Hong Jiang and Tan Wuying never appeared again. For several days, Lu Jiang looked at the door of the Hongjia Hotel without the slightest news. No one knows what's going on.

Shen Ruoliao and Nangong Qiu never moved, and continued to live in the Hongjia Hotel, and had one more arduous task to comfort Lu Jiang than before.

Soon, January of the first year of Jianwen passed in a hurry, and Emperor Jianwen Zhu Yunwen had already held a sacrificial ceremony in the Fengtian Hall of the Yingtian Emperor's Palace, the Taimiao Temple, and the Xiaoling Tomb of Emperor Taizu Gao outside the city. In February, he once again held a ceremony in the Fengtian Palace, posthumously honoring the imperial examination and the late crown prince Zhu Biao as Emperor Xiaokang, and the temple name Xingzong; Posthumously honored the crown prince concubine, the daughter of Kaiping King Chang Yuchun, Concubine Chang as Queen Xiaokang; respect the second concubine of the crown prince and his own mother, Concubine Lu, as the queen mother; canonized his wife, the former imperial grandson concubine Ma, as the queen; Zhu Yunxi, the younger brother of the emperor, is the king of Wu, Zhu Yunxi is the king of Heng, and Zhu Yunxi is the king of Xu; He appointed his four-year-old eldest son, Zhu Wenkui, as the crown prince.

On a spring morning, Zhu Di, the king of Yan, took Shen Ruoliao and quietly went out of the Zhengyang Gate of Beiping, and the two flying horses galloped towards Yingtian City.

On the evening of the second day, they entered Jinan Mansion and, according to Zhu Di's intentions, went straight to Tie Xuan's house.

Tie Hyun is not at home as usual, and is still busy in the public mansion. Lady Tie sent a servant to rush to the palace and report the news of the arrival of His Royal Highness King Yan to Tie Xuan, who was taken aback and rushed home immediately.

The friendship between Zhu Di and Tie Xuan is really extraordinary. Greeting His Royal Highness the Prince from afar, Tie Xuan's welcome ceremony was as simple and sincere as the most ordinary bosom friend, and ordered his wife and daughter to prepare a table of the most homely dishes, went to the street to make two pots of good wine, and sat down to drink with His Royal Highness King Yan and Cheng'an Yibin, chatting and laughing without restraint. For Zhu Di and Shen Ruoxiao, who have been running for two days, they only think that toon scrambled eggs and shallots mixed with tofu are much more refreshing and delicious than the roast duck made by the palace kitchen.

Zhu Di is known as Dingshi Virtuous Brother, and frequently exchanges cups with Tie Xuan, so he reunites after a long absence, without the slightest prince's shelf. He told Tie Xuan that he was going to Jingshi to meet the Son of Heaven on this trip, and deliberately brought only one person from Cheng'an Yibin to show his sincerity. Tie Xuan praised King Yan, and greatly praised Shen Ruoliao, and then began to praise the benevolence, righteousness and virtue of today's son with great enthusiasm, as well as several famous civil officials in the dynasty, in addition to Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng, Fang Xiaoru, there are also officials and servants, Hongwu eighteen years of Bangyan Lian Zining, household servant Zhuo Jing, Ministry of Rites Shangshu Chen Di, Ministry of Rites Lang, Hongwu twenty-four years champion Huang Guan, Criminal Department waiter Lang Zhao, Taichang Temple Shaoqing Liao Sheng and others, are very rare talents, His Royal Highness King Yan is here to go to Beijing, if there is a chance, Be sure to visit around and get to know these people.

Zhu Di said with a smile: "Lone also has this intention, Lian Zining, Zhuo Jing, Chen Di are such great talents, Lone has also heard of his name for a long time." ”

Tie Xuan said: "In front of the Son of Heaven, there are not only so many talented ministers, but also the brave generals who are also elite. Needless to say, Yuan Gongsu beside Emperor Gao like Geng Bingwen, Marquis Geng Bingwen, Marquis of Wuding, Guo Ying, etc.; There is also the eldest son of Xu Da, the king of Zhongshan, Xu Huizu, the Duke of Wei, as the governor of the Chinese army, the third son Xu Yingxu as the governor of the Chinese army, and the fourth son Xu Zengshou as the governor of the left capital of the Chinese army,—— the maiden family of the princess Niangniang, His Royal Highness must know better than Tie; Li Jinglong, the eldest son of Li Wenzhong, the king of Qiyang, and the Duke of Cao Guo, was the governor of the left army, and the second son Li Zengzhi was the governor of the left army of the former army; Mu Sheng, the second son of King Mu Ying of Qianning, was the governor of the left capital of the rear army; There is also Emperor Taizu Gao's most heroic adopted son, Ping'an, who is the governor of the right army. There are also a large number of generals with outstanding military achievements such as He Fu and Gu Cheng, who are loyal. Therefore, some people once secretly criticized that the current son was just a scholar and that the officials of the DPRK and China formed a talented court, which was completely wrong. ”

Zhu Di smiled: "Of course; Not only these civil and military generals, but also those who are as good as iron keystones, can be regarded as the pillars of the imperial court and the mainstay of the Ming Dynasty. When the son has such a good fortune today, it is all the legacy of his father. ”

Tie Xuan smiled: "Your Highness has lifted Tie Mou." I'm just a little involved in politics, and I can't talk about anything about Wen Taowu, and I don't dare to be the mainstay. Tie is stupid, and he can have today, thanks to the cultivation of Emperor Gao and today's saints, and he does not dare to repay the Son of Heaven without the strength of his ministers. If I have the general talent and courage of His Royal Highness King Yan, I will devote my life's efforts to the loyal court, and do my best to assist the Son of Heaven, I will be able to recreate the prosperous era and become the cause of the Ming Dynasty. ”

Zhu Di sighed: "Keystone said this very well. Today is Lone's own nephew, although diligent and loving the people, conscientious, but after all, young, inexperienced, Lone has the heart to be the Duke of Zhou to assist the king, to achieve his father's unfinished ideals. Helplessly, there are many foolish ministers around the Son of Heaven, and the people of the court are overflowing with slander, which confuses the holy hearing, so that today's vigorous reduction of the feudal domain is really distressing, and it also makes the lonely day and night worried, but I am afraid that my life will not be guaranteed. ”

Tie Xuan said sincerely: "Your Highness can know, 'When the jade test is burned for three days, it will take seven years to distinguish the materials. Zhou Gong was afraid of rumors, and Wang Mang was humble and did not usurp the time. As long as His Highness is sincere, loyal and willing to assist the Son of Heaven, respectful, and cautious, the rumors will fade with time, and His Highness will eventually be relied on by the Son of Heaven and win the hearts of the people of the world. If you want to withstand the test of fire, you can only make real gold. ”

Zhu Di was deeply moved, and said with a faint smile: "Keystone's words can dispel the dark clouds of fear accumulated in the lonely heart. Daming has a loyal minister like you, which is the blessing of the country and the world. For my Daming, I salute you for a cup! ”

He raised his glass. Tie Xuan was slightly stunned, and also raised his glass and said:

Tie Hyun was flattered. This cup, it is up to me to salute His Royal Highness, and congratulate my great son on having a more outstanding loyal minister than Duke Zhou by his side. Compared with His Royal Highness, Tie is like a drop in the ocean, how can he be a toast to His Highness? When one day, I, Tie Xuan, am finally worthy of the word 'Keystone' and worthy of Emperor Gao, and it is not too late to accept this glass of wine from His Royal Highness. ”

Zhu Di excused himself and said: "You can't stand it, can you stand it?" No, I only feel ashamed in my heart when I face Tie Keystone, you are the eldest prince, but you have always been afraid of people's words, and you can't do your best for the country as frankly and honestly as you. This glass of wine, it's better to respect you alone. ”

Two people pushed back and forth; Shen Ruoyu couldn't stand it, raised his glass, and said:

"One is Duke Zhou, the other is Wei Zheng, don't be humble anymore, this cup, let Shen Ruoliao come to pay tribute to the prince and Brother Dingshi. In front of you, I am truly ashamed of myself. ”

Zhu Di said with a smile: "Once a horse slave and a pariah despised by the world, but later grew into a world-famous and nationally admired general Sima - I often feel that your life trajectory is approaching Wei Qing step by step." What do you have to be ashamed of? ”

Shen Ruoyu teased: "Lord Wang, Wei Qing still has a sister of Wei Zifu." ”

"He's still Princess Pingyang's concubine. The Tang Dynasty also produced a Pingyang horse Chai Sichang, who is also famous in history. Tie Xuan smiled, "Aren't you also the Yibin Lang of the Lord of Cheng'an?" Although the county lord is not a princess, with the support of His Royal Highness King Yan, you will definitely have the opportunity to establish the same achievements as Wei Qing Chai Shao. There is Zhou Gong, there is Wei Qing, and Wei Zheng abounds in the DPRK and China, and my Tie Xuan is insignificant, for the arrival of the prosperous era of the Ming Dynasty, cheers! ”

"Well said," Zhu Di laughed heartily, "Wu has Wei Qing, Wen has Wei Zheng, for the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, cheers!" ”

The three of them drank the rest of the wine cleanly. Shen Ruoyu put down his wine glass and smiled at Tie Xuan:

"Brother Keystone, Ling Yan is freezing enough under the window outside, can you please trouble her to refill a pot of tea for us?"

Tie Xuan was slightly stunned when he heard this, and subconsciously looked at the door, but saw Tie Liu's face flushed, I don't know whether he was cold or ashamed, he walked in with some embarrassment, and asked Shen Ruoyu:

"How do you know I'm outside the window?"

Shen Ruoyu couldn't help laughing: "Didn't Miss Liu sneeze just now?" I've been wondering why you didn't come in. ”

Tie Xuan raised his face and said: "The girl's family, I don't understand the rules at all, what does it look like to eavesdrop outside?" Whom have you been instructed to? ”

Tie Liu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he heard the pretended severity and unconcealed love in his father's tone, and when he saw that King Yan was here, he was embarrassed to be coquettish, so he whispered:

"Liu'er is just curious, besides, my father talks about national affairs with others, and never lets Liu'er listen, so I have to eavesdrop."

Zhu Di opened his mouth and asked Tie Xuan with a smile: "Brother Dingshi, is this Liu'er?" I don't recognize it. The last time I came, she seemed to be a little doll, only so tall, I hadn't seen her for a few years, and now she has grown so big, beautiful and generous, and she is a big beauty like her mother. ”

Tie Xuan heard King Yan praise his beloved daughter, and said with a smile: "Your Highness, don't exalt her." This girl is spoiled by me, willful and foolish, doesn't understand the rules, and is full of ghosts, who wants to praise her twice, not only does she not know how to lift, but also kicks her nose in the face. ”

Tie Liu glanced at his father complainingly, blaming his father for speaking mercilessly. Zhu Di smiled:

"Liu Er is smart and clever, and she is so interested in national affairs, which is different from ordinary girls. At a glance at her eyebrows, you can know that her personality is the same as you, she can set an example for the people in times of peace, and once the country is in trouble, she must be a well-known keystone figure. She has inherited all the good things from both you and your wife. ”

Tie Xuan's favorite is this eldest daughter, and being praised by King Yan at this moment is naturally overjoyed. He instructed his daughter to go down to refill the tea, and when she came back with the teapot, he agreed to Zhu Di's suggestion and asked Tie Liu to sit down at the table, and the three of them continued to chat.

After staying at Tie Xuan's house for one night, Zhu Di and Shen Ruoliao both felt at home. Early the next morning, the two of them said goodbye to Tiefu, left Jinan, and continued to rush south.