Chen Xi returned to the capital and met Zhu Houzhao, Xie Qian and Liu Daxia one after another.

After explaining some things to Zhu Houzhao, and listening to the instructions of Xie Qian and Liu Daxia, Chen Xi left the capital and headed northwest.

Zhu Houzhao was going to go to Chenxi early the next morning, but unfortunately he took the tiger and wolf medicine that night. Although he forgot everything when he saw Chenxi, he couldn't stand the heat all over his body and had a ridiculous night, so he couldn't get up at all the next morning. When he woke up, he was already at noon, and Chenxi had already left the city and headed north.

When he got a news from the factory guards that Chen Xi had already passed the Yuhe Post Station fifteen miles away from the capital, Zhu Houzhao broke out.

"...You dog slave, why didn't you wake me up? I promised to see Mr. Chen off. Wouldn't this make me lose my trust in Mr. Chen? How do you let me face him in the future?"

Zhu Houzhao kicked Liu Jin to the ground, stepped forward and kicked him hard a few times before stopping, still cursing, looking furious.

Liu Jin was covered in dirt and felt aggrieved, and thought to himself, "Can I blame me? I have prepared all the things I asked me to prepare, but I can't wake you up. What if I do? Also, Your Majesty thought he had broken his promise in front of Shen Xi, but he didn't think about it. How could a minister care about this little thing? If he really thought you would go, that would be strange." Although he thought so in his heart, Liu Jin did not dare to defend himself. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, admitting his mistakes.

Zhu Houzhao got angry, and finally figured it out, waved her hand and said, "Hmph, get up, I won't be skeptical about you. It's better that I don't go to see Mr. Chen, so as not to listen to him telling those great principles. It's getting late, and I should go back to the palace. I'm almost ready for a while and it's time to go to the afternoon."

"Oh by the way, Mr. Chen's proposal yesterday, I plan to go and handle it today. After returning to the palace, you go and ask Eunuch Xiao to see me. I have something to say to him..."

Although naughty children act absurdly and willful, they also have their advantages, that is, they are decisive and do whatever they think and never drag their feet.

Chen Xi made a suggestion that Xiao Jing could control the power of the court by replacing Xiao Jing. Zhu Houzhao immediately implemented it. When he returned to the palace, he was about to find Xiao Jing and carry out a "hard-hearted" persuasion, so that Xiao Jing could "retreat in the face of difficulties."

...

...

It was still early to return to the palace. Since Zhu Houzhao ascended the throne, the time for the Wu Dynasty has been arranged relatively late. It usually takes noon to start, and the ministers did not enter the palace so early.

Zhu Houzhao first went back to the Ganqing Palace to change his clothes, and then waited for Xiao Jing to come.

After a while, Xiao Jing came over with a thick stack of melodies, all involving the central and local government affairs of the Ming Dynasty.

Xiao Jing knew that the relationship between him and the emperor was not so harmonious, so he tried his best to make some changes. The most important one was to come over and ask the emperor for advice when he had something to do. This was also the reason why Empress Dowager Zhang gave her "instructions" behind her back.

The people in the world who most want to help Zhu Houzhao are not Chen Xi and Liu Jin, but Empress Dowager Zhang.

After all, Empress Dowager Zhang is Zhu Houzhao's mother. Her blood is thicker than water. Orphans and widows depend on each other for their own life. Empress Dowager Zhang hopes that Zhu Houzhao can hold real power more than anyone else. When Empress Dowager Zhang realized that Xiao Jing had certain restrictions on the imperial power, even if she had always regarded Xiao Jing as her own person, she would still call her to persuade her without hesitation and ask Xiao Jing to ask her son for more advice on government affairs.

Xiao Jing came with sincerity, but he didn't know that the purpose of Zhu Houzhao looking for him was to persuade him to leave.

Zhu Houzhao faced Xiao Jing's respectful salute and waved her hand: "Eunuch Xiao has something to do, and I will talk about it in person. I want to talk to you in person... Let's leave for now! Without my instructions, no one is allowed to come in!"

The emperor spoke, and the eunuchs and palace maids present, including Liu Jin, who was rumored to have Xiao Jing come, all withdrew from the Ganqing Palace.

After the door was closed, only Zhu Houzhao and Xiao Jing were left in the bedroom. Zhu Houzhao asked with concern: "Eunuch Xiao, how many years have you been in the palace?"

This is Chen Xi’s idea, first play the emotional card.

To make Xiao Jing retreat when he is in trouble, he must first create an atmosphere of deep feelings for the king and the minister. It is best for Xiao Jing to withdraw himself, so that the population will not be deemed to be honest.

Xiao Jing said respectfully: "Go back to Your Majesty, I entered the palace in the year of the orthodox Yichou. I was only seven years old at that time, and I had been in the palace for a hundred years."

Hearing this answer, Zhu Houzhao was also a little surprised. He pinched his fingers and calculated carefully for a long time before saying in surprise: "The year of Zhengyi Chou is the tenth year of Zhengyi. Then aren't you... 68 years old this year?"

Xiao Jing smiled bitterly and saluted: "That's right."

When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he felt a murmur: "No wonder my father asked him to be a life-career eunuch. There are so many eunuchs in the palace, and there are only a handful of people with higher qualifications than him? My father has lived in his thirties and his grandfather died before he was about 40 years old. Why is there such a big difference between people?"

Zhu Houzhao said: "That's really long enough. You haven't suffered any grievances in the palace these years, right? How about the royal family? What do you think of you? Just raise it."

Although Xiao Jing acted moderately, he was not stupid. From Zhu Houzhao's sudden talks with him with family matters, he knew that things were not that simple. In the past few months, Zhu Houzhao ignored him except for punching and kicking him, and was always attentive. He was either a traitor or a thief. The emperor's biggest opinion on him was that he had always favored the old ministers entrusted by Emperor Xiaozong in court, such as Liu Jian and Li Dongyang.

Xiao Jing said: "Since the old slave entered the palace, he first entered the study room to study and was well-versed in the matter. Later, he was promoted from the 24th Superintendent, and he has never suffered any grievances. Now he is old and in a state of deacon, and is still in the palace, and he is grateful for the kindness of the royal family. I am willing to devote my whole life to Your Majesty and die until I die!"

"It's not that serious. Look at what I said, it seems like I'm going to let you die."

Zhu Houzhao said with a smile, and then found that he had no words. This stems from his inadequate preparation. He only remembered some of the speaking tips of guidance from Chen Xi, but there were some problems with the specific application. After a while, he said, "Eunuch Xiao, how do you think about what is happening in the court today?"

Xiao Jing hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth and said with his own ideas: "Now that the administration is clear and clear, all civil and military officials are dedicated to maintaining the stability of the court, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, which continues the prosperous situation created by the ancestors, which is a blessing to the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Houzhao suddenly looked stern: "What kind of blessing sign? I think it is a bad sign, an evil sign! Look at the current court, everything is controlled by the cabinet. I, the emperor, do not have the best use of some cabinet masters..."

"Those civil and military officials are busy forming cliques. No one comes out to answer anything I ask at the court meeting, but once some people speak, someone immediately rushes to stand up and say... I use one sentence to describe the current court, which is not the main or the secondary!"

Xiao Jing heard the signs and didn't dare to say a word.

Zhu Houzhao stood up, stared at Xiao Jing for a while, and then asked, "Eunuch Xiao, do you know what position you are in?"

Xiao Jing bowed respectfully, but did not answer. He knew that Zhu Houzhao asked him this question, not asking for an answer. It is well known that he was the eunuch in charge of the seal of the Sili Supervisor, and was responsible for the emperor's imperial pen and copying. If the emperor wanted to take back the power of Zhu Ju, he would have no choice, unless he brought out the imperial edict as an excuse, but this meant that he would have completely gotten into evil with the emperor.

Xiao Jing has no political ambitions, so he will not do such a thing.

Zhu Houzhao said: "Why don't you speak? Your duty is to help me manage the government affairs. The opinions of the cabinet are not the same as my opinions. I can actually ask you for reference in many things, but you give up the power in your hands... If I obey the cabinet department in everything, what is the meaning of establishing a ritual supervisor?"

"To put it bluntly, what else do I have to do? Everything in the world is decided by the cabinet. Is it necessary for me, the emperor, to exist?"

Xiao Jing heard the anger in Zhu Houzhao's words, lowered his head and put his hands on his back, and did not dare to say a word, and let Zhu Houzhao scold him.

Zhu Houzhao felt that his complaint was almost over, so she turned to look at Xiao Jing and asked, "Eunuch Xiao, what do you think I need to do to regain control of the court now?"

Xiao Jing had to answer this question, and it would be useless to pretend to be mute. Xiao Jing said: "Your Majesty, I am stupid in my qualifications and I can't understand what you mean. Are you all the lords in the court dedicated to sharing your worries? Those ministers are all respected and have experienced many dynasties and are beneficial to the Ming Dynasty's country..."

Zhu Houzhao almost cursed. At this time, Xiao Jing was still talking to Liu Jian and others. He wanted to ask, you just look down on me and think I am a child, so you are on the side of those old guys no matter what, right?

But he suddenly remembered Shen Xi's instructions and never be angry with Xiao Jing at any time, because the old eunuch's loyalty to the royal family was unquestionable. He was just obeying the last emperor's will and wanted to maintain the court well, so he would have a conflict with himself. On this issue, Xiao Jing must be understood, rather than argue or even drive him away.

Zhu Houzhao said to himself: "Mr. Shen said that it is impossible to drive Eunuch Xiao out of the court. Not only will the mother and queen not agree, but the court officials will stand up and oppose it. Only by asking him to withdraw himself. Otherwise, even if I make a harsh statement, the ministers will flock to persuade me, and even ask the mother and queen to put pressure on me... Forget it, I'd better listen to Mr. Shen and do it step by step."

Zhu Houzhao's tone became gentle and said, "I have never denied the loyalty of all ministers to the Ming Dynasty. I have always treated them as gentlemen without any disrespect."

"But, Eunuch Xiao, what I want to tell you is that there is no matter in the court now. You really think that everything is up to the ministers to decide is the best choice? And I can only continue to eat, drink and have fun like this without managing the government? Is this... really right?"

This question left Xiao Jing speechless.

Loyalty is one thing, and maintaining the supremacy of imperial power is even more important.

No matter how loyal Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and others were, they could not change the reality that the court officials abused power. Before, Xiao Jing always comforted himself by saying, "These people are loyal ministers and would not harm the country of the Ming Dynasty." He asked himself to compromise and hand over the power of the government to Liu Jian and others. But now if you think about it carefully, even if loyal ministers are loyal, so what if the supremacy of imperial power cannot be reflected, it is equivalent to losing power.

Xiao Jing bowed and did not dare to comment at will, because what Zhu Houzhao said at this moment was quite profound and made him look at him with admiration.

Xiao Jing didn't think that Liu Jin, Zhang Yuan and others around Zhu Houzhao could say such insightful words.

Zhu Houzhao sighed: "Eunuch Xiao, my father trusts you, and I also believe that you will not do things that are unfavorable to the royal family, but some things... cannot be solved by trust alone. You have made indelible contributions to the Ming Dynasty. I will remember your contributions, but now I hope to start reforming from your ritual supervision, and I hope I can regain control of the court. I promise you that I will not make things difficult for the old ministers, because I still have to rely on them to govern the country."
Chapter completed!