Before the case was concluded, several adults in the six departments jointly petitioned for the transfer of officials from the inner prison to the prison of the Ministry of Justice.
　　They were full of fear and suspicion about Xu Xiang's bottom line. They submitted six memorials in three days and finally jointly petitioned. After the memorials could not be retained, the young emperor consulted Dong Lingjiu and finally approved the Ministry of Justice to take these officials away.
　　But since the Ministry of Justice arrested the people, the Qilin Guards in the two guards in the capital have separated a group of people, ordered to "protect safety", and conduct strict security to prevent anyone from taking advantage of this opportunity to reach out.
　　Corresponding to this is Shang Kai, the eunuch who held the seal in front of the emperor and grew up with the emperor. He was imprisoned by Meng Cheng for "occupying land and using power to embezzle". However, it was stated that he must be questioned in detail and not executed. He also warned Xu Xiang to produce detailed evidence of his crimes.
　　Xu Xiang received the order and tried the case in person.
　　At the end of the winter month in the second year of Huining, it snowed for several days in a row. The snow fell heavily and slowly accumulated half a foot thick.
　　In front of the gate of Cining Palace, there were about dozens of people coming and going to sweep the snow and clear the road, pruning plum branches. The eunuchs and palace maids were busy with the snow for several days, and they talked in low voices in twos and threes about the approaching New Year.
　　There is still a month before the New Year. The colder it is, the colder it is, and the coldness is slowly approaching with the same degree of anticipation. For the palace maids who are busy on duty every day, it is a great festival to receive rewards and rest according to the ancestral rules.
　　The Queen Mother was never stingy with her rewards. Although she didn't give out rewards to the point of extravagance and waste, she never delayed the New Year celebrations for the people in the palace. Moreover, she liked quietness. When she occasionally became lively, it was because the concubines came to please her. Generally speaking, there were not many times when the palace really employed a large number of people.
　　And Zheng Yuheng also became a pure imperial physician for a few days.
　　After he got some time to rest, the first thing he did was to ask if Dong Lingjiu had taken medicine and rested well in the past few days.
　　When he was away, although Cui Ling and others had a lot of things to manage, they were a little relaxed. At first, they all looked hesitant and said, "The queen has been taking care of her health for more than ten years. She often takes health-preserving medicine. Except for the time when she was delayed because of the discussion of politics, she has not delayed taking medicine. As for rest and sleep... these are really not things we can persuade her to do."
　　Zheng Yuheng nodded, scooped the medicine that the few people had taken care of into the bowl, and said, "I know... she can't always do what she wants. She forgets the time when she starts to deal with politics."
　　He turned around and brought the medicine bowl into the hall, lifted the bead curtain, and saw Dong Lingjiu reading the memorials left in the past few days, and Aunt Ruixue was serving ink beside him.
　　As soon as Zheng Yuheng stepped forward, Ruixue stepped back half a point at the right time and gave him the closest position.
　　Zheng Yuheng clearly felt this tolerant retreat. He whispered a thank you, then put down the medicine bowl and took over the work of grinding ink from the side, wanting to wait until the medicine was cooler before calling her.
　　Dong Lingjiu didn't notice it at first. When she picked up the pen to dip it in ink, she casually glanced at his white jade hands holding the ink block. These hands were broad-jointed and slender like bamboo. They were very serious and devoted to everything they did.
　　She paused for a moment and couldn't help but admire it for a moment, then reminded him: "Sleeves."
　　Zheng Yuheng let go of his hands, tidied up the plum blossom embroidery hanging down the inside of the cuffs, smoothed out any wrinkles on it, and tried his best to create a square and upright appearance.
　　Dong Lingjiu looked at him and said, "Why did you go back to the warm room to sleep last night?"
　　Zheng Yuheng paused, looked at her with a hurt expression, and whispered, "To avoid the crime of harming the country."
　　And even if she had deliberately taught him and forced him to admit his desires and thoughts, the other party would always give up after a little taste, leaving him alone in a trance and difficult to satisfy. This made Zheng Yuheng ashamed, and also made him feel deeply "empty and dissatisfied."
　　He vaguely felt like a newlywed who was abandoned at home. Dong Lingjiu always teased him and made him blush and feel extremely passionate, and then withdrew coldly - to be frank, it was like she loved him briefly.
　　Dong Lingjiu pretended not to hear clearly and asked again: "What did you say?"
　　Zheng Yuheng said: "I haven't been back for a long time and I don't know the way."
　　Dong Lingjiu said: "Did you say that just now?" Zheng Yuheng
　　was silent for a few breaths, and insisted: "That's what you said."
　　She curved her eyes, with a smile on her lips, and said: "What should I do if I don't know the way? Let me teach you again, how to enter the inner hall to serve, how to help change clothes, fold quilts and make beds?"
　　Zheng Yuheng's ears were burning, and she said: "Please teach me, my queen."
　　"Forget it, it's too troublesome." Dong Lingjiu said with a smile, "As long as no cat howls in the middle of the night and sneaks into my bedroom, it will be the same to let Ruixue and the others serve."
　　Li Ruixue said at the right time: "Your Majesty, it's winter now, and there are no cats calling in heat."
　　Dong Lingjiu said, "Really? I thought there were some. Maybe some cats make noise early in winter. Although they are noisy, they are very cute. In fact, it might as well keep one."
　　Zheng Yuheng couldn't listen anymore. He coughed lightly as if to cover up. His ears were all red. His eyelids drooped, and he reminded her: "You should take your medicine."
　　Dong Lingjiu dried the ink on the paper, threw the memorial into his arms, picked up the medicine bowl, blew it slowly, and then said: "Take a look."
　　"Yes."
　　Most of the palace people were outside sweeping snow, watching the stove, or changing lampshades, doing chores such as pasting and mending window screens. Only two female servants were sitting behind the pearl curtain in the main hall. They were all wearing official uniforms and crowns, waiting for orders.
　　Dong Lingjiu did not speak, and the palace quickly fell silent. Zheng Yuheng flipped through the memorial and found that it was actually an impeachment of his father, Zheng Jie, the Imperial Censor in the Palace. It was written by Xing Wenchang, the Imperial Censor who wrote the original letter.
　　His words were extremely sharp, but not exaggerated. Instead, he spoke to the point. His words were not too respectful, and he did not leave himself a way out like the Imperial Censors usually did. His writing style was solemn and murderous.
　　Dong Lingjiu finished drinking the medicine, rinsed his mouth and drank tea, leaned back in his chair, folded his hands in front of him, and said gently: "Have you finished reading it?" Zheng Yuheng
　　said: "I have read it."
　　"Lord Zheng Jie, it has only been a few months since you were reinstated." Dong Lingjiu was busy with affairs and could not remember exactly when the emperor reinstated him, so he could not tell the actual number. "He was impeached for his lack of moral character. This lack was not something else, but a matter that happened right before his eyes, the failure to manage his family well."
　　Zheng Yuheng said nothing, stroking the memorial and looking at it a few more times.
　　This seems to be impeaching his father, but in fact, once it involves the poor management of the family, it is easy to be linked to the father's kindness and the son's filial piety. Their family has nothing to do with this term. Even if someone knows Zheng Yuheng, they will think that he is an unfilial and rebellious seed after a little inquiry.
　　Just being in the capital together and not returning home before getting married is enough to cause gossip.
　　"However," Dong Lingjiu paused, "the first thing is not because of you, you are just a superfluous thing. The cause of this matter is that your second brother clung to the sons of the major wealthy families in the capital, formed a party, drank and had fun, and mentioned state affairs, spoke nonsense, scolded the officials in the court for being incompetent, and said..."
　　She stroked her chin and said with some amusement: "They also said that I am powerful in the court and indulged in beauty. I will be the next Empress Lu, who can abolish the throne at will."
　　Zheng Yuheng lifted his robe and knelt down.
　　Dong Lingjiu was a little unhappy at first: "What does it have to do with you?"
　　Zheng Yuheng whispered: "Indulge..."
　　"Oh." It turned out that it was not for his arrogant brother. Dong Lingjiu was relieved and said casually, "Then you kneel for a while."
　　She continued: "These people were drunk, and the conversation was heard by Xing Wenchang who was passing by. He was furious on the spot and had a fight with these people, but no one else took action. Only your second brother, called... Yuxing, right? He offended the court official, and now not only is he in jail, but he also implicated Zheng Jie."
　　Dong Lingjiu nodded at the table, tilted her head and said to him: "Your family is really full of talented people."
　　Although Zheng Yuheng hadn't been back to the Zheng family for a long time, he was still embarrassed and ashamed. Thinking of his second brother's sharp-tongued and good at making trouble, he was also puzzled: "Although Yuxing has no insights and no knowledge, he has always been eloquent and would not be so stupid."
　　Dong Lingjiu dusted the corner of her clothes and said: "Get up and draft the edict."
　　Zheng Yuheng stood up, took the pen, and drafted the edict himself.
　　"For those who make irresponsible comments on state affairs, they will be stripped of their clothes and caned in court forty times. Zheng Jie, be beaten together with his son, but they don't have to be stripped of their clothes." After Dong Lingjiu finished speaking, she glanced at the memorial, remembered the last thing she mentioned, and pondered, "You..."
　　Zheng Yuheng's knuckles tightened, and he looked up at her.
　　"Forget about you." Dong Lingjiu said, "It's none of your business."
　　Zheng Yuheng pursed his lips, did not write, but said: "You should punish them a little."
　　"Why?"
　　"As long as I am not marked off the family tree, I will be inseparable from the ancestral family of the Zheng family. Even if I feel that I belong to you, in the eyes of outsiders... especially in the eyes of Xing Yushi, I am already included in the item of not managing the family well. If you don't punish me... I'm afraid you adults will not feel happy."
　　So far, there are three reasons why many people tolerate Zheng Yuheng: one is that Empress Dowager Dong is in power, and the power she holds blurs the constraints and disciplines that she is forced to abide by as a woman in this era, allowing her to do some slightly out of line things. The second reason is that Zheng Yuheng resembles the late emperor, which gives many prime ministers and old officials a reason to keep him alive. The third point, and the most important one, is that many people think that Zheng Yuheng is not important, and the Queen Mother will not ruin the country because of him.
　　But this matter really has nothing to do with Zheng Yuheng. It is a case of people sitting at home and the pot comes from the sky.
　　It’s just that the ministers in the court can tolerate Zheng Yuheng being favored, such as various rewards, but they will not tolerate Zheng Yuheng being favored, even if it is not favoritism at all.
　　Dong Lingjiu sighed and said, "You are more thoughtful than before."
　　Zheng Yuheng said, "I am sorry to make you worried."
　　"I have never worried that you will be arrogant because of your favor and cause trouble for the Cining Palace. Instead, I am worried that you will be restricted in every way because of the Cining Palace, and you will be hesitant and unable to stretch your hands and feet. I am not a fragile boat that has not experienced wind and waves. You don't have to think so strictly. Sooner or later..."
　　She stopped here and didn't say the rest. Instead, she continued the previous words, "I will fine you a few months' salary. You can't use it."
　　Zheng Yuheng even rejected money and houses. He didn't even look at the mansions in the prime location of the capital, the servants and maids, the house deeds and land deeds. It seems that he thinks these things are useless.
　　Sometimes Dong Lingjiu thought that he looked down on money like dirt. Not to mention that she had seen it before, there were not many people in the world. This person is very insensitive to the changes in material desires. He has no strong feelings about mountains of gold and silver, precious furnishings in the palace, and Hui ink worth thousands of gold.
　　People die for money. Dong Lingjiu initially thought that he was acting, pretending to be indifferent, pretending to be noble, or too young to recognize the value of these things. But one day, when she saw Zheng Yuheng asking the palace maids who were tending to the flowers and plants in the courtyard and taking care of several thorny flowers with her own hands, Dong Lingjiu suddenly realized that in addition to the profit-making in the world, there are also some rare personalities that have the qualities of hermits.
　　For Zheng Yuheng, every bit of "uniqueness" she gave was nourishment to nourish his soul. This kind of care and love would deeply and slowly penetrate into his cold bones and arms in every lonely and cold night, leaving a sweet fragrance in his lonely life.
　　Using gold and silver treasures to exchange for this fragrance is not expensive at all, even if it is all the material possessions in a lifetime.
　　Zheng Yuheng agreed with her words "it's useless", his expression relaxed a little, and he quickly drafted the imperial edict and handed it to Dong Lingjiu.
　　The Queen Mother took the imperial edict he drafted, looked at it for a while, and commented softly: "Xing Wenchang's handwriting is not as good as yours."
　　Zheng Yuheng said: "My handwriting is much worse than yours."
　　"No." Dong Lingjiu said, "Compare with me, you can't compare with your half-baked Zhang Menglong stele, that would be looking down on me. Good is good, bad is bad, don't be too modest."
　　Zheng Yuheng nodded obediently.
　　Seeing his expression, Dong Lingjiu wanted Zheng Yuheng to see the world, so he said, "The trial of Shang Kai's case has been transferred to the inner prison and will be handled by Xu Xiang personally, but people from the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Dali Temple will go to listen. Yue Wan will go there on my behalf by the emperor's order, you go with her to take a look."
　　Zheng Yuheng nodded, "Okay."
　　"Also," she said, "after the court beating is over, I will send someone from the palace to the Zheng family with a piece of evidence. Your stepmother colluded with several relatives and sisters-in-law to lend money at high interest. When she couldn't repay the debt, she asked people to use their wives and daughters as collateral. She actually had a lot of dealings with brothels and brothels. Otherwise, how can people say that there are so many talented people in your family."
　　Zheng Yuheng was stunned for a moment, and he almost doubted his ears.
　　Dong Lingjiu stood up, walked to the front of the hall, teased the parrot, stretched it a little, and said with his back to him: "Such a wonderful family member, you should go back and take a look. If Lord Zheng faints from anger, you have to treat him."
　　Zheng Yuheng hesitated and said: "If I go back... isn't it a bit..."
　　"No, you should go back." Dong Lingjiu said meaningfully, "If you don't go back to fulfill your filial piety at this time, how can you see the good show of changing faces? Besides, it is Zheng Jie who is not strict in managing the family and has many internal troubles, not you who is unfilial. Right?"
　　Before Zheng Yuheng could reply, the parrot in front of her stretched its wings, tilted its head, and spoke the parrot language of Xuandu Zhixin with due diligence.
　　"Your Majesty is right, Your Majesty is right!"
　　The author has something to say:
　　Xiao Zheng: "Mrs. Tan is my wife."
　　Parrot language: "? Shameless"