The court lackeys of the eight-hour workday

Chapter 393 Regent's Court
After the mother and son finished their meal, An Ziyang, having just finished arranging matters within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, joined them in a carriage to enter the palace and head towards the Qianqing Palace.

No matter how useless Zhu Yijing was, or how dissatisfied An Ziyang was with this good-for-nothing, neither Zhu Zai nor Li Miao wanted anything to happen to him.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, Madam Zhu looked at Li Miao nervously, pursing her lips and not daring to utter a sound, until Li Miao lowered his hand and she anxiously asked.

"Da Li..."

"It's okay."

Li Miao raised his hand and pinched Zhu Yijing's pulse point, and Zhu Yijing fainted without making a sound.

“There is nothing unusual about his body, at least it can be confirmed that there is nothing harmful to him, and there is no other person’s ‘sex’ involved. But Liu Jin has been by his side for so long, it shouldn’t be without reason… but he hasn’t been in charge of any important tasks.”

"To be on the safe side, you and he should not leave the palace from today onwards. Find a side hall next to the Wenyuan Pavilion to stay in. That way, it will be more convenient for me to take care of both the commander and the other party."

“I have already mastered the Profound Insight technique. Even if someone like Liu Jinyi came before, I could immediately detect them and prevent them from getting close to you.”

Mrs. Zhu breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement.

An Ziyang was about to lead the two to Wenyuan Pavilion when Li Miao called him down from behind.

"Xiao Anzi, come here."

An Ziyang turned around and twisted his waist to get close to Li Miao.

"The commander-in-chief has given your orders, and I will carry them out immediately!"

Li Miao slipped a note into his hand.

"Hand it over to the commander."

"Got it!"

An Ziyang didn't waste any words and turned to leave.

After arranging accommodations and guards for Zhu Yijing and his mother, An Ziyang returned to the second floor of Wenyuan Pavilion. Liu Baiyun and the others had already left after receiving their duties, leaving only Mei Qinghe in the inner room.

An Ziyang stepped in and handed the note Li Miao had given him to Zhu Zai.

"A message from the Commander and the Pacification Commissioner."

"Ah."

Zhu Zai took the note, glanced at it, and frowned. His gaze unconsciously drifted towards the Qianqing Palace, and his lips curled downwards.

"Da Li...sigh."

After a long pause, he sighed, turned around, took a sign from the shelf behind him, and threw it along with the note to An Ziyang.

An Ziyang was puzzled. He glanced at the note and was immediately shocked and angry. He even forgot his respectful attitude towards Zhu Zai and frowned as he shouted.

"No! Commander! This is absolutely unacceptable!"

Turn around and leave.

"I'm going to find the Garrison Commander!"

The moment his hand touched the door, he was stopped by Zhu Zai's stern voice.

"An Ziyang! Have you forgotten you're a member of the Imperial Guard?!"

"What if I quit being a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

An Ziyang turned around abruptly, his eyes red-rimmed and his fists clenched, his usual obsequious attitude completely gone.

"Commander, if it weren't for the garrison commander, do you think I would have been so willing to take this position as a chiliarch!"

He raised his hand and held up the plaque that Zhu Zai had given him.

"Today's events, in the final analysis, are all because you tied the hands of the garrison commander! Without you, eunuchs and civil officials could rule the world at will, and the garrison commander could come and go as he pleased, kill as he pleased. How could he pose any threat to him!"

"Do you know why I wanted him to stay?!"

Zhu Zai also had a face full of anger.

The two stared at each other, neither willing to give an inch.

But Mei Qinghe, who was standing to the side, was left out.

She looked around, scratched her head, and remained silent for a long time before hesitantly speaking.

"Uh, otherwise I..."

"None of your business!" "It's none of your concern!"

Zhu Zai and An Ziyang turned around and shouted angrily.

Mei Qinghe scratched her head again, not annoyed, but knowing she was just a henchman and incapable of getting involved in their argument, she wisely kept quiet. After a while, Zhu Zai finally sat down and patted the armrest of his chair.

"Since you've changed Da Li's mind, I'll give you this seat."

An Ziyang fell silent.

He slowly shook his head.

No one can change Li Miao's decision, whether they are friend or foe. He is well aware of this.

Zhu Zai said in a deep voice.

"Since that's the case, instead of wasting your time arguing with me here, you should go and do things more thoroughly, so as to live up to the expectations that Da Li has placed on you."

An Ziyang fell silent again.

A moment later, he cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your subordinate will go and receive the family punishment."

"No need. Just keep things discreet and don't let anyone notice. You can arrange the manpower yourself; there's no need to keep coming back to me."

Zhu Zai pinched the bridge of his nose and waved his hand.

An Ziyang bowed deeply to him and left with Mei Qinghe.

Zhu Zai was left alone in the Wenyuan Pavilion. He pondered for a long time, then sighed, picked up a memorial from the stack on the table, and began to write on it.

About an hour later, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Tuk-tuk-tuk.

The three sounds, with short intervals, are crisp and gentle.

Zhu Zai frowned and said, "Go in."

Then a person pushed open the door and walked in, smiling and bowing to Zhu Zai.

"Commander Zhu, are you busy?"

Zhu Zai's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't show it on his face. He stood up and said with a smile, "Lord Yan, I don't usually see you come up here... What important matter do you have to discuss?"

The man was dressed in a blue python robe, thin and gaunt, with a long beard reaching his chest. Although he was smiling, he still gave off a solemn air, like an old crane with its beak outstretched, staring hungryly at the water's surface.

This person was none other than Yan Song, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, who was second only to the emperor in power and held real power in the court after the emperor became lazy in governing.

They are also Zhu Zai's most troublesome opponent in the past six months.

However, both of them were veterans who had been in officialdom for decades. No matter how much they fought behind the scenes, they always maintained a gentle and polite smile on their faces and never broke off relations openly.

Yan Song smiled and stepped forward, sitting down at the tea table next to Zhu Zai. The two exchanged a few pleasantries, drank some tea, and wasted about half an hour before finally getting to the point.

He said, "Commander Zhu has worked hard this year."

"Not at all, I am only doing my duty because I am fortunate to have His Majesty's trust in me."

"Hehe, that's true. When it comes to trust and respect, we foreign officials are ultimately no match for Commander Zhu."

Yan Song let out a long sigh at this point.

"To be honest, it has been several months since I last saw His Majesty..."

Zhu Zai's eyes narrowed, but he didn't show it on his face and said with a smile.

"Does Lord Yan have anything to say to His Majesty?"

Yan Song shook his head, then suddenly stood up with his hands behind his back and slowly said.

"It's just that I'm being a bit of a worrier... Judging from this year's reports, the tax burden and land conditions in various places are worrying. In addition, there was the incident of the rebels assassinating the emperor last year, and many places are already quite unstable."

He suddenly turned around.

"The world is already in turmoil. Commander Zhu, as a member of the imperial family, surely you want to salvage the situation?"

Zhu Zai's expression had turned cold.

"What does Lord Yan mean by this?"

Yan Song said solemnly.

"The current situation is entirely due to Your Majesty's long stay in the palace and neglect of state affairs, while others are obstructing Your Majesty's access to information! As a result, Your Majesty's benevolence can only benefit those who flatter and fawn, and cannot extend to all the people of the world!"

"Therefore, tomorrow I will lead all the officials to petition His Majesty to hold court and govern!"

(End of this chapter)