Emperor Chongzhen was too extreme.

Chapter 9 Do you still remember Guo Xun?
After several eunuchs secretly left the palace.

Zhu Youjian put down the memorial in his hand and then went to the training ground inside the palace to practice horseback archery.

Health was of utmost importance to Zhu Youjian at this moment; without health, there was no point in talking about accomplishing any great undertakings.

Fortunately, this body is still quite strong.

After he got used to it, the arrows he shot could be said to hit the target every time.

The dozens of eunuchs and palace maids serving by the side watched the emperor's heroic figure galloping across the training ground, and their mentality gradually changed unconsciously.

Everyone felt that the palace seemed more lively than before, no longer as lifeless as it had been.

After practicing in the training ground for more than an hour, Zhu Youjian finally returned to the Qianqing Palace.

After washing up and having dinner, he ordered his men to prepare several side rooms in the main hall.

Starting today, the two hundred guards will move into this side room to protect his safety while he sleeps at night.

Outside the Forbidden City.

In the British Duke's mansion.

Zhang Weixian was lying alone on the couch, sprawled out, with the floor tiles in front of him covered in a mess of food and wine.

At this moment, Zhang Weixian looked nothing like a young and vigorous Duke.

Instead, he seemed like a down-on-his-luck scholar who had failed the imperial examinations for many years and had eventually gone mad.

Several timid women stood outside the door, but none of them dared to come in to offer advice or serve.

Since his wives and concubines, who tried to persuade him to drink less during the day, were all beaten and kicked out, the maids dared not do so.

In all these years, this was the first time the servants of the Duke's mansion had ever seen Zhang Weixian so angry.

Zhang Weixian propped himself up, glanced at the maids and servants outside the door, and waved them away impatiently.

But the women outside the door just stood there and refused to leave.

Although Zhang Weixian's actions today frightened them, he had always treated them, the servants in the mansion, well. They were afraid that Zhang Weixian might have ruined his health by drinking too much due to a moment of depression.

"Get out! All of you, get the hell out!!"

Seeing that the crowd refused to leave, Zhang Weixian picked up the wine pot in his hand and smashed it on the ground. Only then did the maids shrink their necks and run to a place a little further away to wait.

When everyone had left, a bitter smile appeared on Zhang Weixian's face.

He acted this way entirely because of the new emperor's cold attitude towards him at the court meeting.

How could he not know that the words spoken in court today would offend many of his colleagues?

But he did it anyway without hesitation.

But what about the newly enthroned emperor?

He didn't give him any extra reaction, as if he had thought about it for a long time before finally deciding to reveal this matter of life and death.

In the emperor's eyes, they were just useless and superfluous memorials, just like those of other officials.

Not to mention just how much of a blow this action dealt to Zhang Weixian.

Overwhelmed with resentment and frustration, Zhang Weixian could only drown his sorrows in alcohol, getting himself completely drunk.

Only in this way can you numb yourself and temporarily reduce the pain.

That's enough. Why bother worrying about matters of state?
Holding the wine jug in his hand, Zhang Weixian drifted off to sleep.

I don’t know how long it took.

While in a deep sleep, Zhang Weixian felt someone gently patting his body.

Still overwhelmed by his frustration, he was about to swear.

When he opened his eyes, he saw his trusted steward standing respectfully to the side, and a very familiar face standing in front of the bed. This person was none other than Wang Chengen, the emperor's personal eunuch!
I saw Wang Chengen.

Zhang Weixian suddenly sat up in shock, instantly sobering up: "Eunuch Wang?! What brings you here?" Wang Chengen interrupted Zhang Weixian with a smile: "Duke Zhang, His Majesty has secretly ordered us to bring you into the palace late at night. Get up and get ready."

"His Majesty."

Upon hearing the words "Your Majesty," Zhang Weixian instantly lost all traces of alcohol, along with all his pent-up resentment and frustration.

He knew, of course, what it meant for His Majesty to summon him to the palace at this time.

We absolutely need to discuss matters related to the Beijing Garrison.

Zhang Weixian couldn't help but get excited: His Majesty isn't as indifferent to everything as he seems on the surface.

The disregard shown in court today is simply a testament to the unpredictability of Heaven's will!
Thinking of this, Zhang Weixian was both surprised and delighted.

What surprised him was that, despite his considerable experience, he had failed to detect even the slightest emotional fluctuation in His Majesty during the rather long morning court session.

You should know that he was constantly observing the Emperor's expression during the morning court session.

This may seem unremarkable, but only those who have experienced it firsthand know how terrifying it truly is.

His Majesty is just a seventeen-year-old boy who has only been on the throne for a few days, not a middle-aged emperor who has held power for many years and has accumulated great prestige.

Zhang Weixian was happy for the same reason.

A glimpse of the leopard can be seen in the tube.

If Your Majesty can accomplish this so soon after ascending the throne, then there is hope for our Great Ming Dynasty.

So, in a fit of excitement...

Zhang Weixian almost fell hard when he checked into his hotel, but fortunately Wang Chengen and the housekeeper caught him in time.

Inside the sedan chair that led to the Forbidden City, Wang Chengen and Zhang Weixian sat side by side.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhang Weixian slipped a large gold ingot to Wang Chengen and respectfully inquired, "Eunuch Wang, did His Majesty summon me to the palace to inquire about matters concerning the Capital Garrison?"

"His Majesty's divine will is unpredictable, and I have no way of knowing about it. Only after Duke Zhang meets His Majesty in person will I know."

Wang Chengen smiled as he accepted the gold ingot from Zhang Weixian, his mood instantly brightening.

However, his happiness was not entirely due to this ingot of gold. In Wang Chengen's view, any money was simply something he was accepting on behalf of His Majesty.

Wang Chengen was mainly pleased by Zhang Weixian's excited reaction when His Majesty summoned him to the palace, which made him fall off the bed.

They were dependent on imperial power; the stronger the imperial power, the higher their status.

After Zhang Weixian entered the Forbidden City, Wang Chengen took him directly to the Qianqing Palace.

Upon entering the Qianqing Palace, Zhang Weixian was once again taken aback.

He mainly noticed the group of fifteen or sixteen-year-old guards. With his experience in the military, he could tell that although these young men were still quite naive, they had probably already seen blood.

In such a short time, His Majesty has unknowingly built up such a guard?

Zhang Weixian felt a growing sense of awe.

After being led to a side room by Wang Chengen, Zhang Weixian looked at the young emperor sitting in a chair and bowed five times and kowtowed three times:
"Your subject Zhang Weixian kowtows to Your Majesty and respectfully wishes you good health!"

Zhu Youjian nodded: "Rise."

Then, at his signal, Wang Chengen brought over an embroidered stool and dismissed his attendants.

See this.

Zhang Weixian, with a hint of eager anticipation, asked, "Your Majesty, did you summon me to the palace so late at night to discuss the matter of the capital garrison that we discussed at the morning court?"

Upon hearing Zhang Weixian's question, Zhu Youjian did not immediately give a direct answer, but instead asked him a question in return.

Do you still remember Guo Xun?

(End of this chapter)