Zeng Jinhua, the eighth-grade imperial doctor of the Taiyuan Hospital, is a tall, thin man, about thirty years old, with regular facial features, but he is severely short-sighted. He wears a pair of crystal-polished glasses on the bridge of his nose, so he is often called "Zeng Si" behind his back.

"Eye". He is also nicknamed "Zeng Shenyi", not because of his amazing medical skills, but because he is superstitious in Taoism and always likes to cite the theories of ghosts and gods when dealing with difficult and complicated diseases.

However, his medical skills are still the best in the Imperial Hospital, and he is also considered serious and responsible. He is also a fellow Suzhou fellow of Queen Zhou, so he has the trust of Chongzhen and his wife.

Regarding Zhu Cihong's condition, his "miraculous doctor"'s judgment was quite reliable. There was indeed nothing wrong with Zhu Cihong's body and he was very healthy. The reason why he couldn't wake up was that there was a running-in period between the new soul and this body.

When he heard Zhu Cixi complaining about his ancestors in his dream, he naturally thought of supernatural events like Taizu's dream.

In the early morning of March 15th, the 17th year of Chongzhen, Dr. Zeng, who was a bit distracted, met Zhu Cihong again.

Zhu Cixiang, who had not slept all night, was currently writing orders at his desk. Next to his writing desk, there were piles of blank or finished chapters of this chapter.

"Your Highness, Zeng Jinhua, pays homage to His Royal Highness." After the ceremony, Divine Doctor Zeng asked again, "Does Your Highness feel lethargic today?"

"Some of them," Zhu Cihong said, "just feel so drowsy that they may not be able to read or practice calligraphy."

Can't read or practice calligraphy? What are you doing now?

Divine Doctor Zeng adjusted his glasses and looked at Zhu Cixiang who was writing at his desk, "Your Highness, you want to cancel the daily lecture?"

"I need to rest for three days," Zhu Cixiang said bluntly, "Just do what I want. In addition, I am restless and may fall ill at any time. You will stay with me from today on.

"

There was an unquestionable majesty in the tone of Zhu Cixiang's words. How could Divine Doctor Zeng, an eighth-grade imperial doctor, dare to disobey him, so he had no choice but to say so.

Zhu Cihong then said: "Is there anyone in your family in the capital? If there is anyone, you can go and settle down this morning. Dabao, go and get ten taels of silver to give to Dr. Zeng."

Ten taels of silver? What does it mean?

Doctor Zeng was stunned again and again. The prince seemed to have something in his words...but he didn't pay attention to it because he was from Suzhou, his wife and children were all in his hometown, and he only had a concubine by his side.

After thanking the prince for the reward, Zeng Jinhua and Huang Dabao went to get the silver, and then hurried to meet his concubine in his mansion in the outer city - he didn't know at this time that if he said goodbye to his concubine today, he would never have anything to do with him in this life.

Goodbye day!

After Huang Dabao sent Divine Doctor Zeng away, when he returned to Duanjing Hall, he came with Qiu Zhizhong, another eunuch who accompanied him, and Bi Jiucheng, the clerk and member of the Zhongshushe.

Zhu Cihong's two companions worked in shifts, and now it was Eunuch Qiu's turn to take up his post.

Eunuch Qiu was a thin man, aged thirty-four or five, with a gentle smile on his face. He looked like a scholar and scholar. But Zhu Cixiang knew that this eunuch was a "Martial Eunuch" who was proficient in bow and horse, and Zhu Cixiang learned to ride a horse from him.

, archery and fencing - the prince of the Ming Dynasty was theoretically required to be both civil and military.

The clerk is an official subordinate to the prince, and is the last person in the team of clerks. It is usually filled by the clerks of the cabinet. Bi Jiucheng, who is in his early twenties this year, is one of Zhu Cixiang's two clerks.

.This man is a fat man with a very cheerful and lively personality. He is not shy when meeting Zhu Cixiang. He also likes to tell the prince some strange things outside the palace, so he has a good relationship with the prince. In addition, he was born in the 16th year of Chongzhen.

The new Jinshi had no family in Beijing, so he had no worries. Zhu Cixiang called him here to be a "secretary". He had a lot of paperwork to deal with, and he had to use copywriting at least.

Eunuch Qiu was a little surprised when he saw the pile of documents on Zhu Cixi's desk, but he didn't ask any more questions. He just reminded: "Master Qiansui, it's getting late. It's time to ask someone to help you wash up, and then report to the Queen."

Peace."

Zhu Cixi then remembered that he still had to deal with Queen Zhou, his biological mother!

"Oh." He nodded, blinked his round eyes, and looked at him with a very strange look in Bi Jiucheng's way: "Bi Shishu, these things I wrote have been taken care of for me, and no one is allowed to touch them. In addition,

, and then look for some chapters that can be used to write edicts, the more the better!"

"Your Highness, these things are..." Bi Jiucheng looked at a lot of this chapter in front of him, and then looked at Zhu Cihong, whose eyes and tone were much sharper. He was really at a loss.

"See for yourself what it is." Zhu Cixi then said to Eunuch Qiu, "Please wait for me to change my clothes!"

"Here." Qiu Zhizhong responded, and then called several palace maids and eunuchs to help Zhu Cixiang wash and change clothes.

The maids were all elderly aunts. Zhu Cixiang remembered that he once had two younger wet nurses, but they were dismissed when he left the palace to study. Only aunts and maids over fifty years old served in Duanben Palace.

Therefore, Zhu Cixiang's daily life is quite boring. Besides eunuchs, there are aunts around him, or teachers with big beards who teach saintly principles. In other words, when he goes to Kunning Palace to see his mother, he can meet a few younger palaces.

people.

Although she is said to be young, she is actually an old girl in her thirties. Because his father, Emperor Chongzhen, wanted to be a holy king, he restrained himself from being pretty. The palace did not choose a beautiful girl for many years. It was just a year ago.

Zhu Cihong made a selection once, but only kept three or two girls, and dismissed the others.

So the women currently serving Chongzhen are Empress Zhou, Concubine Yuan, the two princesses, Concubine Liu, Concubine Fang, Concubine Shen, and a few old girls in their thirties, and there is no one else.

Among them, Queen Zhou and Concubine Yuan were both elected to the royal palace by King Xin of Chongzhen. Also selected was Concubine Tian, ​​who passed away in the fifteenth year of Chongzhen.

In addition to these concubines of Chongzhen, there was also Empress Zhang in the palace at this time, who was the sister-in-law of Emperor Chongzhen and the empress of Emperor Tianqi. There was also Concubine Li, the concubine of Emperor Guangzong Taichang.

However, the Ming Dynasty had strict palace bans and etiquette. As a prince who left the cabinet, Zhu Cihong was theoretically not allowed to go to the queen unless he was ordered to do so, not to mention a bunch of imperial concubines and concubines. However, Chongzhen had issued an edict, allowing Zhu Cihong to "don't ask the queen before the court", so

He could often see his mother, Queen Zhou.

After washing up and having a simple breakfast, it was already bright outside.

Only then did Zhu Cixiang take Qiu Zhizhong out of Duanjing Hall.

"Your Highness, are you going to Kunning Palace?" Zhu Chunjie, the guard of the East Palace, saw Zhu Cihong coming out and hurriedly stepped forward. At the same time, he called on the eunuchs to hold up Russell's square umbrellas, fan them, and line up.

This Zhu Chunjie is in his twenties, tall and strong, with a full beard. He does look a bit murderous. But even though he looks murderous, in fact he has never even killed a chicken...

This guy was a general, and his ancestor was the hero of the Jingnan War, Duke Cheng Zhu Neng. However, Zhu Chunjie was not a direct lineage, so he was not qualified to inherit the title of Duke. He only became Zhu Cihong's head guard in the East Palace on the recommendation of his clan brother Zhu Chunchen.

Zhu Cihong took a breath and said to Zhu Chunjie: "Yes, go to Kunning Palace!"

Kunning Palace is the bedroom of Queen Zhou, and is also known as the Middle Palace.

Now there are two ways out before Zhu Cixiang. One is to sneak away to Tongzhou before Li Zicheng's army surrounds Beijing city; the other is to break through and escape when Beijing city is captured.

If he chooses the former method to run away, Zhu Cixiang will be charged with unfilial piety. In the Ming Dynasty, which paid great attention to theoretical ethics, unfilial piety was a serious crime!

Moreover, it was difficult for Zhu Cixiang, who fled with only a few eunuchs and bodyguards, to pull out a team from Beijing.

Judging from Wang Chengen's intention, he would not cooperate with him in escaping in advance, so it would be difficult to take away a large group of people from Beijing.

The prince of the Ming Dynasty has his own official system. Among the civil servants, there are four attendants, six lecturers, two school clerks, and two attendants. The military attaches have the East Palace Guards. The eunuchs include eunuch Zhan.

, there are also a large number of people accompanying the eunuchs and ordinary internal officials.

And these people all have status and status, civil servants have disciples, military officers have servants, and eunuchs have godsons. Put together, they form a medium-sized Donggong Group.

In addition, there are still some civil and military officials and eunuchs who are loyal to the Ming Dynasty in the capital city. Zhu Cixiang can also take them away together to expand the Donggong Group.

Moreover, Zhu Cixiang could also take away an armed force from the capital through a breakout operation. Even if there were only 1,000 people, it would be better than running out with bare hands!

Of course, the most valuable "asset" in the capital city is not the officials, eunuchs and armed forces, but Emperor Chongzhen himself!

No matter how confused Emperor Chongzhen is, he is still an emperor!

In the eyes of the world, if the fall of the capital and the abnormal death of the emperor happened at the same time, the Ming Dynasty would be dead!

The emperor defends the country, and the king dies for the country. It is indeed strong, but it cannot be denied that this is a symbol of the country's subjugation! In this case, if Zhu Cixiang wants to ascend the throne, he must rely on the support of important ministers and warlords, which will inevitably lead to the loss of the country.

's puppet.

If Emperor Chongzhen abandons the capital and leaves, his prestige will be greatly reduced, but his status as emperor will still be there! And if Zhu Cixiang can pull out an East Palace Group during the breakout process and gain a certain amount of force, he will not be afraid of being treated as a puppet.

A true prince is much better than a false emperor!

Moreover, it is much better for Chongzhen to give way to him through inner Zen than to have warlords like the four towns in Jiangbei support him...
Chapter completed!