The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun

Page 485

In Zhu Houzhao's last moments of consciousness, he only knew that he was sleeping soundly when his palace suddenly caught fire. He then searched for a way out, but eventually lost consciousness due to inhaling too much smoke. He didn't remember anything after that, and when he regained consciousness, he only saw Jiang Ning.

"Don't speak yet, I'm treating you."

Jiang Ning nodded and said.

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Zhu Houzhao slowly closed his eyes. After a short while, a wave of drowsiness washed over him, and Zhu Houzhao fell into a deep sleep.

"All right."

Jiang Ning stopped and stood up to speak to Liu Jin.

"He's fine now, he just needs to rest for a while."

Liu Jin was overjoyed and repeatedly thanked Jiang Ning.

"Thank you, Master Jiang, thank you, Master Jiang."

Just as Jiang Ning was about to speak, a group of eunuchs and guards rushed over from not far away. Everyone was overjoyed to see Zhu Houzhao.

"His Majesty!"

"Thank God, His Majesty has been rescued!"

The group was overjoyed.

Jiang Ning frowned and said, "Be quiet."

Upon hearing Jiang Ning speak, everyone fell silent.

Over the past few days, they have gotten to know Jiang Ning and realized that he is no ordinary person.

"Master Jiang, His Majesty..."

A eunuch cautiously stepped forward and asked, while the others also looked at Jiang Ning with concern.

"He's fine now, he just needs to rest."

Jiang Ning replied casually.

Hearing this, everyone was finally relieved, and several eunuchs quickly gave instructions.

"Someone, quickly carry His Majesty back to his room to rest."

"The ground is so cold, don't let His Majesty get cold."

Those who had previously dared not rush into the palace to save Zhu Houzhao were now vying to do so, seemingly extremely loyal to him.

Jiang Ning watched this scene without stopping it, until all the people surrounded Zhu Houzhao and left, leaving only him and Liu Jin.

"Master Jiang, I must thank you for saving His Majesty and me today. I truly do not know how to express my gratitude."

Liu Jin couldn't help but say again.

"It's just a small matter, nothing to worry about."

Jiang Ning said casually, then turned to look at him, paused, and added, "There's nothing seriously wrong with your health. You just need to go back and rest more."

Liu Jin nodded, then left, her back view looking rather lonely.

Jiang Ning glanced at him, then turned and left.

At this time, the Qianqing Palace was on fire, and the group of eunuchs and guards moved Zhu Houzhao to a side hall to rest. Jiang Ning also came to check on the situation.

Zhu Houzhao's house was heavily guarded by many guards, but they did not stop Jiang Ning when they saw him, allowing him to come and go as he pleased.

Upon entering the hall, Zhu Houzhao had also woken up and was drinking the calming soup that had just been brought to him, his face somewhat pale.

Brother Jiang.

Seeing Jiang Ning enter, Zhu Houzhao placed the calming soup on the table and smiled at Jiang Ning.

"Brother Jiang, you saved my life again this time."

"Have you found out what caused the fire?"

Jiang Ning sat down opposite Zhu Houzhao and then asked.

"We found out. It was a few eunuchs who accidentally caused the fire in Qianqing Palace. Afterwards, those eunuchs committed suicide out of guilt."

When this matter was mentioned, Zhu Houzhao's face darkened, after all, the fire had almost cost him his life.

No, it wasn't just a near miss; if Jiang Ning hadn't been there, it would have truly cost him his life.

"It's not that simple."

After listening to what Zhu Houzhao said, Jiang Ning spoke directly.

Zhu Houzhao knew, of course, that things weren't that simple. The fire was too suspicious. It happened to burn down his Qianqing Palace, and the fire was put out so slowly, as if they were afraid he wouldn't be burned to death. The eunuchs who set the fire committed suicide afterward, leaving no way to prove anything. No matter how you look at it, it was premeditated and targeted.

Zhu Houzhao's face was extremely pale.

Seeing his expression, Jiang Ning said, "It seems you know who set this fire."

Zhu Houzhao did not speak, but he already had the answer in his heart. He gained a deeper understanding of the extent of that group's madness.

They actually dared to murder the emperor!

Zhu Houzhao was furious.

wrong.

They dared to do it a long time ago.

Zhu Houzhao suddenly remembered the confession that the Eastern Depot had extracted a few days ago.

After reading the confession, he burned it. Later, Zhu Houzhao ordered Gu Dayong to re-examine the confession and delete some things from it.

Thinking of the original confession, Zhu Houzhao unconsciously clenched his fist.

"Father..."

Chapter 661: Special People

"I'm afraid similar incidents will happen again."

Jiang Ning said.

The fire at Qianqing Palace today was not accidental; it is highly likely that someone wanted to threaten or warn Zhu Houzhao.

What will you do next?

"How to do it?"

Zhu Houzhao's eyes were firm.

"Fight to the bitter end!"

These people have done so many crazy things simply to control him and make everything like it was during the Hongzhi era. He wants to see if these people will continue to be rampant, or if he, the new emperor, will sweep them all into the dustbin of history.

"It's a pity we have no one to rely on, otherwise things wouldn't be so difficult."

Zhu Houzhao sighed.

Liu Jin temporarily put the matter aside because of the Miao girl, and Gu Dayong really disappointed him, which made Zhu Houzhao feel somewhat helpless for a while.

The thought of Liu Jin made Zhu Houzhao feel somewhat dazed. He suddenly remembered that after he lost consciousness, he seemed to have vaguely seen Liu Jin, but he quickly lost consciousness and when he regained consciousness, he saw Jiang Ning.

At this moment, Jiang Ning suddenly spoke up: "When your palace caught fire, Liu Jin was the first to rush in and save you."

"what?"

Zhu Houzhao was taken aback.

After hearing Jiang Ning's words, Zhu Houzhao realized that his previous encounter with Liu Jin was not a hallucination.

Upon learning that Liu Jin had risked his life to rush into the fire to save him, Zhu Houzhao remained silent for a moment, then...

"Someone is coming."

Zhu Houzhao ordered, "Summon Liu Jin to see me."

After a short while, Liu Jin finally arrived.

"This servant greets Your Majesty and pays respects to Hero Jiang."

As soon as Liu Jin entered, he bowed to Zhu Houzhao and Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning remained silent, while Zhu Houzhao looked at Liu Jin with a somewhat complicated expression.

"Get up."

"Thank you, Lord Long Live."

Liu Jin respectfully responded, then stood up, bowed his head, and remained motionless.

"Liu Daban..."

Looking at Liu Jin, Zhu Houzhao paused for a moment and said, "Brother Jiang just said that you rushed in to save me."

"This servant is not capable enough to save His Majesty from the fire. At that time, this servant was also in despair. If it weren't for Hero Jiang arriving in time to save His Majesty, this servant would not know what to do."

Liu Jin dared not take credit for himself.

Zhu Houzhao did not continue to say anything more, but asked: "At that time, I was unconscious in my palace, and there were many eunuchs and guards outside, but not one of them dared to enter the sea of ​​fire to save me. Yet you were able to risk your life to go in. What were you thinking at the time? Weren't you afraid that you would die in there too?"

Faced with Zhu Houzhao's words, Liu Jin remained calm, but her heart beat faster. She suppressed her emotions and tried to remain calm, saying, "This servant didn't think that much. I only heard others say that His Majesty was still inside. At that moment, my mind went blank, and I couldn't care about anything else. I only wanted to go in and save His Majesty. I didn't think about anything else. Of course, this servant is also afraid of death, but if His Majesty is in trouble, this servant will protect His Majesty's safety even if it means dying ten thousand times."

Even Zhu Houzhao, an emperor accustomed to flattery, was somewhat moved by Liu Jin's words.

After a long time.

Zhu Houzhao sighed deeply.

"I never imagined that in this vast palace, only you are truly sincere towards me."

Zhu Houzhao thought that from the time he was under the spell until he woke up, he had never seen the Empress Dowager show any concern for him. At most, she sent a eunuch to show her concern, and then she stopped sending eunuchs. Even with such a big incident as the fire in Qianqing Palace, Kunning Palace has not made any move or sent anyone. This really chilled Zhu Houzhao's heart.

As for the eunuchs and guards who usually scrambled to flatter and curry favor with him, they all waited outside when the fire broke out. No one came to his rescue, which made Zhu Houzhao realize what it meant to be all alone.

This series of events made Zhu Houzhao sigh with emotion.

Zhu Houzhao's voice was very low, and Liu Jin did not hear it, but Jiang Ning heard it.

Judging from Zhu Houzhao's words, it seems that Liu Jin is about to rise again.

"Liu Daban".

Zhu Houzhao quickly put his mind to something else.

"Although you were not involved in the matter of those Miao girls, you did bring them into the palace, so I have no choice but to punish you."

The matter of Liu Jin has also been investigated and clarified. It was those officials who bribed his subordinates, and then his subordinates introduced those Miao girls to him. Liu Jin was used as a pawn, but even so, it is not unreasonable for Liu Jin to be punished.

"You risked your life to save me today, which is enough to prove your loyalty. From now on, you will continue to serve me. However, you will lose your former position. Do you have any complaints?"

The current head of the Eastern Depot is Gu Dayong. Although Zhu Houzhao is dissatisfied with Gu Dayong, he has no intention of replacing him. After all, Gu Dayong has not made any mistakes and has even made contributions. Replacing him now would discourage others.

Liu Jin immediately knelt down.

"This servant has committed a grave error. Your Majesty's mercy in sparing my life is already a great kindness. This servant dares not ask for anything more."

At this moment, Liu Jin was overjoyed.

What he feared most was not losing his position as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Director of the Eastern Depot, but losing Zhu Houzhao's trust. As long as he could return to Zhu Houzhao's side, everything else was insignificant.

"Ah."

Zhu Houzhao nodded and said to Liu Jin, "You may leave."

"Yes."

Liu Jin respectfully withdrew, and after leaving, he finally couldn't help but reveal a look of joy on his face.

"Brother Jiang, I'll need your continued support and protection from now on."

Looking at Jiang Ning, Zhu Houzhao knew that the best thing he had done was to invite Jiang Ning to the capital. Without Jiang Ning's protection, he really wouldn't have been able to deal with these people.

"It doesn't matter."

Jiang Ning nodded.

In truth, he couldn't help Zhu Houzhao much with matters of the court. The court was not like the martial world; fighting and killing wouldn't solve the problems. All he had to do now was keep Zhu Houzhao alive.

It was already evening, and nothing else happened. Zhu Houzhao went to rest, while Jiang Ning stayed in the room next to Zhu Houzhao's.