Chapter 191

Zhen Ciyun's original impression in Zhang Gui's mind was extremely vague.

Even with great effort to recall, he could only vaguely remember that she had a gentle temper and a clear and beautiful appearance.

It seemed she could talk, and there were always handkerchief friends around her.

Apart from that, only the word "ordinary" remained.

Of course, this so-called "ordinary" is the "ordinary" of the level of students of the famous Ming Song Qingdou Academy, or direct descendants of famous clans in commanderies or prefectures.

But for Zhang Gui at this time, so what.

"This Zhen Ciyun feels mysterious and not simple; could it be that she has a disguise?

If so, did she have ulterior motives when she approached me back then!

But if I consider the problem in such a complicated way, I also have disguises, and more than one layer.

But when I get to know people, most of them are just following the trend without any ulterior motives.

So could it be that Zhen Ciyun really coveted my looks and temperament, so she came straight to the point with me!

If so, I have to admit that her aesthetics have something to them, which is admirable."

Zhang Gui stuffed another pancake smeared with shrimp paste into his mouth, thinking secretly in his heart.

At the same time, he asked several people while multitasking.

As a result, everyone said they didn't see him talking to the Zhen siblings, Zhen Ciyun and Zhen Bailuxue.

From this, Zhang Gui guessed that there must be something tricky about it.

Either the Zhen siblings, like Zhang Jiuqing last night, sealed the space with a treasure.

Or they used some strange skill or Divine Cong power to disturb people's minds.

And the famous family children he used to think were ordinary began to reveal their foundations.

This made him feel that the age of great contention had finally arrived, and everyone was no longer hiding things, a feeling of "all things competing for freedom in the frost."

Sensing that it might become increasingly difficult to get by in the future, Zhang Gui rinsed his mouth with strong tea and walked up to his mother, who was busy calculating accounts,

"Amu, I remembered something and have to go to Dragon Gate Berth.

And then it will be about time to go out to sea again."

Caiyang Duojie's hands shook, and she moved several abacus beads wrong.

The account she was about to finish calculating in her mind suddenly became confused.

But she didn't say much, just lowered her head and started calculating again;

while smiling, she said:

"You are now in a high position with power, and you have your own 'big things' to be busy with; if you have something to do, go.

Just remember to be very careful; when doing official business, it's fine to have the imperial court as a backer.

Be even more cautious when doing your own 'big things'."

What are Zhang Gui's own "big things" other than secretly ascending the throne and establishing a country, and being well-prepared for "rebellion"?

Although Caiyang Duojie knew this in her heart before, she had never specifically warned him.

Now that she suddenly did so, it was clear that she had also seen some signs recently and had a premonition that troubled times were coming.

A rebellious son like him would inevitably take the opportunity to stir up trouble.

Correspondingly, his own danger level would also increase greatly, so she reminded him.

"Amu is indeed worthy of being the last 'Great Stone Crown' of the Stone Corpse Kingdom and the first 'Holy Mother Empress Dowager' of the True Dragon Kingdom; what a keen intuition."

A thought flashed through Zhang Gui's mind, and to reassure Caiyang Duojie, he nodded seriously,

"Amu, don't worry, I am very careful in what I do now."

Mother and son parted ways like this.

Zhang Gui urged the "Zongheng Ruyi" Divine Cong, and an hour later, he walked to Dragon Gate Berth.

As a result, he didn't expect that Chu Tuantuan was not at the "Dragon Gate Trading Bureau," saying that he had gone out on official business.

As for where this local eunuch leader of the "Inner Court" could go on official business other than his own territory, the little eunuch guarding the door didn't know anything.

In this situation, Zhang Gui didn't even leave a cryptic letter.

He only left a message for the little eunuch to pass on to Chu Tuantuan:

The honey paste at home had been eaten up, so he shouldn't worry.

As for drinking, we'll talk about it next time we meet.

Hearing the tone, the little eunuch thought this must be an old friend or relative of Chief Chu.

And the "honey paste" thing sounded sticky, so it might be a friendship that couldn't be conducted openly, which is why they met so rarely.

Regardless of whether it was true or false, his attitude immediately changed from calm to respectful.

"So it is a close friend of the Chief; then, my lord, you might as well leave your name.

If it's inconvenient, a nickname is also fine, so I can pass the message to the Chief."

"No need, no need."

Using the Divine Cong "Kuishou Potian" to increase his height by half a foot, widen by five inches, and expand his face by a circle, Zhang Gui laughed boldly,

"You just need to say the two words 'honey paste', and he will know who I am."

"Yes, yes, yes, this little one understands."

Hearing this, the little eunuch became more confident in his guess and respectfully sent Zhang Gui away...

A month later, an imperial decree from the capital reached the Dragon Gate Berth post station.

Emperor Hezheng greatly appreciated the fact that his son, Prince Zhen, adapted to circumstances at a critical moment and delegated power to,

the twenty-second generation grandson of Caiyang Aqilong, the Stone Corpse Kingdom Lord personally enfeoffed by the Founding Emperor,

the hereditary Dragon-Tiger General, Caiyang Shizhong, a loyal subject for generations with a fief in Zhihai Town, Siyang Commandery, Eastern Yue Sea Province, for his overseas troop stationing and town building.

He praised him,

"Since childhood, he has cultivated himself, been upright with others, possessed a strong heart, and held fast to the righteous meaning of the classics.

Personally receiving my training, he has become a virtuous son; his character is precious, and his future is promising."

After praising his son, he also praised his loyal subject Caiyang Shizhong,

"Indeed, his talent is outstanding, his loyalty is righteous, and he is like the ancient sages; his reputation has reached far and wide, and he has truly saved the people from fire and water!"

Therefore, regarding Zhang Gui's initial request to Prince Zhen's "Traveling Palace" for an inspection tour on behalf of Heaven, the temporary agreement to occupy the nine islands in the Eastern Inner Sea to build cities and station troops was formally ratified.

And "spoken by me, seconded by the imperial court, it can be a permanent policy."

He also designated the nine islands, including Tianmeng, Tianwei, Tianfu..., as the place for the Dragon-Tiger Curtain Office to raise funds.

Then, although he did not promote Zhang Gui's official rank, he allowed him to inherit the position of Heir Apparent of the Stone Corpse Kingdom.

From now on, he could "wear red and purple," with a status comparable to a first-rank high official of the Ming Song Kingdom.

And because a vassal state's heir can become a sovereign in the future, his official title is not only outside the civil and military officials of the imperial court, but his status is also half-minister and half-sovereign.

So Zhang Gui could also "display a coiled dragon on his chest," which was even more stylish than an ordinary first-rank high official.

Although the practical significance is not great, "a dragon is a dragon species," so killing him is no longer "killing" but "regicide."

The symbolic significance is great.

When he formally received the imperial decree, Zhang Gui was already at the "Coroner's Office" outside Hancheng Prefecture on Xianrong Island.

In the courtyard where a wooden table served as a cutting board and candle stubs served as incense candles and incense,

he smiled bitterly, kowtowed three times, and shouted "Long live" three times.

He took the imperial decree from the hands of the great eunuch who announced the decree with both hands.

Carefully rolling it up, he put it into his sleeve.

According to the rules, when an imperial decree reaches a subject's hands, it should be enshrined.

So Zhang Gui specifically explained:

"Great Eunuch, please forgive me.

It is not that I am deliberately negligent and do not enshrine the Emperor's grace.

It is really because Xianrong Island is not like the Eastern Continent..."

"That's enough, my Caiyang Heir Apparent, Dragon-Tiger General, it's already this time.

Do you think we people of the Inner Court are all idiots who are mean and only know how to provoke and demand bribes?

We also have our moments!"

(End of Chapter)