Emperor Ming Dynasty

In the spring of the seventh year of Shaowu, the Ming army took Kashgar, and Abdullah Khan was forced to flee westward and fled to Kyrgyzstan.

In this regard, except for the Yili Basin which was taken by the Junggar and Heshuote tribes, all the rest of the Yarkand land was taken back.

Gao Yigong left Southern Xinjiang and returned to Gansu, but Li Dingguo stayed in Southern Xinjiang without any accidents, and the newly established Tiannanxing Capital Division.

There are nearly [-] troops left behind with him.

After leaving Gansu, Gao Yigong rode fast and finally arrived in the capital after a month's journey.

Along the way, the spacious national road made him doubt his life.

It's so wide, right and left, completely beyond his expectation.

"Woo—" Reining in the reins, Gao Yigong looked at the wide gate of the capital city and the endless stream of people, and couldn't help but be filled with emotion.

From the yellow sand to the bustling capital, don't mention how emotional it is.

When there were hundreds of steps away from the city gate, a group of people greeted them.

Taking a closer look, it turned out to be the captain-in-law, Zuo Zongzheng Zhou Xian of the clan's mansion.

"You are greeted by Lao Shaoqing, ashamed——"

Over the years, Gao Yigong has also learned some culture, which is not as rough as before, and has a little more city.

If it was in the old days, he would have called him the captain of the son-in-law, but now that he knew the embarrassment of the former son-in-law, he would mention his official position.

"Where, Hou Ye has made great achievements, [-] troops destroyed a country, boosted my morale, established my prestige, and attracted the attention of the government and the public. Your Majesty specially asked me to come and greet him!"

Although he waited for a long time, Zhou Xian smiled without changing his face, without the slightest arrogance of the royal family and nobles.

Gao Yigong instantly had a good impression of him, and he was pleasing to the eye.

The little move of the emperor warmed his heart.

Sure enough, I have worked hard for several years, and His Majesty can still see it.

The privileged class exists everywhere.

The long line of people moved out of the way, and the doorman bowed kindly, smiling uncontrollably.

"Hey, who is this uncle?"

"Personal welcome by the son-in-law, ordinary princes can't enjoy it."

A few sects were sharp-eyed, and they immediately saw that the coming was full of travel and dust, and Kong Wu was powerful, so they began to discuss.

"Hey, what's the matter? Not long ago when Chen Guogong returned to Beijing, even the Minister of the Ministry of War came out of the city to welcome him. The gongs, drums and firecrackers blared. The scene was so lively..."

"Zhou Zongzheng is also a first-class product—"

"In the capital, whoever judges your rank depends on how valuable your power is, and you are only the seventh rank in the middle of the matter. Even if a few ministers see it, they have to dodge..."

Ordinary people are used to it, and the targets of discussion are those horses and soldiers who look fierce.

Walking slowly, Zhou Xian asked with a smile: "Master Hou, do you want to wash up first?"

"No need." Gao Yigong said righteously: "I am in a hurry to see His Majesty, but there is no time to waste."

"Then follow me into the palace!"

Soon, the two got off their horses and reported that they had entered the imperial city with their badges. When the eunuch came to lead the way, they had already waited for a long time.

They didn't dare to slack off, Gao Yigong directly stuffed a few silver coins.

"Elder-in-law, I'm from the Western Regions, I don't know if I have a good appetite for Eucharist these days?"

"Long live just finished lunch." The eunuch didn't want to talk too much.

But with these words alone, Gao Yigong relaxed his heart.

Soon, the two met the emperor who was planting flowers in a garden.

She wore a cyan robe, a light yellow jade belt, a jade pendant around her waist, and her hair was pinned up by random jade hairpins, making her look extraordinarily carefree.

The two dare not be careless, they both know that the emperor has always hated those red tapes, and likes to meet his courtiers in some relaxed times.

Of course, if it is in the hall, it means that the situation is unclear.

"Your son-in-law has worked hard."

After a long time, the emperor turned around, took the handkerchief from the eunuch beside him, and wiped his sweat.

"Master, it's almost here today, it's hot." Liu Afu said distressedly.

"Understood." Zhu Yixi waved his hand, then turned around, and said to Gao and Tuesday: "You have been waiting for a long time."

"Sit down, all sit down."

The two sat tremblingly on the stone pier, watching the emperor cautiously.

"My son-in-law, the weather is getting hotter. I heard that you often spend time in the capital. This is not acceptable. You will suffer. The princess cannot."

"Yes, I'm ashamed." Zhou Xian got up and hurriedly bowed down, embarrassment written all over his face.

Why did he never want to own a villa in Yuquan Mountain?
But first of all, he doesn't have enough power, how can he compete with those nobles who lead the army to fight?
Secondly, he didn't have a lot of money, and the Zhou family was not rich at all. Any villa in Yuquan Mountain would cost thousands of silver dollars, and the family would have to go bankrupt.

"It's my fault." Zhu Yixi patted his forehead, and said to Liu Afu who was beside him: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs allocates one to the son-in-law, and we will do it as soon as possible."

"I thank the emperor for your kindness!" Zhou Xian was overjoyed, and hurriedly knelt down to thank the emperor.

This is not only wealth, but also represents the emperor's favor.

"Go down!" Zhu Yixi maintained a smile: "I can go to escape the summer heat this summer, so let's go home and prepare."

Zhou Xian left happily.

Gao Yigong at the side could see clearly that this was another favor from the emperor to the former Princess Changping.

In other words, this is to earn fame through rewards.

And why invite?The emperor really did too much.

In order to fill the population of Liaodong, he forcibly moved some clans to Liaodong to exchange land.

Originally, the title was reduced, replaced by generations, and returned home to farm, and now they are moving to Liaodong. There are many people who are dissatisfied with the clan.

After all, it was just Xungui who asked to change the land before!
The emperor had no choice but to wash away his reputation for treating his clan members harshly, so he took the Zhou family and Princess Taiping as examples.

"You did a good job this time."

Zhu Yixi didn't care what Gao Yigong thought, and just praised him directly: "Yerqiang was won in a few months, and there were not many casualties, which is the best for the court."

"The last general dare not take credit. This battle is all due to the protection of our ancestors. Your Majesty's kindness. The soldiers will use their lives. I only have a little credit..."

As if Gao Yigong was being jingle-whispered, he said it outright, obviously he had been preparing for a long time.

"You boy."

Zhu Yixi scolded him with a smile, and seeing his weathered face, he couldn't help feeling a little bit emotional:
After all, it is for my son, hard work.

"Chen Yongfu came back, I added [-] households to him, and the first son of Yin was made a baron."

"In your case, you can be promoted to be the Duke of the country. There are five thousand households in Shiyi, which is worthy of your contribution to destroying the country."

"The final general will thank the emperor for his kindness."

"Don't worry, it's not over yet!"

Zhu Yixi smiled lightly and said: "Your wife, you have to give the first-rank madam, and my sister, Gao Guiying, must also grant the first-rank madam."

"As for your official position, the commander-in-chief has been resigned, so go to the rear army's governor's mansion and serve as the right army's commander-in-chief!"

Kneeling on the ground, listening to the emperor's chatter, Gao Yigong's heart was agitated.

It's great that my sister has finally sealed the imperial order.

The rest of the land was fertile and rewarded, forming mountains and seas, and Gao Yigong didn't pay much attention to it.

When he followed Li Zicheng into Beijing, he made 100,000 taels of silver, no matter how shocking he was, he had already seen it.

After chatting again, the emperor suddenly said: "By the way, you can call yourself Duke Jing!"

"Ah? The ministers dare not—" Gao Yigong's expression changed in shock.

Liu Afu came to a sudden: "Master, this collided with your writing..."

"My name is Zhu Jingming, he is Jing next to the prince, it's different."

Zhu Yixi shook his head amusedly and said: "There is no need to avoid it at all, this word is very good."

That's all for Gao Yigong.

On the way back, he thought deeply for a long time.

Jing, it's not simple, it comes from the emperor's word, which has a profound meaning.

It's too obvious that the nephew has adopted him under his family!

After returning to the mansion and washing it, he hurried to a separate courtyard.

"Uncle——" The elder nephew was almost six years old, he was alive and kicking, and he was very happy to see Gao Yigong coming.

Sitting upright, Gao Guiying didn't apply rouge and powder on her face, just wearing a plain skirt, watching her son running around in the shade of a tree.

"Sister, is it time for Yu'er to enlighten her?"

Holding his nephew in his arms, Gao Yigong felt that his hard work was worthwhile. Wasn't the loess that he had eaten for so long just to preserve the blood of the Gao family?
"Yeah, it's time to get enlightened." Gao Guiying realized it, and then looked at her younger brother in surprise: "Why, didn't you hate reading the most since you were young?"

"That's the year of the monkey." Gao Yigong shook his head: "I have already started to read."

"Okay." Gao Guiying beckoned her son to come over: "Go to the next door to play with some younger siblings."

The younger siblings here refer to the son and daughter born to Dou Meiyi.

The young and beautiful Dou Meiyi is more likely to be watered by the emperor.

"I heard that you won a country?" Gao Guiying hurried over and groped him up and down: "Are you all right, are you not injured?"

"It's okay, it's okay." Gao Yigong felt very warm, he deliberately waved his arms, and said: "Now I'm in the Chinese army, it's not my turn to fight."

"Hey, even if the whole army is wiped out, I can still escape."

For this, Gao Guiying breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."

"I just entered the palace for an audience. The emperor made me the Duke of Jing, with five thousand households in the city, and even got my sister a first-rank wife."

"Who cares?" Gao Guiying said indifferently: "Since I gave birth to Yu'er, I have nothing to think about, I just want to raise him, get married and have children—"

"I said sister, Jing Guogong, Jing!" Gao Yigong emphasized, excitedly said: "This is a clear statement!"

"Because the imperial decree has not been promulgated, I will adopt Yu'er under my family, and say that he is an adopted son adopted in Gansu."

"Adoption?" Gao Guiying was taken aback for a moment, then overjoyed, and then said anxiously: "You are still young, you can still give birth..."

"Sister, I know myself better than anyone else."

Gao Yigong smiled bitterly and said: "The wives and concubines have taken eight or nine rooms, and they don't even have a daughter. It seems that they are the same as brother-in-law..."

"Um, I mean you are destined to be childless."

Realizing that he said something wrong, Gao Yigong hastily made up for it.

"God's will!"

Gao Guiying sighed, and said slightly relieved: "Compared to other people, Yu'er is your nephew after all, with half of the Gao family's blood."

"That's right, I am the Duke who has worked so hard to come here, so I can't take advantage of others, and the fat and water can't flow to outsiders' fields."

Gao Yigong nodded seriously.

"Since Yu'er is adopted, then I have to leave here too." Gao Guiying said with a little joy: "Only by going to your house can I see him from time to time—"

The next day, the emperor tacitly allowed Gao Guiying to leave the other courtyard.

In a sense, Gao Guiying, who is nearly forty years old, has lost all the aura that attracted him the most.

The whole body is full of maternal brilliance, which has long been unloved by him.

Afterwards, Gao Yigong low-keyly adopted a young boy as his adopted son, invited some honorables who were close to him, and set up a few banquets.

Afterwards, the Ministry of Rites personally delivered a plaque: "Decree to build Jing Guogong's mansion."

In the bustling mansion, a reward from the imperial court was announced.

Since then, Gao Yigong has come from behind and climbed to the pinnacle of honor.

Different from the previous low-key, this time he held a large-scale banquet, reaching more than 2000 tables, nearly [-] people tasted the food, and it was very lively in the capital.

There are no impervious walls in the world.

It has long been known in the harem that the emperor raises a concubine outside the palace.

But who would have thought that he would personally adopt his son to someone else and inherit the position of the Duke of the country. Those who knew the inside story could be said to be dumbfounded.

Of course, the reason why the emperor behaved like this was because he had many heirs, and it was impossible to lack heirs.

In the seventh year of Shaowu, there were more than ten official princes in the palace, reaching 11 people, and eight princesses.

The eldest son Zhu Cunqu, king of Wu, grows up healthily, which is the reassurance of the ruling and opposition parties.

"Sister, the emperor is going too far."

At this time, the damselfly couldn't help but came to the Palace of Compassion and Ning and complained: "Even if it is an illegitimate child, it is still the blood of the Tian family. How can it be easily adopted by others?"

"You don't have to worry about this matter."

Sun Xueniang sighed, how could she have the energy to control the emperor?
Now she puts all her heart and soul on Wu Wang, as long as he is not established as the prince for a day, Sun Xueniang will feel uneasy.

Anyway, there is no way to threaten King Wu's inheritance rights, no matter how messy the emperor is, she doesn't want to take care of it.

"Don't talk nonsense." Sun Xueniang said in a deep voice: "You are no longer alone, and how many children do you have? If you hate the emperor, it will be enough for you."

Sun Damiana muttered, but stopped talking.

After complaining for a long time, she left.

Regarding her small thoughts, Sun Xueniang didn't know anything, it was nothing more than the fact that the emperor hadn't been there recently, and she was upset.

It has been quiet for a few days inside and outside the palace, and the smart people habitually shut their mouths, no one dares to spread nonsense.

However, on this day, news came from the Palace of King Qin that the current King Qin was seriously ill, and he might die soon.

Zhu Cunmufu, the last king of Qin Dynasty, was only 27 years old, and he was already terminally ill after only a few years of succession to the title.

The key point is that there is no heir yet to inherit the title, which is worrying and speechless.

In the last few generations of kings of Qin, Zhu Cunji, Zhu Cunji, and Zhu Cunmufu, if including Zhu Cunshu, the eldest son who did not succeed to the throne before, these four brothers were all short-lived.

It is very suspicious of Feng Shui.

The king of Qin has no heirs, such a major issue immediately sparked discussions in the court.

Logically speaking, the prince's clan should have the biggest say in the clan's mansion, but whoever makes the power of the civil servants expand has a say in the succession of the throne.