Chapter 156: Words in the Yangxin Palace
The entire majestic palaces of the Forbidden City were submerged in the curtain-like rain.

The rainstorm continued and the wind picked up. Dai Quan was holding an oil-paper umbrella and had just walked into the Yangxin Palace from the Yangxin Gate against the wind when a gust of wind blew his umbrella over. He simply let go of the umbrella and it flew away in the wind.

In the rain, Dai Quan walked slowly until he reached the eaves of the corridor. He was already soaked. He wiped the rain off his face and jumped at the door to get as much rain off as possible.

“What are you doing?” Emperor Yongchang walked over with his hands behind his back and stared at him: “Why don’t you hold an umbrella?”

Dai Quan twisted the rain off his clothes and replied with a smile: “Your Majesty, I was holding an umbrella, but it was blown away by the wind.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Go change your clothes.”

Dai Quan immediately knelt down and said, “I thank your majesty for your grace.” He kowtowed again and then continued, “Your Majesty, I have something important to report to you.”

Emperor Yongchang looked at him for a long time, as if he could see what he was thinking: “Come in and talk.” He turned and walked towards the west warm room.

Dai Quan got up, wrung the rain out of his collar, and then walked into the room.

As soon as he stepped into the West Warm Pavilion, Dai Quan was shocked: “Oh, how can Your Majesty do this job!” and ran over in a hurry.

At this time, Emperor Yongchang came out of the compartment carrying a copper kettle.

Dai Quan ran over, stretched out his hand to ask for the copper pot, and said, “Let this old slave come.”

“Take out the small stove in the compartment.” Emperor Yongchang walked to the couch and brewed two bowls of tea.

Dai Quan came over with a small stove and asked, “Your Majesty, where should we put it?”

Emperor Yongchang had already sat down on the couch and pointed to the other side of the couch.

Dai Quan put down the small stove and was about to pick up the small copper kettle when Emperor Yongchang spoke up, “Bring a stool over.” As he spoke, he picked up the tea bowl and started drinking.

Dai Quan was stunned for a moment and said, “Yes.” Then he went to the compartment and brought in a short stool.

Emperor Yongchang put down the tea bowl and said, “Sit down, warm yourself by the fire, drink some hot tea, and warm yourself up.”

When Dai Quan heard this, he was stunned.

Emperor Yongchang didn’t care. He turned to look at the rain outside the window and asked, “Who do you think is the closest person to you in this world?”

Dai Quan came back to his senses and knelt down hurriedly. After thinking for a while, he replied, “Your Majesty, father and son are the closest.”

Emperor Yongchang showed a trace of bitterness on his face, and then shook his head slightly: “Not necessarily.”

Dai Quan didn’t dare to say anything. He knelt there and listened quietly to the emperor.

Emperor Yongchang looked at him and said, “My sons. Even if I don’t say it, you understand it all. In the past, the Queen and I… Okay, I won’t say it anymore. If you act like them in front of me, then I will really be alone!”

Dai Quan was frightened when he heard this, and said hurriedly: “I have been disloyal in my service to the king, and have committed a great crime. I am willing to accept the punishment from the king!” As he said this, he laid his head firmly on the brick floor.

Emperor Yongchang sighed deeply: “I also know that it is difficult for you. You have to act according to my will and correct my mistakes. You think for me. In this huge palace, you are the only person who is close to me.”

Dai Quan lay on the ground, trying his best to control his body and not move, but his tears dripped onto the brick floor.

Emperor Yongchang sighed and said, “I have always known that you did not clean up the Ministry of Internal Affairs according to my order, and left some people who may be suspicious.”

Dai Quan raised his head, his face full of tears, and choked up and said: “This old slave has committed a great taboo.”

“Okay.” Emperor Yongchang raised his hand, “You can’t be blamed for this. I was too impetuous at the time. I was really worried that the investigation would lead to the royal family, especially my sons.” At this point, he suddenly laughed, “Paihuazi, you are such a treacherous person!”

Dai Quan: “Perhaps I made a mistake in my research.”

Emperor Yongchang swept the tea bowl on the table to the ground and angrily said, “My son is in cahoots with bandits!” As he spoke he started coughing.

Dai Quan hurriedly got up, knelt on the couch and gently massaged his back.

Emperor Yongchang pushed his hand away and closed his eyes: “Don’t let anyone know about this.”

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Have someone keep an eye on Bai Hongzhi, don’t alert him, I want to take this opportunity to root out the White Lotus Sect!” Dai Quan replied: “I have already sent someone to keep an eye on him.”

“.Also, just pretend you don’t know about this matter. I want to see how this evil creature behaves.”

“Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang had stood up and walked to the north window, looking at the endless rain outside the window: “Send someone to Fengzao Palace. I will have dinner tonight.”

Dai Quan seemed to understand something and replied softly, “Yes, sir.” He bowed and walked out.

Dai Quan had just walked out when Shi Ding, the Marquis of Zhongjing, who was wearing plain clothes, hurried in and called softly, “Your Majesty.”

Emperor Yongchang still looked out the window: “Go ahead.”

Shi Ding took out a case record from his pocket: “The killer confessed that they were not members of the White Lotus Sect. This person didn’t know much, only that the person they were loyal to was named Zhu.”

Emperor Yongchang turned around and asked: “Your surname is Zhu?”

Shi Ding replied, “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang then took the thin case record and began to read it, with a confused look in his eyes.

Shi Ding continued, “We have arranged for someone to monitor the place where the killer gave his confession.”

After a pause, he said, “I don’t think it will be found out in a short time.”

Emperor Yongchang handed the trial record back to him and said, “Take your time to check it.”

“Yes. I will get to the bottom of this!” Shi Ding replied.

“I intend to draw 500 elite scouts from the nine borders to specifically detect and kill these people.”

Emperor Yongchang looked at him and said, “I have decided to hand these people over to you for command.”

Shi Ding immediately knelt down and said: “I will not let your majesty down!”

Emperor Yongchang: “I have decided to re-establish the Five Cities Military Command, and the post of commander will be held by Marquis Baoling.”

Shi Ding was surprised and delighted, and answered loudly: “Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace!” Then he kowtowed three times.

Emperor Yongchang smiled faintly: “You have been busy for a day and a night, you have worked hard, go back and rest.”

“Yes.” Shi Ding kowtowed again, then stood up, bowed and walked out.

Emperor Yongchang smiled, walked back to the dragon throne and sat down. He took out a piece of letter from the official documents and looked at it carefully. It recorded what happened in Daxiangguo Temple last night.

Emperor Yongchang stood up again, walked to the small stove and threw the letter in. The letter caught fire and emitted green flames.

At this moment, the eunuch on duty came in holding a memorial and reported to Emperor Yongchang, “Your Majesty, this is a memorial sent by Jia Hua, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.” Then he presented it with both hands.

Emperor Yongchang took the memorial, tore open the seal and read it. His eyes flashed for a moment, and then he closed the memorial.

At this time, Dai Quan, who had changed into clean clothes, walked in.

Emperor Yongchang looked at him and said, “He Shen wants to host a banquet for Li Hu. What do you think?”

Dai Quan was stunned and looked at the emperor with wide eyes.

“Forget it, it’s not a big deal.”

Emperor Yongchang turned to the eunuch on duty and said, “Tell Jia Yucun that it’s fine as long as Li Hu is happy.”

The eunuch on duty said: “Yes.”

(End of this chapter)