Peiping.

In October of the first year of Hongwu, Emperor Yuanshun, the "Son of Luban", fled to Shangdu in a hurry, and the general Xu Da entered Beiping. In accordance with Zhu Yuanzhang's will, in order to break the "imperial spirit" of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, all the others were demolished except for the Longfu Palace to expand the Yanwang Mansion. Yuanben arose in Mobei, Yanbei Great Wall Pass is just an ordinary post station, Gubeikou, Xifengkou and other passes are almost abandoned, and Shanhaiguan has not been built at that time, in order to facilitate defense, Xu Da was ordered to build the capital, the north city wall moved five miles south, located in the position of today's Beijing North Second Ring Road; Its southern city wall is located on the East and West Chang'an Avenue, and when it was rebuilt during the Yongle period, it moved two miles south to reach today's South Second Ring Road in Beijing.

Xu Huizu and his entourage left the army in the camp on the outskirts of Beijing, and led Qu Neng, Wang Du and others to enter Beiping City through Zhengyang Gate. Except for Xu Huizu and Qu Neng, most people have never been to Beiping, and the south city of Beiping is about three zhang high, and the momentum is magnificent, and everyone can't help but admire. When Wei Guogong walked on the streets of Beiping, a large number of onlookers quickly gathered around, pointing at Xu Huizu under the banner, but Xu Huizu didn't care, and seemed to be honored. Unlike most people's relaxation, Wang Du has been very attentive to his observation since he entered Beiping, and Xu Huizu's appearance has also been noticed by him.

When everyone came to the Yanwang Mansion, a group of people were already standing at the door of the mansion to greet them, the first was a woman, thirty-five or sixteen years old, wearing a nine-Zhai crown, a pair of golden phoenixes on the top of the crown, two strings of long beads in the mouth of the golden phoenix, wearing a big red robe, wearing a dark green veil, rusty golden clouds and phoenix patterns, skin like condensation, eyes like water, charming with a heroic spirit, rich with a little elegance. Xu Huizu knelt down first: "Weichen Xu Huizu participated in Princess Yan, and the princess was a thousand years old. ”

Princess Yan Xu Yihua bowed slightly and said, "Duke Wei Guo, please get up, the prince has been waiting for a long time." ”

After Xu Huizu stood up, Xu Yihua hurriedly stepped forward and saluted: "The eldest brother has come from afar, and he has worked hard all the way, hurry up and go in, my sister will lead the way for the eldest brother." ”

"No, sister, the ceremony must not be abolished."

Just as the two of them were humble, a little girl in red suddenly jumped out next to her, and she fell straight into Xu Huizu's arms, and said, "Big brother, Miaojin misses you so much, I said I would give you a surprise when I left home, how about it?" I'm waiting for you at my eldest sister's place. ”

Xu Huizu was stunned for a moment, and then said happily: "Miaojin, how did you get here?" How long has it been? Did anything happen on the way? ”

"Hmph, big brother, you want something to happen to me," Xu Miaojin wrinkled her nose and snorted.

Xu Huizu couldn't help but smile bitterly, and another man came up next to him, saying: "Big brother, don't worry, Miaojin is bent on coming to Beiping, so I made it clear to the emperor, asked for a few days off, and sent her over." ”

Xu Huizu glanced at him, and felt a little unhappy in his heart: "Longevity, as an important minister of the Governor's Mansion, how can you leave your post without permission?" Did the emperor really agree? ”

"Of course, eldest brother, if the emperor doesn't agree, how dare I leave Beijing? It's really good here, my younger brother ran a few times with his brother-in-law, and I felt that the sky was high and the earth was wide, and my heart was much more comfortable, which was much more comfortable than in Beijing. ”

Xu Huizu was about to speak, Xu Yihua came over to make a round, and a group of mermaids rushed in and entered the Yanwang Mansion. The palace of King Yan was originally the Longfu Palace of Yuan, deep and far-reaching, and everyone walked for a while before arriving at the Yin'an Palace to meet King Yan.

Zhu Di sat on the throne, and after everyone was finished, he ordered a banquet, and after a while, the wine and meat were put on the table, Zhu Di didn't have any shelves, so everyone was free to do so, and during the banquet, he also walked down and talked with everyone one by one, and his strength and demeanor were impressive. Even if a prejudiced person like Wang Du sees it, he has to admit that in terms of appearance, bearing, conversation, and temperament, he must be better than the imperial grandson Zhu Yunwen, compared with Zhu Di, Zhu Yunwen seems a little immature, his self-confidence is slightly insufficient, and he occasionally hesitates to give orders, of course, this should be because of his age. Zhu Di is nearly twenty years older than Zhu Yunwen, and the temperament of giving orders for a long time and fighting on the battlefield takes time to slowly precipitate.

After the banquet, Zhu Di left Xu Huizu behind, took Xu Huizu's hand and said: "Eldest brother, half of the Xu family is in Beiping today, and I will hold a family banquet in a while, I, as a brother-in-law, must have a good chat with my eldest brother." ”

Xu Huizu didn't dare to say anything, but he couldn't resist King Yan, so he followed Xu Yihua to the inner house, followed by Xu Miaojin who was bouncing and Xu Zengshou who was not very interested.

After leaving the Yanwang Mansion, Qu Neng and the others went directly back to the military camp outside the city, Wang Du took Tan Yuan and others to the post house, and after staying, Wang Du left four brocade guards, and the others all sent a sum of money, so that they could go to the streets and alleys of Beiping in pairs and listen to the people of Beiping. After everyone went out, Wang Du changed into civilian clothes and walked out of the post house with four guards.

Although it is approaching evening, the streets of Beiping are still very lively, with roadside restaurants, restaurants, and snack bars all soliciting customers, and customers in silk villages, jewelry shops, and rouge gouache shops coming in and out, and the clerks are very busy. Wang Du is like a dumpling who has never seen the world, which store has more people, he will drill into which store, and from time to time he will talk to the clerk, shopkeeper or customer; When you meet a seller of sugar gourds, you will buy a few buns, and if you meet a seller of steamed buns, you will also buy a few, and they will be handed over to the guards behind, and a few guards will look at the things in their hands, and they will not be polite, and follow Wang Du while eating.

Although Wang Du seems to be turning around randomly, if you have the heart, you will find that Wang Du is circling around the Yan Palace, and when it was almost dark, several people turned to an alley in the northeast of the palace, and Wang Du took the lead in getting in. As soon as I entered the alley, I smelled a strong smell of fat powder, and I could hear the laughter of men and women upstairs. The four guards couldn't help frowning, and Mu Mubai, who was in the lead, walked quickly to Wang Du and said, "Mr. Wang, this is a brothel, what are we doing here?" ”

Wang Du smiled and said: "Of course I went to prostitution, but it's not me, I'll pay you to go to prostitution." ”

"This, the imperial court does not allow officials to stay in prostitution. I'm afraid ......"

"I want to investigate the public situation in Beiping, you go in to investigate, and I will ask Commander Song to make up the procedures for you."

"And what about your safety?"

"That's it, you stay and protect me, the three of them go, you let them come, I'll tell you."

Mu Mubai summoned the other three people, Wang Du told them in detail, each of them gave a hundred taels of silver, and sent them to prostitution. The three of them looked at each other and took the order.

Wang Du and Mu Mubai walked through the brothel, continued to wander around the street, and returned to the post house after dark, and the people sent out came back one after another, Wang Du and everyone chatted carefully, and then recorded it, and was busy until late at night, after talking, his face became worse and worse, but his eyes became brighter and brighter......