Zhao Ruosu changed from a minister of the Secretariat to a small minister of the Juanhou Mansion. This was an extremely humble official position, especially in the Juanhou Mansion, where there were dedicated people to be responsible for all matters. An ordinary guard soldier was more useful than a servant, and of course he had a higher status.

Zhao Ruosu had nothing to do, and sat alone in the hut every day, and did not get summoned by the emperor for several days.

Han Ruzi's anger had long since disappeared, and was replaced by a kind of vigilance. He chose Zhao Ruosu in hope of getting guidance and being able to deal with ministers better. Unexpectedly, after a few words, Zhao Ruosu began to defend the ministers, saying that the emperor had arrested the court too tightly.

Han Ruzi was particularly disgusted with this behavior in the name of elevating and acting in a pretext, not only because he was the emperor, but also because of his unbearable puppet career.

Moreover, the performance of the ministers in the court did not allow the emperor to let go. Most of them were still in the period of Emperor Wu and were indeed loyal to the Great Chu, but they were wise and kept their own self-righteous and did not even stand out, giving the emperor the illusion that they were not challenged. However, such a group of people could not cope with the many crises of Great Chu.

Xiao Sheng, who committed suicide by jumping into the river in Jincheng, once touched Han Ruzi very much, but what he needed most now was not such a person.

That afternoon, the emperor summoned the Linzi Commander Lai Bingwen in the back garden of Juanhou’s mansion.

Although Lai Bingwen was a civil servant, he was extremely majestic. Compared with Fan Chushan, he was just as vague as he was, and he did not have the calmness of a military general.

After the tea was finished, Han Ruzi said: "The East China Sea dock is building ships, and it is expected that it will be successful in three years. During this period, pirates may attack, and it is difficult for the imperial court to send large troops to guard the dock. If General Lai guards the dock, how many soldiers are needed? What are the solutions to deal with it?"

Lai Bingwen stood up and knew in his heart that he had no chance with the general. He replied respectfully: "Five thousand is enough. If you can get assistance from the rear in time, three thousand is enough. The city should not be defending the city with many people, but with the equipment. If the equipment is sufficient and used properly, it will be no problem to stick to it for several months."

Han Ruzi was also trapped in the city and was quite interested in defending the city. He talked a lot with Lai Bingwen. When the summons were over, he had already made a decision in his heart that this person could be the dock guard.

As Lai Bingwen's identity, it is a great honor to be able to receive the emperor's separate summons, but he was still unwilling to give in. When he was about to say goodbye, he couldn't help saying, "Your Majesty must have heard of it when he was about to say goodbye in his early years."

"Yes." Han Ruzi really wanted to ask who Lai Bingwen seduced back then, but he was the emperor, and he could only hide his curiosity in his heart and could not be revealed.

Lai Bingwen seemed to be unfair and quickly calmed down, "If you choose a general with virtue, then there will be no general in the world."

Han Ruzi said: "Do you think that because of your unvirtuous behavior in your early years, you can't become a pirate general?"

Lai Bingwen nodded. He had participated in the gathering of Juanhou's mansion several times. He was not as awe of the emperor as he did when he first met, and dared to express his true thoughts.

"Let's not talk about the matter of piracy. The Huns are the real big trouble. I want to send ministers to the Huns, so General Lai is willing to go."

Although Lai Bingwen didn't understand how the topic turned to the Xiongnu, he bowed and replied, "I'm willing to go."

"This is not a few months, but three years, five years, or even longer. I need to stay by the side of the Great Shanyu and always pay attention to the changes over there. Can you do it?"

Lai Bingwen was stunned and seemed reluctant to answer again, "As long as your Majesty feels it is necessary, I will..."

Such an answer is no different from rejection. Han Ruzi laughed, "General Lai is a family lover, it's okay. It's just that pirates are not a temporary battle. The pirates suddenly merge and disperse, and there is not even a big leader. In my plan, three years of shipbuilding can be accomplished and pirates will not be allowed to approach the shore for five years. It will take ten years before the pirates will be extinct. During this period, the navy needs to raft on the sea all year round, and ordinary soldiers can still be rotated, but generals are difficult to land. Please think about it carefully."

Lai Bingwen's face turned red, he knelt down and kowtowed, leaving embarrassedly.

It was relatively simple to treat the other general Di Kai. The emperor summoned him and encouraged him to leave the mansion. This person could be a supplementary general and could not be a general who could stand alone. He himself knew that he was very satisfied with the emperor's appreciation and had no more requirements.

Only one Yan Pengshi was left. Han Ruzi had not made a decision for a long time. He had sent someone to send a letter to Jing Yao of the Donghai Kingdom, asking him to secretly investigate the truth of his military merits. Before that, he still gave him courtesy.

Cui Teng particularly praised this young general. He said good things about him whenever he had the chance, and Han Ruzi often smiled without answering.

That evening, when Han Ruzi was having a meal, he found something strange. The table was filled with medicine. Many dishes were obviously mixed with medicinal materials. He called He Yi, the old eunuch in charge of the Hou Mansion, and asked, "What is this?"

"Report to Your Majesty, this is a medicinal meal specially prepared for Your Majesty." He Yi's life was originally quite comfortable. Since the emperor lived in the mansion, he had not dared to drink for a long time, and his expression was a little dazed.

"I am not sick, why should I take medicinal food? Whose will?"

He Yi was stunned, "Uh... it was in the palace... it was specially done by the queen. I thought Your Majesty had known it for a long time."

Speaking of the queen, Han Ruzi's expression was much more relaxed, but she was still puzzled, "Call the chef, I want to ask clearly."

The chef came, not one, but two, very frightened. As soon as he came in, he knelt on the ground. Seeing one of them’s clothes, Han Ruzi was stunned, “Are you an imperial physician? I am not sick and have not been summoned. What are you here to do?”

The imperial physician did not dare to look up and said tremblingly: "Yes, the queen ordered the queen to come here to supervise the production of medicinal food. I don't know... I don't know..."

"What disease does medicinal food cure?" The weather has become colder recently. Han Ruzi thought it was a medicinal food to prevent wind and cold, but seeing that the medicinal materials in the dishes had a few strange and unrecognizable things, I became more and more confused.

The imperial physician was also confused because he thought the emperor had already known it, so he looked up and lowered his head before he could see it clearly.

"Answer my question." Han Ruzi became stern. It would be fine if someone like Zhao Ruosu and Lai Bingwen were rude in front of the emperor. A little imperial physician was not qualified to remain silent.

The imperial physician kowtowed and replied in a low voice: "This medicine is used to treat children's absence. Your Majesty, the Queen and all the concubines take this medicine..."

Han Ruzi was both angry and funny. He picked up something on the plate with chopsticks. After looking at it for a while, he wanted to ask what it was. He thought about it and forgot it, and waved his hand and said, "Get out."

Han Ruzi ate this dinner carefully and only picked some dishes he knew.

The one who served the bed that night was Concubine Shu Deng Yun. Among the dozen concubines, she was the only one who dared to say anything in front of the emperor. "The taste of medicinal food is so bad. I heard that there is a difference between men and women. I don't know how the medicinal food tastes?"

"It's just as bad, how could the queen suddenly come up with such an idea?"

"Your Majesty, don't blame the Queen, actually this is my idea. It's been several months since the sisters were not pregnant, so I suggested to the Queen Mother that it should be a doctor to take a look. The Queen Mother thought there was no need to worry, so I suggested to prepare some medicinal meals. I heard of several prescriptions when I was in Jincheng, which worked very well..."

"Is this the prescription you prescribe?"

Deng Yun smiled and said, "Of course not. It was prescribed by the imperial physician. The empress dowager couldn't trust me."

"So this is your suggestion, the Queen Mother's decision, but let the Queen pass the imperial edict?"

"This kind of thing can only be passed on by the queen."

Empress Dowager Cining and the Queen thought that the other party had notified the emperor, but the general manager He Yi did not ask in detail, but the result was a deviation.

The emperor had no children yet, which has become a heart-wrenching problem for many people. Han Ruzi was not in a hurry, and did not like interference from the palace, and did not stay overnight. She put on her clothes again and said to Shufei: "Since it is your idea, I will tell the Empress Dowager and the Queen tomorrow that I don't like medicinal food. From now on, I have not received my order, so I will not be allowed to change the meal at will."

"But your Majesty..."

Han Ruzi turned around and left the house. The eunuch who was guarding the outside was surprised and did not dare to ask more questions. He immediately followed and sent the emperor to the study.

Those who do not understand the emperor are not only ministers in the court, but also many people in the palace. They do not seem to understand that the disaster is coming. If they cannot react in time, the Great Chu will perish and the court and the palace will be the first to be affected.

The study was a little cold, and the eunuchs were busy getting charcoal basins. Han Ruzi sat behind the desk and wanted to talk to Meng E, but Meng E was not there. There were many rumors about assassins recently. She wanted to take turns with other guards, and she could not stay by the emperor's side unless necessary.

Han Ruzi read the book for a while and ordered someone to call the eunuch He Yi.

He Yi was already lying down. When he heard the summons, he immediately got up, put on a coat and came.

He Yi was already very old. When he followed the emperor and left the palace, he had the ability to follow the dragon, but his requirements were never high. He had enough food, drink, clothing and housing. His only hobby was to drink. If he drank too much, he would be confused and he would be even more confused if he didn't drink.

Han Ruzi hesitated for many days and decided to make the matter clear. He really shouldn't be too indulgent to the people around him, "He Yi."

"I'm here."

"What benefits did Nanzhijin give you?"

He Yi was shocked and knelt down, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

"I don't blame you, nor will I pursue Nanzhijin. I just want to know the truth." Han Ruzi said calmly. Nanzhijin had previously sent messages to the Secretariat, and it was obvious that he had received help in the mansion. It was simple to investigate the matter. The guards were very responsible and recorded every person who visited Nanzhijin. Cai Xinghai recorded every person entering and leaving the mansion. Compared with the two, the old eunuch He Yi was immediately found.

"I... Lao Nu has nothing... It's just a drink. Nan Zhijin heard that Lao Nu loves wine from somewhere. He claimed that a friend wanted to give him two jars of good wine that had been collected for many years. The friend was about to leave Beijing and he couldn't get it, so he asked me to help and promised to share a jar of me. He said the jar of wine so much that the old Nu couldn't help it, so he went there and passed him... a note..."

Han Ruzi sighed lightly, the Secretariat of the Central Secretariat knew the emperor best, and even the people around the emperor had to find out clearly.

He Yi is too confused and it is useless to punish him. Han Ruzi said, "He Yi, you are old, don't worry about other things. Go to the back garden to take care of chickens and ducks. You have wine and meat every day to ensure you have fun."

He Yi kowtowed and was helped out of the study by two eunuchs.

Han Ruzi sat for a while and sent someone to spread Zhao Ruosu.

Zhao Ruosu had not yet slept, and came soon, saluting respectfully, neither showing closeness nor panic.

"Don't mention the affairs of the people around me." Han Ruzi had to set rules, "Don't mention them within at least three years."

"Yes, your Majesty."

"I ask you, what's going on with the Wu family?"

The emperor issued an order to remove the marquis of the Wu brothers, but the government actually sent people to surround the Wu family and were not allowed to enter and exit at will. Han Ruzi had already asked the police to withdraw through Jin Chunzhong, but he didn't understand how his imperial edict would have become like this.

The original idea was proposed by Zhao Ruosu, and he had the obligation to explain it.

Zhao Ruosu had heard of this and stepped forward and said, "Because there are two emperors in the court."

Once he abandoned his identity as the Secretariat, Zhao Ruosu was no longer able to speak.

...
Chapter completed!