Is Zhu Ji really collaborating with the enemy and treason?

Looking at the familiar face on the portrait, Shen Yichen couldn't believe it for a while.

You must know that even if Zhu Ji has no hope of attacking the lord, with the status of the Duke of Daming as the Duke of Chengguo, the official title of Mengyin's concubine in the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies will be at least awarded the military position of Zhengsanpin and above.

If Zhu Ji fights for some more qi himself, not to mention the grand occasion of one family and two dukes like the Duke of Wei, the merits and qualifications are in place, and it is not impossible to be crowned earls and marquises.

What kind of bargaining chips can the Mongols give to make the dignified Duke of Ming surrender to the enemy?

Is the reason for the death of the Duchess Lin in the first place?

The only reliable reason that Shen Yichen could think of was that Zhu Ji wanted to take revenge with the help of external forces. After all, with his status and strength, whether it is against Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, and Zhu Yi, the eldest prince, or to seek revenge on himself, it is almost impossible.

"To the north, except for Zhu Ji, there is no one else who has such a coincidence."

Zhao Hongjie grew up studying in the family school of Chengguo Mansion, and he is also very familiar with Zhu Ji's appearance.

Before the painter copied the portrait, just by virtue of the appearance described by the traitor in Jingshi, he had a rough picture in his mind. Now let Shen Yichen confirm again, it is nothing more than a process, and it can already be confirmed that Zhu Ji collaborated with the enemy and committed treason!

"Hmm."

Shen Yichen nodded silently, his mind was a little messy now.

The political struggle in Beijing, the struggle for imperial power in the palace, the hidden dangers in the north and south of the desert, and now the internal disputes in the Chengguo Mansion are really exhausting.

"Personal enmity is placed above national hatred, and villains should be killed!"

Zhao Hongjie said angrily, he currently doesn't know how long Zhu Ji has been collaborating with the enemy, and whether it has anything to do with the change in Tumubao. The deployment of the garrison was leaked during the defense battle of the Beijing Division, which caused heavy casualties among the Ming soldiers in the early stage, and it was not enough to cut off ten heads.

"To the north, do you want to tell your grandfather about this matter and arrest Zhu Ji for interrogation first?"

"Relying on a portrait, the evidence is insufficient, and it is easy to cause unpredictable consequences."

Shen Yichen shook his head, there was no key human or physical evidence, and Zhu Ji could fully justify that he was slandering himself at that time.

No matter how it is said that the emaciated camel is bigger than the horse, a few months after Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, was asked to seize the title, Jin Yiwei arrested his sister-in-law and interrogated the enemy, it is difficult not to make people overly associated. Even people with intentions or political enemies will take this opportunity to continue to attack the Harrier Ridge that became the Duke of the Kingdom at the beginning.

Hearing Shen Yichen's objection, Zhao Hongjie frowned and replied: "But the question is that Zhu Ji was appointed as the commander of Datong Yizhou and went to the front line of the battle against the Tartars, will it affect my Ming Nine Border Defense Line?" ”

Zhu Ji is the commander of Datongyi Prefecture?

After Shen Yichen heard Zhao Hongjie's words, the expression on his face gradually became solemn.

During this time, he rushed to the aid of Liaodong and did not pay attention to the appointment of military generals in Beijing. In addition, Zhu Ji used to be the standard image of a gentleman, in addition to eating, drinking and having fun, there was only "gnawing the old", who would have thought that he would suddenly go to the border to endure hardships?

"Yes, but you must not arrest the border guards without authorization!"

Now that Shen Yichen has been up and down in officialdom for several years, he deeply understands what is called the way of balance.

This kind of spy agency is a double-edged sword, if you use it well, you can control the affairs of the world, and if you don't use it well, you will have endless disasters, and everyone is in danger!

Before being convicted of such a thing as collaborating with the enemy and treason, it is inevitable that it will not be able to make a big noise. Even if Zhao Hongjie told the emperor to go to the border to arrest Zhu Ji through a legal process, it would cause an uproar in this kind of war period, leading to the collective disgust of the generals of the nine border towns.

If Zhu Ji bites himself to death and does not collaborate with the enemy, and Zhao Hongjie cannot produce ironclad evidence, it will also cause a serious crisis of confidence.

"So what are we going to do, are we watching?"

Zhao Hongjie was a little anxious, thinking that when Wang Zhen was in power, he could track down and arrest the ministers of the DPRK and the Central Committee with a single order. Now he knows that Zhu Ji is suspected of collaborating with the enemy and treason, but he is unable to act without evidence.

"Proof!"

Shen Yichen silently recited these two words in his mouth, to be honest, it was not easy to find it. It's like Guo Jing, the eunuch guarding Datong Town, almost everyone in the court knows that he is suspected of collaborating with the enemy and taking bribes and reselling border army materials.

"I wrote a letter to General Guo Deng, a general of Datong, who is a loyal and patriotic person, and will be vigilant to strengthen the Nine Frontier Defense Line. In addition, the cold winter has arrived, and at this point in time, the tile spurs will not invade the border on a large scale, you have to take advantage of the time difference of these few months to get the ironclad proof that Zhu Ji collaborated with the enemy and treason! ”

Without too many choices, Shen Yichen could only give such a relatively conservative plan and let Datong General Guo Deng be more vigilant. Take advantage of the truce period in the cold winter to find evidence about Zhu Ji's guilt as much as possible, and find a way to convict him next year!

"Looks like that's all there is to do."

Zhao Hongjie replied helplessly, he also understood Shen Yichen's difficulties, this kind of thing is difficult to properly solve without evidence by relying only on a commander and a military squire.

"I came back from Liaodong and went directly to the palace to face the saint, and I haven't been back to the house yet. I won't talk to you much today, but I will have time to meet again in the future. ”

"Okay, after this while, our brothers will get together again."

From Shen Yichen's emaciated face alone, Zhao Hongjie knew that he was tired, and Qingtong and his aunt must have been waiting in the mansion for a long time, so he would not delay time.

Waving goodbye to Zhao Hongjie, Shen Yichen returned to the Chengguo Mansion in a carriage, accompanied by the shaking of the carriage on the road, he actually fell asleep in a rare misty lake, and it was not until the head of the fire shouted softly that he woke up from his sleep.

In front of the mansion, Chen Qingtong and his mother Shen were still standing on the steps to greet them. Even if they haven't seen each other for more than a month, for the two of them, it's like three autumns.

After all, there are no eyes on the battlefield, and Shen Yichen is a civilian official, so he will inevitably be frightened day and night.

After appeasing his mother Shen and Qingtong, everyone walked to the lobby of the mansion. Compared with the past, when Shen Yichen returned home, only his mother had a reunion dinner with Qingtong, and this time there were two people sitting at the dinner table, Zhu Yong and Zhu Yi, the Duke of Chengguo.

Seeing this scene, Shen Yichen stopped unexpectedly, and it has been a few years since he lived in the Jingshi Chengguo Mansion, and it seems that he has never had a scene of eating together in his memory.

"Sit down."

Zhu Yong saw Shen Yichen coming in, raised his hand to greet him, and motioned to sit down.

"Yes, Grandpa."

Shen Yichen arched his hand and sat on the right hand side of Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, and Chen Qingtong sat below with his mother Shen.

According to the feudal etiquette of the Ming Dynasty, women are not allowed to serve at the table under normal circumstances, especially the princely family has to pay more attention to the rules. The reason why an exception was made today was purely for the sake of Shen Yichen's face, and the "family" had a reunion dinner.

may be the first time to experience such a scene, or it may be unable to adapt to this sudden "intimacy", Shen Yichen felt a little at a loss at the dinner table.

Only the mother, Shen, stood up and scooped the soup for Shen Yichen and Chen Qingtong and said, "You two eat more and take care of your body." Especially Qingtong, you will not be responsible alone in the future. ”

When Shen's words fell, Chen Qingtong's face immediately flushed, and then he lowered his head and buried it.

Shen Yichen originally heard this, but he didn't react to what he meant, thinking that he was referring to himself and Chen Qingtong. But then he looked at Chen Qingtong's expression, and felt as if it wasn't that simple, and instantly realized what was happening.

"Mother, do you mean that Qingtong has her?"

At this moment, Shen Yichen fully understood why Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, and Zhu Yi, the second son, appeared here. At the same time, the Chengguo Mansion, which has always been strict in etiquette, let the female roll participate in the family banquet.

"This ......"

Faced with Shen Yichen's inquiry, Shen was stunned for a moment, she didn't plan to tell her son at this time, but she subconsciously said that she missed her mouth.

Since it has been broken, Shen simply told the truth: "Well, Qingtong was tested by the doctor and found a happy pulse. ”

I'm going to be a father?

Hearing this answer, Shen Yichen was completely stunned, he didn't expect to learn the news that he was going to become a father at such a time.

"Qingtong, is this true, I'm going to be a father?"

After coming back to his senses, Shen Yichen grabbed Chen Qingtong's arm and asked her in surprise.

"Hmm."

An inaudible response confirmed the news that Shen Yichen was going to become a father.

In an instant, Shen Yichen's emotions in his heart can be described as mixed feelings, from starting a family to marrying a wife and having children, at this moment, his life can be regarded as having a complete process, and at the same time, the future will be a little more worrying.

"Thank you, Qingtong."

Holding Chen Qingtong's palm tightly, Shen Yichen had thousands of words to tell, but under this situation, he could only gather into a thank you.

As a husband, he has not had much time to spend with his wife over the years, and he owes too much.

"Between husband and wife, why do you need to say thank you."

Looking at Shen Yichen's nervous and expectant expression, Chen Qingtong couldn't laugh or cry, and at the same time felt extremely happy in his heart.

"Ahem......"

Looking at the development of the young couple gradually looking at the direction of deep affection, Zhu Yong, the prince of Chengguo, coughed at this time and reminded, after all, this is a family banquet, and the father and brother are sitting, so they have to pay a little attention to etiquette.

"Qingtong, if you have any joy, go back to your room to rest first, and then let Xiangbei have a good talk with you later."

Hearing Cheng Guogong's words, Chen Qingtong immediately understood that there was something important to discuss, so he stood up and said, "Yes, grandpa." ”

With that, with a reluctant gaze, he turned around and walked out of the lobby of the mansion.

Watching Chen Qingtong's back leave, Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, looked at Shen Yichen and said: "To the north, now that Qingtong is happy, you will shoulder greater responsibilities, and in the future, there will be disputes in the court, and you will have to walk on thin ice without the slightest mistake." ”

"Grandpa, do you want to say that there has been a big change in the court?"

Today's return to Beijing reveals a different atmosphere, Shen Yichen wants to understand what Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, is worried about.

"It's not that the court has changed, but that you will completely stand in line, and there is no room for turnaround."

"If you are wrong, you will be ruined, and even your wife and children will be ruined!"

After all, Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, is a person who has come over, whether it is the Jingnan during the Chengzu period, or the rebellion of the Han King during the Xuanzong period, and earlier there is the "blue jade" eucalyptus created by Taizu in order to ensure the smooth succession of Emperor Jianwen.

All of them show the cruelty of the struggle for imperial power.

Now Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, has made up his mind that no matter what Shen Yichen's decision is, the entire Chengguo Duke will stand behind him, accustomed to the belief that one will be prosperous and one will be lost.

But to gamble on the future of the family, he must ensure that Shen Yichen himself is aware of this, and there is no room for child's play.

That's why he chose this family banquet to let Shen Yichen know that Chen Qingtong was pregnant.

Only by having children can we understand what it means to be a family leader.

"Are you ready?"

"From the moment I decided to support King Yu to ascend the throne, I have no regrets!"

Shen Yichen replied very firmly, he has never been a "second minister" who repeatedly jumps sideways, and he is far more decisive than everyone expected, that is, he is on the side of Emperor Jingtai Zhu Qiyu.

"Okay, in that case, tomorrow the court will stand up and oppose the return of the Emperor Taishang to Beijing on behalf of the Chengguo Mansion!"

This time, Zhu Yong completely let Zhu Yi stand by Shen Yichen's side, and there was no longer any room to sway.

Going into battle as a father and son soldiers, fighting tiger brothers, either to reproduce the glory of the Duke of Daming, or to gamble on the fate of the family and step into a place of no return!

Hearing the words of Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, he looked at Zhu Yi, who was sitting opposite with a calm expression, in other words, Shen Yichen would flatly refuse before, unwilling to have too much involvement with the Chengguo Mansion, and did not want to bind his honor and disgrace to the brick wall of the Mansion.

But this time, he felt Zhu Yong's sincerity, and he no longer regarded supporting and standing in line as an exchange of interests.

Feeling Zhu Yi's calmness and responsibility, he is indeed the best heir to the Chengguo Mansion, and will save the Guogong lineage who went to the middle of the family after winning the title.

"That junior thanked Grandpa!"

Shen Yichen stood up and bowed to Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, maybe the two will never have the kind of intimacy between ordinary fathers and sons, but at least they will have the opportunity to let go of their past grievances and grievances in the future, and they will meet with a smile and a grudge.

"Okay, okay, let's do it!"

A relieved smile appeared on the face of Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, at this moment, which may be the happiest smile he had since the Lin family was given death.

Many things are in a state of mind, and the once indissolvable ice has finally slowly melted with cracks.

After saying this, Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, got up and walked outside, leaving Shen Yichen and Zhu Yi still in the lobby.

"Xiangbei, you finally let down your guard this time, believe me?"

"I don't believe in you, but I understand your legacy and beliefs."

"This responsibility and glory once belonged to my grandfather, and the future will belong to you."

After that, Shen Yichen hesitated for a moment, and then said with an incomparably complex state of mind and said with a wry smile: "Maybe I won't be able to be alone in the future." ”

Yes, after all, I have enjoyed the help and support of so many princesses, in the end, what has nothing to do with the Chengguo Mansion, and what is the difference between it and the bitch archway?

From beginning to end, there is a glory and a loss, and there is still no escape after all, which may be the fate brought by the bloodline of the Chengguo Mansion.