Chapter 6: Internal and external troubles, cheer up and protect your home
Hu Gou'er was filled with hatred, but he still handed the letter over and said hypocritically, "Thank you for your help, auntie."
Zhao Changning had no choice but to take the memorial and open it. It was indeed a big deal. The Provincial Governor of Zhejiang and the Governor of Zhejiang jointly submitted a memorial saying that Zhejiang was facing internal and external troubles, with Japanese pirates harassing Zhejiang from outside and rebels causing chaos from within, and requested to send troops for support.
The emperor didn't react much after hearing this. He looked calm and composed, as if he was asleep.
Zhao Changning endured Hu Gou'er's gaze for a long time before he heard the emperor suddenly say, "When did this memorial arrive?"
Hu Gou'er's eyes flashed, and he quickly knelt down and kowtowed deeply, "Your Majesty, it arrived last night. I came over and saw that you were fast asleep, so I didn't dare disturb you. I had to leave it in the Imperial Household Department. When I heard you got up early this morning, I immediately brought it here."
The emperor's usually cloudy eyes suddenly looked at Hu Gou'er steadily, his expression changing and his tone heavy.
"Didn't Mingxuan give you money for this seal? How could such a memorial be left in the Imperial Household Department?"
Zhao Changning's eyes narrowed. She had been with the emperor for a long time. Although she was not qualified to discuss politics or read memorials, the officials also knew something. Mingxuan was the governor of Zhejiang, and he had been involved in the abuse of power by the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department.
From what the old emperor said, he was very dissatisfied with the memorial being kept in the Imperial Household Department, but the only one who dared to keep it was Hu Gouzi.
He is indeed very courageous, which also shows that the power of the Imperial Household Department is very great. No wonder he is becoming more and more arrogant.
Hu Gou'er didn't expect the emperor to ask this question. He was a little panicked, but appeared calm on the surface.
"Your Majesty, I have seen you working day and night these days, and I am deeply distressed. I wanted to invite a few cabinet members to discuss the matter and get a set of rules before reporting to you, but the people who went to invite them said that the masters were ill. Your Majesty, I am guilty, please punish me."
The emperor said playfully, "You care so much about me. It would be unfair for me to punish you. Now, go away. It's time to go to court."
Hu Gou'er first glanced at Zhao Changning before staggering out.
The moment Zhao Changning caught his gaze, he knew that Hu Gouer was holding a grudge against him.
Reading the memorial was not a big deal, but it was a dangerous signal. Even if Hu Gou'er had no grudge against her today, as the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department, he would not allow his power to be interfered with.
Just like her, no matter what, she would never let Yun Qiao step on her head.
They all knew that if they took a step back, they would be on a cliff.
Zhao Changning's eyes wandered around the palace. Anyone who came to serve in front of the emperor had to get her nod. She didn't care about Hu Gou'er's stirring up trouble before, but now she had to care.
As the sky outside the window grew brighter, it was time for the emperor to go to court.
Zhao Changning returned to the side hall and called Yunsheng over. "Didn't I tell you to go back and rest?"
Yunsheng trembled, his eyes were red and dark gray, "I, I, I dare not sleep...Auntie, I am willing to keep watch..."
Of course Zhao Changning knew why he was like this. He was timid to begin with and was indeed scared to death.
Her heart moved, "You didn't sleep last night, so did you see Eunuch Hu come?"
Yunsheng shook his head. "I kept my eyes open all night, but Eunuch Hu didn't come."
Zhao Changning was stunned when he heard this, patted Yunsheng on the shoulder, and said with satisfaction: "You are doing well, come with me."
She didn't expect that Hu Gou'er would be so bold. Together with Yun Qiao, they were going to join forces to bully the sky.
Yunsheng shrank his head in fear and asked in confusion, "Aunt, where are you going?"
Zhao Changning saw his fair little face filled with fear, like a cat, and said coldly, "Go kill someone."
Yunsheng was so scared that he sat down on the ground.
…
Because Zhao Changning was serving the emperor, and the emperor had rarely visited the harem in recent years, her residence was not far from the Qinzheng Palace for the convenience of serving him.
Before entering the door, the snow piled under a row of willow trees had not completely melted. On the wet bluestone road, I saw a lame civet cat pooping openly at the door.
Yunsheng was thinking of Yunpei's medicine and mustered up the courage to rush forward to drive it away.
Zhao Changning stopped him, and said in a dull tone, "Don't embarrass it."
Xiao Shun happened to come out to pour water and saw the cat pooping at the door again. He got angry and cursed while cleaning the poop: "Stinky cat, you poop at the door every now and then, what have we done to it? You're so mean, such a bad cat..."
Yunsheng turned his head to look at the raccoon cat that was lame but still nimbly climbed up between the willow branches. Their eyes met, and he actually saw a hint of disdain in the cat's erect pupils?
What does this cat mean?
Xiao Shun surrounded Zhao Changning and started nagging, "Auntie, you came home so late today. Are you hungry? Xiao Zhi went to the kitchen to get breakfast and hasn't come back yet. There's still noodles heating up on the stove. Do you want some?"
Zhao Changning glanced at Yunsheng, who looked like he had been drained of his energy, and nodded, "Okay, give him a bowl too."
Yunsheng was still thinking about Yunpei, his face flushed as he spoke in a whisper, "Aunt, I want to give the medicine to Yunpei."
"Xiao Bian, go deliver the medicine." Zhao Changning called out through the carved window. "I want the best medicine."
Yunsheng was very grateful, "Thank you, auntie."
A child-like eunuch came out from the corner, holding an axe for chopping wood. His voice was a little childish, "Auntie, Sister Xiaoshun, I haven't had breakfast yet. Please save some for me."
Xiao Shun laughed and scolded him, "You only know how to eat. Go now."
Yunsheng was a little surprised to see the cheerful atmosphere in the cabin. He looked at his aunt and saw that she still had a serious face, as if she was thinking about something. He quickly stopped smiling.
Xiaoshun served his aunt a bowl of noodles, glanced at Yunsheng who was swallowing his saliva beside him, and then served himself a bowl. He also took out two pottery jars and started chattering.
"The scallion oil made from lard is really fragrant, and it's the best when mixed with noodles." She opened another larger clay pot and said, "Auntie, here's my new fermented bean curd. Come and try it."
Zhao Changning was indeed hungry. The condensed scallion oil melted instantly when poured on the white noodles, and it was so fragrant that she wanted to swallow her tongue. She picked up a piece of fermented bean curd, and a familiar aroma of wine hit her nose.
Her hand gripping the chopsticks paused, "Xiao Shun, what kind of wine do you use to dip the fermented bean curd?"
Xiao Shun scratched his head and pointed to the room. "It was on my aunt's wine cabinet. I saw it was opened, so I used some."
Zhao Changning's face was filled with heartache. "Xiaoshun, next time you use wine, tell me. Do you know how expensive this wine is?"
Seeing that there was still some left, Xiao Shun was reluctant to waste it, so he poured himself a bowl and said with a smile, "Auntie, is the fermented bean curd delicious?"
“It’s delicious, but…”
"As long as it tastes good, that's all." Xiao Shun said confidently, "Aunt, wine is for people to drink, and fermented bean curd is for people to eat. Anyway, as long as they get into your stomach, that's all that matters."
Zhao Changning shut up helplessly.
Yunsheng held the noodles carefully, afraid of making any noise while eating, so he only dared to bite them off in small bites, looking around like a cat while eating.
He always felt that the house was eerie after Yun Qiao died here.
Seeing Yunsheng shrinking back, Xiaowei picked up a piece of fermented bean curd for him and signaled with her eyes that he could relax a little.
Yunsheng thanked him with a blushing face, his voice as soft as a mosquito's.
I had just finished my bowl of noodles and was drinking the soup when Xiaozhi came back.
He was carrying a rosewood food box and said with a smile, "Aunt, what's going on today? I gave you some delicious food early in the morning."
Xiao Wei, who was always quiet, also chimed in, "Could it be that after seeing that man die, they got scared and rushed to curry favor with Auntie? Those people are the best at flattering the powerful and bullying the weak."
Of course everyone knew who was talking about it, and after that, they shut up.
Yunsheng discovered that although everyone was young, they were all much smarter and cleverer than him.
Xiao Zhi felt a little regretful, "I've eaten noodles too, Xiao Wei, you can have some, Xiao Bian can eat when he comes back, and we can save the rest for a midnight snack."
Zhao Changning saw Xiaowei looking at him and nodded gently, "Eat."
After she had eaten, she called Yunsheng to question him, wanting to know who the person who leaked the information was. Just as she asked, she heard a scream from outside, followed by crying.
"Sister Xiaowei..."
Zhao Changning stood up suddenly and rushed out.
Yunsheng also rushed after him, but as soon as he went out, his legs went weak and he didn't dare to move at all.
Xiaowei's mouth was bleeding, her eyes were red, her face was gray, and her lips were purple. Her death was even more miserable than Yun Qiao's.
Xiaoshun hugged Xiaowei and cried, "Sister Xiaowei, Sister Xiaowei, wake up..."
Zhao Changning's face was grim. He pursed his lips tightly and shouted angrily, "Don't cry."
Xiao Wei coughed up two mouthfuls of blood, her breath fading. "It's poisonous, the food is poisonous..."
Tears of blood gradually flowed from her eyes. She looked at Zhao Changning, stretched out her thin arms, her hoarse voice and her face as pale as gold paper, indicating that the poison was rapidly eroding her body.
"aunt……"
Zhao Changning grasped her hand and swore in a resounding voice, "Xiaowei, don't worry. I will avenge you. Walk slowly on the road to the underworld and wait for your enemy."
Xiao Wei looked at Zhao Changning with eyes full of heartache and shook her head. "Thanks to Aunt for taking care of me all these years, otherwise I would have died long ago. Aunt, please live well and live my share of life as well..."
Xiaobian's voice came from outside. When he came in and saw Xiaowei's body, tears immediately fell.
Zhao Changning's eyes were filled with anger, his teeth clenched, and he said in a hoarse voice: "Xiaozhi, lift Xiaowei onto the couch."
Seeing that Xiaoshun had no strength to cry and Xiaobian had lost consciousness, Xiaozhi called Yunsheng to come and help.
Under pressure from Zhao Changning who was standing aside, Yunsheng could only come over tremblingly to carry the corpse. Fortunately, he had experience this time.
Xiao Shun couldn't help crying and said, "Aunt, you said you wanted revenge, but who is your enemy?"
Zhao Changning silently looked at Xiaowei, who was unable to close her eyes. She and Xiaowei had known each other for a long time and had depended on each other in front of the emperor. Xiaowei was not the type to serve the emperor, but was honest and dutiful, and helped her a lot.
She said in a deep voice: "Don't cry, cheer up and protect your home."
When Yunsheng heard the word "home", he couldn't help but look back at her. He felt that his aunt seemed different from what he usually saw, and he was a little confused.
Zhao Changning had no time to feel sentimental, and dared not relax even a little. "Xiaozhi, go guard the door. Xiaoshun, clear the table."
She looked towards Yunsheng and said, "Go ahead and see Yunpei."
Yunsheng was completely confused and nodded in a daze. As he walked out of the door, he saw someone peeking out from behind the willow tree.
"It's him, auntie, it's him..."
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