Chapter 40 The Emperor’s Reward
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head: "This child, I really love and hate him."

Turning back to see Empress Ma, Zhu Yuanzhang saw that perhaps because of the good news, her complexion had improved a lot. Zhu Yuanzhang said hurriedly, "It seems that the prescription is urgent and needs to be taken on time."

Empress Ma smiled and said, "I know."

Then, she couldn't help but sigh: "I never thought that at this age..."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly and said with a bit of pride: "What's wrong with this age? We are different from others..."

Empress Ma said, "This time, I am really lucky to have Deng Qianqiu. I am thinking that Deng Qianqiu has benefited me a lot this time. Even ordinary people know how to repay their kindness. The palace should thank him very much."

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment, frowned and said, "He has no military merit, so he cannot be given a title. At his age, how can he be an official? Otherwise, give him ten thousand gold coins."

Empress Ma smiled and said, "Let alone the gift of ten thousand gold, it is not worth much silver. Moreover, if it is a gift of gold, it will inevitably appear vulgar."

Zhu Yuanzhang obviously didn't think so, and said: "Ten thousand gold coins are not a small amount, what about ten thousand copper coins? Let me calculate..."

He raised his head and calculated in his mind.

Empress Ma knew the temperament of His Majesty well. She smiled and could not help but said, "Some time ago, I sewed some new clothes for my sons and nephews. How about this? I will find a good one and ask someone to send it to him. I heard that he lost his mother and only depended on his father. I know his father's temperament. Although he is a scholar, he has never been particular about trivial matters. How can he love his son? Your Majesty, do you think it is appropriate?"

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard the word "father", his face was slightly unhappy, and he looked stern and majestic. However, he thought about it carefully and said, "This is very good."

Empress Ma shook her head and sighed, "In fact, if it weren't for... those things, Deng Qianqiu is also your Majesty's child. I should have made new clothes for this child every year..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face showed a complicated expression, and he frowned and said, "Xiuying, why are you bringing up the old things again?"

"Okay, I won't say it, I won't say it." Queen Ma said with a smile.

…………

It was already evening, and the sunset was beginning to appear. Deng Qianqiu, wearing armor, went to the duty room of the Yiluansi to report for duty in a unhappy mood.

It is always bustling here. Some people come to deliver official documents, some come to receive imperial edicts, and some, like Deng Qianqiu, come here to wait for roll call and then go on duty.

However, Deng Qianqiu, the outsider, was always the one ignored by everyone. Other military officers and captains were mostly in groups of three or five, talking and laughing, greeting each other, but Deng Qianqiu was the only one alone.

Some people did not recognize Deng Qianqiu, while others had heard of some things about Deng Qianqiu. They just glanced at Deng Qianqiu with strange eyes and then their gazes fell elsewhere.

Of course, the people who speak the loudest here are naturally those with a thick Fengyang accent.

They are the fellow townsmen of the current emperor, and most of the Huaixi people in the court stick together and take care of each other. Even a small captain feels that his future is limitless and his voice is much louder than others.

However, Deng Qianqiu, a native of Fengyang, Huaixi, seemed particularly down and out.

Now everyone knows that a centurion offended the Marquis of Ji'an, but the Marquis of Ji'an was magnanimous and ignored him. Of course, there is more than that. Behind the Marquis of Ji'an, not to mention the court, even in the Yiluansi, there are countless fellow townsmen and followers.

"Rolling in..." Deng Qianqiu walked up to the clerk, ready to receive the badge of duty.

The clerk looked up and instinctively smiled at Deng Qianqiu, but when he saw Deng Qianqiu, he immediately returned to his serious look and said in a businesslike tone: "Oh, Captain Deng, wait a moment, I still have to write a letter of honor to Captain Wang."

It would take more than half an incense stick of time to write this invitation. Logically speaking, Deng Qianqiu's matter would only require him to delay for a while and let Deng Qianqiu sign in and leave. However, he felt that Captain Wang's matter was the most important, and as for Deng Qianqiu, he could wait a while.

Deng Qianqiu said with a playful smile: "No way, aren't you deliberately neglecting me? Captain Wang's business is a matter, but my business is not a matter, right?"

You can't be timid in this kind of situation. He is young and it is enough for him to beat this weak scholar.

After hearing this, the clerk was immediately furious and put down his pen, saying, "How could you be so rude... I am only doing my job..."

As he spoke, he deliberately raised his voice to attract other military officers and captains.

Deng Qianqiu narrowed his eyes with a smile on his face. He was wondering if he would be given a monkey to steal peaches, what consequences would it cause? He wondered if Prince Jin could help him settle it. If not... whether his father worked hard enough in Fengyang. If he couldn't make it, could he still go home and rely on his father?

The military officers and captains all looked very interested at this time. They stopped to watch, with smiles on their faces, and no one seemed willing to stop it.

The affair between Deng Qianqiu and Marquis Ji'an has spread like wildfire. Everyone knows that this fool Deng Qianqiu actually offended Marquis Ji'an. Many people, while watching the joke, actually hope to sever their relationship with Deng Qianqiu so that when Marquis Ji'an takes revenge in the future, Deng Qianqiu's blood will not be splattered on them.

But at this moment, someone pushed the crowd aside, and a few eunuchs came. The leading eunuch panted and shouted, "Captain Deng, you are here after all. It's so easy to find you."

Military officers and captains were already on duty in the palace, and the eunuch had seen them many times, so he didn't find it new.

Someone gloated, "Isn't this Eunuch Cui? Eunuch Cui, Captain Deng is causing trouble. Haha, you came at the right time. We're going to have some fun today."

After hearing this, Eunuch Cui's face suddenly changed. He looked at the captain who looked familiar, and suddenly raised his hand and slapped him, shouting, "Who knows you? What are you doing? How dare you? I am the imperial envoy, and I have come to convey the order to Captain Deng. Who are you to dare to act so rashly here?"

After hearing this loud shout, the captain, who was indignant at having been slapped, hurriedly retreated, and the signing room suddenly became quiet.

Eunuch Cui continued to look stern and shouted, "Your Majesty has a verbal order, Captain Deng will receive it."

Deng Qianqiu was a little surprised, but he had gradually become familiar with the etiquette in Nanjing, so he said, "I accept your order."

Eunuch Cui said, "The Emperor, please let Deng Qianqiu know: winter is coming today. The weather in Nanjing is very cold. Last year, I heard that someone froze to death on the street. People's lives are very difficult... Okay, I seem to have gone off topic, let's get back to the point..."

When Deng Qianqiu heard this, he was stunned. His mind was a mess and he had no idea what was going on.

Eunuch Cui continued, "It's freezing cold, and you're on duty alone in the capital, and you don't know the temperature. Fortunately, the queen has recently made a few new clothes, and today I'm especially kind to give you one, so that you won't get frozen. You should know how to cherish your clothes. You should know that all the clothes in the world are made by many people planting mulberry and hemp, and silkworms spinning silk, and people sewing them one by one. It's not easy. The most important thing for people is to know that the clothes and food they eat are all the fat of the people... I've gone off topic again, so let's just leave it at that, my Lord!"

(End of this chapter)