Chapter 69

Chen Jin's illness was not serious, and Chu Xiuming accompanied him, so he gradually got better. However, he also recovered from the appearance of Chu Xiuming not leaving. It should be said that he was even lazy than at that time. If no one called him, he would have to sleep until midnight on the sun and not want to get up. Even if he got up, he was still confused. He didn't wake up until he finished breakfast. He refused any posts such as watching flowers and talking about poetry from outside. He was in the yard every day. Madam Zhao thought that during the time Chu Xiuming left, she would raise Chen Jin well. Who knew that in the short time when Chu Xiuming came back, Chen Jin became fatter and her skin was white and tender and as if she was broken.

Even her smile was less than before, but as long as she had eyes, she could see that Chen Jin was very happy every day and did not do any needlework. She didn't even want to read the book by herself. She just waited for Chu Xiuming to finish her business every day and then accompanied her to the yard for a walk.

When Chen Jin knew about Chen's return to Yongning Bo's Mansion, Concubine Chen agreed. Even if Chen Jin did not propose it, Concubine Chen would drive them away in two days. It was not that he didn't want his daughter to accompany him, but that it would be inappropriate to live in Prince Rui's Mansion after Yongning Bo's return. Even if someone wanted to come to discuss things with Bo's Mansion, it would be inconvenient.

During this period, Concubine Chen saw how Chu Xiuming treated her daughter and completely relieved her heart. After her daughter and the others returned to the border town, she reported to the princess. In the future, Qing Xiu took the child who was about to be born in Moyun Courtyard, hoping that his daughter and son-in-law's family would always be safe and happy, and wait for the days when they might reunite in the future.

In the main courtyard, Princess Rui nodded after hearing Chen Jin's words, "It should be the same, otherwise it will be inconvenient for son-in-law to serve guests. Is there enough people there?"

"I'm here to ask my mother for her." Chen Jin said with a rosy face, "I want my mother to arrange some people to help clean up the Yongning Mansion."

Princess Rui nodded and immediately called Cui Xilai, asking her to choose some people to Yongning Bo Mansion. She said it clearly in front of Chen Jin, "Let them go to work, don't let me know that they are playing tricks, and come back after they finish their work."

Cuixi responded with congratulations, and when she saw that there was no other order, she went down to choose someone, but she had already thought about it in her heart and decided to choose some honest ones so that these people would not be too obscene and would ruin the princess' kindness.

Chen Jin smiled and said, "Thank you, Mother."

Princess Rui smiled and said, "Just send a maid to this matter. You are just sick. What if you catch a cold again?"

Chen Jin said, holding his stomach, "I'm so tight that I haven't walked much."

Princess Rui smashed the walnuts with a little hammer and said, "You are right, Anping will give the walnut kernels from this dish to your wife."

"Yes." Anping held the walnut kernels that Princess Rui had just pulled out with both hands, and then put them to Chen Jin's hand.

Chen Jin pinched the walnuts and ate two before saying, "Your Majesty, please close the pen."

"It's almost done." Princess Rui said after calculating the time.

After Chen Jin was much better, Chu Xiuming took off his leave and went to court. He reported the matter in Fujian. He even presented the pirates' Jingguan map. At that time, the Minister of Revenue asked about the property obtained from the house confiscation.

Chu Xiuming said respectfully, "Because Your Majesty let me do things cheaply, I am..." Chu Xiuming directly saved the things he detained in private, and carefully said the ones distributed to the people, and each sentence was traceable. "The people in Fujian were grateful for your Majesty's kindness and specially set up Your Majesty's longevity card."

Emperor Cheng was so angry that he was trembling with anger when he placed his hands under the table. The eternal card? Those who were grateful to him would not be themselves at all. Emperor Cheng didn't believe that Chu Xiuming had such a good intention. If he was really a loyal minister, he should hand over all the proceeds from the house search to the national treasury, and then Emperor Cheng would distribute them in his own name.

After looking at the Jingguan map on the imperial case, Emperor Cheng felt fearful and said in a deep voice, "Brother Yongning, before I sent you to Fujian, I reminded my dear, don't commit too much murder..."

"Yes." Chu Xiuming was respectful.

Emperor Cheng grabbed his finger and pointed at the pirate Jingguantu and asked, "What is this? You are not enough to kill someone. You have made such a thing, where is the national prestige of my Tianqi Dynasty?"

"Your Majesty." Chu Xiuming said, "These pirates massacred the people of our dynasty and used the people as livestock to make fun of them. They were extremely evil. After the pirates were executed, all the people in Fujian were defeated and celebrated."

Emperor Cheng's expression was twisted for a moment, and he suppressed his anger and said, "But Yongning, the Chinese New Year is coming soon, so I'll have someone go to destroy Jingguan and dig a hole to bury people, so as not to harm the heavens."

As soon as these words were said, the ministers present also understood what Emperor Cheng meant. The Jingguan was built by Chu Xiuming himself, and now he was destroyed by himself, which would definitely hurt his position in the hearts of the people in Fujian. Emperor Cheng was revenge, and even if the evidence was conclusive, Emperor Cheng was unwilling to believe that the ministers he sent had done so many ruthless things. "And the murders of Yongning Bo were all senior officials of the court, and they had not been questioned by the Ministry of Justice. It is inevitable that they could not convince the public. However, because Yongning Bo is eager to kill the enemy, I will not pursue it."

Emperor Cheng's implication is that those officials killed by Chu Xiuming must have been innocently accused, but Emperor Cheng is very tolerant and only thinks that Yongning Bo will win the battle with the pirates.

"But I won't be the case. The state-owned legal families have family rules. If others act as reckless as Yongning Bo, why should I, the emperor?" Emperor Cheng's voice was already cold and hard at the end.

The King Rui, who was standing aside, suddenly remembered a sentence for some reason, "If you believe but doubt, if you are loyal but slandered, can you be without resentment?" Without resentment... King Rui turned his head slightly to look at Yongning Bo who was standing in the middle with a calm expression, this person who became his son-in-law by chance.

Not only King Rui, but even many ministers present felt indescribable. In their opinion, although Yongning Bo was a little impulsive, they were in a different place. They discovered such crimes and had the imperial edict of Emperor Cheng to act cheaply, so they would probably make the same choice. At that time, only Yongning Bo brought such a few people. Those officials had been rooted in Fujian for a long time. Who knows if there were any means? Even if they were imprisoned or escorted to Beijing immediately, it would probably not be a complete solution. If they were Yongning Bo, what would they choose? Keep this group of bad-minded people behind him and go to war by themselves?

It was just a joke about his own life. If Chu Xiuming hadn't used this method to directly shock the remaining officials in Fujian, it would be hard to say which one wins and who will lose when fighting the pirates. Even if he wins, he will inevitably sacrifice more people.

Chu Xiuming knelt down and said, "I am unforgivable to be punished. I am willing to remove my title and ask to leave the capital."

As soon as these words came out, the court was quiet, and many people were stunned. They didn't care about losing their manners in front of the emperor. They turned their heads and looked at Chu Xiuming, who was kneeling and straightened his backs, and looked at Emperor Cheng who was sitting on the imperial throne.

Emperor Cheng's face was also stiff, and he felt a secret hatred in his heart, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Is Yongning threatening me?"

"I dare not." Chu Xiuming said, "What I do is worthy of heaven and earth. All the people I kill are those who are infatuated by the people of Tianqi. The pirates' heads built Jingguan are just to calm the resentment in the hearts of the people. In the twenty-year period of Yongqi, dozens of pirates came ashore and killed... In the twenty-fourth period of Yongqi, hundreds of pirates came ashore... In just four years, the pirates killed our 5,213 people of Tianqi, and abducted 1,727 women. This time, 317 people were rescued, and the rest died tragically, with no bones left."

Chu Xiuming's voice was not loud, and there was no slight anger in it, as if he was talking about simple numbers, "These are only found."

"Impossible." Emperor Cheng blurted out his rebuttal, but he was a little lacking in confidence.

Chu Xiuming continued, "After the sinner Liang Cheng took office as a central Fujian, he reported his military achievements in total, beheading more than 240 pirates at least once, and beheading 865 pirates at most, totaling more than 7,400."

Emperor Cheng's face changed drastically and he said angrily, "If it is true, how could no one report it?"

Chu Xiuming looked at Emperor Cheng and said in a deep voice, "I'm going to ask Your Majesty. During the period when the criminal Liang Cheng took office, he was cruel to eliminate dissidents and cruel to officials..."

As Chu Xiuming said it one by one, not only Emperor Cheng, but also those present remembered many officials who were quarreled and destroyed by Liang Chengsan. In addition to these openly, there were actually...

Not all the people in the court were good officials, but even so, they felt creepy when they heard things in Fujian. If they were the ones in the past..., Yongning Bo, I was afraid that someone would not be able to clean up the mess, and the people who caused this situation... Some people exchanged glances with familiar people, and they were the one sitting on the throne.

Seeing Emperor Cheng's expression, Chu Xiuming did not stop, but asked, "Dare you dare to ask Your Majesty, do these people be killed? Should they be killed?"

Emperor Cheng forced himself to say, "I don't say that these people should not be killed, but they should be interrogated by the Ministry of Justice and others according to the law."

Chu Xiuming said, "I would like to cut off my title and leave the capital." After saying this, he never said anything else, and he didn't even mention that it was Emperor Cheng who issued an order to make him act cheaply, giving him the right to collude with Haikou officials.

However, Chu Xiuming's failure to mention it does not mean that everyone in the court has forgotten it. Even the Minister of Revenue, who asked the question at the beginning, did not speak. He is a member of Emperor Cheng, but he is not a fool. When he fights out, he tells Chu Xiuming's fault. He is afraid that he will be scolded to death by the people of the world.

"My dear, please come up." Emperor Cheng said with a smile reluctantly, "My dear is a pillar of the country. Don't say anything like slashing your title."

Chu Xiuming said, "How can Liang Cheng and others do such things as deceiving the superiors and concealing the subordinates alone? Please ask Your Majesty to investigate them strictly."

Emperor Cheng was unable to get rid of a tiger at this time. He knew that if he didn't get down, Chu Xiuming would really do the matter of resigning from his title. Thinking of his daughter and son-in-law who had just arrived in the border town, he must not let Chu Xiuming leave the capital now and said, "So, this matter will be left to Yongning Bo for inspection, with Yongning Bo as the main focus, and Dali Temple of the Ministry of Justice as the auxiliary."

Chu Xiuming then responded respectfully, "Since, follow the order."

Emperor Cheng didn't know that Chu Xiuming was not threatening to go back to the border city, but all he wanted was to let Emperor Cheng hand over the matter to him. Although he killed Liang Cheng and others, Chu Xiuming's opinion was not enough, and it was not enough to repay the blood and tears of the people in Fujian.

When he returned to the empress's harem, Emperor Cheng could no longer help smashing a bunch of things and said angrily, "How dare he! How dare he threaten me!"

The queen has been having a hard time recently. At this moment, she looked at Emperor Cheng's appearance and hated Chu Xiuming so much that she didn't say anything. Emperor Cheng smashed everything she could, and then she sat on the couch panting. The queen asked someone to come in and pack up the things and serve tea and water again.

"If the Prime Minister was here, I wouldn't be so unlucky." Looking at the queen's haggard appearance, Emperor Cheng sighed rarely.

The queen couldn't help crying again, "Your Majesty, my mother came to the palace yesterday and said that my father felt sorry for Your Majesty. She was depressed and now she was so sick that she couldn't get up from bed."

Emperor Cheng was stunned for a moment and looked at the queen, not knowing what to say.

The Empress's father Chen Cheng was very popular after being first recruited. Emperor Cheng could not withstand the pressure from the court officials, so he asked him to think about his mistakes behind closed doors and control his clan members. In the end, in addition to his position as prime minister, he also gave up a group of Prime Minister Chen's disciples. In the end, Prime Minister Chen was the only one who was once glorious, the only one left was the title of Chengen Duke.

The Chen clan is not a kind person. When Empress Chen married Emperor Cheng, who was still a prince, they did not expect that they would be as glorious as they are today. After suddenly becoming rich, these people were frivolous and had no scruples in doing things, and offended many people. It was just because the Empress Chen and Prime Minister Chen were there, and those people were helpless.

But now, Prime Minister Chen has been dismissed at home, and all his disciples have been implicated. Many people have seen that Prime Minister Chen has no hope of resuming his resignation because those who have trampled him and divided the interests of Prime Minister Chen below will not allow Prime Minister Chen to rise again.

Even Emperor Cheng's people didn't like Prime Minister Chen's resurrection again. Those people naturally had revenge and complained. However, because the Chen clan had a queen, it was not too much. But even so, it made Prime Minister Chen ill.

Prime Minister Chen was even more angry with those who were injured and injured. He felt that he had done so many things for Emperor Cheng. If he had not been for him, Emperor Cheng would not even be able to sit in this position. However, Emperor Cheng actually sighed to him countless times, "The birds are gone, the good bow is hidden; the cunning rabbit dies, and the lackeys are cooked." Even after Empress Chen's mother entered the palace, she inevitably brought some out, but Empress Chen would not say this, and even persuaded her mother and asked her to go back and advise her father for a long time. She must not say such things again.

Empress Chen will say this today, just to try Emperor Cheng’s attitude. It can be seen that Emperor Cheng just sighed and said, “I asked someone to send the imperial physician to Chengen Duke’s Mansion to treat Chengen Duke.”

"Thank you Your Majesty." Empress Chen felt so heartbroken, but she didn't dare to say much. Now she wanted to firmly sit in the position of the queen, and Emperor Cheng was still unwilling to be crowned the crown prince, which made the concubines in the harem all have extravagant hopes. If the Empress Dowager had not shown her supportive attitude, the harem would have been even more unstable.

Chu Xiuming knew that his little wife was going to the main courtyard today. After going to court, he returned to the Rui Palace with King Rui. On the way, he told King Rui that he would move back to the Yongning Bo Mansion. King Rui was reluctant to leave and said, "Why are you so rushing?"

"Either the son-in-law or the wife are reluctant to leave." Chu Xiuming was very good at his life. He was wearing an earl's official uniform and black fur on the outside, making him look like a jade-like face. In fact, looking at Chu Xiuming's appearance and thinking about Prince Yongle, King Rui couldn't help but sigh in his heart. If Qi'er could marry Yongning Bo, it might be better.

Although Chen Jin is also the daughter of King Rui, in King Rui's heart, the children born by the princess are still important. Moreover, Qi'er and Xuan'er are brothers and sisters, so their relationship is naturally good. You can help Xuan'er more in the future. It's not that King Rui thinks that Chen Jin will ignore the affairs of King Rui'er's Mansion, but people are inevitably a little biased.

Chu Xiuming didn't know what King Rui was thinking and continued, "It's just that the New Year is coming soon. Some people who have friendship with the Chu family will inevitably come to contact each other. It's not easy for father-in-law to go back to the border town after the New Year. Too many people go to the father-in-law's house, which will inevitably cause...taboos."

This was entirely considered by King Rui. King Rui understood it, and his heart sternly, his face changed and nodded, "It's still the son-in-law who thought it through."

Chu Xiuming smiled and said, "I hope my father-in-law doesn't realize that I'm troubled."

King Rui said, "You are dedicated to me." After saying that, he sighed, "Don't blame your father-in-law for being afraid of trouble, it's really..."

Chu Xiuming said seriously, "If my father-in-law says this, he will lose his son-in-law."

King Rui shook his head and said, "I understand in my heart. I won't say it anymore. Remember to come here during the Chinese New Year."

"Yes." Chu Xiuming didn't say anything anymore.

When we arrived at the main courtyard, we saw not only Princess Rui and Shen Jin were there, but Chen Qi was also there. The mother and daughter were talking, and they didn't know what they were talking about. They kept laughing. Chen Jin hugged her belly and stopped and continued to laugh slowly. Chen Qi was the same, making Princess Rui keep asking them to be careful.

When they saw King Rui and Chu Xiuming, a few people were about to stand up. King Rui said, "It's all his own family, please sit back."

Chen Qi and Shen Jin did not insist on saluting. Chen Jin looked at Chu Xiuming with a smile, and Princess Rui joked, "Is the son-in-law here to pick up the girl Jin?"

"Yes." Chu Xiuming said without caring.

Princess Rui waved her hand and said, "Come on, hurry up, just look at them for a while, but I'm always worried."

Chu Xiuming then politely said, "The son-in-law will say goodbye first."

King Rui also waved his hand with a smile. Chen Jin stood up with An Ning's hand, said a few more words, and then followed Chu Xiuming away. At the door of the house, Anping took the long coat and cloak. Chu Xiuming took it and put it on Chen Jin with his own hands. After careful inspection, he put on the cloak himself and walked out with Chen Jin's waist.

Chen Qi looked at Chu Xiuming and Shen Jin, his eyes darkened. He reached out to touch his stomach, and he couldn't help but feel a little envious. However, thinking about Chen Jin's appearance after Chu Xiuming disappeared and the fact that Chen Jin fell ill after Chu Xiuming came back safely, he felt that he would not be able to hold on if he had been. Chen Jin, the younger sister, was much stronger than him.

King Rui noticed his daughter's expression and asked, "Where is Zhu Yuhong?"

Chen Qi said after hearing this, "Yuhong is a little busy recently. It's almost the Chinese New Year. I have explained a lot of things to him."

King Rui frowned and said, "What can he do?"

"Prince." Princess Rui interrupted King Rui and said, "Don't Yuhong need to go back to the Yongle Marquis' Mansion? He is the Prince of Yongle."

When Prince Rui saw that Princess Rui spoke, she stopped talking. Princess Rui asked softly, "By the way, Xuan'er's letter has been sent. I'm afraid I can't come back for the New Year. I'm going to send someone to deliver some things to him. Does the prince have anything to say to Xuan'er?"

"He wants to stay in Fujian until the New Year?" King Rui said dissatisfied.

Princess Rui thought it would be good to let her son stay in Fujian. Then, let Xier go back to the border town with Bo Yongning. Even if something happens, they can be saved. However, this cannot be said to Prince Rui. Princess Rui looked at Chen Qi and said, "Qi'er, you will go and rest."

Chen Qi responded, "Mother, I will ask the maid to pack up the things prepared for my eldest brother later."
To be continued...