Red Mansion Rebirth: Ghost Phoenix

"Xia Shouzhong!" Emperor Chongzhao chuckled and put the drink back on the table, "The only thing I am dissatisfied with Old Xia is that he is a bit extreme.

“But he has served the imperial concubine for three years and has become much more mature.

"Since he came back to my side, I have not used him much, and he has never complained. Instead, he has tried his best to help his colleagues and do things for them.

"In this regard, your master has never been better than him."

Chang Ying hesitated for a moment, then lifted his robe and knelt down: "My master may have some problems, but his loyalty to Your Majesty is beyond doubt.

"Besides, Master has only known how to serve Your Majesty since he was young. Now you have sent him to repair the imperial mausoleum. I am afraid that for him..."

At this point, Chang Ying took off his hat, put his hands on the ground, and kowtowed, "I am worried that Master is overthinking, and will, will not be able to let go..."

Emperor Chongzhao shook his head and smiled: "You also said that he has served me since he was young, and I know him better than you.

“He’s not the kind of person who would think too much.

"Besides, I am not as cold and heartless as you think—"

Chang Ying's shoulders trembled slightly, and he reacted instantly, and kowtowed again: "I understand! I was too concerned and confused, and I thought too much!

"I deserve to die. How could I make Your Majesty sad?! Please punish me, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Chongzhao chuckled and raised his hand: "Alright, get up. I know very well that you are a filial and loyal child.

"Qing Hai is only your master in name only. He actually didn't teach you anything. He just saw that I liked you, so he wanted to take advantage of your seniority.

"You even want to take care of him, so you are naturally more loyal to me.

"You can stay with me for a few days, and then go back to look after Brother Tao.

"This is my most cherished child, and the future of the Great Yong Dynasty. I will leave him to you, and you must take good care of him for me.

"Remember?!"

Chang Ying didn't even stand up. After listening to the emperor's words, he kowtowed to the ground three times in excitement:

"Your Majesty trusts and relies on me so much, it is a great blessing for me!

"I swear, as long as the young master needs me, my life, no no no, everything I have, anytime and anywhere, I will offer it with both hands!"

Emperor Chongzhao smiled and asked him to stand up: "I remember you went to the Imperial Concubine several times before, and the Imperial Concubine treated you well.

"I finally have some free time. I'm going to see if there is any errand to Yinyu Palace. I'm going to meet the imperial concubine in the next few days."

Chang Ying stood up, paused, bowed and said yes, thought for a moment, and then said carefully: "Slave, I actually miss the princess more...

"I wonder if the princess has any plans to enter the palace in the next few days?"

Emperor Chongzhao nodded with a smile, "Yes! Five days later, Yongning will send her little Erlang to the palace to be Tao Ge'er's study companion.

"I also plan to let you go back on that day.

“I guess Yongning will bring Heke and Princess Zhai back to the palace by then.

"When the time comes, take Brother Tao with you to Yinyu Palace to meet them all."

Changying bowed and agreed.

As he was speaking, the palace door opened, and Xia Shouzhong walked in quickly and stopped at the bottom of the steps: "The Nan Mansion has decided to hold the funeral the day after tomorrow.

“Prince Xiaonan invited the imperial physician over today and instructed that even if ginseng is to be used, he must stand up on that day.

"The Imperial Hospital is unsure of the prescription, so they sent someone back to the palace to ask."

Emperor Chongzhao waved his hand nonchalantly: "I love my son so he can do whatever he wants.

"How are the women in their family? And the child?"

Xia Shouzhong bowed his head and crossed his arms, saying: "The concubine is still ill, and her condition has worsened in the past few days. She eats less and moves less.

"After the princess cut her hair, she tied it into a Taoist bun. Now she has turned her bedroom into a place for practice. She recites scriptures and chants mantras every day, with the air filled with incense.

"The Crown Prince's Consort is still the same as before, taking care of household chores while raising the children -

"Oh, the child's biological mother heard that the child might be registered under the name of the Crown Prince's Consort, so she left a suicide note three days later, saying that she wanted to be buried with the Crown Prince, and then committed suicide."

Emperor Chongzhao was stunned: "When did it happen?"

"Half a month ago." Xia Shouzhong bowed his head and said, "Lord Wang from the Ministry of Rites said that this is a small matter, and we can report it to His Majesty when he asks about it.

"The case of Wangxiantai has been making a fuss for a few days, so I pressed the button."

After a pause, he said, "Eunuch Qing didn't know this before, so please don't blame him, Your Majesty."

Emperor Chongzhao looked at Xia Shouzhong deeply.

This matter must have been widely spread outside the palace. But Xia Shouzhong didn't want Qinghai to know the news, but Qinghai didn't know it.

I don't know whether Xia Shouzhong is too good at employing people and is too capable, or Qinghai is too careless and incompetent.

However, for such a big matter, Xia Shouzhong actually listened to Wang Zifu instead of rushing to report it. It can be seen that he was right not to use this guy before.

"Eunuch Xia, you have good means and good ideas, and you love to make decisions for me!" Emperor Chongzhao held his chin, leaned his elbows on the table, and looked at Xia Shouzhong with a smile.

Xia Shouzhong was silent for a moment, then knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, foreign affairs are complicated, and the government has at least several hundred memorials a day.

"I withheld the news, and I deserve death.

"But if Your Majesty does everything by yourself, I am worried about your health!"

Emperor Chongzhao sneered, "That's enough! You are just talking nonsense.

"Forget about this matter. From now on, I must be informed of such matters immediately!"

Xia Shouzhong kowtowed again and looked down at the ground: "Yes! I obey your order."

Waving his hand, he asked him to go down and pass on the imperial edict. After he left, Emperor Chongzhao turned to Changying and sighed, "Did you see that? He likes to make decisions for me even more than your master does!"

Chang Ying laughed: "No one is perfect."

After a pause, he smiled and asked, "I heard that Chen Duo, the Earl of the Imperial Household, is very much to your majesty's liking.

"Otherwise, you can transfer him over?"

"Chen Duo wants to do great things." Emperor Chong Zhao immediately shook his head. "He is just serving me in daily life, but he is the most suitable person to handle the cases in the inner temple, neither wrongly killing nor leniently.

"It doesn't matter if I am wronged. As long as the person is honest and loyal, I can slowly teach him a lesson.

“But if a fool like your master were to leave the inner temple, the number of unjust, false and wrong cases in the court would increase dozens of times.

"That would really make me anxious to death and really screw me over."

Chang Ying opened his eyes wide in surprise: "Your Majesty thinks so highly of Chen Duo? I see that he always has a stern face and looks like someone owes him money, and I thought it was because Your Majesty didn't value him!

"Is it possible that he is being arrogant?"

Emperor Chongzhao laughed out loud: "You mischievous ghost!"

“Actually, Fugui’er is not bad either.” Chang Ying looked back at the sweaty tree stump standing behind the pillar, smiling, “The Imperial Concubine knows how to take care of people.

“Fuguier is clever, eager to learn, and quick to learn.

"It's just that he has no control over his mouth. A few slaps on the face will be more effective than anyone else!"

Emperor Chongzhao looked at Fuguier and raised his hand: "Okay, then you take care of him for the next few days!"