The night is dotted with stars.

Zhu Ying’s residence on the banks of the Qinhuai River.

After experiencing the contact with Chang Fu and Lan Yu and others, Zhu Ying had a very deep understanding of Lan Yu and others.

At the same time, I also understand that no one who has reached the current high position is mediocre or relies on luck.

Although Lan Yu was a little arrogant, he was able to serve as the leader of the Huaixi military group, which showed that he was wise.

When Zhu Ying left Chang Mansion, he already clearly felt that Lan Yu's perception of him had changed.

Of course, he would not think that he could convince Lan Yu and make him follow him willingly and wholeheartedly just by relying on his excellent archery skills. Ultimately, he was driven by interests.

But this is a good start to show off one's muscle power, and there will be plenty of time in the future.

After all, the old man's health is getting better and better. Even according to the original history, he has six more years to live. Judging from the current situation, it will only be longer.

Even if it's only six years, if Zhu Ying still can't control the military power and suppress the Ming Dynasty, then he might as well find a piece of tofu and kill himself.

"Boss, have some tea to wake up."

Ye Yueqing took the tea brought by Zhao Xiangxi, handed it to Zhu Ying and said.

Zhu Ying took it and drank it all in one gulp. The alcohol content was quite high, and although he could handle it, his mouth was still somewhat dry.

Ye Yueqing and Zhao Xiangxi looked even more charming under the moonlight, and a strange atmosphere filled the air under their drunken gazes.

Zhao Xiangxi was extremely sensitive. After noticing the gaze, she looked at her boss without showing any weakness, with a hint of teasing in her eyes.

She sensed an opportunity, and she wanted to seize it even more.

If Ye Yueqing hadn't been in front of her, she would have even wanted to get closer.

Ye Yueqing lowered her head slightly, a little shy, not daring to look directly into the eyes of her boss.

The atmosphere began to become more and more ambiguous, the air became a little stagnant, and the breathing sounds seemed to have become much louder.

Just at this moment, Uncle Zhang suddenly entered the yard, and the silent atmosphere was immediately broken.

"Boss, the team from Annan has sent a letter. They will arrive in the capital in a few days. They have reported their identities and are following the team of Xiping Hou."

Zhang Bo obviously didn't realize this and spoke directly.

Zhu Ying also came back to his senses, his expression became calm again, and he nodded slightly.

There was a flash of anger in Zhao Xiangxi's eyes, and in a perspective that Zhang Bo couldn't see, she glared at him fiercely.

What a good opportunity this is. If she misses it this time, she won’t know when the next time will come. She is not Ye Yueqing, and she has very few opportunities to directly contact the boss.

And she knew very well that perhaps because of some previous situations, Ye Yueqing was not too defensive against her now, but Zhao Xiangxi discovered that from the look in the boss's eyes when he looked at her.

Since she did not have the strong possessiveness like other men, Zhao Xiangxi knew that it would be difficult to have a chance just based on her looks.

If Ye Yueqing reacted and asked himself to avoid the boss when he came into contact with him, he would have no chance at all.

She must take advantage of this time to deepen her impression in her employer's mind, so that she will have a chance to be remembered.

Ye Yueqing was the complete opposite. Although there was disappointment on her face, she was more relieved.

Although Ye Yueqing had never had any contact with a man, she had no idea how she should respond in the situation just now.

If the boss wants to do something, should I agree directly or indirectly?

She was originally the boss's employee, so it was impossible for her to refuse. Trying to accept the offer while still willing to accept was already the limit of what she could do.

"Okay, go to bed early. We've been busy all day. There are still a lot of things to do today."

Zhu Ying stood up and said.

In fact, Zhu Ying can now do whatever he wants.

Especially when it comes to women, he is also very clear that Ye Yueqing and Zhao Xiangxi will never resist him, so it doesn't matter even if they sleep in the same bed.

He was not blind, he saw the beauty of the two women. If he said that he had no thoughts in his mind, he would be simply deceiving himself.

It's just that I have experienced the glamorous world of the previous life, the bright lights and wine, especially during my college years in the previous life. The university next door was a certain art college, which was full of beautiful girls, so I have long developed a certain immunity to it.

In terms of dressing, makeup and beauty, there is still a certain gap between today's beauties and those in the past, although the two women are already very good without makeup.

But in the previous life, what kind of beauties had he never seen before?

Besides, he had never tasted the forbidden fruit, so he didn't have such hungry thoughts.

Today, Zhu Yingcai met Ye Yueqing and Zhao Xiangxi. If they had sex tonight, Zhu Ying himself seemed to find it difficult to accept it.

Like many singles, when it comes to the first time, I prefer a combination of psychological and physical pleasure rather than just sexual pleasure between a man and a woman.

After Zhu Ying finished speaking, he walked straight into the house.

At this time, a hint of hesitation flashed across Zhao Xiangxi's eyes. Finally, she gritted her teeth and pushed Ye Yueqing.

Ye Yueqing turned around and looked confused.

Zhao Xiangxi signaled with her eyes at the back of the boss leaving, and Ye Yueqing also reacted, but her face was still a little hesitant.

It was not until the boss was almost reaching the room that he hurriedly followed after Zhao Xiangxi urged him again.

Zhao Xiangxi watched Ye Yueqing and the Dong family walk into the main room together, and couldn't help but feel envious.

"Anything else?"

Zhu Ying noticed Ye Yueqing followed him into the room, and didn't think much about it, thinking that Ye Yueqing wanted to talk to him alone.

"I, I'll help the master change his clothes."

Ye Yueqing bit her lip lightly and said.

Zhu Ying was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's okay, I can come by myself. I've gotten used to it after so many years. On the contrary, I'm not used to being served by others. You can go back to sleep. I have things to do tomorrow morning."

Hearing this, Ye Yueqing was suddenly at a loss. She followed him into the house, having already mustered up her courage.

Facing her boss's words, she did not dare to refute. She just said "yes" and then opened the door and went out.

In the yard outside the door, Zhao Xiangxi was already walking towards the wing room. She guessed that once Ye Yueqing went in, she would not get up until tomorrow morning.

But before she could start to guess, she saw speechlessly that the door opened again.

How did Ye Yueqing get in just now, and how did she get out now?

"You, why did you come out? Does the boss want you to get something?" Zhao Xiangxi hurriedly walked over and asked in a low voice.

Ye Yueqing said in a rather concealing manner: "Don't think too much. The boss is going to sleep, so we will naturally go back to sleep. The boss has arrangements tomorrow morning, so we must get up early."

After saying that, Ye Yueqing left without caring about Zhao Xiangxi and went back to her own room, leaving Zhao Xiangxi disheveled in the wind.

…

Inside the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Ming Dynasty Imperial Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang was still checking memorials in his study. There was no end to the affairs in this world. Even if Zhu Yuanzhang worked day and night, he would not be able to finish reading them.

In order to better build the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang naturally would not miss any free time.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Ning is here." Liu He said at the door of the study.

Zhu Yuanzhang was slightly startled, then nodded and said, "Why is Concubine Ning here? Let her in."

"I obey your order."

Not long after, Concubine Ning appeared at the door of the study.

"His Majesty."

At this moment, Concubine Ning is already fifty years old and has lost her charm, but from her dignified posture and facial features, one can still vaguely see that she was beautiful when she was young.

In this huge palace, only Concubine Ning could come directly to the Qianqing Palace at this time without being stopped.

During Zhu Yuanzhang's life, there were three women with whom he had the closest relationships.

The first one without a doubt was naturally Empress Ma. After Empress Ma passed away, Zhu Yuanzhang no longer appointed another empress.

The second was Concubine Li Shufei. In September of the 17th year of Hongwu, after the mourning period for Empress Xiaoci Gao ended, Concubine Li Shufei replaced the deceased Empress Ma to take charge of the harem.

However, not long after, in the following year, the 18th year of Hongwu, Concubine Li Shufei passed away.

Then came Zhu Yuanzhang’s third woman, Concubine Ning, who has been in charge of the harem ever since.

Ning Fei Guo was from Haozhou, a fellow villager of Zhu Yuanzhang. She became Zhu Yuanzhang's concubine thanks to her father Guo Shanfu.

Before Zhu Yuanzhang became famous, he passed by Guo Shanfu's house and Guo Shanfu fell in love with Zhu Yuanzhang at first sight.

Guo Shanfu was a family fortune teller who was good at reading faces. He could tell at a glance that Zhu Yuanzhang was no ordinary person.

In the chaotic situation at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, he not only spent all his family wealth to help Zhu Yuanzhang, but also let his sons Guo Xing and Guo Ying follow him and serve him, and he also gave his beloved daughter Guo to Zhu Yuanzhang as a concubine.

In this way, Guo followed Zhu Yuanzhang in his battles in the north and south. Later, when Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne, he canonized Guo as Concubine Ning.

It is better to provide timely help than to add icing on the cake. Zhu Yuanzhang was also grateful to Guo Shanfu.

As Concubine Ning took charge of the affairs of the six palaces, the Guo family became prominent. Her father Guo Shanfu was granted the title of Duke of Yingguo, and her brothers Guo Xing and Guo Ying were both granted the title of marquis for their merits.

Although Concubine Guo Ning was not as good as Empress Ma in managing the six palaces, she was able to do her best to help Zhu Yuanzhang solve problems. She was tolerant and generous to others in the harem and never got jealous.

The eldest brother Guo Xing died in the 17th year of Hongwu. His younger brother Guo Ying is now the commander of the imperial guards of the Ming Dynasty Palace. This shows Zhu Yuanzhang's trust in the Guo family.

"It's so late, why aren't you sleeping and coming here? Is there something wrong?" Zhu Yuanzhang put down the memorial and asked with a smile.

"I just miss Your Majesty." Concubine Ning walked up to him familiarly and massaged Zhu Yuanzhang's shoulders.

"Okay, why are you beating around the bush with us? Just tell me what you want to say." Zhu Yuanzhang leaned back slightly and spoke with a relaxed tone, without any worries.

While massaging, Concubine Ning asked, "I heard that your majesty slept in Kunning Palace last night."

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang opened his slightly closed eyes and asked, "But someone in the harem said something."

Sensing the change in Zhu Yuanzhang's tone, Concubine Ning said directly: "I heard it myself. Since my sister passed away, Your Majesty has hardly set foot in Kunning Palace in all these years."

"I suddenly heard that Your Majesty had fallen asleep, so I thought of coming over to ask."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, and Concubine Ning stopped massaging her hands. After a moment of hesitation, Zhu Yuanzhang asked directly, "Did you hear something? Just tell me."

After hearing this, Concubine Ning hesitated for a moment before she said, "To be honest with you, Your Majesty, I have indeed heard a lot of rumors, including the rumors about the Xiaoling Mausoleum a few days ago."

"Last night, I heard from someone that Your Majesty was not sleeping alone in Kunning Palace. This morning, Your Majesty's sedan chair was also moved."

"I heard that... that Xiongying is back."

Concubine Ning finally said the name.

As a concubine who followed Zhu Yuanzhang before the founding of the Ming Dynasty, she was of course familiar with Zhu Xiongying's existence, and she had even hugged him many times.

Empress Ma, Concubine Li, and Concubine Ning had a sisterly relationship and were very close.

As the eldest grandson of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Xiongying was naturally loved by everyone, let alone Concubine Ning.

After dinner today, Concubine Ning heard people talking about Zhu Xiongying in the back garden. After asking about it, she went straight to the Qianqing Palace.

Concubine Ning had no other ideas. After all, her son Zhu Tan had died long ago, and her only relative was her younger brother.

At this age, it is impossible for Concubine Ning to have another child.

"That's right, Xiongying is back. We were the ones who spread the rumors about Xiaoling Mausoleum in order to clear Xiongying's name." Zhu Yuanzhang had nothing to hide in front of Concubine Ning, so he spoke directly.

Concubine Ning's expression was a little solemn, and she asked, "Your Majesty, please don't blame me for being so talkative. When Xiong Ying was buried, I was there with him. Your Majesty, please don't be deceived by me."

If someone else had said this about his eldest grandson, Zhu Yuanzhang would have been furious, but this was Concubine Ning, the woman who had fought on the battlefield for him, and her family was his pillar of support.

He just explained, "Although I am old, I am still not confused. I can still tell whether it is a human or a ghost. I have already found out everything about my grandson over the years."

"When the time comes, let Jiang Li send you a copy of Da Sun's intelligence. Then you will understand why we trust Da Sun so much."

After he finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and added: "You have never seen what our eldest grandson looks like. When he comes to the palace again, I will let you see him. Then you won't think like that."

"That appearance is almost the same as our eldest son's. They are cut from the same mold."

"As for the resemblance to the eldest brother, there may be other ways to get it, but if you see it, you will understand why we believe it. It is more similar to your sister when she was young."

Hearing His Majesty being so confident and speaking so clearly, Concubine Ning felt more or less relieved.

What she was most worried about was that His Majesty was being deceived, or that this was someone else's conspiracy.

Things like coming back to life from the dead sound fake to anyone.

What's more, it has been more than ten years since then.

Hearing this, Concubine Ning couldn't help but ask, "Isn't Xiongying in the palace today?"

Zhu Yuanzhang heard this and explained, "Now is not the right time for our eldest grandson to enter the palace. He will go to the Gunpowder Department tomorrow. Let's send him a message. When he comes back, I will let you see him. Then you will know whether what I said is true or not."