassles and disputes take up too much of his energy. It would be best for him to concentrate on scientific research.

Zhu Youxiao had a general idea and felt a little relieved. He looked up and saw Zhang Yuer smiling happily and tickling Xiaobai.

The little white cat closed its eyes, purred comfortably, and moved from time to time to change places for the cat owner to scratch it.

The cats really knew how to enjoy it. Zhu Youxiao's gaze moved from Xiaobai to Zhang Yuer's face.

This girl's smile came from the heart, and her youthful aura instantly made people feel relaxed and happy.

"Hmm..." Zhu Youxiao made a sound, which attracted Zhang Yuer's attention. She couldn't help but slow down her hands and looked up at the emperor.

"Um, your name is Zhang Yu'er? Where is your home? When did you enter the palace?"

"Your Majesty, I am from Zhuozhou, Shuntian Prefecture. I entered the palace at the age of six. I vaguely remember that my parents called me this when I was a child at home." Zhang Yu'er replied respectfully.

Zhu Youxiao nodded. He entered the palace at the age of six. Although he could remember things, he had almost forgotten them after so many years.

Entered the palace at the age of six, Shuntian Prefecture, Zhang Yuer?

Zhu Youxiao raised his eyebrows, a little surprised, and shifted his gaze to the young girl again.

In history, Emperor Tianqi had a concubine named Zhang. She also entered the palace at the age of six and was initially a palace maid. She became pregnant after being favored by Emperor Tianqi and was then given the title of Concubine Yu, known in history as Concubine Zhang Yu.

However, being pregnant with a dragon seed and being promoted from a palace maid to a concubine was not the beginning of a happy life for Concubine Zhang Yu, but the beginning of a tragic ending.

Because Concubine Zhang Yu was straightforward and expressed dissatisfaction with the evil deeds of Wei Zhongxian and Keshi, she was regarded as an alien by Wei and Keshi, and their relationship was not harmonious.

Taking advantage of the fact that Concubine Zhang Yu was pregnant for thirteen months but still had not given birth, Keshi and Wei Zhongxian deposed her for deceiving the emperor and imprisoned her in another palace.

According to research, the so-called "separate palace" does not refer only to the cold palace, but to the palace alleys, which are even worse than the cold palace. They are the corridors between the palace walls. They are exposed to the sun and rain, without even a shelter.

Not only that, Keshi also ordered that Concubine Zhang Yu be deprived of food and drink and that no one be sent to deliver the baby.

A few days later, heavy rain fell. Concubine Zhang Yu was so hungry and thirsty that she could only drag her heavy body and crawl under the eaves to drink rainwater to quench her thirst in order to save her life.

However, due to her weak body and having drunk dirty water, Concubine Zhang Yu found it even more difficult to hold on.

Fourteen days later, Concubine Zhang Yu finally died of hunger, thirst and illness at the age of eighteen and was buried as a palace maid.