In the palace, after completing the routine ceremony, the two brothers Zhu Jingyuan boarded the carriage.
Under the watch of civil and military officials, the two of them will be escorted by thousands of officers and soldiers all the way back to Luoyang, the sacred capital.
The streets they pass through have been cleared within twenty feet to the left and right, ensuring absolute safety.
After the last assassination incident, Zhu Jinghong had extremely high safety requirements. Both his and Zhu Jingyuan's carriages were reinforced, making them safe even for shooting with muskets, bows and arrows.
The carriage they were riding in was very large, with an interior of at least six or seven square meters, and they could eat and sleep inside.
There are seven such carriages in total, five of which are used as backups and substitutes, and can also confuse assassins.
In the third carriage of the team, Zhu Jingyuan was lying on a soft cushion, flipping through a book in his hand.
But the carriage was swaying on the road, which made him so flustered that it was difficult to calm down. Naturally, he couldn't read the book.
Putting down the book, Zhu Jingyuan looked at the situation outside the window and asked casually: "I heard... Old Thirteen asked some foreigners to take him with him?"
Gao Shuyan was accompanying him in the carriage and only heard him reply: "It is true!"
"You are a barbarian and don't understand etiquette. Don't teach your thirteenth brother a bad lesson!"
That couldn't be better... Hearing the prince's emotion, Gao Shuyan was secretly happy.
The more bastard Zhu Jinghong behaves, the more suitable he is as a tool, which fulfills the wishes of all the officials in the East Palace.
"According to Master Thirteen, we want to ask foreigners for help in making guns and cannons. Your Highness, you also know... Master Thirteen likes these the most!"
Putting down the book, Zhu Jingyuan asked again: "I also heard... that he asked the Xue family to go to Beijing with us?"
Gao Shuyan nodded. He would let Zhu Jinghong do whatever he did.
At this time, Zhang Xin, the eunuch of the East Palace, said: "Prince Qi... The boss of the Xue family is working for the Thirteenth Master, so he asked the Thirteenth Master to bring his family to Beijing. Those Westerners were found by the Xue family!"
Zhu Jingyuan frowned and said resentfully: "This Xue family..."
But he didn't go on. He just talked about Jinling's affairs. The Xue family had helped a lot, and Zhu Jingyuan couldn't put down his bowl and scold his mother.
Not wanting to get entangled in this matter, Gao Shuyan changed the subject and asked: "Prince, in less than two months, it will be the Emperor's Holy Birthday Festival. Do you have any idea about preparing gifts?"
Here the prince was discussing gifts with others, and in the third carriage behind him, Zhu Jinghong was lying in it with his clothes broken.
The rules in the palace are very strict. Now that he has returned to Beijing, he will start a boring life again. How can Zhu Jinghong not find some fun for himself?
So on last night, the last night, he summoned He Jiayan, a "husband and dog friend", and invited a group of singers to have fun in the side hall of the palace. They stayed high until very late before they dispersed.
Unfortunately, he had to get up early this morning for various ceremonies, which led to him not getting enough sleep. He got into the carriage and fell asleep with his head on Yinglian's lap.
In a daze, it was almost noon before Zhu Jinghong woke up and turned around.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Yinglian holding a book and reading it, blocking her chin where it should have been.
Zhu Jinghong reached out, grabbed Yinglian's hand and took the book, only to find that it was a collection of poems by Bai Juyi.
Seeing that Zhu Jinghong woke up, Yinglian quickly asked: "Thirteenth Master, are you awake...are you thirsty? Do you want some tea?"
After sitting up, Zhu Jinghong glanced at Yinglian: "Where did this book come from?"
"It's the one in the carriage. There are many more in the grid!"
Following the direction of Yinglian's finger, Zhu Jinghong saw more than a dozen books as expected, so he smiled and said: "I also took this carriage last time I came here, but I didn't find any books!"
"Do you like this book?"
"I'm bored, just find something to do. Master Thirteen, don't make fun of me!" Yinglian was a little embarrassed.
"You can understand?"
This question immediately made Yinglian blush, and she replied: "I only know some words, but I can't read them fluently!"
"As for the meaning, I can only guess!"
"That's it~"
After all, she was abducted since she was a child. Seeing as how she was not raised like a thin horse, it was already very difficult for her to be able to read.
"Master Thirteen, can you teach me?" Yinglian asked boldly.
Since that night, Yinglian's heart has completely belonged to Zhu Jinghong, and the relationship between the two has become much closer.
"Uh... you know, I'm not good at reading and writing!" Zhu Jinghong was a little embarrassed.
Fortunately, he inherited the memory of his predecessor and basically has no problem reading and writing, but he is unable to teach others.
Suddenly, Zhu Jinghong had a bold idea, so he looked at Yinglian with a smile.
"How about I find you a teacher!"
"Looking for a teacher for this slave? Could it be those father-in-laws?" Besides, Yinglian couldn't think of anyone else.
"Them? Let's forget it!" Zhu Jinghong shook his head.
It's not that I dislike Yu Hai and the others for not having talent or learning, on the contrary, the eunuchs who came out of the inner study hall are no less knowledgeable than those of the students.
Zhu Jinghong felt uncomfortable just letting Yinglian stay with the eunuch.
"Who else could it be?"
"The Xue family girl is very talented and she happens to be going to Beijing with us. Why don't you go and ask her for advice!"
"The Xue family? Is this the Xue family who wanted to rob the slaves last time?"
Speaking of this, Yinglian immediately shook her head: "I don't want to go!"
It was normal for her to be conflicted. After all, the Xue and Feng families were fighting that day, and Yinglian was caught in the middle.
"That tough guy from the Xue family didn't come with him. His girl has a good temper, so you can rest assured!"
Seeing that Yinglian still had doubts, Zhu Jinghong continued: "When you return to Beijing this time, you have to follow me into the palace. If you don't have knowledge... I'm afraid life will be difficult!"
According to Zhu Jinghong's plan, he wanted to temporarily place Yinglian in Kunning Palace, and he would feel relieved when she was by the Queen's side.
In order to make Yinglian's life easier, it is necessary to improve her knowledge, at least this way she can please the queen.
"Ah... then I'd better go, slave!"
Although she was conflicted in her heart, she still accepted the arrangement in order not to worry Zhu Jinghong.
"Zhang Pingan, Zhang Pingan..."
Hearing Zhu Jinghong's call, Zhang Ping'an, who was sitting outside the carriage, opened the door, then poked his head in and asked, "Master Thirteen, please give me your orders!"
"After lunch, you take Yinglian to Xue's house and just tell me what I say...I have heard for a long time that Miss Xue is a very talented student, so I asked her to teach Yinglian how to read and write!"
"yes!"
Even if the matter was arranged, Zhang Pingan immediately found someone and went to Xue's house to spread the word.
Although they were following a large group of people, the Xue family were outsiders after all, so they followed at the back.
The Xue family has more than 20 large cars and 70 or 80 servants and maids accompanying them, all of which serve the Xue family mother and daughter.
Because they were traveling a long way, the Xue family's mother and daughter changed carriages after getting out of the car.
At this moment, Xue Baochai was sitting in the carriage, embroidering a handkerchief with a needle, and next to her was Ying'er, who was arranging threads.
At this time Wen Xing's voice came in: "Girl, someone is coming in front!"
"Who's coming?" Ying'er asked.
"It seems like... someone from the palace!"
Hearing this, Xue Baochai put down her needle and thread.
She looked worried and murmured in a low voice: "Brother is not here, who are you looking for!"
"Where is the Xue family girl?" The young eunuch reined in the reins and asked.
Even though he is just a young eunuch, he is here on behalf of the palace, and no one in the Xue family dares to neglect him.
"I wonder, father-in-law, what do you want from my girl?"
The young eunuch held his head high and said with a serious expression: "According to Master Thirteenth, Miss Yinglian will come over after noon today to consult with your girl!"
(End of chapter)
