golden scales

Zhu Cihong lay on the bed and turned over again.

It was in the evening that he got a clear order to allow him to go out of the palace to appease the army.Although it is said to be the Fujun, in fact, it can't touch the sensitive things of military power, it's just because of the prince's habit of "guarding the country inside, and Fujun going out".

But getting the prince out of the palace is by no means an easy matter.This is not as simple as going from the inner palace to the outer palace, but to really leave the Forbidden City and live in Qiandi.Recalling that when he gave lectures from Zhongcui Palace to Wenhua Palace, the tossing and tossing made him take off a layer of skin, not to mention that this time it was almost a study life.

Although he got the approval of the emperor, the empress finally let him go out with tears in his eyes, but the bodyguards, guards of honor, and palace people that should be prepared are still in preparation.Prince Xin's Mansion has been empty for sixteen or seven years and needs to be refurbished.Naturally, this would also cost a lot of money, but compared to the hundreds of thousands or millions of military salaries, it was like a drizzle.

—I can't wait any longer!There are too many eyes and ears in the palace, the imperial aunt must have known about it, and I'm afraid I will ask the queen mother for an explanation tomorrow.If the parents and adults change again at that time, I'm afraid they won't be able to get out.

Zhu Cihong stood up and took a heavy breath.

The eunuch on duty outside immediately woke up, tiptoed close to the curtain, and listened to the movement inside.If the prince turned over and continued to sleep, he could still stare for a while.If the prince is in a panic, he will probably have to toss for a while.

Zhu Cihong got out of bed, stepped on the specially made bamboo and green slippers, and coughed lightly.

"Your Highness, do you want some water?" The eunuch on duty lifted the curtain lightly, and asked Zhu Cihong in the most gentle voice, for fear that the voice would startle the prince too much.

Zhu Cihong nodded.When I was on the bed just now, I felt so awake that it was difficult to fall asleep, but when I really sat up, I felt a little dizzy.

The little eunuch quickly brought white water and handed it to the prince.

Zhu Cihong drank it all in one gulp, and said: "Hold the lamp, go to the study." He pulled off a set of light gauze Taoist robe and put it on his body casually.

The temperature difference between day and night in the capital in early June is not small, and it is even a little chilly to walk out of the house at this moment.Calculating the time, it should be July in the Gregorian calendar.If 400 years later, it would be the season for barbecues in Yanjing, and the abnormal low temperature now is undoubtedly because the Little Ice Age was at its peak, ranking second in the last 1 years.

This maddening climate will ease in the next few years, and by then the Great Ming has already collapsed.Therefore, some people in later generations lamented that "God's will is dead", which is not an empty finger.

The little eunuch hurriedly stepped forward to help the prince put on his shoes and socks, and tied the belt of his Taoist robe, while going out to greet other servants on duty.Duanben Palace was soon brightly lit, and a figure walked silently along the corridor in the early hours of the morning.

Zhu Cihong washed his hands and face, had refreshments, and soon sat behind the desk in the side hall.He checked the list he made yesterday again to make sure there was nothing missing, and then he leaned heavily on the back of the chair. For 16 years, he has been a death row prisoner step by step towards the execution ground, and now he finally sees the dawn of his escape.

"What time is it?" Zhu Cihong asked suddenly.

The little eunuch didn't dare to raise his head, and quickly replied: "Return to Your Highness, it will be the third quarter of Chou Hour soon."

Zhu Cihong nodded, it was still early in the morning, but he didn't feel sleepy at all.He got up and walked around the desk, asking: "Is Tian Cunshan in the palace?"

According to the rules of Taizu's time, eunuchs are not allowed to have a foreign house.However, now eunuchs not only have foreign houses, but some even marry and take concubines, resulting in a wealth of wealth.The so-called middle officials have become more and more like "officials".Zhu Cilang remembered that Chongzhen shared with him his experience of being an emperor with emotion, saying: "Civil servants are unreliable, military generals are unreliable, and only middle officials are house servants, but they are not available."

It seems that eunuchs are indeed servants of the royal family, relying on the royal family for their survival, but in fact they have long since become a country of power, no different from civil servants and generals.When Emperor Chongzhen wiped out Wei Zhongxian's party, did he really vent his anger on the Donglin Party?That's because Wei Zhongxian trained [-] martial eunuchs, and even kept a pregnant woman in the palace with the Hakka family, planning to "exchange the civet cat for the prince"!

Zhu Cihong admired Emperor Chongzhen quite a lot.As an inexperienced, young man, and his Confucian education is not suitable for the profession of "emperor", Zhu Youjian relied on his talent to deal with a group of people, and it is not easy to get to where he is today.As for the flaws in character... Who doesn't have this?

"Return to Your Highness," the little eunuch lowered his head, "Tian Cunshan ate badly yesterday, and he shouldn't be on duty, so he went to bed early."

What Zhu Cihong heard was: Eunuch Tian did not return to the palace last night.

"Go and call him." Zhu Cihong said.

"I'm going now, servant girl." The little eunuch hurried out.

The eunuchs in the palace have factions that show chariots and horses, and there are also camps that are hidden.The faction on the surface is the little eunuch recorded under the name of the eunuch in charge, with a clear context, just like father and son.The secret camp is the god-in-law that the eunuchs privately recognize, some are called father and son, some are called grandparents, and some are sworn brothers.

From the fact that the little eunuch concealed things for Tian Cunshan, we can know that he is Tian Cunshan's secret party.Otherwise, just say: "The servant did not find Tian Cunshan." Tomorrow, the chief inspector will have to consider changing the crown prince's seal.

Even so, so what?In his previous life, Zhu Cihong was called "the master of turning losses" by the industry. Facing such a "company" riddled with holes and heavily indebted like Himin, he still felt powerless.

Compared with the glorious myth of the previous life, this life is more difficult.Because at that time, he was given absolute trust by his boss, but now, he is just a "child" in the eyes of his parents.

Yeah, still a kid.

Zhu Cihong touched his shiny long hair.He only started growing his hair the year before last, and now his long, jet-black hair is tied back and sometimes braided.Although it does not conform to his aesthetics, it is definitely a big improvement compared to the "total angle" hair style that was shaved and combed out before.

Tian Cunshan's outer residence is in Houhai, not far from the palace.Even in this era, the house price in Houhai is not something he can afford.The reason why there is such a house is the tribute of many speculators who burn cold stoves.Once the prince ascends to the throne, Tian Cunshan will be a man of the dragon, and the money from this house will surely be earned back hundreds of times.

"Eunuch Tian, ​​the prince is calling urgently!"

Hearing the word "urgent call", Tian Cunshan suddenly jumped off the bed, stepped on the ground with his bare feet, and then opened his eyes.For this prince, Tian Cunshan never dared to be negligent, and urged the concubine who was still rubbing his eyes on the bed to put on an official uniform for him, and asked, "Where is the person who sent the message? Let him answer the message."

After a while, the little eunuch was already standing outside the door, and said: "Eunuch, the crown prince woke up suddenly just now, and is waiting for you in the study right now."

"Do you know what it is?" Tian Cunshan sat on a chair so that his concubine could comb his hair.

"After the prince woke up, he looked at the list on the table." The little eunuch was afraid that he might not be able to explain clearly, so he added: "It was the list that was listed yesterday and should be brought out of the palace."

Tian Cunshan frowned: Could it be that he suddenly remembered something?Won't!He immediately denied his thoughts.It is the crown prince's habit to check carefully, but he has never seen that this thousand-year-old has really left behind anything.Perhaps to verify readiness?Tian Cunshan thought of another possibility, and couldn't help feeling chills down his spine.

——I just made the list before dinner last night, and I arranged it non-stop, but where is the time to check it all?It must be dawn anyway!

Tian Cunshan didn't dare to complain that the prince would come out one after another, so he could only use his brain to prepare everything possible.If we talk about what he has gained from working with the prince in the past five years, the prince has sharpened his comprehensiveness in handling things enough to be admitted to the Ministry of Rites as an errand.

"Tian An!" Tian Cunshan shouted.

"The old slave is here." An old voice from outside the door replied.

"How's the palace going?" Tian Cunshan asked.

"This... this old slave, go and ask." Tian An replied in a cold sweat.

"I'll enter the palace first, and you send people to chase me back." Tian Cunshan said angrily.

Because of this unsatisfactory point, Tian Cunshan felt a fire in his heart.Suddenly, the scalp was pulled, it turned out that the concubine hadn't woken up and exerted more force.Tian Cunshan jumped up immediately, slapped his face with a wave of his hand, and cursed: "You can't comb your hair, so what's the use of supporting you! Get out! I'll settle the score with you when our family comes back!"

Hearing the master getting angry outside, knowing that the master was in a bad mood, he hurriedly checked the work in his hands, and secretly prayed that he would not hit the knife at this time.

Tian Cunshan tidied up and hurried out the door, urging the bearers all the way to hurry into the palace.Because of the opening of the door at night, a lot of silver had to be paid, otherwise, who would take the risk of beheading and break the gate of Tianjia?

Even so, when Tian Cunshan arrived in front of the Prince's gate, he was already out of breath and exhausted.

Among them, three parts are true and seven parts are pretentious, which are also skills that eunuchs must learn from childhood.If people are stupid and can't learn it, then they can only go to the assistant to burn hot water for a lifetime.

"Is the Wang's residence ready?" Zhu Cihong saw Tian Cunshan, and the first thing he said was to ask Xin about the Wang's residence.

Tian Cunshan felt relieved, thankful that his family finally caught up, and quickly replied: "Your Highness, the Duanli Gate has been cleaned up at the palace..."

"Where's the bedroom?" Zhu Cihong frowned and asked directly.

It's not that Tian Cunshan doesn't know the point of this problem, but the palace hasn't been repaired yet!How can it be said in front?Of course, report the results first, and then report the difficulties.Seeing that the prince's complexion had darkened, he quickly knelt down on the ground: "Your Highness, forgive me! This slave girl received the order yesterday and watched people go to repair it with her own eyes, but it was dark and it was covered with raw lacquer, so she dared not light the fire..."

"Gu ordered you to clean the bedroom first yesterday, which word did you not understand?" Zhu Cihong's eyelids drooped.

Tian Cunshan groaned in his heart: It's easy to clean the palace, but don't we need to repair it?There are weeds growing in many places in the bedroom, and it must be dawn before someone can pull them out.As for the roof tiles, the roof tiles have to be replaced, and the beams and columns have to be painted... If you move your mouth, we will have to run to death!

"Your Highness, the Duanli Gate is the facade of the palace, if it is unkempt..."

boom!

Zhu Cihong casually grabbed his arm and knocked it on the table.

The armrest made of red sandalwood collided with the huanghuali book table sent by Qiongzhou, and the sound was bright, with a faint sound of gold and iron.

Tian Cunshan immediately kept silent and fell to the ground to be punished.

What the crown prince hates the most is explanations. ;