The vassal king's pilgrimage to Beijing was an extremely important part of the vassal system established by Taizu.
The purpose was to allow the emperor and the vassal king to communicate with each other every three to five years.
Let's all eat and drink together, and watch the beautiful girls from the Jiaofang Division dance and play the flute. Don't break the family ties.
Only with the friendship of the clan can we protect the vassal clan.
However, after the funeral of Taizu, King Zhu Di of Yan came to Beijing to pay homage. He escaped from Yingtian by pretending to be crazy and acted like a fool, returned to Peiping and used it as his nickname, and raised an army to quell Jingnan.
Xiao Zongping's big fight has become Xiao Zong's fight for the big fight.
The "Emperor's Ming Xun" clearly stipulates that vassal kings cannot enter Beijing at the same time and must make pilgrimages in staggered months.
Therefore, only one vassal king, King Xing, came to Beijing for pilgrimage this time.
Tongzhou Pier.
King Xing got off the ship wearing Zhijin tuanpengfu. Lu Song, as the official guard of the Ceremony Department, accompanied him by wearing a flying fish.
Chang Feng also wore Feiyu, with an embroidered spring on his waist, and knelt down and kowtowed to King Xing: "My lord, Commander Zuo Tongzhi Chang Feng, commander of the Jinyi Guards, pays homage to His Highness King Xing, thousand years old, thousand years old!"
If Chang Feng hadn't leaked the framed letter from the Imperial Concubine Party, the person sitting on the dragon throne at this moment might not be Emperor Hongzhi, but Prince Xing.
King Xing was young at that time and didn't know the whole story.
Now Emperor Hongzhi has been on the throne for 12 years. What happened on that autumn night thirteen years ago is no longer a secret. It was widely circulated among officials.
King Xing only learned about the story of the autumn night in the 22nd year of Chenghua after listening to Lu Song's narration last year.
He was actually very grateful to Chang Feng for not letting him get deeper into the battle for the reserve position.
King Xing said: "Chang Qing, please get up quickly."
Chang Feng stood up: "Your Highness, the Ministry of Rites has prepared the five-chariot chariot for your entry into the capital. The Jin Yiwei has also prepared the guard of honor for your entry into the capital."
"I respectfully invite Your Highness to board the chariot and enter the capital."
Chariot, carriage.
Zhou Rites stipulates: The emperor drives six, the princes drive five, the ministers four, the officials three, the scholars two, and the common people one.
The decoration of the feudal king's chariot is yellow and red, which is not much different from the dragon chariot. The only difference is the lack of a horse.
King Xing got the royal chariot. Chang Feng rode on horseback and led the Han generals to clear the way. He entered the capital in glory and arrived in front of Fengtian Gate.
Emperor Hongzhi was a man who attached great importance to family ties. He treated his relatives with utmost kindness and honor, let alone his own brother?
He had been waiting eagerly outside Fengtian Gate for half an hour.
Needless to say, the brothers reunited, a touching scene.
Then, under the auspices of the Minister of Rites, King Xing began to perform the pilgrimage ceremony.
This time King Xing came to Beijing with his wife Jiang.
The feudal princess did not participate in the Hajj ceremony. Concubine Jiang and Lu Song actually followed Chang Feng to Jinyiwei!
The biggest Jin Yiwei spy beside King Xing was not Lu Song, but Concubine Jiang.
Needless to say, Lu Song. His father, Lu Chi, is the general banner of Jinyiwei. A descendant of Tiqi who belongs to Gen Hongmiaozheng.
Concubine Jiang is more upright than Lu Song. Her family has been running secret errands for Zhu Yuanzhang since the time when the Wu Palace was in charge of the Guards Department, and they were all Jin Yiwei for the next four generations.
Concubine Jiang's father, Jiang Xiao, even served as the commander of the Imperial Guards, Zuo Qian, and retired in the middle of the Chenghua Dynasty.
Jiang Jiao had no heirs, only one daughter. Jin Yiwei didn't leave her idle either.
When Emperor Hongzhi issued an order to select Princess Xing, Zhu Ji and Chang Feng discussed it and made the daughter of the Jiang family the unofficial concubine of Prince Xing.
She was close to Prince Xing, and she was still at the level of a prince and a concubine. Naturally, she had received instructions from Emperor Hongzhi.
Brotherhood is brotherhood. Necessary surveillance is essential.
King Xing himself also knew that his bedside men and confidants were the eyes and ears of Jinyiwei. He didn't think anything was wrong.
I am open-minded and not afraid of surveillance. Besides, the emperor sent people to monitor me for my own good. Sometimes surveillance is another form of protection.
The commander of the Jin Yiwei is on duty.
Mou Bin, Chang Feng, Wang Miaoxin, Qian Ning, and Shi Wenyi knelt down in front of Concubine Jiang and said in unison: "I pay my respects to Concubine Xing."
Concubine Jiang looked rebellious: "Ping Shen!"
Everyone thanked him and stood up.
Concubine Jiang immediately changed her expression to a relaxed one, sat on the chair at the top, took off the Zhu Cuiyan crown on her head, and placed it on the table.
Concubine Jiang removed her crown in front of Chang Feng and others, which meant that she did not treat them as outsiders.
She picked up the tea on the table and drank it "Chao Chao Chao" regardless of who drank it.
After drinking, she wiped her lips and said: "It's only spring in April, is it so hot in the capital?"
Chang Feng quickly ordered Shi Wenyi: "Go and prepare iced sour plum soup for the princess."
Shi Wenyi took the order and left.
Concubine Jiang shouted to him: "Remember to add more ice!"
Concubine Jiang has played in Jinyiwei since she was a child. For her, Jinyiwei is half of her natal family.
Entering her mother's house made her feel relaxed. It’s no different than outside, bound by etiquette.
Concubine Jiang casually picked up a case file on the table, folded it in half and fanned it: "I knew Chang Tongzhi, Wang Qianshi and Qian Qianshi before I got married. This is the first time I have met Commander Mou."
Mou Bin held up his hand and said, "In reply to the princess's words. When you married His Royal Highness Prince Xing, I was still serving in Nanjing Jinyiwei."
Concubine Jiang put down the case file in her hand: "Why are you still standing? Sit down!"
"I am Lao Tiqi's daughter. Jinyiweipaoze is like my natal brother. Why should I be so polite?"
Chang Feng and others took their seats.
Shi Wenyi brought iced sour plum soup to Concubine Jiang. He also had a big cattail fan on his waist. He put down the sour plum soup and started to fan Concubine Jiang.
Concubine Jiang picked up the bowl and drank "Chao Chao Chao" in one gulp. Then she licked her lips and said, "It's so satisfying! Our Jinyiwei's sour plum soup is authentic!"
"But there seems to be too little black plum and sweet-scented osmanthus. Isn't it cooked by the waiter's old soup?"
Sure enough, she is Lao Tiqi's daughter, and she knows all about Jin Yiwei's sour plum soup.
Chang Feng was stunned: "The waiter Lao Tang has passed away."
Three years ago, Lao Tang was killed by the ghost Zhao Xiangfo. Concubine Jiang was naturally unaware of this matter.
Concubine Jiang had a sad expression on her face: "Huh? When I was a child, I came to Jinyiwei with my father. The first thing I did was to go to the waiter to ask for Lao Tang to drink some sour plum soup, pear pulp, and perilla."
"Oh, it's true that the moon waxes and wanes, and people have misfortune and good fortune."
Chang Feng took out a piece of paper: "Princess, the Hajj will be over soon. Do you think we should hurry up and get down to business?"
Concubine Jiang nodded: "Okay! Let's do business first."
The "business" that Chang Feng mentioned was an inquiry about Concubine Jiang. Although Concubine Jiang has a distinguished status, she is still one of Jin Yiwei's registered ears and eyes.
Chang Feng began to ask: "How is His Royal Highness Prince Xing's daily life in Anlu Prefecture?"
Concubine Jiang replied: "He doesn't like to indulge in pleasure. He is obsessed with poetry and calligraphy."
King Xing was a man who was passionate about music and literature. His representative work "Collected Poems of Enji" has a very high literary level.
Chang Feng asked: "How is the personal relationship between His Highness King Xing and the two guards and the local guard generals?"
Concubine Jiang replied: "He has never been involved in military matters. He has no interaction with the generals on weekdays."
"He has always been a scholar who talks and laughs, but has no ordinary people in his dealings. He doesn't want to make friends with Qiu Ba."
Chang Feng asked again: "Are there any illegal things such as annexing people's land?"
Concubine Jiang replied: "He also annexed the land of the common people. He has been a vassal for four years, but 30,000 acres of the 80,000 acres of vassal land have been donated. It is used to help the poor, help the poor, and build free schools."
Chang Feng continued to ask: "What is the relationship between His Highness Prince Xing and local officials? Do you interfere in local government affairs?"
Concubine Jiang replied: "He never makes friends with local officials. Local officials only enter the palace on three festivals every year to perform the courtesy of kings and ministers."
"As for local government affairs, he is too lazy to get involved. Apart from reading every day, he spends his time with a group of literati reciting poems, drinking and playing chess."
Chang Feng recorded Concubine Jiang's answers on paper one by one.
Then he lowered his head and took small steps to come to Concubine Jiang. He held the piece of paper in his hands and said, "Can I trouble you, Concubine, to sign it?"
Concubine Jiang signed and stamped the paper.
Chang Feng turned to Lu Song and asked: "Is Lu Dianzhan willing to guarantee what the princess says?"
Lu Song replied: "Everything the princess said is true. I am willing to be your guarantee."
Chang Feng nodded: "Okay, please sign and stamp it."
Lu Song signed and stamped, and the business was finally done.
Concubine Jiang chatted with everyone about her family life: "How is Mr. Sun Gui Shou Sun's health? I was not sensible when I was young, so I just played with his white beard."
Chang Feng sighed: "Alas. To report back to the princess, Master Sun passed away last year. The emperor posthumously awarded him the rank of General Dingguo."
"Princess, don't be too sad. Master Sun was eighty-nine years old. He didn't suffer much when he left."
"He ate a roast duck at noon and then took a nap and never woke up again. It's a happy mourning."
Concubine Jiang sighed: "Oh. Mr. Sun is also a very lucky man. He is the longest-lived person among the people I know."
Concubine Jiang has no airs. There is a natural affinity between the big and small leaders of Jinyiwei who dislike people and dogs.
In her opinion, both Chang Feng and Mou Bin are half of her natal family. There is no need to take into account so many restrictive etiquette in front of the mother's family.
Not long after, the conductor filled the room on duty with laughter and laughter.
It's almost noon.
Chang Feng estimated that the pilgrimage ceremony in Fengtian Hall was almost over. He stood up and said, "I respectfully ask the princess to move."
Concubine Jiang held up the Zhu Cuiyan Crown in both hands and sighed: "Oh, I have to take this troublesome thing with me again when I leave my parents' home. On this hot day, wearing it is like holding a stove on my head."
Everyone respectfully sent Concubine Jiang to the door.
Concubine Jiang suddenly remembered something: "Oh, by the way, His Highness likes to play with gourds recently. Huguang doesn't produce good ones. You should pay attention and find some good gourds for him in the capital."
Chang Feng cupped his hands and said, "Yes. I will definitely find a batch of the best gourds for His Highness."
Concubine Jiang got on the sedan chair and left with Lu Song.
Chang Feng looked at Concubine Jiang's back and sighed: "The concubine is really approachable."
Mou Bin agreed: "Yes, after all, she is the daughter of our senior Jinyiwei family."
Chang Feng told Shi Wenyi: "The two uncles of the Zhang family are experts in playing gourds. You should go to them immediately to buy the best gourd blanks."
"Find the best gourd carver in the capital and carve the carvings on the gourd carefully."
"Don't be stingy with money. Money comes from the Wei."
Shi Wenyi took the order and left.
Let’s talk about the palace.
As soon as the pilgrimage ceremony at Fengtian Palace was over, Emperor Hongzhi took his younger brother's hand and went directly to Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Hongzhi gave King Xing a seat, with the two sitting next to each other.
Emperor Hongzhi said: "I haven't seen you for four years. My fourth disciple is half a head taller than me. Are you okay in Anlu Prefecture?"
King Xing is very good at talking: "Brother Huang is the most blessed emperor in history. My younger brother is blessed by Brother Huang and is the most blessed minister."
"Brother Chen is living comfortably and happily in Anlu Prefecture. He is getting better and better at playing chess. He has also made some achievements in calligraphy."
Emperor Hongzhi suddenly had a violent cough. Now his complexion was yellow and his body was thin.
Twelve years of hard work day and night had prematurely exhausted his body.
King Xing felt very distressed: "Brother Emperor, you must take care of the dragon body."
Li Guang on the side quickly helped Emperor Hongzhi rub his back. Xiao Jing hurriedly made orange peel tea to suppress his cough.
After struggling for a while, Emperor Hongzhi stopped coughing.
King Xing shed tears. These are not tears of false love, but tears of true love.
King Xing said: "Brother, you must take care of the dragon body. All the directions of the Nine Provinces are on your shoulders alone."
"The prosperous times are inseparable from your planning."
Emperor Hongzhi sighed: "Sigh. My health has been getting worse and worse in the past few years. I ask myself, although I don't dare to call myself a saint, I have been diligent in everything since Yuji. I don't dare to slack off for a day."
"One day I pass away and meet our father in heaven."
King Xing left his chair and knelt down in front of Emperor Hongzhi: "Brother, the emperor, will definitely live a long and prosperous life. I hope that under your protection, I will be the king of An Yi for a hundred years."
Emperor Hongzhi sighed: "How can anyone live for ten thousand years? Get up quickly, the ground is cold."
"Qian Ning, go and call Zhao'er to meet his fourth uncle."
King Xing was very measured: "Brother, it's time for the minister's younger brother to pay homage to the Crown Prince. Since you appointed the Crown Prince, there are no uncles or nephews, only monarchs and ministers."
For such a measured person, no one would believe that he had any rebellious intentions.
Li Guang on the side glanced at King Xing secretly and thought: It seems that framing him and dragging Chang Feng into the water will take a lot of effort.
On the day when King Xing entered the palace, he met his brother Emperor Hongzhi, his nephew Zhu Houzhao, and his grandmother the Empress Dowager Zhou.
The family reunited after a long separation, needless to say, they were close friends and loved ones.
Let's talk about the willow branches on the moon, in Chang Mansion. The Chang family had just finished dinner.
Qian Ning came to the door.
He jogged all the way to the hall. Soon the wind came in.
Chang Feng asked: "What happened this late at night? I am an idler in the guard now. If you have any urgent matters, you can go to Commander Mou to discuss it."
Qian Ning said: "Master Chang, what are you talking about? Don't say that you are still Zuo Tongzhi. Even if you lose your official position one day, as long as you live in this world, the surname of Jin Yiwei will be Chang and not Mou!"
Chang Feng smiled and cursed: "Don't talk nonsense."
But it was very useful in my heart. Although he was idle, Qian Ning, Wang Miaoxin, Shi Wenyi and others were still loyal to him.
Chang Feng asked: "Tell me, what's the matter?"
Qian Ning said: "An hour ago, the emperor gave a banquet to King Xing. At the banquet, he said that he would take King Xing to hunt in the Royal Garden tomorrow. My godfather sent a message and asked you to be responsible for guarding the Royal Garden tomorrow."
Chang Feng was a little surprised: "Hunting? The emperor doesn't like hunting. He has never been to the imperial garden in the 12 years since he ascended the throne."
Emperor Hongzhi always liked silence rather than movement. Compared to hunting, he prefers to read Buddhist scriptures and Taoism in his spare time.
Qian Ning lowered his voice: "My godfather told me privately. The emperor may want to prove that the dragon body is acceptable in front of King Xing."
Chang Feng suddenly realized: "So that's it. You immediately call ten hundred households among the Han generals to come to my house. We will work out a security plan overnight."
One day later, Chang Feng regretted this decision! To convene hundreds of households among the generals of the Han Dynasty, they should be in Jinyiwei.
Let’s talk about Li Guang’s foreign residence.
Gu Da said to Li Guang with excitement on his face: "Godfather, the opportunity has come!"
Li Guang asked: "You mean tomorrow's hunting in the Royal Garden?"
Gu Dayong nodded: "Exactly! This is a good opportunity to put the label of rebellion on Prince Xing and Chang Feng!"
"Hey, Qian Neng left the job of guarding the imperial garden to Chang Feng. If you want to sleep, someone will give you a girl, and if you want to eat a girl, a girl will come!"
Gu Dayong resembles Wang Zhi, who gained power at the age of sixteen. He is ruthless in his approach and thoughtful in his thinking. He is also proficient in leading troops to fight.
His resourcefulness far exceeds that of Li Guang.
The curtain of a conspiracy slowly opened on this spring night in the eleventh year of Hongzhi.
Spoilers for malicious intent. The climax of this book will be after Emperor Zhengde ascends the throne. Coke will create a Zhengde Emperor and a mighty general in my understanding. Make some bold inferences about the causes and consequences of Emperor Zhengde's death.
(End of chapter)
