After thinking about it for a long time, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't know what to say, he sat on the dragon chair, watched Zhu Biao bow and stand, the father and son were silent to each other, and after a long time, Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand gently: "Stand down." ”

Coming out of the Wenhua Palace, Zhu Biao was secretly glad in his heart, if Du Yi hadn't let him carry this painting, I am afraid it would be difficult to pass this level smoothly today. Du Yi knows that Zhu Yuanzhang has a deep affection for Queen Ma, especially at the beginning of Zhu Yuanzhang's business, Queen Ma and her family's lives are in danger, but they will never abandon Zhu Yuanzhang and firmly support him, and the prince's temperament and political philosophy are very different from Zhu Yuanzhang, father and son always disagree, and Zhu Yuanzhang's temper bursts, in order not to let the prince suffer at a critical moment, Du Yi specially invited a famous artist to draw this painting, and strongly advocated Zhu Biao to carry it in his arms at any time. Finally, the painting came to be useful today.

After Zhu Biao left, Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it and felt awkward, but Zhu Biao's words, Zhu Yuanzhang also thought that there was some truth, weren't the auxiliary officials he chose for him on weekdays all Confucian scholars? In the mouths of those Confucian scholars, haven't they always been these benevolent and righteous morals? Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head, it was difficult for him to expect any change in the prince's personality. After a long time, he suddenly ordered both sides: order Zhu Zhang, the king of Qin, to enter the palace immediately.

Qin King Zhu Fan is in Beijing at the moment, he was ordered to return to Beijing last month to report on the defense of the Ping Domain, but after the report was completed, he suddenly fell ill, a few days ago, his condition just improved, and caught up with the empty seal case, Zhu Fan keenly rushed to this case will affect the court situation, so he planned to continue to stay in the Beijing Division, and did not immediately ask to return to the domain, and has been hiding in the palace in recent days to secretly observe the court situation.

Knowing that the emperor suddenly summoned him, Zhu Rong was indeed panicked, just at this time Zhu Zhang's close friend and think tank Liu Jing was on the side, facing Zhu Fan with a nervous face, Liu Jing looked very relaxed: "Your Highness, don't panic, this is a good thing!" Great good thing. ”

Zhu Fan was puzzled: "What kind of good thing is this?" ”

Liu Jing replied with a smile: "Your Highness, please think, what is the matter with Your Majesty's summons?" ”

This Liu Jing is the son of Liu Ji, and his knowledge and knowledge are not below his father Liu Ji, and even Liu Ji once praised this son: "If you meet the master in troubled times, you can meet the master, and it is unlimited." Zhu Fan met Liu Jing very early, knew Liu Jing's talent and wisdom, and had been deliberately befriending for many years, although he did not publicly include Liu Jing under his command, but the two have always maintained correspondence, and every time he returned to Beijing, Zhu Fan had to have a long talk with Liu Jing. More importantly, Zhu Fan has great respect for Liu Jing, whether in letters or in ordinary speeches, he calls Liu Jing Mr. instead of calling him by his name.

Seeing Liu Jing's unhurried appearance at this time, Zhu Fan had a little bottom in his heart: "Is it urging me to return to the domain?" ”

Liu Jing put down the chess pieces in his hand, stared at the chessboard and said: "No, Your Majesty doesn't know Your Highness's illness at the moment, even if you know, it is also reported by those secret agents of Jinyiwei, how can Your Majesty rashly urge your beloved son to work hard when he didn't confirm with his own eyes whether His Highness is really cured?" ”

Zhu Fan replied without hesitation: "If it is not a return to the domain, it may be related to the empty seal case." ”

Liu Jing nodded, and pushed all the chess pieces on the chessboard off the chessboard: "Yes, it is an empty seal case, it must be an empty seal case, at the moment, what other thing can be compared with this matter?" ”

Zhu Fan followed Liu Jing's train of thought and said, "Could it be that my father wants to listen to my opinion?" ”

Liu Jing confidently affirmed: "I'm afraid yes, Your Highness, please follow this line of thought and continue to think about it, such a major matter related to the court situation, why does Your Majesty listen to Your Highness's thoughts and propositions, or is it just because you happen to be in the capital, you are summoned?" ”

Zhu Fan seemed to understand whether he understood or not, and he felt that the opportunity for Liu Jing to say was here: "I am stupid, sir, please make it clear." ”

Liu Jing said: "I dare to conclude that His Majesty must have summoned the prince at this time, and with the prince's character and consistent political views, he must advocate leniency." However, His Majesty has always treated the mistakes and sins of courtiers with heavy punishment, so this time the prince must have disagreed with His Majesty again. ”

"And then?" Zhu Fan seemed to understand a little, why did his father suddenly summon him: "The prince has always been weak, and the government and the opposition know it, does Mr. mean that the father is dissatisfied with the prince's treatment?" ”

Liu Jing stared at the chessboard, and his eyes lit up: "The bystanders are clear, watching the chess game from the sidelines, the situation is clear at a glance." Your Highness has great ambitions, and this is a great opportunity for Your Highness. You are right about one thing, the emperor has not been dissatisfied with the prince for a day or two, and the prince still advocates only leniency and not strictness in this empty seal case, and the emperor must be more and more dissatisfied with the prince. Your Royal Highness, please think about it, how wise and powerful the emperor is today, sweeping away the south of the Yangtze River, driving away Hulu in the north, dominating the world, and expanding the territory, such a wise and heroic lord is difficult to find for hundreds of thousands of years, how can a male lord like Your Majesty allow his crown prince to be a weak person? Although His Majesty didn't say it explicitly, what he wanted in his heart was a prince who could carry forward the past and forge ahead into the future, a British monarch who could carry forward my great Ming foundation, and the current prince was at most just a master of success. However, unlike in the past, now His Majesty is getting older and older, and his health is not as good as before, compared with the few jumping clowns who exploit the loopholes of the imperial court system in the household and local areas, the future successor of the Ming Dynasty, the ownership of the artifact, is the biggest knot in his heart. ”

Liu Jing analyzed, whipped into the wood for three points, and in one fell swoop pointed out the most urgent and critical nodes in the current court situation, which made Zhu Fan suddenly bright, and made Zhu Fan even more happy, Liu Jing is such a talent, he can grab it in his hand before the prince. Father got Liu Ji and won the world, this son of Liu Ji can't learn as much as his father, and he has such a great talent, so ...... Zhu Fan was ecstatic in his heart, quickly stood up from his seat, came to Liu Jing, bowed down, this worship was not an ordinary worship, but a long body to the ground, straightened his waist, and bowed three times in a row, Liu Jing quickly got up and helped each other: "Why did Your Highness make this great gift?" ”

Zhu Fan finally broke through the layer of window paper: "Mr. said, let the mouth of the mouth suddenly, I have been friends with Mr. for a long time, I have always admired Mr. talent and knowledge, but I know that I am shallow, and I dare not promise Mr. with a secular official title, today there is a reluctant request, on the occasion of this eventful autumn, please Mr. for a plan, if he can go further, he will be Mr. Liu Ji Zhaoxue." ”

Zhu Rong's words have been brewed for a long time, he knows that Liu Jing is haunted by Liu Ji's death, and Liu Bowen's death is inseparable from Hu Weiyong, Yang Xian and others, and what role his father Zhu Yuanzhang played in it is also difficult to understand, so it may not be effective to allow a high-ranking official to be a great talent like Liu Jing, it is better to allow him a chance to rehabilitate his father.

As soon as Liu Jing heard Zhu Zhang's words, he did not answer immediately, but fell into deep contemplation, Liu Jing knew that befriending the prince and the vassal king was originally a taboo for the courtiers.

Liu Jing is not a vengeful person as Zhu Fan thinks, he knows that his father Liu Ji must have been poisoned by Hu Weiyong, Zhu Yuanzhang destroyed Hu Weiyong's door the year before last, and it can be regarded as avenging his father, but does Hu Weiyong really dare to attack his father? Wasn't he instructed by others? And who will be the one who can command the prime minister? This series of questions has been pondered by Liu Jing countless times. For himself now, with the assistance of Zhu Rong, can he really change his life and let this vassal king succeed in seizing the throne? Even if this Zhu Fan can succeed in ascending to the throne in the future, can this person expose the secret that his father can't tell for his own strategist?

Liu Jing's mind is sober and rational, looking through the history books, he has never seen the successor king sing the praises of his father, and he has never seen a son who ascended the throne turn over his father's old accounts, Zhu Zhang's promise at the moment will only be the same as the fraud case exposed by Fang Keqin, at most it is an empty account book. And the person who helped this person ascend the throne will eventually become the second Liu Bowen who is feared by the monarch like his father, and finally tries to get rid of it? After all, throughout the ages, there have been too many kings who have crossed rivers and demolished bridges.

Liu Jing finally chose an ambiguous answer: "The prince is very loving, and I am very grateful in my heart, my father died at the hands of Hu Weiyong, and Your Majesty has avenged me." Since my father was killed by Hu Weiyong's traitor, and his death was unknown, I was disheartened by my fame and fame, and I didn't want to get involved in the affairs of the court anymore, but the prince knew about it, and there was nothing to repay him. ”

Liu Jing's ambiguous rhetoric can be interpreted as both a rejection and an acceptance. However, Liu Jing did not say it to death, this answer Zhu Fan was acceptable, so he didn't dwell on the details, and opened his mouth to ask: "Time is pressing, sir, please speak bluntly, how should this king answer this time when he enters the palace." ”

A quarter of an hour later, Zhu Fan left the palace with confidence, because Liu Jing's coping method made Zhu Fan feel at ease.

Zhu Yuanzhang still summoned Zhu Fan in the Wenhua Palace, but not in the hall. As soon as Zhu Fan entered the Wenhua Gate, he saw Zhu Yuanzhang standing on the platform by the railing, Zhu Fan did not dare to slack off, knelt down on the road, and said loudly: "Son-in-law Zhu Zhang, please Saint Ann." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Fan below, smiled and beckoned Zhu Fan to come forward, Zhu Fan got up, bowed slightly and walked forward for a while, just about to step on the platform, he heard Zhu Yuanzhang say: "How is your body recovering?" Looks pretty much good. ”

Zhu Fan walked quickly to the platform, bowed down and replied: "Back to my father, my son's previous illness was due to some wind and cold and the fact that he had just returned to the capital and was not adaptable. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang said with emotion: "When I was a child, your brothers were all in good shape, but, hey, now that you have reached the age of being sick in bed, can I not be old?" ”

As soon as Zhu Fan heard his father say this, he thought that what Liu Jing said was really true, so he comforted: "Father must take care of his health, the monarch is the foundation of the country, your governance is like spring wind and rain, and the people are praying for your long life. ”