Chapter 269 Entrusted to Eunuch Zhu

"You step aside first. I have something to discuss with the prince." When the emperor heard Shangguan Nanxing's words, he did not show much expression, but turned his gaze to the old minister kneeling on the ground.

"Yes, Your Majesty." After the old minister said this, he quickly got up. As soon as he walked out of the imperial study, he quietly wiped the sweat from his head. Fortunately, the third prince had stockpiled food in preparation for a rainy day.

"My son, when you go to the border this time, I have something to tell you." The emperor turned his head and looked at Shangguan Nanxing with a serious expression.

"Father, please give me your orders." Shangguan Nanxing also noticed the emperor's seriousness and his face darkened. From what his father said, he knew that he was allowed to go to the border, but he didn't know what orders he would give.

"Marshal Zhou is a man with great ambitions. He stays at the border all year round and has great influence there. Father has long been considering how to uproot this big tree."

The emperor directly said what he was thinking. Marshal Zhou is Concubine Hui's man. If he is not eliminated, there will be endless troubles. But even as an emperor, he was powerless.

The border is too far away, and Marshal Zhou has been developing at the border for decades. Even without a detailed investigation, one can imagine how powerful his power is. Coupled with years of war, getting rid of Marshal Zhou would be a self-defeating matter.

However, ever since Gu Qingzhi showed up, he began to think about how to deal with Marshal Zhou.

"What does your Majesty mean?" Shangguan Nanxing paused slightly when he met the emperor's sharp eyes.

"I have written you a secret decree. This time when we go to the border, our first priority is to eliminate Marshal Zhou. However, it doesn't matter if we can't do it. My son must ensure his own personal safety."

The emperor turned around, picked up the blank imperial edict, spread it on the table, began to write, and then solemnly stamped the imperial seal at the end.

Shangguan Nanxing looked at his father's actions, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes. It seemed that the death of Marshal Zhou on the battlefield in the previous life was not that simple now.

"Remember, Marshal Zhou is very powerful. If you are not sure, you must not quarrel with him. Otherwise, I doubt that even if you are a prince, you will not be a threat to Marshal Zhou. You must put your own safety first!"

The emperor stuffed the imperial edict into Shangguan Nanxing's hands and gave his instructions solemnly again.

"Father, I want to know why you gave me this task."

Shangguan Nanxing opened his mouth, full of confusion. After all, his father in his previous life had never told him the slightest thought of getting rid of Marshal Zhou.

"Nanxing, I'm old, and there are some things I want you to do personally." After the emperor said this, he sighed softly as if he thought of something.

"As long as father doesn't lose his temper, eight or ten years will be fine." Shangguan Nanxing's heart trembled when he saw the emperor's expression, but he said another sentence stubbornly.

"You, I don't know when you started arguing with the emperor. Others would only say "Long live the emperor" in front of the emperor."

The emperor chuckled, but didn't care much about Shangguan Nanxing's words.

"Do you believe what they say?" Shangguan Nanxing looked at his father who had suddenly become much more decadent, and did not say anything excessive.

"Hahaha, these are just flattery. If the emperor is alright, you can pack up and leave now with the food. We need you at the border."

The emperor said no more and signaled Shangguan Nanxing that he could leave.

Shangguan Nanxing looked at his father, blinked a few times, then turned around and walked out.

"Father, remember not to be angry. You must be careful when I am not around. I don't want to clean up your mess."

It was not until Shangguan Nanxing walked to the door of the imperial study that he paused again, left a stubborn remark, and then strode away.

After hearing Shangguan Nanxing's words, the emperor was stunned at first, then he shook his head helplessly and laughed.

His son still cares about him, but he is stubborn.

Then, the emperor seemed to have made some decision. He took out a blank imperial edict, wrote on it, stamped it with the imperial seal, and folded it carefully before calling Eunuch Zhu in.

"Your Majesty, what instructions do you have for me?" Eunuch Zhu walked in, bending over.

"This, keep it safe. Keep this as well. I have already made arrangements. Your residence will catch fire after today. No trace of your body will be left. Do you understand what I mean?"

The emperor stared at Eunuch Zhu with a serious expression.

Eunuch Zhu has been serving him since he was a child. Among all the people in the palace, the one he trusts the most is the Eunuch Zhu in front of him.

"Your Majesty? You..." Seeing the emperor's expression and the strange tone of his voice, Eunuch Zhu dared to look up and meet the emperor's eyes.

"Eunuch Zhu, please protect these two things. When the Third Prince comes back, give them to him. You must remember that these two things are my life. Now my life is in your hands. Eunuch Zhu, please."

When the emperor saw that Eunuch Zhu did not step forward to take the thing, he stood up and solemnly handed the thing to Eunuch Zhu.

"Your Majesty, even if I risk my life, I will give this thing to the Third Prince."

Eunuch Zhu felt that he was carrying a heavy burden in his hands and knelt down with tears in his eyes.

"Well, I don't know if my guess is correct, but letting you leave first will definitely not be a wrong move.

If I am fine during this period, I will go to Yuanyin Temple. When you hear the news, just come to find me. But remember, when there is no news from me, you must hide well, hide in a place where only you know. ”

The emperor looked at Eunuch Zhu, his eyes hiding a myriad of calculations.

Today is Feng'er's wedding, and Concubine Hui's eyes make him feel that things are not simple.

Perhaps Concubine Hui will take some action in the next few days, so he must prepare for it.

"This old servant will obey the emperor's instructions." After hearing so many instructions from the emperor, Eunuch Zhu could not help but guess something, so he knelt again with tears in his eyes.

"Well, you don't have to pack up. Take this jade pendant and leave from here." After the emperor said this, he walked directly to where the portrait of Concubine Xian was before. He turned the vase next to it, and the portrait of Concubine Xian turned in response, revealing a secret door.

When Eunuch Zhu saw this, he was shocked. He never knew that there was a secret passage in the imperial study.

"Eunuch Zhu, take care of yourself. I originally wanted to let you stay in this secret door, but it is still too dangerous. Here are some silver coins. The end of this secret passage leads to the outside of the palace. You must hide well when the time comes. Unless I go to Yuanyin Temple, don't believe any other news about me."

The emperor stood beside the secret door and gave some worried instructions.

"I know. I only believe in the emperor and the third prince standing in front of me." Eunuch Zhu replied solemnly.

"Well, I have always been confident in Eunuch Zhu's work. Go ahead, Eunuch Zhu."

The emperor said no more and turned slightly to the side.

Eunuch Zhu went straight into the secret passage and walked in without looking back.

"I hope my guess is wrong." The emperor looked at Eunuch Zhu's back as he disappeared into the darkness. He said this in a low voice and then closed the secret door directly.

Back at the imperial table, it was as if nothing had happened.

However, the emperor held the memorial in his hand and did not open it for a long time. If it were not for the candlelight swaying in the breeze not far away, it would seem as if time in the imperial study had stopped.