Chapter 17 Zhu Yuanzhang’s Children
The escort soldiers who came with the ship disembarked outside the outer city, and some of them were stationed in the military camp outside the city. Some of them originally belonged to the guards of the capital, and they all went home during the holidays. Under the protection of hundreds of soldiers, the group entered through the treasure gathering gate.
After entering, the streets were cleared with soldiers guarding them on both sides. Countless people were waiting on both sides, and flags were fluttering. Majestic.
Although this kind of scenery is not as good as the roll call outside Donghua Gate, it still shows off one's power and boosts morale.
However, this is why so many generals came back from Peiping. Not a triumph. Triumphal events have a different kind of majesty.
The group of people arrived at the palace.
He Xi could only retreat. The prince led the generals to pay homage to His Majesty. He Xi looked at Mu Ying's gift in her room. Good guy, a tiger skin several meters long. A complete tiger skinned from head to toe, and handled industrially very well. Even the eyes are crystal clear. The light hits it, and it feels like it's alive.
If I saw him at night, I might even break out in a cold sweat.
This thing will be a priceless treasure in later generations, the kind that can be worn by old people.
Now, it's just a souvenir.
He Xi sighed and said to himself: "It's really different." The flame of ambition was quietly ignited in He Xi's heart.
"Secretary He." Someone suddenly called him outside.
He Xi came out immediately and found that it was Xu Baoer. Xu Baoer said with an apologetic smile: "The Queen has an order for you to attend the family banquet tonight. I will send you some clothes suitable for the family banquet."
He Xi said in surprise: "You want me to attend the family dinner?"
"Secretary He doesn't know something." Xu Bao'er said: "Every time Duke Wei comes back, after doing official business, His Majesty will entertain Duke Wei in the palace. We don't talk about official matters, just talk about hometown friendship. In addition, he also asks Duke Wei to bring his children into the palace. Get close to the princes and princesses. Generally, generals who follow Wei Guogong in battle will bring their sons and sons-in-law. Many marriages are decided at the family banquet. Secretary He is not married yet. This is a good opportunity, Wan Wan Can’t miss it.”
He Xi was stunned and realized that Chinese people's obsession with marriage is deep-rooted. Even more so six hundred years ago than six hundred years from now.
Xu Baoer was right, he was attending this night banquet. They are all noble ladies of the Ming Dynasty, the kind who marry someone who has less than thirty years of hard work. It's just that He Xi is different. On the one hand, He Xi knew very well that everything about him depended on Zhu Yuanzhang, so he should not do anything that would misunderstand Zhu Yuanzhang. On the other hand, He Xi knew the fate of many people. For example, Fu Youde. It's hard to say whether marrying the daughter of the Fu family will be a blessing or a curse.
However, now that the queen has spoken.
He Xi had no reason not to participate.
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"Tell me, what should we do about Anqing? She is already eighteen." Queen Ma said while arranging Zhu Yuanzhang's clothes: "I don't care about your Yingying Yanyan. I only have these two daughters, but I can't care. .”
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Don't I think about it again? Who do you think Anqing's temperament is like? It's not like me at all. She is the princess of the Ming Dynasty. Although I taught her female training, I can't even suppress a mere female official. Ah. Too weak-tempered."
Princess Anqing is the youngest daughter of Queen Ma. It's just that Princess Anqing has a soft temper, which makes Zhu Yuanzhang very strange.
To be honest, Zhu Yuanzhang has been severely teaching his daughters because he is worried that his daughters will develop the problems of Tang Dynasty princesses. But severity is severity. But his daughter, Zhu Yuanzhang, is a golden branch and a jade leaf. One of the most noble women in the world. How could he be so soft-tempered that he couldn't even control the female officer next to him?
"I don't care, you have to arrange her properly." Queen Ma said: "Now, Xu Da enters the palace, Fu Youde's family, and Feng Sheng's family both have sons. Otherwise----"
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said: "Those Qiu Ba people seem to be obeying the rules. But how can I not know who they are at heart. With An Qing's temperament, you will suffer a loss if you marry her. I can help her. But these trivial matters at home Things. I can't interfere in every matter. An Qing can't marry Wu Xun."
On the one hand, Zhu Yuanzhang's words were really for the sake of Princess Anqing. On the other hand, after reading history, he had more thoughts.
At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang had no idea of taking these people away before his death. But he could understand his own state of mind in history. His grandson was weak, but his soldiers were arrogant and powerful. What can I do?
That’s it for other daughters. When Zhu Yuanzhang was considering major events, he didn't care too much about his children's personal relationships. But Zhu Yuanzhang treated Queen Ma differently, and the children born to Queen Ma were also different from others. Therefore, Anqing, the legitimate second daughter, naturally values a lot.
What's more, historically, Princess Anqing's husband-in-law was Ouyang Lun. Perhaps she felt that Princess Anqing's character was slightly weaker, so she arranged for a literati. But he didn't expect that Ouyang Lun was a greedy man who had a hand in the tea-horse trade and was eventually executed by him.
Deep down, I felt sorry for Anqing. Only then did I want to arrange a good home for Anqing.
Queen Ma said: "I don't care. This matter can't be delayed any longer. You have to give me a guarantee."
"Okay, I take this matter to heart." Zhu Yuanzhang said. He leaned over and looked at the clothes on his body and felt that they were almost ready. Said: "Go quickly. You are still in charge of the fateful wife."
Zhu Yuanzhang actually had a choice deep in his heart. It’s just that you have to be more careful with this choice.
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Because it was a family banquet, the family banquet was placed in the Qianqing Palace. Because Qianqing Palace is Zhu Yuanzhang's palace. There are not as many political factors as the front hall. But no matter what, the royal family banquet is not just a meal.
The entire family banquet was divided into three. In the main hall of Qianqing Palace, there were Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da, and more than a dozen generals, accompanied by the prince. And several older princes, King Qin, King Jin, and King Yan, have all already joined the vassal state. The other princes are younger. At this moment, they are all in the side hall, drinking with the meritorious disciples. The queen and the generals, wives and daughters were in another side hall.
What other venues are like. He Xi didn't know that he was assigned to the kings and meritorious disciples.
This is a separate meal system, that is, everyone has a table in front of them to put the food and wine. The case at the top is indeed empty. Because there is only one owner of Qianqing Palace, and that is Zhu Yuanzhang. Perhaps the prince can take the throne instead of Zhu Yuanzhang. But the person who is presiding here now is not good at it.
The King of Chu is in charge of this incident.
The King of Chu is now seventeen years old, and is the eldest among the kings remaining in the capital, except for the prince. Moreover, the King of Chu was a man of both civil and military abilities and acted steadily. Even if there are some meritorious disciples who are older than him, they can still be shocked.
The King of Chu's position is the first on the left hand. The left hand is on top. It represents the most distinguished position here. Below the King of Chu are the underage princes. The leader on the opposite side was Xu Da's eldest son, Xu Huizu. Now Xu Huizu is in his early twenties and looks much better than his father. Dressed like a handsome young man. The outfit looks simple, but it is not simple. Although he only wears a jade pendant. But with He Xi's eyesight, he felt that this jade pendant was not simple. He Xi couldn't tell exactly what was wrong. I just thought it was at a level that could be put on the auction block.
Next to Xu Huizu are the children of Fu Youde, Feng Sheng and others.
But He Xi's position was arranged at the bottom of the princes.
This made He Xi a little confused.
First of all, he didn't understand why he was at this kind of banquet. He had never dealt with any of these people and was not familiar with them. Simply out of place. Secondly, even if it is arranged, it cannot be arranged by the prince.
Doesn't this imply something?
In fact, He Xi himself didn't know it, but people inside and outside the palace were saying that He Xi was Zhu Yuanzhang away from home, and a one-night romance left behind the seeds, and they were separated due to the war. He was adopted by Zen Master Dazhi and now he is sent to his biological father.
These people don't even think about it. Today, He Xi is in his early twenties. Going forward more than twenty years, Zhu Yuanzhang had already captured Jinling. No more wandering around. Queen Ma is not a jealous person either. After all, there were always many women in Zhu Yuanzhang's harem. One more is not too much, one less is not too much.
How could a woman pregnant with a dragon be left alone?
It’s just that many people like to spread gossip they like. They only say what they like to hear. Don't think about right or wrong.
When many people see He Xi sitting here, they have a clear look in their hearts.
The King of Chu stood tall and tall, stood up and said, "Brothers, we haven't seen each other for a long time today, so I won't say much more. Let's just have a drink."
After saying a few words, Chu King Zhu Zhen picked up the wine and drank it all in one gulp.
The sound of silk and bamboo sounded, and there were dancing girls dancing gracefully.
However, for the noble disciples here, the dance music in the palace is really boring. On the one hand, Zhu Yuanzhang does not pay attention to this place. In addition, this is a royal palace after all, and noble children do not dare to mess around. It's not as fun as them having fun outside.
No one was watching the dance music at all, it was almost a background sound, and everyone started talking.
Only He Xi had never seen her before. While listening to the sound of silk and bamboo, she looked at the dancing girl in front of her, shook her head slightly, and thought to herself: "This level is far inferior to that of future generations."
I don’t know whether Zhu Yuanzhang didn’t pay attention to these, or whether the dance art, lighting, and stage beauty of later generations were far ahead of this era. Individual dance skills are irreparable. He Xi looked at it and thought it was nothing more than that.
But at this moment, He Xi suddenly felt a chill on his head. Not knowing what was going on, I turned around and saw a fat man wearing a python robe, lifting He Xi's hat up and laughing loudly: "You are really a monk."
The little fat man's laughter suppressed the sound of the dance music. For a moment, everyone looked here, looking at He Xi's short hair.
For a moment, He Xi felt extremely embarrassed. But the little fat man didn't notice it at all and was still laughing wildly.
