Chapter 2761 Staying up late again
Li Bushang stood at the door and watched Xie Jiaojiao's carriage go away before turning around and walking inside.
But after taking a step, he stopped and looked back.
People were coming and going on the long street. Of course, many passers-by knew that this mansion was given by His Majesty the Emperor to an important official. Moreover, the preparations for decorating the mansion with lights and lanterns in the past few days had become known to everyone. Many people were pointing and talking here, as if they were watching the fun.
Li Bushang scanned these people with his wolf-like eyes, but didn't find anything.
He was silent for a moment, then turned and went back home.
On the other side, a man quickly crossed the streets and alleys and came to the branch of the Earth Immortal Association in the capital.
The courtyard gate was closed. He knocked three times and the gate opened a little. When he saw it was him, he immediately said, "Brother Chen Tong, you're back."
"Is the hall master here?"
"Here I am."
"Okay, take me to see the hall master."
The man quickly stepped aside and entered the main gate. Unlike before, the courtyard was no longer crowded with people; instead, it was completely empty. Only when he entered the main hall did he see the same people sitting on the chairs on either side.
And right in front, the hall master was still sitting there.
But this time, he was not preaching, nor was he resting his eyes, but was waiting for this person to come back.
Asked: "Chen Tong, what's wrong?"
The man named Chen Tong immediately stepped forward, clasped his fists and saluted the hall master, then said, "Hall Master, I've already made inquiries. The Li Mansion is indeed preparing for a wedding. It's about their master, Li Bushang, the commander-in-chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guards. He was the one who took the emperor away from Zuixianlou last time."
Upon hearing this, the hall master narrowed his eyes slightly.
Said: "This person is the emperor's confidant."
"More than just a confidant."
"More than just a confidant? What else is that?"
"I went to inquire about this. It is said that this Li Bushan has some history. He was adopted from Yongzhou a few years ago by the most favored imperial concubine in the harem. He is an orphan himself."
"oh?"
"So, he is not only the commander of the Jinyiwei, but also the imperial concubine's man."
“…”
"I heard that this time, the imperial concubine might come to the Li Mansion in person."
"Noble Concubine..."
Hearing this, the hall master narrowed his eyes slightly, and a dangerous and cold light flashed in his eyes.
He said, "Noble Concubine, Noble Concubine is the emperor's most beloved concubine."
“…”
"If the imperial concubine comes, then——"
The people sitting in the hall, including the one called Chen Tong, all had cold and ferocious smiles on their faces.
The hall master said slowly, "The incense master has already made arrangements. Since Lord Li, this loyal minister of the court and the emperor's trusted minister, is so happy, how can we not give him a 'big gift'?"
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In the blink of an eye, it was the second day of May.
Nan Yan had people prepare gifts early, but as the time was getting closer, Zhu Feng still didn't agree whether he could go or not.
Even on the night of the second day of the New Year, he stayed up all night in the imperial study. Nan Yan originally wanted to see him, but she didn't see him.
Only outside the door could I see that the imperial study was brightly lit.
The window still reflected his already emaciated figure, along with the shadows of several other ministers, who were constantly busy. Nan Yan inquired and learned that some Japanese pirates had appeared along the southeastern coast and had repeatedly plundered coastal towns, burning, killing, and looting. Zhu Feng had ordered increased security along the Shandong coast, but a thousand-mile coastal defense line was not so easy to defend.
This matter gave Zhu Feng a headache.
Although he was proficient in military tactics, he was proficient in land warfare tactics. Land warfare and naval warfare, although only one word apart, are almost worlds apart.
Since Emperor Gao founded the country, he closed the coastline and stopped communicating with the coastal countries. After Zhu Feng ascended the throne, he had always wanted to conquer the Western Regions with him and reopen the Silk Road, and maritime trade was also prepared to be opened step by step.
However, they did not expect that opening the sea gate would bring trouble instead of trade.
Zhu Feng sat behind the desk, the candlelight flickering, illuminating his somewhat sullen face. He looked at the ministers before him and said in a deep voice, "What should we do? Who of you can come up with a plan?"
“…”
The imperial study was completely quiet.
No one, even the capable ministers left over from the Gao Emperor's time, had the ability to deal with the problems of the southeast coast, because none of them had ever actually interacted with overseas countries.
Everyone could only talk about their own opinions, but no solution was ever put forward.
Seeing him like this, Nan Yan naturally couldn't go in and disturb him for such a trivial matter. She could only order Xiao Shunzi and the others to serve him well. She also specifically instructed the imperial kitchen to send some porridge if the emperor stayed up late at night.
I returned to Yonghe Palace and fell asleep in anxiety.
The next morning, she got up tiredly. Ruoshui and the others came in to help her wash up. Nan Yan asked, "Did the emperor come last night?"
Ruoshui shook her head.
Nan Yan asked again: "Go back to the bedroom to rest?"
Tingfu, who came in with hot water, said, "I heard that the emperor stayed up all night in the imperial study and just went straight to the morning court."
"ah?"
Upon hearing this, Nan Yan became a little anxious.
He's disregarding his own body again!
After washing up, breakfast was delivered from the imperial kitchen. Nan Yan had no appetite and was sighing over a bowl of porridge when she heard familiar footsteps outside. Then, Zhu Feng said with a smile, "Why are you sighing so early in the morning?"
Turning around, I saw him walking in from outside.
"emperor!"
Nan Yan hurriedly stood up and saluted him. Zhu Feng walked in, looked at the things on the table, and said with a smile: "Not bad, bring me a bowl of porridge too."
When Nan Yan heard this, without waiting for Ruoshui and the others to take action, she personally served him a bowl of porridge and handed it to him.
Zhu Feng held the bowl and drank half of the porridge without any vegetables.
Then he let out a long sigh, as if he was very comfortable.
Nan Yan sat aside, not even bothering to eat. She looked at his bloodshot, completely red eyes, with large dark circles under them, and whispered, "Has the Emperor been busy until just now?"
Zhu Feng said: "Not really, I slept for a while in the middle."
I’m afraid it won’t take long.
She didn't say much. After Zhu Feng took another sip of porridge and his bowl was almost empty, she quickly served him another half bowl.
But she still said softly, "Your Majesty, don't eat too much too quickly, eat less, or you'll hurt your stomach. Also, don't eat this spicy dish for now, it's greasy. This pickled cucumber is better..."
Zhu Feng listened to her and drank another half bowl. Although he didn't feel full, he wasn't hungry anymore.
I looked outside and saw that it was already bright.
The sunlight also made him a little dizzy.
Zhu Feng narrowed his eyes and said, "I'll sleep here with you for a while."
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