I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

"How's the selection of personnel for the Eastern Depot going?"

"Your Majesty," this servant has carefully selected over three hundred skilled individuals, all of whom are exceptionally capable and loyal.

"very good."

Zhu Houcong nodded slightly and tapped the table lightly with his fingers.

"I have heard that the Duke of Qing has been seizing farmland, oppressing the people, and bribing officials in Binzhou."

"You will personally lead a team to secretly investigate this matter."

Duke of Qing?

That's a powerful figure in the court!

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhichun trembled and cautiously looked up.

"Your Majesty, what if... what if this matter is found to be unfounded?"

Zhu Houcong's gaze turned cold, and the temperature in the hall seemed to drop suddenly. He slowly got up and walked to Cao Zhichun's side.

"The Eastern Depot is my henchman, but I want you to be a hawk, not a dog."

He then kicked Cao Zhichun to the ground.

"If you ask such a stupid question again, you can ignore the Eastern Depot and get out!"

Chapter 9 This is a Buddhist temple... inappropriate.

Cao Zhichun dared not linger for a moment and quickly withdrew from the hall.

Only after he had walked several dozen steps away from the Hall of Mental Cultivation did he dare to raise his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

The deeper meaning behind His Majesty's words is clearly to confirm the Duke of Qing's guilt!

At the same time, the outcome of this mission will directly affect whether he can continue to lead the Eastern Depot.

Thinking of this, a fierce glint flashed in Cao Zhichun's eyes.

Since His Majesty says that the Duke of Qing is guilty, then he must be guilty.

You have to have it even if you don’t have it!

After thinking it through, Cao Zhichun took the Eastern Depot agents he had carefully selected and headed to Binzhou.

Zhu Houcong stood with his hands behind his back in front of the window of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a deep calculation flashing in his eyes.

He had already decided to attribute all the credit for investigating the case of the Duke of Qing to the Third Prince, Xiao Jingting.

With Prince Yu, Xiao Jinghuan, losing this capable assistant, the political landscape of the court will inevitably be reshuffled.

However, with the help of Empress Yan and the remnants of the Hua tribe, this blow will not have a significant impact.

The key now is to ensure that this credit does not fall into the hands of the Crown Prince or Prince Jing.

Consort Yue is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor, and Crown Prince Xiao Jingxuan has the assistance of a shrewd and calculating man like Xie Yu. If he were to gain further support, he might become too powerful to control.

As for Prince Jing, although he seems to be outnumbered and weak, he has the unpredictable Mei Changsu behind him.

Even if Mei Changsu miscalculates this time and fails to gain merit for Prince Jing, there will be another chance until Prince Jing gains power.

Therefore, Zhu Houcong only had four words in his mind regarding Prince Jing, Xiao Jingyan.

Have to prevent!

Zhu Houcong gently stroked the windowsill with both hands, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

Only Xiao Jingting, this lame prince who has been detached from power for many years, has neither the support of his maternal relatives nor the patronage of his court officials, making him seem like a blank sheet of paper.

Giving him credit would neither disrupt the balance of power in the court nor prevent him from feeling grateful.

It might become a good knife in the future.

Zhu Houcong's lips curled up; he understood the thoughts of these princes all too well.

Even if Xiao Jingting is behaving himself at the moment, his ambition will grow uncontrollably if he is provoked even slightly.

Throughout history, if we were to discuss which sentence could ignite a prince's ambition, it would undoubtedly be:

"The Crown Prince is often ill; you must encourage him!"

Zhu Houcong stood by the window with his hands behind his back and spoke casually.

"Yan Song, go and find out where Consort Hui is now."

Upon hearing this, Yan Song immediately bowed in agreement and turned to whisper to the eunuch beside him to find out what was going on.

Before long, the young eunuch hurried back and whispered the news in his ear.

A knowing glint flashed in Yan Song's eyes. He quickly returned to Zhu Houcong's side and whispered:

"Your Majesty, today Consort Hui was punished by the Empress to copy scriptures in the Buddhist hall of the West Garden, and she has been doing so for an hour."

Zhu Houcong's eyes flickered slightly, and the corners of his lips curved into a faint smile.

He then turned around and strode out of the hall.

"Put your carriage at the Buddhist Hall in the West Garden."

Yan Song dared not be negligent and quickly signaled the ceremonial guards to follow, while he himself followed closely behind the emperor.

After passing through several corridors, one could hear low, intermittent sobs coming from inside the Buddhist hall.

It was as if she was trying her best to suppress her feelings, but she couldn't stop feeling wronged.

Zhu Houcong then raised his hand to signal Yan Song and the others to stop, and stepped forward alone to push open the door of the Buddhist hall.

Inside the Buddhist hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense and the candlelight flickered softly.

Consort Hui was kneeling on a prayer mat, copying scriptures with a pen in hand. Drops of clear tears silently slid down her cheeks, soaking the pages.

Suddenly, the palace doors opened, and a figure stepped inside.

Consort Hui quickly raised her eyes.

Upon seeing that it was Emperor Liang, she hurriedly put down her pen, stood up, took a few steps forward, and gracefully bowed, her voice still tinged with a sob.

"I see you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Houcong looked closely and saw that although Consort Hui was not as radiant as Consort Yue, she had a different kind of elegant and refined beauty.

If Consort Yue is a peony in full bloom, dazzling and alluring, then Consort Hui is an orchid in a secluded valley, serene and graceful.

She wore no heavy makeup today, only a simple hairpin to tie her hair up, and a light blue palace dress made her skin look as white as snow and her lips as red as cinnabar.

At this moment, her eyes were lowered, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she was as pitiful as a pear blossom in the rain.

If Consort Yue gets nine points out of ten, then Consort Hui would get eight and a half points.

Even her skin and figure are extremely well-maintained, no less so than those of Consort Yue.

Zhu Houcong was momentarily stunned by what he saw.

He cursed Emperor Liang in his heart for not recognizing the value of goods.

Such a stunning beauty was rarely seen even in the imperial harem.

His heart was only for that vixen, Consort Yue.

So much so that even the details of Consort Hui's appearance became blurred, and I almost missed her.

Zhu Houcong's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He stepped forward and personally helped Consort Hui up.

He gently lifted his fingertips and slowly wiped away the tear stains on her face with his thumb.

His movements were surprisingly gentle.

"How did it get like this?"

His voice was low, but there was a hint of pity in his tone.

Upon hearing this, Consort Hui felt a lump in her throat, and the grievances she had been holding back suddenly burst forth, tears falling like pearls from a broken string.

She bit her lip, trying to stop her tears, but she couldn't control them.

He could only lower his head, his shoulders trembling slightly, like a frightened white rabbit.

Seeing her like this, Zhu Houcong felt a sudden tenderness in his heart. He found her tearful appearance even more endearing than when she feigned composure in the past.

He sighed softly, then pulled her into his arms and whispered:

"Alright, alright, I'm right here, why are you still crying?"

Consort Hui froze when Zhu Houcong suddenly embraced her.

She then leaned softly against his chest, her sobs gradually subsiding, but she still couldn't stop the occasional slight trembling.

After a long while, Consort Hui raised her tearful eyes, her voice still choked with sobs.

"Your Majesty, what brings you to visit me today?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houcong gently stroked the corner of her slightly reddened eyes with his fingertips and chuckled softly.

"What? Can't I come?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not, but..."

Consort Hui hurriedly shook her head.

"Just what?"

Zhu Houcong pressed on with great interest, his fingers unconsciously playing with a strand of her hair that had fallen down.

Consort Hui bit her lower lip, her voice barely audible.

"But I believe Your Majesty has long forgotten me."

These words were like a small hook, gently scratching at Zhu Houcong's heart.

"Hehe, people have a common problem: they all like the new and dislike the old. Little do they know that old clothes are more comfortable to wear, and old people are more comforting to use."

As Zhu Houcong spoke, he looked at Consort Hui in his arms.

Are you a considerate person?

As soon as I finished speaking, another piece of information appeared in my mind.

[Recite Jiajing's classic quotes reasonably, play the role of Jiajing +1, reward: Medicine King's Golden Elixir]

Zhu Houcong was taken aback, but his smile widened.

"Your Majesty is naturally very close to me, but since giving birth to Jingting, Your Majesty has rarely paid attention to me."

Consort Hui said with a pitiful expression.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houcong suddenly felt a tightness in his throat and scooped up Consort Hui in his arms.

"Don't worry, I won't do it again."

Consort Hui gasped in surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck, her face flushing red.

"Your Majesty, this...this is a Buddhist hall..."

Chapter 10 It's time to confer a title upon Jingting.

[The Golden Elixir of the Medicine King: An elixir refined by Sun Simiao, the Medicine King after he became an immortal. It can cure all diseases, whether it is a common bruise or a terminal illness. Taking this elixir will restore one to full health in an instant.]

As Zhu Houcong read the introduction to the Medicine King's Golden Elixir, he couldn't help but exclaim inwardly.

Well done!

He felt a surge of excitement and wished he could immediately take out the Medicine King's Golden Elixir and kiss it several times.

I'm really sleepy and I give you a pillow.

With this thing, Xiao Jingting's limp could be cured.

Thinking of this, Zhu Houcong smiled slightly, raised his eyelids, and looked at Consort Hui, who was working as diligently as a bee.

It has to be said that the more serene a woman appears, the more wild she may be on the other side.