Chapter 899: Trust, Escort

From the beginning of March, Zhu Taikan, the son of King Lu, and Zhu Youyi, the king of Xiangfu, who came to the pilgrimage, returned to their fiefdoms one after another, followed by the royal brothers who went to various places to pay tribute. Although Renmiao had ten sons, one of his sons died before he ascended the throne, followed by the death of King Teng. In addition, the young and sick King Wei, the King of Liang who imprisoned the west, and the King of Yue who was temporarily not a vassal were left in the domain, so there were only four princes left in the vassal this time, and the last one to set off was King Xiang Zhan Yuan.

Changsha is thousands of miles away from Beijing, so on the day King Xiang entered the palace to say goodbye, although Empress Dowager Zhang burst into tears, even Zhu Zhanji felt uncomfortable. After all, he is a brother of the same mother, and he has no brother who can really compete with him since he was a child, even if his father Zhu Gaochi sent him to Nanjing to worship the mausoleum after he ascended the throne, his position as prince has never wavered. Especially Xiang Wang likes to study, and gets along well with all his brothers, in his heart, he is not very happy about this brother-in-law staying.

However, Zhu Zhan Rong was extremely stubborn at this point, and when the brothers met alone, Zhu Zhanji mentioned that the north was dry and cold, and the south was damp, but Zhu Zhan Zheng did not mention these difficulties, but solemnly proposed to meet King Liang. Now that King Liang has imprisoned Xinei, it is reasonable to not allow it, but Zhu Zhanji thought about it again and again, and still agreed to this only request, and personally accompanied Zhu Zhan to go through. When Zhu Zhan came out in tears, even he felt sour in his heart.

"He is to blame for everything, and his subordinates have nothing else to ask for, but only ask the emperor to see for the sake of his mother's compatriots and let him have a way to live. After all, as a child......"

Zhu Zhan paused for a moment, but after all, he didn't say anything more, but just solemnly knelt down and made a big salute. Zhu Zhanji did not say yes, nor did he say no. He personally helped people up, and sent Zhu Zhan Rong all the way to Xi'an Gate, and then went straight back to Renshou Palace to see Empress Dowager Zhang. Just walking on the road, even if the weather has warmed up, he still can't help but hug his body.

Zhu Zhanji, who returned to Renshou Palace, avoided mentioning the matter of going to see King Liang with Zhu Zhanqi before, nor did he say that the matter of King Yue's vassal was mentioned by Yang Shiqi in the cabinet, but just accompanied Empress Dowager Zhang to gossip. And Empress Dowager Zhang seems to have become an ordinary old woman, her tone is nagging, although she is melancholy, she also has a trace of satisfaction. It wasn't until Zhu Zhanji left that she, who had been wearing a faint smile, took away that smile and asked the palace man beside her lightly, "Where is A-Ning?" ”

Due to the previous incident, the eunuch palace people of the deacons in Renshou Palace have been strictly combed almost from top to bottom, and now there are only a few left, and this young palace person has just been transferred from Qianqing Palace. At this time, when she heard Empress Dowager Zhang's question, she hurriedly knelt down one leg in front of the bed, and then whispered: "The new female official outside is here, and she is listening to the lesson of the county lord." ”

This matter is naturally known by Empress Dowager Zhang, after this incident, although the eunuchs are also being rectified from top to bottom by Fan Hong's old ones, but the most affected are the female officials of the Sixth Bureau and the Twenty-fourth Division. According to Zhu Zhanji's meaning, the female officials were already in vain, except for the four divisions of Shangbao, they had no authority, and now it is better to abolish them all, and in the end, because she did not agree, so the system was re-established, and the queen mother's palace and queen's palace each set up two guides in the Shang Palace, two female histories, and the rest of the palace officials were gradually and slowly abolished.

"If A-Ning is finished, please come and see me."

Previously, as soon as the Hongwen Pavilion feast was opened, there were many discussions everywhere, and many civil officials who were silent on weekdays were ignited by this wave of wind and spirit, and suddenly became impassioned. However, Zhu Ning was "sick" at home for a whole month, and when she appeared in front of people now, she looked a little plump, and her face was also red and gorgeous. When he sent wine to the auspicious talisman king Zhu Youjiao, Zhu Youjiao was even taken aback by her good looks, not to mention these people in the palace.

A few words of advice to the four female officials who were obviously too young to speak, seeing that they all nodded their heads like chickens pecking rice, Zhu Ning didn't bother to bother any more, took a sip of tea to moisten his thirsty throat, and then stood up: "Since you have chosen here, I think you are all reliable and safe, I won't say anything else, and I will look at things and do things in the future." There is only one rule, as a female official of Renshou Palace, she is not allowed to hand over the internal officials, this is a dead rule! ”

This dead rule didn't exist not long ago, so the four female officials were all stunned, and it took a long time for them to react, and they nodded hurriedly again and again. And Zhu Ning also knew that they might not really understand, but he didn't want to say more, so he walked out with a few palace maids. As soon as she went out, she learned of Empress Dowager Zhang's instructions, and immediately rushed to Dongnuan Pavilion.

In the month of "recuperation" at home, she ate well and slept soundly, and had two children by her side, so she was naturally happy, but now when she returned to the palace, she was a little unaccustomed. Therefore, when she stepped into the Dongnuan Pavilion, she still thought in her heart that it was different from the past, and in order to avoid suspicion, she would often enter the palace every three or five days, and it would be a little inappropriate to live in the palace again. So, sitting down on the Jindun, she naturally raised the matter, who knew that Empress Dowager Zhang shook her head.

"I know what you're thinking, but I won't mention it right now. Ah Ning, you tell me the truth, does the outside world have a lot of complaints about the king of Yue's stay in Beijing, and did the emperor also say anything to you? ”

Zhu Ning didn't expect Empress Dowager Zhang to ask about this directly, and her face changed slightly. Just as she was about to pass over casually, she found that Empress Dowager Zhang was looking at her with blazing eyes, and her heart couldn't help but move. After lowering her head and thinking about it, she nodded slowly: "What the Queen Mother said is that the emperor has never said anything, but the court does have some words. After all, in the old Hongwu system, the vassal king was the vassal, and the Jingshi only kept the prince. And during the Yongle period...... Later, there was a rebellion of the Han people. I know that the Queen Mother is thinking that the crown prince is too young now, and if there is a case, it is not enough to suppress the overall situation, but the system is a system after all, and if there are exceptions, there will be more and more exceptions in the future. ”

Seeing that Empress Dowager Zhang closed her eyes, as if she sighed softly, Zhu Ning thought for a moment, and then added: "The most important thing is that now the emperor has discussed three times in Hongwen Pavilion, and the affairs of the clan are the top priority. If the Queen Mother is difficult to decide, why don't you send someone to ask Yang Ge Lao. ”

"No need."

Empress Dowager Zhang waved her hand tiredly and was silent for a while. Zhu Ning's meaning was already very clear, although the emperor did not mention it at all from beginning to end, and no one stabbed this matter in front of her, but since she felt it, the day when it was officially proposed was not far off. Zhu Zhanji is already old and likes to make his own ideas, which is certainly a point that cannot be ignored, but what Zhu Ning said about the clan is more important. Compared with the love between mother and son and brothers, Zhu Zhanji today cares more about the world.

Therefore, he moved the feast from the Wenhua Hall to the Hongwen Pavilion, which undoubtedly shows that Zhu Zhanji wants to change, not subject to her, the queen mother, nor to those old ministers of several dynasties...... Sure enough, being a king of success is too unwilling for him?

"What you said before, I haven't thought about it, indeed, although you are not married, but you have stayed in the palace for too long, after all, it is easy to provoke gossip, so you will enter the palace once every three days in the future, and remember to bring more children to me to see. It's just that now that I'm like this, I always have to be partial to you and choose a few safe people for me to teach. Also, Fan Hong Jinying and they are rectifying the twenty-four yamen of the internal officials, although it is a good thing, but I am inevitably not at ease, you should keep an eye on it more. ”

Zhu Ning has always been able to get less hands on the affairs of the Zhongguan, but the Empress Dowager Zhang opened her mouth, and she had to agree, after all, if the request could be agreed by the Empress Dowager Zhang, she was already very satisfied. Although Kaifeng is her hometown, her parents are gone, and her brothers and sisters are already estranged, far inferior to Jingshi. There are a pair of her children here, her confidants and friends, and the prosperous atmosphere that she never gets tired of seeing, and she naturally hopes to stay here, maybe there will be a day when she is really tired of it, but it is by no means now. So, she nodded slightly, and when she saw Mrs. Zhang's relief, she had to divert the topic and say a few words of gossip.

Among the nine gates of the capital, the main gate of Li is one of the three city gates facing due south, and it is also facing the imperial city, which has always been the top priority, and even the city tower is more magnificent. The ash tube tile of the city tower is cut with green glaze, the heavy eaves rest on the top of the mountain, there are doors on all sides upstairs and downstairs, there are corridors up and down, the height is far better than the remaining eight city towers. In addition, just a few days ago, the Ministry of Industry also wrote a letter to ask Jianli to build the arrow tower at the main gate, because of this, there is another controversial issue in the imperial court.

However, today, there are countless guards in front of this city gate, from the official road outside the city to the main gate of Li, and then to the chessboard street and the four archways in the inside, the three floors inside and the outer three floors are all heavily armed soldiers, not to mention three steps, one post, five steps and one sentry. And those who are called the pro-army of the Son of Heaven, wearing extremely dazzling brocade guards are discouraged by those who watch the excitement. Even so, there were still bold onlookers from afar, but the nearest street under the city has been completely closed, and even the people waiting to enter the city from Chongwenmen and Xuanwumen were not immune to the impact, and could only stand in place and watch from afar. But when the mighty group of people came, the people who were originally muttering in their hearts immediately woke up.

That King of Jin was escorted into Beijing!

The carriage surrounded by the soldiers was still the prince's specifications, but the luxurious decorations were removed, and the deep hanging curtains also prevented all voyeurs. As a result, the long list of mule carts not far behind this carriage suddenly aroused people's curiosity, some people said that it was the family members of the Jin Dynasty's mansion, some said that it was the gold and silver treasures copied from the Jin Dynasty's palace, and some said that it was the account books and letters...... All in all, there's a lot of guesswork. It wasn't until this group of people entered the main gate of Li one after another and went to Qipan Street, that Chongwenmen and Xuanwumen began to let them go again, and the discussion stopped for a while.

The news that Zhu Jixi, the king of Jin, was escorted to Beijing soon spread to all ministries. Compared with the people who can only guess what happened from the surface, the information that the officials have received is much more detailed. When Zhang Yue heard that Zhu Jixi's nephew and the eldest son of Zhu Jixi, who had been deposed from the title of King of Jin, Zhu Meigui of Pingyang, Zhang Yue immediately frowned, and then asked the scribe who came to report the news: "In addition to the King of Pingyang, there are other clansmen of the Jin Domain?" ”

"My lord, no."

Zhang Yue dismissed the scribe, thought for a while, got up and walked out of the house, and after a while, he arrived at the door of Xu Kuo, the right attendant. With a cough outside the door, he opened a thick curtain and entered, and sure enough, he saw Xu Kuo put down the pen in his hand and stood up. Although the two are old and young, they haven't been partners for long, but because Xu Kuo is hearty, Zhang Yue is careful, and they cooperate quite tacitly, so the set of polite etiquette in the officialdom is naturally put away.

After gossiping, after the two sat down in the front room, Zhang Yue talked about the matter of the Jin Domain straightforwardly, Xu Kuo had just listened to the scribe's report, and at this time he rubbed the few sparse beards on his chin and said: "It stands to reason that the Jin Domain committed such a big crime, and it should be removed, but since the King of Pingyang followed, he must have taken advantage of the emperor's crime to identify his father's grievances back then, and he also thought about the title of the Jin Domain." You must know that if it weren't for the repeated false accusations of this Jin clan, his father would not have lost the title of prince in vain...... Speaking of which, I heard a rumor before. ”

Xu Kuo is already over sixty years old, although he can't say that he knows everything about court affairs, but he also knows everything about it, so he lowered his voice so much, and Zhang Yue naturally came up. Sure enough, Xu Kuo pondered for a moment and then spoke: "As early as many years ago, not long after the Jin clan succeeded to the seal, that Princess Jin Gong suddenly fell ill and died. At that time, there was a saying that it was killed by the current poisoner. ”

Kill your mother-in-law!

This charge really frightened Zhang Yue. Whether it is a vassal king or a nobleman, it is not uncommon for concubines to inherit, and there are occasional people who treat their mothers slowly, but it is unheard of for those who dare to poison and kill their mothers. He looked at Xu Kuo, frowned and asked, "Since this matter is here, why hasn't it been thoroughly investigated?" ”

"The first Emperor Taizong believed the complaint of the current one, abolished the title of King of Jin of Pingyang's father, and renamed him. If this person is really so bad as a pig and a dog, where is Emperor Taizong? When Emperor Renzong arrived, he repeatedly gave the king of Pingyang the crown of the father and son, and the one was more and more inferior, but in the spirit of kinship, it was not easy to pursue it too much, until this incident happened. It can be said that there are not a few clans who are doing mischief in the local area, and if they don't take advantage of this trip to set up ruthless rules, it will indeed cause a big mess. You must know that to this day, the royal guards of each domain are said to be cut, and there are not a few people who make some small moves behind their backs. ”

Xu Kuo was talking in the army, and he really knew about these old things, so he couldn't close the box as soon as he opened it, and he said to Zhang Yue for a full two quarters of an hour. The two discussed for a while, and Xu Kuo agreed to go back to his colleagues who knew each other to lobby the vassal king again, while Zhang Yue decided to meet Zhang Fu again in the evening.

Just as he walked out of Xu Kuo's house, a soap officer rushed over like a fly, and said breathlessly: "My lord, my lord, someone is making trouble in the street, I heard that the mule cart of Scholar Du's family was frightened, and Mrs. Du was injured!" ”