The next day, Zhu Di took Shen Ruoyu to visit Xu Huizu.

The mansion of the Duke of Wei was originally the residence of Zhu Yuanzhang as the king of Wu, and later Zhu Yuanzhang became the emperor and lived in the palace. Today, this garden house has sent away its two owners, but the garden is still magnificent, with overlapping pavilions, tortuous corridors, verdant rockeries, and small bridges and flowing water. Back then, Zhu Di married Xu Da's eldest daughter, now Princess Yan, from here.

Xu Huizu, the Duke of Wei, was the brother-in-law of King Yan, and the conversation between the two was not very cordial, and Shen Ruoyu could clearly feel that Xu Huizu was deliberately keeping a certain distance from his brother-in-law. The conversation was then confined to the three guards of Yanshan, which part of the guards would be transferred to the other guards, and how the guards around Beiping would be adjusted.

After bidding farewell to Xu Huizu, Zhu Di and Shen Ruoliao had not yet left the Wei Guogong's mansion, so they met the fourth brother of the Duke of Wei, Xu Zengshou, the governor of the left capital, on the winding path by the pond.

Xu Zengshou not only looks young, but his appearance is also quite different from that of his eldest brother Xu Huizu and eldest sister Concubine Xu, and between his gestures, he is far from being as steady and deep as the eldest brother and sister inherited from his father King Zhongshan, but is full of agility and flexibility, and even a little sleek and sophisticated.

"Brother-in-law! Come and see Big Brother? Xu Zengshou met His Royal Highness King Yan. ”

Zhu Di smiled: "You have a sweet mouth; I'm here to visit Wei Guogong and bring some things for your sister by the way. ”

Xu Zengshou noticed the dark clouds on King Yan's face that had not yet subsided, and asked cautiously:

"Brother-in-law, is the eldest brother playing the same old tune again? What ends in the whole section, loyalty is the same, I am tired of hearing those two sentences. ”

Zhu Di said lightly: "That's not true. Besides, even if he says this, isn't that a good thing? The descendants of the King of Zhongshan should naturally have the legacy of the King of Zhongshan. ”

Xu Zengshou smiled: "Brother-in-law, don't hide it from me." I can see you're not happy. Did the eldest brother just say the plan for the transfer of the Beiping army? ”

Zhu Di said: "Not bad; The Son of Heaven has ordered the two of us to consult together, and we have been discussing this matter just now. ”

Xu Zengshou said: "My brother-in-law has always been measured in his work, and every step is better than others. The three nephews are here, you and your sister don't have to worry, the younger brother thinks about them every day, and he will go to the palace every once in a while to see if they are doing well. ”

"I'm tired of you." Zhu Di sighed, patted Xu Zengshou's shoulder meaningfully, and said with a smile: "It's not a little expensive, right?" When I turn around, the princess and I will come to Yingtian, and I will definitely reward you well. ”

Xu Zengshou said with a smile: "Brother-in-law, look at you, what does the family say, and now the money can be settled, it is not a matter." Besides, they are all my own nephews, and you are not around, of course I have the responsibility to take care of them, and what kind of remuneration is so extraordinary. In fact, the eldest brother also cares about them, but the eldest brother is too deadly, and he refuses to do anything that can make people gossip, so he can only occasionally ask someone to send something, and he dare not go until the Son of Heaven takes the initiative to propose that he visit his three nephews. ”

Zhu Di nodded and said, "I know." Your eldest brother is a good man, and he has the backbone of the King of Zhongshan. I will count on you to take care of this matter in the capital in the future. ”

"Brother-in-law, rest assured. Brother-in-law, where is this going now? ”

"Go and see Princess Ningguo's sister."

"The little brother went in to find the eldest brother. Brother-in-law walks slowly. ”

Zhu Di turned around, walked out of the Wei Mansion with Shen Ruoliao, got into the carriage waiting at the door, and drove to the Mei Horse Mansion.

Ma Meiyin is still leading troops in Huai'an. Princess Ning Guo is teasing her newborn grandson at home. Zhu Di took out the children's shoes he brought, and the princess immediately put them on the child happily, then frowned, took them off again, and said:

"It's too big; It seems that the child will have to wait two months before he can wear it. ”

Zhu Di smiled: "Yes; A lot of things don't apply until you reach a certain age. ”

Princess Ning Guo heard the sound of Zhu Di's words, handed the child to her daughter-in-law and held it, and told her and the people around her to go down. Then, sitting upright, looking at Zhu Di, said:

"The fourth brother came from afar, did he want to get back what should have belonged to him, but was taken away by a person of inappropriate age?"

Shen Ruoyu couldn't help but chuckle in her heart. The title of "Fourth Brother" seemed to stab him with a stick, making him suddenly tremble from head to toe.

Zhu Di said: "My sister is too careful. My brother came here for three purposes, one is to congratulate the Son of Heaven, the second is to pay homage to Xiaoling, and the third is to congratulate my sister on getting the eldest grandson. In addition, I haven't come back for several years, and the last time I saw my father was in August of the 26th year of Hongwu, and I miss my relatives here. ”

Princess Ning Guo said: "Yes, the fourth brother hasn't come back for so long, this time it's time to stay for two days." However, what my sister didn't understand was why the fourth brother came alone and didn't even bring a servant? ”

Zhu Di sighed: "Sister, you don't know that the last time I came back for the funeral, I was stopped by the imperial court in Jiangbei because I accidentally brought more people, and I was refused to cross the river." This time I came to Beijing, I want to learn to be obedient, only bring one Cheng'an Yibin, it's always okay. The result was good, and when the Son of Heaven saw that there was no one around me, he sent me a large number of special chariots and horses. It's embarrassing. If I want to go anywhere, I can't help but consider the pressure of these people, it's too far to go, it's too close, and I can't say anything about it if I have a car or a horse. Fortunately, my sister lives here not far away; I don't dare to be caught by the villain, saying that I am taking advantage of the prestige of the Son of Heaven and abusing the resources given to me by the Son of Heaven. ”

Princess Ning Guo smiled faintly: "Isn't the fourth brother too hypocritical. You are a prince, how can you not talk about pomp? These are necessary, otherwise it will be contrary to etiquette. ”

Zhu Di said: "Sister, to be honest, I'm afraid that I will be too publicized now, and one day I will be like the fifth brother in the future, just now I was swaggering through the market, and in the blink of an eye, I was put in a prisoner car and escorted to Yunnan." Who can stand it? ”

Princess Ning Guo said, "Fourth brother is worried about this? My sister heard that on the Son of Heaven's side, what she was worried about day and night was that King Yan would rebel. ”

Zhu Di sighed: "I hope the Son of Heaven is really worried about this; In this way, as long as everyone speaks, won't they be able to get along with each other? ”

Princess Ning Guo was silent for a moment, looked at King Yan, and asked softly:

"Fourth brother, you say, among so many children of the father and emperor, among so many of our brothers and sisters, who has the best relationship and the most intimate?"

Zhu Di thought for a while and said, "In the eyes of outsiders, it may be me and my fifth brother who are the best." But in fact, my sister and I are closer than my fifth brother. ”

Ning Guogong took the initiative to say, "Yes; Fourth brother, because I am a girl, there is no estrangement between us due to the right to inherit the throne. In addition, we are the same age, and we were born to the same mother, since we were children, my fourth brother and I have been the best, we have nothing to talk about, the fourth brother never allows others to bully me, and I never allow others to say anything bad about the fourth brother. We know each other well, and no one knows each other better than you and me, isn't it, fourth brother? ”

Zhu Di also moved her and nodded, "Of course." Although everyone is old now and has grandchildren, the relationship that began in childhood cannot be broken. ”

Princess Ningguo said: "So, fourth brother, you just listen to me, the sister who knows you best and is your best sister, okay?" ”

Zhu Di was slightly stunned. "Okay, you say."

Princess Ning Guo said: "Give up, fourth brother, that throne does not belong to you." Do you think my sister knows you so well, I don't know your ambitions? But creation makes people. Now that his father has clearly passed the throne to his grandson, he has made some trade-offs and choices. Others don't understand the character of my father, don't you know it yet? He has decided on one thing, and he will never tolerate the slightest change and disobedience. Although he is no longer alive, if you raise an army, what will his heavenly spirit think if he knows about it? Can you have peace of mind on your own? In any case, the prince's brother and you and I were also born to the same mother, and the current Son of Heaven is also the nephew of you and me. I don't want to see my family fratricid. You have such lofty ideals and such outstanding abilities, you can wholeheartedly assist the Son of Heaven, and you can also realize your ideals. ”

Zhu Di pondered for a moment and sighed softly: "Sister, you are still so naïve, you see everything so idealized. A vassal king, if he has the ideal Son of Heaven does not have, and the ability he has does not have the Son of Heaven, throughout history, this kind of precedent is not uncommon; Do you think the two can coexist? If the Son of Heaven does not fall, then the vassal king will surely die. He's cutting the feudal domain now, are you willing to watch your brother die? ”

Princess Ningguo shuddered and said, "But, why can Zhuge Liang still assist Liu Chan?" ”

"Because Liu Chan is a fool," Zhu Di said, "Sister, don't blame my brother for speaking ugly. Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei share the same ideals, so they can work together. But who is Liu Chan? A 'happy here, don't think about Shu' the king of the dead * country. In other words, in all dynasties, such a monarch has no virtuous ministers around him, because even if there is, he has long been driven out by suspicion and slander. If Liu Chan is not an imbecile, he will definitely regard Zhuge Liang as a thorn in his side, as long as he lives for a day, he will not be able to sleep peacefully for a day, and he will want to get rid of him quickly. Although today's Son of Heaven is incompetent and unambitious, he is not a retarded person after all. So I don't have any other way out, sister. ”

With tears in her eyes, Princess Ning Guo pleaded: "Fourth brother, you must not raise troops, you can't win." Since ancient times, none of the vassal kings have succeeded in rebellion. Even if your father values you so much, he never forgets that he owes you, and the decision he made on his deathbed was to give Mei Yin a secret edict, asking him to be loyal to assist the grandson and strictly prevent the vassal king from raising troops, otherwise he would not have left an edict to prohibit the kings from entering Beijing for funeral. This is where the will of heaven lies, this is the will of the people, the Son of Heaven is very popular with the people now, you can go out and inquire about it. The father realized that the people's will was difficult to disobey, and he could only submit to the will of heaven. Fourth brother, you only have one Beiping City, how can you compete with the hundreds of thousands of troops in the imperial court and the hearts of the people in the whole world? Hasn't history taught you enough lessons? Why can't you accept your fate and have to kill yourself? ”

Zhu Di sighed.

"Sister, I know that you are completely out of kindness to your brother, but I can only accept it. Either I would have to give up my reputation and the lives of my family, or I would have to give up the dream I had been fighting for for forty years. You must know that this dream is not my own, it is a godsend, an unfulfilled dream of my father, a dream that the greatest emperors of all dynasties have insisted on, and has not finally been fully realized, a dream that is the biggest dream in the whole world. Naturally, there is no need to say more. At this point, I have no way out. ”

Princess Ning Guo muttered: "I can only sit here, knowing that a bloody storm is coming, destroying my most beloved brother, and I have no choice but to wait?" ”

Zhu Di smiled and said, "Sister, our views are a little different. In your opinion, the will of heaven is the will of the people, and the will of the people is the will of heaven. But in my opinion, the will of God and the will of the people are two completely different things. Moreover, sooner or later, the will of heaven will one day subdue the will of the people, but the will of the people will never be able to control the will of heaven. ”

Princess Ningguo said: "However, the feudal kings have never had a good end, you know the scriptures and history, you should know better than me." ”

Zhu Di said: "Do you think that your fourth brother is the same as those troubled vassal kings in history?" Maybe there are similarities in several of them, but are they exactly the same? Haven't you thought that maybe it's these differences that are the key to success? ”

Princess Ning Guo was silent for a long time and sighed: "Forget it, fourth brother." What kind of person you are, how can I forget. You are just like your father, once you have made up your mind, there has never been a time when someone said that you can change your mind. Who knows. From the poor peasants to the throne, there was only one father and emperor in ancient times. Maybe the vassal king will succeed in raising troops to seize the throne, and you will also set a historical precedent from you. My sister won't stop you anymore. But don't feel that I'm behind you. If you raise an army, I will still stand with the Son of Heaven. ”

Zhu Di said: "It's okay. I can understand that. After all, Mei Yin received a secret edict to assist Jianwen, he must be loyal to his father and Jianwen, and you must also be loyal to your husband. It's not your fault, either. I only hope that what I just said to you, for the sake of you and my brother and sister, you don't tell the fourth person to know, especially Mei Yin. ”

Princess Ning Guo said: "I know. You believe in your sister, so you will trust me. How can my sister betray you and harm you instead. The fourth brother can rest assured. ”

Zhu Di said: "In addition, my brother's three sons are all in the palace, and I have a total of three sons." I also asked my sister to help take care of it when she was free. ”

Princess Ningguo said: "Fourth brother, don't worry, I often send people into the palace to visit the three princes and bring some things." Whatever my sister can do, I will do my best to do it. How is the fourth sister-in-law now? A year ago, I heard that the fourth brother had a grandson, but I never had the opportunity to see it, and I don't know what the little nephew looks like? ”

The brother and sister talked about homely for a while, and after eating accompanied by Princess Ning Guo, they took their leave.

Zhu Di's plan was carried out step by step and meticulously. After visiting Lian Zining, the servant of the Ministry of Officials, he proposed to Zhu Yunwen that he planned to leave for Beiping. As he expected, the Son of Heaven naturally tried his best to keep it.

"Uncle Sihuang finally went home once, is he in such a hurry to go back? The three younger brothers are all here, and the fourth emperor uncle should get together with them for a few more days. ”

Zhu Di said: "No way, there is no man in the family in Beiping now, and it has become a pot of porridge, waiting for me to go back and clean it up." In addition, the minister had already discussed with the Duke of Wei the plan for the transfer of troops in Beiping, and the minister had to go back to prepare for the transfer of military power. The three boys let them stay in Beijing to study until they graduate. Now that you are such an adult, it is time to learn to stay away from your parents. ”

Hearing that King Yan had let the three princes continue to stay in Yingtian, Zhu Yunwen was surprised, but also felt a hint of joy and joy. He agreed to King Yan's request, saying that the Four Emperor Uncles could go home at any time, as long as he told him before leaving, he would still have to go for the Four Emperor Uncles.