Chapter 26: Visiting Old Friends
"Your Majesty, do you really want you to go back?" Xu Wangzhi said in shock, "But there's still rebellion going on in Guizhou and Huguang. The journey is very dangerous... And won't Wunongsi go back with you?"
Zhu Yuhuan shook his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty only wants me to go back. There's no rush for the steam engine."
Xu Wangzhi felt strange when he heard her say that, and said, "Then... there must be someone to protect you on the road, right?"
Zhu Yuhuan smiled and said, "Don't worry. His Majesty said that He Yong should lead the troops back to the capital with me. We will then take a detour from Sichuan. Although the road may be a bit bumpy and the speed will be slower, it will be safer."
Zhu Qizhen seemed to be concerned about Zhu Yuhuan's safety, but in fact he was having He Yong secretly monitor Zhu Yuhuan. Zhu Qizhen was the emperor, and Zhu Yuhuan was just a princess. Although Zhu Yuhuan had once petitioned Zhu Qizhen to give the name "He Yong" to Toghto Boluo, it was the emperor who actually bestowed the name He Yong and allowed him and his father He Ying to integrate into the capital. Zhu Qizhen naturally believed that no one would "pick up sesame seeds and lose watermelons."
Moreover, if He Yong really had any relationship with Princess Shunde, Zhu Qizhen would not let him stay in Yunnan. It would be better for him to return to the capital with Zhu Yuhuan and be under Zhu Qizhen's surveillance.
Xu Wangzhi scratched his hair irritably and said, "Why do I always feel like something is wrong? Why don't I go back with you?"
She felt that the emperor had ulterior motives in suddenly asking the princess to go back... These craftsmen were all in Yunnan now, but they did not go back with the princess, nor did they say when the princess would come back. If the princess did not come back, what would happen to all the problems in Wunong Temple?
Most importantly, who else but Princess Shunde would devote so much effort and resources to researching this? I'm afraid all this will be in vain.
Zhu Yuhuan was amused when he heard this and said, "What's the point of you following me back? Isn't your book not yet fully compiled?"
Xu Wangzhi gritted his teeth and said, "I won't write anymore! Anyway, I think this matter reveals something strange... I asked you to go back because of the Prince of Qing's wedding, but now I ask you to go back for no reason, and you don't even need to bring the steam engine back to demonstrate your achievements... If you leave, what will happen to the stall in Yunnan?"
Zhu Yuhuan couldn't help but smile and said, "Just stay in Yunnan and rest assured. When the time is right, I'll send someone to take you back to the capital. This is the emperor's order. We can't take you with us. I'm also worried about you following us alone. Be obedient. If I can't come back myself, I'll send someone back."
Xu Wangzhi exchanged a glance with her, and couldn't help but sigh, saying, "I really can't understand these things..."
Zhu Yuhuan patted her shoulder to comfort her, "Some things are better not to understand." After that, she instructed Huai En, "Have someone take the gifts I gave to the eldest princess and the eldest prince with them. Don't leave them behind."
"yes."
Seeing that she was still as calm and steady as ever, Xu Wangzhi could only forget all his anxieties and worries and help Zhu Yuhuan prepare medicine that might be needed on the road.
Zhu Yuhuan himself would need several days to pack up, and He Yong would also need some time to return from southern Yunnan, so there was no rush. Zhu Yuhuan sent someone to send a message to He Yong, and the two met in Kunming.
Zhu Yuhuan also took this opportunity to visit Saihazhi.
When Zhu Yuhuan first arrived in Yunnan, he had intended to visit Saihazhi, but he did not expect that the old man, despite his age, was still willing to run around with the traveling tea merchants, so the master and apprentice missed each other.
After that, Zhu Yuhuan was either busy fighting or busy with reforms, and the two had no time to meet.
If Saihazhi had not told Zhu Yuhuan all about the situation in Yunnan, it would have been extremely difficult for Zhu Yuhuan to quickly investigate the problems in Yunnan in a short period of time. Now Zhu Yuhuan is about to return to Beijing. If he doesn't see Saihazhi again and chat with his master about the past, the two of them don't know when they will meet again.
It has been more than ten years since the master and disciple last met. Saihazhi is already old, and he even changed into new clothes in order to meet Zhu Yuhuan.
Zhu Yuhuan saw that although he had white hair, he was still full of energy. He smiled and said, "I feel relieved to see that Master is still so energetic."
Saihazhi chuckled and said, "Your Highness is truly heroic and impressive. One can only admire him upon seeing him."
The master and disciple sat down and exchanged a few words, asking about each other's health. There was no sense of awkwardness between them as if they had not seen each other for a long time.
There were only two people in the room, Huai En was guarding outside. Saihazhi then took out the letter and handed it to Zhu Yuhuan, saying, "It's from General Liu."
Since the Uriankhai invaded the border southward, Liu Yongcheng was appointed to supervise the Gansu area. He went on many expeditions to the northwest and made many military achievements. The Imperial Horse Administration was handed over to Fan Hong again.
Considering his special identity, Liu Yongcheng did not contact Zhu Yuhuan directly, but contacted Saihazhi instead. After all, the two had common students and had a closer relationship.
In fact, Liu Yongcheng was now in the frontier, far away from the capital, and had nothing important to disclose to Zhu Yuhuan. He only briefly mentioned a few rumors on the border that Yesen was trying to send troops south.
However, border invasions usually occur in winter when there is a shortage of food and cloth. Now it is summer and autumn, and it is indeed unreasonable for the Oirat to invade at this time, not to mention that the Wulingha were not completely annihilated in the expedition in the ninth year of Zhengtong. The Oirat has a fellow tribesman, the Wulingha, who is on bad terms with them, so even if they go south to disturb the border, they will never dare to use a large-scale military force.
In the past two months, Zhu Qizhen has been transporting supplies to the border. He obviously knows that he cannot go out on a whim, but at least he has the intention of "patrol the border" alone.
Compared with these, Liu Yongcheng was more worried about Zhu Yuhuan's situation.
The reason is simple. Although Zhu Yuhuan's memorial was not adopted by Zhu Qizhen, this small disturbance was still noticed by many people.
Others just thought that Princess Shunde was too eager and let Wang Zhen take advantage of the opportunity, but Liu Yongcheng knew very well that Zhu Yuhuan would never suddenly do such a stupid thing.
Unless Zhu Yuhuan did it on purpose.
That's why Liu Yongcheng wrote a letter to Saihazhi specifically to get an answer.
The content of this letter is almost the same as what Xu Yun wrote.
After reading the letter, Zhu Yuhuan smiled and said to Saihazhi, "Master, do you have paper and pen? I will write back to Master Liu right away."
Saihazhi naturally immediately prepared pen, ink, paper and inkstone for Zhu Yuhuan.
Zhu Yuhuan personally wrote a reply to Liu Yongcheng, handed it to Saihazhi, and showed it to him.
Saihazhi was stunned and asked doubtfully, "How can Your Highness be sure that General Liu will be of any use..."
"Although His Majesty specifically summoned me back to the capital, he has more pressing matters to attend to. He doesn't think a princess like me can stir up any trouble..." Zhu Yuhuan looked up at Saihazhi and said with a smile, "Contempt is the greatest folly of a person. I'm doing this just to prepare for an emergency. Besides, His Majesty wouldn't want me to return to the capital while he's away, would he?"
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