"The third prince is good."

Emperor Ming Zhen asked by his surname, and Lu Zheng naturally had to answer.

Emperor Ming Zhen thought about it thoughtfully, and it seemed that he didn't really care much about Lu Zheng's answer, but just asked in passing.

"I already belong to him, he is not young, and it is time for him to go through the experience. Lu Zheng went to instruct the Ministry of Rites to give a good day for the southern tour. ”

Lu Zheng took the fold handed over by Emperor Mingzhen, shook off the dust, and said sharply: "Huh." ”

Lu Zheng walked out with it, and ran into Xia Chong, a scholar of the Cabinet of Ministers who was rushing towards the imperial study.

Although the scholars of the Middle Pole Temple are only the fifth grade, they really have real power, and in this way, they even have the power to overwhelm the sixth.

"Lord Xia." Lu Zheng shouted.

Xia Chong just nodded and passed by Lu Zheng, looking very urgent.

Lu Zheng thought about it, waved the dust, or twisted his waist and left.

In normal times, Xia Chong would never ignore Lu Zheng without even responding. After all, Lu Zheng is a big celebrity in front of Emperor Ming Zhen, although he is in a high position, but the cabinet is closely related to the inner servants. However, today's events made him a little panicked.

"Minister, Xia Chong see the emperor."

"Get up, tell me, what is Aiqing so anxious about?"

Emperor Mingzhen had already seen Xia Chong who was rushing forward, yo, he really responded to the word "rush", and the wind was blowing under his feet, and as soon as the person reported it, he had already arrived in front of him.

Xia Chong didn't dare to say much, his knees bent, and he knelt in the imperial study, "Your Majesty, the minister heard about the southern tour, and he felt deeply inappropriate. ”

"What's wrong?"

"The third prince is still young, and it is only three out of twenty if he is so full, and such a major event as the southern tour must not be neglected."

"What does Aiqing think?"

Emperor Ming Zhen did not express any opinion on his face or in his words.

"The minister thinks that it is appropriate for the two ministers to send a party."

"Two Qincha?"

"Exactly."

Speaking of this, Xia Chong straightened his waist and was awe-inspiring.

"In this way, it can not only play a role in mutual supervision and restraint, but also ensure the smooth operation of this southern tour."

Emperor Mingzhen smiled, Xia Chong breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed that the emperor was quite satisfied with his proposal.

"Get up, what's the matter with kneeling there? What is good to say. ”

Xia Chong got up obediently and arched his hands, still looking respectful. Seeing that Emperor Mingzhen was satisfied, Xia Chong was appointed not only because of this person's outstanding talent, but also because this person made him comfortable, unlike those high-ranking and famous families with shelves, which made him upset when he looked at it.

Xia Chong obviously knew very well what Emperor Ming Zhen liked about him, and he did these things very well, otherwise he would not have climbed so high, after all, there are many people who are better than his family background and are knowledgeable.

"Why didn't Ai Qing Shicai bring it up?"

"In the early dynasty, there were two prime ministers, and the ministers were embarrassed to discuss it."

"For me, for Daye, why are you embarrassed?"

Long Yan descended slightly, and Xia Chong hurriedly said: "What the emperor said is very true, but the minister is stupid. ”

Emperor Ming Zhen didn't grasp this point and entangled with Xia Chong, and asked instead: "Aiqing has a preferred candidate, this second Qincha?" ”

"If you go back to the emperor, the minister thinks that since the three princes have been decided, then this person can choose the heir of the emperor with the same status as the three princes in order to supervise and restrain each other."

There are only twelve princes who can compete with the status of the three princes.

A horse-drawn carriage drove unhurriedly to the alley of Dongyuan and came to a leisurely halt at a mansion.

As soon as Xiao Feng got out of the carriage, he saw a group of people standing at the door, and a middle-aged man ran over and held Xiao Feng, "Father, son heard that the emperor is preparing to tour the south......"

Xiao Feng shook off Da'er's hand and shouted at those family members: "Nonsense! What are you doing here? Don't hurry back yet! ”

Xiao Feng's wife, Xiao Mengshi stood at the forefront, and was scolded by his own master, his face suddenly turned bad, and he scolded and scolded: "Why are you so angry?" But seeing his master's ugly face, he still led a group of people back to the house.

The old man looked around and slammed the door shut.

A carriage that came out of the corner also came to a leisurely stop, this carriage was more delicate and sturdy than the previous one, and the word "bell" on the four corners of the carriage swayed slightly.

Zhong Ming lifted the curtain, looked at the vermilion gate of the Zuo Xiangfu with a smile, and said with a smile: "I see that Xiao Feng's old slippery skin will be planted in his mother-in-law sooner or later." ”

Liu Yue hurriedly catered and said: "What my brother-in-law said is very right, this Zuo Xiangfu can't afford the lintel except for a Zuo Xiang!" ”

Zhong Ming snorted, put down the curtain heavily, and told the coachman to continue walking. Liu Yue could only smile and laugh flatteringly, and his face was smiling like a flower, folded and wrinkled.

However, after walking dozens of steps away, the carriage stopped again, Zhong Ming came down with his hand, and someone was waiting in the Right Prime Minister's Mansion early, welcoming Zhong Ming and Liu Yue back to the house, and the vermilion gate was also slammed shut.

Speaking of which, most of the officials in the capital live in the alleys of the eastern suburbs, and only a few of those who have been blessed with Long's grace and are famous in their own right can live in the alleys of the eastern suburbs.

This alley is inhabited by royal relatives, a brick fell and killed ten, nine of them were royalty. It is conceivable that living in Dongyuan Alley is no longer just a powerful person, living in Dongyuan Alley, you can also walk sideways in Shangjing where officials are running all over the place.

Xiao Mengshi watched the second daughter-in-law walk slowly, and the anger spread to the second daughter-in-law, "The second daughter-in-law, your legs and feet are not better than mine!" ”

Second Mrs. Xiao didn't dare to return to her mother-in-law, lowered her head, quickened her pace, and grabbed her husband by the way.

Second Master Xiao glanced at Second Mrs. Xiao with hatred, his mother is like this, bullying the soft and afraid of the hard, so she doesn't dare to throw her face, otherwise, how can she be angry with her daughter-in-law so casually.

Xiao Mengshi looked at the second lady Xiao who looked like a soft bun, and his heart suddenly relaxed, and he raised his chin and chased after Xiao Feng proudly like a winning rooster.

Xiao Feng had already seen it, and his head hurt again, but he was willing to fight and suffer, and he couldn't ignore his wife to help his daughter-in-law, so he didn't have any ability to leave his wife, so he couldn't make any big waves.

"Madame, let's go pass the meal, I'll talk to the boss and they'll come." Xiao Feng grimaced, but deliberately slowed down his tone in his words.

Xiao Mengshi hurriedly pulled his four daughters-in-law to the lobby.

will also look at his face, and it can be regarded as thinking about him, even if this wife has caused him so much trouble over the years, he has no way to abandon her. It's just that she is different from the past, and she is earnestly guarding the door of the mansion, I'm afraid something will happen.

Xiao Feng turned his back and led his four sons to the study, and at the end, he asked Uncle Xiao, "Where is the deacon?" ”

Xiao Zhi, the eldest son of the Xiao family, is nine out of ten, and he has reached the age of weak crown in only one year.

Uncle Xiao arched his hand, "Zhi'er is still on Master Ji's side, he went there yesterday, and sent someone last night to say that he will come back at the end of this morning." ”

"Master Ji of the Inspectorate?"

Ji Kun, a famous family in Beijing, is the second grade of the left governor of the imperial history, is an honest official, and is trusted by the first emperor and Emperor Ming Zhen in front of the palace.

"Exactly."

The group entered the study, and at the end, Xiao Siye cautiously closed the wooden door.

As soon as the door closed, Xiao Feng asked, "Where did you learn about this?" ”

Although the emperor said the matter of the southern tour in the court, but these old ministers are all unanimously only planning in private, and will not publicize it casually, and the news in the palace has always been secret, and there is a palace ban, it stands to reason that it should not spread too much, after all, he has not told his family. It's just decided, and the family only knows.

Uncle Xiao, as the eldest son, first said: "After my father went to court this morning, my mother came to ask in person. ”

Xiao Mengshi? This time, the early dynasty only recruited them, old ministers and important ministers in important positions. Uncle Xiao is leading the three-grade household servant, and he is not qualified to go to court this time.

Thinking of this, Xiao Feng's face was solemn, his eyes were stern, he stared at his four sons, and asked sternly, "What's going on?" Don't hurry up yet! ”

Uncle Xiao took the lead in lifting the hem of his clothes and knelt down with a bang Then the next three also knelt down, all with their faces lowered and silent.

Xiao Feng's face changed.

Uncle Xiao raised his head and met his father's sharp eyes without fear, and said earnestly: "Mother came to me and my second brother this morning, saying that the Meng family had committed an accident, and begged my father to pull the Meng family. ”

Xiao Feng retreated to the long mahogany table, his hand propped up on the edge of the table. The Meng family's base camp is in Jiujiang, and if he remembers correctly, this southern tour passed through Jiujiang. Thinking about it this way, everything is clear, why would they block the door of the house? Why did Xiao Mengshi know about the Southern Tour? I'm afraid that the Meng family is also involved. It's no wonder that the officials protect each other and involve each other, since they all ask for him.

"How much?"

When Uncle Xiao heard this, he raised his hand tremblingly and made a number.

Xiao Feng glared and cautiously guessed: "Three thousand seven hundred? ”

Uncle Xiao shook his head, his mouth was dry, "Father, the insurance amount is at least three million seven thousand taels of silver." ”

Xiao Feng was like thunder, dizzy, three million and seven thousand taels of silver, they dare!

Uncle Xiao saw that Xiao Feng's face was wrong at this time, his eyes were wide, and he quickly got up to support Xiao Feng, and asked anxiously, "Father, what's wrong with you?" ”

Second Master Xiao and the others also surrounded Xiao Feng, anxious, but they didn't dare to hug it.

Xiao Feng waved his hand and said to his four sons, "You all don't care!" Leave it alone! ”

The Meng family dared to be so bold, he couldn't help, in addition to the daily expenses, as well as the calligraphy and paintings that the two of them bought at a high price from time to time, the only book, the best paper, ink, pen and inkstone, plus the officialdom exchanges, I am afraid that the hollowing out of the family will not be worth the fraction, even if you count the filial piety in your hands with one eye open and one eye closed.

Xiao Feng saw Uncle Xiao's embarrassment and shook off his hand, "Do you know how much money a family of people with a better life spends a year?" ”

"Seven or eight taels is already a good person."

A clear male voice sounded.

Xiao Feng's face darkened slightly, "Zhi'er, you're back." ”

Xiao Zhi nodded and arched his hand: "Grandfather, father, second uncle, third uncle, fourth uncle." ”

Uncle Xiao, they nodded one by one.

Xiao Zhi said: "Sun Er Shi'er heard the half-star, the Meng family committed Tai Sui's head this time, and the Zuo Prime Minister's Mansion must not be mixed with it." The truth of killing chickens and monkeys is also understood by my father and several uncles. ”

The study was silent for a while, but in the end, Xiao Feng sighed, walked behind the mahogany long table, and said to Xiao Zhi: "I can't help, I can take care of it." Deacon, I will write a letter later, and you can take it to visit the Three Princes' Mansion. ”

Xiao Zhi didn't seem to agree, feeling that his grandfather was too kind of a woman, which couldn't be mixed, "Grandfather! ”

"Deacon, a letter left and right, today fell into the mud, and do you know how he will be? Not to mention that it hasn't reached that point yet. ”

Xiao Zhi is still too young, intelligent, decisive, and responsible, but it is not enough to do things for others.

"Yes, my grandson will follow my grandfather's teachings."

Xiao Feng nodded, the best thing about Zhi'er is that he can willingly recognize his own shortcomings.

Xiao Feng lifted the pen, a full piece of paper before it could stop, put the pen aside, and after the ink dried, stuffed it into an envelope, wax it, and handed it to Xiao Zhi.

Xiao Zhi asked, "The third prince goes?" ”

"Hmm. When you go to the Three Princes' Mansion, you must be cautious and abide by the rules. ”

"My grandson knows."

"Uncle, Lord Huang is here."