The Return of the Demon

Ning Mao ran too fast, Ning Chen couldn't catch up.

Return to the west courtyard and drive away those evil slaves.

Ning Chen took Uncle Chai back to the room and gave him half a roast chicken.

Uncle Chai opened the oil paper package and found that it was half a roast chicken. He was stunned at first, and then he couldn't help swallowing his saliva.

As a servant, the monthly salary is very small, barely enough to make ends meet... and he can't eat meat many times a year.

"Uncle Chai, I brought it to you, eat it quickly!"

Uncle Chai shook his head repeatedly, "Such a good thing, just to replenish the body of the fourth master... You have just recovered from a serious illness, eat more meat, and your body will get better quickly."

"I have eaten it, this half is specially left for you... Take it back and eat it, and it can also be paired with a little wine."

Ning Chen's attitude was tough, otherwise Uncle Chai would not want it.

Uncle Chai couldn't resist and kept thanking him: "Thank you, Fourth Young Master, thank you, Fourth Young Master..."

"Uncle Chai, don't thank me... If it weren't for you, I would have lost my life."

......

At this time, in the imperial palace, in the imperial study.

Emperor Xuan was holding a book and reading it by candlelight.

The sissy was serving carefully on the side, not daring to breathe.

Just then, a little eunuch tiptoed in.

Emperor Xuan looked up and said, "What's the matter?"

The little eunuch knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, Commander Nie wants to see you!"

Commander Nie was the man with a beard and a fierce face.

His name was Nie Liang, the leader of the sword-carrying guards around Emperor Xuan, and a close confidant of Emperor Xuan.

"Call him in!"

"Yes!"

The little eunuch got up and went out, and Nie Liang walked in a while later.

"Your Majesty, your servant Nie Liang, pays respect to you!"

"Stand up and talk!"

Emperor Xuan put down the book in his hand and asked, "Have you found out?"

"Your Majesty, the boy is not called Lan Xing at all. He is the fourth son of the Minister of Rites, Lord Ning. His real name is Ning Chen."

Emperor Xuan raised his eyebrows, "Ning Chen?"

The sissy leaned over and said, "Your Majesty, do you want to send someone to arrest him? He is so bold that he dared to deceive your Majesty. This is a crime of deceiving the emperor."

Emperor Xuan snorted coldly, "He doesn't know my identity, what crime has he committed?"

The sissy didn't dare to say anything else.

Emperor Xuan frowned and said, "Why do I remember that Minister Ning only has three sons?"

Nie Liang bowed and said, "I have inquired... This Ning Chen was exiled before and was found a few years ago."

"Your Majesty, I also found out that Ning Chen is not favored in the Ning family and is not living well. Minister Ning rarely mentions Ning Chen to outsiders."

Emperor Xuan thought for a while and said, "I remember that a few years ago someone reported that Minister Ning abandoned his wife and children. But at that time, we were at war with the Tuo Luo Kingdom, and I was anxious. My head was rotten, and I forgot about it later. "

"The fourth son of Minister Ning, his clothes are shabby, and it's almost winter now, but he's still wearing thin clothes. Judging from the way he eats, he's been hungry for a long time... This is enough to explain the problem."

"Humph, this Minister Ning has a good reputation on weekdays and is also well-known in the literary world... I didn't expect that he is a different style behind the scenes, and his personal morality is not good."

The sissy leaned over and asked respectfully: "Your Majesty, do you want to summon Minister Ning to the palace?"

The Emperor Xuan waved his hand.

Ning Ziming just has personal morality, even if he really abandoned his wife and children, the Emperor Xuan would not touch him.

Who is the traitor and who is the loyal minister in the court? The Emperor Xuan knows it clearly.

But as long as they don't do things that touch the bottom line of the Emperor Xuan, such as treason and contempt for the royal family, the Emperor Xuan can tolerate it.

Because no matter whether they are loyal or treacherous, in the eyes of the Emperor Xuan, they are often capable ministers.

As long as they are capable ministers and are still within the control of the Emperor Xuan, the Emperor Xuan will not touch them.

Ning Ziming is a second-rank official, and he has always been diligent and conscientious, and never made mistakes in his work... Emperor Xuan would never move a capable minister for a young man who only met him once.

......

The next day, the morning court.

Emperor Xuan sat on the dragon throne.

Civil and military ministers were on both sides.

In fact, it was very hard to work under the emperor. You got up earlier than the chickens and went to bed later than the chickens.

During the morning court, it was usually not dawn yet.

Ministers had to go to court hungry.

If you have a stomachache, the emperor is talking at the top, and you are rolling around at the bottom... that would be a death wish.

Moreover, there are too many officials, and the hall cannot accommodate so many people. Many ministers with low positions have to stand outside the hall.

It's okay in summer, but the cold wind is whistling in winter... When the court is dismissed, the body is frozen.

"There is a morning report, and if there is nothing else, the court is dismissed!"

A shrill voice sounded.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report. It is almost winter now. The Tuo Luo Kingdom is short of food and has repeatedly plundered our northern border, burning, killing and looting. Please send troops to suppress it."

"Your Majesty, I want to report to the Minister of Personnel that he has allowed his son to commit crimes and harm the people."

"I also have something to report. Floods are rampant in Gannan, and the people are displaced and hungry. Please order your majesty to open the warehouses and release grain to help the people."

The ministers have already reported these things, and Emperor Xuan probably knows them.

Bringing them up in the court is to discuss how to solve the problem?

After an hour of intense discussion, these important matters were finally resolved.

Next, they were all trivial matters, and Emperor Xuan had no intention of paying attention.

The Emperor Xuan's eyes fell on an old man with a broken leg. He was the only person who could sit in the court except Emperor Xuan.

This old man was General Chen, who had spent his whole life in the military.

Old General Chen was also puzzled. Ever since he lost a leg, Emperor Xuan had allowed him not to go to court...but last night he received an oral order ordering him to come to court today no matter what.

"Chen Aiqing was very impressive in the Zhuangyuan Building yesterday, wasn't she?"

General Chen suddenly felt something in his heart. He was drunk in Zhuangyuan Building yesterday. He was depressed and went crazy with alcohol... He didn't expect Emperor Xuan to know about it so soon.

He glanced at the officials, and he must have read his book.

The most annoying thing about these officials is the trolls in the court.

These people only care about reputation and are not afraid of death at all!

Sometimes, they dared to confront Emperor Xuan. Emperor Xuan was so angry that his stomach hurt. Instead of restraining themselves, they secretly rejoiced, "Look, look, he's angry, he's angry..."

It is not that Emperor Xuan had never executed officials, but after their deaths, these people had the reputation of being loyal ministers and straight ministers.

These officials were so excited that they followed suit one after another.

These officials are stubborn, stubborn, and pedantic... From Emperor Xuan to the ninth-grade Sesame Official, they will dare to criticize anyone who does something wrong.

For these people, reputation is more important than destiny.

Old General Chen leaned on his crutches and hurriedly got up and wanted to kneel down to apologize, but was stopped by Emperor Xuan.

"Old General Chen, I know you are upset, but the Zhuangyuan Building is a gathering place for literati. If you get drunk and make a fool of yourself there, you will be easily criticized?"

Damn the literati, it's these poor people who say that he is a vulgar martial artist behind his back every day, which is why he was so angry that he went to the Zhuangyuan Building... Old General Chen slandered.

"Old minister, I am guilty!"

Emperor Xuan waved his hand, "Okay, I'm not a foolish king. I know that you are depressed, and I don't mean to blame you... By the way, I still have a gift to give you!"

"Eunuch Quan, read it to Old General Chen."

Eunuch Quan is what Ning Chen calls sissy, the popular person around Emperor Xuan, who has been with him since he was the crown prince.

Eunuch Quan cautiously walked over and picked up the paper on the dragon case. On it was Emperor Xuan's calligraphy, and it was written on the poem that Ning Chen sold to Emperor Xuan.