I was the emperor in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 19 The Seven Kings Talk
Just like what Zhang Qinghuan said, the princes who stayed in Beijing were indeed without rights and fiefdoms, leaving only an empty air of title.

The holy metaphor spread into the palaces of princes one after another, and all the princes were trembling with fear.

It is true that they have no real power, and there is only a small amount of fiefdom left, but relying on the name of the prince to do business, they have saved a lot of money for decades.

5 taels of silver is nothing to them. What really worries them is the emperor's desire to cut down the vassal behind the fine.

The princes staying in Beijing are basically from the lineage of Zhu Yuanzhang, and among them, the mansion of Jin Wang Zhu Jixi, who has the highest status, is full of worried princes at the moment.

Zhu Jixi is the eldest son of Zhu Yuanzhang's third son, Zhu Dong, who inherited his father's throne of King Jin according to the ancestral system. Sitting on the top seat, Zhu Jixi knocked on the sandalwood high tea table, and said with a low expression:

"I think you all have received the holy metaphor from the palace, so please tell me what the emperor means."

Zhu Mengwan, the King of Chu, sighed, took over the words and said:
"If the emperor is really short of money, that's all right, but if the emperor is going to cut down the feudal clan, then what should I do? Without the status of the feudal lord, I'm afraid I won't be able to continue my business."

Chu Mengwan's words reached the hearts of all the vassal kings. They relied on their status as vassal kings to open brothels, casinos, pawnshops, and money houses in the capital and even in northern Zhili. No one is short of the 5 taels of silver. Well, what they were really worried about was the four-claw golden python suit on their body.

Although these clothes lost power and land, the privilege of tax exemption alone allowed them to earn a net income of 10 taels of silver every year.

Zhu Yueqian, King of Shu, saw that everyone was sighing, stood up and said:

"This king heard that the emperor took money from the Crown Prince's collection supervisor, and also found out that the head of the imperial horse supervisor Jiang and the two concubines of the king of Wu were corrupting Mo's property. Do you think the emperor is simply short of money. "

What Zhu Yueqian said was justified and well-founded, and everyone's complexion improved a lot, but they saw King Jian Zhu Xunruiteng get up suddenly and said:

"Zhu Yueqian, I'm afraid you think too much about the dog emperor. If you want me to tell you, I might as well unite with the King of Han to rebel. The King of Han has soldiers and we have money, so why worry about big things not being accomplished."

Zhu Xunrui's words sounded reassuring, but none of the princes came out to agree.

They are all the lucky ones who have survived Zhu Yunqi, Zhu Di, and the two times of cutting down the feudal clan. They rely on being honest and obedient.

Zhu Xunrui saw that everyone didn't react at all, and hated iron for not being a steel way:
"My good brothers and brothers, please use your brains. The dog emperor needs 5 taels of silver once. No matter how much property we have, how many 5 taels can we give him?"

Zhu Xunrui's words fell to the ground, and many princes' faces were a little moved. The reason why they haven't handed over the money to the emperor is that they will have to pay the money every now and then.

Zhu Jixi looked at the princes who hesitated to speak, gave Zhu Xunrui a wink, and said with a long sigh:
"Xunrui's words are somewhat reasonable, but this king doesn't want to fight in the same room. How about this, let's hand it over once for now, and if there is another time, we will find another way out."

When Zhu Jixi said this, all the princes except Zhu Xunrui nodded their heads and said in one go:
"What King Jin said is very correct, and this king thinks so too."

"It's true that I shouldn't have brought my family to have fun while mourning the late emperor. Why did you conspire against King Jian?"

"That's right, King Jian, that is to say, we are brothers with you. If others hear it, they don't know how to pass it on."

It was agreed to hand over the fine money together tomorrow, Zhu Jixi greeted and sent away all the princes, looked at Jian Wang Zhu Xunrui who was left alone, and reprimanded mercilessly:
"What crazy words did you say earlier, believe it or not, the dog emperor will know what you said today?"

Zhu Xunrui knew he had made a slip of the tongue, and honestly lowered his head to be scolded.

"You also saw it today, Zhu Yueqian, that idiot, is eager to pay the money, Zhu Mengwan is waiting for the king to take the lead, and Zhu Zhanyan, Zhu Huiye, and Zhu Fuzhuo are also three eggless things, Xunrui, you How many times do you want this king to say it, wait for the opportunity, and be careful with your words."

"Third brother, I know I was wrong."

Zhu Xunrui said in a low voice.

Seeing Zhu Xunrui lowering his head and lowering his eyes, Zhu Jixi was too embarrassed to reprimand him. After all, Zhu Xunrui and him were both princes and his only ally.

Taking a deep breath, Zhu Jixi waved his hands and said:

"Let's eat first. His Royal Highness the King of Han sent two Yuezhou river sturgeons yesterday, and I have asked the cook to cook them."

Seeing Zhu Jixi calm down, Zhu Xunrui also raised his head, nodded and said:

"Third brother, the two sons of His Royal Highness Zhao fell down yesterday, do you think I should go and see?"

Zhu Jixi frowned when he heard the words, pondered for a moment and said:

"Zhu Gaosui is not a fuel-efficient lamp. Send someone to deliver something."

"Listen to third brother."

Zhu Xunrui nodded and said, followed Zhu Jixi into the back hall.

Ningfu Palace.

Concubine Wu's complexion was as pale as paper when she had just learned about Shengyu, and the emperor's tactic of cutting her salary from the bottom of the pot can be regarded as frightening her terribly.

Although Daming hadn't had a noble person to be buried yet, Concubine Wu already wanted to understand that whether she was buried or not was just the emperor's will.

Seeing Wang Fu who turned around and was about to leave, Concubine Wu hurriedly said:
"My lord stay here."

Wang Fu knew that Concubine Wu was basically done.
A nobleman who was not favored by the late emperor dared to covet the property of the emperor Mo and disobeyed His Majesty. Apart from taking out a dragon seed of the late emperor from her stomach, Princess Wu, no one can save her.

"Dare to ask the concubine if there is anything else?"

Wang Fu asked blankly.

Although Concubine Wu couldn't bear the sight of eunuchs making faces in front of her, she could only squeeze out a smile, took out a stack of bank notes and stuffed them into Wang Fu's hands:

"My lord, can you tell me the truth about how the emperor dealt with the princess?"

Wang Fu watched the nose and the heart carefully, and let Concubine Wu stuff the bank note into her arms, saying indifferently:
"Although the concubine Wang Dowager has sinned to the heavens, His Majesty thought she was the concubine of the first emperor, and promptly made up the money she had embezzled. She was only sentenced for the crime of disrespect, and ordered her to move to Youlan Garden with a staff of thirty."

When she heard that the surname Wang only moved to Youlan Garden with a court staff of thirty, Concubine Wu breathed a sigh of relief. She was just greedy for an extra 3 taels.

Thinking of this, Concubine Wu stiffened a little, stretched out her hand and took out a few banknotes stuffed into Wang Fu's arms, and said in a deep voice:
"My palace will return the 8 taels of silver to the inner treasury within three days, so you should step back."

Wang Fu has been an eunuch for more than ten years, and he has never seen anyone return the ticket after stuffing it.

But Wang Fu was not angry, he only felt sorry for Concubine Wu, who didn't even understand this bit of human sophistication, and dared to covet 8 taels of silver.

(End of this chapter)