Chapter 10: Clear Goal: If you have power, will this not happen?

Zhao Changning was stunned by the question and didn't react for a moment. He stammered, "Your Majesty, I, I..."

The topic raised by the emperor again made her suddenly realize where the hand behind her came from.

The emperor was unusually gentle and didn't mind her hesitation. "You and he are already enemies. If you don't kill him, he will definitely kill you. He is not a kind person. If you don't prepare early, you will not be able to defeat him."

Zhao Changning was full of doubts and didn't understand why the emperor did this. In terms of usefulness, Hu Gou'er was the seal holder and was actually doing work for the emperor, but since the emperor asked this, she didn't hide it.

"I've been thinking about it, Your Majesty. What on earth did Hu Gou'er do wrong? I'm afraid I can't defeat him."

The emperor sat down slowly, half of his face immersed in the setting sun. He looked gentle and kind, like an ordinary old man, but the other half of his face was in the shadow, full of indifference and calculation.

He did not answer Zhao Changning's question, but simply said: "You are very smart. One day, you will understand."

Zhao Changning did not ask any further questions. Although she did not understand political affairs, after today's hearing, she had already had some vague inspiration in her mind.

Besides, the emperor doesn't like fools. He wants her to fight with high morale and fierce fighting, which will be interesting to watch.

She was puzzled, but she had no right to ask.

The sun sets, leaving only the last ray of red glow. In the lingering afterglow, tired birds return to their nests and hide among the dead branches. Until the last ray of setting sun disappears, the cry of crows can be heard between heaven and earth, and a cold wind suddenly rises.

Zhao Changning wanted to remind the emperor to go back.

“Life is like a bird perching on a dry branch.”[1] The emperor looked at the withered and yellow early spring scene before him and sighed deeply.

He stood up, his legs trembling, and murmured, "Changning, I'm old, really old."

Zhao Changning was also a little dazed. This was the first time the old emperor admitted that he was old, but she didn't feel relieved at all. She hoped that the old emperor could live longer.

Finally it was dinner time and the emperor was going to the harem to have dinner with the concubines, so Zhao Changning was able to get away for a while.

She called Yun Hui and told her, "You and Yun Qiao used to be together. Today, Yun Qiao is not here, so you should serve well in the side hall. It's fine if the emperor doesn't come, but if he does, you must be more vigilant and don't get into trouble like Yun Pei did."

Yun Hui nodded repeatedly. Yun Qiao suddenly disappeared and no one knew where he went. She was so scared that she had no other thoughts.

"Auntie, don't worry, I won't be distracted. If anything happens, I will find someone to call you."

Zhao Changning walked back to his residence under the indigo sky.

Just after passing the row of thick willow trees, I saw Yunsheng waiting in front of the door with his head huddled. On the bluestone road, a lame cat was pooping openly, with its head held high, looking quite arrogant.

Yunsheng looked very hesitant, but when he saw the cat pooping out poop after poop in a triumphant manner, he couldn't help himself.

He mustered up the courage to look up and ask, "Aunt, do we really not need to rush?"

Zhao Changning looked at the lame cat, and the lame cat also looked at her. The man and the cat stared at each other, and in the end she failed.

"No need to rush." ​​She waved her hands tiredly, her tone full of helplessness, "Xiao Shun, help me pick up some paper money and incense."

Xiao Shun came out, patting the dust off his hands, and advised, "Aunt, it's getting dark now. Why don't we go tomorrow?"

Zhao Changning shook his head and said, "Let's go now."

Xiao Shun could only pick out a basket and handed it to Zhao Changning, "Aunt, the meal will be ready soon, you have to come back soon."

Yunsheng noticed Zhao Changning's silent back and asked curiously, "Who are you going to commemorate, Auntie?"

Xiao Shun shook his head, "I don't know, it should be my aunt's benefactor, my aunt often goes there to burn paper."

When Zhao Changning came back, she saw four people in the room eagerly waiting for her to come back for dinner.

She looked at Yunsheng, "Why are you still here?"

Yunsheng complained, "Aunt, Yunpei's medicine..."

Zhao Changning looked at Xiao Bian and asked, "Didn't you give Yun Pei the medicine?"

Xiao Bian puffed out his lips and said, "Jingshan is so far away, I asked someone else to go there..." His voice became smaller and smaller.

Zhao Changning put down his chopsticks and said calmly, "Don't eat tonight. Reflect on your thoughts. Yunsheng, you don't have to go to the Qinzheng Palace tonight to be on duty. Go to Jingshan to deliver medicine."

Xiao Bian pouted in grievance, "Auntie."

"I've told you long ago that you must do your job well." Zhao Changning said gently, "You're slacking off in this place. Do you think you're too old to live?"

When she spoke, her tone was calm, but she had an aura of authority that made people listen.

Yunsheng was very happy and thanked her repeatedly, "Thank you, auntie."

He felt more and more that his aunt was not as cold as she appeared.

Just after dinner, someone came to report that the emperor was staying in Concubine Sun's palace and would not be returning to the Qinzheng Palace.

Zhao Changning simply took a bath to digest what had happened in the past two days.

In fact, her mind was still a little confused, but fortunately her goal was clear and she felt much calmer.

At the hour of Yin the next day, as the palace gates opened, a busy day began in the imperial city.

This huge and majestic palace complex is maintained by countless ant-like palace maids and eunuchs.

There were many people sweeping the floor, emptying the night incense, transporting water, rice, etc. Everyone worked diligently and did not dare to slack off at all.

When Zhao Changning was heading to the Qinzheng Palace, he actually met Hu Gouer's godson.

"Good morning, aunt." In the cold wind, Yunhe huddled her head and greeted Zhao Changning, her mouth unable to open due to the wind.

Seeing that he didn't even have a thick coat on, Zhao Changning thought it must be uncomfortable in the early morning of February in Yujing. He casually asked, "Why didn't your godfather even give you a coat?"

Yunhe just smiled and didn't say anything.

The discord between Zhao Changning and Hu Gou'er had already surfaced, but Zhao Changning didn't bother to care and just left. He happened to see two young eunuchs fighting in front of the side hall of the Qinzheng Palace, and the ground in the corner was covered with dead leaves and yellow mud.

Her face was tense as she went up and slapped each of them.

"If you've had enough, jump into the moat and drown. Don't bring trouble to others."

"We were wrong." The young eunuch trembled with fear and immediately knelt down, tears streaming down his face. He said in a childish voice, "Auntie, we were wrong. We won't dare to do it again."

Zhao Changning saw that the two were still young and naturally like that, so he didn't want to overdo it. He pointed to the corner and said, "Go kneel over there for a full hour and then stand up. This will teach you a lesson."

After dealing with the matters outside, she went into the side hall, and Yunhe followed her in.

The emperor stayed in the Concubine's Palace last night and would go to court directly from the harem. If there was a small court meeting, he would return to the Qinzheng Hall to discuss matters, but this would have to be after the noon hour.

Zhao Changning took a break from his busy schedule and sat by the window, quietly watching the night fall and the stars twinkling, lost in thought.

The gurgling sound of the copper kettle on the charcoal stove broke the silence in the room.

She stood up and poured herself a cup of tea. Seeing Yunhe sitting beside her, she poured him a cup as well and asked casually, "Did your godfather go to court with the emperor?"

"Godfather has left the palace." Yun He shook his head, and with the same flattering smile as his godfather, he bent down, took the tea bowl and said thank you, "Thank you, aunt."

Zhao Changning's little finger was touched by him, and he felt uncomfortable. His eyes flickered slightly, but seeing that he sat down again as if nothing had happened, he pretended that it was unintentional and didn't want to get angry.

She was a little confused. Where had Hu Gou'er gone if he wasn't going to court with her?

"Why is he leaving the palace? The emperor hasn't been able to eat or sleep well recently because of the Zhejiang incident. Why would he go out now?"

Yun He laughed in an extremely vulgar way, exactly like Hu Gou'er. "Godfather has several women outside, doesn't he? It's normal for him to leave the palace occasionally. Even the emperor won't say anything."

Zhao Changning tried hard to ignore the discomfort brought by Yunhe, but he didn't want to talk anymore. Yunhe's actions and eyes were more annoying than Hu Gouer's.

She thought that perhaps the pressure she brought was not enough to make these rootless things dare to act so presumptuous.

But how can a servant in the imperial court, no matter how favored he is, compare with the eunuch in power in the Imperial Household Department?

If she could replace Hu Gou'er and gain power, would this kind of thing not happen?

When Zhao Changning thought of this, his heartbeat quickened and cold sweat began to appear on his palms. This wonderful feeling, which he had only experienced recently, made him addicted and expectant.

Time passed slowly until the morning when the sun rose. After Zhao Changning had eaten the breakfast brought by Xiaoshun, he heard the emperor's carriage returning outside.

There were many people following behind.

When Zhao Changning stepped forward to help the emperor get off the sedan chair, he took the opportunity to look around. In addition to the four people in the cabinet, there were two ministers, and at the back was the gloomy-faced Hu Gouer and his followers.

Everyone's complexion was not very good.

She became more cautious and diligent, not daring to make any mistakes in front of a group of powerful men.

After entering the hall, Zhao Changning wrapped the emperor's legs with a thin blanket as usual, and asked the gentlemen if they needed hand warmers, as they were all old men and were very afraid of the cold.

The emperor coughed twice and said, "Changning, tell the imperial kitchen to bring some hot food."

Zhao Changning nodded in agreement and quickly went to the side hall to give the order, "Go ask the imperial kitchen to make some fried cakes, rice cakes, egg custard, noodles, and other hot soups. Come back quickly."

These things sound shabby, but they are done quickly.

Regardless of one's social status, everyone actually eats grains. No matter how exquisite the food is, it is nothing in the face of hunger.

When she first came to the imperial court, the emperor was still in good spirits and often missed his meals because he was discussing matters with officials. When he remembered to eat, what he wanted to eat was what ordinary people usually ate.

When Zhao Changning turned back, a conversation had already begun in the hall.

Prime Minister Gao Yun was speaking, "…the most important thing right now is to stabilize Zhejiang as soon as possible. Spring plowing is coming soon, and the livelihoods of millions of people are affected. We absolutely cannot delay it."

Minister of Revenue Qi Yuwei also stood up immediately and said, "Your Majesty, the battles with the Tatars and the Jurchens were fierce in the past few years, and the national treasury has not yet recovered. Now the southwest is also unstable, and the southeast must not be in chaos."

The emperor remained silent with his eyes closed.

Sun Zhidao gritted his teeth and stood up. "The Governor of Zhejiang is leading the troops to fight against the Japanese and suppress the rebellion. Zhejiang relies on Mingxuan alone to carry the load. If something happens to him now, who can take over the situation? Your Majesty, please think twice."

When Zhao Changning heard the name Mingxuan again, his eyes unconsciously glanced at Hu Gouer.

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