On the twentieth day of the first month of the twelfth year of Orthodoxy, in the morning.

In the snowmelt season, the cold is stronger than the snow, but seeing the white flowers of the sun outside the door, it does not add even a trace of warmth to Qiupu Xuan.

Feng Duo trotted into Qiupu Xuan, his mouth sprayed a large cloud of white mist, his whole body was shivering, his teeth kept ringing, and his lips were frozen black, "Your Highness, the emperor has given you ten days off, and on this cold day, there is only one Lang Zhong on duty in the Ministry of Rites, he said······ The Huitong Pavilion has been ordered, and His Royal Highness can only go over, but the emperor did not send someone from the Ministry of Rites to go to the Huitong Pavilion with His Royal Highness, so this matter has to be reported to Lord Hu, and ask Lord Hu to go to the palace to ask for instructions. ”

Last night, the emperor sent someone to send a will, ordering Zhu Qiming to go to the embassy at noon today to meet with the envoys of Annan and Zhancheng, this morning Zhu Qiming instructed Feng Duo to go to the Ministry of Rites to contact this matter, Feng Duo was afraid of the cold, and ran to the Ministry of Rites, the distance was not far, but the person was frozen and half stiff, and the errand was not ideal.

Zhu Qiming raised his head from the side of the bookcase, "Which Lang Zhong is on duty?" ”

"It's the host and guest Qing Shilang Zhongchang Siqing."

Chang Siqing? Zhu Qiming pondered for a moment, and then showed his face, "People are used to following the process, and they believe that this king will go through the motions in the same hall, how can they take this matter seriously?" It's still early, you go to the stove first, and then warm up. ”

Feng Duo's eyes lit up, and he immediately shook his head, "No." Your Highness, you still have to burn the kang at night, and that little red Luo charcoal is not enough at all. ”

"It's okay, just open it up, you can't save it." Afraid that Feng Duo wouldn't believe it, Zhu Qiming smiled at him and made a powerful gesture.

Feng Duo was about to turn around and enter the inner room, but saw two people dressed as internal officials walking in with a big grin.

"Tian Li, the eunuch of the Palm Seal of the Salary Division, see His Royal Highness the King of Yue."

"The management of Shi Bang is the management of the Salary Division, see His Royal Highness the King of Yue."

The eunuch named Tian Li looked like a ball of meat; Shi Bang on the side is as thin as a hemp pole, one of them is very fat, the other is very thin, the contrast is strong, and the picture looks very funny.

Tian Li saw that Zhu Qiming looked at him lightly, and did not say anything, so he immediately stepped forward, "Oh, Your Highness, Father ordered the two of the Sprinkle family to come to Qiupu Xuan to take a look." ”

Father? That's Wang Zhen! Zhu Qiming bowed his head, and said indifferently: "How did the prince have time to think of Qiupuxuan?" ”

Father-in-law?

Tian Li and Shi Bang glanced at each other and were surprised. To the emperor must be called "sir", how dare King Yue call "father-in-law"?

"Your Royal Highness has been staying in Qiupu Xuan for a few days, and the Sprinkle family has not been idle, so today is just the right time, follow my father's instructions, and come to Qiupu Xuan to see if there is a shortage of red Luo charcoal here."

Qiupu Xuan is not short of red Luo Tan, don't you know? It's too late to think about it! Zhu Qiming only looked at the ice ridge hanging on the eaves of the door that was a little exaggerated, and looked absent-minded.

"If this king is not mistaken, on the night that this king returns to Beijing, the emperor must order the prince to allocate the use of Qiupu Xuan with full authority."

"Father is close to serving the Son of Heaven all day long, and he really can't be separated, if there is any omission in the inner chamberlain, it will make His Highness unhappy, please make it clear that he will be brought back by the Sprinkle family to show his father." Tian Li's expression was rather indifferent.

"The blessing of Father-in-law Tuotian, Qiupu Xuan is flawless, this king has had an excellent life these days, and he will remember it for the rest of his life!" When he said this, a light smile rippled at the corner of Zhu Qiming's mouth.

"I have thirty catties of red charcoal for you, Your Highness might as well send someone to get it."

Feng Duo on the side swept a trace of anger in his eyes, "Your Highness's status is precious, why wait for His Highness's orders for many things?" There are a lot of people in the salary department, so I can't send someone to send Hongluo charcoal! ”

Tian Li's neck was raised, and his chin was raised to the old man, "Yo, isn't this Xiao Duozi?" Oh, it's also to blame the negligence of the Sprinkler family, charcoal fires are burning everywhere in the Forbidden City, and the charcoal ash splashed is very easy to re-ignite when it is windy, so I am afraid of going to water. There are also those fireproof water tanks, which must be heated from time to time, but the water in the tank can not be frozen. Therefore, every time the weather is cold, the Sprinkle family has to wander around the Forbidden City, just in case, this turn, forget about His Royal Highness King Yue, and the Sprinkle family should die! Xiao Duozi, since you have followed His Royal Highness King Yue, you are also idle, it is better to go to the Salary Division to get the red Luo charcoal, fortunately, the road is close, and you are not tired. ”

Little Duozi? I think when Feng Duo was on an errand in Qingning Palace, who saw him and was not his father-in-law, father-in-law, and father-in-law? Now Feng Duo has followed a wandering prince, and his worth has plummeted immediately, no, he has become a little Duozi! No way, the world is so snobbish, accustomed to worshipping high and stepping on low!

Zhu Qiming exhaled slowly, "This king will go out by order, followed by Feng Duo, there is no one else in Qiupuxuan, according to this king, it is better to change the day." ”

Thin rod Shi Bang grinned, barely squeezing out a smile, "Your Highness better send someone to fetch it quickly, I'm afraid it will be gone if it's late." ”

This is said very frivolously and insincerely!

If you really have the heart, the Salary Division will send someone to send it yourself, even if you don't send it, it's good to keep it for pickup, where is the "I'm afraid it's gone if it's late"?

However, there is nothing wrong with these words on the surface, and they are just used to respond to people!

Who can afford to offend the lords of the palace? Needless to say, the emperor, who would dare to offend the queen mother, the queen, and the princess of Chongqing? Even if she is a lowly concubine, she is also the emperor's pillow person, who is not afraid of the pillow wind? Therefore, the "gone" of Hongluo charcoal can happen at any time, and the excuse of "gone" can be found at any time.

Only he, the king of Yue, is just an uninvited guest in the other courtyard, and he is also a hurried guest in the Forbidden City, who cares if he can't be offended?

Zhu Qiming desperately relaxed his facial muscles and slowly spit out two words: "Don't worry." ”

Tian Li's face was indifferent, as if to say: Love or not!

"Your Highness is going to see the envoys of Annam and Champang, right? At the end of last year, His Royal Highness forced back the Warat army in Liaodong, and at the beginning of this year, His Royal Highness saved the Korean mission, which made the emperor happy for a while, but it was just ······ Your Highness might as well take the opportunity to ask for a reward, although gold, silver and jewelry are mundane things, but they are more affordable than showing your face on the scene. ”

Do you know that?

Tian Li's words seem to be gentle and drizzly, warming people's hearts, but in fact, they are sandwiched with guns and sticks, harming people invisibly.

Zhu Qiming tried his best to stay calm, but his heart was not a taste after all.

It seems that the foreign officials did not think much of their trip to the Huitong Pavilion, and the internal officials also scoffed at it, and only regarded it as a face-saving job, and I am afraid that even the emperor thought that meeting the foreign envoy itself was a reward for the prince.

Also, the two major things he did before, in their opinion, were just for the emperor to be happy for a while!

It is not surprising that a court full of sycophants and power calculations can truly appreciate the brave deeds in the flames? That's just rough work!

"Father-in-law Tian is too careful, and this king is just acting on orders."

Dropping these words, Zhu Qiming wanted to enter the inner room, he didn't want to waste his energy with such a person anymore. Tian Li's yin and yang strange exclamation sounded beside him.

"His Royal Highness the King of Yue is heroic, and sooner or later he will be sealed to Liaodong and be the edge of Daming Town!"

Liaodong? Is this what the emperor thinks?

Should a heroic man go to a bitter cold place, away from glory and wealth, away from the center of power, and at the mercy of a group of people who play with power? And the dim and cowardly should have power and enjoy happiness? What kind of logic is this!

Zhu Qiming was very calm, and gave the eviction order with a smile: "The two fathers-in-law are busy." ”

After Tian Li and Shi Bang left, Feng Duo angrily lit two stoves, looking at the posture, he wanted to burn all the red Luo charcoal in one go.

Feng Duo sat in front of Zhu Qiming, and roasted it on the fire for a while, his face flushed, and the whole person was no longer curled up in a ball, but stretched out his limbs naturally.

At this time, the figure at the door flickered, and a man about fifty years old and dressed in an official robe walked in slowly, "Ma Yu, the right attendant of the Ministry of Rites, see His Royal Highness King Yue." ”

Ma Yu? Cabinet ministers, Hanlin Academy attendants lecture bachelor Ma Yu? Zhu Qiming stood up before Feng Duo, and he instinctively realized that he had to salute the person who came.

Ma Yu is a native of Linqu, Shandong, born in a family of poets and scholars, and later generations called him "selfless, not flattering to the powerful, honest and self-controlled".

The current cabinet has brought together three champions at once, the first assistant Cao Nai is the champion of Xuande for eight years, the second assistant Chen Xun is the champion of Yongle for thirteen years, and this Ma Yu is the champion of Xuande for two years. The scientific examination of Xuande in the second year is the first time that Emperor Xuande ascended to the pole, commonly known as the Flying Dragon List, therefore, Ma Yu is the eighteenth champion since the opening of the Ming Dynasty, the second champion of Jiangbei and Shandong, and the first champion of the Xuande Dynasty.

Zhu Qiming knows that the five cabinet members have learned from others, but what is more outstanding than their talent is their ethics.

"Xiao Wang is fortunate to meet Master Ma." Zhu Qiming bowed in return.

"Your Royal Highness is respectful, and you dare not be ashamed." Ma Yu gave his hand again, "The emperor gave him a ten-day holiday, and Cao Yuanfu was worried that it would be difficult for the Ministry of Rites to find a suitable person to follow His Highness, so he went to the Imperial Front to ask for an order, and then went to the Huitong Pavilion with His Royal Highness. Yan Bi glanced at Feng Duo carefully, but did not say hello.

"Please take a seat."

"Your Highness is gracious."

"Feng Duo, you quickly go to Yuefu to send a message to Ouyang Changshi, and ask him to borrow a set of princely crown robes from King Yu, and you will wait for this king in front of the Huitong Pavilion at the beginning of noon."

"Yes,"

"Alas, Your Highness has to worry about such a thing!" After Feng Duo left, Ma Yu muttered, and then sat down with Zhu Qiming. "Back then, Yang Ge Lao secretly repeatedly mentioned His Royal Highness, saying that His Highness was intellectual, and although he was well-educated, he was not enough to fight wits with His Highness.

Zhu Qiming's heart was shocked, and he suddenly realized that although Yang Pu was deceased, his influence still existed. He had heard that in the scientific examination in the second year of Xuande, the chief examiner was Yang Pu, so Ma Yu has always regarded Yang Pu as his teacher.

"How can Xiao Wang be so highly regarded by Yang Ge Lao?"

Ma Yu floated a friendly smile and replied, "It's not what it used to be!" I'm afraid Your Highness won't be as reckless as he used to be. However, it is inconvenient for His Highness to live in Qiupu Xuan, compared with Qiupu Xuan, Yuefu is a comfortable place, and a trip to the Tongguan will most likely send His Highness back to Yuefu. ”

"Master Ma laughed, Xiao Wang is waiting to go to the domain."

Ma Yu shook his head again and again, and only talked to himself: "With the Weisu army in the south of the Yangtze River alone, it will definitely not be able to quell the civil strife in Zhejiang and Fujian within a year or two, and Wara is eyeing the north border, and it may be offensive at any time. The DPRK and China still underestimated the consequences of the Annam incident, and if it was not done well, many vassal states would deviate from the Ming Dynasty, which would make the Ming Dynasty's situation more passive, and then strengthen the adventurous impulse of Wara, weaken the Ming Dynasty's will to war, and the situation is worrying! I wonder what good strategy His Highness has to eliminate the dispute between Annam and Champong? ”

Zhu Qiming immediately realized that the opportunity for cooperation between himself and the cabinet members came again, and his thoughts suddenly returned to a few years ago, when the secret cooperation with Yang Pu was good or bad.

However, Ma Yu is right: this is not what it used to be!

"I heard that the Siamese envoys had entered Beijing at the end of last year and have not returned yet, what are they waiting for? Master Ma came just in time, you don't have to meet the envoys of Annam and Champa with this king, why don't you go to see the envoys of Siam? ”

Ma Yu was stunned for a moment, and then sighed: "Wonderful, Your Highness can find a way to move a live chess game in a dead game, which is really amazing!" ”

······

As soon as Zhu Qiming arrived at the main gate of the Nanhui Hall, he saw Ouyang Tong and Feng Duo walking quickly to greet him. Ouyang Tong held the crown robe in his hand and said, "I borrowed the crown robe from the palace of the prince, please find a place to change it." ”

Zhu Qiming instructed Feng Duo to go to the Southern Huitong Pavilion first to contact the envoys of the two countries.

Without waiting for Feng Duo to go away, Ouyang Tong poured cold water: "Why did His Highness take over the mess left by the Ministry of Rites?" ”

Don't you even think favorably of this king?

Zhu Qiming smiled at the scattered Huitong Pavilion building, his eyes were slightly excited, and he only felt that a lot of helplessness would completely end in the slightly deserted Huitong Pavilion, and his life would open a new page from now on!