Kaifeng was known as Daliang, Bianliang and Bianjing in ancient times, and was once the capital of Wei during the Warring States Period, and then began to become the capital of the entire empire in the Five Dynasties, and the Later Liang, Later Jin, Later Han, Later Zhou and Northern Song Dynasty were all set here. Originally, the capital of the Central Plains was built, and Luoyang was the first choice, but due to the war at the end of the Tang Dynasty, Luoyang Caoyun could not be used, so these short-lived dynasties mostly chose to set the capital Kaifeng. But Kaifeng has no danger to defend, unlike Luoyang, there are mountains and rivers to block, so once the enemy crosses the Yellow River, Kaifeng is easy to fall, when Hou Liang and Hou Tang compete, Li Siyuan crossed the Yellow River, surprise attack Bianliang, Hou Tang died; The Jurchens invaded the south, the Northern Song Dynasty's armaments were relaxed, and the Yellow River was not defended, so it quickly perished. In the first year of Hongwu, Kaifeng was upgraded to Beijing, because Beiping had not been restored at that time, Zhu Yuanzhang was also not confident, and he did not expect the Mongols to be vulnerable, so Hongwu canceled the name of "Beijing" in 11 years, and Hongwu 14 years sealed his fifth son Zhu Hu as the king of Zhou, and built a vassal here.

When Xu Huizu and his entourage arrived in Kaifeng City, the time had entered the end of March, and it was the season when the grass grew and the warbler flew. Kaifeng City is 20 miles around, three zhang five feet high, two zhang one foot thick, one zhang deep moat, five zhang wide. Zhou Wangfu is repaired on the site of the Jinyuan Forbidden City, the south is the noon gate, the east is the Donghua gate, the west is the Xihua gate, the north is the Houzai gate, sitting on such a scale of the palace and Kaifeng Xiongcheng, plus located in the Central Plains, the king of Zhou Zhu Hu over time has become ambitious, a little restless, its princess is the daughter of Feng Sheng, the Duke of Song, after Feng Sheng was degraded to live in Fengyang in the 20th year of Hongwu, Zhu Hu actually secretly went to Fengyang to visit his father-in-law in the 22nd year of Hongwu, can not help but admire Zhu Hu's courage. Zhu Yuanzhang was furious when he heard the news, and wanted to demote Zhu Hu to Yunnan, and then because of the bitter pleading of the prince Zhu Biao, Zhu Hu was placed in Beijing, and Hongwu returned to Kaifeng in 24 years. Xu Huizu parked his army outside the city and brought Qu Neng, Geng Xuan, Wang Du, Guo Key, Wu Sheng, Song Xuan and others into the city to meet the king of Zhou.

Entering Kaifeng City, people came and went in the city, and the traffic was busy, which was not inferior to the Beijing Division. Everyone couldn't help but look around and watch the scenery of Kaifeng. The group shouted and hugged each other, the guards opened the way in front, and the pedestrians naturally hurriedly avoided and soon came to the Zhou Palace. Xu Huizu ordered someone to deliver a post to the guards at the gate of the palace, asking to see the king of Zhou, and then everyone waited outside the door. After a quarter of an hour, the door of the palace was wide open, and because Xu Huizu was a Qincha identity, everyone entered the palace along the main gate. The palace was very profound, and everyone followed the stewards and eunuchs of the palace to reach the Yin'an Palace. Seeing King Zhou sitting upright on the Yin'an Palace, everyone knelt down and saluted. King Zhou is 35 years old today, with a radiant face, a thin face, bright eyes, and a majestic momentum. After everyone finished giving the salute and sat down, King Zhou ordered someone to put on a banquet, and then asked what he meant, Xu Huizu said that he went to Shaanxi to control the military horses.

King Zhou couldn't help wiping his tears: "The prince's brother has passed away not long ago, and now the second brother is gone, this king is very sad, remembering the love of his brothers when he was a child, he can't wait to treat each other with his body, woo wow......" said and couldn't help crying.

The people hurriedly knelt down, and their faces were also mournful, and they wept loudly.

After a long time, King Zhou wiped his eyes with the sleeves of his robe and said, "I'm lonely, let's sit down." ”

"Thank you, Lord Wang."

"Ladies and gentlemen, this king only knows Wei Guogong, and others are not very familiar with him, please introduce yourself, this king also wants to know your talents."

Everyone hurriedly got up and introduced themselves.

......

When Wang Du was introduced, King Zhou frowned slightly and said, "Chief of Staff, what do you mean?" ”

"Back to the prince, this is the position designed by His Royal Highness the Taisun, which means to give advice to the commander."

"Oh, this king understands, you are the wisdom of His Royal Highness Taisun, disrespectful and disrespectful, Lord Wang, this king is polite."

Wang Du chuckled in his heart, but his face remained unchanged and said: "Back to the prince, the minister was originally a companion of the East Palace, and His Royal Highness Taisun was favored by His Royal Highness Meng, serving in the escort army, and he didn't dare to be a think tank, he just did his duty." ”

"It's just a matter of doing your duty, okay, that's a good thing to say, hahaha," said King Zhou raised the wine glass in his hand and said: "That Wang Jingzi has a cup, this king is also a man of temperament, he likes to make friends, especially like to meet strange people, come, everyone have a toast." ”

"Thank you, Lord Wang." Wang Du and the others also raised their glasses and drank them all.

When Geng Xuan introduced, King Zhou laughed and said: "The county lord of Jiangdu is the niece of this king, you are the guest of honor of this king's niece, that is a family, if you don't dislike it, just call this king Uncle Wang." ”

Geng Xuan said: "Wechen didn't dare to trespass, but the county lord of Jiangdu knew that Wechen would come to Kaifeng, so the special minister brought a gift and asked the prince to smile." So saying, he commanded a large chest to be brought out and placed in the temple.

King Zhou laughed, pointed at Geng Xuan and said, "Alas, this king and your father Changxinghou are also familiar with each other, and they are related to you, so don't be so restrained." By the way, open the box, and the king wants to see what gifts his niece has sent. ”

The eunuch next to him hurriedly opened the box, and as soon as the box was opened, the whole hall was shocked, it turned out to be a mirror more than one person high, and King Zhou was also overjoyed. Geng Xuan walked to the side of the box and instructed the eunuch to take out the mirror. Standing on the ground, everyone found that the mirror was inlaid with gold edges, and it could be rotated, and it turned out that there was a bracket behind it. King Zhou couldn't help rubbing his palms and said: "This is too valuable, I heard that this is popular in Beijing, it is worth 10,000 gold, although Kaifeng also has it, this king has also bought it, but it is much smaller than this, this one person is so tall, too precious, too precious." Niece-in-law, where did this come from? ”

"This time, I heard that Weichen was coming to see the prince, and the county lord of Jiangdu went to ask His Royal Highness the crown prince to come to this mirror, and he came to be filial to the prince and princess."

King Zhou smashed it and smashed it, and said: "This is really good, but unfortunately there is only one, how can this king and the princess use it?" ”

"This," Geng Xuan was also stunned, and said in his heart that the prince still wants two of this kind of rare treasures, but I don't have them at home, but he still said: "Prince, when the minister goes back, he will give the county lord Ming, and there is a chance to send another one to the prince." ”

"Okay, okay, it's decided, come, send the mirror to the princess, just say that it was sent by the county lord of Jiangdu."

The eunuch was ordered to carry the box away, and when the mirror was placed in the box, the surroundings couldn't help but think of a sigh of nothingness, everyone wanted it, but unfortunately there was no blessing.

Geng Xuan continued to let people carry up a small box, and King Zhou opened it on the spot, inside was a set of exquisite glasses, a total of 8, four transparent and four light red transparent cups, King Zhou was also very happy, but after looking at the mirror, the shock was not so big. King Zhou asked people to replace their cups with glasses on the spot, and drank all the cups, and couldn't help laughing.

......

About half an hour later, everyone retired, King Zhou left Geng Xuan behind, let the others come back, said that there would be a family banquet in the evening, Geng Xuan must participate, Geng Xuan had no choice but to stay, the others bid farewell to King Zhou, and went back to the military camp outside the city after walking around Kaifeng City.

In the evening, King Zhou really held a family banquet, the main concubine Feng and the side concubine Yang all attended, the eldest son Zhu Youstew, the second son Zhu Youjiao, and the third son Zhu Youxuan all attended, about sixteen or seventeen years old, and the other children were too young to attend the table. King Xi Zhou was very enthusiastic and very good at adjusting the atmosphere, making Geng Xuan feel not so restrained. After the banquet, Feng and Yang left with the princes, and the king of Zhou asked Geng Xuan to go to his study to talk, and Geng Xuan received the order.

After the two of them sat down in the study, King Zhou retreated from everyone, walked in front of Geng Xuan, knelt down on his knees, and the frightened Geng Xuan jumped up all of a sudden, and quickly helped King Zhou up: "Lord Wang, what is this for, Geng Xuan is dead." ”

King Zhou also insisted on kneeling: "Geng Xuan, you are a relative of this king, and this king has something to trust, please agree." ”

Geng Xuan's anxious sweat came down, and said, "Lord, if you have anything to say, as long as Geng Xuan can do it, he will not refuse." ”

King Zhou stood up, moved a chair and sat down in front of Geng Xuan, hugged his fists and said, "Geng Xuan, although this king is a prince, there are also difficulties." ”

Geng Xuan was a little helpless: "Lord Wang, please make it clear." ”

"Geng Xuan, the king is a man of temperament, and he is very affectionate with the princess, and swears to live and die together. But the princess's father is Song Guogong, but most of the founding veterans have passed away, and now there are only a few people such as Song Guogong, Ying Guogong, Changxing Marquis and Wuding Marquis, the princess cries day and night, hoping that this king will protect Song Guogong and let him live his old age in peace, but this king has no choice, and he was almost removed from the title because of his private visit to Song Guogong in the first two years. So I can only ask you for help. ”

Geng Xuan smiled bitterly: "Lord Wang, what kind of characters you and Song Guogong are, I am a small person, what can I do." ”

"Otherwise, this king found that Yun Wei is a person who can speak well, your father Changxing Hou and Wuding Hou Guo Ying have been in danger many times, and it cannot be said that there is no credit for Yun Wei; Ying Guogong is also currently settled in martial arts, although he no longer leads troops, he should be safe. But the king's father-in-law, Song Guogong lived like a year, occasionally corresponded with the princess, although he did not say it explicitly, but every time the princess was worried, the king was very sad, and did not know how to relieve the princess's sorrow. The sky has eyes, Geng Xuan is here today, so this king begs you for a favor. ”

"Since His Royal Highness the Grand Sun can help, why don't you ask Your Highness for help?"

King Zhou smiled bitterly and said: "The vassal king is not allowed to enter Beijing for no reason, and this king does not dare to write a letter, Jinyi Wei is pervasive, if it falls into the hands of his father, I am afraid that he will think that this king and his father-in-law colluded, then his father-in-law is dead, and this king may also be deposed as a concubine." You are now both Yun Wei's brother-in-law and his confidant, so I want to ask you to send a message to the imperial grandson. ”

"This," Geng Xuan understood King Zhou's plan, and said in his heart that this matter can be big or small, how should I answer?

Looking at Geng Xuan's embarrassed look, King Zhou knelt in front of Geng Xuan "plopped", Geng Xuan hurriedly went to help, this time King Zhou didn't get up anymore, he had no choice but to say: "Okay, I promise the prince, the prince will get up quickly." ”

King Zhou was overjoyed and arched his hand: "Please tell His Royal Highness that his father-in-law is already old, and this king just doesn't want the princess to cry all day long." In addition, the king and his father-in-law will swear allegiance to His Royal Highness to the death, and there will be no two hearts. ”

Geng Xuan smiled bitterly and said: "Lord Wang, the humble position only guarantees to pass on the word, and the rest depends on His Highness's intentions." ”

"This king believes that His Highness will be able to do it, please."

King Zhou originally wanted to stay in the palace, but Geng Xuan insisted on returning to the barracks, and King Zhou had to agree. However, when Geng Xuan was leaving, King Zhou gave him a box of gold, silver and jewelry, saying that it was the money to buy a mirror, Geng Xuan did not dare to accept it, and even said that if he was allowed to receive a gift, then he would not pass on the word, but as a result, King Zhou had to kneel down in front of the servants, Geng Xuan had no choice but to accept it and lead the servants back to the military camp outside the city.