Ming Dynasty: At the beginning, the house was ransacked and the ancestral temple was burned down.

Chapter 219: Unreliable teammates! The emperor's big day!
"Your Majesty, why are you still teasing me? Sandalwood is not only found on men. Doesn't the Queen Mother often use sandalwood in her palace?"

On the surface, Zheng Mengjing was trying his best to remain calm, but his heartbeat was beating uncontrollably!
"Then where did you go?" Zhu Yijun asked again.

Zheng Mengjing's expression was a little unnatural. She replied nervously: "I was just... wandering around... I didn't go anywhere..."

Seeing Zheng Mengjing hesitating like this, Zhu Yijun didn't ask any more questions. He just stared at her for a long time without saying a word.

Just when Zheng Mengjing was about to be frightened to death, he heard Zhu Yijun's sigh:
"My dear, are you blaming me?"

"..." Zheng Mengjing was stunned. Just when she was confused, Zhu Yijun suddenly came up and grabbed her hands!
The next moment, Zhu Yijun became inexplicably affectionate, looking at her lovingly and saying:

"My dear, I know you are angry that I have ignored you recently. Blame me..."

Zhu Yijun had already guessed where Zheng Mengjing had gone. His beloved concubine, who rarely even stepped out of the palace on weekdays, suddenly smelled of sandalwood, so she could only have gone to the temple.

This reminded him of the many years ago when he swore to Zheng Mengjing in front of the gods and Buddhas that he would make her the queen in the future and their child the crown prince.

But now, the queen is fine, the prince is married, and even the emperor's grandson is about to be born.

Zhu Yijun just felt that the oaths he had made with great confidence at the beginning were as funny as farts.

Perhaps because he felt guilty, Zheng Mengjing's hesitation left Zhu Yijun with only self-blame and helplessness.

The emperor was already in love, Zheng Mengjing would naturally not miss this golden opportunity. She immediately covered her face and sobbed, saying aggrievedly:
"Wuwuwu, Your Majesty, it is because I am old and ugly that I cannot win your favor..."

His beloved woman was crying, and Zhu Yijun was busy comforting her.

At the same time, Zheng Mengjing also learned from Zhu Yijun's comforting voice that the other party mistakenly thought that she disappeared this time to go to the temple to reminisce about the "past" between the two of them...

Zheng Mengjing actually wanted to laugh, but now she could only cry, and she had to cry and say:

"Your Majesty, I understand your difficulties and I don't blame you."

Zheng Mengjing did understand the emperor's difficulties, but it was impossible for him not to blame him.

Especially since Zhu Yijun comforted her for a long time, she also took the initiative to ask some questions about the Eastern Palace. However, no matter how she asked, Zhu Yijun never told her that someone in the Eastern Palace was pregnant.

Zheng Mengjing's heart gradually broke. She didn't expect that her emperor husband, who always said he loved her, would be so wary of her.

In her opinion: Yes, I have killed people, but I have never harmed children! Your Majesty, why do you think I am such a vicious woman?
Perhaps feeling guilty for hiding something from his lover, the Emperor stayed overnight.

Perhaps he wanted to show his trust and unreservedness in his beloved concubine, so before taking a break, Zhu Yijun directly instructed Chen Ju in front of Zheng Mengjing:
"It's been so long, let Zhang Chonghui figure out a solution quickly, I don't have that much patience!"

His Majesty's "unreserved" attitude did not seem to move his beloved imperial concubine.

On the contrary, Zheng Mengjing, who had finally gotten over his guilty conscience, became nervous again after hearing the three words "Zhang Chonghui"!
Zheng Mengjing even suspected that the emperor knew the truth and was playing a trick on her when he said such things to her face...

"My dear, we are already an old couple, why are you still so shy?" Zhu Yijun saw that Zheng Mengjing seemed a little nervous and mistakenly thought that she was shy because she had not slept with him for too long.

Zheng Mengjing's scalp was numb with embarrassment, and he took advantage of the man's most impatient and talkative moment to act coquettishly:
"Your Majesty, my brother has been in Yingtian for so long. He must have realized his mistakes and repented. Can you let him come back?"

……

Zheng Mengjing has already started his plan, and Zhang Chonghui is also secretly arranging something.

At the same time, Zhang Chonghui also brought in an accomplice for Zhang Yunxiu, who was isolated and helpless in the Hanlin Academy.

"What? Wen Tiren?" Zhang Yunxiu seemed to be very disgusted with this person and shook his head repeatedly:
"Although this person looks humble and polite and treats people kindly, this kind of hypocritical smiling tiger is the most unreliable. I don't want to associate with such a person!"

"Don't rush to refuse." Zhang Chonghui said, "I just want to ask you, is Wen Tiren forming a clique in the court?"

"This..." Zhang Yunxiu also paused for a moment before replying:
“It seems… not. Although he is friendly to everyone, he does not curry favor with the superiors like others, nor does he take a clear side.

I remember that on Ye Xianggao's birthday, almost all of my classmates went to the Ye residence to give gifts to this teacher. It seems that only Wen Tiren and I did not go. "

"That's right." Zhang Chonghui said, "So, from a certain perspective, you and Wen Tiren are actually the same kind of people."

This time, Zhang Yunxiu was speechless...

After all, it seemed to be true. In the eyes of many colleagues, he, the descendant of a traitor, was even more sinister than Wen Tihen...

"Forget it, let's just make more friends." After Zhang Yunxiu compromised hastily, he turned to the main business:

"How is Concubine Zheng doing? Have you convinced her?"

Zhang Chonghui shook his head and said, "Except for you and me, these people are unreliable. Everything is still uncertain. Let's wait and see."

"That's right." Zhang Yunxiu nodded in agreement, "We can't be sure what will happen next. We really have to wait and see."

"By the way," Zhang Chonghui asked again, "How's that idiot?"

Zhang Yunxiu answered as usual: "It's still the same. I provide him with good food and drink every day."

Zhang Chonghui nodded and said meaningfully: "The prince treated him so well, he should repay the favor."

Zhang Yunxiu also nodded: "Yes, it's time to repay the favor."

……

At the same time, Qianqing Palace.

After much effort, Zheng Mengjing finally begged for mercy from her husband, the emperor, who agreed to release her brother Zheng Guotai, who was guarding the imperial mausoleum in Yingtian Prefecture, back to the capital.

……

Time flies and it is August 17th.

This day is the birthday of Emperor Wanli.

Zhu Yijun felt that the best gift he received on his birthday this year was a piece of "good news"!

The good news is that Toyotomi Hideyoshi is dead!

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who had always advocated invading Korea and conquering the Ming Dynasty, died.

Tokugawa Ieyasu, who yearns for the shogunate era, is still alive and well.

However, conflicts had long existed between Toyotomi Hideyoshi's trusted subordinates, such as Konishi Yukinaga and Kato Kiyomasa.

Now that the leader is gone, the younger brothers who were already not harmonious with each other naturally became a mess, and the invasion of North Korea could not be carried out.

The war in the court was finally about to end, and Zhu Yijun was very happy. After all, this meant saving a lot of money.

Although there were still wars to fight in Bozhou and countless money to be spent... Zhu Yijun sighed at the thought of having to fight more wars, but then he remembered that today was his birthday, and he forced a smile.

……

On this joyous day of the emperor's birthday, Zheng Guotai, who had been guarding the mausoleum for a long time, was finally able to return to Beijing. With the permission of the emperor's brother-in-law, he entered the palace to meet his sister, the imperial concubine.

The brother and sister haven't seen each other for a long time, so naturally they have to have a touching conversation about their longing for each other.

However, the feeling of being moved is only temporary, while the goal is clear.

Before Zheng Mengjing could even take the initiative to ask, Zheng Guotai couldn't wait to urge Zheng Mengjing:

"My dear Concubine, the Crown Prince is already married. If you remain indifferent, the throne of the Ming Dynasty will really belong to Zhu Changluo!
Are you willing to let Xun'er be a prince? Are you willing to let the position of Empress Dowager fall to Consort Wang Gong, who is inferior to you in every way? "

Zheng Guotai was very anxious. Although he had been in Yingtian for the past two years, he was always worried about the issue of the crown prince.

He dreamed of making his nephew Zhu Changxun the crown prince. Only in this way could his sister become the empress dowager, and he could become the real uncle of the emperor with great power!
Seeing Zheng Guotai's anxious look, Zheng Mengjing couldn't help but be moved and said: "Brother, you are still the best. Apart from you, no one else would think of these things for me."

Zheng Guotai sighed, "At this point, none of our relatives can be trusted. Even my uncle is afraid to offend those people in the court! Sister, the only people we can rely on now are you and me!"

After a long sigh, the brother and sister finally got down to business.

Zheng Guotai first took out the sacred object of their "Red Seal Religion", a bracelet with a somewhat strange shape, and gave it to Zheng Mengjing.

Zheng Guotai said that Zheng Mengjing must wear this bracelet day and night, so that the gods will bless her with good luck and fortune, and it may even kill the Queen!
Zheng Mengjing was dumbfounded. She looked at this ordinary bracelet and frowned:
"No, brother, you just take this... Just this? I can become the empress dowager? By the way, what is this Red Seal Sect? It can't be a cult like the White Lotus Sect, right?"

When Zheng Guotai heard the word "cult", he immediately became anxious and argued excitedly:

"What a cult! How can you say that? Be careful or the Lord God will not bless you after hearing it!"

Looking at Zheng Guotai's mysterious look, Zheng Mengjing suddenly felt that his brother seemed to be less reliable than a young man like Zhang Chonghui...

"Brother, don't worry about the Red Seal Sect or the White Seal Sect for now. I have a plan..."

Next, Zheng Mengjing began to talk about the plan she had discussed with Zhang Chonghui.

however……

The plan hadn't even been announced yet. Zheng Guotai couldn't hold back when he just mentioned the words "cooperate with Zhang Chonghui".

"What! Zhang Chonghui?" Zheng Guotai got angry again:
"Are you crazy? That guy treated me so badly back then! Thanks to him, my teeth are still leaking! How dare you still cooperate with him?"

"Brother, this time is different." Zheng Mengjing explained:
“Although that kid is hateful, he has been able to survive those fatal situations time and time again, which shows that he has real skills!

Besides, he has offended the crown prince now, we can use him to deal with the crown prince, and then throw him out to take the blame!"

"Wha...what?" Zheng Guotai was a little confused: "You said...solved the prince? How?"

"How else can we solve this problem?" Zheng Mengjing said confidently, "We have to get rid of the root of the problem! Of course, we have to kill the prince directly!"

Zheng Guotai was dumbfounded. He looked at his sister in disbelief and was stunned for a long while before asking:

"Are you crazy? What kind of drug did Zhang Chonghui give you? If this matter is exposed, your entire clan will be killed!"

Zheng Guotai seriously thought that Zheng Mengjing was crazy. You know, in the past, his sister was so scared that she even spread rumors, but now she dared to go so far as to kill the prince directly! ?

What tricks did Zhang Chonghui use? Did he put a curse on his sister?
Facts have proved that siblings are still siblings. Even if they have some disagreements along the way, they will eventually reach the same conclusion.

After Zheng Mengjing told Zheng Guotai that the Crown Prince already had a grandson and what Zhang Chonghui said that day, the emperor's uncle suddenly became bolder like his sister, the imperial concubine.

"It seems that the prince must die!" Zheng Guotai nodded in approval.

Zheng Mengjing nodded and agreed, "Yes, even if the king's concubine gave birth to a daughter, it would be even more troublesome if the crown princess got pregnant again and gave birth to a legitimate son, so the crown prince must die early!"

"So...what should we do?" Zheng Guotai said in embarrassment:
"I don't have any assassins, so I can't just spend money to hire a killer to kill the prince, right? What if he gets caught and betrays us?"

Zheng Mengjing said: "Brother, don't worry. Zhang Chonghui has thought of a foolproof method. He said..."

……

While Zheng Guotai and Zheng Mengjing were discussing the "assassination of the prince" in private, Emperor Wanli in the Qianqing Palace was happy about one thing!
After waiting for several months, his beloved general Li Rusong finally recovered from his injuries and was about to go to Beijing to meet the emperor.

Also entering Beijing with Li Rusong was Nurhaci, the Dragon and Tiger General of the Ming Dynasty who came to the court to receive rewards.

It was not easy to get a good opportunity to "enter the Pass", and Nurhaci's good son Huang Taiji naturally would not miss this opportunity.

After a while of acting like a spoiled brat, Huang Taiji was finally able to follow his old father to the Ming Dynasty and see the legendary prosperous capital with his own eyes.

……

Time flies, and several days have passed.

August of the twenty-sixth year of Wanli has passed, and the new September has arrived.

It turned out that Zheng Guotai was extremely quick in his work and he quickly found a 'suitable' killer!
Although this uncle of the emperor hated Zhang Chonghui very much, he was happy when he thought that if something really went wrong, he could push Zhang Chonghui out to take the blame!

……

The ninth day of September is the Double Ninth Festival.

During this festival of climbing, appreciating the moon and flying kites, Li Rusong and Nurhaci arrived in the capital before dark.

Inside the palace, Emperor Wanli Zhu Yijun had prepared a feast for his favorite general Li Rusong and was ready to entertain him personally.

Nurhaci also moved into the Honglu Temple with his youngest son Huang Taiji, preparing to live a good life in the Ming Dynasty for a month before returning.

On the other side, Zhang Chonghui met the killer carefully selected by his uncle Zheng Guotai in a remote alley outside Ciqing Palace.

Looking at the burly man in front of him with a face full of flesh and a height of at least nine feet, Zhang Chonghui frowned slightly.

It seems that the imperial concubine and her brother really want the prince to die!

No, I want him to die too!
Zhang Chonghui was not in a hurry to get down to business. Instead, he asked the big man in front of him a question: "What's your name?"

"It's none of your business what I call you, just tell me where the prince is!"

The burly man was very excited when he spoke, and his eyes were staring straight at Zhang Chonghui's neck, like a cheetah staring at its prey, ready to rush up and bite it at any time!
Zhang Chonghui saw at first glance that the big man's mental state was very abnormal. From the moment he saw him, his hands had been shaking, and he was obviously trying hard to control something!
"If you don't tell me your name, I won't tell you where the prince is." Zhang Chonghui kept the secret.

"You!" The big man could hardly bear it any longer. He was already agitated and restless, and now besides wanting to know where the prince was, he wanted to strangle the pretty boy in front of him first!

(End of this chapter)