Zhu Fan stood at the gate and welcomed Zhu Biao in.
The Prince's Palace of Jin was also built according to the prince's palace system established by Lao Zhu in the fourth year of Hongwu.
The size of Lao Zhulian's palace, the height and width of the palace walls, the height and width of the doors, the location of the ancestral temple and even the color of the glazed tiles.
The number and layout of rooms in the palace must be in accordance with regulations, otherwise it will be considered a violation. Someone complained and after verification, the items that did not meet the requirements were demolished.
Originally, Lao Zhu stipulated this because he was afraid that the princes would have no control and build the palace bigger than the palace, or for convenience, the palace would be built too shabby and lose the royal face.
But because the rules were too strict, there was nothing to see in the palace.
Several princes could only work hard on the gardens, interior decoration, and furniture to reflect their own personalities.
For example, King Yan is pragmatic, and Princess Yan is more carefree than ordinary women, so everything in the palace is pragmatic, sturdy, and easy to use.
As long as the lantern can illuminate, the furniture should be square.
Even the trees planted must be able to bloom, bear fruit, provide shade or provide wood, and must be easy to maintain. Useless and difficult trees are not planted.
The interior of Zhu Fan's mansion is extremely luxurious, with carved red sandalwood furniture, lanterns with gold trim hanging in the corridors, and whole jade screens everywhere.
Even the flowers and plants are planted with orchids, peonies and other delicate and magnificent flowers.
There are huge red carps in the rockery of Taihu Lake, and rare blue water lilies are quietly exhaling their fragrance on the water.
No matter how luxurious Zhu Fan is, Zhu Biao doesn't find it strange.
After all, Shanxi produces coal, and the imperial court uses coal to make weapons and other things.
Lao Zhu's preference for Zhu Fan is obvious.
The richest place was allocated to him. It was said that he was asked to guard the border of Shanxi, but in fact, the guards in Shanxi were very fierce, and Zhu Fan didn't need to bother at all.
In comparison, Zhu Di's area is really a poor place.
Nothing but enemies.
It's still freezing cold.
The banquet was placed in a pavilion by the water. Next to the pavilion was hung gauze, a specialty of Guangdong, so that the cool breeze from the lake could blow in through the gauze to keep out mosquitoes.
Zhu Biao glanced at the delicacies on the table, resisted the urge to advise Zhu Fan to be more simple, and sat down silently.
Zhu Fan poured a glass of wine for Zhu Biao: "Brother, you have had a hard time on the road."
Zhu Biao nodded: "Not bad, not bad."
The two chatted for a while.
Seeing that he was hesitant to speak, Zhu Biao said, "Do you want to ask about Concubine Li Shu?"
Zhu Fan's eyes turned red and he nodded: "After all, she has been kind to me in giving birth to a child. Although I can't fulfill my filial piety before my bed, I at least want to know how she is..."
Although Lao Zhu strictly ordered the palace people not to discuss this matter, various news still reached Zhu Fan.
Some people say that Concubine Li Shu was poisoned on the order of Lao Zhu, some say that Concubine Li was possessed by an evil spirit, and some people say that Concubine Li Shu suffered retribution for doing too many bad things, and she was frightened crazy when she met Concubine Ji's innocent ghost.
And when Concubine Ji died, Lao Zhu had the same attitude.
So Zhu Fan felt even more surprised.
He must figure this out, otherwise he won't be able to sleep at night and his food won't taste good.
Zhu Biao said: "When Empress Shu died, it was at night, so I was not in the palace and could not see it with my own eyes. Moreover, my father ordered people to take her away and bury her quickly, so I did not see her remains."
Zhu Fan was a little disappointed: "Don't even the eldest brother know?"
Then he would never be able to figure it out.
After all, Zhu Biao is the person most likely to tell him the truth.
He once thought about asking Zhu Bai, but Zhu Bai had already been kicked out of the palace by Concubine Li Shu at that time.
Moreover, even Zhu Bai's own mother became an ancient woman in a short period of time.
Zhu Bai was on the road, but Lao Zhu didn't allow him to go back to attend the funeral.
Therefore, the possibility of Zhu Bai poisoning Li Shufei is basically ruled out.
Zhu Biao added: "However, if you want to know so much, I can go back and check."
Zhu Fan hurriedly stood up and saluted Zhu Biao solemnly: "Then I'll leave it to my eldest brother."
Zhu Biao hurriedly stood up and took Zhu Fan's arm: "Third brother, don't go out. I'll help you check. Can you promise me to guard Shanxi for the Ming Dynasty from now on?"
Zhu Fan said: "If my eldest brother can help me find out, I won't dare to slack off any more."
Zhu Biao patted Zhu Fan's hand: "Then we have decided. Tomorrow morning, you will accompany your elder brother to see the border."
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Zhu Fan was waiting for Zhu Biao outside the Guanya Bureau Inn early in the morning, looking completely different from his lazy look yesterday.
Zhu Biao was very satisfied with his performance and said a few words of encouragement, and the two of them walked north together with the commander-in-chief and others.
At this time, the border of Shanxi Dusi was as far away as near Daqing Mountain.
Taiyuan Prefecture governs six states and 22 counties. There are 13 counties under the direct jurisdiction of the prefecture and nine counties under the state jurisdiction.
Moreover, unlike Shaanxi, Shanxi does not have the Yellow River as a natural moat.
If the soldiers defending the city are not strong, the Mongols can come and leave as they please.
Therefore, the defense of Taiyuan Prefecture is also very important to the entire Ming Dynasty.
The Taiyuan capital commander accompanied Zhu Biao all the way north, and climbed the Great Wall at Zhenxiwei.
Zhu Biao pointed to the vast grassland in the distance: "Have the Mongols invaded recently?"
The capital commander said: "Before the King of Xiang was captured, Wang Baobao and several tribes often came to plunder. After the King of Xiang was captured, there was no more. It's really strange. The same goes for Datong."
Zhu Biao sighed secretly in his heart: That's because Zhu Bai wiped out all the capable forces he could eliminate, and scared those people so much that they defected to Naha in the northeast.
Zhu Biao was very satisfied with the government and military affairs in Taiyuan, and after giving Zhu Fan a few words, he left Shanxi for Shaanxi.
From Taiyuan to Xi'an, you have to cross the Yellow River.
At that time, Lao Zhu brought Zhu Di to Peiping, firstly to let him defend against enemies in the Northeast, and secondly, to separate him from Yingtian by using the two natural chasms of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River.
Now that Zhu Biao has arrived at the Yellow River, he has to admire Lao Zhu's wisdom.
The Yellow River is so turbulent and wide that if there is no bridge, the army will have to pay a huge price if they want to cross the river.
Moreover, Lao Zhu also arranged powerful generals and dozens of guard posts in Shandong and Shanxi.
Firstly, it was to guard against foreign enemies, and secondly, it was to guard against Zhu Di.
Zhu Biao, who was originally worried about Zhu Di, was now completely relieved.
Go all the way west to see Zhu Ping.
For Zhu Cang, Zhu Biao felt a little guilty.
First, after Deng Zhiqiu died, he held him down and did not allow him to resist, and when Li Shufei died, he did not inform the two brothers of the details.
Even when Zhu Ping was "sent back" to Xi'an, Lao Zhu did not allow Zhu Biao to say goodbye in order to express punishment.
After meeting, Zhu Ming was silent and cautious, which made Zhu Biao feel even more uncomfortable.
In Zhu Biao's impression, Zhu Ping has always been very flamboyant and reckless.
Among the brothers, the most silent one is Zhu Di, and the most dull one is Zhu Ju.
But now Zhu Xi is even more silent than Zhu Di.
Seeing his arrogant brother become like this, Zhu Biao felt like a thorn had entered his throat.
Zhu Biao entered the palace and saw that there were no outsiders around, so he said, "Second brother, you don't have to be like this."
