The border towns and towns of the Ming Dynasty are regulated, and the north is the direction of the Tartar attack, so the height and thickness of the city wall here are higher than the other three sides, and the north gate does not have a city gate, only a high corner tower and the enemy tower are established above the city wall, which is used to strengthen the defense and reduce the probability of the north city wall being breached.

There must be a bell and drum tower in the high place of the north city of the border town, the bell and drum ring in unison throughout the city when the enemy attacks, play the purpose of alarming the enemy, and the government office in the north city gate is densely covered, and the center of the city is all gathered here, becoming the political center of the whole city.

In this area of the northern city, there are the military and political yamen of the General Military Office, the Governor's Yamen, the Tunweicang, the Nursing House, the Procuratorate, the Bell and Drum Tower, the City God's Temple, the Division, the Confucian Temple, the Confucianism, the Left and Right Guards, the Official Medical Hall, the Forage Field, etc., which is the heart of Ningxia Town.

It is impossible for an ordinary residential community to settle in this area of the northern city, but the Qingwang Mansion is an exception, and to the southwest of the Confucian Museum and the Confucian Temple, a large area of tall palace houses has been built from the ground and surrounded by tall walls, which is where the Qingwang Mansion is located.

The specifications of the palace of the Ming Dynasty are customized, and the circumference of a prince-level mansion like the Qing Wangfu is three miles, three hundred and nine steps, and five minutes. Or to describe it in another way, the area of the palace is limited to 150 zhang 2 inches and 2 minutes wide from east to west, and 197 zhang 2 inches and 5 minutes long from north to south. This may be an abstract description, but it can be calculated in modern terms: the Prince's Palace covers an area of 330,000 square meters, which is a huge complex of buildings covering an area of nearly 500 acres, or it can be called a city within a city.

The palace also has four gates, the south is called Duanli, the north is said to be Guangzhi, the east is said to be Tiren, the west is said to be Zunyi, the core building in the palace is the foundation up to six feet nine inches three groups of main halls, in turn is the carrier hall, the circle hall and the heart hall. All the palaces are arched and roofed, painted with pan cockroaches, decorated with gold edges, and painted with eight auspicious flowers. The seat in the hall is made of red lacquer gold cockroach, the red pin gold cockroach is used for hanging the account, and the back wall of the seat is painted with a cocktail and colored clouds.

Ningxia Zhenqing Wangfu is in strict accordance with such regulations to establish a city palace, although the Xian King Qingjing has long been ancient, with the continuation of the bloodline, and the bloodline of today's royal family has gradually become estranged, but the Qingwang knighthood has not been reduced, or the same belongs to the Taizu lineage, the same gas and branches share the royal glory.

The sky was dark and the snow was fluttering, even on such a night, when Song Nan came to the gate of the palace accompanied by An Weixue, looking up at the closed vermilion lacquer copper nail gate on the high steps, and the unknown tall Rui beast squatting in front of the door with teeth and claws, he couldn't help but feel a shock in his heart.

This is the royal family, this is the power brought by the qiē, the children and grandchildren of the Zhu family are the masters of this country, although they have not brought any contribution to the country at all, but the blood of the Zhu family flowing in their veins allows them to enjoy a qiē that others cannot enjoy with peace of mind.

The gate of the palace was closed, but the small door on the side was open, seven or eight palace guards with swords in their hands stood on both sides of the small door with their chests folded, and a middle-aged man dressed in a cotton robe and wearing a square scarf stood there with his hands folded and looked down the steps. An Weixue stepped forward quickly, and said with a smile on his face: "Brother Jingwen, you've been waiting for a long time." ”

The Confucian man also clasped his fists and saluted back: "Lord Governor, have you been invited?" ”

An Weixue pointed at Song Nan behind him: "Isn't that?" Song Hou Ye, let me introduce you to you, this is Mr. Jing Wensun, the great Confucian grandson of our Ningxia Weixue, Brother Jing Wen, this one is Song Hou Ye from Beijing. ”

Song Nan stepped forward slowly and said lightly: "Hello Mr. Sun." ”

Sun Jingwen said with a smile: "Sure enough, the name is well deserved, I have heard that the Marquis of Song is also like Pan An's demeanor, today I know that I don't need it, and what is even more rare is that the civil and military are all-powerful, and I have made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty, which is even more admirable." ”

Song Nan waved his hand and said, "Mr. Sun has won the award." ”

An Weixue said with a smile: "Everyone, don't stand in the snow and be polite, I'm afraid the prince is in a hurry, let's go in." ”

Sun Jingwen said with a smile: "The prince is waiting in the Cunxin Palace, and a large table of banquets has been set up, and all the people in the city have arrived." ”

An Weixue said with a smile: "That's nature, the prince has a treat, who wouldn't come?" ”

Sun Jingwen smiled, stretched out his hand and said, "Lord Song, please, Lord An, please." ”

Song Nan nodded, and was about to step over the high threshold, when an arm suddenly stretched out in front of him to block the way, and a rough voice sounded: "Please untie the blades of these adults, the rules of the palace, you are not allowed to carry weapons in the palace." ”

Wang Yong, who followed closely behind Song Nan, shouted: "My Jinyi Guard does not have rules for unloading blades, and even when we enter the palace, there are no rules for unloading blades. ”

The guard said in a deep voice: "The palace is the palace, the palace is the palace, the palace has the rules of the palace, the palace has the rules of the palace, what you want to enter is the palace, not the palace, this is Ningxia Town and not the capital." ”

Hou Dabiao angrily sneered: "Ho, what a big faction, bigger than the rules of the palace." ”

The guard's face was gloomy and he said: "If you don't untie the blade, you won't be allowed to enter the palace, we are just doing things according to the rules, please understand." ”

Wang Yong shouted: "Then we won't go to your lord's banquet, are you rare for us?" My lord, let's go back, my subordinates ordered someone to get you a mutton hot pot, and it is more comfortable and affordable to eat, but it is not uncommon. ”

An Weixue was taken aback, if he was picked up by Song Nan for such a matter, the prince would definitely blame himself for doing things unfavorably, so he hurriedly came up and said to Song Nan: "Song Houye, you must not make everyone unable to step down for this matter, this is not aimed at you Song Houye, the generals of the General Military Mansion of Ningxia Town also want to unload their blades when they enter the palace, but it is not disrespectful to you Song Houye." ”

Song Nan understood that Wang Yong and Hou Dabiao were worried about their own safety, and King Anhua's guards were suspected of killing Jinyiwei's secret agents, and they had already stood on the opposite side of King Anhua in everyone's minds. But in fact, Song Nan didn't think that this was any ill-intentioned plot of King Anhua, it was just a rule of his, just like when he entered the British Mansion, wasn't he also asked to unload his sword?

Song Nan didn't want to ruin a big deal because of this incident, if he walked away because of this incident, not only would he not have the opportunity to approach the investigation, but he would also arouse suspicion due to overreaction.

Song Nan stretched out his hand and took off the embroidered spring knife from his waist and handed it to the guard: "Take it, this knife is given by the emperor, you have to keep it." ”

Wang Yong and Hou Dabiao were stunned for a moment, and were about to be persuaded for a while, Song Nan waved his hand lightly and said: "Follow the customs of the villagers and hand over the blades to them for safekeeping, let's go into the palace to see the prince, but not into the thieves' lair, why are you so nervous?" ”

Wang Yonghou Dabiao had no choice but to hand over his blade, and Song Nan learned to An Wei, who was standing aside: "Can I enter?" ”

An Weixue breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, "Please please, Master Hou, please." ”

Passing through the halls and houses, walking through the corridors and courtyards, in the brightly lit palace, servants and maids come and go, in the shade of the trees and the shadows of the verandah, there are more shadowy figures patrolling back and forth, this qiē fell into the eyes of Song Nan, Wang Yong and others.

Wang Yong walked a few steps to Song Nan's side and whispered: "My lord, this is really the Longtan Tiger's Den." ”

Song Nan instructed in a low voice: "Be careful, don't make trouble, we are not here to cause trouble today, just open your eyes and watch and remember." ”

Wang Yong nodded and retreated, Song Nan turned his head, saw An Weixue and Sun Jingwen standing a few steps ahead and waiting for him, and said with a smile: "My brother is amazed by the grandeur and prosperity of the palace, and is exchanging ideas with me." ”

An Weixue smiled and said, "Are you even surprised that Marquis Song and others who have seen a big scene?" This is unreasonable. ”

Sun Jingwen stroked his beard and smiled: "Yes, compared with the palace in the capital, the palace is not grand; Lord Song, the front is the palace of the heart, the prince is waiting for you, let's hurry up, if Lord Song is interested in the scenery of the palace, come to visit another day during the day, and I will definitely accompany Lord Song in the next day. ”

Song Nan laughed and said, "That's a good feeling, so it's decided." ”

At the end of the corridor, there is an open field in front, a large hall stands at the other end, the height is much shorter than the two palaces in front, but the side of the hall stretches a piece full of houses, I think this is the palace of the palace, and here it is also the living area of the palace, the two halls and the courtyard in front are just the façade.

The spacious hall of the heart was brightly lit, and the sound of the hall could be heard from a distance, and bursts of laughter came out, obviously the guests were laughing. Dozens of servants and maidservants shuttled back and forth on the front porch of the hall, a busy scene.

Sun Jingwen walked into the hall a few times first, and came to the main guest seat next to an old man in a brocade robe leaned over and said two words, the old man looked up to look outside the hall, and the people who were laughing on the seat next to the old man were suddenly silent, and as his eyes turned his head, he saw the figure of An Weixue, the governor at the entrance of the hall, appear in the lamplight, and a beautiful young man in a golden flying fish brocade dress behind him also appeared in everyone's field of vision.