Volume 2: The Capital, I’m Back Chapter 47 It’s Too Hard for Me
The Prince of Qing's Palace was located in the inner city. After Yu Qian finished his shift, he got on the sedan chair and took a nap before arriving there.
After getting out of the sedan chair, what came into view were two majestic stone lions. Above the vermilion lacquered gate hung a nanmu plaque with three large and vigorous characters "Qingwang Mansion" inscribed on it.
There were guards guarding the gate of the palace. When they saw Yu Qian, they hurriedly welcomed him in.
When you enter the palace, you will see crisscrossing buildings, green tiles everywhere, waterside pavilions, ancient trees and strange rocks. It has both the grand and majestic style of the royal family and the simple and elegant charm of the folk.
"Minister Yu!"
Yu Qian looked up and saw that it was Zhu Qiyu who came to greet him in person. He quickly bowed and saluted.
"I am Yu Qian, your humble servant, and I pay my respects to His Majesty the Prince of Qing!"
"Minister Yu, please stand up!" Zhu Qiyu stepped forward and helped Yu Qian up, saying, "I heard that Minister Yu likes wine, so I specially prepared the best wine. I will not leave until I am drunk tonight!"
Seeing Zhu Qiyu's enthusiasm, Yu Qian could only say, "It is my honor!"
Zhu Qiyu laughed and said, "Minister Yu is an important official of the dynasty. It is an honor for me to have him come to my house for a drink!"
Yu Qian's expression tensed up, and he said hastily, "I am terrified!"
"There are no outsiders here, don't be too reserved!"
As he was talking, Zhu Qiyu took Yu Qian's hand and walked to the front hall, which was already full of people. When they saw the two of them come in, they all stood up and saluted.
Yu Qian took a quick look and saw those present included Datong Left Lieutenant General Shi Heng, Datong Commander Shi Biao, Hanlin Academy Lecturer Xu Yun, Jinyiwei Commander Ma Shun, Silijian Eunuch Cao Jixiang, and Cao Jixiang's godson Cao Qin, and two of Wang Zhen's godsons, Mao Gui and Wang Changsui.
Shi Heng and Shi Biao, uncle and nephew, fled back after the defeat in Datong. The rest are Wang Zhen's accomplices. Great, they are all here, so I don't have to look for them one by one!
Zhu Qiyu waved his hand and said, "Tonight is my private banquet, please don't be restrained and take your seats!"
Everyone first let Zhu Qiyu sit in the first seat, then let Yu Qian sit in the first seat to Zhu Qiyu's left, and then they all sat down.
Yu Qian came to the banquet tonight just to test the situation, so he didn't hesitate to sit down next to Zhu Qiyu with his clothes lifted.
Zhu Qiyu picked up the wine glass, said a few simple polite words, and the dinner officially began.
At first everyone was quite reserved, but after three rounds of drinks, they gradually relaxed.
Xu Yun came to Yu Qian with a glass of wine in his hand and said, "Master Yu, I offer you a toast!"
Yu Qian picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp without saying a word.
“Good alcohol tolerance!”
Xu Yun picked up the wine pot and helped Yu Qian pour wine, saying: "Master Yu has a good alcohol tolerance and is highly respected. It's really enviable!"
Yu Qian said with a half-smile: "I am just doing my best. You are all pillars of the country. What is there to envy?"
"That's different!" Xu Yun shook his head and said, "The Empress Dowager and several ministers in the cabinet call us Xu Shijiang, Shi Jiangjun, Ma Zhihuishi... But when they call us Lord Yu, it's Yu Qian, Yu Qian! The closeness between them can be seen at once!"
"Minister Xu is right!" Cao Jixiang also came over with a wine glass and said, "When the late emperor was alive, he was also called that. This is enough to show that Lord Yu's status is extraordinary!"
Yu Qian had no choice but to pretend to agree, saying, "Eunuch Cao, your words are too harsh. It may be because I usually speak directly and have offended the late emperor in many ways. The late emperor called me by my first name as a warning."
"This further demonstrates that Lord Yu's status is extraordinary!" Ma Shun also came over and said, "If it were an ordinary person who dared to contradict the late emperor, he would have been arrested and imprisoned long ago. It would be impossible for Lord Yu to not only have no faults, but also be deeply appreciated by the late emperor."
Everyone was talking at once and came over to toast him. Yu Qian accepted all the toasts and toasted them one by one. The conversation gradually became more and more enjoyable.
"What a pity!" Xu Yun shook his head and said drunkenly, "When the late emperor was alive, he thought so highly of you, but now, Your Majesty... ah..."
Yu Qian knew in his heart that although these words seemed unintentional, they were actually well thought out. Finally, the main topic came!
"What do you mean by that, Sergeant Xu?"
Xu Yun seemed to realize that he had spoken out of turn while drunk, so he smiled awkwardly and waved his hand.
"Let's not talk about this, come on, drink!"
Yu Qian did not continue to ask, he knew that this was a message to him. They were all old foxes, so of course they would not tell the whole story.
Everyone understood each other tacitly and continued to urge others to drink. The banquet lasted until late at night before everyone left.
When most of the people had left, Yu Qian stood up and saluted, saying, "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness. I should go back now!"
"Minister Yu, please stay!"
Zhu Qiyu wiped away the drunkenness on his face and said seriously, "Please move to the study. I want to talk to Minister Yu for a few more words."
Yu Qian bowed and followed Zhu Qiyu to the study.
A maid brought tea over, and Zhu Qiyu said in a deep voice: "After you go out, close the door, and no one is allowed to enter!"
"yes!"
There were only two people sitting face to face in the study. Zhu Qiyu's face suddenly turned stern and he asked, "Yu Qian, there are no outsiders here. Tell me the truth. Did you do it?"
Yu Qian was puzzled and asked, "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
"Don't play dumb with me!" Zhu Qiyu seemed to have changed into a different person, and asked, "Now my brother has gone deep into the desert, and his life or death is uncertain. At this critical moment, as an important official of the dynasty, you don't think about how to stabilize the situation, but push me to the forefront. Isn't that making me disloyal and unfilial?"
Yu Qian scratched his head and said helplessly: "Your humble servant...I don't understand what Your Highness means?"
"That eunuch Cao Jixiang came to me and said that it was you who advocated that I should be regent. Why don't you admit it?"
"No!"
Yu Qian is about to cry, why are you putting all these accusations on me?
Zhu Qiyu said coldly: "If not, why did you come to the banquet?"
"I, I... Your humble servant..." Yu Qian sighed and said truthfully, "In fact, I came here to get information. Please forgive me, Your Highness!"
Zhu Qiyu's expression eased a little, and he asked, "Is it really not you?"
Yu Qian explained: "I did contradict the emperor in person, but it was all for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and the country, and I had no selfish motives. I hope Your Highness will understand!"
After a while, Zhu Qiyu asked again: "What about that imperial edict?"
"I don't know either..."
"The emperor has appointed you as the Minister of War, and given the title of Left Commander-in-Chief to lead the Beijing Camp. Now you can't explain it clearly? Yu Qian, are you kidding me?"
Yu Qian was so upset that he wanted to cry but had no tears. How could he know what the emperor was thinking? It was so difficult for him!
"This imperial edict came so suddenly. As for its deeper meaning, I'm afraid we can only understand it after the emperor returns."
"Well, I will trust you for once!" Zhu Qiyu thought for a moment and said, "Don't mention the matter of the regent again!"
"Your Highness is kind and righteous. I think..."
At this time, Yu Qian suddenly changed his mind and said, "It is also okay for Your Highness to serve as regent at this time!"
