More than an hour later, King Lu and others rode in carriages outside the Ganquan Gate of the Prince's Mansion.
After the carriage stopped, King Lu sighed sincerely: "The road from the capital to Prince Qi's Mansion is wide, straight and flat. It was quite comfortable to ride in the carriage all the way. I fell asleep in a daze. .
This road must have cost the court a lot of money. "
Tang Jie said with a smile: "My grandnephew has really heard people in the capital say that this straight road did not cost the imperial court a single penny, and it was all money paid by the Prince of Qi himself.
This avenue is paved with large bluestones that have been carefully polished and smoothed, and trees are planted on both sides. Drainage ditches are even built, and the money spent is like running water.
However, in order to promote the newly minted Jingtai Tongbao, the emperor deliberately spent money. The craftsmen and civil servants hired by Prince Qi's Mansion were paid three times their wages.
Old, young, women and children came to the construction site to do some random work, cleaning and cleaning the debris, and cooking for the craftsmen. The Prince of Qi also sprinkled a lot of copper coins. The poor people in the capital still praise the emperor and the princesses for their virtues.
And after the road is repaired, anyone can walk on this avenue. The people enjoyed the convenience and called this road Qi Guo Avenue. "
The Prince of Lu smiled when he heard this and said, "The state of Qi means self-cultivation, family order, country governance, and world peace.
Dao, on the other hand, praises the emperor and his beloved concubines for their actions, which are for the country and the people, and are in line with Dao.
Are you sure that 'Qi Guo Da Dao' is the name given by the common people? I'm afraid it's not the Qi Princesses who are bragging. "
Tang Jie replied: "It really came from the people in the capital. There is no rumor that the princesses are bragging about it."
King Lu waved his hand: "Okay, get out of the car quickly. Don't talk nonsense for a while. Jie'er and I will be responsible for answering the questions."
King Lu's sons nodded repeatedly. Anyway, they didn't want to talk to those princesses.
After everyone discussed it, they got off the carriage and looked towards the palace. They couldn't help but be stunned.
Didn't we say it was a palace, so why did we build a tall city wall?
And the style is completely different from the Forbidden City, which has red walls and yellow tiles. Prince Qi's Mansion, on the other hand, is built with blue bricks, even the gate. It is quite simple and elegant, without the royal nobility of the Forbidden City.
King Lu and his party will enter through Ganquan Gate and go to Qingyun Pavilion of Ganquan Palace to meet the saint. Behind him, there was an endless stream of carriages and horses, carrying countless belongings, filing in from the main entrance of Prince Qi's Mansion in the distance.
When Prince Lu saw this, he teased: "The emperor has made a huge fortune from this mutiny. How much wealth can be obtained by confiscating the house?"
Just as Prince Lu was sighing, he saw a young junior student wearing a sixth-grade official uniform with a childish face approaching him and his group.
Everyone frowned, the people in Prince Qi's Mansion were so strange.
I saw the young man approaching and knelt down and saluted: "Wang Xian, a member of the Secretariat of the Secret Service and a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, has met His Royal Highness King Lu, met the Crown Prince, met all the princes and princes, and met the young prince."
The others were fine, but Tang Jie was embarrassed by the call from the young man.
King Lu hurriedly stepped forward to help him up: "I know you are the first in the second class, the youngest Jinshi in this department, the son-in-law of Wei Guogong, a young hero, and you have a bright future."
Wang Xian replied: "I accept His Highness's ridiculous praise, and I am ashamed that I cannot bear it."
King Lu wanted to hold Wang Xian for a detailed discussion. After all, such a young man was obviously highly appreciated by the emperor. Sooner or later, he would become a successful man. There was almost nothing wrong with using multiple sets.
Unexpectedly, a chorus of shouts came from behind them. When everyone turned around, they saw hundreds of craftsmen using a special ox cart to slowly move a huge boulder towards the main entrance.
King Lu asked curiously: "What is this?"
Wang Xian smiled and said: "Reporting to Your Highness, this is a Hetian jade screen that Emperor Gongrang gave to him in order to win over Gao Ping, the eunuch in charge of the Queen Mother's Palace, and make him participate in the rebellion.
This was stolen goods, and Gao Ping did not dare to accept it, so he dedicated it to our princess and asked the emperor to protest.
The princess had pardoned his crime because of his meritorious service in the first prosecution.
Our princess doesn’t like gold and silver, she only likes jade, colored glaze and porcelain.
This treasure has been transported outside the mansion last night. Isn't it going to be sent to the Lingyu Palace this morning and placed as a screen in front of the princess's jasper bed? "
Wang Xian's words contained a lot of information, and these contents, especially the words about the emperor's rebellion, Wang Xian would never have dared to say nonsense without the princess's instruction.
King Lu nodded, knowing in his heart that the princess was taking the opportunity to beat herself up.
Before meeting, let's show off.
So King Lu politely exchanged a few words with Wang Xian before leading everyone into Ganquan Camp and all the way to Qingyun Pavilion.
Walking up to the third floor, it turned out that the emperor was not there, and there were two ice beauties sitting side by side on the soft couch.
Everyone only glanced at it briefly, and secretly exclaimed in their hearts that it was rare. The women in front of them, just one by one, were all stunning beauties. The most rare thing was that the two women looked exactly the same.
There is no difference even in the clothes and jewelry. The only difference is that one person has a ruby bracelet on his wrist, while the other person wears a jasper bracelet.
This pair of jade bracelets is dazzling and looks like a priceless rare treasure. It shows how much the emperor loves the two little princesses.
But the pair of beauties were as motionless as two icebergs, with no intention of getting up to greet them.
King Lu had no choice but to grit his teeth and lead everyone to kneel down and kowtow in salute.
After the ceremony was completed, a cold voice came to everyone's ears: "Please forgive me and give me a seat."
After everyone was seated, Qianxue asked straight to the point: "Your Majesty is going to convene a meeting of relatives to determine the charges against the Queen Mother, and also to decide on the treatment of the relatives of the emperor who are involved in the rebellion this time.
Your Majesty invited His Royal Highness King Lu to come here today because he wants to know how His Royal Highness King Lu views these things? "
King Lu frowned when he heard this. These two princesses were so rude. They didn't even call them uncles. They just called them random names like "His Royal Highness, King Lu. His Highness, King Lu."
But people under the low eaves have to bow their heads. King Lu didn't blame these princesses. If the mutiny was won by the side of the emperor, then everyone, as the victors, would treat these beloved concubines a hundred times worse.
You have rebelled and failed, so it makes no sense to allow others to show off.
So King Lu bravely replied: "If the Queen Mother's crime is proven true, I agree to depose the Queen Mother."
Qianxue nodded: "That's it. On the tenth day of the seventh month, a meeting of relatives will be formally held. On that day, matters concerning the Queen Mother and the Sun family will be discussed first."
After saying that, Qianxue picked up the tea cup and signaled to see the guests off.
King Lu and others were stunned: We have been running around for dozens of miles, and it's all over with just such a sentence?
King Lu had no choice but to put down his old face, lowered his eyebrows and asked meekly: "May I ask my empress, after attending the meeting of relatives, can we return to the fiefdom?"
"Go back to the fief?"
An incredulous expression appeared on Qianxue's face, and she asked curiously.
King Lu was startled: "We can't return to the fiefdom?"
"You have all rebelled, and you want to go back to the fiefdom? How can there be such a beautiful thing in the world? Then you don't have to do anything else, just rebel every day. Anyway, there are no consequences if you fail. Just touch your upper lip to your lower lip. Went back to the fiefdom."
King Lu quickly defended: "My dear, I did not participate in the rebellion, and my bodyguard did not hand over to Shi Heng and follow the army to cause chaos. I went to Fengtianmen to attend the banquet in accordance with the requirements of the court."
Qianxue nodded: "There are so many rebel kings, and His Majesty is heartbroken. He was feeling better at first, but now he is so angry that he is bedridden again.
After learning from the painful experience, His Majesty decided to carry out vassal reform. First of all, the seven princes who were killed must abolish the feudal vassal and eliminate the country. Secondly, a large part of the surviving kings still need to be killed.
In addition, those with slightly extenuating circumstances should be relocated to Fengyang, the central capital, and live together. The princes of each family are only allowed to send the prince back to the feudal country to guard it, and the rest must stay in the central capital.
And from now on, the prince's eldest son, Feng Shizi, will inherit the prince's title in the future. The other sons born to the prince's first concubine and second concubine were granted the title of county king. The son of the prince's concubine will no longer be named a county king.
The eldest son of the county prince, Feng Shizi, will inherit the title of county prince in the future. The other sons born to the principal concubine and the second concubine of the county prince were granted the title of general of the country. The son of the prince's concubine will no longer be granted the title of general of the country.
The titles under the Zhenguo generals were abolished, and their children were incorporated into the civil register to support themselves. "
Hearing this, everyone froze in place. Is the emperor crazy?
King Lu asked in surprise: "Why does Your Majesty have such intentions?"
Qianxue explained: "There are more and more clans, lawlessness in the feudal country, and harm to the people. If this continues, the Ming Dynasty will not be able to bear it.
Your Majesty is public-minded, and your Majesty's sons will abide by the same vassal regulations in the future.
King Lu, you also know that Your Majesty could have avoided such trouble. During the mutiny three days ago, none of the vassal princes originally survived. It was His Majesty who thought of the close friendship and felt compassion.
Hasn’t King Lu heard about the old events between Xuan Temple and the Han Palace?
Just accept it when you see fit. Don't force His Majesty to become ruthless. "
King Lu asked again: "May I ask the empress, what other vassal reforms will there be?"
Qianxue replied without hesitation: "There is also a move to the feudal state. Give priority to King Sai and return the guards. If King Lu is willing to move to the border, you can leave today, and the treatment will be generous, definitely beyond your imagination."
King Lu shook his head: "I can't leave my hometown, can you move to a place closer? It doesn't require any generous treatment, as long as the family can live in peace."
Qianxue replied: "Qufu is where the Holy Duke Yan lives. These Kong family members don't care about benefiting the people. They indulge in extravagance and harm the place. Your Majesty already hates them. He has long wanted to send a wise king to guard it."
King Lu nodded: "Yes, I am willing to move the vassal to Qufu."
Making this decision was not difficult at all. King Lu was curious if the princess in front of him was confused. Did she mix up the feudal king's fiefdom record? Or can't you tell where is where?
Yanzhou and Qufu are only thirty miles apart, and Yanzhou often suffers from floods. Last year it suffered a major disaster. King Lu was eager to move to Qufu in the west.
(End of chapter)
