Zhu Houzhao vowed in front of Shen Xi that he wanted to be a wise king. No matter whether this is true or false, at least as a minister, Chen Xi no longer had any reason to refuse.

Chen Xi knew that he could not resign from Zhu Houzhao for the time being, so he could only salute: "Then I will see if Your Majesty can fulfill today's promise in the future."

Chen Xi's words were more like accepting Zhu Houzhao to issue a "military order".

Although he was very unhappy, Zhu Houzhao didn't care about anything else at all. As long as he could comfort Chen Xi for the time being, everything would be fine.

After Chen Xi retreated and left, Zhu Houzhao finally breathed a sigh of relief. Xiao Tiaozi came in from outside at the right time and waited for the emperor's orders.

"It really makes me unable to get out of Taiwan."

Zhu Houzhao seemed a little annoyed, paced back and forth in the study, muttering to herself, "Mr. Chen is simply aggressive. It's too unreasonable to threaten me with resignation!"

Zhu Houzhao complained while worried.

Even though he knew he was forced by Chen Xi, he could only act according to his previous promise to Chen Xi. Xiao Tiaozi felt a little scared when he saw it.

Xiao Zhuozi thought to himself: "There seems that there is no other person in this world who dares to threaten His Majesty like this except Lord Shen! This is really strange. As the lord of the nine fives, he will be threatened by the ministers. But he still endures it... Is this your Majesty's usual style of doing things?"

Zhu Houzhao said listlessly: "Give me instructions. I will go to Xie's mansion tomorrow morning to visit Mr. Xie in person."

"Your Majesty, you... are you really going?" Xiao Zhuozi showed his heart to protect the emperor and kindly reminded that you don't have to do this as the emperor.

Zhu Houzhao said angrily: "I have promised Mr. Chen, can you let me break my promise? Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and make arrangements... Oh, by the way, I will start the day at noon tomorrow, and I will notify all the civil and military officials of the court tonight..."

This made Xiao Guozi even more surprised. While taking the order, he was wondering if something even more "outrageous" happened.

At this moment, Zhu Houzhao ordered again: "I won't stay in the leopard room tonight. I'm going to go back to the palace... It's really a ghost! Why am I going back to the palace? Are I staring at the four walls? Isn't the Ganqing Palace now full of spider webs?"

Xiao Guozi quickly said, "Your Majesty, even if you go back to the palace from time to time, there will be someone there to clean up, and there will be no negligence at all."

"well!"

Zhu Houzhao sighed long and said, "Then prepare the imperial carriage quickly. This is what I promised Mr. Chen. I will keep him steady now and cannot let him talk about leaving the court again... Little Tiaozi, go and call the eunuchs of the Silijian, and I have something to tell them."

Xiao Zhuozi asked, "Your Majesty, are you coming to the leopard room?"

"Pig Brain, you, I want to go back to the palace, what are they doing in the leopard room? Of course, they are asking them to go to the Qing Palace to wait for the driver." Zhu Houzhao's anger finally found the outlet of venting, and shouted at Xiao Tiaozi angrily.

“Yes, yes!”

Xiao Twist agreed again.

Zhu Houzhao was very angry and left the study with annoyance. Xiao Twist came out, and was scolded by Zhu Houzhao again: "Go and call someone quickly. My carriage must be prepared earlier! Humph, I don't have any strength at all, how can I do things with me in the future?"

Xiao Tiaozi's face was full of grievance.

All of this was caused by Chen Xi! But even if he didn't understand, he couldn't ask anyone now. He could only act according to Zhu Houzhao's instructions with a lot of doubts.

The leopard room became lively inside and outside.

...

...

More than a year after Zhu Houzhao left the palace, he finally returned to the Forbidden City again.

If the emperor does not return to the palace, it is like a child who ignores his family. After a long time, everyone in his family will become unfamiliar and will naturally become alienated. However, Zhu Houzhao is the emperor and the main owner of the palace, and no one dares to dislike him.

This time I came back caught the palace off guard.

Originally, Gao Feng wanted to tell Empress Dowager Zhang after learning the news, but the order he received here was to go to the Ganqing Palace to see the emperor immediately. He did not dare to neglect, so he could only hurry to the Ganqing Palace to wait for the emperor to arrive.

Not long after, Zhu Houzhao's carriage had arrived at the Ganqing Palace, with a brigade of followers behind him.

These followers were brought by Zhu Houzhao from the leopard room. There were eunuchs, palace maids, and guards who were used to being around, but they were not officers and soldiers of the Jinyi Guard or the guards Shangzhi Army, which is commonly known as the Imperial Guard. Instead, he personally selected and cultivated the trusted guards from the border army. After he returned to the palace, these people immediately took over the palace gate and the Ganqing Palace garrison.

Zhu Houzhao sat down on the dragon chaise in the Ganqing Palace Hall, looked around, and muttered, "I haven't come back for a long time, and this place is still so familiar."

Zhang Yuan stood beside him and whispered: "Your Majesty, this is your royal throne."

Zhu Houzhao curled his lips angrily and looked up at the people in front of him. In addition to Zhang Yuan and Xiao Tuozi, there were three eunuchs, including Gao Feng, Zhang Yong and Li Xing, including Li Li. Zhu Houzhao once again issued an order to visit Xie Qian tomorrow and start a court discussion, which surprised the eunuchs present.

Zhu Houzhao said angrily: "Mr. Chen is really out of character. He went directly to me to threaten him and said that he was going to retire and return home. Isn't this a embarrassment for me? Tell me, what should I do?"

This question was quite rash. Only then did the eunuchs present realize that the reason for Zhu Houzhao's return to the palace and other things was caused by Chen Xi's resignation and coercion.

Li Xing was quite angry and shouted: "Your Majesty, this matter should be done in public!"

Zhu Houzhao frowned: "What kind of official business method? Let me directly agree to let Mr. Chen quit his hometown? You... you are a bastard, what's the bad idea?"

Before Li Xing could explain in detail, he choked Zhu Houzhao back. He was a little unwilling to accept it. He observed the left and right and found that the eunuchs who came to see him were trying to make things difficult for him, and at the critical moment he didn't come out to smooth things over.

Li Xing could only bite the bullet and continue to explain: "What a slave means... Your Majesty should ease the conflict with Lord Shen and let Lord Shen stay in the court with peace of mind."

"You need to say this kind of nonsense?"

Zhu Houzhao became even more angry and pointed at Li Xing and roared loudly, "Do you think I am willing to come back to the palace in the middle of the night? Or do you think I am willing to go to Xie Mansion to meet Master Xie? Even if I discuss it tomorrow, I don't want to open it! Isn't this all following Mr. Chen's wishes? If I don't agree, with his determination, he may soon retire and return home... Oh no, he has not yet reached the point of retiring. With his age, he has worked in the court for decades to help me achieve the prosperous Ming Dynasty."

Zhang Yuan said: "Mr. Shen is young and energetic. He shouldn't have made such an excessive request... Isn't this a problem for your Majesty?"

Zhu Houzhao said with a stern face: "Zhang Yuan, you are the chief seal of the Sili Supervisor. Even a blind man can understand something. You can talk nonsense. Don't I know this is a difficult problem? Let's talk about the countermeasures! If you can't come up with a solution, just stay there!"

Originally, Zhang Yuan thought that following Zhu Houzhao's words, he would be recognized, but he did not expect that Zhu Houzhao was angry now. He said too much and made many mistakes, but it was not as realistic as Gao Feng and Zhang Yong who closed their mouths and said nothing.

But after a while, Zhu Houzhao said angrily again: "What are you doing? You are here to try to make a countermeasure. What does it mean to be a wooden pole here?"

Xiao Guozi asked, "Your Majesty, now Lord Shen has agreed to stay in the court, you don't have to worry too much... In fact, even if this matter has been exposed today, it will return to normal in a few days."

Zhu Houzhao said: "What do you know! I am just temporarily calming down Mr. Chen, and I also specially asked him to be idle at home and rest for a while. This is the same as before the twelfth lunar month... The problem is that he is not in the court and may resign to me at any time. How can I keep it at that time?"

Gao Feng said cautiously: "Your Majesty, if you do not approve, who can resign without authorization?"

“Yes.”

Li Xing followed suit, "Your Majesty can do it as long as you disagree."

Zhu Houzhao sneered: "Everyone is a waste. I'm asking you to come here to find a way. Just tell me not to accept it. Now he is no longer doing things and continues to waste time with me. Whether he is an official in the court is no different. In the end, he just ignores the government affairs, and others will also talk to me! Do you ask me to tie him to the yamen to work?"

Several eunuchs claimed to be extremely smart, but after the emperor repeatedly asked, they all lost their ideas.

They were all thinking: "Shen Zhihou confessed his majesty, but he was not here to apologize, but his majesty was worried that he would run away... It's strange, who wouldn't change the court if he leaves?"

Zhu Houzhao was anxious and urged loudly: "You should come up with a solution quickly. No one can think of sleep if they can't come up with a solution! Whoever wants to come up with a lot of rewards!"

Several eunuchs stared at each other. They could not think of a way to keep Chen Xi. Whether it was humanity or worldly style, it was difficult for Chen Xi to be willing to obey the emperor's orders, and even if he could barely stay, he would leave as Zhu Houzhao said.

"Continue to think!"

Zhu Houzhao yawned and stood up, "I want to go to the Houwu to eat first! Be honest and don't be lazy. If you can't think of it, you will be beaten together tomorrow!"

Several eunuchs felt very wronged. They just refused to let them go, but now they actually said they were going to be beaten. This means that someone among them must "stand up" and thought they were destined to suffer, but when things came to an end, they all hoped that others would stand up and take responsibility.

...

...

Zhu Houzhao went to rest and have dinner, and several eunuchs stayed in the main hall of Ganqing Palace to think about countermeasures.

But obviously, the five cobblers couldn't stand Zhuge Liang. A few of them had no seats and stood there staring blankly. Only Zhang Yuan occasionally said a word or two, and still urged others to find a way.

After a long time, the few people were discouraged. Li Xing complained: "Mr. Shen is so ignorant that he is arrogant because of his favor. He dares to threaten His Majesty? Aren't he afraid that His Majesty will agree in anger?"

Xiao Tiaozi said, "You are really afraid to leave the court if Lord Shen really dares to leave the court? That's because His Majesty understands that Lord Shen has indeed moved the heart of the court. Do you think everyone is in love with power like you?"

Li Xing was sarcastically sarcastically and dared not refute it. Instead, Zhang Yong asked: "Mr. Shen was not so concerned about Mr. Xie before, and even Mr. Xie had not shown up in the past two days of illness. Where did he go?"

Xiao Twist shaking his head: "I don't know."

Zhang Yong looked at Zhang Yuan again and sighed, "Mr. Shen obviously has a problem for us. If you want Mr. Shen to stay away from the court, there is actually a way. If you want to be a gift..."

Zhang Yuan jumped up and said hurriedly: "That's what our family thinks... Give Lord Shen a title. Didn't Your Majesty say that you would grant Lord Shen a title to Lord Shen a title? You can resign from your official position, but you can't resign from your title!"

When Zhang Yong heard that Zhang Yuan wanted to steal his ideas, he said disdainfully: "Even if there is a duke, Lord Shen may not be willing to be on duty in the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel... Besides, if Your Majesty is willing to give him a title, Lord Shen may not accept it."

Gao Feng said: "No way? Can Lord Shen refuse the title when His Majesty gives him a title? That's what many people dream of."

Zhang Yong said angrily: "Who is that person? Shen Zhihou, who never plays according to common sense! Do you think they are ordinary people who are frivolous?"

The emperor was worried about Chen Xi's resignation, and the eunuchs below followed him anxious. This time, not only the emperor was anxious, but also the eunuchs were anxious.

Several people argued, but still didn't come up with a result. Xiao Tiaozi was a little upset and said, "Okay, why are we fighting for? Your Majesty asked him to come up with a countermeasure and try to keep Lord Shen, so you just want to argue endlessly?"

Li Xing said: "My father-in-law, you can't say that. Are we discussing countermeasures? Now we are discussing whether it is appropriate to give Lord Shen a title."

Xiao Zhuozi said disdainfully: "The civil servants have given titles, which has disrupted the rules and regulations of the court. It is better for His Holy Lord to mention such matters than for us slaves. Do you really take yourself seriously?"

After such a reminder, the eunuchs present stopped talking.

As Xiao Taozi said, it has nothing to do with Chen Xi’s title or not. They are not even qualified to ask the emperor. The emperor can make a fuss about whoever he wants to give the title, but they are just royal slaves. They have to bear great responsibility for saying such things. If they turn back, they will not only be unable to protect their lives, but they will be scolded if they die.

Xiao Tiaozi said: "Your Majesty wants to keep Lord Shen in the court. The key is to let Your Majesty be a wise lord. We have limited abilities. Only by trying our best to support Your Majesty can we be qualified to stay in the temple. Don't even understand this simple truth?"

Zhang Yuan was very strange and said: "What my father-in-law said is so righteous. How dare you ask, what good idea have you come up with?"

Li Xing said: "Didn't you tell me that my father-in-law? He wants to support the country and let Your Majesty be a wise lord."

These words were somewhat ironic. Although Li Xing had always been complimenting Xiao Tiaozi, he was targeted by Xiao Tiaozi for a while today, and he ignored it and started to retort.

"Can you stop arguing?"

Zhang Yong came out and said, "You can ask Your Majesty the matter of title. We are just giving your Majesty an idea. Whether to adopt it is Your Majesty's business. Didn't you see Your Majesty's boredom before? If Your Majesty knows that we are making noise here, you will definitely be even more annoyed."

Several people showed a look of avoidance on their faces. Zhang Yong thought for a while and said, "Since that's the case, let's go in and ask His Majesty to see if His Majesty agrees."
To be continued...