The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun.

Liu Jin said, "Your Majesty, the people from the palace also brought a message from the Empress Dowager."

"What?"

"The Empress Dowager... The Empress Dowager said that building palaces and mansions in military camps was a practice that existed during the late Emperor's reign. The late Emperor also frequently mobilized military camps to build palaces. The Empress Dowager... The Empress Dowager also said that His Majesty is still young and has just ascended the throne. He is not familiar with many things and is not yet old enough to rule in his own right. Therefore, some matters will be handled by the Empress Dowager on his behalf. For example, the matter of mobilizing military camps to build palaces and mansions will be carried out according to the practice of the late Emperor..."

boom!

Zhu Houzhao grabbed a teacup from the table and smashed it, startling Liu Jin.

At this moment, Zhu Houzhao's face revealed a ferocious expression.

Upon seeing his appearance, Liu Jin immediately knelt down and dared not utter a single word.

Although Zhu Houzhao was young, even a few years younger than Jiang Ning, he was very shrewd and would not normally lose his composure like this. But the fact that he showed such a ferocious expression at this moment shows the extent of his anger.

Liu Jin kept his head down, not daring to look at Zhu Houzhao.

After a while.

"I understand."

Zhu Houzhao said softly.

Liu Jin couldn't help but look up at Zhu Houzhao, whose face had now returned to calm.

"Daban, go and tell Brother Jiang that I have something to attend to and will be back shortly."

"Yes."

Liu Jin got up and carefully left, leaving Zhu Houzhao alone in the room.

Zhu Houzhao sat for a while before getting up and leaving.

……

"Master Jiang, please wait a moment. His Majesty has some urgent state affairs to attend to and will be back shortly."

Liu Jin had just finished speaking to Jiang Ning when Zhu Houzhao returned.

"Brother Jiang, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Zhu Houzhao sat down opposite Jiang Ning and smiled, then dismissed Liu Jin.

"It's alright, we won't have to wait long."

Jiang Ning smiled.

Zhu Houzhao laughed and said, "Actually, it's not really political affairs, just some family matters. My mother asked me to transfer the military camp to build a mansion for the Marquis of Shouning."

"The Marquis of Shouning? Building a mansion?"

"Ah."

Zhu Houzhao nodded and then recounted the matter in great detail, revealing some palace secrets and even mentioning Zhang Yanling, the Marquis of Jianchang, who was mysteriously killed the year before last.

"Ugh."

Zhu Houzhao sighed and said, "The Marquis of Shouning and the Marquis of Jianchang who was assassinated the year before last were both spoiled by my father and mother. They often sent military camps to build mansions for them. They bullied men and women, seized farmland and acted recklessly. In the past, when my father was still alive, he often wanted to punish them, but my mother stopped him, which made them even more arrogant."

Zhu Houzhao continued, "Brother Jiang, to be honest, my two uncles were already like this when my father was in power. They were protected by my mother and acted lawlessly. Even my father couldn't do anything about them."

Zhu Houzhao then began to recount a secret of the imperial palace.

"Brother Jiang, you may not know this, but a few years ago when my father was still alive, he once invited the Marquis of Shouning and the Marquis of Jianchang to a banquet in the palace. While my father was in the toilet, these two men put on my father's winged crown. They were scolded and stopped by the eunuchs, who then told my father about it. But in the end, nothing happened, and the eunuch was even beaten to death. In addition, they raped palace maids. If they treat the royal eunuchs and palace maids like this, it is hard to imagine how arrogant they are towards commoners."

"Now that my father has passed away, they have become even more ruthless, accumulating deep resentment among the people. The death of the Marquis of Jianchang two years ago shocked the court and the public. All the ministers believed that the Marquis of Jianchang was killed because of his many evil deeds. However, the Marquis of Shouning did not consider the fate of his brothers and continued to act in the same way. Now he is even instigating my mother to transfer the military camp to build some kind of mansion for him. The soldiers in the military camp are there to fight, but they treat them like craftsmen. This is why the military of our Great Ming Dynasty has fallen into disrepair!"

Zhu Houzhao spoke at length, and Jiang Ning listened quietly without saying a word.

"Has there been any result regarding the death of the Marquis of Jianchang two years ago?"

Jiang Ning suddenly asked.

Zhu Houzhao shook his head: "No, when the Marquis of Jianchang died, he was in a concubine's room. When he was found, he was already a charred corpse. It was impossible to determine whether it was an accident or murder. However, many servants died in the Marquis of Jianchang's mansion at that time, and the court used this as a basis to determine that it was murder."

After Jiang Ning killed the Marquis of Jianchang and left the capital, the capital was in an uproar over the matter. The city was turned upside down, but no one could find out who killed the Marquis of Jianchang. It remains a mystery to this day.

Jiang Ning nodded and asked, "Who do you think did it?"

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but laugh and said, "How would I know?"

Jiang Ning also laughed.

After a while.

Jiang Ning stood up.

"gone."

It was getting late, and Jiang Ning usually left around this time, so Zhu Houzhao nodded. After Jiang Ning left, Zhu Houzhao's expression became serious again.

He knew that Jiang Ning's final smile meant he had seen through his thoughts.

Chapter 554: Leaving the Capital

Jiang Ning did not come the next day.

"Your Majesty, it seems that Master Jiang will not be coming today."

Liu Jin said.

Zhu Houzhao had been waiting in this courtyard all morning.

Zhu Houzhao did not speak. After sitting for a while, he stood up, looked around the courtyard, and said.

"Let's go back to the palace."

"Yes."

Liu Jin bowed in response.

……

"Junior brother, you're back earlier today than usual."

The Chen residence.

Linghu Chong was drinking in the garden when he suddenly saw Jiang Ning return and said...

In the past, Jiang Ning would return around 3 PM, but now he was back before noon, which made Linghu Chong curious.

Nothing much happening today.

Jiang Ning sat down opposite Linghu Chong and said, "Senior Brother, we're preparing to leave the capital and return to Mount Hua tomorrow."

"Oh."

Linghu Chong nodded and took another sip of wine with relish.

Jiang Ning looked at him and said, "Senior Brother, don't get drunk."

Jiang Ning is now too lazy to talk about the health risks of drinking, as Linghu Chong doesn't care about the health risks. Jiang Ning can only remind him not to get drunk.

"Don't worry, junior brother."

Linghu Chong chuckled.

Since he was granted permission to drink alcohol, Jiang Ning hasn't been paying much attention to him lately, which makes Linghu Chong incredibly happy.

Seeing Linghu Chong's drinking addiction, Jiang Ning shook his head. After exchanging a few more words with Linghu Chong, someone walked over.

"Young Master Jiang."

The person who came was Chen Qingyuan's daughter, Chen Jin.

"Miss Chen."

Jiang Ning nodded to him. "Is there something you need?"

"Young Master Jiang, I heard there's a lantern festival on the west bank of the river tonight, and quite a few people will be going. I heard it's going to be very lively. I've been invited by the daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites to go with her, and there will be other people there as well. I was wondering if you would like to come along?"

Chen Jin looked at Jiang Ning with bright, expectant eyes.

Jiang Ning smiled and politely declined, saying, "I'm not interested in these things, so I won't go."

Chen Jin clearly showed disappointment, but could only nod and then leave.

Linghu Chong, who was watching from the side, couldn't help but sigh.

"The falling flowers are full of affection, but the flowing water is heartless."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Ning glanced at him, and Linghu Chong immediately shut up.

Linghu Chong was drinking, and Jiang Ning also picked up a book to read. It wasn't until evening that Chen Qingyuan returned from the Ministry of Revenue.

"Young Master Jiang, Young Master Linghu, the Ministry of Revenue has been very busy these past few days. Please forgive me for not taking good care of you."

Chen Qingyuan came to the garden and spoke to Jiang Ning and the other person.

“Minister Chen is busy with important matters of the court, so it is understandable that he is very busy.”

Linghu Chong said upon hearing this.

Chen Qingyuan also smiled and said, "How has Young Master Linghu been in the capital these past few days? Have you had a pleasant time?"

Linghu Chong nodded repeatedly: "Not bad, not bad."

In fact, Linghu Chong hardly ever had any fun in the capital. He basically spent every day drinking and enjoying himself immensely.

Chen Qingyuan had previously served as the prefect of Hanzhong, so he knew Linghu Chong and knew that he loved to drink. For the past few days, he had been drinking good wine non-stop, and he had really made Linghu Chong very happy.

Chen Qingyuan smiled and nodded, but his gaze couldn't help but turn to Jiang Ning beside him, his expression somewhat strange.

Chen Qingyuan hesitated for a moment before speaking, "A major event happened in the capital today. I wonder if you two have heard of it?"

Linghu Chong asked curiously, "What is it?"

He's been drinking here all day, not just today, but for the past few days. He never leaves the house, like a virgin still unmarried, so naturally he wouldn't know anything about what's happening outside.

Jiang Ning didn't speak, but shook his head to indicate that he didn't know.

Chen Qingyuan said, "The Marquis of Shouning died this morning."

"Marquis of Shouning? Who?"