On this night of Chinese New Year's Eve, the three generations of the ancestors and grandchildren of the Zhao Guogong Mansion were happy, even if the head of the family and the heir did not return, the excitement was not bad. Zhang Shou's family is also happy, two tables are set up in the hall, the master and servant are happy together, and the noise stops until nightfall. However, there are also many people who have not been able to have a good Chinese New Year's Eve, and one of the representatives is the Imperial Palace.

On the day of Chinese New Year's Eve, the emperor personally sacrificed the stove as the lord of the first palace - of course, this can be replaced, but for the emperor who often sighs behind his back, there is no complaint about the sacrifice stove. Because according to legend, Emperor Taizu was blessed by the king of the stove and fought the first big victory in his life on the day of the sacrifice.

Therefore, although the palace registration of the second prince had been withdrawn before, on the evening of this day, the emperor still summoned the second prince into the palace to participate in the ceremony. However, at the same time that the second prince arrived at Qianqingmen, the queen also came with the eldest prince. When the mother and son brothers met, it was not like the harmony on the surface before, but it was a cold eyebrow.

When the emperor sent Liu Feng to ask about the queen's uninvited arrival, he learned that the queen called Hu Shanggong beside her to apply for the second prince, but the second prince was closed! Even if Hu Shanggong took out the name of the queen, the second prince not only still didn't buy it, but even threatened that the queen mother favored the eldest son, so much so that all the pedestrians on the neighborhood heard it.

If it weren't for a good festival but encountering this kind of thing, the emperor would have been furious, but at this moment, after summoning the three of them, he forced himself to suppress the anger in his heart, and said coldly: "If your two brothers continue to make trouble like this, today's sacrifice stove, let San Lang Shiro follow me to accompany the sacrifice, and you go back to wake up your mind!" ”

Although they were still glaring at each other like enemies just now, as soon as the emperor said this, the eldest prince and the second prince suddenly changed color at the same time. Not only did they fall silent immediately, but the eldest prince also walked quickly to the queen's side and whispered a few words to her, so that he could persuade the hated queen to go back. After that, the eldest son of the emperor came back with a gloomy face.

He didn't look at the second prince, walked straight to the emperor, and said deeply: "Father, the son of the emperor wrote before, requesting that the promotion of the new textile machine be handed over to the son of the minister, but the father has not approved it before. "Today's Chinese New Year's Eve season to talk about this kind of thing is not suitable at all, but he has no other way but to break the cauldron and fight desperately.

The second prince was about to sneer at each other, but when he saw the emperor's cold eyes, he immediately closed his mouth. Sure enough, the next moment, he only heard the emperor say lightly: "I didn't approve of you and those other people's excerpts, because if I do, it will only be four words, and it will be too late." ”

Although the emperor had scolded himself with these four words before, the second prince felt extremely happy at this time. The eldest prince now wants to take the lead in this matter himself, so as to maintain the relationship with those local snakes in Jiangnan? Why did you go early! If he had made up his mind and told his father about the matter first, then it would have been too late for him to make a fuss!

Of course, it would have been nice if he had listened to Zhang Shou earlier......

The eldest prince wanted to fight again, but the emperor didn't bother to talk about it again, so he beckoned the third prince and the fourth prince to come over, and then took one by one and went straight to the sacrificial hall. The sacrificial stove in the palace, since the Taizu period, only the emperor and unmarried princes participated, as for the royal family...... Hehe, who doesn't open a mansion alone and has his own stove prince to sacrifice?

The sacrificial hall is a place specially opened up in the Taizu period, usually the emperor is the head, and the princes follow closely according to their age, but today the emperor pulls the third prince and the fourth prince, and the eldest prince and the second prince are lagging behind. Even Chu Kuan, who was waiting at the door of the sacrificial hall early, and a few celebrant attendants couldn't help but take a few more looks.

Although he took the third prince and the fourth prince to the door of the sacrificial hall, when he really entered, the emperor did not ignore the dignity of the elders and the young, and continued to take the two with him. Even so, the third prince and the fourth prince who fell behind were still coldly looked at by the two brothers. There is a huge age difference between the two and the eldest prince and the second prince, and they have been held in the palm of their father's hand since they were children, so they can't help but feel very aggrieved at this time.

They had just saluted the two brothers respectfully, and they didn't say a word, so why should they be blinded?

barely survived until the end of the sacrificial stove, and when the emperor took the lead out of the sacrificial hall, the third prince and the fourth prince rushed up hand in hand. But before they could get close to their father, they were blocked by the eldest prince again: "Father, the sons only beg you to give the sons a chance......"

The emperor finally sank his face completely, he looked at the eldest prince, and when he saw that people were looking at him stubbornly, he sneered: "Okay, since you want to take charge of this matter, then I will give you a chance." You go to Cangzhou. Cangzhou cotton fields are the most in the whole Beizhili, you go to promote this new type of textile machinery, I will appoint two capable inspectors to go with you, and report your every move. ”

The second prince originally wanted to object, but when he heard the emperor say the word Cangzhou, he was so happy that he wanted to laugh immediately. The eldest prince desperately contacted, that is the wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River, where can he see Cangzhou, a small place close to the capital? Seeing that the eldest prince's face turned pale in an instant, he couldn't help but shout: "Father Emperor Shengming! ”

However, as soon as he uttered these four words, he was greeted by the same cold voice of the emperor: "Taizu's old system, those who kill slaves and maids without permission, have forty rods." After the first month, you go to Zongzheng Temple by yourself and receive your forty rods! ”

Seeing that the second prince froze instantly, the fourth prince almost didn't laugh, but fortunately, the third prince hurriedly pulled his sleeve hard, and even covered his mouth, so he didn't attract the attention of his father and two brothers. When he saw the eldest prince leave dejectedly, and the second prince also left with a gloomy face, he broke free of the third prince's hand and ran forward.

"Father, I heard that the new textile machine was not made by the teacher with Lu Sanlang? Why should the eldest brother be promoted, isn't it more appropriate for someone who should be improved to promote it? ”

Seeing that the emperor didn't speak, he ignored the third prince who was desperately pulling the corners of his clothes behind his back, and said loudly, "Moreover, Erchen heard that the original textile machine sample was donated by Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu, and even they are more suitable than the eldest brother who refuses to take out things for a long time!" Since my father asked my eldest brother to go to Cangzhou to promote, why not let Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu go to Xingtai to promote! ”

The emperor looked down at the four princes, and seeing that this young son didn't care about his sharp gaze at all, he asked in a deep voice, "Who encouraged you to say these things to me?" ”

The fourth prince suddenly stretched his face, and then said unconvinced: "Erchen is not a child anymore, no one can provoke me!" ”

It was in such a hurry, he completely forgot what father and son were and what the ministers were, and directly got up with you, you, me and me: "Don't look at me small, I also asked people what the use of this new textile machine is!" They told me that the faster the spinning speed, the more money the spinners can make, and the more money the spinners make, the more they can eat and have more children......"

After having more children, he was stuck, but after thinking about it for a while, his eyes immediately lit up.

"After having more children, you can reclaim more wasteland, produce more food, and then the world will have enough food and clothing, and everyone will know honor and disgrace! The places where Beizhili grows the most cotton are Cangzhou and Xingtai, which I asked many people to know! The teacher and Lu Sanlang refused to tell me, and Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu didn't say anything, but they forgot that there were many people in Banshan Hall......"

Hearing that the fourth prince barely used fairly methodical words to dissect his mind clearly, but then he began to talk about it, and the third prince hurriedly pleaded beside him: "Father, the fourth brother means that he knows honor and ......disgrace when he has enough food and clothing."

"I didn't ask you!"

The emperor glanced at the third prince coldly, and when he saw that the third prince suddenly closed his mouth honestly, he took a look at the young son again. Although he is not a few years old with the third prince, the fourth prince is extremely bold, and he actually stares at him with his neck.

In the end, he smiled unconsciously: "Your teacher supervises Banshan Hall and Jiuzhang Hall in Guozi, and he can't get out, and Lu Sanlang is the head of Jiuzhang Hall, so it is estimated that it is too late to study the scriptures, and their teachers and students have no empty pipe spinning machines." Since I let your eldest brother go to Cangzhou, it's not that I can't let capable people go to Xingtai to give it a try, such as Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu......"

The emperor suddenly changed his words and said, "But why are you speaking for them? ”

If it were someone else, even those civil and military ministers in high positions in the court, they would definitely be taken aback by the emperor's sudden and fierce tone at this time, but the four princes have always regarded the emperor as a father, not a king, and they are not afraid.

"Because Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu are too honest, one of them will be my second brother-in-law in the future, and the other can be regarded as half a brother-in-law, so they can't let their honest people suffer!" The fourth prince said confidently, "Otherwise, if they don't praise them for offering textile machine samples, what if the next time the father and emperor want something, they will drag and push?" ”

The four princes were so ridiculous that the emperor laughed when he heard it. He strode forward and touched the head of the fourth prince, then looked at the third prince and said, "San Lang, do you think your fourth brother is right?" ”

The third prince was suddenly a little entangled. He has always been timid, and saying bad things about his eldest brother behind his back is really a bit of a challenge to his guts. However, under his father's direct gaze, he finally stubbornly said: "The fourth brother has a point, and the son thinks ...... Erchen felt that he could let Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu give it a try. No, change again! "Well, this patching should be enough.

"Cangzhou went to a prince and two supervising imperial history, why do you brothers think that Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu, one of whom is a future colt and the other is a future guest of honor, can suppress the scene?"

The emperor pressed further, and when he saw that the third prince was suddenly dumbfounded, but the fourth prince's eyes were dripping, he couldn't help but stand with interest in clasping hands. After a while, he got an unexpected answer.

"There, too!" The fourth prince tried to straighten his chest, but the words he said were not so confident, "Erchen is also a prince, although he is a little younger, he can do things!" ”

"Hahahaha!"

The emperor finally laughed, seeing that the third prince was relieved, he tightly held the hand of the fourth prince and let go, thinking that although the two were not siblings, they were like twin brothers since childhood, he rubbed the round little heads of the two people, and then said lightly: "You two, very good." ”

As he spoke, he glanced at Chu Kuan and the others of the celebrant next to him, and without his command, the celebrant took the lead in bowing and saluting: "Today's matter, the slaves and maids must be silent." ”

As for the other people next to the sacrificial hall, the emperor didn't take it to heart, and since Xu Liu and Chu Kuan were there, he didn't have to worry about it. As for the news in case it really spreads, he also put enough defensive forces around the third and fourth princes, and he is not worried about being plotted. Even in Guozijian, he made corresponding arrangements.

At this time, he led the two children down the steps one by one, and when he returned to the Dongnuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, he pulled the two sons to him, and then smiled slightly: "Xingtai handed over to Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu, I have already considered this matter, Shiro, you are young but you want to go with me, it is really rare." As for you saying that you are going to sit down...... Have you ever thought about this being a fight with your big brother? ”

The fourth prince was stunned for a moment. He hesitated, and his words were not as decisive as before: "Father means that the eldest brother will think that I am intentionally going against him?" ”

Seeing the emperor but smiling, he couldn't help but feel a little aggrieved: "But the thing is that the eldest brother himself did something wrong!" His father asked him for something, how could he delay and not give it? As long as he gives it early, and then asks to go to Jiangnan, I think my father should agree to him! ”

"Oh, do you think I'll really promise him?" The Emperor raised his eyebrows with interest, a little surprised by the young son's acuity.

"Of course!" This time, it was the three princes who did not marry and thought about interjecting. As soon as the words came out, he realized that he was a little reckless, and hurriedly whispered, "When Erchen and the fourth brother usually make mistakes, as long as they are willing to admit it and not prevaricate, they will definitely forgive us and give us a chance." This is true for us, and it must be true for Big Brother! ”

Looking at the two brothers standing side by side, like carved out of a mold, the emperor couldn't help but have mixed feelings. In the end, he said casually: "Shiro, you are ambitious, but you are too young, I will not let you out of Beijing." Whether Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu are horses that can gallop or not, they have to prove themselves well. I will pick and choose whatever they want, and give them whatever they want. ”

"If they can't do it, then they will be rich idlers in the future! We'll announce this in the next year! ”

The Third and Fourth Princes looked at each other and were all satisfied with the result. After all, Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu had always taken good care of them in the Mid-Levels Hall, and of course they were very happy to have this opportunity. But the fourth prince's eyes rolled, and he suddenly asked another question that shocked the third prince: "Father, this time the second sister promised to marry someone else, but why didn't the third sister not?" ”

As soon as these words came out, the emperor was stunned for a moment, and when he saw the third prince dragging the fourth prince behind him, he stepped forward with a dumb smile, and gently slapped the eyebrows of the fourth prince with his fingers.

"People are small and big, your third brother-in-law let your third sister choose by herself, I'm too lazy to worry about it!"