The Mansion of the State of Wei, in the back garden.

The evening breeze swayed through the foliage.

Xu Huizu, the Duke of Wei, stood in the pavilion, looking at the sparkling waves on the lake.

"Big brother, it's time to eat, it's going to be dark in two hours." Xu Miaojin approached him and reminded in a low voice.

"Huh?" Xu Huizu turned his head to look at her: "Little sister, what time is it?" ”

"It's already time." Xu Miaojin said softly.

Since his eldest brother came back from the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, he has been in such a sullen appearance, and even the Xu family has been in a bad mood, and today the eldest brother is so abnormal that he has no intention of eating at the dining point.

"Then go ahead." Xu Huizu cleaned up the loneliness in his eyes and smiled reluctantly at his little sister.

Xu Miaojin nodded and walked side by side with him to the inner house, but was stopped by someone just as he stepped up the steps.

"Sister-in-law!" The crisp and melodious voice of the lark-like girl came, and then I saw two pink-carved girls running over, it was the daughter of Xu Da's second son, Xu Yingxu, the governor of the Chinese army.

"Why are Rong'er and Xian'er still playing crazy outside? Your mom and dad are in a hurry. Xu Miaojin frowned and scolded.

Rong'er stuck out her tongue and didn't respond.

Xian'er snorted: "Daddy didn't come back, who let my mother always lock me in the house to study and practice calligraphy, so I don't want to grow up and marry a nerd." ”

Before she finished speaking, Rong'er pulled her sleeves and grabbed her, and Rong'er showed a sweet and well-behaved smile at Xu Huizu: "Uncle, we just came out to blow the wind, and we will go back to the house immediately." ”

Xu Huizu smiled reluctantly, raised his feet and walked forward, leaving the two girls looking at each other and pouting.

Xu Miaojin glared at Xian'er: "Your father doesn't allow you to practice martial arts, and it's not that you will marry a nerd in the future, your mother is deliberately scaring you." ”

"Really?" Xian'er suddenly became happy, stretched out her hand to hold Xu Miaojin's arm, and said coquettishly, "Sister-in-law, my father listens to you the most, can you help me ask, can you always read and practice calligraphy in the future." ”

Looking at Xian'er's expectant gaze, Xu Miaojin sighed helplessly, and couldn't help her: "Okay, okay, I'll ask the second brother, you let me go first." ”

"Okay." Xian'er hurriedly let go of her hand and jumped a few steps.

"Also, don't you two run around in the future, you know?" Xu Miaojin said with a straight face.

Rong'er grimaced again: "I know, sister-in-law, you are the most nagging." ”

After that, he took his sister's hand and ran mischievously to the inner courtyard, causing Xu Miaojin to stomp her feet.

When Xu Miaojin caught up with the eldest brother and walked into the inner house, he entered the flower hall through the hanging flower door, the hall was brightly lit, and there were a few people and a few children sitting next to the table.

"Miaojin, come." An older woman greeted lovingly.

"Mother." Xu Miaojin walked to the woman's side and sat down, her eyes fell on another vacant chair, she was slightly stunned, and then returned to nature.

The old woman is Xu Da's concubine Sun, and she is also the biological mother of Xu Da's second son Xu Yingxu, as for the serious Zhongshan Wang's wife Xie (Huaixi veteran Xie Zaixing's second daughter, Zhu Yuanzhang's nephew Zhu Wenzheng's wife's sister), she has already been given to death by Zhu Yuanzhang because of her arrogance and jealousy, words and deeds, so after Xu Da's death, although Sun is not the wife of Zhongshan Wang, she has a lot of status in the house.

"What does this chair mean?"

Xu Huizu was embarrassed to be excluded in the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies today, and he was in a very bad mood, so he asked directly with a frown at this time.

Xu Yingxu's wife in the second room accompanied her and said carefully: "The queen said that she may come back tonight to save her relatives and not put on a guard of honor." ”

Xu Huizu was stunned, although the palace was very close to the Duke of Wei, of course Empress Xu would not be like ordinary people, she would go back to her mother's house to visit her family, and there must be something important to tell them this time.

Not long after, Xu Huizu saw his second brother Xu Yingxu come back.

Xu Yingxu is the governor of the Chinese army, because he is a concubine, he only has the hereditary rank of commander, and he is a good man who is cowardly and impatient, and he did not participate in the meeting of the governor's office of the five armies today, but at this time he looked happy.

"Big brother!" Xu Yingxu shouted, looking at him excitedly.

Xu Miaojin sighed in her heart, whether it is a concubine or a concubine, as long as you are not a fool, you know that the Xu family is in a difficult situation now, and Xu Yingxu is a soft bun, at this time, the eldest brother wants to be transferred, how can there be a happy face.

"What's wrong?" Xu Huizu asked with a calm face, his tone a little cold and hard.

Xu Yingxu smiled and said: "You left early, I haven't seen it, but the Hou Bo of the Governor's Mansion was greatly killed by the national teacher today. ”

"Oh?"

Xu Huizu was stunned.

Those stinky hills of the Yan Army, one by one, dragged like the king of heaven, how could Jiang Xinghuo kill the prestige?

Xu Yingxu enthusiastically told the family the story he heard from his good colleagues, unlike Xu Huizu, the eldest son of the arrogant Zhongshan Wang, Xu Yingxu has no temperament, but there are really a few friends in the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies.

At present, the situation is sensitive, Jiangyin Hou Wu Gao, An Lu Hou Wu Jie, Fengxiang Hou Zhang Jie, Luancheng Hou Li Zhuang, these four Hongwu Founding Lords who followed Li Jinglong and Xu Huizu to join together, also have a tendency to stand aside, so they dare not send people to the Wei State Mansion to report the news.

"I'm not addressing any one of you here, I'm talking about you all rubbish."

When he heard Jiang Xinghuo's words relayed by Xu Yingxu, Xu Huizu couldn't help but laugh a little, but instead he was curious about how Jiang Xinghuo walked out of the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies safely.

When Xu Yingxu talked about Jiang Xinghuo's war theory again, Xu Huizu fell into deep thought.

Binding a certain interest to one's own chariot, especially the binding of interests, is an extremely effective temple method.

After all, Jiang Xinghuo ignited a new manufacturing force, and if these mass-produced goods and commodities could not find a dumping market abroad, it would have a devastating impact on the domestic cotton textile industry in Daming.

And the general can not only solve this problem through military means, but also get meritorious service from it, as well as dividends from commodity sales, it can be said that it is full of motivation, if the whole war mode is really carried out like this, then it must not be long before Annan sees the sweetness, the entire Ming Dynasty's noble and military minister class, will be firmly bound to the change, and at that time, whoever opposes the change, that is to cut off the financial route of all the generals.

Cutting off people's financial means is like killing their parents, and if they dare to kill their parents, then these generals and the school captains below will dare to lead soldiers with knives to kill the entire family of those who oppose the law change.

In other words, as long as Annan is defeated, the goods can be sold continuously in exchange for a steady stream of profits, then the reform will take the second step and be completely invincible.

After listening to Xu Yingxu's story about military ranks, and how Jiang Xinghuo was sent out by the generals who were in front of him, Xu Huizu laughed rarely, and said after laughing.

"Is there a dividend from the handicraft workshop of the cotton textile industry in Jiangnan? Jingchang is in charge of security over there, and I'll write to ask later. ”

Seeing that the head of the family was in a much better mood, the family's faces were no longer sad, and at this moment, there was also a message from the servant outside.

Queen Xu took a few palace maids and eunuchs without pomp and circumstance, and returned to her parents' house in a very low-key manner.

However, there are still necessary rules, the middle door is wide open, and Xu Huizu, the Duke of Wei, surrenders, bows and salutes.

"I've seen the Queen Mother."

Xu Huizu knelt on the ground, his voice was slightly hoarse, "Minister Xu Huizu greets the queen." ”

"This palace is going back to the house today, it is not appropriate to make noise, you are exempt." Empress Xu lightly opened her red lips and said gently, her voice was as soft as water, but her body was quite majestic.

Obviously, from King Yan/Princess Yan to Emperor/Empress, the identity change in the past year has not only changed Zhu Di, the couple has completely adapted to the new identity and everything that matches it.

Xu Huizu got up slowly, and everyone got up in turn, standing on both sides.

After the salute, Queen Xu was also much more comfortable.

"It's all my own family, let's go." Empress Xu said with a smile, raising her feet and walking towards the inner room.

Everyone followed closely and entered the flower hall.

Empress Xu sat in the first place, Mrs. Sun accompanied her in the second seat, and brothers and sisters such as Xu Huizu, Xu Yingxu and Xu Miaojin sat on both sides, but their identities switched to the mode of family banquets, which were commensurate with their seniority.

"Come and have a bowl of bird's nest soup, which I made in the kitchen, it's very nourishing." Mrs. Sun said with a smile, picked up a small bowl of bird's nest and handed it to her.

"Thank you mother (not biological, biological is called mother)."

Empress Xu nodded and said, but just put the bowl on the table in front of her.

"The eldest sister went back to her hometown today, I don't know why?" After sitting down, Xu Huizu took the lead in asking.

Empress Xu smiled and said, "I heard that a lot of things have happened recently, but don't take it too seriously, eldest brother." ”

Xu Huizu smiled bitterly and said, "It's the eldest brother, Jing Nan angered His Majesty, which led to the current situation of the Xu family, fortunately the eldest sister sheltered." ”

Queen Xu nodded, her eyes swept over the people present, Xu Huizu was about to be transferred to the north, Xu Yingxu who was born out of the concubine was neither the one who should pick the big beam nor the ability, the little sister Xu Miaojin Queen Xu shook her head slightly, although Xu Miaojin is quite talented, but in the end it is a girl's family, and there is no way to solve it when she encounters trouble.

"It seems that I still have to mention some big brother." Empress Xu said secretly in her heart.

Thinking of this, Empress Xu asked, "What does the eldest brother think about the change of law?" ”

Xu Huizu shook his head, he had no intersection with Jiang Xinghuo, so naturally he didn't understand, but Jiang Xinghuo's proposed change, out of the inherent caution of the helmsman of the Wei State Mansion, he would definitely not easily express his approval.

Empress Xu couldn't say too much, so she could only say intentionally or unintentionally: "Cao Guogong will return from Japan next month, Cao Guogong is an old friend of the national teacher, and his attitude towards changing the law has always been supportive. Hongwu was the founder of the country, and most of them were the leaders of Wei and Cao, and if they arrived at that time, some things would be too late. ”

Xu Huizu's almost hesitant caution was vividly displayed at this time, he was not unclear, the eldest sister came with the emperor's will, but the instinct to abide by the order in his bones made him still undecided, and he clearly expressed his support for the change.

What's more, the voices of opposition to the Fa change in the temple are so turbulent at the moment, and the Fa Chang faction is obviously in an extremely disadvantageous situation.

This situation cannot be reversed by gaining the support of the noble and military ministers.

After all, most of the changes involved are administrative matters, and very few involve military affairs.

Seeing Xu Huizu's appearance, Queen Xu also sighed in her heart, but she was not embarrassed by this matter, Xu Huizu had to express her position, after all, Xu Huizu also had his considerations, and the Xu family was already downtrodden compared to before, but with the backing of Queen Xu, even if someone was not satisfied, they would not point the finger directly at the Xu family.

Empress Xu continued: "As long as we keep the foundation, we will always be able to recover slowly. ”

As she spoke, she moved her gaze to Xu Yingxu's body: "The second brother has been working in the Governor's Mansion of the Chinese Army for many years, and there is no merit and hard work. ”

"The eldest sister praised it falsely, but she was just loyal to her duty." Xu Yingxu said modestly.

"Alright." Empress Xu paused and said, "This palace is here today to tell you a piece of news. ”

Saying that, a smile bloomed on Queen Xu's face: "The matter of the fourth brother (Xu Zengshou) posthumously decided by His Majesty, and the gift of Qin Cheng Father's business is sincere and upright military ministers, especially into the Ronglu Doctor, the right pillar country, and the prince is the Duke of Dingguo, and the descendants are hereditary, and the nickname is 'Loyalty'. ”

When everyone in the Xu family heard this, they were undoubtedly overjoyed, especially Xu Huizu.

Although with the end of the Battle of Jingjing, the Xu family has lost its former status in the army, but if it can have the treatment of "one door and two kingdoms", then the influence of the Xu family, not to mention quickly returning to the heyday of the past, at least after Xu Huizu went north, it will not fall to the point of being too embarrassed, as for the status of each house within the family, there is nothing to worry about for the time being, Xu Jingchang is the third generation of the Xu family, and the eldest son of the fourth room, and Xu Huizu of the second generation of the long house is still there.

The eyes of others also flashed with tears of excitement, the loneliness of the Xu family, and now they finally see the hope of revitalization.

"Then will Jingchang enter the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, or go outside to lead the army?" Xu Miaojin suddenly asked.

"Jingchang has another appointment."

Empress Xu didn't hide it from her family, and said directly: "The national teacher has done a very successful job in changing the law in Jiangnan, the cotton textile industry is only the first industry, and the follow-up steel, coal, and what are the 'chemicals' made by Yuan and Zhang, anyway, there are many industries, these new things are very different from the past, these things can not be led by private businessmen, or the same as going to the West, to do it with the royal family, the clan, and the money of the nobles, Jingchang is not only a student of the national teacher, but also a person in the circle of honors, but also the nephew of His Majesty, It's fitting to do that. ”

Xu Huizu nodded clearly, Xu Jingchang's qualifications are too shallow, about equal to zero, he has no military merits and is young, even if he is a national prince, he will be put up and down if he enters the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, but it is better to do this critical errand that requires a specific candidate, and he can be regarded as a core link figure, which can play a greater role.

"Oh yes." Empress Xu turned to Xu Miaojin, "You also have an errand." ”

"I have an errand too?" Xu Miaojin was stunned.

"When Cao Guogong returned to China, there will be several people in Japan who will come to Nanjing to meet him, one of them is the prince of the Southern Dynasty of Japan, in other words, the county lord (the king of Japan belongs to the prince level of the Ming Dynasty), and when the time comes, he may go to Jiangnan to open his eyes, didn't you say you wanted to go out and play? Let's go together when the time comes. The prince had the right of inheritance, and the national teacher told His Majesty that this woman could be one of the best excuses to start a war. ”

"Wo people!" Xian'er exclaimed in surprise, and was immediately covered by Xu Yingxu's wife.

The little girl didn't squeak and opened her mouth, which suddenly reminded Queen Xu of another thing.

"When the emperor's eldest grandson reaches the age when he should go to school, in addition to a few enlightened Hanlin, His Majesty has also entrusted the national teacher to bother, and you should be a companion when the time comes."

Rong'er quietly hid behind her mother's body, and was also ruthlessly taken out.

"You have to go too."

Then he cried out with a "wow", but unfortunately he couldn't shed his tears.

"It's useless to pretend to cry!"

Xu Miaojin knocked on her niece's little brain, and suddenly stopped crying that lasted for a breath.

The meal was not finished, and the time for the conversation was almost over, Queen Xu said to Xu Miaojin alone: "Little sister, you accompany me on the way." ”

Xu Miaojin knew that the eldest sister had something to say to her, so she nodded knowingly.

After the two of them left the Wei Mansion and entered the jade chariot, Xu Miaojin sighed lightly: "Eldest sister."

Empress Xu stretched out her hand and pressed her, interrupting her: "Don't worry, listen to me tell you slowly." ”

Seeing that Queen Xu looked serious, it was obvious that this time it was not a joke, so Xu Miaojin immediately responded.

After Xu Miaojin nodded, Queen Xu told the story of what was happening at present.

"Your Majesty supports the change, but your eldest brother is stubborn and too cautious, and the Xu family wants to restore its former glory, not only Jingchang's side has to do things. Your Majesty and I also wanted to match your marriage with Jiang Xinghuo before, but Jiang Xinghuo is an immortal, and he wants to be a saint in the world, even if he is a noble woman, it is not what he wants. I'm here today to ask you what you think, after all, twisted melons are not sweet. ”

Although Xu Miaojin has always been very well-behaved and sensible in the days when the Xu family lost power, her personality is actually more like her father, General Xu Da, and she is also a little stubborn.

If it is usual, no matter how difficult it is, she will do her best for the sake of the family, but when it comes to her future, she must be cautious.

Seeing the vague hesitation on Xu Miaojin's face, Queen Xu shook her head.

"Little sister, you are also the daughter of the Xu family, if you don't want to, no one will force you."

Xu Miaojin lowered her head silently.

Queen Xu saw that her little sister's face was full of guilt and self-blame, so she gently persuaded her.

"Actually, I can't blame you for this matter, no one thought that things would turn out like this, originally when Hongwu was thirty years old, Emperor Taizu Gao should have assigned you to marry the prince, but unfortunately there was an accident at that time, and Jing Nan was in turmoil, and it was delayed for four years. Now it's up to you what you mean. ”

Xu Miaojin bit his lip and said: "Guo, Jiang Xinghuo is naturally the most rare and beautiful character I have ever seen, he is knowledgeable and knowledgeable, he has the talent to weigh the world, even if he is extremely handsome, his appearance can be called the eight faces of the wind god, but I always feel that he is very alienated and worshipped, but he can't get close, let alone start a family and live." ”

Empress Xu was slightly stunned and asked, "Why is this?" ”

"It's like"

Xu Miaojin thought for a few breaths, and then said: "It's like an old monk of Daoyan, he doesn't ask for anything, worldly fame and profit are like floating clouds, and life is not real, maybe people's knowledge has reached such a state, it's all like this." ”

Empress Xu bowed her head and said: "Jingchang told me that what the national teacher asks for is not a good family, but a person who is on the same road. ”

"Where is he going? Do what? ”

"I don't know."

Empress Xu shook her head and only said, "Maybe you can ask the old monk, where he is, you should be able to get the answer." ”

Xu Miaojin was silent for a long time, and finally slowly nodded and agreed.

Seeing this, Queen Xu touched the top of her little sister's hair with relief: "In any case, the daughter of my Xu family has no reason to worry about not being able to get married, if the answer you get from the old monk is not satisfactory, the eldest sister will choose someone for you." ”

"Well, thank you, big sister." Xu Miaojin looked up at Queen Xu, "Eldest sister, you are also tired, go back to the palace to rest early." ”

Empress Xu bowed slightly: "Hmm." ”

When Xu Miaojin left the jade chariot, Queen Xu's expression immediately darkened.

Although what she said just now meant to encourage the little sister, it was more for the sake of paving the way for the future of the Xu family, and Queen Xu's body is getting worse and worse now.

Although she is the queen, there are some things, in fact, she is powerless to change them, the eldest and the second child compete for the prince, she sees it in her eyes, and if the little sister successfully marries Jiang Xinghuo, the change will overwhelm the contradiction of the prince, as the queen of the world, she will live a much more comfortable life in the future, and the Xu family will also completely re-establish its status with the success of the change.

In this way, even if he can't shelter the Xu family in the future, with Jiang Xinghuo's help, the Xu family will not fall into the state of the past two years.

However, unsurprisingly, Xu Miaojin, who turned a street and went to the Rongguo Mansion to visit the old monk, also pounced.

——————

Jiangning Town, Yingtianfu, Jingxing Academy.

Yao Guangxiao, who disappeared mysteriously, got out of the carriage and looked at the plaque of the academy, and it was easy to think of the origin of the name of the academy, not the "high mountains look up, the scenery is the line" in the "Book of Songs, Xiaoya, Chezhi", but from the last sentence of "Zhao's Chengshan Academy Poems", "The eyes are the yes, the scenery is the line", which is also a certain memory of the master of the academy as the president of the Chengshan Academy.

Sure enough, I crossed the threshold and walked into the academy, and the sound of reading aloud lingered in my ears.

"The national culture is in the country, and the township school is in the township. In the preface, in the party.

Yu Xia Yin Zhou, the system is detailed. There is also a school in the home to cultivate and hide.

Blindfolded and raised, long-term reckless. The lower is the soldier, and the upper is the king.

There is no teacher, and the program is cultivated. The living of people and the like, depend on this for their livelihood"

Yao Guangxiao let out a "heh".

"Tsunatsune is a famous teacher."

Walking through the corridor, in front of which is the lobby of the academy, Yao Guangxiao was about to continue walking, but was stopped by a girl in plain clothes: "This mage, who are you looking for?" But what's the matter? ”

Seeing the girl's delicate face, Yao Guangxiao's heart moved slightly: "The old man's surname is Yao, and he was invited by your grandfather to come to the meeting." ”

The girl didn't seem to expect that the old man in front of her was actually the legendary figure and the "demon monk" in the mouth of the students, and her eyes suddenly widened in surprise, and she spoke for a long time: "Oh I see, then please come with me." ”

The two of them walked towards the backyard from the other side, and after a while, they arrived at a quiet and chic pavilion.

Outside the pavilion, the trees are lush and green, the moss climbs all over the stone steps, a gust of wind blows, making a rustling sound, and there are bamboo tables and chairs placed in the pavilion, and some flowers and plants are also placed.

Only one person sat upright in the pavilion, with his back to the two.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, the man turned slowly, revealing an old face, looking like he was already seventy or eighty.

Of course, Yao Guangxiao recognized him, and the person in front of him was the Taishan Beidou-like figure in the Confucian academic circle of the Ming Dynasty, Gao Xunzhi.

Gao Xunzhi, the word Shimin, the number Si'an, Xuzhou Xiao County, the end of the Yuan Dynasty for the dean of the Shanshu. Hongwu Dynasty entered the point of Hanlin, responsible for the compilation of the history of the Yuan, tired of the relocation of the Ministry of Servants, in the second year of Jianwen and the previous resignation of Dong Lun co-host of the examination, that session of the examination, Yang Rong, Yang Pu, Jin Youzi and others, are all students of Gao Xunzhi.

In the Confucian circles of the Ming Dynasty, Cao Duan, who was called "the crown of science in the early Ming Dynasty" by later generations and could be listed alone in the "History of the Ming Dynasty", lectured in the land of Heluo at this time and did not go out of the mountain.

Therefore, in the Ming Confucian academic circles, almost no one can compare with this octogenarian.

Gao Xunzhi was also gentle and elegant back then, but now although he is old, he still has the temperament of a Confucian, and his gestures are a little calm and upright, which makes people feel heartbroken.

The plain-clothed girl retreated, leaving only the two to talk.

"The master floats away, and the swallow guards the beam. The fruit is ripe and no one picks it, leaving it for passers-by to taste. ”

"Brother Yao, I haven't seen you for many years, are you okay?"

Yao Guangxiao couldn't hear it, this poem was satirizing Emperor Yongle, the "swallow", occupying the magpie's nest, and Emperor Jianwen, the "master", had already left.

"It's a pity that the ten friends of Beiguo back then are already withering."

Yao Guangxiao walked to the table, picked up the teapot on the table, poured a cup of tea for Gao Xunzhi, poured another cup for himself, took a sip, and praised: "Good tea!" ”

Referring to the acquaintance back then, Gao Xunzhi's eyes flashed with a trace of sentimentality, and he couldn't help but recall the situation back then, but after all, he was not an ordinary man, and he quickly reined in his mood.

"Since Brother Yao is here, why don't you inform the old man, so that you can do your best to be a landlord."

Gao Xunzhi said lightly, his tone revealing alienation.

Yao Guangxiao sighed: "If I inform my brother, I'm afraid I won't have time to receive me." ”

Both of them tacitly kept silent.

After a while, Gao Xunzhi raised his head and asked, "Brother Yao came this time, what is the so-called matter?" ”

"I'm here to confirm something."

Yao Guangxiao stopped his gaze on the old friend in front of him, took a deep breath, and finally said.

"Brother Gao, you have won the appreciation of Emperor Jianwen, if I am not mistaken, the plaque of 'Speaking of Hooves and Xuanlao' given by Emperor Jianwen was still hanging in your academy just now, Yan Jun crossed the river, you went as the crown of Taichang Temple, some people say that you want to be a hungry man in Xishan like Boyi Shuqi, and you are no longer willing to go out."

"Now that the temple is in turmoil, are you meddling in this?"

(End of chapter)