Chapter 120 A small gathering in the capital

In the Forbidden City in the capital, Zhu Yuanzhang stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back. It was early winter in December. The cold wind outside the window was bleak, and thousands of trees were withering. The sky was covered with snowflakes, falling on the thick snow. It snowed all night last night, and a thick layer of snow was accumulated on the road, branches, and roofs.

But Zhu Yuanzhang seemed not to see these. He stared blankly at the distance, and was stunned. The news that he hoped was not true but was eager to know the truth finally came. On the imperial desk behind him was placed a wooden box, which contained a handwritten letter written by King Qin Zhu of Qin to the commander of the South China Sea Guard, a gold medal of the King of Qin, and a formal memorial from Li Weizheng. This was sent by him to report it quickly.

Three hundred thousand taels of silver have been seized, the Qin King's handwritten letter and gold medal have been obtained, and the two aides and 200 guards of the Qin King's Mansion have all been seized, and the Qin King smuggled silver from Japan is as evidence.

A piece of snowflake flew towards Zhu Yuanzhang. He couldn't help but reach out to catch it. The snowflakes immediately turned into water in his hands. The coldness penetrated into his heart, making him shivering. Zhu Yuanzhang sighed long and closed his eyes in pain. He actually knew that the Qin King had private placement army in Shaanxi, and the silver smuggled was for the recruitment army.

The matter was so serious that he had to make up his mind. Zhu Yuanzhang then turned around and said to the guard beside him: "Go and call the prince to me."

Not long after, Zhu Biao was taken to the imperial study room. Compared with half a year ago, Zhu Biao's body seemed to be much better and his face turned rosy. Although hemoptysis could not be cured, the number of times was significantly less. Three months ago, the Yellow River flooded in Kaifeng, and Zhu Biao also went to the disaster area to visit the victims. Although he had only been there for a month, after he came back, his body did not deteriorate and he could also correct the memorials, which made Zhu Yuanzhang very pleased.

Zhu Biao entered the house and knelt down and said, "Son Master, please see the father."

Zhu Yuanzhang hurriedly stepped forward and helped him up. After looking at his son's face, he smiled and said, "It seems that Doctor Feng's tonic cream is indeed effective for you."

Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Doctor Feng is worthy of being a national player. He has been much better in his spirit by taking his nourishing cream."

"Sit down!"

Zhu Yuanzhang ordered his son to sit down. He first gave Li Weizheng the official report on the disaster relief food case in Guangdong to Zhu Biao, "You have a look at this first, what suggestions do you have?"

Zhu Biao took the memorial and looked through it. In fact, he already knew that Li Weizheng had secretly reported him about the results of the disaster relief grain in Guangdong and the smuggling case of the King of Qin. He was the only person who knew the truth of these two cases except his father. Especially the smuggling case of the King of Qin, which involved the large amount of silver, which made him stunned. But he was also very satisfied with Li Weizheng. Not only could he do it, but he did not forget who he was.

Although Zhu Biao knew it, he still pretended to look carefully. The report clearly stated that the rice bran in the grain came from military rations. The commander, the commander of the chief magistrate, and the assistant magistrate were involved in the case. However, it was announced to the public that the commander of the Nanhai Guard Yu Guangqing colluded with the chief clerk and thousands of households in the granary to embezzle military rations. He later destroyed the granary to cover up his crimes. At present, Yu Guangqing has committed suicide for fear of crime. The money and grain seized from his house in Dongguan are worth nearly 50,000 taels of silver, and all of them have been confiscated.

Of course, Zhu Biao knew that this was to cover up the smuggling case of King Qin and Yu Guangqing, but Yu Guangqing deserved to die. The crime was not to be forgiven if he only assisted the King Qin to smuggle silver.

Zhu Biao put down the memorial and owed her body, saying, "My son thinks that although the disaster relief grain case is heartbreaking, the relief of the victims in Guangdong is more important. Governments at all levels in Guangdong should be allowed to complete disaster relief as soon as possible and restore production in the disaster area. As for the disaster relief grain case, you can slowly investigate it later."

Zhu Biao meant that he wanted his father not to expand this matter to the local government. So far, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "I feel relieved that the emperor's concern for the people, but Zhang Yi, the Marquis of Heting, has admitted that Guangdong's military rations were caused by the accumulation of shortages over the years, and it was related to his former Zhu Liangzu. However, he was negligent in management and found that it was inconsistent last year. He did not dare to report to me, so he secretly mixed rice bran. Unexpectedly, it became his guilt in the end. He had already pleaded guilty and was willing to donate all the land to compensate the military rations. I have already approved it, and he removed him from the position of commander commander for dereliction of duty and demoted to a commoner. In Li Qianhu's official announcement, Yu Guangqing was punished, which is actually what I mean."

Speaking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang handed Zhu Biao the second memorial and said lightly: "As for why you should use Yu Guangqing to punish him, you can tell if you look at this."

Zhu Biao slowly read this report. Compared with the secret report given to him by Li Weizheng, the report was written in detail, with more than 5,000 words. The cause and effect of the Qin King smuggling silver case and the detailed process of his solving the case were written. Li Weizheng of the Luo family did not hide it. His description of the Luo family was forced by the Qin King and had to do it. However, he made great contributions in solving the case and suffered heavy casualties in the battle against Japanese pirates. In the end, Luo Heng, the head of the Luo family, surrendered himself, willing to bear all the guilt of the Luo family, and dedicated all his property and land to the government for disaster relief. Li Weizheng admitted that he had made his own decision to let the other people of the Luo family go away, expressing his willingness to bear this responsibility.

Next to the report, Zhu Biao saw that his father had already used a red pen to inform the Luo family of disposal: "Luo Heng beheaded, his property was confiscated, and the rest will not be investigated."

At the end of the report, Li Wei was just trying to escape the plan of King Qin's aides and intercepted 300,000 taels of silver in Fengchuan County, but his father's instructions were four words: "Wisdom and courage".

After reading the report, Prince Zhu Biao was in a very heavy mood. Although he already knew about this, the detailed description of the report still made him feel heartbroken by his brother's confusion.

Zhu Yuanzhang took back the memorial and sighed: "This time Li Wei is going to Guangdong to investigate the smuggling case of the King of Qin. Although the King of Qin is my son and your younger brother, the crime of "collusion with Japan" alone cannot be forgiven. Besides, he also smuggled 300,000 taels of silver, and more than once, I have been extremely disappointed with him. I have decided to remove his vassal state and order him to go to Beijing to collect the crime. What is the emperor's opinion?"

Zhu Biao knelt down and kowtowed heavily and said, "Father, my second brother has lacked the love of my father since I was a child. As my brother, my son minister has not been able to teach him to abide by morality in time, which has led to today's disaster. My son minister also has faults. I beg my father to leniently punish my second brother for his sake and give him a chance to change his face."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him for a while and asked slowly, "Is this what you said in your heart?"

Zhu Biao looked up at his father and said sincerely: "Report to my father, this is what my son said in his heart. It is still possible to repair the clothes torn, but the hands and feet are broken. How can I continue? My son is willing to bear some of the guilt for my second brother."

Zhu Yuanzhang walked to the window with his hands behind his back and looked at the snowflakes outside the window silently. After a long time, he said in a low voice: "I am very happy that you value brotherhood, but things are not as simple as you think. I have issued an edict to order the King of Qin to enter Beijing. After he enters Beijing, you will go to govern Shaanxi in the name of inspecting Xindu to take a good look at the good things your brother has done. Then, when you come back, I will listen to your opinions and finally decide what to deal with your second brother."

"My son obeys the order!" Zhu Biao agreed quietly, and then he said: "In addition, Mr. Chen wants to ask his father to agree to let Li Weizheng go to Xi'an with me."

This request should not be big. Zhu Biao thought his father would definitely agree, but Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said, "I don't agree to let him go to Xi'an with you again. After investigating the case in Guangdong, his mission will be completed."

Zhu Biao was shocked. Could it be that his father wanted to kill him? He hurriedly said: "Father, Li Wei is loyal to his father. This time he investigated the case, he is even more wise and brave. He is a rare talent. How can his father..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted him with a smile, "Do you think I want to kill him? You are wrong. Of course, I will not kill him, just want him to get rid of the Jinyiwei. To be honest, I originally planned to promote him to be the assistant minister of the Jinyiwei after the Guangdong case, but I saw that he admitted that he could hide it from the Luo family, and he could completely hide it. But he did not do this, but confessed honestly and was willing to take responsibility. I changed my mind. The Jinyiwei was too dark and I didn't want him to stay in such a place for a long time, so after he came back, he would no longer be the Jinyiwei Qianhu."

Zhu Biao was overjoyed and took the opportunity to ask: "My son begs his father to transfer him to the Eastern Palace."

Zhu Yuanzhang did not answer him immediately. He pondered for a long time before asking slowly: "Son of the Emperor, will your ministers in the Eastern Palace, Xiang Fang Xiaoru, Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai and others tolerate Li Wei being by your side?"

Zhu Biao was silent, and his father hit the point with one word. A few months ago, the day Li Weizheng entered Guangzhou, the day he entered Guangzhou, the skin of the magistrate of Nanhai County. This incident aroused great indignation from Fang Xiaoru, Huang Zicheng and others in the East Palace. They all denounced him as cruel and ruthless, and advised him to cut off relations with this person. If Li Weizheng returned to the East Palace, they would probably not be tolerated by them. Although he knew that this result would be, Zhu Biao did not want to lose the talent Li Weizheng because of this.

Thinking of this, Zhu Biao said solemnly: "My father often tells me that governing the country should be a combination of civil and military affairs, and value the Taiyin of literature and Zeyang of Wu. Although Fang Xiaoru, Huang Zicheng and others are all geniuses in the world, either with noble integrity or a talent for stability and stability, they are all too scholarly. My minister still hopes that he can have a pragmatic and capable person under his command. Li Wei is the talent I discovered in Dingyuan County. He cultivated it with one hand, but my minister does not want to give up on him."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, and patted his son on the shoulder and said, "Yes, you have made progress compared to before, and you also know that mercy alone cannot do things. It's great! The emperor really makes me very happy."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "I plan to let Li Weizheng assist you in the future and become an important minister you rely on, but the wood is so beautiful that the wind will destroy it. His methods of investigating and handling disaster relief food cases in Guangdong are too ruthless, which has shocked the court. Luo Ziqi, Zhan Hui and other ministers have jointly impeached him, but I don't want to make the case of the King of Qin public, so I want to temporarily hide Li Weizheng for a few years, and then hone him well. His case was handled beautifully, conspiracy, and open conspiracy was extremely clever. I have obtained a more detailed report from other channels. He is indeed a rare talent. You can win him over for me and let him be loyal to my Zhu family."

Zhu Biao returned to the East Palace, and along the way he was thinking about how his father would arrange for Li Weizheng. Li Weizheng would not stay in the Jinyiwei for a long time. This was something he expected. It was not because he was not suitable for the Jinyiwei, but because the Jinyiwei itself had not lasted for long. The father had hinted that he had been unfair to the Jinyiwei and would be disbanded soon. So Li Weizheng came out of the Jinyiwei, and he was not surprised. He was concerned about where his father was going to arrange Li Weizheng? Where to go to practice?

As soon as he returned to the Eastern Palace, Yang Ning, the leader of the guard, came up and said worriedly: "Your Highness, the eldest prince seems to be severely punished by his master. He is crying there. Your Highness, go and have a look!"

Zhu Biao was startled. In his memory, the eldest son was still crying when he was young. Now he was fourteen years old and he was still crying. He hurried to his son's study, but Yang Ning sighed secretly and followed slowly.

In the room, Zhu Yunwen sobbed while wiping tears, copying something. A little eunuch at the door seemed anxious, but he didn't dare to say anything more. At this time, the prince Zhu Biao came over. He looked at his son's back from a distance and asked the eunuch in a low voice, "What have you been punished?"

"When you say to Your Highness, Mr. Fang was furious today and punished the little prince to copy the Analects of Confucius three hundred times. It was really ruthless."

Zhu Biao walked forward slowly, pressed his son's shoulder and smiled, "Why were you punished?"

Zhu Yunwen said nothing, just lowered his head to copy. Zhu Biao smiled and said, "It's too much to copy three hundred times. Why don't I go and talk to Mr. Fang and change the three hundred times to thirty times. What do you think?"

"No!" Zhu Yunwen wiped away his tears and said, "If a child makes a mistake, he should be severely punished by the teacher."

"Then tell dad, what mistakes did you make?" Zhu Biao asked softly.

Zhu Yunwen's face suddenly turned red, and he lowered his head to copy, his expression seemed very nervous. Zhu Biao had never seen his son like this before. He was extremely surprised. When he looked up, he saw the princess waving to him.

Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Okay! You should pay attention to your health and you don't have to copy it in one day. Dad can make the decision. You can copy it in one month, and copy it ten times a day."

Seeing that his son didn't say anything, he sighed and walked out of the house. When he walked to the outside, Concubine Chang smiled bitterly, "Yun Wen was punished because he sneaked out of class yesterday to find a young woman who opened a shop. Mr. Fang was furious about this and said that he skipped class privately and forgot his status and had a low status. He actually went to make friends with lowly people. The two things happened together, so he was punished to copy them three hundred times. In my opinion, it was mainly because of the latter."

"Oh! So that's it." Zhu Biao smiled. He suddenly realized that his son had grown up and had a woman he liked. He smiled and said, "This is very easy. If the conditions meet, summon the woman to the palace and be the palace maid first, and then be his concubine in the future."

Concubine Chang shook her head and said, "Your Highness, things are not that simple. Do you know who that woman is?"

"Who is it?" Zhu Biao saw that Concubine Chang's expression was a little bitter, and his smile gradually disappeared.

"It's Guo Qianqian who runs a pencil shop. She is Li Weizheng's girl. In fact, she is still..."

"Don't say it again!" Zhu Biao interrupted Concubine Chang with a gloomy face. How could it be possible? Not to mention that Guo Qianqian is actually Li Weizheng's woman. Only she was the daughter of Guo Heng, the former Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, would he never allow his son to have any relationship with her. If the matter spreads, where will the father's face be put?

“How much is their relationship?”

Concubine Chang smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness, I have also questioned the little eunuch who followed him. It seems that Yunwen is just wishful thinking. Qianqian has no intention of him at all. In fact, I know that Qianqian only has her elder brother in her heart, so Your Highness doesn't have to worry too much."

After hearing what his wife said, Zhu Biao felt a little relieved. He was still a little worried and wanted to order Yang Ning to strictly prohibit his son from slipping out privately. As soon as he walked to the palace gate, he suddenly remembered that something serious had not been done. He hurried back and said to his wife: "Concubine Chang, there is something I want you to do for me."

Concubine Chang bowed, "Please give me the order!"

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment and said, "I heard from Yang Ning that Li Weizheng's wife is more than eight months pregnant and is expected to be about to give birth in another month. You will visit her on behalf of me, bring more expensive tonics, and Guo Qianqian, and also comfort her. If they have any difficulties, I can do it for them. In short, Li Weizheng is the person I will use in the future. Do you understand?"

"I understand that it's still noon now. I'm going to visit them now. Please rest assured!"

Concubine Chang went to pack up her things, and Zhu Biao walked to her son's door again and looked at her thin back. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. His son was still ignorant!

After noon, the snow began to fall heavier and heavier, fluttering in the sky like a catkin, and the snow in the streets and alleys became thicker and thicker. This was the first snow this winter. Both adults and children ran out of the house and happily welcomed the arrival of the auspicious snow.

A carriage was parked in front of Li Weizheng's mansion, but it was the carriage of Ye's mansion. More than a dozen servants went into the mansion to cook the fire. Only the coachman curled up in a corner of the carriage, waiting for the owner to come out. The gate of Li's mansion was closed, and a woman's laughter came from inside.

In the courtyard of the atrium in the mansion, Guo Qianqian, Ye Sutong and Gu Ying were playing snowball fights. The three of them were in the same group. One hid behind an old apricot tree, one hid under the stone table, and the other hid behind a cluster of bushes beside the steps. There was a little maid busy making snowballs for them. The happiest person was Li Duoduo, the four-year-old girl of Li Wei. She helped this and that, and finally slipped on the snow to the sky. She simply giggled and rolled on the snow. As the girls were screaming by the snowballs, the happy laughter echoed in the yard.

At the door of the living room, Ye Zitong, with a big belly, looked at them play helplessly. As her mother's heart grew stronger day by day, her personality gradually became mature. She thought about her own children all day long, and she no longer spoke and walked as quickly as before, but became slow and steady. If she had been before, she would have joined the snowball fight, but now she was worried about whether Li Weizheng would be blocked by the heavy snow.

Five months ago, not long after Li Weizheng left the capital, Li Weizheng's father, Li Yuanwai and stepmother Yang Ying rushed from Linhuai County to take care of Ye Zitong, who was about to become a hero of the Li family. The family got along well. A month ago, Li Yuanwai returned to Linhuai County because of something in the village and left his wife Yang Ying in the capital to take care of his daughter-in-law.

At this time, Yang Ying was accompanying Mrs. Ye to talk in the house. Mrs. Ye was in great enthusiasm today and made a special trip to visit her eldest granddaughter and brought her younger granddaughter together. In fact, for nearly six months when Li Weizheng was not at home, Ye Sutong, with the support of her grandmother, came to visit her sister every now and then, and even lived in the Li family. Although Mrs. Ye felt something was wrong, Li Weizheng was not in the capital. After all, Ye Tianming also went to Huguang to inspect the autumn examination, so she accused her younger daughter of her behavior. Until last month, Ye Tianming returned from Huguang, Ye Sutong was a little restrained. She had not been here for nearly half a month, and today she was with her grandmother.

Yang Ying is a very good talkative woman. She was born in a wealthy family in Linhuai County. Although she didn't know a few big words, she was very good at observing words and describing them. She chose what the old lady liked to hear, making her very happy.

"I heard that the eldest son won the third place in the provincial examination. This is amazing. I remember that Linhuai County was ranked tenth in the first two years. People in the village said that the Ye family had a lot of talents and was a beautiful family. Not only were the men promising, but the girls were also more handsome than the other. I remember that when Xiao Tongtong came to my house a few years ago, she was still a yellow-haired girl. This girl changed so much that she became more beautiful than a princess. I thought that Big Tongtong was a rare beauty, but she didn't expect that her sister was even more beautiful. I think her descendants were blessed, but she was still blessed by the grandmother's blessing!"

The old lady was coaxed and smiled. She waved her hand and laughed, "Look at what you said, among my sons, the eldest son is promising, and you know that they are both ordinary villagers. However, the Li family has been single-handed for several generations, and it has been in Dalang's generation. Dalang is really promising. In just one year, she became a thousand households in the Jinyiwei. Tongtong's father has been with him for ten years, but he is only a fourth-rank Shaoqing."

Speaking of this, Old Mrs. Ye lowered her voice and said, "Mrs. Yang, I will tell you something, you must not spread it."

Yang Ying nodded and smiled, "Don't worry, grandma! I'm not a tongue-in-law."

Old Mrs. Ye smiled slightly and said, "My deceased master once showed Dalang his face when he was ten years old. He said Dalang was a fish and dragon. He would be unknown before the age of 23 and suffered repeated setbacks. However, after the age of 23, he would be helped by noble people and make a big splash and become awesome. From then on, Dalang and Xiao Tongtong got the strong support of her grandfather. This is because of this. I didn't believe it, but the facts prove that my master said it well. This noble person is actually His Royal Highness, and I only hate my stupid son.

He was short-sighted and stared at Dalang who was now the Jinyiwei. He thought it would ruin his official career. He could not have thought that the prince would become the emperor in the future. Dalang is now a thousand households at a young age. The biggest official of the Jinyiwei is just a commander, only one level away. Will Dalang stay in the Jinyiwei forever? Alas! He is also a stubborn temper and wants to marry Zhan Shangshu, but he insists on giving Xiao Tongtong to the son of Shangshu Zhan. He is so confused. Will Shangshu's son become Shangshu in the future?"

Old Mrs. Ye may have felt it. She said a lot today, and she really scolded Ye Tianming in front of Yang Ying. Yang Ying was a smart person. She heard what Old Mrs. Ye meant that she wanted to give both granddaughters to Dalang.

In fact, Yang Ying and her husband also discussed this matter. Dalang and Su Tong's engagement had not been resolved, but they married Zitong. In other words, if the Li and Ye families did not terminate the engagement, Ye Sutong would have to enter the Li family sooner or later. Mr. Li was also very uneasy about this. He said in private that if the Ye family was willing to terminate the engagement, he would agree, but Yang Ying had different ideas. She advocated that Dalang decides this matter himself. Ye Sutong is so beautiful, she doesn't believe that Li Wei was not moved. She has made a decision. If Dalang also likes Su Tong, then she firmly opposes breaking the engagement.

Of course, Yang Ying's big turn towards Li Weizheng was because of her selfish intentions. The key was that Li Weizheng changed from a crow to a phoenix and became a high-ranking official. Brother Yang Ying's two sons were both seventeen or eighteen years old, and they were both unpromising people. After the news that Li Wei became a Jinyiwei Qianhu reached her hometown, Brother Yang Ying came to beg her several times, wanting Li Weizheng to support his two sons, and Yang Ying's younger brother was a businessman, so he also came to find his sister, of course, he also wanted Li Weizheng to give him a chance to make money.

Therefore, for the benefit of her parents' family, Yang Ying had to make a thorough reconciliation with Dalang before she would take the initiative to stay and take care of the pregnant Zi Tong.

Thinking of this, Yang Ying smiled at the old lady and said, "Actually, I have long seen that Su Tong has a deep friendship with Dalang. The two are childhood sweethearts and their horoscopes are very compatible. The master and I once had a ridiculous idea. Can the two daughters of the Ye family be given to my Dalang? Of course, this is a bit greedy. It is our Li family's luck to get Zi Tong as a daughter-in-law. If we marry Su Tong again, I'm afraid Dalang will not have that blessing."

The old lady said that just now was actually testing the attitude of the Li family. If the Li family was willing to come in, she would slowly figure out a solution. The key was that the little Tongtong must not marry the Zhan family. The old lady was a veteran. She had heard about what Zhan Wei did to Li Shanchang in Dingyuan County. She knew that Zhu Yuanzhang might temporarily reuse such villains, but once the prince succeeded to the throne, Zhan Wei would never have a good result.

Now that the Li family also had this idea, she smiled with understanding, "No hurry! No hurry! This matter is just now, let's discuss it slowly in the future."

At this moment, a knock on the door suddenly came from outside the gate. Qianqian, who was playing in the yard, quickly dropped the snowball in her hand and ran to open the door. Qianqian opened the door and saw more than a dozen men who looked like guards standing outside the door. She asked hesitantly: "Who are you looking for?"

At this time, Yang Ning walked up from behind and smiled and said, "Miss Guo, do you still know me?"

Qianqian still remembers that when the eldest brother broke his arm, this guard Yang came to see him. It seemed that he was the one sent by the prince and his friend. She nodded and smiled, "You are Brother Yang!"

Seeing that she recognized her, Yang Ning pointed to a carriage guarded by nearly a hundred guards in the distance: "The Crown Princess is here, I'm here to visit you. I wonder if I can receive it?"

Qianqian was shocked, and she nodded nervously and said, "You guys wait a moment."

She ran in quickly and whispered: "Don't play anymore, please clean up, sister, the princess is here to see you."

Everyone was shocked. Although Ye Zitong was the hostess, she had never received such a big shot. She couldn't help but feel a little panicked and was at a loss. At this time, Ye Sutong stepped forward and said, "Sister, don't panic. Although the Crown Princess is visiting you specifically, it is not officially visited. We just welcome you with gifts. Now you should hurry up and enter the inner house with grandmother and Aunt Yang. Grandmother has an imperial decree, but she is not wearing a crown and clothes, and cannot kneel down to welcome the Crown Princess in public, so you can only receive it in the inner house."

Ye Sutong turned around and hurriedly ordered Gu Ying: "Sister Ying, go and say hello to the servants and let everyone stay in the room, but don't come out, and you can't peek at it. Also, go and have someone prepare a few more cups of good tea and cakes to entertain the guards of the Crown Princess."
Chapter completed!