Yongshou Palace.

Empress Dowager Zhang had been waiting for Xie Qian for a long time. As usual, there was a screen next to the soft couch in the warm pavilion. During the day, she could clearly see someone sitting upright inside. This time, Xie Qian's mentality was much better than before. She began to pay attention to many things and realized that it might be the Queen Xia sitting inside.

"…The old minister meets the Queen Mother."

Xie Qian did not kneel down, but just bowed and bowed... He looked sad and his voice was weak. All this came from his inner fatigue and depressedness.

Empress Dowager Zhang waved her hand: "Gei Xie is polite, come and give her a seat."

Empress Dowager Zhang treated Xie Qian very well. At any time, she treated Xie Qian as someone who could entrust her important tasks. When she had a bad relationship with her son, she had originally expected Xie Qian to reconcile, but the result was that she and Xie Qian were both disgusted by Zhu Houzhao.

Fortunately, no matter how much Zhu Houzhao annoyed Empress Dowager Zhang, she maintained her basic courtesy and filial piety.

As for Zhu Houzhao's attitude towards ministers, he was not so tolerant. Many times, Zhu Houzhao would appear very tough, because in Zhu Houzhao's eyes, his ministers were just slaves.

Xie Qian sat down, far away from Empress Dowager Zhang, lowered his head and didn't even want to speak actively.

Empress Dowager Zhang sighed and said, "The Gaoqing family has already told the Ai family about the situation that Mr. Xie encountered in Fengtian Palace. No matter what His Majesty's attitude towards Mr. Xie, the Ai family believes that Mr. Xie is not selfish, and everything is for the stability and prosperity of the Ming Dynasty."

Xie Qian smiled bitterly, his son sang in front of him, and now Empress Dowager Zhang sang blushed, giving him a stick and a sweet date, which made Xie Qian feel ridiculous.

However, no matter what, Xie Qian had to come to see Empress Dowager Zhang, because the person who could retain his vitality for the Ming Dynasty was not Zhu Houzhao, or it was originally, but now Xie Qian has put this hope on Empress Dowager Zhang.

Xie Qian stood up, bowed slightly, and said nothing, as if he was admitting his mistake, but it was more of a silent struggle.

Empress Dowager Zhang said: "Sit down and chat... Eunuch Gao, there is a cushion here, so I will send it to Mr. Xie."

At this time, Empress Dowager Zhang was gentle and considerate. Not only did she give Xie Qian a seat, but she also thoughtful about other things, and even prepared a seat cushion for Xie Qian.

Gao Feng quickly took the cushion and spread it onto a chair, and then helped Xie Qian sit down. But in fact, Gao Feng was older than Xie Qian, and even Xie Qian himself felt a little embarrassed. He always thought he was young and strong. He only said that he was also old and healthy when facing an old minister. Now he was supported by the older Gao Feng, and his face was a little unbearable.

After Xie Qian sat down, Empress Dowager Zhang said, "Since the matter of sending troops has been decided, Master Xie doesn't have to force him. The emperor made the last emperor and the Ai family spoiled him, and liked to go to extremes in his work. The Ai family always wanted to talk about him, but... alas! Fortunately, the Ai family asked several father-in-laws from the Silijian to ask, and they all said that there was great hope of winning this time. After all, with Shen Qing's family here, the Ai family was still at ease with his ability."

In the past, whenever others talked about Shen Xi’s goodness in person, Xie Qian ignored it and even refuted it.

But this time, Empress Dowager Zhang praised Shen Xi in front of him, but Xie Qian accepted it silently for some reason. Perhaps he was also comforting himself. Shen Xi is a good child, at least he made countless military achievements before, so he would not have caused any changes in the Ming Dynasty when he fought this war.

Chen Xi’s biggest advantage is that he knows how to advance and retreat, and does not act recklessly. In the past, he defeated the more with less. When the Tatars saw him, they were weaker at first...

Seeing that Xie Qian was silent, Empress Dowager Zhang was a little anxious and said, "What do you think of Master Xie? Tell me. Please come here to see you this time. It should be arranging some measures during the war?"

No matter how stupid Empress Zhang is, she must consider how to recover if her son makes an accident on the front line.

When the mother considered the consequences, she was more thorough than the ministers. Empress Dowager Zhang was naturally afraid of losing her son, because she was just such a treasure, and she didn't mean she could just find someone to replace this relationship.

Xie Qian finally spoke: "Your Majesty insists on sending troops. No matter how old ministers persuade him, it will be useless. Now he can only pray for Your Majesty to win... But some things must be prepared in advance. Whether it is to beware of someone in the court waiting for an opportunity to cause chaos, or foreign barbarians take advantage of the chaos to invade, there must be plans... The king's hunting is a major event for the country, and we must be careful."

Empress Dowager Zhang nodded, "Xie Ge Lao is the decisive needle of the imperial court. Although you don't understand the Ai family you said, I think it is definitely more detailed than the Ai family. What arrangements are there or what needs the Ai family to do. Xie Ge Lao said it's okay. There is no difference between the monarch and the minister here. Even if you don't say it well, the Ai family will never blame you."

Xie Qian's face looked ugly. He hesitated for a long time, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Now the Ming Dynasty... there is no crown prince..."

Even if Empress Dowager Zhang said the words, Xie Qian was still trembling with fear, fearing that he would anger the other party.

Empress Dowager Zhang suddenly fell silent, and neither of them spoke, and there was peace in Yongshou Palace.

After a long time, Empress Dowager Zhang said quietly: "I'm afraid I'm going to talk to His Majesty about this... I'm afraid he won't listen to it."

Xie Qian said: "There will always be someone who stays in the capital. What should I do if something big happens?"

Empress Dowager Zhang thought for a while and nodded, "If it doesn't work, find someone to submit a memorial to Your Majesty and ask Your Majesty to send his sons from the royal family to the capital to prevent any accidents?"

This was not so sure, because Empress Dowager Zhang didn't know Zhu Houzhao's attitude and knew very well that it was a violation of the ban. Even the empress dowager was not qualified to discuss this issue with the emperor. But since Zhu Houzhao insisted on taking charge of the army, if there was no royal relative or noble in the capital, something happened, the Ming Dynasty would be destroyed.

Empress Dowager Zhang seemed helpless and dared not decide anything.

Xie Qian felt that it was hard to come by for Empress Dowager Zhang to compromise so much. He stood up and bowed respectfully to Empress Dowager Zhang, his face full of gratitude.

Empress Dowager Zhang sighed: "Master Xie, sit down and talk well, just treat it as a chat with the Ai family... The Ai family has not seen people outside for many days, and wants to know the situation in the market. After the emperor ascended the throne, will the world be peaceful?"

Xie Qian clearly felt that Empress Dowager Zhang was unwilling to discuss the issue of the crown prince with him, as it was related to violations of the ban, and Empress Dowager Zhang had some taboos.

Xie Qian sighed slightly: "Like today... I am still peaceful after being governed by the previous emperor, but after Liu Jin abusing power and doing things wrong, the national strength has declined a lot, and everything is in vain..."

"Who knew that he would reach this point today?"

Empress Dowager Zhang spoke slowly and said sadly, "The Ai family never thought that the former emperor would leave us mother and son so early. The Ai family is immersed in endless grief every day. The emperor may also have a grudge against the Ai family. Even if the Ai family wants to do something, they will not care about this son..."

It is related to the hidden secret of the royal family, and Xie Qian cannot take over.

Empress Dowager Zhang continued: "Xie Ge Lao has difficulties, but there is no Ai family? The Ai family also hopes to live in harmony with the emperor's son, let the queen and the emperor's son be harmonious and give birth to heirs for the royal family earlier, but now... alas! What Mr. Xie has experienced is exactly what the Ai family is experiencing."

Xie Qiangeng didn't know what to say.

Empress Dowager Zhang's tone was lonely, "In the past two years, the Ai family has tried to use some methods to change the emperor, but the results have been very little. The emperor is just an ignorant boy. He has experienced too little things. How can he compare with an old minister like Mr. Xie who has experienced several dynasties? The Ai family has always hoped that Mr. Xie could guide him to the right path. Unfortunately, now it seems that there is no one in the court who can restrain his temperament."

Xie Qian suddenly thought of something, to be precise, he remembered someone, Chen Xi. He swallowed it back when he was about to say something.

Obviously he didn't want to mention Chen Xi's name at this time.

Empress Dowager Zhang said: "The Ai family is already strangers to the emperor. It cannot be said that the emperor is not filial. He will support the Ai family every year. Ai family will not be affected except for not seeing others in the palace. Master Xie does not have to blame him for this. After all, he has not grown up yet."

Xie Qian shook his head and smiled bitterly, but he didn't think that Zhu Houzhao's "rude behavior" could be used to make excuses such as "he is still a child".

Empress Dowager Zhang said enthusiastically: "Even if Mr. Xie is wronged, please stay for the sake of the Ai family and the widowed mother and orphan. Just treat it as the Ai family's begging to Mr. Xie..."

Just like Empress Dowager Zhang's attitude towards Xie Qian in the past, Empress Dowager Zhang no longer used his status to oppress him, but instead asked the other party to stick to the position of the chief minister of the cabinet.

Perhaps in the view of Queen Mother Zhang, only an old minister like Xie Qian can support his son. Even if Chen Xi is capable, he is too young and always likes to do something unrestrained with his son.

This is a kind of blind trust.

Xie Qian returned to the liquor: "The Empress Dowager is so serious. I can only say that I can do my best. However, when His Majesty was in court meeting, he said bluntly that the old minister was stupid and old, and his corpse was in vain. The old minister had submitted a memorial to beg for bones. Maybe he would leave the court in a few days. The old minister has limited ability. I hope the Empress Dowager will forgive me."

After saying that, Xie Qian knelt down respectfully and kowtowed, then stood up, and without saying goodbye to Empress Dowager Zhang, he left the Yongshou Palace Warm Pavilion.

...

...

Xie Qian's back disappeared outside the palace gate, and Empress Dowager Zhang was still standing there, her eyes full of sadness, and a complex and unexplainable emotion filled it. Finally, she closed her eyes slightly, and tears flashed through the corners of her eyes.

"Empress Dowager, Xie Ge Lao..."

Gao Feng wanted to say something, but when he saw Empress Dowager Zhang seemingly cried in dismay, he quickly avoided his eyes and lowered his head and pretended not to see anything.

Empress Dowager Zhang said in a serious tone: "Let Master Xie go back. He has done everything he can. Who in the court is as desperate as he is to persuade the emperor? After so many years of court, he has been thinking about the country and the country of Ming Dynasty. He is tired. Even if Liu Jin was so difficult in his power, he has survived it. But the current situation is obviously more serious than before. Who can turn the tide? "

The Yongshou Palace was extremely quiet, and no one dared to say anything to Empress Dowager Zhang.

"Ding thud--"

A slight footsteps came, but Empress Xia walked out from behind the screen, her eyes were confused, and she was really at a loss, because with her wisdom and experience, she couldn't understand why her mother-in-law would cry.

Empress Dowager Zhang looked at her daughter-in-law and shook her head and sighed: "Empress, you have seen the scene of the meeting between Ai and Ge Lao Xie. Have you heard what we said?"

"Um."

Empress Xia nodded slightly, her eyes still full of doubts, and she didn't understand why Empress Dowager Zhang wanted to tell her this.

Queen Mother Zhang said: "Although you are the lord of the six palaces, this identity has harmed you and prevented you from getting everything your real wife should enjoy in the palace. But your pain is definitely not something you experienced by yourself. Master Xie, Ai's family, and many people in the court are experiencing the same pain... What can the Ai's family do for you?"

Queen Xia raised her head and looked at her mother-in-law, looking firm: "The baby is nothing, don't feel pain."

Empress Dowager Zhang showed a comforting smile on her face. During the two years she spent with Empress Xia, she could certainly realize that her daughter-in-law was not lying to her, because this stupid and cute daughter-in-law was a little girl who was ignorant of the world. The world in her eyes was extremely simple and she didn't care about so many complicated things. Every day, as long as she had food and drink and had someone to play with her, it seemed as if everything didn't matter and she no longer had any inappropriate thoughts.

However, while comforting, Empress Dowager Zhang felt ashamed and felt even more guilty towards Empress Xia.

Empress Dowager Zhang said: "The emperor will eventually return to the palace. One day he will get tired of playing outside. Every child who makes trouble will find his own home... Will he continue to make trouble so indefinitely and never stop? Absolutely no! The emperor is blessed. With an empress like you in charge of the inner palace, even if the Ai family returns to his hundred years in the future, you will definitely be optimistic about this family for him."

Queen Xia blinked, and a trace of innocence appeared in her eyes. What she was thinking in her mind was completely inconsistent with what Queen Mother Zhang said.

The little queen is distracted.

Empress Dowager Zhang said to Gao Feng: "Eunuch Gao, if you have time to go to the leopard room and bring the Ai family's imperial edict here, so that the emperor knows the current concerns of the court... As for whether to find the children of the royal family to the capital and give him the decision-making power, the Ai family can only make such suggestions and will not forcefully order him. The world is his, and the Ai family is not qualified to help him take care of it."

"The Empress Dowager..."

Gao Feng's relationship was rising and she burst into tears for a moment.

Empress Dowager Zhang smiled and waved her hand: "There is nothing to be sad. The sky has not fallen. The emperor is fine and everything is fine!"

...

...

When the order to recruit troops to return to Beijing was passed to Shen Xi, it was already the fifth day of the third month.

At this time, Shen Xi was leading the army to train in Hejian Prefecture, North Zhili, and the training progress seemed very smooth in Shen Xi's opinion.

When the camp was set up at noon, news about the capital reached Shen Xi's ears.

The central army's tent was full of generals brought by Shen Xi, and they had basically followed him to fight south and north, which was just a part of it. After all, more people were in the capital or the frontier.

Wang Lingzhi, Ma Jiu, Hu Songyue, Jing Yue, Ma Ang and others knew Shen Xi's style of conduct very well. The most important thing was that they followed Shen Xi's orders, because all the achievements are now achieved by Shen Xi, and no one doubted any decision made by Shen Xi.

As for another group led by Hu Lian, they were ten miles away from Shenxi's main business and could echo each other during wartime.

In front of his subordinates, Shen Xi conveyed the emperor's order to recruit troops back to Beijing, informing the court that the army would set out to the northwest on March 20th.

Wang Lingzhi and Ma Jiu did not react much because they had experienced the Battle of Tumu Fort a few years ago, they did not expect much of the war that followed, but for the rest of the generals, this news made them excited.

Jing Yue smiled and said, "I can finally do a big favour with the adults. Then we go deep into the desert and kill all the Tartars... It's no point to deal with those bandits during this period. Ordinary bandits are really vulnerable."

Because the rebellion in Northern Zhili had not completely subsided, Chen Xi took the opportunity of training to attack the rebels and operated in Baoding Prefecture and Hejian Prefecture in central Northern Zhili. The terrain here was flat, and whether it was a marching, a new weapon training, or some simple offensive and defensive drills, it could be carried out smoothly.

Chenxidao: "The conditions are very difficult after leaving the border. Now the training of officers and soldiers is a little tired. In the past two days, you can eliminate the bandits of Hejian Prefecture and go north while training... Around March 15, you have to lead some troops to Zijing Pass, and I have to go back to the capital."

Ma Ang asked, "Does I have to follow the adults... back to Beijing?"

For newcomers like Ma Ang who have just joined Chenxi, they are more willing to return to Beijing because it is a good opportunity to meet high-ranking officials and nobles.

Chen Xi glanced at the generals present and said, "I will make arrangements at that time. Before this, I will first cut off the thieves in Wugongdian. The goal must be achieved today and tomorrow."

Jing Yue said: "Even if there is no command from the master, those hundreds of bandits are not our opponents. Now the bandits around the capital are now in a defeat. I heard that you are bringing troops here, and local rebellions are pacified after hearing the news..."

Chen Xi was not as optimistic as Jing Yue and said, "Since it is so easy, Lao Yue will bring fifty people to fight. This is a test for you. If you lose a brother, you will use your life to compensate!"
Chapter completed!