Li Wenzhong shook his wine glass and said softly: "Your Highness personally welcomes Duke Ying, and I should also pay a visit to the Duke's Mansion tomorrow."
Zhu Biao shook his head and said softly: "No need, Duke Ying knows it well, and the East Palace family has been a little too swollen recently, which is not good for the country and the family. It's time for my cousin to clean up."
Li Wenzhong sighed after hearing this. Since the prince came to govern, the East Palace family has been expanding day by day. Now 80% of Wu Xun who is staying in Beijing have visited Cao Guogong's mansion. Even though he didn't say it explicitly, the meaning is very clear.
Nowadays, the power that Zhu Biao can mobilize with a warrant is considerable, but this is too empty, and recruiting people is not only beneficial. Necessary political protection must be given naturally, which can easily conflict with the general environment of the imperial court to purge officials. , when there are more people, good and evil will be mixed together, not to mention how many generals who came from troubled times know the law and abide by it.
Just as Li Wenzhong was about to speak, Zhu Biao waved his hand and said, "Let's talk at my cousin's house later. I haven't visited for a long time. It's hard to have anything else to do today. I will be busy again in the future."
Li Wenzhong immediately agreed with a smile. Seeing that the two of them had no intention of talking, the people around him naturally gathered around. The princes and nobles surrounded the prince and talked, which made the civil servants on the other side look at him.
The Minister of Household Affairs next to Hu Weiyong whispered: "Since ancient times, I have never heard of a prince and prince being allowed to accept military honors in the court. This is also unprecedented."
The Minister of the Ministry of War asked the surrounding ministers to disperse and said: "I'm afraid there will be no successors. King Kaiping who guards the north and Liu Bowen who goes south are also officials of the East Palace. What's more important is that these martial arts who stayed in Beijing are masters. The one with the military power in the Beijing Camp, plus Zhang Wei from the Military and Horse Command Department, haha, the prince’s order in the capital is more effective than the order from the Ministry of War.”
The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel looked at Zhu Yuanzhang who was taking Duke Ying to drink and said: "Only our sage can do this. The emperor and empress have a deep love. The prince is the direct descendant of the empress, and there is no one who has the right to do so." Not to mention that the prince himself is both civil and military, how could you possibly choose a better one?"
The Minister of Hubu shook his head and said: "It's not that the Crown Prince is not good, but isn't the Holy One worried? Let's not mention the military commanders and nobles for the time being. The Imperial College and the Xinke Jinshi are also led by the Crown Prince. Look With this posture, I am afraid that in a few years, all the officials in various states in the Ming Dynasty will come from the East Palace...
Hu Weiyong interrupted them and said: "It is a good thing that the country is stable. Is it possible that you still want to find a prince to try to succeed in the dragon's success?"
The Minister of War shook his head and smiled bitterly. The other princes were so suppressed by the Holy Emperor that they could not even have too much contact with their own mother clan. They were even more incompatible with court officials like them. How could they have the capital to play Qianlong.
The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel sighed: "There are still vacancies for subordinate officials in the East Palace, but the Holy Emperor has not asked officials from Zhongshu Province or the Sixth Ministry to fill them up. Even Prime Minister Wang and Prime Minister Hu..."
As soon as these words came out, the rest of the people were silent, and the next words were not suitable to be said here. After they dispersed, they were surrounded by a group of lower-level officials, and when they found the opportunity, they would go to the Holy Emperor or the Prince.
Since there were a lot of government affairs in the court recently, the banquet broke up after two hours. The civil servants went back to their offices to do their work. The generals made an appointment to find a place tonight to have a good drink without getting drunk.
Zhu Yuanzhang led Fu Youde back to the Jinshen Palace, and Zhu Biao, accompanied by Li Wenzhong, returned to Cao Guogong's Mansion. Its interior layout was different from that of the Jiangnan courtyard. The high-walled courtyard was extraordinary and had a strong military commander style. Zhu Biao did not have time to take a closer look.
When Zhu Biao was sitting in the main hall, Li Wenzhong's wife, Mrs. Zhao, brought her two legitimate sons to pay homage. Li Wenzhong got married quite early, and the eldest son, Li Jinglong, is now seven or eight years old, and his features are delicate and energetic.
Li Wenzhong sat beside him and said with a smile: "His Royal Highness has really not been to my home for a while. Why don't you pay your respects to Jinglong Zengzhi soon!"
Mrs. Zhao was extremely beautiful but of mediocre background, but she was also knowledgeable and reasonable. She respectfully led her two sons to kneel on the ground and said, "My wife and my son are here to pay homage to His Royal Highness. Your Highness Qianqiu."
The two little ones also kowtowed obediently. Zhu Biao nodded with a smile and said: "Cousin-in-law, come on, you won't have to be so polite when you come home from now on. We are a family, and I am busy outside on weekdays. Cousin-in-law, you might as well go to the East Palace to talk to Luo Hua when you have time."
Zhao stood up gently and said with a smile: "What Your Highness said is that I planned to go there often, but the Crown Princess is pregnant, and I am afraid that I will disturb the pregnancy by going there rashly. I will wait until the fetus is stable in a few days." "
Zhu Biao smiled and leaned back on the chair and waved to the two children: "The last time I saw you two was last year. You have grown a lot taller. Come over here and let your uncle take a look."
The two children were not ignorant. They came up to Zhu Biao obediently, with awe and intimacy in their eyes. Zhu Biao asked a few trivial matters softly, which made them lively and spoke in a more lively tone.
Seeing this, Li Wenzhong and Mrs. Zhao both had smiles on their faces. The prince must have come to the house specially to discuss important matters. He casually dismissed the women and children and they had nothing to say. Now he is willing to spend time to show his family friendship.
Zhu Biaoyou asked them a few simple questions about their studies, and then asked Liu Jin to take out the prepared Four Treasures of the Imperial Study and two pieces of Tuanlong Jade Pendants, which had very good meanings. When Zhao saw that they were done, he hurriedly said: "Don't do it anymore." Excuse me, Your Highness, come back quickly."
Li Wenzhong also pretended to be stern and said: "How dare you accept His Highness's reward for what you have learned? Why don't you thank me quickly and go back to study!"
The Li brothers were quite aggrieved when they heard this, feeling that their little dignity had been trampled to pieces in front of their uncle, but remembering their own father's finger-thick rattan braid, they obediently held the jade pendant and knelt down to express their gratitude.
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Zhu Biao looked at it with great interest: "My cousin is too strict, but he is a bit like my father. Jinglong and Zengzhi are only a few years old, so it's enough to be able to learn with peace of mind."
Zhu Biao lowered his waist slightly and pulled up the two boys: "Go down. If you have time, go to the palace with your mother. The queen often talks about you."
The Li brothers nodded and returned to their mother obediently. Mrs. Zhao bowed to Zhu Biao and took them down to prepare tea and snacks.
Zhu Biao looked at Li Jinglong's back with a smile, thinking in his mind that this boy, like Zhu Yunwen, was an embroidered pillow and was useless. At present, Zengzhi's talent was average, and it would be difficult for the Li family to produce anyone comparable to Li Wenzhong. .
Li Wenzhong suddenly sighed and said: "As the saying goes, you look old at the age of three. The qualifications of these two sons are somewhat average. I am afraid it is difficult for them to achieve anything. Is it because they are better at the hands of a housewife?"
Zhu Biao agreed in his heart but could not say this about his son: "Cousin, it is too early to make a conclusion. I think Jinglong is good. Gu Panweiran is talented and intelligent. Besides, it is enough for them to inherit the family business in the future." ”
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