serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 190 Conquering the King?

The Mid-Autumn Festival in the third year of Jianwu, because of a sudden victory, is destined to be recorded in the annals of history.

At three o'clock, the Jingyang Bell in the palace was rung, and the emperor held a special court meeting in Qianqing Palace.

Qianqing Palace Hall

Emperor Jianwu was extremely excited, because this sudden victory allowed him to win another game in front of the Supreme Emperor, and the Supreme Emperor's reaction was still in his mind: the Supreme Emperor who finished reading the military newspaper, his eyes were full of shock and confusion.

When Dai Quan finished reading the last word of the military newspaper, there was a slight commotion in the hall.

Shi Guangzhu, Niu Jizong, Feng Tang and other dignitaries and officials of the Ministry of War immediately became excited.

And those civil servants are at a loss, inexplicable.

The princes of the clan have an indifferent face.

Only King Zhongshun showed a look of astonishment!
King Yizhong lowered his head slightly, he couldn't see his expression clearly and didn't know what he was thinking.

Emperor Jianwu saw everyone's reaction and cleared his throat.

The hall was quiet.

Emperor Jianwu adjusted his emotions, and then said loudly: "Many of you may not know what this great victory means. The purpose of holding the Great Court Meeting today is to tell you one thing. From now on, the Great Zhou and Manchu The Qing attack and defense have changed."

This time, there was an enthusiastic response in the hall!
King Zhongshun said loudly: "This is all due to the emperor's strategic planning, and my ministers are very admirable!"

Those Qingliu civil servants shouted together: "The emperor is wise!"

Song Chengliang: "This is because the emperor knows people well."

Wang Hetang and the others: "Sage is as good as the emperor!"

Even though Emperor Jianwu understood that they were flattering him, there was still a trace of latent self-esteem and satisfaction on his face, he coughed lightly, and then said: "This shows a truth, as long as our monarchs and ministers are united, there is nothing wrong with it. Dai Quan .”

Dai Quan: "The servant is here."

Emperor Jianwu: "Send this matter to the provinces and tell the people all over the world that after the rebellion in the Central Plains is put down, the imperial court will send troops to recover the homeland of Liaodong."

Dai Quan replied: "Observe the order."

Emperor Jianwu nodded, and then said: "There is one more thing, King Zhongshun."

King Zhongshun: "My brother is here."

Emperor Jianwu: "You are the prince of the clan. You should do your best to relieve the country's worries. From today onwards, you will join the cabinet."

King Zhongshun was overjoyed and looked at the emperor, waiting for him to make another promise.

Emperor Jianwu shifted his gaze to the side.

There was silence.

Dai Quan reminded gently: "Lord Zhongshun, thank you."

King Zhongshun was stunned for a moment, and his face immediately turned gray. No matter how bold he was, he didn't dare to say what was in his heart at this time, so he could only reply: "My brother thank the emperor for his kindness!" Then he knelt down and kowtowed.

"Get up."

Emperor Jianwu waved his hand, and said to Dai Quan: "Let's announce the edict."

Dai Quan: "Yes." Unfolding the imperial decree in his hand: "Decree: Jin Yongwei Battalion Commander, Ningguo Mansion now inherits first-class Marquis Jia Hu and first-class Ningguo Duke, with the title of Crown Prince Shaofu, and rewarded with five-claw python clothes!"

The silence was only for a moment, and then there was a "boom", and the hall immediately became commotion again.

King Zhongshun was the first to show panic!
Mei Changwen and Wang Rulin met and exchanged anxious glances.

The dignitaries became excited again, while the civil servants looked sad.

In the Ming Dynasty, the five claws were dragons, and the four claws were pythons; but in the Zhou Dynasty, the five claws were dragon robes or python robes, depending on who wore them. The best one is the five-claw boa robe, without the twelve chapter patterns, the style is a round collar, while the dragon robe has a coil collar.

It is stipulated in the Canon that Xungui and Wenwu First Grade wear four-clawed pythons, but there are still cases where five-clawed pythons are rewarded, that is, several princes with different surnames today.

Niu Jizong's eyes flashed, and the title of Minister of the Ministry of War was not mentioned in the imperial decree.

Emperor Jianwu sat on the dragon chair, looked at the ministers in the hall quietly, and then raised his hand.

Dai Quan took a step forward and said loudly, "Quiet!"

The hall immediately fell silent again.

Emperor Jianwu: "In the past few days, I have received several memorials, all advocating the rapid suppression of the Central Plains rebellion. It is time to end this farce. Order Ning Guogong Jia Hu to immediately lead troops into the pass to suppress the rebellion, and all The rebellion is completely wiped out!"

Dai Quan: "Yes."

King Zhongshun's face was gloomy, he glanced at the emperor, and then at King Yizhong.

King Yizhong's eyes quickly caught it,

When the two eyes met, they both moved away again.

Dai Quan, who had been secretly paying attention to King Zhongshun, had already seen it. He first glanced at the emperor, and then moved his eyes to the ground.

In the afternoon, with the conclusion of the Great Court Meeting, important news quickly spread throughout the capital, causing a sensation throughout the city and becoming a hot topic of discussion in the streets, alleys, teahouses and restaurants of the capital.

Rongguofu

Xue's Courtyard
Aunt Xue's maid, Tong Xi, greeted the two women and came out of the front hall carrying a box.

There was a crackling sound of abacus coming from the front hall.

Aunt Xue, who was sitting on the main seat, was holding an account book, slowly flipping through it, and then she had a surprised smile on her face. She didn't expect that it was just over a month, and those shops that had been losing money for several months in a row would turn around. up.

In front of the account table, two accountants were quickly dialing beads with their left hands and calculating the Xue family's accounts in Gyeonggi with their right hands.

The old butler put a stack of account books that had already been calculated on the wooden table next to Aunt Xue, "Since the uncle received the real shortage at the household department, the business at home has been much smoother, and the stewards and clerks of those shops have seen hope." , and work hard.”

Aunt Xue nodded. Although there was a relationship between the Jia and Wang families before, the stewards and clerks everywhere did not dare to see that Xue Pan was young and ignorant of the world and engaged in abduction, but they did not care about the business of the store and did not take things seriously. , As a result, the business of the store is getting worse and worse, and even a loss occurred after the new year.

At this moment, earth-shattering firecrackers sounded from Ningrong Street!

Aunt Xue was taken aback. Two days earlier, the old lady had heard that there would be no firecrackers and no banquets during the Mid-Autumn Festival this year. Why did they set off firecrackers now?
At this time, Xue Pan ran in panting, and shouted to the old housekeeper as soon as he entered the door: "Quick! Bring all the things we brought from Jinling! Prepare another 2 taels of cash."

The old butler was puzzled, looked at Xue Pan, and then turned his gaze to Aunt Xue.

Aunt Xue was also blindfolded, and after regaining her senses, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Xue Pan picked up the teapot on the table and drank half of it, taking a breath, and then said: "There is a good news from the grassland, and the Marquis of Dongfu has won another big victory. Ning Guogong, add the title of Prince Shaofu, and wear the five-clawed python suit!"

As soon as this remark came out, everyone was amazed immediately.

Aunt Xue was also overjoyed: "Oh? This is a big happy event, and it should be given as a congratulatory gift. However, this is too heavy. Not to mention the 2 taels of cash, it is the things we brought from Jinling , each piece is very valuable. In my opinion, you go and pick up two pieces, and then prepare some satin silk, emerald, gold and jade jewelry."

"Mom, listen to me first."

Xue Pan hurriedly interrupted Aunt Xue, "I met Feng Ziying just now, and he came to give a congratulatory gift. I heard from him that this five-clawed python robe has a lot to say. Five people were rewarded with five-claw python robes, and the first four were named kings with different surnames."

Aunt Xue's eyes lit up at Xue Pan's words, and she immediately said to the old shopkeeper, "Hurry up and get ready, I will deliver it in person."

The old butler didn't dare to delay any longer, and quickly replied: "I'll go right away!" and hurried out.

The two accountants quickly followed out.

Looking at the back of the old butler going away, Xue Pan looked at Aunt Xue's maid, Tonggui.

I agree with you and retreat out with a few wives.

Xue Pan dragged a chair, sat down next to Aunt Xue, and said in a low voice: "Feng Ziying also said that His Majesty sent the Yongwei Battalion into the pass to suppress the rebellion. Military exploits are not enough to be crowned king, but not too bad. Feng Ziying also told me that after the imperial court put down the rebellion in the Central Plains, it will send troops to recover the homeland of Liaodong. The Yongwei Battalion, as an elite, will definitely participate in the war."

Aunt Xue nodded.

Xue Pan went on to say: "If the estimate is correct, you will definitely be crowned king within two years."

Aunt Xue was overjoyed, clasped her hands together, and said: "Amitabha! This is good! This is good!"

Xue Pan stood up, pondered for a while, and then said: "If you are crowned king, Miss Lin will be the concubine, and the old lady's words will not work."

"This"

Aunt Xue was shocked.

Xue Pan walked back and forth a few steps in the house, gritted his teeth, and moved to Aunt Xue's side: "Sooner or later, this matter will be brought to the fore, and it is better to slowly pierce the window paper than to make the big guys unhappy. , and we can get along peacefully in the future.”

As he spoke, he whispered a few words in Aunt Xue's ear, and then said: "Lin Ruhai is the governor of Jiangsu now, and I'm just a small official of the sixth rank, so it's not shameful."

Aunt Xue nodded deeply.

Dongcheng
Meifu
With a "snap", a blue and white tea bowl hit the study floor, shards flying everywhere.

Mei Changwen angrily walked back and forth in the study with his hands behind his back.

Mei Zonglu on the side sighed softly, and persuaded: "Father, there is no need to be angry. He has made great achievements, and the court is also normal to recite his achievements."

Mei Changwen stopped, stood there in a daze for a while, looked up at Mei Zonglu, and then said: "Next year's Chunwei, you must fight for your breath! The prince said that as long as you pass the second-class exam, he will find a way to let you pass the exam." You are in the cabinet."

Mei Zonglu was overjoyed, and quickly responded: "Yes."

Mei Changwen walked to the door and looked into the distance, as if to Mei Zonglu, but also as if talking to himself: "Five-claw python robe, His Majesty is planning to make him a king with a different surname."

(End of this chapter)