A good bird chooses a tree to roost in, and a good minister chooses a master to serve.

Yao Guangxiao was a smart man, so like all smart people, he would choose what was best for himself.

Analyzing the current situation, Yao Guangxiao deeply realized that no matter what choice Zhu Di made, he would still be targeted by Zhu Ying in this way.

Then there's no escape.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan currently has no ability to rescue him. Even if His Majesty is gone, Zhu Ying, who has ascended the throne, will not let the Prince of Yan rescue him.

Even if he was really rescued, he would be considered useless.

With a warrant of arrest, it would be impossible for him to work for the King of Yan, and it would be impossible for him to hide it from Zhu Ying.

If that's the case, then why should I still serve King Yan?

Yao Guangxiao asked himself a question.

A person as selfish as him could never truly be loyal to anyone.

"Now it seems that I can only follow the will of heaven."

Yao Guangxiao muttered to himself.

"Master, what did you say? Your voice was too soft, I couldn't hear you clearly."

Five meters away, the Jinyiwei who was packing up moved his ears slightly and turned to Yao Guangxiao and said.

Yao Guangxiao was speechless.

Such a small voice can be heard, this must be the elite among the Jinyiwei.

How could I be so worthy as to deserve such close protection from the elite Jinyiwei?

After a moment of hesitation, Yao Guangxiao said, "I have something to convey to His Royal Highness Changsun. I'd like to trouble you to pass it on."

Once Yao Guangxiao made up his mind, he had no further hesitation.

He was ready to surrender immediately.

Unexpectedly, the young man from the Imperial Guard looked at Yao Guangxiao with a strange look, then shook his head and replied: "Master, if you have anything to say, please wait a month before telling us. It will be too long, and I am afraid that we will forget it."

"The superiors have ordered that for the next month, please concentrate on practicing Buddhism and do not worry about the disturbances from the outside world."

The young man from Jinyiwei received the notice from above when he arrived.

No matter how Daoyan spreads lies to confuse the people, do not listen to them and do not spread them.

Except for illness and disasters, I spent my time here.

Yao Guangxiao sighed slightly when he heard this, knowing that Zhu Ying was going to control him to death.

More than a month later, Prince of Yan Zhu Di should have led his army to the coastal areas.

Just when Yao Guangxiao was feeling helpless.

In front of the mountain gate of Tianjie Temple.

Zhu Di led a dozen of his personal cavalry guards, rushed straight to the mountain gate, dismounted, and entered the Tianjie Temple with great momentum.

A young monk guarding the door subconsciously wanted to stop him, but was grabbed by an older monk next to him.

When Zhu Di and his party disappeared from view, he scolded: "Are you trying to save your life? That is His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan."

The young monk was suddenly frightened.

The main hall of Tianjie Temple.

When Zhu Di arrived here, many monks from Tianjie Temple came over quickly.

"Greetings to His Royal Highness Prince Yan."

Seeing this, Zhu Di's anger calmed down a little.

Although Tianjie Temple is only a sixth-grade temple, my father comes here quite frequently. He used to come here every few days to take a look and tour the place in his carriage.

There are many eminent monks, famous people and foreign envoys here. Even Prince of Yan Zhu Di has to pay attention to the influence.

"Master, I wonder where Master Daoyan will be assigned to the Sutra Repository today."

Zhu Di asked in a deep voice.

He had been to Tianjie Temple quite a few times. There were more than thirty scripture-repositories of various sizes here, and it was impossible for him to search for them all one by one.

However, the leading monk hesitated for a moment but said nothing after hearing this.

"Why? Is it not possible for me to inquire about someone?" Zhu Di asked in a deep voice.

The leading monk smiled bitterly and said, "Your Highness, it's not that I don't want to tell you, but I just learned about Master Daoyan's return to the temple today."

"Although Master Daoyan is registered, he does not have a specific address. He is led directly there by the Royal Guards. I and others have no right to ask about it."

When Zhu Di heard this, his eyes lit up and he pondered for a moment.

He knew that the Jinyiwei's intervention must be his father's intention.

Even though he would not be able to hide the truth from his father when he came, he had to come because Yao Guangxiao had too much information about him.

How could Zhu Di feel at ease without seeing him?

Zhu Di was silent for a long time, and finally ordered his subordinates who followed him: "Search all the scripture storage rooms in Tianjie Temple and make sure to find the whereabouts of Master Daoyan."

"Remember, don't disturb others," Zhu Di added.

"Yes, sir."

A dozen guards turned around and went out to carry out the orders of His Royal Highness Prince Yan.

At this time, an elderly monk came out from the crowd and said, "Your Highness, why are you doing this?"

As soon as the eminent monk appeared, many monks put their hands together and bowed their heads.

Even when Zhu Di saw it, he suppressed his emotions and bowed his head.

The monk's Buddhist name was Daocheng, and he was personally invited by Zhu Yuanzhang to take charge of Tianjie Temple.

When he came, Daocheng said that he was not able to practice Zen, so Zhu Yuanzhang specially granted him permission not to do so, and showed him extraordinary favor and honor.

After hearing what Master Daocheng said, Zhu Di hesitated for a moment and said, "Master, I have my own difficulties."

Daocheng looked at Zhu Di with a somewhat turbid gaze, but did not preach.

He just waved his hand and let everyone go.

Although Daocheng did not wear the official monk's robes, his status in Tianjie Temple was obviously unparalleled.

The other monks dispersed.

"Thank you, Master."

Zhu Di clasped his hands together and thanked him again.

Daocheng asked everyone to disperse, which was tacit approval of his search for Daoyan this time.

Daocheng sighed slightly, said nothing more, and just turned and left the hall.

…

The abandoned Sutra Repository where Yao Guangxiao lived.

"Master, His Royal Highness Prince Yan is here to look for you. Would you like to meet him?"

A Jinyiwei hiding in the dark came over and had a conversation with the Jinyiwei on duty.

The young man from the Jinyiwei came over and asked Yao Guangxiao.

Only then did Yao Guangxiao realize that there were other Jinyiwei lurking outside his residence.

However, after hearing this, Yao Guangxiao shook his head and said, "The fate between me and His Royal Highness Prince Yan has ended, so I won't be too obsessed. It doesn't matter whether we meet or not."

The young man from Jinyiwei was stunned.

He didn't expect this answer.

Just now he received news that Prince of Yan Zhu Di had arranged people to search.

Judging from the current situation, the search will be carried out soon.

Since Prince Yan is coming in person, there is no way the Embroidered Uniform Guards can stop him. The most they can do is report it.

That's why he asked as a matter of procedure.

"Okay, since the master said he doesn't want to see you, then let's not see you. Please follow me to the back mountain to take shelter." said the young man from the Imperial Guards.

Upon hearing this, Yao Guangxiao nodded slightly.

Soon, the guards of King Yan came to search.

After all, this is indeed the Sutra Repository, and it is also registered in the Tianjie Temple.

Yao Guangxiao stood at the back of the mountain and watched the guards search. When they found no one, they left.

…

"Your Highness, it was not found."

Two hours later, the Jinyiwei reported to Zhu Di who was sitting next to Master Daocheng in the main hall.

Zhu Di's expression is much calmer now.

Hearing this, he was not too surprised. He just stood up and said to Daocheng: "Master, I will leave first."

"Your Highness, take care." Daocheng stood up, clasped his hands together, bowed slightly and said.

Zhu Di remained silent. After arriving at the gate of Tianjie Temple, he mounted his horse and returned to the capital.

…

Inside the Qinhuai Courtyard.

"Boss, a secret letter has arrived. The envoy from Goryeo will be here in two days." Zhang Bo said to Zhu Ying who was reviewing memorials.

It is now afternoon, and the eunuch Guo Zhong, who is in charge of writing, has already returned to the palace at noon with the memorial.

Zhu Ying rubbed his temple and said, "Okay, I get it."

Zhu Ying apparently had some arrangements for the Goryeo envoys.

However, these arrangements no longer seem necessary at the moment.

After all, the change of identity was too sudden. Some of the things that I once pursued are now completely within my reach.

So for Zhu Ying now, those secret moves of the Goryeo team can be directly cancelled.

Zhang Bo hesitated after hearing this, and then said again: "Boss, what you are asking about is about Zhao Xiangxi."

Zhu Ying turned around and asked, "Oh, what happened to the daughter of the Fengyang Zhao family?"

Zhang Bo said, "What the subordinates meant is that this girl is very pretty and it would be a pity to send her to the palace. They have already arranged for another portrait to be made and stamped with a seal."

"If the boss is interested in this girl, it will be a blessing for her. We will replace her and let her serve the boss."

Zhu Ying was speechless.

Good man, you want me to compete with the old man for his wife?

It's their idea to do this.

But after hesitating for a moment, Zhu Ying still said, "Where is the portrait of the woman? Have you brought it over?"

"Here I am. Please have a look, sir."

When Zhang Bo heard this, he couldn't help but show joy in the corners of his eyes.

You have to know that the former boss never touched women, which made many of his subordinates very anxious.

Seeing that he was asked this time, he hurriedly took out the portrait he had prepared long ago and showed it to his boss.

Zhu Ying looked up, was slightly stunned, and then said: "Just do as they say."

Uncle Zhang reacted immediately and said quickly, "Yes, Boss."

After getting permission from his employer, Zhang Bo immediately arranged for someone to rush to notify the Goryeo envoys.

Convey the boss's instructions.

…

At night, at a post station eighty miles outside Nanjing city.

This post station was much larger in scale because it was close to the capital and was a hub for many other post stations.

Moreover, this post station is on the same route as the tribute road and occupies a larger scale.

In a room of the post station, Zhao Xiangxi was resting in the room.

There were two other Goryeo soldiers guarding outside the door.

"Who are they? Who is the boss they are talking about? But we are about to reach the capital of the Ming Dynasty. What do they want to do?"

Zhao Xiangxi was in a state of confusion at this moment.

In this Goryeo beauty pageant, as the legitimate daughter of the Pungyang Zhao clan, she shouldered important family responsibilities.

She was very confident in her beauty, but during the beauty pageant, in order to avoid accidents, she also used some shady means, which enabled her to successfully win the championship.

But along the way from Goryeo to the vicinity of the Ming capital, those ministers and generals were simply too strange.

The conspiracy was not concealed at all, and they talked openly in Chinese.

But overall, he was still polite to her.

So even if she racked her brains, she couldn't figure out what the key was.

Just as she was thinking hard, the door was suddenly pushed open.

Zhao Xiangxi looked up and saw a maid assigned to her by the palace.

"Who let you in?"

Zhao Xiangxi scolded in Goryeo. She felt offended by the maid's rude behavior of entering the house directly.

"Princess, after today, our identities will be swapped. I also want to congratulate you for gaining the recognition of the host family. You will fly directly to the treetops and become a phoenix in the future."

The maid bowed slightly and spoke in Chinese with an envious and respectful tone.

Zhao Xiangxi heard this with a calm expression, and said in a cold voice in Chinese: "I passed the Goryeo beauty pageant and was personally selected by the general. Do you know that this action not only deceives the general, but also deceives His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty?"

"If the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty is angry, each of you will be guilty of a heinous crime punishable by the execution of nine generations of your clan."

"Don't underestimate the ability of the Ming Dynasty's Jinyiwei. These evil tricks of yours will be discovered one day."

When the maid heard this, she smiled and said, "Don't worry, Princess. No one will find out. After tonight, I will be the real princess. Not only will I have a portrait with the general's seal, but it will also be written in the documents."

"All the soldiers accompanying us will not reveal the truth. Because we are all from the host family."

Zhao Xiangxi heard the name "Dongjia" again and couldn't help asking, "Who is your Dongjia? How dare he go against the Emperor of Ming Dynasty? I am the woman who is about to marry the Emperor of Ming Dynasty. What does he want to do?"

"How can I explain it so that the princess will understand?" The maid was a little helpless.

She couldn't use force on Zhao Xiangxi now and could only persuade her.

After all, with Zhao Xiangxi's beauty, there is a very high possibility that the boss will take a fancy to her, and her status will be completely different then.

After thinking for a while, the maid confessed: "Princess, I know you are the legitimate daughter of the Fengyang Zhao family, but you should know that all the ministers and soldiers accompanying you are from the Dong family. I have not deceived you about this."

Zhao Xiangxi shook her head and said, "Don't lie to me. These ministers are all ministers in the palace. How could they be your boss's men? They are all loyal subordinates of the general."

"I advise you, the boss, not to have any wild thoughts."

Zhao Xiangxi obviously didn't believe it. Although she was a little confused, in her heart, she thought that at most those ministers had been bribed.

This is also very normal. As for the fact that the maid mentioned twice that she belonged to the boss, how is this possible?

Why don’t you say that all the civil and military officials in the court are your boss’s people?

If the maid could hear what Zhao Xiangxi was thinking, she would definitely tell her.

You guessed it correctly, the entire Goryeo royal palace and all the generals were basically under the control of the Dong family.

The maid placed a maid's dress on Zhao Xiangxi's table and said, "Princess, there is no point in arguing about this. Please change your clothes."

Zhao Xiangxi glanced at the maid's clothes and didn't care.

She undressed directly in front of the maid, taking off all her clothes, revealing her flawless, white body.

He didn't even rush to get dressed. Instead, he puffed out his chest and looked at the maid with a little pride.

There was obvious envy in the maid's eyes.

Seeing this look, Zhao Xiangxi walked to the table, picked up her clothes and put them on.

After getting dressed, Zhao Xiangxi said, "Do you want me to change rooms?"

The maid shook her head and said, "In our opinion, the princess's status is now more noble than before. But I have a few words to advise the princess. If you see the master, you must serve him well."

"If the master is displeased, the princess cannot afford the consequences, and neither can the Fengrang Zhao family."

"Perhaps the princess doesn't know yet, but Mr. Zhao Zhenghuan has been a member of the Dong family for a long time."

When Zhao Xiangxi heard the name, she suddenly froze.

Because Zhao Zhenghuan is her second uncle.