Chapter 146 It’s getting dark

The Forbidden City is magnificent under the setting sun.

A gust of wind blew in, blowing up the clothes of the eunuch in charge who was standing at the stone steps of the Yangxin Palace gate. The cool wind made him shiver.

Looking at the tightly closed palace door, the eunuch in charge stood there holding the food box. He dared not call out, nor did he dare to go in. He could only stand there anxiously.

Finally, the palace door creaked open.

Then, Dai Quan came out.

The eunuch in charge hurried over and whispered, “Grandpa, I heard that the emperor is in a good mood. This is the green glutinous rice porridge that the queen personally cooked, and a small dish of eight-treasure rabbit cubes.”

As he spoke, he looked around and took out a silver note from his bosom, “Don’t embarrass the old ancestor. The weather is cold. The queen just wants me to go to the clan house to visit the Second Prince and bring him some clothes.” As he spoke, he stuffed the silver note into Dai Quan’s hand.

Dai Quan stuffed the banknote back.

The eunuch in charge was anxious: “Grandfather, ever since the Second Prince was imprisoned in the clan house, the Queen has been unable to sleep all night and can only eat a little. I will not go in, but just take a look at the Second Prince through the door.” After saying that, he knelt down.

Dai Quan was in a dilemma. After thinking for a while, he said, “Well, I’ll go in and take a look.”

Soon, Dai Quan came out with a red-robed eunuch from the Imperial Household Department.

The eunuch in charge trembled and looked at Dai Quan nervously.

Dai Quan: “Get up. Go back and tell the Concubine Xian that His Majesty is just trying to temper the Second Prince and will not let him suffer any grievances. Don’t send him clothes or anything else. Send this green rice porridge and eight-treasure rabbit cubes to the Second Prince.” He then said to the eunuch: “Be careful and don’t let outsiders know.”

The eunuch: “Yes.”

“I bow to thank God for his grace!”

The eunuch in charge kowtowed heavily, then stood up and followed the chief eunuch out.

Dai Quan looked at the disappearing back of the eunuch in charge, sighed, turned and entered the Yangxin Palace.

In the west warm pavilion, Emperor Yongchang, who was sitting in front of the imperial desk, was obviously in a good mood at the moment. He looked at the memorials spread out on the desk with a smile on his face.

Dai Quan walked in quickly and silently, and seeing Emperor Yongchang still sitting there laughing, he walked to the compartment, picked up the copper kettle, and made tea in front of the imperial desk.

At this moment, the clock in the corner rang.

Emperor Yongchang came back to his senses and asked: “Gone?”

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang looked at the memorial and asked with a smile, “Do you think he is bowing to me?”

This was not something Dai Quan could respond to, but he had to reply, so he could only smile.

Emperor Yongchang took a sip of the tea bowl, put it down, and asked, “What do you think of the emperor’s method?”

“Dashun is rich, and very rich, but the money is not in the hands of the court, but in the hands of the dignitaries and gentry officials. Your Highness’s method can fundamentally solve the problem of taxation in the court, but it will also provoke resistance from local gentry. Those dignitaries also control a large amount of land.

Although the emperor’s method can only solve the immediate problem, it will not provoke resistance from the powerful and wealthy. After all, this is a matter of willingness. Not only will they not have any complaints, but in order to show their own strength, they will definitely build a villa for the visit. “Dai Quan said while clearing the memorials on the imperial desk.

Emperor Yongchang nodded.

Dai Quan smiled and said, “The timber and stone business around the capital is all owned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. For such a big event, it is normal for the prices to go up a little. I estimate that we can make at least 100,000 or 80,000 yuan from each family.”

Emperor Yongchang’s eyes lit up. He wanted to take the money of the gentry in Jiangnan, and he also wanted to make money from the powerful people in the capital.

Thinking of this, he put his hand on the imperial desk, stood up, and paced back and forth.

Emperor Yongchang walked to the imperial desk and suddenly stopped: “It has been three years since the last grand ceremony of conferring titles on the six palaces, right?”

Dai Quan thought for a moment and replied, “Your Majesty, three years, four months and seven days.” Emperor Yongchang said, “Okay, I’m worried that I don’t have a legitimate reason to promote Concubine De. Tell the Queen that I’m going to confer titles on the six palaces.”

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang paused and said, “Everyone outside the Daming Palace should evacuate.”

“The slave obeys the order.”

Dai Quan answered, but was silent in his heart.

Emperor Yongchang suddenly remembered: “I heard that the emperor was in a good mood and talked a lot with the fourth son.”

Dai Quan: “Yes, the Emperor and His Highness talked about some Buddhist scriptures.”

Emperor Yongchang nodded.

At this moment, the eunuch on duty hurried in holding a chapter and said, “Your Majesty, this is an urgent letter from the Silijian duty room.”

Emperor Yongchang took the express letter, tore open the seal and read it. As he read, his face became a little grim. Then, he slammed the express letter shut, raised his head and thought silently. After thinking for a moment, he handed the express letter to Dai Quan: “Take a look at it too.”

Dai Quan took the exhibit and was stunned, and couldn’t help but look towards Emperor Yongchang.

Emperor Yongchang said, “Let’s see first.” Then he said to the eunuch on duty, “Close the palace door, and watch outside. I will not see anyone.”

The eunuch on duty said: “As you wish.” He bowed and walked out.

Emperor Yongchang started pacing again, saying as he walked: “What on earth are Zhongshun and Commandant Qiu trying to do! One destroyed a suspected White Lotus stronghold but didn’t report it, and the other is gathering the elite troops of the Southern Pacification Division. What on earth are they trying to do!”

Dai Quan thought for a moment and said, “Captain Qiu has always been on good terms with Prince Zhongshun. Maybe he wants to cooperate with the Infantry Office to wipe out the White Lotus Sect.”

With a humph, Emperor Yongchang said: “Do you believe it?”

Just as he finished speaking, the voice of the eunuch on duty came from outside the palace: “Your Majesty, the Imperial Household Department has sent another urgent letter.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Come in.”

The sound of the palace door opening was heard again, and then the eunuch on duty walked in lightly with an urgent document, walked up to Emperor Yongchang and presented it.

Emperor Yongchang tore open the seal and read it. Suddenly he hummed and his expression became serious.

Dai Quan was startled and stared at Emperor Yongchang with his eyes open.

After hearing the sound of the outer palace gate closing, Emperor Yongchang spoke: “The people from the Southern Pacification Office have gathered and divided into two groups, one to the Daxiangguo Temple and one to the East City. In addition, the guards of the Zhongshun Palace have changed into plain clothes, and will leave from Desheng Gate and then enter the outer city from Guang’an Gate.”

The light in the west warm room gradually dimmed.

Dai Quan lit the tinder and illuminated the lamp on the imperial desk.

Emperor Yongchang: “Captain Qiu should be the one closing the net at the Southern Pacification Office, but where is Zhongshun?”

Dai Quan: “How about I go and ask?”

Emperor Yongchang’s eyes flickered. “He must be hiding something from the public. I want to see what shameful thing he has done!”

Dai Quan hesitated for a moment and said, “Is there an early curfew tonight?”

Emperor Yongchang did not respond. He walked to the window, looked at the dark sky outside, and said slowly: “Don’t alert the enemy. There must be something that the Imperial Household Department has not discovered. If things get chaotic, those evil spirits hiding in the dark will jump out!”

After a pause, he said, “Summon Marquis Zhongjing to the palace.”

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

(End of this chapter)