Ying Tian Cheng.

These days are very lively, dancing pavilions, everywhere you can see the figure of dignitaries, wealthy businessmen, and literati.

It's all because Halloween is coming.

Wanshou Festival, this is a solemn festival, during which slaughter is prohibited, the name of the punishment is ignored for several days before and after, and the whole country is on vacation for three days, and the people are also taking the opportunity to rest.

The craftsmen of the capital use colorful paintings, cloths, etc., to decorate the main streets in a colorful way, and sing and dance everywhere.

Even the low-status eunuchs and palace maids in the palace can wear their favorite clothes without bruises.

It can be said that the government and the opposition are happy.

Forbidden City, in the inner garden.

Zhu Yuanzhang also had a rare rest for a few days, because the officials also knew that the old man's birthday was coming, so he no longer played indiscriminately, even if there was something important, he would wait until after the festival.

Concubine Guo Hui supported the old man and walked slowly, followed by a group of palace people.

"Your Majesty, slow down!"

When she went up the steps, Concubine Guo reminded softly.

"Whew! Do you think we're really old and dizzy? ”

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said: "We have fought for most of our lives, and we are not old enough to walk, don't help it!" ”

Concubine Guo Hui smiled: "Yes, yes, my brother-in-law is the best!" ”

Although she said so, Concubine Guo Hui still didn't let go.

The old man followed her, his nose suddenly moved, and said, "Concubine Hui, what kind of smell do you have on your body today?" We don't think we've ever smelled it! ”

Concubine Guo Hui's face suddenly turned red, and she said coquettishly: "Isn't this the perfume that Xiongying's child gave?" The concubine had nothing to do last night, so she tried to spray some on her body, what's the matter? ”

"Well, it smells so good! Much stronger than those incense powders! ”

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "That stinky boy will tinker with these things to please women, if they are really sold, then they will not be fascinated by all men in the world?" ”

Concubine Guo Huijiao smiled and said, "That brother-in-law is now fascinated by the concubines?" ”

If others were to laugh like this, Zhu Yuanzhang would think that she was bewitching Junxin, and maybe she would pull it out and cut it directly.

But Concubine Guo Hui said that it was different.

The two have gone through ups and downs for most of their lives, and Concubine Guo Hui has been by Zhu Yuanzhang's side since she was very young.

At that time, Guo Dashuai had just left, and Guo Tianxu's brothers were not a good thing, so Ma Xiuying took Concubine Guo Hui over and lived with her husband and wife.

Later, under the mediation of her sister Ma Xiuying, Concubine Guo Hui married her most admired brother-in-law.

That year, she was only fifteen years old.

When she first got married, she didn't know anything, and she made a lot of jokes every day by calling her brother-in-law.

And the title of brother-in-law did not change until Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the well-maintained, charming, and fragrant beautiful woman in front of him, and couldn't help but feel in a trance.

"Brother-in-law, why don't you go to my place tonight to rest?"

Concubine Guo Hui looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with tender eyes.

"Hmm."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, then remembered something, and said, "Last time, you asked you to help our eldest grandson find a daughter-in-law, how did this matter go?" ”

Concubine Guo Hui replied with a smile: "The concubine is in love with a girl, I don't know what Your Majesty wants?" ”

"Tell me about it."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and urged.

"Your Majesty, you have also seen that child, it is the third daughter of the Xu family, Xu Miaojin, she is good-looking, and like her sister, she is chaste and quiet, and she has good talents and virtues." Concubine Guo Hui said with a smile, "The door is right, and the age of the two is also suitable, according to the concubine, it is very suitable." ”

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

"This is a good idea, Xu Da's eldest daughter is married to the fourth daughter, we heard that she has done a good job of cleaning up the family for the fourth child, if these three daughters are also the same as the eldest daughter, it is really a good candidate!"

Xu Da's eldest daughter, known as the female student, the history of the Ming Dynasty and all the official historical materials do not mention the name of this female student, even if it is a wild history, but it is her sister who left a name in history, that is Xu Miaojin.

The female students are quite good, and after marrying Zhu Di, the king of Yan, she also became the virtuous helper of the king of Yan, and she treats people very decently, and is deeply loved by Zhu Yuanzhang and Queen Ma.

So when the old man heard that Xu Miaojin was the same as her sister, he couldn't help but be moved.

Concubine Guo Hui hesitated for a moment and said, "It's just ......"

"Just what? What else can't you say to us? ”

"It's just that the last time the concubine visited the Xu Mansion, the three brothers of the Xu family said that they couldn't be the masters, and it depended on whether Xu Miaojin's girl was willing or not."

"Humph!"

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly when he heard this: "Being able to marry our eldest grandson is a blessing that she has cultivated for eight lifetimes, if she doesn't want to, then she is blind, and there is nothing to pity!" ”

Concubine Guo Hui smiled: "Your Majesty, people didn't say they didn't want to!" ”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "That's it, you can find an excuse to bring the girl of the Xu family into the palace and let us check it." ”

Concubine Guo Hui smiled: "Your Majesty, haven't you seen that baby before?" ”

"Wow, that was a long time ago!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said, "This time, we are choosing a daughter-in-law for our eldest grandson, how can we rest assured if we don't check it personally?" ”

"The concubine knows!" Concubine Guo Hui replied with a smile.

The old husband and wife chatted as they went to Concubine Guo Hui's bedroom.

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang's newly replaced personal eunuch Liu Bao came in a hurry, and reported respectfully: "Your Majesty, there is news just now, saying that it is the King of Qin, the King of Jin, and the King of Yan, the kings of the three princes have entered Yingtian City, and the rest of the princes' teams are also about to arrive. ”

"Hmm."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "When the vassal kings of all walks of life come to Beijing, the Ministry of Rites will arrange officials to pick them up, so that they don't rush into the palace first, and they will find a place to rest in the city by themselves, and wait for us." ”

Although the palace was large, there was no residence for the princes.

The last time King Qi returned to Beijing, it was arranged by Honglu Temple, but this time it was the vassal kings of all walks of life, there were more than a dozen, and each with their own teams, Honglu Temple couldn't arrange it at all.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang asked the vassal kings of all walks of life to find their own residences in Yingtian City.

Among these vassal kings, most of them have their own mansions in Jingshi, even if they don't have them, a dignified prince can't find a residence, right?

"Obey the order, the slave and maid will go and spread the word!"

Liu Bao respectfully accepted the order, and then bowed down and retreated.

"Our sons are back, our sons are back!" Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile, and the wrinkles on his face melted.

Concubine Guo Hui smiled: "Your Majesty, if you like it, why don't you let them come back every year?" ”

"How's that going to work?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was dumbfounded: "Concubine Hui, do you know how much silver they will spend on a trip back?" And along the way, the local government has to entertain this and that, and it is the people who suffer! ”

"We can't let the people suffer for our own pleasure, you know?"

"The concubine has been taught!" Concubine Guo Hui replied respectfully.

"Okay, let's not talk about this, let's go, go to you!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was in a good mood and strode forward, Concubine Guo Huijiao hummed and hurriedly followed......

……

Inside the Heavenly City.

Yan Wang Zhu Di's team stayed in Yan Wang's mansion in Beijing, Yan Wang's Mansion.

"Your Highness, do you want to meet someone?"

Yao Guangxiao folded his hands, stood behind Zhu Di, and spoke quietly.

"Who?"

"Zhu Xiongying, no, now he is still Huang Xiongying."

Listening to Yao Guangxiao's words, Zhu Di narrowed his eyes slightly.

"If Your Highness doesn't go to see him, I'm afraid that in a few days, His Highness will have to pay the courtesy of a monarch when he sees him."

Yao Guangxiao's voice continued to sound faintly......

……

Chase Street.

This is a street close to the Imperial City, and the street is wide and straight, and it is one of the most lively streets in Yingtian City.

The ground is a bluestone pavement, and on both sides are about three-story commercial houses, hanging signboards and banners.

Because it's the Halloween period, it's even more lively.

There is an endless stream of pedestrians, shuttling between them, there are ordinary people, there are talented scholars, there are high-ranking officials and nobles, and there are peddlers and pawns.

Zhu Xiongying's restaurant is in the middle.

These days, his wine can be said to be in short supply, and how much is sold.

And these days, he's also launching something new.

Watermelon.

For China, watermelon is an alien species, and the reason why it is called watermelon is because it was introduced to China from the Western Regions.

As early as a very early time, watermelon has become a popular summer fruit, and there are many proverbs related to watermelon, such as eating watermelon in summer, no need to catch medicine, wearing a leather jacket and wearing a yarn in the afternoon, eating watermelon with a stove in your arms, and so on.

No one knows when watermelons were introduced to China.

However, watermelon is a popular summer fruit in China, with a sweet flesh and can cool down the heat; The seeds contain oil and can be used as recreational food; The peel is medicinal, and has the effect of clearing heat, diuresis and lowering blood pressure.

The reason why Zhu Xiongying put the watermelons out is because the watermelons that Xiaobao planted in the greenhouse are really uneaten.

Instead of letting it rot, take it out and sell it.

However, watermelons are not a product of this season, and they are still expensive, so they do not sell well.

There was a stall of watermelons in front of the restaurant, and no one paid attention to it, and almost all of them came to the restaurant for wine.

Just when the Guo brothers were almost about to ignore it, a middle-aged man in a gorgeous costume came to the door with a monk.

It was Zhu Di and Daoyan monks.

Looking at the watermelons on the stall, both of them showed curious looks, because of course they knew about watermelons, but watermelons should not appear in this season.

After all, most watermelons ripen in June and July, and now they are late October, where do watermelons come from?

Dao Yan gave Zhu Di a look.

Zhu Di understood, stepped forward to pat the watermelon, and asked, "How can this melon be sold?" ”

"Two dollars a pound!" Guo Zhen replied casually.

"Huh-"

Zhu Di was stunned when he heard this, and couldn't help chuckling: "Is this melon skin made of gold, or is the melon seed made of gold particles, and it is so expensive?" ”

Guo Zhen didn't care so much, sneered, and said, "Look where are the melons now?" These are all melons grown by my owner at a great price, you are too expensive, I am still too expensive! ”

"Oh?"

Zhu Di raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "Then can I ask your owner to come out, I want to buy melons." ”

Guo Zhen thought for a while and replied, "Okay." ”

After all, these melons were sold by His Royal Highness, and now a buyer has finally come to the door, and His Royal Highness happens to be in the shop.

A moment later.

Zhu Xiongying came out, looked at the middle-aged man and the monk, didn't think too much, and asked, "Buy melons?" ”

Although Zhu Di was already mentally prepared, the moment he saw Zhu Xiongying, he couldn't help but be stunned and stared at Zhu Xiongying.

Resemble!

If you look closely, it really looks like it!

However, Zhu Di quickly stabilized his mind and said with a smile: "Pick one for me!" ”

"Done!"

Zhu Xiongying responded, then turned around and picked out a watermelon and put it in front of Zhu Di: "How about this?" ”

I didn't want Zhu Di to smile playfully and said, "Is this melon ripe?" ”

Zhu Xiongying smiled when he heard this: "Since I take it out and sell it, can I sell you raw melons and eggs?" ”

Zhu Di's face sank suddenly, and he said, "Let me ask you if this melon is ripe?" ”

As soon as Zhu Xiongying heard this, he immediately re-examined the middle-aged man and the black-robed monk in front of him, and said in a deep voice: "You are deliberately finding fault, aren't you?" In a word, do you want it? ”

Zhu Di smiled and said, "I definitely want this melon to be ripe!" What if it's not cooked? ”

Zhu Di is here to find fault, and the appearance of watermelons in this season is weird, Zhu Di doesn't believe that watermelons in this season can really be ripe.

After all, the weather will get cooler after autumn, and it's strange that watermelons can be ripe!

However, Zhu Xiongying also smiled and said, "If it's not cooked, I'll swallow it raw and eat all the melon skins, okay?" ”

"Okay!"

Zhu Di nodded, and glanced at each other with Monk Daoyan, and a smile flashed in the eyes of both parties.

Zhu Xiongying saw it in his eyes, knowing that these two people had bad intentions, the corners of his mouth curled slightly, and said: "If it is cooked, you swallow it raw and eat all the melon skins, is it okay?" ”

Hearing this, Zhu Di couldn't help frowning.

Monk Daoyan stood up at this time and said with a smile: "Okay! ”

He had just secretly checked the guati, apparently freshly plucked, and the watermelon could not be ripe in the autumn and winter, which had already cooled down.

Otherwise, there will be no fat but spring rain, and bitter autumn frost.

Zhu Xiongying's face sank, and he said, "Remember what you said!" ”

The voice landed.

Zhu Xiongying picked up the knife on the side, and when he saw a flash of cold light, he split the watermelon on the desk.

The hand rises and falls, and the melon is cut in half.

Zhu Di and Dao Yan stared at the split melon with wide eyes, and suddenly felt as if they had been beaten on the head, and the whole person froze as if they had taken root under their feet.

The melon pulp is bright red, and it is cooked!

Zhu Di and Dao Yan were stupid.

They originally wanted to come to see Zhu Xiongying, but when they saw a stall of watermelons in front of the shop, they couldn't help but want to take advantage of this incident to bring out Zhu Xiongying and embarrass him.

Unexpectedly, it was myself who was embarrassed in the end!

And they are also puzzled, how can there be ripe melons in this season?

This......

It's abnormal!

was stunned, only to see Zhu Xiongying put away the knife and said with a smile: "The melon is ripe, swallow it raw!" ”

(End of chapter)