Everyone who comes to the capital for the first time will exclaim: What a prosperous era!
Only the area near the imperial prison is deserted all year round.
This place is hated by both humans and ghosts.
Unless necessary, never pass by the gate of the imperial prison.
I would rather take a longer route and waste more time.
All the officials arrested by the Jinwu Guards were imprisoned in the imperial prison, never seeing the light of day.
Wei Zhong, the Left Guard of the Jinwu Guard, took the initiative to step back and let Qian Xiang take the lead. He also warned his men: "Do not question the decisions of Lord Right Guard. Resolutely carry out Lord Right Guard's orders. Anyone who relies on seniority to bully Lord Right Guard, don't blame me for not warning you. Be careful of your head."
"Lord Zuowei has worked hard and made great contributions, serving three dynasties. Why should we listen to a new Lord Youwei?"
"You are confused! I am too old and can no longer do this. Sooner or later, the Jinwu Guard will be handed over to your Majesty's trusted confidants. The Right Guard has come down by surprise, and it is obvious that the palace intends for the Right Guard to take over the Jinwu Guard."
this?
"Your Excellency means that Lord Right Guard was sent from the palace?"
Isn't this obvious?
Without the order from His Majesty, the Ministry of Personnel has no control over the promotion and transfer of Jinwu Guard officials.
Qian Xiang arrives out of nowhere, his identity a mystery.
Even the most elite personnel of the Jinwu Guards were unable to find out his background. It can be imagined that Qian Xiang’s background must be complicated.
Wei Zhong was ready to step down and let others take over, but his subordinates were obviously not ready for this.
For the sake of his men's lives, Wei Zhong could only repeatedly remind them: "One or two of you are not good at this. Hurry up and behave yourself."
Under the three sticks, everyone has to admit defeat.
What's more, no one can withstand the various interrogation methods in the imperial prison.
Qian Xiang went to the palace to meet the emperor, carrying a basket of interrogation statements and various investigation materials.
When passing by the Imperial Garden, I saw that the newly built palace had begun to take shape.
If everything goes well, the Queen will probably be able to move in by the end of the year.
He came to Xingqing Palace to meet the emperor and waited for notification at the palace gate.
Just then Zhou Miao came out of Xingqing Palace.
He looked at Qian Xiang a few more times and asked, "Master Qian?"
"It turned out to be Eunuch Zhou."
"Master Qian knows our family?"
"How could I not know the Chief Minister of Imperial Kitchen?"
Zhou Miao laughed heartily, "Master Qian looks familiar. Could it be that we have met before?"
"Eunuch Zhou is joking. Qian has just arrived in the capital and has never met Eunuch Zhou before."
Zhou Miao raised his eyebrows and smiled, "That's true. I guess we recognized the wrong person. Lord Qian is busy, so we'll leave first."
"Take care, Eunuch Zhou."
Zhou Miao walked away leisurely with a wide-legged step, looking very relaxed.
At this time, a palace maid came to ask, "Master Qian, His Majesty summons you to an audience."
…
Zhou Miao paced back and forth, seemingly relaxed, but his mind was working at high speed.
He was sure that he must have met Qian Xiang before, but he could not remember.
Is it that his memory is failing, or that he recognized the wrong person, or that the face has changed.
He returned to the Imperial Kitchen and beckoned over his trusted eunuch, "Privately investigate Lord Qian's background. We have a feeling we've met this man before."
"Can't you remember, sir?"
Zhou Miao shook his head. "I've met so many people over the years, so many people coming and going, I might have forgotten him. Look up his background, but be sure not to alert anyone. Otherwise, you'll lose your head!"
"I will obey your orders, eunuch! I still have one question: why are you investigating him? The Imperial Kitchen Supervisor has no conflicts or exchanges with the Jinwu Guards."
"Idiot! The Imperial Kitchen Supervisor is His Majesty's right-hand man, and the Imperial Guard is even more so. They're both right-hand men, but they know our secrets, while we don't. You won't even know how you'll die. As the saying goes, know your enemy and know yourself. Even if you can't win every battle, you can be prepared for any eventuality and have a plan in mind."
"My Lord, are you worried that the Jinwu Guards will attack our Shangshenjian?"
"Planning is the key to success; lack of planning leads to failure. Read more books. It's a waste to have such a good head empty."
"I will follow your orders, my Lord. I will immediately arrange for someone to investigate Mr. Qian's background."
The young eunuch, a trusted confidant and former beggar, was one of Zhou Miao's spies. Because he admired Zhou Miao, he decided to follow him into the palace.
There were three or five other beggars who entered the palace at the same time, all of whom were Zhou Miao's close confidants.
It is not easy to investigate Qian Xiang's background.
Qian Xiang's true identity had long been erased.
Moreover, for more than ten years, they have been active overseas or in Xiliang.
I’m afraid there’s not a single person in Beijing who knows Qian Xiang.
The more mysterious Qian Xiang's origins became, the more interested Zhou Miao became.
Just when he was about to test Qian Xiang himself, Qian Fu found him.
"Eunuch Zhou is very busy recently?"
"It's just average. I wouldn't dare compare myself to Eunuch Qian."
Qian Fu narrowed his eyes and looked Zhou Miao up and down. "Eunuch Zhou, it's not enough to do your duty. You want to extend your hands outside the palace. Aren't you afraid that your hands will be cut off if you extend them too far?"
Zhou Miao was shocked, but didn't show it on his face. "I don't know what Eunuch Qian means. Can Eunuch Qian tell me clearly?"
Qian Fu smiled, "We haven't done anything for a long time, and we're really itching to do it. Eunuch Zhou, please take care of yourself."
After saying that, Qian Fu left.
Zhou Miao broke out in a cold sweat, and his clothes were soaked.
He sat down dejectedly on the chair, "Could it be that Qian Xiang is Qian Fu's man?"
In this way, all the questions make sense.
Qian Fu's job was to lurk, assassinate, and gather intelligence. He was like a second Jinwu Guard, but even more mysterious than the Jinwu Guard.
No one knows how many spies Qian Fu has in his hands and where his tentacles have reached.
Qian Xiang is most likely just a chess piece in Qian Fu's hands.
When the time comes, Qian Fu will capture the Jinwu Guards and use them for his own purposes.
Zhou Miao figured it out and breathed a sigh of relief.
Recall the trusted eunuch outside in time, don't let him die.
He was in a bad mood and a little scared.
He had never dealt with Qian Fu, but he had heard of his tough past.
This person is definitely a ruthless person who kills without blinking an eye.
Zhou Miao was so confused that he ran out of the palace to complain to Zhou Shi'an.
Halfway through the journey, my mind cleared up.
He can't find Mr. Zhou.
Mr. Zhou is currently the biggest target in the capital. Once he gets close to Mr. Zhou, he will be used by court officials.
He couldn't bring trouble to Mr. Zhou.
Zhou Miao returned to the palace and made up his mind to ask to see the Queen.
Gu Jiu sat in the embroidery tower in the imperial garden, enjoying the spring scenery and counting on an abacus.
Chang En bowed and stood aside, greeting and asking for instructions
A palace maid came to report, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Kitchen Supervisor, Eunuch Zhou, wishes to see you."
Zhou Miao?
"Why is he here? Did he say what he wanted?"
"He refuses to speak. He seems very nervous."
"Let him wait. I'll call him up after I finish the work at hand."
"As you command!"
Gu Jiu called out to Chang En, "Eunuch Chang, let's continue!"
Chang En nodded, flipped through the account book, and continued to report on the renovation of the palace.
As for Zhou Miao, he also knew him and was even familiar with him.
But he was tactful and didn't mention Zhou Miao at all.
It was almost noon when we finished.
Gu Jiu asked the palace maid to invite Zhou Miao to the embroidery tower.
The waiting process was very painful. Zhou Miao was sweating and his clothes were soaked.
After reaching the embroidery building, he knelt on the ground without saying a word and said, "Please help me, Madam!"
Gu Jiu looked at him calmly, "Eunuch Zhou, I haven't seen you for a long time. I heard that you've been very successful recently!"
"This villain has been blinded by greed, short-sighted and shallow, worse than pigs and dogs. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"
Gu Jiu pursed his lips and smiled, "Get up!"
"I dare not get up." Zhou Miao buried his head on the ground, completely surrendering to Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu was unmoved. "You asked me to save your life, then tell me what you have done wrong."
Zhou Miao said without hesitation, "I have offended Eunuch Qian, and I'm afraid my life is in danger."
"Qian Fu?"
"Exactly!"
"Why did you bother Qian Fu for no reason?"
"Little one, little one..." Zhou Miao found it difficult to speak.
Gu Jiu smiled.
Zhou Miao gritted his teeth and risked his life. "I happened to meet Lord Qian Xiang. He looked familiar, as if I'd seen him somewhere before. Suspicious and unwilling to give up, I sent someone to investigate secretly. Unexpectedly, this matter alarmed Eunuch Qian, who personally came out to punish me. I'm afraid I won't live long. Please, Your Majesty, save me!"
Gu Jiu picked up the teacup and gently stirred the tea.
She said softly, "Some time ago, someone reminded me of something that happened a long time ago. Back then, when I was in the northwest, I came across a dilapidated temple, a young woman about to jump off a cliff, a down-and-out scholar, and a dirty little beggar. Could Eunuch Zhou help me understand this?"
Zhou Miao was covered in cold sweat, which dripped down. Soon, the floor was wet.
He trembled all over and cried, "I deserve to die. I was once a beggar in a dilapidated temple. I wanted to follow Mr. Zhou, but we got separated on the road. By chance, I entered the palace and became a eunuch."
"So, you recognized me the first time we met?"
"I dare not lie to you, Madam. Yes, I recognized you the first time we met as the girl who persuaded Mr. Zhou in the dilapidated temple."
"Eunuch Zhou, you've made me suffer so much by hiding this from me!"
"I didn't mean to lie, it's just too hard to say. My vanity got the better of me, and I didn't want anyone to know I was a beggar, and I didn't want to implicate Mr. Zhou."
"Zhou Shi'an?"
"Exactly!"
At this point, Zhou Miao could only tell everything.
Gu Jiu sighed, "So I've met Mr. Zhou so long ago. I think Mr. Zhou recognized me early on, but he just refused to tell me the truth."
"That experience was too embarrassing and shameful. I really don't want to talk about it." Zhou Miao did not forget to excuse Zhou Shi'an.
Gu Jiu smiled and asked, "When did you start helping His Majesty?"
Zhou Miao was shocked.
Gu Jiu continued, "I'm not looking for revenge, I'm just curious. Your Majesty doesn't want to talk too much about these trivial matters, so I have no choice but to ask you."
Zhou Miao said cautiously, "In the thirty-sixth year of Kaiyao, I began to do some errands and messengers for His Majesty."
"What's going on with Jiang Shuyi and Jiang Yan?"
"I have always followed orders and never acted on my own initiative."
"So she wasn't dead then."
Zhou Miao didn't dare to respond.
Gu Jiu raised his eyebrows and smiled, then asked, "Who contacted you at the beginning? Qian Fu or Lin Shuping?"
"It's mainly Eunuch Lin."
"Since Lin Shuping has been contacting you, why don't you ask him for help?"
"I dare not lie to you, Your Majesty. Since the tenth year of the Wende era, Eunuch Lin has severed all contact with me. Even after he returned to the capital with Your Majesty, we never resumed contact. Eunuch Lin has clearly considered me useless."
"Eunuch Zhou, please don't underestimate yourself. If His Majesty didn't value you, why would he let you be the Chief of the Imperial Kitchen?"
"Please save me, Madam!" Zhou Miao was scared to death.
He wasn't afraid of Lin Shuping, but he was afraid of Qian Fu. It was a fear that came from the bottom of his heart, for which he couldn't explain.
He followed his instincts, believing that only the Queen could save him.
Gu Jiu coughed lightly, "Your life is at stake. No one will take your life. What are you afraid of?"
Zhou Miao trembled all over and repeated, "Please help me, Madam."
"It seems you're really scared. Who allowed you to reach so far and have the audacity to investigate the Right Guard of the Jinwu Guard?"
"I deserve to die! I will never dare to do that again! I am willing to be your vanguard and wait for your orders."
Gu Jiu smiled and asked, "Do you want to save your life?"
Zhou Miao nodded repeatedly.
Gu Jiu took a sip of tea and said softly, "If you want to save your life, there is only one way."
"Please give your instructions, Madam."
"Leave the palace!"
Zhou Miao was stunned and felt a little overwhelmed.
Gu Jiu said softly, "You are as cunning as a fox, and you have many schemes. You will only be a nuisance if you stay in the palace. It is better for you to go to Jiangnan to gain experience for a few years. If you perform well, I will be able to use you in the future."
Zhou Miao was stunned at first, then he reacted and saved his life.
He kowtowed repeatedly and said, "I am willing to serve the Empress! I am willing to face any danger, even to the point of facing mountains of swords and seas of fire!"
"Then you should go to Jiangnan and brave the mountains of swords and seas of fire!"
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