My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Chapter 86 Father, it’s time to take the medicine!
However, because Zheng Zhilong was an outsider and could not enter the harem, and in order to show the royal family's attention, Queen Zhou met Zheng Zhilong in the Huagai Hall.

The two discussed for a long time and finally decided on this matter!

In fact, it couldn't be considered a discussion, because it was basically Queen Zhou who was talking and Zheng Zhilong was nodding and bowing.

Zheng Zhilong was naturally very satisfied with the final result.

Because Queen Zhou not only agreed to the marriage between her daughter and the prince, but also gave them many gifts.

In Zheng Zhilong's view, this was a great honor.

When he left the palace, he felt his feet were light, as if he was stepping on clouds.

That afternoon, Zhu Cilang summoned Zheng Zhilong and Huang Fei again.

After the experience in the morning, Zheng Zhilong now obeyed Zhu Cilang's every word and talked to Zhu Cilang incessantly about his various plans for the upcoming battle.

Huang Fei, who was watching from the side, nodded repeatedly, secretly admiring Zheng Zhilong's military talent.

After discussing the specific battle plan, Huang Fei prepared to return to Shandong. He needed to go back and integrate all the ships in preparation for war.

Before leaving, Zhu Cilang gave him a batch of telescopes, which were most suitable for naval battles.

Of course, Zheng Zhilong also had a part in it!
Zheng Zhilong was not in a hurry to leave because Zhu Cilang still had something to say to him.

After Huang Fei left, Zhu Cilang smiled and said to Zheng Zhilong:

"My Lord Father-in-law, it seems that things are going smoothly."

Zheng Zhilong could no longer conceal the smile on his face. He smiled and replied:
"Thank you, Your Highness. The Queen has agreed to this marriage. It is truly an honor for me to have my daughter marry into the royal family."

Zhu Cilang nodded, and then said:

"come in!"

The next moment, Ma Bao came in from outside with two young eunuchs, holding two trays with an imperial edict and a piece of clothing on them.

Zhu Cilang looked at Zheng Zhilong and said:
"Father-in-law, do you remember that I said yesterday that I wanted to give you something?"

"That imperial edict was written by my father himself, and as for that dress, it was given to you by me!"

"Now go and see!"

When Zheng Zhilong heard this, he carefully picked up the imperial edict, opened it, and his expression suddenly became stern.

Because this is actually an imperial decree of enthronement!
Chongzhen personally issued an edict to appoint his youngest daughter as the Crown Prince's concubine!
You know, the Crown Prince never needs an imperial decree to take a concubine!

But the emperor issued this imperial decree, which is enough to show how much the emperor values the Zheng family!

Carefully putting down the imperial edict in his hand, Zheng Zhilong looked at the clothes on another tray.

He had actually guessed that this was probably a gifted garment.

But he was not sure what level of gifted clothing it would be.

There are four types of clothing granted by the emperor of the Ming Dynasty:

First-grade python clothing: usually embroidered with python patterns, symbolizing authority and nobility.

Second-grade flying fish clothing: embroidered with flying fish patterns, representing achievements and bravery.

Third-grade bullfighting suit: embroidered with bullfighting patterns, symbolizing strength and tenacity.

The fourth-grade Qilin suit is embroidered with Qilin patterns, which represent auspiciousness and good fortune.

In Zheng Zhilong's view, given his current status, he could only wear either a bullfighting suit or a flying fish suit.

However, when Zheng Zhilong slowly picked up the clothes and saw the dragon head on the chest of the clothes, he was shocked and his hands were shaking like a sieve.

The next moment, Zheng Zhilong looked at Zhu Cilang in shock and asked stutteringly:

"Your Highness, is this a dragon robe?"

The first-grade dragon robe could only be obtained by eunuchs in the inner chamber or people of high positions of power such as the Prime Minister.

This level of bestowed clothing represents the emperor's greatest recognition and favor.

Zheng Zhilong didn't even dare to think about it!
But he never expected that Zhu Cilang would actually give him a dragon robe!
Seeing Zheng Zhilong's shocked expression, Zhu Cilang smiled and nodded.

"That's right. I know that my father-in-law has always been looked down upon because of his former status, so I specially gave you a dragon robe!"

"From now on, as long as you wear this dragon robe, anyone who dares to look down on you is defying the court, defying me, and defying my father."

"When the time comes, you can just draw your sword and kill him!"

"You are my father-in-law. I will never allow anyone to look down on you."

After hearing this, Zheng Zhilong burst into tears.

With this piece of clothing, Zheng Zhilong can walk around Fujian with ease!

If he says one, no one dares to say no!

He stood and no one dared to sit!

No one dared to pick up their chopsticks when he was not there!

At this moment, Zheng Zhilong felt that his life had reached perfection.

Now, even if Zhu Cilang asked him to die, he would die without hesitation.

Zheng Zhilong could only repay this great favor with his life!
Coming back to his senses, Zheng Zhilong knelt down and said excitedly:

"Your Highness, my life from now on belongs to you. If you tell me to go east, I will never go west."

"I am willing to die for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Zhu Cilang quickly helped Zheng Zhilong up and comforted him:
"Father-in-law, please don't speak like that. From now on, we are a family. The Ming Dynasty still needs your strong support."

I have to say that Zhu Cilang’s technique of bewitching people is quite good.

In an instant, Zheng Zhilong was moved to tears.

The two chatted for a while, and finally, with Zheng Zhilong's reluctant eyes, Zhu Cilang sent him out of the East Palace.

Afterwards, Zheng Zhilong rode back to Fujian at full speed, preparing to send his daughter to the Eastern Palace.

Of course, not only his daughter, but also his son Zheng Sen (Zheng Chenggong) would be sent to the capital.

Because Zhu Cilang said that he wanted Zheng Sen to be his personal bodyguard. How could Zheng Zhilong refuse such a thing?

One of his daughters is the prince's concubine, and one of his sons is the prince's personal bodyguard. His Zheng family is about to become rich!

That evening, Zhu Cilang had just finished dinner and was taking a walk in the East Palace when suddenly a young eunuch hurried over.

"My Lord, Eunuch Fang Zhenghua requests an audience!"

Zhu Cilang was a little curious and didn't know why Fang Zhenghua came to see him at this time, but he nodded anyway.

"Bring him in!"

Soon, Fang Zhenghua appeared in front of Zhu Cilang.

When Fang Zhenghua saw Zhu Cilang, he immediately knelt and said:

"Slave, please see His Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Cilang waved his hand gently, signaling Fang Zhenghua to stand up, and then asked:

"Is there a problem?"

Fang Zhenghua's face was solemn as he replied:
"My Lord, there has been progress on the matter you instructed me to do. Those guys have already taken action."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized.

He had previously taken advantage of the rebellion to eliminate all the spies planted in the palace by civil and military officials to prevent them from passing messages through palace maids and eunuchs.

However, he also took into consideration that the officials would become suspicious because they could not contact the insiders.

In order to prevent this matter from being exposed, he asked Fang Zhenghua to keep a close eye on it.

Unexpectedly, it happened anyway.

"Tell me, what's going on?"

Zhu Cilang hurriedly asked for details.

Fang Zheng Hua Bin reports:

"The Crown Prince asked me to investigate this matter before, so I sent someone to investigate secretly."

"We soon discovered that the eunuchs and palace maids who were acting as accomplices would always go to specific places at specific times. I felt that something was fishy, so I continued to investigate."

"Sure enough, I discovered that these places are where the ministers in the court and these palace maids and eunuchs secretly communicate!"

"Of course, they wouldn't do this kind of thing in person, but would instead send their slaves and servants to do it."

"Just this afternoon, I discovered that Lord Zhou's servant appeared at one of the secret contact points."

"I didn't take action at first. I only took action after I was sure that he was really here to meet someone."

"According to the orders of the Crown Prince, I captured him and tortured him severely. Now he has confessed."

"The eunuch who contacted him was named Zhao Xier. He was placed in the palace by Lord Zhou ten years ago and has been secretly delivering palace news for Lord Zhou for all these years."

Zhu Cilang did not seem too surprised when he heard this.

After all, he already knew that the officials would plant spies in the palace.

Then, Zhu Cilang said calmly:

"Alright! I understand. There's no need to keep that person alive. Just kill him."

Fang Zhenghua's expression changed slightly when he heard this, and he advised:

"My Lord, I dare to say this: this man cannot be killed!"

"If we kill him, Zhou Yanru will definitely notice something is wrong, and it might then pose a threat to the Crown Prince's plan."

"Why not give him a light punishment, and then threaten his nine clans to make him the prince's man? Wouldn't that be better?"

Zhu Cilang understood Fang Zhenghua's intention, and through coercion and inducement, he turned Zhou Yanru's servant into his own man, and then used him to spread false news, creating the illusion that everything was fine in the palace, in order to eliminate Zhou Yanru's doubts.

However, this is simply not feasible!

Because Zhou Yanru was not the only one who had arranged an insider in the palace. If other people also noticed something was wrong, would they have to be bribed one by one?
This is obviously too much trouble.

Then Zhu Cilang shook his head and said:

"I have my own opinion on this matter, so you don't need to worry too much."

"Also, if you find this kind of situation again in the future, just kill them directly. There's no need to report it."

After hearing this, Fang Zhenghua stopped trying to persuade him, because he believed that the prince would have his own way.

"Slave, please leave!"

After bowing, Fang Zhenghua left.

After Fang Zhenghua left, Zhu Cilang glanced at the moon hanging high in the night sky, and a porcelain bottle suddenly appeared in his hand.

"Father, it's time to take the medicine!"

Zhu Cilang murmured.

After a moment, he said to Ma Bao beside him:
"Go to the palace!"

Immediately, Zhu Cilang led a group of people to the palace.

At the same time, Zhou Mansion.

Zhou Yanru was sitting in the study with a frown on his face, looking anxious and restless.

Because the servant he sent out to contact the insiders in the palace had not returned since he left in the afternoon.

Zhou Yanru sent a few more people to look for it, but found nothing!
You know, this has never happened before!
Zhou Yanru's intuition told him that something must have happened!
But Zhou Yanru was not sure what went wrong?

Did Chongzhen discover that he had planted an accomplice?

Or did something unexpected happen in the palace, preventing the insider from delivering the message?

But no matter which one, it is not a good thing for Zhou Yanru.

Because once this kind of thing is exposed, it will be a crime of confiscation of property and extermination of the clan!
(End of this chapter)