After Shen Tingyang and Shi Kefa reached an agreement, the rest of the itinerary was pushed down the river.

Hefei is not far from Nanjing, and this kind of major event is 600 miles to rush to deliver news. So just in the early morning of the second day after Shen Tingyang persuaded Shi Kefa, Zhu Shuren, who was in Hefei, was notified by his father.

He also did not know the lake, and immediately went to meet his father-in-law, Zhu Changzhu, the king of Lu, expressing his willingness to respect the requirements of the imperial court, and taking his wife and the little county lord Zhu Yuchan back to his hometown in Suzhou, so that his wife could meet the imperial sister-in-law, Empress Yi'an.

Of course, Zhu Shuren had already made all the preparations in advance, as early as when he failed to rescue Chongzhen in the north and was about to retire, he had already sent a messenger back to his defense area at the same time, and asked his subordinates to escort Zhu Yuchan from the Chongqing shogunate back to Wuchang, and then sent to Hefei to reunite with him and be filial to his parents-in-law together, so as to enjoy his family.

Before Shen Tingyang's notice was sent, Zhu Shuren had been living in Hefei with Zhu Yuchan for seven or eight days. Zhu Shuren hasn't been idle recently, mainly because he's busy cheering and making people with his wife-

Zhu Yuchan has been married to him for more than half a year, but unfortunately because of the war, in the past half a year, Zhu Shuren has not been able to bring his wife with him for at least two-thirds of the time, and half a year ago, they lived together in Chongqing for about two months, and then they have been separated, and now they are together in Hefei.

It's not that Zhu Shuren doesn't want to work hard to create people, he also knows that a bunch of beautiful maids and concubines are waiting for his wife to create people first, and then they don't have to be so careful and cautious to calculate their lives, for fear of dampening the dignity of the royal family.

But this kind of thing, it still depends on luck, Zhu Shuren has the ability to penetrate the heavens and the earth, but this matter is not in a hurry, when he was in Chongqing, he did not get recruited for two months, and he can only hope that he can be recruited in Hefei during this time.

Fortunately, it seems that Zhu Yuchan is not pregnant for the time being, or even if she is just pregnant, she can't see it, which has played an extra role. At least it will facilitate the visit, and it will also reduce the vigilance of the royals.

……

Before Zhu Shuren set off, he didn't tell his father-in-law that this time he was fighting for power, but only said that he was escorting his wife to meet his eldest sister-in-law, and King Lu didn't stop him.

However, under Zhu Shuren's side knocks, he also saw that King Lu was really not interested in competing for the position of the prison country, or even the throne. The degree of its weakness and cowardice can be seen.

The fleet set sail from Hefei, entered the Yangtze River through the water to Chaohu Lake, the water and the mouth of the river, and then passed through Nanjing, a total of only four days, and arrived in Taicang, Suzhou.

In order to avoid the taboo of the local governor leading troops to pass through Nanjing, Zhu Shuren did not bring even one of the soldiers and horses under the command of the governor of Huguang this time, and all his escort warships and sailors were under the command of Zhang Mingzhen, the chief soldier of the sea route.

Zhang Mingzhen belongs to the guards of the household department, and belongs to the troops of the central government of Nanjing, of course, there is no such taboo, Shen Tingyang's guards can be generous on the Yangtze River, casually passing through the river section next to Nanjing.

After going ashore in Suzhou, Zhu Shuren took his wife to meet Empress Yi'an.

For Zhu Yuchan, this is her first time in Suzhou, and she also knows that her husband's ancestral home is in Suzhou, which is equivalent to the first time the bride has returned to her hometown with her husband after passing the door.

As the county lord, Zhu Yuchan usually has no excuse to run around, and now she can take the opportunity to come to the prosperous place of Suzhou to see, which can be regarded as both public and private.

As the head snake of Suzhou, Empress Yi'an and Princess Kunxing just came ashore, and their temporary residence, of course, was also provided by the Shen family, which was directly donated to the emperor's relatives to temporarily rest and recuperate, but the people who served in the house were replaced by palace maids and eunuchs sent from Nanjing.

Zhu Shuren also knows etiquette very well, and when he returned to this mansion that belonged to the Shen family a month ago, he himself only waited outside the Yimen, let his wife enter alone, and first visited his eldest sister-in-law as a sister-in-law.

Zhu Yuchan is also familiar with royal etiquette, although she is still young, she will not have stage fright in these scenes, and soon met Zhang Yan and Zhu Jiao.

In terms of age, Zhu Yuchan is only one year older than Zhu Jiao, but the two are different in generation, and Zhu Yuchan is Zhu Jiao's aunt.

Zhu Jiao looked very haggard, she lost her father, queen mother and younger brother, but it was only a little more than a month, and the little girl who was fifteen years old suddenly suffered so many drastic changes, and it was not so easy to recover. Even if you are lucky enough to be saved with your aunt, I am afraid that you will have to languish for a long time.

Zhu Yuchan was similar to her age, so she was a little sympathetic, and after seeing her, she comforted the niece a few words, and then tried her best to deal with the imperial sister-in-law.

She respectfully saluted Zhang Yan, and Zhang Yan also recalled it a little, and then connected the little girl in front of her with the appearance she had seen many years ago in her memory.

No way, although the two are sisters-in-law, they are twenty years apart, and there are very few opportunities to meet.

Zhang Yan is also a person who has died once, and she can see it very clearly: "Don't be polite, come and talk recently." Is this just a greeting, or is there something else to send you? ”

Zhu Yuchan is not good at lying, so she walked closer and asked respectfully: "It is the Shi Pavilion Department that has discussed with you that the country cannot be left without an owner for a day, although the whereabouts of His Majesty's sons are unknown for the time being, they must first find someone to supervise the country."

Shen Butang reminded Shi Gebu, saying that since Niangniang came south safely, you should also ask Niangniang, have you ever heard that before Your Majesty was martyred, did you leave any oral edicts? For example, has Your Majesty ever lamented that in the event of an accident, who should be in charge of the country? ”

Zhang Yantong Kong scaled up, her heart was bright, of course she already understood what Shi Kefa and Shen Tingyang were thinking, and she also said slowly: "When the first emperor was martyred, he didn't know that the kings might escape, so naturally there would be no edict to pass on the throne. But is this prison country...... He also sighed a few words. ”

Zhang Yan also needed to think about it, so she didn't immediately say it clearly, only that she vaguely remembered that on the way to escape and when she was desperate, she heard Chongzhen talk about this topic with emotion.

In this way, there is no need for her to draw a conclusion immediately. If Chongzhen left a formal message, there would be no room for maneuver.

Moreover, if it is clearly said that Chongzhen left a clear message, then Zhu Jiao, who also survived, may also be suspicious, because she also retreated with her father and mother and aunt throughout the whole process, and she had the impression that her father did not solemnly pass on the decree.

Chongzhen couldn't predict that his sister-in-law and daughter would get out alive, and it was unreasonable to officially say that the verbal message could only be in the mode of "chatting with emotion before death".

Zhu Yuchan on the other side was young and unambitious, innocent, and she didn't think about helping her father fight for anything, so she followed Zhang Yan's words and casually asked questions.

Zhang Yan frowned and prevaricated, feeling that the other party was unreliable, so he was concerned: "Xiaochan, did you come with your father or mother this time?" A girl's family, how can she travel hundreds of miles and become a system. ”

Source change app】

Zhu Yuchan: "My sister was escorted here by her husband this time. ”

Zhang Yan thought for a while: "Zhu Shuren, the governor of Huguang? On the eve of His Majesty's martyrdom, he was still looking forward to the rescue of Huguang reinforcements every day, and he chattered endlessly, but unfortunately God did not bless Daming, alas. ”

Zhu Yuchan also hurriedly excused her husband: "My sister also heard about it later, and my husband's soldiers and horses had just crossed the Yellow River halfway, and they were shocked to hear that His Majesty had been martyred.

He later regretted that he did not expect that the city of Beijing would only hold out for a short period of half a month under the siege of the thieves...... If he had known this, even if Liu Zeqing, the chief soldier of Shandong, was not enough to ferry, he would have to take the division north first. ”

Zhang Yan nodded and sighed: "Yes, the palace also heard later, the reinforcements have been fighting all the way to Linqing, Shandong, and the loyalty of Governor Zhu is also a model for the governors of King Qin." Wu Sangui, Tang Tong, Bai Guangen, Liu Zeqing, which one is not living up to the grace of the country! ”

After sighing, Zhang Yan changed her words, first stroked the hair of her niece Zhu Jiao next to her, whispered softly to let her avoid it, and then instructed her cousin Zhu Yuchan:

"It's a big matter, you and I are women, we shouldn't interfere in politics, let Governor Zhu come in, and you can stay too."

As the empress of the first emperor, of course Zhang Yan can't meet male ministers casually, but Zhu Shuren is now considered a relative of the emperor, and he came with his wife, so let them meet with their husbands and wives, and then hang the curtain, so they avoided suspicion.

Zhu Yuchan didn't understand the imperial sister-in-law's considerations, so she just complied, and after a while, Zhu Shuren entered and gave Zhang Yan a big gift through the curtain in the middle of the inner and outer rooms.

Zhang Yan glanced at the side and confirmed that her niece had been taken away by the palace maid, so she said generously: "Shi Gebu, they seem to belong to King Lu and the country?" ”

Zhu Shuren never looked up, and replied sincerely:

"The minister is the local governor, and he doesn't dare to discuss with the Wen cabinet, but it is the Meng Shi Pavilion and the father of the family who said afterwards that it is indeed the king of Lu who is in charge of the country. Of course, if His Majesty has a testament, he will naturally respect the edict. ”

Zhang Yan frowned: "This palace is just an escape from death, so if you don't ask, it's no big deal." Okay, Zhu Qing, you can tell me, in your opinion, what are the pros and cons of using Uncle Lu Wang as the prison country. As far as this palace knows, Uncle Lu Wang is a benevolent elder and never makes things difficult for others, which is really rare. ”

Zhu Shuren took a deep breath: "Your Majesty Mingjian, King Lu treats people leniently, and he is indeed widely known. After the Shi Cabinet Department and others gathered, the only thing they were worried about was that they were afraid that it would be inconvenient for His Majesty in the future - if King Yifu was in charge of the country, His Majesty would still be the sister-in-law of the prison country, and if it was King Lu who was in charge of the country, His Majesty would be the nephew and daughter-in-law of the prison country. The matter is so big that the ministers dare not be self-dictatorated. ”

(Note: Zhang Yan is treated like the Queen Mother, and can be called Your Majesty)

Zhang Yan was still a little worried in her heart, lest the situation in the Ming Dynasty be led astray by the ministers, and it would become more and more turbulent. Listening to Zhu Shuren's sincerity, the cabinet ministers were worried that her status would not be good, and they were afraid that she would be demoted, so they hesitated to ask for instructions, and Zhang Yan's heart couldn't help but warm.

She is a woman, what is personal honor and disgrace? It's inconvenient to be a senior, so it's a big deal not to live in the palace in the future, and you can also start another royal garden. It's a big deal that the country is in a difficult situation, just be simple.

She immediately defended herself: "Shi Gong and others, why are they so cowardly, a woman in this palace is a person who has died once, and the national disaster is at the head, this little thing is nothing!" If Uncle Lu Wang is in charge of the country, the palace will not return to live in the Nanjing Palace. ”

Her status is more noble than Zhu Changzhu, but in terms of seniority, she is a nephew and daughter-in-law, and she lives in the same palace city, so it is indeed easy to mess up her dignity.

Zhu Shuren breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly said: "My father and the Shi Pavilion Department have also discussed, if Your Majesty is willing to live in the palace in the future, the household department should allocate funds to repair a few more palaces in the forbidden city of Nanjing. If you don't want to enter the palace, you will also choose another place in Hangzhou to build a royal garden.

Although Suzhou is prosperous, it is not suitable to build a palace, you can choose the former Song line in Hangzhou Phoenix Mountain, Wushan and other places, choose the former Song line in the former site near the left, the place where the scenery is suitable, and start another garden. ”

These arrangements, do not need Zhu Shuren to worry about, the people of their own Ministry of Etiquette have considered, after Zhu Yousong ascended the throne in history, King Lu was also arranged to live in Hangzhou, after the fall of Nanjing, the Queen Mother (Zhu Yousong's mother) also issued an edict to let King Lu supervise the country in Hangzhou as the emperor's uncle, and continue to resist.

In the case that the imperial court only has half of the southern part of the country, and it is not suitable for the emperor and important vassal kings and imperial relatives to live together, it is the most etiquette operation to move the party that needs to be resettled from Nanjing to Hangzhou.

As for Zhang Yanken to go to Hangzhou, in the south of Qingbo Gate and the north of Phoenix Mountain, and then find a place to repair the garden, the Shen family must be able to afford this money, for the sake of the great cause, Zhu Shuren is a private donation of one million taels, through his wife's name, it is no problem to build a queen mother garden.

In order to get into power as soon as possible, Guangxu in later generations also wished to raise 8 million taels for Cixi to repair the Summer Palace, so that Cixi could go out of the palace as soon as possible to live.

After breaking the question of "how to settle and position Zhang Yan in case King Lu is in charge of the country", Zhang Yan said: "The honor and disgrace of this palace is not to worry, what this palace is worried about is the safety and ...... of the kings left by the first emperor."

Zhu Shuren raised his eyebrows and said very firmly: "Your Majesty, the cabinet is trying its best to find out the whereabouts of the sons left by the first emperor, as long as there is still a glimmer of hope, I will definitely work hard to find them."

But as far as the minister can see, it is precisely King Lu who is in charge of the country, and he is the most comfortable for the sons left by the first emperor - Your Majesty should know that King Lu has no children so far, only one daughter, and she is the uncle of the first emperor. With King Lu in charge of the country, as long as any of the sons of the first emperor can be recovered, it can still be properly transitioned. If it is the king of blessings...... King Fu has his own heirs, not to mention ......"

What's more, it is natural to say that "King Fu is greedy and lustful, and he can even spread the branches", but now Shi Kefa has not used this excuse to attack King Fu, Wang Duo has to rely on promoting Qian Qianyi to fabricate these charges, and Zhu Shuren is inconvenient to export immediately, everyone knows it.

Zhang Yan thought about it, and suddenly felt that it made sense: if she expected that after Chongzhen's son was found, there would be a slight possibility of regaining the throne, then she should also look forward to King Lu in prison!

Because if King Fu is in charge of the country, King Fu will definitely find a way to kill all Chongzhen's sons! Even if he is not dead now, he will say that Chongzhen's sons are all dead! In this way, King Fu can be called emperor without any crisis of legitimacy, and he can pass it on to his son in the future!

King Lu is different, since King Lu is dead, there is no heir, no matter how greedy he is, in the worst case, it is nothing more than that King Lu insisted on being the emperor in person during his lifetime, but his age is there, one year older than Chongzhen, and he will definitely not live as Chongzhen's son in the future.

In the worst-case scenario, even if King Lu ascends the throne first, and then finds Chongzhen's surviving son, it will be a big deal that King Lu will make Chongzhen's surviving son the emperor's grandson.

If King Lu can't give birth to a son in his life, he will be passed directly to the emperor's grandson when he dies, and the throne can still be returned to Chongzhen's descendants. If King Lu gives birth to a son, there may be some accidents and dangers, such as finding an excuse to abolish the imperial grandson.

But no matter what, everything still has to be gambled, and King Lu is the best for the descendants of Chongzhen who may still survive.

After Zhu Shuren knocked on the side and helped Zhang Yan figure this out, Zhang Yan completely stood on the side of King Lu and the country.

In fact, Zhang Yan originally stood in the perspective of the interests of the elders of the family, and was also inclined to King Lu, after all, King Fu and Guangzong competed for the crown prince back then, and Zhang Yan was also Guangzong's daughter-in-law, and the grudge with King Fu has always been there.

Her only heart problem before was that she was worried that if Chongzhen's son survived, he would not get a proper ending, so she didn't want to establish a monarch and establish a prison country, and just wanted to delay it a little longer, in case a miracle happened, King Yong or King Ding escaped alive.

Now that she has figured out that King Lu is also the best situation for King Yong, what else does she have to hesitate about?

And so it was...... No wonder before the martyrdom of the first emperor, on the way to escape, he repeatedly sighed that if he encountered an accident, if he could let Uncle Lu supervise the country, he could protect my Ming Dynasty to survive the difficulties, and wait until King Yong and King Ding fled south.

In the clan, except for Uncle Lu Wang, who else can take on this great responsibility, and have such a benevolent elder's style. ”

Zhang Yan recalled thoughtfully, as if Chongzhen had indeed chatted and sighed in the escape carriage before he died.

Zhu Shuren hurriedly wrote down Zhang Yan's words, slightly removed those overly colloquial cumbersome words, and then asked his wife to take them in to show Zhang Yan, and found the palace maid eunuch, used the seal of Empress Yi'an according to the process, and completed the ceremony according to the process, and then returned to Nanjing quickly with Yizhi.