The next day.

The weather is gloomy.

Zhu Xiuyuan and the others got up early in the morning, made all preparations, and set off as quickly as possible.

Returning to Beijing this time, sailing on the Yangtze River was going downstream, so the speed was naturally much faster than when we came here.

In addition, they stayed on the boat all night, had food and accommodation on the boat, and traveled day and night, so the time required for the return trip was even shorter.

A day and a half later.

The fleet arrived at the Yangtze River Wharf on the north side of Chen Guo's capital city.

Before the ship stopped, Zhu Xiuyuan and Dong Shuzhen were on the deck and saw that among the people who came to pick up the ship, there were Dong Cheng, Dong Shuyu, and many generals from the Shenleihou Mansion.

Get off the boat and set foot on the land of Chen State.

"Father-in-law!"

"My dear son-in-law, is this trip going well?"

“Smooth, everything went well!”

"That's good!"

"Shuyu, are you here too?"

"Well... Zhen'er, you didn't cause any trouble along the way, right?"

"..."

Everyone chatted for a while on the pier, and Dong Cheng finally said: "Xianxiu and Zhen'er are tired from the journey. Let's go back home as soon as possible and take a bath and rest..."

"Master Hou, Master Hou!"

As soon as Dong Cheng finished speaking, a drake voice came over.

Everyone turned to look.

Sure enough, it was Eunuch Liu.

"Master Marquis... Your Majesty and the Concubine also said that you only arrived in the afternoon. It happened in a hurry and there was no preparation for the reception..." Eunuch Liu ran closer, panting.

"I would like to thank Your Majesty for your concern. In fact, there is no need to make any preparations... The rain in the middle of the night last night suddenly stopped, causing us to arrive half a day early, which is contrary to the promise. It is my fault. I hope Your Majesty will not punish me!"

"Hey, my Lord Marquis, Your Majesty can't help but be overjoyed that you have come back this time. So what if you are half a day early? How can Your Majesty punish the Lord Marquis for this?"

"Your Majesty's kindness is so great that I must remember it deeply!"

"Master Marquis, when the concubine learned that the Marquis had arrived in Beijing, she ordered our family to come and pick her up immediately. Please invite the Marquis to enter the palace immediately! Your Majesty will definitely give you a heavy reward when the Marquis comes back!"

"Wonderful son-in-law, when your majesty summons you, please go to the palace!" Dong Cheng said.

"Um."

Zhu Xiuyuan nodded, then boarded Eunuch Liu's carriage and went all the way to the palace.

It's just that Dong Cheng made a mistake just now. It was the imperial concubine who ordered Eunuch Liu to come and pick him up, not His Majesty!

Zhu Xiuyuan didn't notice this either.

Eunuch Liu was still talkative and smiling as always. He talked a lot with Zhu Xiuyuan on the carriage, most of which were based on his experience.

Zhu Xiuyuan listened carefully and gained a lot.

After a while, the chariot stopped in front of Chengtian Gate.

Because Zhu Xiuyuan wears the "Walking in the Outer Court" badge on his waist and hip, he can enter Chengtian Gate directly, which saves him from the tedious notification.

After passing through the Duanmen, the two stopped outside the Meridian Gate.

Inside the Meridian Gate is the inner garden of the deep palace. Please do not enter unless you are allowed to enter. Zhu Xiuyuan's badge will be invalid.

"Master Marquis, please wait here for a moment and allow us to come in!" Eunuch Liu shook the fly whisk.

"Father-in-law, please!"

The Meridian Gate is so large, several feet high, magnificent and majestic. In addition, the Jinwu Guards stand solemnly inside and outside the door. When the eyes fall on the Jinwu Guards' golden armor, they reflect a kind of graceful light.

The tall Meridian Gate and the solemn Jinwu Guards all seem to tell the majesty of the royal family.

No unauthorized entry is allowed at this door!

Zhu Xiuyuan stood silently in front of the Meridian Gate for a long time, feeling a lot in his heart. Then he withdrew his gaze, silently walked to the wall on the side of the Meridian Gate, stood with his back to the Meridian Gate, and lowered his head in a daze.

A quarter of an hour later.

"Why don't you come out yet?"

Zhu Xiuyuan turned around and glanced at the Meridian Gate. The gate tower was tall and majestic, and the Jinwu Guards stood solemnly. He could see the scene inside through the open Meridian Gate, but he couldn't see the little eunuch trotting over, or Eunuch Liu and his like...

"call!"

Zhu Xiuyuan looked up to the sky and let out a long breath.

While waiting silently, he couldn't help but think of the first time he entered the palace to meet the saint a few months ago.

That time, he was taken into the inner garden of the palace and "locked" in a warm pavilion. He also waited for a long time...

wait!

Who said Emperor Chen was Emperor Chen and he was a minister?

We waited like this for another quarter of an hour.

"It's been half an hour, why hasn't Emperor Chen summoned me yet?"

Zhu Xiuyuan muttered in his heart and moved his brows.

No matter how much Zhu Xiuyuan thought about it, he probably would not have thought that Emperor Chen, who he had been waiting so hard to summon, was currently lying on the dragon's roof and soundly asleep.

The kind that wouldn't wake him up even if he put a knife to his neck.

Inner courtyard of the Imperial Palace, Qin'an Hall.

In Emperor Chen's palace.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty, wake up!"

Concubine You leaned over and looked at the sleeping Emperor Chen. She held a corner of the quilt with one hand, shook it gently, and called softly, trying to wake up Emperor Chen.

"Your Majesty, I wish Aiqing has returned to Beijing. She is waiting outside the Meridian Gate to be received by Your Majesty..."

Concubine You called twice more.

But Chen Huang, who fell asleep due to a hangover, was like a pig that fell asleep and couldn't be woken up at all.

"His Majesty……"

Concubine You's hand holding the corner of the quilt suddenly withdrew and held her forehead.

Moreover, her delicate body was swaying, and her bent posture was about to collapse.

"Empress!"

Concubine You's personal maid, Xiaocui, saw this and rushed forward to help her.

With this help, Concubine You finally stabilized her delicate body and did not fall down.

But the action of awakening Chen Huang was interrupted.

"Empress, you have just served His Majesty and drank a lot of wine, so you should take a rest!" Xiao Cui supported her and said.

"It's okay, I just... felt a little dizzy, but I'm much better now!"

Concubine You forced out a smile. Because she was drunk, her face turned red, which made her look even more beautiful.

Xiao Cui helped Concubine You to sit on the chair next to her.

"The weather is so hot. I've had a few more drinks. I always feel so stuffy..."

Concubine You fidgeted in the chair, casually tugged at the collar of her clothes, stood up from the chair in a daze, and fanned herself with her hands.

Not only was Concubine You's face flushed, but her neck was also pink.

That's caused by heat.

The atmosphere in Dachen is open, especially for upper-class ladies. The more noble they are, the less they wear. Concubine You is one of the best among them.

Just now, in order to serve Emperor Chen while drinking, she had put on a dance outfit, which was very cool, but now, she still felt hot.

Keep pulling at the collar.

The two tall and majestic towers revealed their ferocious faces.

It trembled wildly with Concubine You's movements.

It caused huge waves.

Even Xiao Cui, the personal maid, looked at it and blushed for a while.

Because Concubine You was wearing a dance outfit, she was "vacuum" for the dance effect.

Without the constraints of tube tops, they are naturally more lively.

Fully demonstrating their bouncing attributes...

"Mom, don't worry, there is a fan here..."

Xiao Cui took out a round fan from a wooden stand in the palace. It was extremely ornately decorated and inlaid with gold. Xiao Cui shook the fan gently to enjoy the cool breeze, and Concubine You finally felt less hot.
Chapter completed!