In front of the stele of Queen Ma's throne, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, burst into laughter, and pointed at his sons.
He said to the stone tablet: "My sons are now older, and they understand our thoughts more and more. They are no longer like the way they were back then, and they still had to be protected by you."
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were full of tenderness as he looked at the stone tablet of Queen Ma's throne: "Now, Yunxi's child has grown up, and is now the grandson of the emperor of our Ming Dynasty. We have made an engagement for him to marry the granddaughter of Tang He's family. Ying'er sent his Caiyun girl back to Yingtian. Next year! Next year we will let them get married, and then let them bring your great-grandchildren and kowtow to you..."
After murmuring, Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head and looked at his sons in front of him, his eyes gradually becoming sharper.
He patted his thigh and said in a deep voice: "What I said last night is just a matter of words. No one can even think about going back on it."
Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze, starting from Jin King Zhu Kuan, swept across all the sons in front of him one by one.
Everyone bowed and clasped their fists.
"My son, I will never forget, and I will never regret it!"
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang pointed his hand towards Zhu Biao, who was sitting in a wheelchair and staying aside.
He raised his voice and said, "Today is the first and last time we speak in front of your mother."
Everyone's expressions froze and they all showed solemn expressions.
Zhu Biao had already vaguely guessed something at this time. He straightened his back slightly and looked at the stone tablet with his mother's name engraved on it with complicated eyes.
Zhu Yuanzhang said loudly: "Since the Ming Dynasty, the emperor's seat has been handed over to your eldest brother. Yunxi is also a good boy. I can tell you in front of your mother that we are very satisfied with that child."
Although everyone present had some speculations in their minds, when the old man actually said these words, they couldn't help but cause a slight movement.
Immediately, Zhu Di was the first to react.
He took the lead and led a group of brothers to shout loudly: "I swear to be loyal to the Ming Dynasty to the death, and to protect the peace of the Ming Dynasty to the death!"
Zhu Biao stood aside, facing his brothers, leaning forward slightly and nodding silently.
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his sleeves: "Most of you were brought up by your eldest brother, so you trust him. That kid Yunxi is your nephew, but he is also the grandson of the emperor that we like.
Depending on the three generations of the Ming Dynasty, you can have a century-old foundation of peace. If you uncles have anything you want to say, you can say it in front of your mother today.
If you have nothing to say, if anyone brings this matter up in the future, I won’t spare you, and neither will the prince! "
"I respectfully obey your orders!"
This time, Zhu Di didn't need to take the lead, everyone spoke in unison.
Then, under Zhu Yuanzhang's inspection, no one came out to speak.
After arriving here, Zhu Yuanzhang calmed down and nodded.
Then he stood up, put his hands on his hips, held his head high and looked towards Yingtian City at the foot of the mountain in the distance.
"The vassal state belongs to you, but it belongs to the Ming Dynasty, and it belongs to us! This time you can understand clearly. We are very satisfied with the request to come to the capital and invite the vassal state's food and fiefdom to be tenants and acres."
"But from now on, you must treat the people under your rule more kindly and treat them as brothers. If the second brother behaves like that again, we won't let him take the blame next time. Over in the imperial city of Fengyang It has been idle for a long time, and there is no reason for waste in our family. Anyone who commits a crime will go back to Fengyang by himself."
This is probably the last warning.
Zhu Di and others looked solemn and their bodies became more respectful.
"I obey the order."
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Zhu Biao who was sitting in the wheelchair, and then looked at his sons in front of him.
His tone softened just now: "This time, you have been back in Beijing for a long time, and it is time for you to return to your fiefdoms. We will defer the memorials you sent to the imperial court for the food and fiefdoms of the vassal state. Go. The noble sons of each family must stay in Yingtian, and we will teach them personally. You should understand the truth."
"My sons understand!"
…
"I don't understand!"
"What was the purpose of what Your Majesty said at the family banquet in the palace last night?"
In a tea room with a somewhat crude condition, Liu Sanwu, a member of the Zhongshu House, whispered with a worried look on his face.
Zhao Mian, the Minister of Household Affairs, glanced at the tea room with some disgust and shook his head silently.
The Lion Rock side is now blocked by the Jin Yiwei. Although the door is not locked, it seems that as long as the Jin Yiwei does not leave, the people inside will not be able to come out.
This made him unable to realize his interest in watching fishermen casting their nets in the river for some time.
The light in the tea room was a little dim, with only a few steam rising from the teapot and floating between the two of them.
Before Liu Sanwu could wait for Zhao Mian to speak, he put down the tea utensil and looked directly at Zhao Mian behind the mist: "What are you thinking now?"
When Zhao Mian saw Liu Sanwu asking this question, he had no choice but to say: "Your Majesty is in good health now, and the government has never been stable. There is no way that your Majesty will abdicate at this time."
"This is exactly what I can't understand." Liu Sanwu sighed, looking worried.
Zhao Mian picked up the teacup in front of him and took a silent sip. He then raised his eyes to look at Liu Sanwu in front of him, observing the old man.
Liu Sanwu whispered: "If His Majesty does not really intend to abdicate, then this can only be a bait released by His Majesty. But with such a simple bait, does Your Majesty really think that someone will take the bait? Such a calculation is even more unreasonable. ”
Zhao Mian raised his head and drank all the tea soup in the tea cup, and then said softly: "Perhaps... Your Majesty just doesn't want to cover it up?"
"Don't want to hide it?" Liu Sanwu seemed to understand something and said anxiously: "You mean?"
Zhao Mian nodded: "The truth is also false when it is fake. It has been twenty-five years since Your Majesty ascended the throne. Let's see how many people have really understood His Majesty's methods in these twenty-five years?"
After finishing speaking, Zhao Mian stood up slightly, took the teapot and poured himself another cup of tea.
Liu Sanwu frowned and thought carefully: "Hu Weiyong never understood it, Li Shanchang didn't understand it, and Song Lian couldn't understand it clearly. After so many years, no one can guess His Majesty's thoughts..."
"So, what exactly does Your Majesty want to do this time?" Zhao Mian asked a question, and then asked and answered himself: "In my opinion, it is better not to think about these things."
Liu Sanwu looked over in confusion: "If you don't want this, why should we just sit back and watch?"
Zhao Mian shook his head: "If Your Majesty really wants to abdicate, who will be the next emperor of the Ming Dynasty?"
"That will definitely be the current crown prince."
Zhao Mian added: "If His Majesty does not abdicate at this time, who will be the future emperor of the Ming Dynasty?"
Liu Sanwu rolled his eyes, but still said truthfully: "He will still be the prince."
Just when Liu Sanwu thought Zhao Mian was going to say something else, Zhao Mian suddenly stood up and rushed forward.
Zhao Mian said: "So at this time, why don't we change our thinking? After the court has decided on the examiner for this year's examination in a few days, we will let people gradually start to play and praise the great grandson's achievements over the years."
Liu Sanwu suddenly raised his head and looked at Zhao Mian in front of him, staring at him with twinkling eyes.
He couldn't help but smile, causing more wrinkles to appear on his already old cheeks.
…
A few more days.
There is a court meeting in the palace.
Early in the morning, all the high-ranking officials in Beijing got up early, set foot in the palace from Hongwu Gate, and rushed to the Zhongji Palace.
The long thousand-step corridor is a good place for officials to calm down and exchange news.
Now that the provincial examinations in various places are coming to an end, Yingtian City will soon welcome the examiners who will take part in the examinations of this subject. The candidates for the examiners of this examination will probably be selected today.
Everyone would always casually turn their attention to Ren Hengtai, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, who had caused a lot of commotion some time ago.
Logically speaking, Ren Hengtai is in charge of the Ministry of Etiquette and is the most suitable candidate to be the examiner of the Jinke Examination.
only……
Even if the rumor is broken, it will still be a disgraceful thing.
Liu Sanwu and Zhao Mian walked together, looking calmly at the whispers of their colleagues in the DPRK and China.
Zhao Mian whispered: "Today is the day when Liu Sheren will take the exam."
Liu Sanwu looked around and made sure that no one heard what he said, then he looked at Zhao Mian angrily: "The matter has not been settled, so there are countless possibilities. Let's see how your Majesty will judge today."
Zhao Mian smiled, lowered his head and focused on walking.
In the Zhongji Hall, there were already a lot of people at this moment, and it seemed more lively than usual at this time in the morning.
Just because when you enter the palace, you will find that more than ten princes wearing the royal robes of the Ming Dynasty are standing in the main hall. They are divided into two rows facing each other at the place where the prince and the emperor's grandson are next. To the court.
Zhu Yunxi stood on tiptoe and glanced outside the palace. He waited until he saw the officials in crimson attire before he stood on his heels.
"One Sword Dominates"
After today's court meeting, it is time for these uncles to leave the capital and return to their fiefdoms.
Although there are still local officials to govern, the fortress kings in northern Xinjiang, such as King Jin and King Yan, still have many frontier fortress military affairs that need to be managed.
He looked sideways at his father.
Now Zhu Biao doesn't even need a pushcart. He just holds a straight crutch close to his body and can stand firmly.
From a distance, most people would not notice that the prince was still walking on a crutch if they were not careful.
When Zhu Yunxi was thinking wildly.
All the officials had already entered the palace, probably because they all knew that there was going to be a discussion today. After entering the palace, these people stood in their positions as if they needed reminders from the supervisory censors in the past.
After a while, Sun Gouer's loud reminder came.
Zhu Yuanzhang appeared in the court hall with steady steps.
Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting on the throne, just glanced at the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty.
He leaned back and waved his robe.
Without waiting for the officials to ask for permission, he already spoke loudly: "Today we are discussing the selection of examiners for the current examination. All the ministers can discuss it. We will select talents for the Ming Dynasty and select the most appropriate person."
