The eunuch Cao Fu walked out of the Rouyi Hall with a blue oil-paper umbrella. He wanted to meet Zhu Gaoxu and report the result of his errand. In the weather of leper and drizzle, the umbrella had to be tilted to prevent his head and face from being wet by the rain.

Previously, he had damaged Chen Xianzhen's words in front of King Annan, but he was far from being able to relieve him. Cao Fu was not like Wang Jinghong and others who wanted to do something big, so he left a name in history books, just to make him feel relieved. Unexpectedly, the Taoist priest Chen Xianzhen dared to make him angry.

Cao Fu thought for a while, then accelerated his pace and walked towards Fengtianmen. In the morning, Cao Fu had not stayed in Rouyi Hall for too long, so he guessed that the morning court had not ended yet, and the emperor should be in the imperial gate in Fengtianmen.

Walking eastward along the brick square outside the main gate of Rouyi Hall, Cao Fu soon arrived at the Wu Tower. Without anyone stopping him, he passed the Wu Tower and there was a wide brick floor inside. At this time, he could only look southeast and see the majestic Fengtian Gate.

Cao Fu walked in through the gate north of Fengtian Gate, but saw that the throne was empty. The case set up by the Hanlin Academy below was still there, and some officials on duty were sitting on both sides writing. No one spoke, and he could hear the "rustling" sound of the pen falling on the paper.

Cao Fu didn't say anything, and walked out of Fengtian Gate on the same road. He met a eunuch outside the gate, and went up to ask, "The morning court is over, the emperor has returned to the East Nuan Pavilion?"

The eunuch bent down and said, "Go back to Eunuch Cao, I saw that the emperor went to Dongjiaomen." He said, pointing his finger to the east.

Cao Fu nodded, feeling a little strange in his heart.

There are three gates in this place, and the middle is Fengtian Gate, with the Xijiao Gate and Dongjiao Gate on both sides. The emperor usually only comes to Fengtian Gate and will not go to the Jiao Gate on both sides. However, there is a saying in the Dongjiao Gate. It is said that when Jianwen was the emperor, he secretly discussed the major issue of dethroning the vassal states with his confidant Huang Zicheng, and it was on the Dongjiao Gate. Later, a war broke out, which was the "Jingnan Campaign".

After a while, Cao Fu entered the Dongjiao Gate and saw several people standing inside, including eunuchs and the Great Han General of the Jinyiwei. When everyone saw the emperor's confidant eunuch, Cao Fu, they bowed their fists and greeted him.

Cao Fu bowed his hand, looked up at the stairs, and went straight to the attic.

As soon as he walked to the attic, he suddenly saw an official in green robe kneeling on the ground and kowtowed, while Zhu Gaoxu was standing not far from the stairs. Cao Fu hurriedly took two steps back so that the official would even kneel down and bow to him, Cao Fu. A eunuch could not bear the gift.

Zhu Gaoxu glanced at Cao Fu, nodded slightly, then stepped forward to help Guan'er and said, "Get up and talk."

Cao Fu and other officials stood up before he walked back to the attic and stood silently waiting.

This green robe official is also strange. He was summoned by the emperor alone, but he was actually someone Cao Fu didn't know. Cao Fu often appeared around the emperor. Who could meet the emperor intimately? He didn't know what he knew?

I saw that the official was very young, but he looked yellow and thin. Cao Fu suddenly remembered that there were a hundred more new Jinshi not long ago? This official was probably a new Jinshi.

Zhu Gaoxu said first: "Liu Ming, I saw the list reported by the pedestrians. Si Zheng said, "You volunteered to go to Annan Kingdom to see Chen Jikuo?"

An official named Liu Ming bowed: "Returning to the emperor, as Si Zheng said, this matter was taken by the minister."

Zhu Gaoxu said: "At the beginning of Yongle, the people of Annan ambushed the Ming envoys and the soldiers of the army, and even the Dali Temple Minister Xue Yan almost died there. You have just passed the imperial examination, so don't go this time."

Liu Ming suddenly raised his head and met Zhu Gaoxu's gaze. The king and his minister looked at each other subtly.

Cao Fu saw it and was even more confused. When was this new Jinshi appreciated the emperor?

Liu Ming said: "I thank the priest for the love of the priest. I heard that the priest is conscience and achievements, and I yearn for it. I am fortunate to be a disciple of the emperor. Even though I go to Annan, I have no way to repay the priest's kindness. Moreover, I think there is no need to be afraid of this journey."

"Oh?" Zhu Gaoxu made a voice.

Liu Ming bowed and said, "In the past, the Hu family provoked the court and was destroyed by the royal army in less than a year. The lessons of the Hu family's past are not far away. Now, Chen Jikuo and others have the ambition of the Annan rebels, and the greatest ambition is to occupy Annan and be recognized by the court. If you kill the imperial envoys, it will be harmful and useless. Therefore, I believe that this trip seems dangerous, but there is no need to worry."

Zhu Gaoxu pondered for a while, nodded slowly and said, "You have some reason, it's okay! But it's not easy for you to get a Jinshi. Be careful. I have a few local people I know in Annan. I will send someone to inform you and ask them to contact you so that I can take care of you."

Liu Ming hurriedly said: "I am the grace of the emperor who can serve the court."

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand and said, "You won't have to go to the Hanlin Academy these days. I wish you a safe return."

Liu Mingfu bowed and said, "I thank you for your kindness and leave."

Cao Fu turned his head and looked at Liu Ming and walked down the stairs, then went forward and bent down and said, "Report to the emperor, I have finished my errands, but..."

"Speak straight away if you have something to do." Zhu Gaoxu said.

Cao Fu said carefully: "But Chen Xian really resented the emperor and hated Queen Chen even more, and felt that the queen had humiliated her. They had already started arguing in front of their servants just now."

"Well..." Zhu Gaoxu made a voice, indicating that he was listening.

Cao Fu continued, "I heard Chen Xianzhen's words and felt that she was still rebelling against the thief Chen Jikuo, and she didn't even care about the emperor's kindness at all! But this was expected. She was originally the one who Chen Jikuo sent to act as a spy twice.

But what I worry about is that after Chen Xianzhen becomes a grudge with Queen Annan, she will be released back in a good manner. Will she be timid - to instigate Chen Jikuo to become enemies with the queen and the people on Chen Zhengyuan's side? If so, the emperor's kindness to recruit Chen Jikuo would be in vain."

After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu paced back and forth for a few steps. After a while, he finally turned around and said, "Don't make things difficult for her, just let her go back to her hometown."

Cao Fu immediately refused to talk too much, and clasped his fists and said, "Yes."

Zhu Gaoxu walked to the railing and looked outside for a while. Cao Fu looked out in the direction and could see the scene outside the attic, a neat and grand group of double-eaved palaces.

"Emperor Jianwen and Huang Zicheng have also been here." Zhu Gaoxu turned his head and said casually.

"Yes." Cao Fu responded respectfully. He thought to himself, it turned out that the emperor had heard of this.

Zhu Gaoxu stood for a short time and turned around and walked down the stairs.

...Although it was raining today, Miss Xu also came to the palace. Madam Xu was the deposed princess who was saved by King Zhao Zhu Gaoshu and the daughter of the military general Xu Zhang.

She came to see Duan Xueheng, and explained her purpose at Xuanwu Gate, but the eunuch informed Depin. Afterwards, the palace maid searched and she successfully entered the palace.

Back then, Mrs. Xu and Duan Xueheng were inseparable for a long time; at first it was not because of the close relationship, but because Duan Xueheng was about to monitor Mrs. Xu.

All the things were caused by chance. Madam Xu discovered the secret of her uncle He Fu. It turned out that He Fu had already had a secret conversation with the "King of Han", so she was sent to the Han Palace in Yunnan.

Because Zhu Gaoxu had various relationships with her, it was difficult to detain her; so Miss Xu was able to spend time with Duan Xueheng day and night. After getting along for a long time, they shared some private matters, but somehow they had a friendship. I think two women with completely opposite personalities can also make friends.

Duan Xuehen lives in the East Palace. The highest status here is the imperial concubine Mu Zhen.

Madam Xu was taken to Dongyi Palace by eunuchs. After seeing Duan Xueheng, she found that Duan Xuehen was still the same temperament, and she spoke very little, let alone polite words. However, Madam Xu felt a little relaxed. She brought a box of gifts, but Duan Xuehen put them on the table.

The palace maids served tea and all went out. At this time, Madam Xu asked softly: "How is the imperial concubine? Is it easy to talk to?"

Speaking of the imperial concubine, Duan Xueheng's expressionless face showed a subtle look, and his eyes were a little different. Madam Xu saw it and felt a little strange, thinking: Could it be that Duan Xueheng had a relationship with Mu when she was in Yunnan?

Duan Xueheng quickly said casually: "The person is pretty good."

After hearing this, Madam Xu was a little happy and hurriedly grabbed Duan Xueheng and said, "I want to ask my sister for something. Can you help me introduce the imperial concubine?"

"What did you think she did?" Duan Xue said in confusion.

Madam Xu was a little embarrassed, and after hesitation, her voice became even lower: "I heard that the half-sister of the Imperial Concubine may be the Princess Zhao. I want to convince the Imperial Concubine to stop this."

Duan Xueheng looked at her: "You are well-informed, but why do you want to do this?"

Mrs. Xu said: "The King of Zhao divorced me at the beginning, but the excuse was that I had been married for several years and had not given birth to a legitimate son. This reason is not the truth, otherwise King of Zhao could have allowed me to adopt one as a legitimate son. At the beginning, King of Zhao was just interested in the power and status of the Mu family and wanted to marry the Mu family.

As long as King Zhao cannot marry a woman from the Mu family, he may be willing to take me back again. Because my uncle (He Fu) made great contributions in the "Suppression Battle", his current status in the court is very different from before."

Duan Xueheng frowned and said, "If King Zhao's mind is really so cold, why are you going back?"

Madam Xu sighed quietly, "It's better than now. The Xu family thinks I'm embarrassed, and I can't always go to my uncle's house. Sister Duan often feels like there is no place to stay."

"Become a monk?" Duan Xueheng asked.

Mrs. Xu said: "You have to shave your hair as a nun. A young woman has a bad reputation as a Taoist priest, unless she can marry a Taoist priest. In the Tang Dynasty, some female Taoist priests were like prostitutes. A few years ago, Ji Gang competed with Tan Qing for a female Taoist priest, and she was beaten to death, making everyone know about it. There are some rumors in the current emperor..."

She wanted to speak but stopped, and finally couldn't help saying, "I heard that the queen's sister has been sent to Zhongdu. I don't want to go to Zhongdu, just because I'm afraid."

Duan Xuehen was silent for a moment and said, "How can you convince the imperial concubine?"
Chapter completed!