The palace of the king of Shu in the north of the city. When the King of Jin hesitated alone and planned, when Han Jin was playing the guqin on the terrace, Ning Ke, the king of Shu, ushered in an unexpected and reasonable guest: Yin Yan, Langzhong of the Ministry of Rites, came to visit the mansion.

The light rain was dripping, with a cold winter. In the middle of the Shu King's Mansion, in the inner study of the King of Shu, Ning Ke entertained Yin Yan.

Yin Langzhong, at the level of some circles, is not small. Of course the King of Shu has heard of it. However, Yin Yan was originally appointed as the right advisor of the Zhan Mansion, and he was originally responsible for teaching the prince. left Beijing early, but was not affected by the abolition of the prince.

Ning Ke was dressed in a white shirt, with a slender posture, a jade tree in the wind, handsome and chic, and a prince's rich and elegant temperament. He opened his mouth to speak, and his voice was very manly magnetic. It's easy to make a woman feel good.

Sitting next to Yin Yan across the table, Ning Ke smiled and said, "Mr. Yin, your choice is really unexpected. You came to me this time, did you want Prince Yang to behave at the Holy Birthday Festival? He was less than 3 years old. ”

Ning Ke had already met Empress Yang. knew that Empress Yang intended to hire Yin Yan as the teacher of Prince Yang. Ning Ke, who has already married the second daughter of Qingguo Gong, has less suave temperament and more calm at this time.

Yin Yan is 42 years old, white-faced and long-bearded, middle-aged and elderly handsome. He was dressed in a blue scribe's shirt with a strong bookish atmosphere. Drinking tea, he smiled and said, "More than two years old is enough to bear the knee of the Son of Heaven!" The world thinks that the two kings of Jin and Chu can be the East Palace, and they are the only Duke of Yongguo. ”

The princes of the dynasty, such as the Tang and Ming dynasties, must have been princes. But it will not be crowned at the beginning, but slowly sealed. Prince Yang is the queen, the starting point is very high, and at this time he has been canonized as the "Duke of Yongguo".

Ning Ke looked at Yin Yan, thought about it, shook his head with a wry smile, and said, "Mr. Yin, please speak!" ”

His level of political struggle is average, and he is not as good as Ning Xiao, the county lord of Yongqing. I misread Jia Huan's train of thought several times. But the IQ is still above the ordinary level. Yin Yan's idea, to put it utilitarianly, is Lü Buwei.

However, if it is purely utilitarian, you can choose to push the king. After all, King Jin was very passive at this time, but he had a foundation. It can be seen that Yin Yan still has his own ideas: civil government governs.

And the reason why Ning Ke smiled bitterly was that he did everything possible to avoid being involved in the most dangerous political turmoil: seizing the heir. But, in the end, he was still involved. Could he choose not to help his aunt? His aunt treated him like a son.

Yin Yan didn't say hello, he came to the door, and he saw it so accurately!

Yin Yan smiled and said, "Your Highness doesn't have to worry. It's just to teach Yongguo Gong a few words. There isn't much risk. However, I have something to remind Your Highness: the frontier soldiers are very rewarded, the household is tight, and most of the money is paid by the Son of Heaven. Now there must be a shortage of silver in the treasury, and His Royal Highness has the profit of minting silver coins in his hands, more than 2 million a year, and the rites of the Holy Birthday Festival, if it is less, I am afraid that it will be criticized. ”

The King of Shu rolled his eyes angrily, "If it weren't for Mr. Yin coming to the door, who would I be worried about?" "He's just a prince. There is no right to inherit the throne. Even if he got some more silver, he knew that it was given to him by Jia Huan for the queen's sake. This is the Queen's share. Who dares to care?

Yin Yan smiled slightly, and bowed to the King of Shu, which was regarded as a thank you.

Although he "driven" the King of Shu to do things, he still helped the King of Shu to think about the back road. The character is very good.

…

…

The time has entered November, and perhaps the focus of the newspapers in Beijing is still to report on the battle situation and victory in Biansai. However, in addition to the implementation of silver coins throughout the country, the Manchu Dynasty was concerned about the Son of Heaven's Birthday.

The birthday of the Son of Heaven is November 25.

And before Holy Birthday, it is the winter solstice. As soon as the winter solstice arrives, basically all yamen are waiting for the New Year. As for the fact that the Manchu Dynasty civil and military had a few sincere congratulatory birthdays to the Son of Heaven, this is a debatable issue.

However, only focusing on the holidays, the level is definitely not enough. For the discerning people in the court, the concern is the subsequent family banquet of the Son of Heaven, the concubines, and the princes in the West Garden. The Son of Heaven had more than 40 children. There are more than a dozen adult princes. But there are only two people who have really attracted attention: King Jin and King Chu.

In the eyes of the more intelligent courtiers, this year's royal family banquet in Xiyuan will inevitably have turmoil. In the case of such a tight situation for the succession, the slightest clue will be over-interpreted, how can it be fine?

And, at that time, the Son of Heaven will reveal certain tendencies in his heart towards the position of the East Palace. That's what everyone needs to focus on.

…

….

Time is slowly passing away in such an atmosphere as Beijing.

Until November 25, the palace and the west garden are lit up. King Wu personally handled the big and small matters. Busy feet don't touch the ground. All kinds of rewards to all parts of the palace. A basket of steamed white-flour steamed buns was distributed to thousands of eunuchs and palace maids in the palace. Up and down, beaming with joy and laughter.

In the early morning, the Son of Yongzhi worshiped heaven and earth in the Qin'an Palace, and then went to the Huangji Hall to receive congratulations from hundreds of officials. University scholars Huamo, Wei Hong, and Song Pu brought hundreds of officials to pay a visit and present their birthday articles.

The Son of Yongzhi sat on the throne and looked down on the ministers. All kinds of official articles, such as: "Longevity without borders", "Wenzhi and martial arts, far ahead of the dynasty" and other words, bless and praise the Son of Heaven.

Yongzhi Tianzi listened with a slight smile on his face, and liked it in his heart. When people are old, they always like to listen to something pleasant. And like Zhang Anbo, the imperial history of the left capital, who likes to sing the opposite, it is very unlikable. Even if you show your emotions as the Son of Heaven, it's not too good. But today is his birthday after all, and the emotions of the son of Yongzhi are exposed.

From the end of October to November, Zhang Anbo, the imperial historian of Zuodu, issued several concerts in a row, exhorting the Son of Yongzhi to cherish the people's strength, pursue frugality, and not to use troops without permission. But these recitals did not stir up the slightest wave in the court. It's quite a bit of a high and low meaning! Kedao has no meaning of "following the trend" at all. Including Jia Huan's friend Zhu Hongfei, Fan Xijue and others in the criminal department. The Son of Heaven also left Zhang Anbo's recitals in the middle of the book.

Under the throne is the Hanlin phalanx. Fei Minzheng, who was written by Hanlin and was a scholar in the middle school, secretly looked at the Yongzhi Emperor on the throne.

And there are many courtiers like him. For example: Guozi Priest Wine Wei Yuanzhi, Zuo Shilang Ji Xingsheng of the Ministry of Industry, Shangshu Bai Zhang, Zhang Anbo and others of the Criminal Department. Because, after not seeing each other for a few months, the Son of Heaven reappeared, and seemed to be getting old.

Among the ministers in the Imperial Palace, many of them have already felt the breath of the end of the Yongzhi Dynasty of the Great Zhou Dynasty!

It is no wonder that the dispute between the DPRK and China over the succession is heating up. The Son of Heaven is only 46 years old, and he is old like this, and the East Palace is empty. How does the human heart think? There are always some bold, unsatisfactory careers, and careerists who want to give a shot.

…

…

The meeting was delayed until the afternoon. The retainers dispersed. Holy Birthday Day, a day off.

The Son of Yongzhi returned to the Yongshou Palace in a good mood, hugged Prince Yang, and talked to Queen Yang. Then, they boarded the huge imperial sedan chair together, carried by dozens of strong eunuchs, and headed to the West Garden.

In winter, it gets dark early. In the West Garden, it has already been a fire tree and silver flower. In the huge West Garden, as far as the eye can see, there are small and exquisite palace lamps everywhere. Color: red, yellow, blue, purple, blue. The cold wind caressed like a long dragon dancing with silver light, like a dream.

The Son of Yongzhi and Empress Yang first went to the side hall of Hanyuan Hall to rest for a while and have some dinner. After that, he went to the main hall to attend the family banquet.

Before dinner, Xu Yan, the chief eunuch of the eunuch, Xia Shouzhong, the eunuch of the six palaces, and Dai Quan, the head of the Daming Palace, took more than 60 eunuchs with heads and faces in various parts of the palace to congratulate the Son of Heaven on his birthday. The scene was slightly lively and full of joy.

…

…

The Son of Heaven Shengshou, in the capital, there are not too many changes.

In Jingyuan, Han Jin and the staff of the King of Chu, about seven or eight people, stayed in the study of the King of Chu in Jingyuan.

Brightly lit.

Several staff members stopped talking. Is it really good to wait for the King of Chu to do that in front of the Son of Heaven?

Luo Ziche took out his pocket watch, looked at it, and said, "The birthday banquet is about to start." "The birthday gifts have already been sent to Xiyuan. Fresh and strange things will be displayed in the Hanyuan Hall *** people to appreciate, but also to be in the limelight. Then, it will be the princes who will come forward in turn to congratulate their birthdays.

It is reported that the birthday gift of the King of Jin is quite outstanding, in the Xinfeng of Jiafu, it cost nearly 100,000 silver dollars to auction an ivory Western ship, the carving is exquisite, ingenious.

Han Jin nodded, "Hmm." ”

…

…

Outside the Hanyuan Palace, there are several wings on the east and west sides, which are used for rest before the audience. At this time, in the west wing, the king of Jin sat on the chair at the top. He is the second son. There is no one here who is more honorable than him.

King Jin's gaze swept over the King of Chu, King Shu, King Yan and others. Then, drink your tea with your head down. Although, he didn't have anyone to help him plan. However, he is not stupid. Haven't eaten pork and never seen a pig run? He made a plan for himself.

Today, he must make a good impression in front of the Son of Heaven!

…

…

In the summer evening, the sky is still full of sunshine. And in the winter evening, the night has slowly shrouded the heavens and the earth.

Hour Yongfang, Song Pu Mansion. In the exquisite, quiet small hall, Scholar Song was having a relative drink with Yin Yan. The hall is warm, and on the small round table, the wine and food are exquisite and fragrant.

Song Pu said with a smile: "Weizhi came here today, and the old man is very happy. "He is naturally one of the clear-eyed people in the court. At this moment, I'm afraid there are many people staring at Xiyuan.

Yin Yan and Scholar Song had a very personal relationship, smiled calmly, and said, "I am not well-informed enough. Go to Song Xiang to listen to the news. ”

"Haha!"

Song Pu nodded at Yin Yan and laughed. Yin Weizhi has the style of an ancient gentleman. He was also very surprised that Yin Yan was optimistic about Prince Yang. He will not express his support, but he will still do it at the convenience of the bank.

…

…

Song Pu wasn't wrong. At this time, there are indeed many discerning people in Beijing who are paying attention to the dynamics of Xiyuan.

Of course, for people who don't have news channels, paying attention is equal to not paying attention. "Playing chess" requires certain qualifications.

In King Wu's mansion, in the study of the prince in the back garden, Jia Huan, Ning Xiao and Ning Cheng were drinking tea and chatting.

The afterglow of the setting sun has long since been put away. The last shred of light was swallowed up by darkness. Rows of candles were lit in the study. Bright as day. Burning the lavender cage and so on, it is as warm as spring! The distant windows were opened, blocked by flower and bird screens.

Ning Cheng is fourteen years old this year, his face is a little narrow, and he is still very thin. Dressed in white arrow sleeves, he instructed the little guys waiting outside the door to hurry up and go to the kitchen to bring the barbecue in and eat. asked, "Sister, Mr. Jia, what do you want?" ”

Jia Huan was playing chess with Ning Xiao at Ning Xi's desk. He was dressed in a blue scribe's shirt and a Tang scarf, a sixteen-year-old young man with a calm expression and a calm bearing. Said casually: "Bring more meat skewers." Brother Cheng, the reason why you can't gain weight is that you consume too little protein during puberty. "Teach the students casually.

In ancient aesthetics, fat was better than thin. Of course, obesity is not a problem. Ning Cheng rolled his eyes. He was despised by Mr. Jia. He shouted outside the door: "Little Liu, give the mutton skewers to this son for twenty skewers." ”

Ning Xiao smiled slightly, and her white slender jade fingers landed on a sunspot on the chessboard. Since Jia Huan wrote a letter from Dongzhuang Town, asking her to persuade Brother Jiu to accept the benefits of coinage, because Jia Huan felt that she was sensible, her relationship with Jia Huan became familiar.

Then, her father was troubled by the lack of money in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and she recommended Jia Huan to solve it. Otherwise, when the Son of Heaven ordered the reward of the front-line soldiers, and the internal funds have already been used, where can today's Holy Birthday be so lively and glamorous?

Ning Xiao said in a crisp voice: "I want vegetable skewers." ”

Ning Xiao's personal maid, Zi'er was standing on the side, thin, tall, pouting, and said, "Meat eaters are despised." Is it disrespectful for Mr. Jia to eat meat in the study where he teaches? Zi'er still remembers the hatred of the day.

Jia Huan took a sip of tea, landed on the chessboard, and said casually: "Classmate Zi'er, there is another sentence called, meat eaters seek it." ”

Ning Xiao looked at Jia Huan, her big and bright phoenix eyes flashed, revealing a dazzling look. Brilliant as spring! Yes, the court is a big event, and the meat eaters seek it. And she, Jia Huan sat here and seemed to be playing chess leisurely, but she was actually waiting for news from Xiyuan. This is an important node in the battle for succession.

Jia Huan glanced at the pocket watch resting on the side of the chessboard, and said softly: "County Lord, the birthday banquet has begun." "He is in King Wu's Mansion today, in fact, he is here to rub the news.

The people in Jiafu do not have a very deep feeling about seizing the heir. There is a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere in the house. Father Zheng came back from the dynasty today, and he was still vassalage in front of Jiafu, and convened a meeting of Qing guests and friends. Winter solstice, just two days ago.

Jia Mansion is not without news channels in the palace. Yuan Chun is still a concubine after all. However, Jia Huan did not intend to use Jiafu's favors and channels in the palace for such a news today. There is no need!

The points he wants to brush have actually been processed. He waited for the results here in King Wu's mansion. King Wu is in charge of the Internal Affairs Office, and it is too easy to know the news in Xiyuan. And it just so happened that Ning Xiao, the lord of Yongqing County, was very concerned about current affairs.