They are all concubines, so of course they choose the future emperor.

She didn't even need to tell anyone to do these things.

The emperor's move has already sent a signal. Naturally, there will be people in the court who will want to serve the emperor and find a way to bring down the current Chief Censor.

However, the choice of successor needs to be discussed.

Jiang Wanyue looked at the table with her fingers, thought for a moment, and suddenly thought of someone.

"Xiuchun, go home later and tell your grandfather and father a message."

She waved to Xiuchun and whispered a few words to her.

"Don't worry, I'll go right away."

Xiuchun put down her folded sleeves, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and without changing her clothes, she just asked a obedient and quiet little palace maid to follow her and left the East Palace.

She always carried the cards she used when leaving the palace with her. The guards at the gate were familiar with her and even smiled when they saw her!

"Where is Aunt Xiuchun going?"

Xiuchun remained calm and said, "My master missed the cakes made by his wife, so he sent me back."

"Why bother Aunt Xiuchun with such a matter? Can't you just send a little palace maid? You are now half the head of the Eastern Palace!"

A young guard came forward in a flattering manner.

Xiuchun glanced at him sideways.

"I don't dare to accept this. I am just a slave who follows orders. How can I be the head of the East Palace? Besides, the master has given me orders, which is trust. How can I push it to others? You kid, how can you be so cunning at such a young age?"

Although Xiuchun is not very old, she usually behaves like an aunt and is never polite when teaching people a lesson.

The guard knew that he had flattered the wrong person and could not help but slap himself lightly in embarrassment.

"I said the wrong thing, please forgive me, Aunt Xiuchun. I will go and harness your horse for you right away."

"Hey! Don't..."

Xiuchun wanted to call out to him, but the boy was so fast that he turned around and ran away.

Another gatekeeper held back his laughter and explained for his colleague.

"Don't take it personally, Auntie. Xiao Ling has only been here for a short time, so his words may be a little rude, but he didn't mean it."

Xiuchun glanced at him.

"Whether it was intentional or not, it has nothing to do with me. But this person is not careful. Who knows what mistakes he will make in the future? Although you are only guarding the side door of the East Palace, you can't let your guard down. Be more vigilant in the future!"

After she said these words, she shut her mouth and stopped talking.

After a while, the guard named Xiao Ling came over leading the carriage.

This carriage is very inconspicuous and is used by palace servants for going out.

Xiuchun helped the little palace maid get on the carriage and gave two silver ingots to the two guards.

"Put your mind in the right place. Guarding the gate is what you should consider. Don't always think about taking the wrong path. His Highness would not look down on such people."

After saying this, she got into the carriage.

The little palace maid then climbed onto the carriage, but did not get in. Instead, she sat in the front of the carriage, took out a paper bag from the bag she was carrying, and handed it to the coachman.

"Uncle Ding, this is your favorite walnut cake, made with butter. Can you smell it? Does it smell good?"

The driver took a deep sniff and immediately grinned.

The little palace maid opened the paper bag, picked up a piece and handed it to the coachman, then wrapped the rest and put it in the saddle bag in front of him.

"Our aunt said that your grandson's birthday is coming soon, so she will give you three days off so that you can go back and spend time with your family."

The driver was particularly happy.

"Thank you."

After writing, he raised the whip and waved it vigorously, shouted loudly, and drove the carriage forward.

Xiao Ling felt a little strange when watching this scene.

Another guard tossed the silver in his hand and poked his arm.

"What? You're still staring at her even after everyone has left? I think you should just give up on this idea! Xiuchun is the most useful person around Jiang Liangdi. In the future... she can even be paired with a fourth-rank official. You're just a lowly gatekeeper with no rank. It's impossible for you to be with her."

Xiao Ling came back to his senses, put his hands behind his head and gave a lazy smile.

"What are you talking about? I'm just being polite. How could I be attracted to her?"

The guard sneered and stuffed the silver into his pocket.

"Still being stubborn! I think that little palace maid is pretty good. Although she's not very pretty, she looks gentle and kind, and she speaks and acts well. She looks like a good wife and mother. Marry her home, have children, and she can help you take care of your parents. Isn't that good? If you marry someone from a high-class family, you'll have to pamper and coax her when you get home. How tiring!"

Xiao Ling rolled his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm a bachelor, I don't have a father or a mother, I'm not looking for a wife to help me honor my parents."

Xiao Ling looked down on this man. He always acted like an elder brother and said he was giving advice, but he really couldn't agree with what he said.

He is already in his thirties and is still just a gatekeeper. The reward money he gets is either spent on drinking vegetarian wine or drinking brothel wine, and he completely ignores his mother, wife and children at home.

Xiao Ling and he couldn't get along.

He originally stayed here hoping to see Xiuchun more often, but Xiuchun's words just now made him hesitate.

Maybe it's time to find another way out.

How could a mere gatekeeper catch Xiuchun's eye?

At the very least, he must be a fifth or sixth rank colonel or deputy colonel.

But if I stay here forever, I won't have the chance to make any contribution...

Xiao Ling's eyes rolled around and his thoughts were turning over and over.

Xiuchun had no idea what he was thinking.

She took a carriage to Jiang's house, and as soon as she got off the carriage, the doorman came to greet her.

"Is Miss Xiuchun back? I'll go and inform the Madam and the Young Mistress right away."

"No hurry, I'll go see the master and the old lady first."

Xiuchun waved her hand, walked straight into the door, walked around the screen wall, turned a corner, and went to the study.

The old man is usually in the study.

Today is no exception.

As soon as Xiuchun entered the room, she bowed respectfully to Jiang Zhi.

"I pay my respects to the old master. How have you been these days? My lady heard that you had a cough, so she asked me to bring you some Chuanbei loquat paste."

As she spoke, she called the little palace maid forward, took out the loquat paste from the bag, and placed it on the table.

Then she waved her hand and let the little maid go out.

Jiang Zhi picked up the loquat paste with a smile, opened the lid and smelled it.

"It smells rich and fragrant, without any medicinal smell. Which imperial physician made this?"

"It's not the imperial physician, but Doctor Zeng, the former palace physician. If you like, I'll bring some more over some other day. But Miss, you can't be willful even if you're old. How can you refuse to take the medicine just because you don't like the taste?"

Xiuchun kept talking.

Jiang Zhi looked at her and suddenly sighed: "Xiuchun, you are becoming more and more like Wan'er. The way you talk and the tone of your voice are exactly the same."

Xiuchun felt a little embarrassed.

She has been secretly imitating her master.

"Let me pour you a cup!"

Xiuchun looked around, fetched hot water and a teacup, scooped a spoonful of loquat paste from the bottle, stirred it carefully with hot water, touched the cup to make sure it was not hot, and then handed it over.

Jiang Zhi took two sips and sighed comfortably.

Then he put down the teacup and changed the subject.

"Tell me! What's the matter? Wan'er specially asked you to come back, isn't it just to give you this loquat paste?"

Xiuchun pursed her lips and smiled.

"As expected, nothing can be hidden from you. Young lady asked me to tell you that Master has heard about what happened in the court meeting today?"

Jiang Zhi stroked his beard and nodded.

Xiuchun continued.

"The young lady also said that she missed her aunt and it was time for her eldest uncle to return to Beijing."