After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

"Your humble servant, Huang Zhongcai, Commander-in-Chief of the Plain Yellow Banner Han Army, kowtows to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace!"

I did not go to the main hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Huang Zhongcai was led to the Emperor's bedroom behind the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

When we got to the door.

They saw a full eighteen heavily armored imperial guards standing watch.

After Huang Zhongcai surrendered his waist knife, a guard noticed that there were bloodstains and charcoal on his armor, and his feet were also covered in blood from walking all the way.

The Manchu guard frowned and said:

"Lord Huang, His Majesty cannot stand the smell of blood right now. Please remove your armor, clothes, and shoes and go over there to wash before you come to pay your respects, so as not to offend His Majesty."

Huang Zhongcai naturally obeyed.

There was no hot water available, so a servant gave him a set of clothes and a pair of shoes and socks.

He quickly washed himself with cold water, changed into clean clothes, and was then allowed to enter the palace to see the emperor.

The room was brightly lit, with charcoal burning and incense burning, so there was indeed no smell of blood.

"Please rise, Lord Huang."

The speaker was not the emperor.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Huang Zhongcai quickly stood up.

He lifted his eyelids slightly.

It was discovered that the speaker was Su Peisheng, the eunuch.

next moment.

Huang Zhongcai's expression changed, and he was instantly shocked!

The already somewhat thin emperor lay on his dragon bed, his face pale and covered with a thin blanket. A royal physician knelt carefully before the bed and took the emperor's pulse.

Eunuch Su stood to the left of the dragon bed, with Grand Councilor and Minister of War Ortai standing beside him.

To the right of the dragon throne.

There was an exquisite wheelchair, and sitting in it was a woman with a calm expression.

Behind the wheelchair, a maid with her hair in a bun was pushing it. A blue ribbon was tied around the maid's bun.

"Who is this woman?"

Huang Zhongcai felt as if a mountain was crashing and a tsunami was raging in his heart.

"How did Your Majesty get injured? Did the bandits break in? And they hurt Your Majesty?!"

"Where did they attack from?! Dong'an Gate?! Di'an Gate?! Where is the Infantry Commander's Office?! How is this possible?!"

A variety of questions fermented in his mind.

However, inquiring about the emperor's health was a major taboo, and since he was a Han Chinese and his relationship with the emperor was distant, he naturally dared not even ask.

He simply hung his head, pale-faced, waiting for the emperor to ask questions.

On the dragon bed.

Emperor Yongzheng's face was deathly pale. His head was resting on a jade pillow. He turned to look at the Han Chinese commander of the Plain Yellow Banner who was standing with his back bent. He gave a weak smile.

The wound is located on the right side of the chest and is not deep.

But this did aggravate some of his injuries, causing him to frown.

He sighed very softly and slowly, almost word by word:

"Huang...Huang Zhongcai...How is it outside...?"

Thump! Even though Su Peisheng had just made him stand up, Huang Zhongcai immediately knelt down again to tell the Emperor that His Majesty's might still be present.

"Your Majesty, I report... Your Majesty is blessed with boundless fortune. This mere group of treacherous villains has been completely wiped out by my soldiers and I... Your Majesty, please rest assured..."

Then, Huang Zhongcai accurately reported the number of bandits, their location, and the approximate time for eliminating them, so that the emperor would have a clear understanding of the situation.

Yongzheng glanced at him with slightly dazed eyes and smiled:

"You have always been loyal and capable, and it has not been in vain that I kept you in the capital."

"To have gained the Emperor's trust, this servant kowtows in gratitude!" Huang Zhongcai squeezed out tears and bowed.

Yongzheng didn't take it to heart, and the others in the palace remained silent. The emperor on the dragon bed said:

"What is your relationship with your Qi Niu Kulu Yinsong'a?"

"Yin Song'a?" Huang Zhongcai was stunned for a moment before he remembered... Niu Kulu Yin Song'a... the Fourth Prince's uncle... who had recently been promoted to deputy commander of the Plain Yellow Banner.

He composed himself and said:

"Your Majesty, I have only known the Yin brothers for a short time and we do not know each other well. However, I have long heard that the Yin brothers are loyal to their duties, humble and sincere, skilled in archery and horsemanship, and exceptionally brave. I have always admired them."

His relationship with Yin Song'a was so-so, but the emperor asked in this way, and he didn't know whether it was a blessing or a curse. He could only say that the two were not familiar with each other, but the other party was the fourth prince's uncle. At the same time, he flattered the other party a few times, just in case.

The emperor on his dragon throne remained noncommittal.

At this time.

A series of footsteps sounded outside; someone was requesting an audience.

Ortai, as a Grand Councilor, hurriedly went out and met with the messenger first.

Not long after.

Ortai then returned and bowed to report:

"Your Majesty,"

His tone was slightly heavy.

"Niu Kulu Yinsong'a... was discovered by the people we sent... has... has hanged himself..."

"Huh? Dead?!" Huang Zhongcai felt a chill run down his spine and was shocked!

Yin Song'a is dead? How could he suddenly die?!

The sudden shock was like a tsunami crashing down on his mind.

But what chilled Huang Zhongcai even more than the death of Yin Song'a was the reactions and expressions of the other people in the palace.

Ortai's expression was stern. Su Peisheng lowered his head slightly. The woman in the wheelchair, however, remained calm.

The dignified Deputy Commander of the Plain Yellow Banner died, but the Emperor on his throne said little, only remarking:

"Okay, I understand."

His tone was frighteningly flat.

Immediately, Yongzheng stopped talking about Yin Song'a and ordered Huang Zhongcai to get up.

After kowtowing again to express his gratitude, Huang Zhongcai stood up stiffly.

Yongzheng laughed and said:

"Nothing happened at Dong'an Gate tonight, and all the thieves were killed. Thank you for your help, Minister Huang."

Huang Zhongcai said, "It is my duty, Your Majesty. You are too kind to me."

Yongzheng waved his hand and smiled:

"Go. After you leave, they will give you a task; go and complete it for me."

"Yes, sir!" Huang Zhongcai quickly replied.

It was at this moment.

Another person came to report.

This time, perhaps because it wasn't a guard who went to gather information, but a eunuch, the middle-aged eunuch was allowed to enter directly.

"Your Majesty, the coffin of the Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu, along with all the princes, princesses, and ministers, are all safe and sound at Changchun Garden."

The middle-aged eunuch kowtowed.

Yongzheng calmly asked, "Where is Hongli? Where is he? Has he gone to see anyone?"

The middle-aged eunuch said, "Your Majesty, no. The Fourth Prince has been staying by the coffin of the Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu, dressed in his official robes, with the Eighth Prince and the Seventeenth Princess. He hasn't left all night."

"Especially after hearing the commotion here, the Fourth Prince first asked the Emperor about the situation. After learning that the Emperor had made arrangements in advance, the Fourth Prince was relieved and sent more people to guard the main hall where the Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu lay in state, with a sword in hand, to prevent any thieves from daring to harass the Imperial Noble Consort."

Su Peisheng immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince is extremely filial and would never do anything unwise..."

Emperor Yongzheng, lying on the jade pillow, turned his head back to the side. His face was still pale. After opening his eyes for a while, he hummed in agreement but did not say anything more.

Although Huang Zhongcai only heard a few words, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar and dared not stay there for even a moment longer.

He glanced at Ortai, the Minister of War.

Ortai nodded slightly, indicating that he could leave, and Huang Zhongcai felt as if he had been granted a pardon.

She knelt down and kowtowed to the emperor, not daring to disturb him, then got up on her own and slowly retreated from the palace.

He had just turned around and left the palace.

Then a palace attendant hurried over.

Huang Zhongcai quickly dodged.

As soon as the eunuch stepped into the bedchamber, he began to shout to the emperor.

Although Huang Zhongcai had already come out, he still heard the eunuch's voice.

"Your Majesty...this servant reports...we've found...we've found Ning Baixuan!..."