Zhu Youxiao paced back and forth in the hall, thinking about the whole thing from beginning to end. Suddenly, he remembered something and immediately turned around and said to Chen Hong, "Come here!"

Chen Hong naturally did not dare to neglect him, and quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this servant is here!"

After looking Chen Hong up and down, Zhu Youxiao said, "After the cabinet drafts the edict, you take people to Xiong Tingbi's hometown to announce it. When the time comes, give this memorial to Xiong Tingbi and let him take a look." As he spoke, Zhu Youxiao gave Chen Hong Yuan Yingtai's memorial. Zhu Youxiao believed that Xiong Tingbi would understand as soon as he took a look at this memorial.

This petition could have been handed over to someone else, but Zhu Youxiao was worried, and the only person who could reassure him was a personal eunuch like Chen Hong.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will rush over there as fast as I can." Chen Hong agreed quickly with a serious expression.

In fact, it was unreasonable to ask Chen Hong to convey the imperial edict, because there are two types of imperial edicts: the imperial edict and the imperial edict. The so-called imperial edict is the edict issued by the emperor, drafted by the cabinet, and finally stamped with the emperor's imperial seal. This is called an imperial edict. The imperial edict is the imperial edict issued privately by the emperor. The authority is not as great, and civil officials can even refuse to accept the imperial edict.

In Zhu Youxiao's view, this is the privilege that civil servants give themselves. Anyway, they just find various reasons to make themselves different and enjoy privileges.

The imperial edict was delivered by eunuchs, but the imperial edict was delivered by officials. Xiong Tingbi's appointment was naturally an imperial edict, so Chen Hong could go with him, but he could not deliver the imperial edict. Of course, Zhu Youxiao would not let Chen Hong deliver the imperial edict. He only needed to deliver Yuan Yingtai's memorial to Xiong Tingbi.

In reality, Zhu Youxiao could have issued an imperial edict, but the civil officials had already figured it out. If anyone accepted an imperial edict that was opposed by the cabinet, then they would be seen as flattering their superiors without any integrity or bottom line. Their official rank and character would be attacked and condemned at all levels, and it would be impossible for them to make any move in the officialdom.

Civil officials tried every possible means to limit the emperor's power while simultaneously seizing power for themselves. The struggles between powerful eunuchs and civil officials in the Ming Dynasty always reflected the struggle between imperial power and ministerial power, or rather, the struggle between imperial power and the scholar-official group.

Chen Hong was gone, and the imperial edict had been issued, but the matter was far from over. Everyone in the court was baffled by the situation. How could a dream suddenly appear? How could Yuan Yingtai be replaced in a dream? And how could such actions be taken based on a dream? Of course, such attacks were not allowed, but attacks on the dream interpreters were.

For a time, the court and the country were in an uproar. Countless impeachment petitions were brought into the palace, and there were also a lot of people admonishing Zhu Youxiao, but Zhu Youxiao kept them all and did not send them out, allowing them to make a fuss.

Jiangxia, Hubei, later known as Jiangxia District, is located in the southern part of Wuhan City, Hubei Province. It borders Hongshan District to the north, Xianning City's Xian'an District and Jiayu County to the south, Ezhou City and Daye City to the east, and Caidian District and Hannan District across the river to the west. During the Ming Dynasty, this place was not well-known, even ordinary, a peaceful and tranquil county.

However, the tranquility of Jiangxia was broken on this day. A group of Jinyiwei entered Jiangxia City with murderous intent and escorted two carriages to the gate of Xiong Tingbi's mansion.

Since resigning from his post and returning home, Xiong Tingbi has never felt at peace. Although his family has been by his side these days and he no longer needs to live on the edge of a knife, for some reason, he always feels empty inside. Xiong Tingbi has a hot temper and a straightforward nature. Naturally, he has intermittent anger at home these days. He is really frustrated, mainly because he is unwilling to accept it.

Xiong Tingbi was drinking the heat-clearing tea his wife had sent him, but the more he drank, the angrier he became. When would this crap ever end?

"Master, the Jinyiwei are outside." An old butler quickly ran to Xiong Tingbi and said breathlessly.

After hearing the old man's words, Xiong Tingbi was stunned. He didn't expect that the Jinyiwei would come to his house at this time. Could it be that there was another disaster? But that wasn't right! He hadn't done anything wrong!

It’s no wonder that Xiong Tingbi was overthinking it. When the Jinyiwei showed up, nothing good usually happened. However, Xiong Tingbi was not too surprised. Maybe he was being liquidated by some people in the court for some reason.

After a while, Xiong Tingbi asked the housekeeper behind him, "Where is the person?"

"In the front hall, sir," the old butler replied.

Xiong Tingbi quickly left the garden. Although he didn't know who the visitor was, he knew that since it was the Jinyiwei, he would definitely not be able to hide.

Xiong Tingbi came to the living room and saw Chen Hong. There was also an official who was anxiously waiting there. This made Xiong Tingbi startled. Before he could react, the official started talking: "Xiong Tingbi, accept the order!"

Hearing this, Xiong Tingbi's body trembled violently, and then he lifted his clothes and knelt down, saying loudly: "I am Xiong Tingbi, the humble servant, accept the order!" Several servants behind him also knelt down to listen to the order.

Pulling the imperial edict from his sleeve, the messenger announced in a clear voice, "By the Mandate of Heaven and the Successor of Heaven, I decree: Xiong Tingbi, loyal and pure in mind, capable of both civil and military affairs, is the pillar of the state. Liaodong is now under siege, with looters rampant. I cannot bear to see this loyal and virtuous minister confined to his home, idle and disorganized. Therefore, I hereby appoint Xiong Tingbi as Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, grant him the royal banner, and command all important military affairs in Liaodong. I hope you will be loyal to your duties and live up to my expectations. This is granted!"

Listening to the official's announcement of the imperial edict, Xiong Tingbi was completely confused. It was actually the imperial edict that was used against him.

"Sir Xiong, please accept the order! Do you dare not accept the order?" The messenger did not continue speaking, but the meaning was already expressed very clearly.

Hearing this, Xiong Tingbi came back to his senses and kowtowed quickly, saying, "Your Highness Xiong Tingbi accepts your command and thanks you!"

The official who delivered the imperial edict handed the edict to Xiong Tingbi and turned to say goodbye, because he knew that Chen Hong still had something to say to Xiong Tingbi, but it was not appropriate for him to hear it.

After the official who delivered the imperial edict left, Xiong Tingbi hurriedly bowed and said, "I don't know how to address you, eunuch?"

"Master Xiong, you're welcome. I'm Chen Hong!" Chen Hong said with a smile, then took out a manuscript and handed it to Xiong Tingbi: "Master Xiong, this is what His Majesty asked me to give you. The things have been delivered, so I won't keep them any longer. But I would like to remind you that Liaodong is a long and arduous journey, so you'd better set off as soon as possible."

Xiong Tingbi was stunned for a moment, then he bowed and said, "Thank you, Eunuch Chen, for the reminder."

Chen Hong and the official who delivered the imperial edict came and went in a hurry, leaving Xiong Tingbi baffled. After unfolding the memorial and reading it, Xiong Tingbi's face changed, and he cursed Yuan Yingtai inwardly as a fool. Now he finally understood why His Majesty had appointed him, and why His Majesty had given him this memorial. His Majesty was displeased with Yuan Yingtai and hoped that he would quickly rectify the situation.

Thinking of the precarious situation in Liaodong, Xiong Tingbi's newly emerged gloating over Yuan Yingtai disappeared. He turned and walked inside, while loudly ordering: "Hurry up and prepare, your master is going to Liaodong."