The next day, Dong Lingjiu played chess and discussed Buddhism with the abbot in Luoyue Temple, and was escorted back to the palace by the Qilin Guard in the afternoon.
　　But Lord Zheng obviously couldn't be so presumptuous. He returned to the Palace Front Office early, washed and changed his clothes, and accompanied the emperor in Guiyuan Palace as usual. The
　　little emperor had a child. In addition to government affairs, he accompanied the queen and the little prince in Fengzao Palace. Once he became an elder, he matured quickly, and occasionally revealed insightful remarks in his conversation. Only one thing remained the same - that is, he still often quarreled with Zheng Yuheng, one because the two of them had different auras, and the other because he spoke too irritatingly. On this
　　day, Meng Cheng was persuaded by the queen, and he was thinking about getting along with Zheng Junzhi. After all, he was the loyal minister left to him by his mother. He didn't have a family background that was difficult to control, and he didn't have to worry about the troubles of four generations of three officials and generations of wealthy families. He was smart enough. He was just getting ready, and when he looked up, he saw Zheng Junzhi standing there obediently, head bowed, wearing a gold Ziwei official uniform, and being quiet and honest.
　　Meng Cheng relaxed at first, then suddenly tensed up, thinking that his docile appearance was abnormal. He stared at him for a while, his eyes fell on the unhealed scar at the corner of his lips, and his heart was full of mixed feelings. He couldn't help but snorted coldly.
　　Zheng Yuheng pretended not to hear it and didn't dare to respond.
　　Meng Cheng sat on the chair, took out the memorial and read it for a while, then turned his head in annoyance and said to him, "You - come here, stop pretending to be dead."
　　Zheng Yuheng walked a few steps closer, waiting for the little emperor to discuss the contents of the memorial with him, but Meng Cheng stopped talking and asked first, "How is my mother's health?"
　　He was stunned for a moment and replied, "The Queen has shown signs of improvement in the past six months... Your Majesty is actually aware of
　　it, right?" "That's not what I'm talking about, it's..."
　　"I know," Zheng Yuheng said, "The Queen was injured when she was young. Didn't my teacher once say that if she doesn't take good care of herself, she will be bedridden after she is forty years old."
　　Meng Cheng stared at him, remembering that the other party was the direct disciple of the old doctor. His Adam's apple moved twice. He pressed the surface of the memorial and asked him, "There are not many affairs in the Cining Palace now. With your knowledge, can you..."
　　Meng Cheng didn't say the second half of the sentence. He couldn't think of the right words.
　　Zheng Yuheng thought for a moment: "...I think what the teacher said is not just a physical condition. No matter how strong a person's energy and will are, they are limited after all. The Queen Mother looks like an immeasurable sea water that can digest everything, but over time, how can she not know that there will be a time when the sea dries up and the rocks crumble."
　　Meng Cheng's imperial pen was against his chin. He thought silently for a moment and said: "The Queen Mother mentioned that she wanted to live in the temporary palace, but she didn't say when to go. I am very worried about letting the Queen Mother go to the Changtai Palace alone."
　　Zheng Yuheng looked at the golden palace in front of him. The beast brain incense burner rose up with white mist, mixed with a faint wisp of ambergris. Ziwei Palace is good everywhere. It is the place where the emperor lives and the capital of the country, but this place is like a whirlpool with no end in sight. She has wasted too much time in it.
　　"I can take care of her," he said, "but with the Queen's painstaking efforts, she will not give up everything."
　　"Who needs you to take care of her? I want you to persuade her!" Meng Cheng's goal was obviously achieved, but he still pretended to be unhappy and refuted. Even if he used Zheng Junzhi, it was a bit awkward to say one thing and mean another.
　　Zheng Yuheng didn't feel anything about this. He gradually became tolerant of Meng Cheng. Apart from the characteristics reflected in him by the word "ruler", he himself was not that annoying.
　　After Meng Cheng finished this sentence, he replied with the second half of his sentence: "I naturally understand that my mother has always been watching me from behind, and the officials in the court are watching me in front of me. It is not entirely true that this world belongs to the Meng family."
　　This world also belongs to everyone in the world. The officials standing in the court, the Queen Mother who is at the helm behind the scenes, and Zheng Junzhi in front of him, all have a heart for the people of the world to a greater or lesser extent.
　　At the end of October in the third year of Huining, the new policy was implemented outside the capital and in the two adjacent states, with special officials sent by the court to supervise and inspect. With the dismissal of Xu Xiang's position as the supervisor of the inner factory, the young emperor did not appoint any eunuchs to serve, but merged this agency into the Qilin Guard Prison.
　　He originally wanted to merge it into the Ziwei Guard, but Zheng Yuheng felt it was inappropriate. Although he served in the Palace Front Department and belonged to the Ziwei Guard, there were too many aristocratic children in the emperor's Ziwei Guard. Once merged, it would become a target for the aristocratic families to scramble to infiltrate and control. The Qilin Guard specially established by the Empress Dowager and the first sage was mostly guarded by soldiers selected from the common people, which was more difficult to be controlled by the court officials.
　　After Zheng Yuheng said this, Meng Cheng also thought it made sense, so he handled the matter in this way - the former civil officials of the inner factory were sent to the Qilin Guard Prison, and the eunuchs among them returned to the harem, specializing in the expenses of the harem, sorting out the relationships of the eunuchs, and reducing the fear of the civil and military officials about the eunuchs and the treacherous power.
　　Because of this, the prestige of the eunuchs was greatly affected, and Xuan Jingyun has always been a kind and smooth person who gives face, and he is not willing to fight for it. Therefore, the weight of the inner eunuchs in the previous dynasty was severely weakened and became a discarded child.
　　When the eunuchs became discarded children and did not need to check and balance the court officials, it meant that the emperor had established enough confidants or had the ability to manipulate the forces in the court to fight against each other.
　　Meng Cheng, who was assisted wholeheartedly by Zheng Yuheng, seemed to have barely reached this qualified line.
　　October 28, the first snow.
　　Mu Xuehua went to Fengzao Palace to visit the queen, holding the young prince in her arms. The two people who were patient and full of maternal love for children met each other, and naturally hit it off at first sight, and their feelings gradually warmed up.
　　Dong Lingjiu reached out and took the memorials that the emperor had read but still felt needed to be consulted. She put her hands together and found two thin volumes. She was watching Ruixue and Zhao Qing playing the game of guessing covers, and was interrupted by this matter. She suddenly forgot the reminder on her lips.
　　"You continue," Dong Lingjiu told the two not to stop, and sat by the stove. Without returning to the desk, she unfolded the memorials and glanced at them. One thing was the matter of opening up the sea that she had mentioned before the Northern Expedition, selling the goods of Great Yin overseas. The small-scale trade in the past few years has proved that this method is profitable. Then send people to bring back their specialties from overseas countries. If there are any suitable ones, introduce them to the people of Great Yin... This is a good thing, and no one will disapprove. It's just that the Ministry of Revenue didn't have enough money and grain. The initial investment in merchant ships was very expensive, and it was not long after the Northern Expedition that difficulties arose.
　　The young emperor referred to Zheng Junzhi's opinion and did not want to follow the Ministry of Revenue's opinion to increase taxes. Instead, he wanted to open up a number of loans from the private sector - that is, the state as a backer, using this credit to raise money from local wealthy merchants and gentry, and when the deadline comes, return more of their property.
　　Dong Lingjiu saw that he wrote in detail, nodded, handed it to the female historian beside him, and said: "There is nothing wrong with it, just do it, there is only one thing, to suppress the collusion between officials and businessmen below."
　　"Yes." The female historian rolled up her sleeves and picked up the pen, embellished this idea, and put it on paper.
　　The second one was opened, which was quite interesting. It was a memorial requesting the emperor to select a concubine. The young emperor rejected it. Looking at the handwriting, even the red-ink comment was written by himself, just a few words, and it was written as "worry too much."
　　Dong Lingjiu was amused. This was not a request for her opinion, but a hint from Meng Cheng: "I don't want the selection. Don't let them bring in a bunch of people I don't know."... Once he couldn't get his way, these stubborn old ministers would definitely come to ask for the Empress Dowager Dong's decree, using filial piety to pressure others.
　　Meng Cheng was crying to her.
　　Dong Lingjiu threw down the memorial and said, "I won't reply to this. Take a verbal order and tell her that I know."
　　"Yes."
　　After reading the memorial, this little bit of content was not enough to wake her up.
　　Dong Lingjiu has been taking it easy lately, just listening to Zheng Yuheng's report every night, and gradually some of her idle habits have returned. She continued to drink tea while watching the two people's guessing game.
　　"...Your guess is too biased, Qing'er has long been against aunt." Li Ruixue tried her best to think of a poem but couldn't, and she was so worried that she began to show off her friendship, "Qing'er is now the queen's person, and she doesn't give me any face."
　　Zhao Qing said, "If aunt can't think of it, just ask the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother already knows it."
　　Li Ruixue really looked over, but at this time, Dong Lingjiu, who had been watching with a smile, did not look at her, but looked out the window.
　　The two followed the Queen Mother's gaze and saw the window frame covered with a thin layer of snow in the distance, reflecting the scene of the long corridor outside the palace. The lotus pond was covered with a thin layer of ice, and the railings and red tiles were covered with snow, which faintly revealed a frosty and cold atmosphere. Behind the snow-covered vermilion railings, a person wearing a bamboo hat and a light blue plush cloak was walking towards them.
　　It was too far away to see who it was.
　　Li Ruixue was thinking, Zhao Qing said: "It's Lord Zheng."
　　Ruixue asked: "Your eyesight is so good? I didn't see it was little Lord Zheng."
　　They both looked at Dong Lingjiu, and then she said softly: "It's him." It was cold.
　　The parrot hanging in the palace raised its head and called: "Little Lord Zheng, Little Lord Zheng!"
　　Dong Lingjiu turned around: "Who taught it?"
　　Ruixue and Zhao Qing both shook their heads and said innocently that no one, and they all turned their eyes to Xuan Jingyun who was teaching the young eunuch outside the palace, and then immediately retracted their eyes and pretended not to do it.
　　Dong Lingjiu dropped the teacup on the flower table. Xuan Jingyun immediately poked his head in from outside, and his eyes swept around. Seeing the empress dowager staring at him, his legs suddenly became weak, and he just thought that he had not done anything wrong.
　　Dong Lingjiu said, "Take your son out."
　　"Ah? Madam, I won't accept a godchild..." He didn't finish his words, and the eunuch beside him pulled him and whispered, "Bird, bird!"
　　Xuan Jingyun suddenly realized and quickly took the parrot out. While taking it away, he also taught Dong Lingjiu a lesson, "What a flat-haired beast, you must have said something that Madam didn't like to hear, so I'll stew you now!"
　　He was just saying it on the surface, but in fact he loved the parrot. Xuan Jingyun turned around and walked out of the door. Not far away, he ran into Zheng Yuheng. Before he could say hello, the parrot called out, "Little Master Zheng!"
　　Zheng Yuheng came back to see Tan Niang, and was so happy that he was spinning in his heart. He didn't notice whether it was a human or a bird saying it. He patted Xuan Jingyun on the shoulder and said, "Good day, Duzhi, you go ahead, I'm going to see Madam."
　　After that, he passed by Xuan Duzhi and went straight to the main hall.
　　He walked into the curtain, took off his snowy cape and hat as he walked, handed it to the maid, and then walked in - he didn't even see anyone else, suddenly pounced on her, hugged Dong Lingjiu in his arms, closed his eyes and took a deep breath on her.
　　Before Dong Lingjiu could speak, Zhao Qing, who was standing beside him, covered his face and turned his head, with a smile on his lips. Li Ruixue was stunned at first. Even though she had been cultivated in the palace for many years, she almost cursed. She stood up quickly and sent the little maids around her away with a look. She said, "You are really my living ancestor. What if you damage the body of the queen who takes medicine every day? Why do you act like you are at home in the Cining Palace? Is there any rule?"
　　Zheng Yuheng was only afraid of Du Yuewan, not her. He said vaguely, "I know, I didn't oppress her." Then he pressed his cheek against Dong Lingjiu again and rubbed her hair. He was so lingering that he was almost thirsty, as if he was hungry. His eyelashes were thin and dense, sweeping against Dong Lingjiu's skin.
　　Dong Lingjiu felt itchy and reached out to pat the side of his neck. Little Zheng took a deep breath again, raised his head from her, and looked at her with sparkling eyes.
　　"Did you miss me?" It seemed as if there was a tail swaying behind him. "My wound has healed."
　　What does this mean? Dong Lingjiu glanced at him and saw that the scar on his lip had completely healed, without even a trace. Not only that, the teeth marks she had bitten on his neck and the scratches on his body that night had all disappeared completely -
　　this person's body recovery ability is too good, not even a mark can be left, it must be reviewed from time to time and often leave marks.
　　Zheng Yuheng held her hand, which was sticky and could not be pulled off. In the past few days, he and the little emperor were busy studying the issue of sea trade and had not slept for a long time. Today, Meng Cheng was merciful and let him go, but Zheng Yuheng was not sleepy at all, and he was so energetic.
　　He stroked Dong Lingjiu's hand a few times, and Tan Niang did not scold him. This made little Zheng more "evil". He was not afraid of death and hugged her waist in front of Aunt Ruixue. Before he hugged her, he suddenly felt something jump up from under the chair. He touched it and it was warm and soft.
　　Zheng Yuheng was stunned. He lowered his head and saw the white cat that was lying under Dong Lingjiu's knees jump up, shaking its thick and smooth long hair, glaring at the hand on it, and then scratching him.
　　"Meow——" Ai Ai glared at him angrily.
　　Zheng Yuheng looked at Dong Lingjiu with a smile on his face, and then looked at the cat. He didn't care about its anger at all. In fact, the more unhappy Ai Ai was, the more he lifted his tail to the sky.
　　Zheng Yuheng held her under the pressure and squeezed Ai Ai between the two of them. He leaned over and kissed Dong Lingjiu loudly on the face.
　　Ai Ai was stunned, and the strength of her struggle loosened. She was squeezed into a cat pancake in the middle, and collapsed in Dong Lingjiu's arms with no hope of life.
　　Not only was the cat stunned, but Aunt Ruixue beside her also twitched her eyes slightly. She turned around and discussed with Zhao Qing how to change a male favorite for the queen. This man is too unruly! Must be changed! Change it now!
　　Until Dong Lingjiu put his hand on his shoulder, pushed him slightly, and laughed softly: "Okay, what's wrong with you?"
　　The author has something to say:
　　Just pamper him——