Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 881 Sharpening
As the prince's residence, the East Palace was naturally very lively.

There were large ornate beds in the court, and long hangings that stretched to the floor.

There is a little green smoke in the cave, and the spices are carefully blended to not only make the smell good, but also repel mosquitoes. There are no mosquitoes in the bedroom, and everything is very comfortable.

In winter, geothermal heat will flood the entire palace, making people warm and extra comfortable.

As the East Palace is located, all the materials, decorations, fabrics, etc. here are second only to the empress.

On the surface, the official position of the Eastern Palace is basically divided among the cabinet members and is in a state of emptiness, but the operation of the Eastern Palace is controlled by the inner court, and the emperor and empress jointly intervene.

In this case, the most important thing for the prince is to study.

In the 13th year of Shaowu, the prince was fourteen years old, and the entire East Palace, and even the imperial court, became lively.

"Master, it's dawn!"

The eunuch called softly, cautiously.

"Hmm—" the young prince snorted softly, stretched his waist, and slowly got up.

Confusion was written on her immature face, which soon turned into determination.

With the help of the eunuch, he changed into layers of clothes, but they were still thin, and finally put on a layer of red fox fur.

"What class is today?"

asked lazily.

"Mongolian class in the morning, riding and archery in the afternoon."

The eunuch served carefully, and said softly: "It's snowing a little today, I wanted to ask the master, but I saw the master arriving on the way..."

"Master Ha is a Mongolian, so what is this little snow?"

Zhu Cunqu smiled lightly.

As a prince, his courses were very intensive from the very beginning, but what was strange was that other princes, such as King Qin and King Wei, had the same courses as him.

As a result, it made him lose confidence. Could it be that his father belongs to someone else?
He didn't even dare to think about skipping class.

After breakfast, the sky was still dark and the morning star was still shining, Zhu Cunqu raised his head and laughed, "It's not time yet, is it?"

"Master, do you want to sit on the Buyu?" The eunuch said with a close face, "I'm afraid the boys outside have just cleared the snow, and the ground is very slippery."

"Just a carriage!" Zhu Cunqu shook his head.

"Okay, I'll arrange it now."

Soon, with the wheels of the carriage turning, the Mongolian master had been waiting for a long time.

However, he kept a straight face and a lukewarm attitude.

Hadahai's ancestors were Mongols, but after a hundred years, he has long been Ming people, but he has not forgotten the Mongolian language.

Although he didn't understand why he had to teach Mongolian to the prince, since it was the emperor's arrangement and it was a good job, he could only obey.

"Brother Prince—" This is King Wei, King Yue, King Liao and other younger brothers.

"His Royal Highness—" The slightly distant ones were King Qin and King Qi.

Facing the royal brothers and brothers, Zhu Cunqu also bowed and saluted very politely.

After the canonization ceremony came down, all relationships naturally became estranged.

After the morning Mongolian class, Hadahai had to report the class to the emperor.

Although the emperor was very busy, he still spared a quarter of an hour to meet and inquire about the prince's courses.

Of course, the focus is on the prince.

Hadawen said: "The prince is very intelligent, and he is serious in class, but he is as usual."

"Let me repeat that, although you are only Master Mengwen, you are also a teacher. You have to fight what you should. Don't be restrained."

The emperor said earnestly: "Respect the teacher and respect the way. Don't be restrained just because of your status."

Hadahai responded with a full mouth.

He knew that the emperor was telling the truth.

After he left, Zhu Yixi started to have a headache again.

The fourteenth king of Qin, the crown prince, and the thirteenth king of Qi are all going to get married. The marriage must be settled, and it is very tangled who to choose.

On the contrary, it is the easiest to marry the princes. Only the kings of Qin and Qi are going to become vassals in the future, and the necessary support must be there.

But in this way, it is easy to give wrong signals, which is difficult.

The Kunning Palace was burned down after Li Zicheng evacuated from Beijing. Later, it was repaired in the Qing Dynasty, and then repaired during the Shaowu period. The Kunning Palace has returned to its former glory.

It sits north and faces south, with nine corridors wide and three deep. The roof is yellow glazed tile double eaves hipped roof, opposite to the emperor's Qianqing Palace, and the distance is very close.

At this time, the first month had just passed, and the bustle in the palace had not yet ended, and the concubines gathered in Kunning Palace to join in the fun.

Empress Sun Xueniang, Damselfly, Huang Jieer, and Mu Haner gathered at a table to play mahjong.

The rest of the concubines were either taking care of their children or watching from both sides, and it was very lively.

"Okay, Mu Han'er, don't hit five barrels!"

"I knew you wanted it, so I called it last."

When Sun Damianang saw the hand of cards left by Mu Han'er, she suddenly became furious, her face puffed up, and she was extremely annoyed.

And Mu Han'er didn't blame her, she stood up and turned back.

The rest of these women looked lively.

The children stopped playing, and stared at the two concubines arguing, not to mention being serious.

Empress Sun Xueniang didn't urge her, she just watched with a smile.

Compared with the somewhat deserted palace, this scene is full of fireworks, and everyone is happy to watch it.

The two who were arguing were also full of spirits. Seeing everyone shouting for cheers, they were unambiguous and quarreled loudly.

At this time, the eldest princess, Princess Huaining, walked in quietly, and after giving a blessing, she sat aside and watched the play.

Afterwards, the second princess, Princess Yongqing also ran over and sat beside the queen, watching the play happily: "If my aunt doesn't quarrel, she really won't get used to it!"

Sun Xueniang patted her little hand, and said in a low voice: "Don't tell me, she has a stubborn temper. If this is known, I will not quarrel."

"It's okay, I know her, I can't help it."

Princess Yongqing said playfully, staring at her beautiful eyes without blinking.

There are not many princes who become kings, but the emperor is not stingy when it comes to princesses. Basically, as long as they can go to the ground, they will bestow titles and reward them with food.

There is no way, the princess has to get married, can't she save private money in advance?

Unlike the Qing Dynasty, the princesses of the Ming Dynasty were not divided into Heshuo and Gulun, and the princesses were all two thousand stones in the gold book.

The emperor's aunt is called the eldest princess, the emperor's sister is called the eldest princess, and the emperor's daughter is called the princess. All of them will be awarded gold books with a salary of two thousand.
Shi, the son-in-law is called the captain-in-law.

In this case, the titles of princesses are all counties with good meanings, which are equivalent to Zi and Bo.

In addition to food, the emperor also rewarded the princesses with [-] mu of farmland for rouge and water powder.

Even earlier, the princess mansions were built one after another, which was built completely according to the princesses' ideas, and won the unanimous joy of the princesses.

As the Princess Mansion took shape one after another, so that Princess Street was formed, and Wangfu Street became a topic of conversation in the capital.

Some people even laughed and said that if you want to be a captain-in-law, you just have to walk around Princess Street, it's worth it to be seen.

"By the way, Queen Mother, I heard that you are helping the crown prince choose a concubine?"

"Why, you also want to recommend?"

the queen asked with great interest.

A trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

It is not acceptable to influence the prince's marriage through the princess.

"Hey, this matter is up to parents, I can't say anything."

Princess Yongqing smiled lightly, but she was very sensible.

"Why, your Yongqing Princess Mansion is well built (about [-] acres), it's time to find a son-in-law!"

The queen was not used to her, so she said softly, which made the latter pout: "My daughter is not in a hurry!"

"It's fifteen, isn't it in a hurry?"

The queen's words became louder, and immediately suppressed everyone, and then everyone turned to them.

At this time, Sun Damiana also came to his senses, nodded directly and said, "That's right, Yongqing, it's time for you to find a son-in-law."

"I have a nephew, he's not engaged yet at eighteen!" At this time, Mu Han'er also became active, turning her head and asking.

Her nephew, no other than Mu Zhongxian, the eldest son of the Duke of Guizhou's mansion, is not engaged yet, so it is obvious that he has his eye on the princess.

For the Duke of Qian State, without meritorious service, it is simply unreasonable and weak among all the nobles.

And Dingguo's mansion also stared at the two princesses.

Princess Huaining is the eldest princess, while Princess Yongqing is the first-born princess, the future eldest princess, and even the eldest eldest princess.

Princess Yongqing is even more popular in fighting for the front.

"Let's wait for her father to make the decision!"

Sun Xueniang smiled helplessly: "I am in no position to decide the marriage between Huaining and Yongqing, the emperor decides it arbitrarily!"

Now, everyone laughed.

The eunuchs and maids were the most difficult, their laughter could not be controlled loudly, after all, it would be a big deal if someone was covered.

The emperor was stricter with his sons and more lenient with his daughters, and he always gave the most rewards to each one. If he has been doted on for many years, he must be reluctant to part with it.

In fact, many people knew in their hearts that what the empress wanted most was to marry her daughter to the top ten dukes, and it was convenient to watch in Beijing.

Immediately, the mahjong game continued.

After staying for half an hour, the queen smiled and said, "Let Concubine Duan come, I'm a little tired."

After being polite, Sun Xuan'er sat down slowly, and the mahjong game continued.

Supporting her daughter, Sun Xueniang and Princess Yongqing came to the Buddhist hall talking and laughing.

This is where she worships the Buddha, quiet and peaceful.

"What, do you have something to say?" Sun Xueniang snorted softly.

"Mother, how do you know?" Yongqing hugged his arm, waved away the servants, showing arrogance.

"You came out of my stomach, I don't know what's on your mind?" The queen patted her on the head lovingly.

"I heard that Father is going to give King Fu an adoptive heir?"

Yongqing said in a low voice.

"Ok?"

When Sun Xueniang heard this, she frowned, and her sharp eyes shot directly at her face, as if she wanted to devour her.

Yongqing couldn't help but shiver.

Is this the female beast guarding cubs?

She felt helpless.

No matter how favored she is in front of her father, what the queen mother values ​​most is her eldest son, the crown prince.

"How could Your Majesty? Why do you want to do this?"

Sun Xueniang murmured, pacing non-stop, her expression changing again and again.

A king of Qin, the royal family's vassal, continued his incense, which makes sense, but King Fu is different!

This is the successor of the King Yan lineage, who has ruled the world for 300 years. This orthodox appeal is stronger than it is today.

"Who is going to succeed?"

Suddenly, Sun Xueniang raised her head and asked sharply.

"The old seven is almost eight years old, he has not yet been crowned king, and the chance of adopting the past is the greatest."

Yongqing said in a low voice.

Zhu Cunhao, the eldest son of the emperor, was the king of Qin; Zhu Cunhua, the second son, was the king of Qi; Zhu Cunhuan, the fourth son of the emperor, was the king of Liao; Zhu Cunwei, the fifth son of the emperor, was the king of Yue.

Zhu Cuntang, the sixth son of the emperor, is King Wei.

The prince Zhu Cunqu ranked third.

Therefore, the one with the greatest chance at the moment is the young Seventh.

This is Mu Han'er's son.

"You can't take advantage of Lao Qi." Sun Xueniang said seriously: "Chong'er must be allowed to succeed Fu Fan."

Chong'er is the baby name of the third son born to the empress, ranked ninth, only six years old this year, lively and lovely.

If the queen puts all her hopes on the prince, she pours most of her mother's love on him.

As the saying goes, the people love Yaoer, but the queen can't escape.

Hearing this, Princess Yongqing was extremely astonished, she hurriedly said: "It is absolutely impossible."

"Mother, where do you put the crown prince?"

These words made Sun Xueniang calm down suddenly, but she still couldn't let it go: "Rather than giving it to others, it's better to let my brother..."

Princess Yongqing understood that her mother's empress really cared about it and caused chaos.

The younger brother went to marry King Fu, which put even more pressure on the prince.

Without it, facing King Qin, the crown prince still has the advantage of being a legitimate son, but if his younger brother goes away, he will only have the advantage of age.

In front of his concubines, age counts for nothing!

"I'm not talking about this matter."

Sun Xueniang sighed, turned her head, and said to her daughter: "Your brother's position as the crown prince is really too difficult."

"Your royal father, it's really hard for people to live in peace, and it's hard to figure it out."

Princess Yongqing did not speak.

After the mother and daughter chatted for a while, Sun Xueniang regained her composure, and came to the mahjong table, watching the game with a smile, and she couldn't see the gaffe just now.

However, in private, Sun Xueniang still couldn't bear it anymore and asked someone to invite Sun Shirui and Sun Shining into the palace.

Sun Shirui should be the eldest son. The emperor thought about Sun Chuanting's promotion, so he extended his kindness to him and granted him the title of Daizhou Bo.

It's not about relatives who are knighted.

Although there were a lot of messy things in the later period of Jiajing, a lot of things were done in the early stage, such as trying a whip method, abolishing more than [-] personnel from Jinyiwei, Internal Supervision Bureau and other institutions, cleaning up officials, measuring land, and abolishing Huangzhuang.

In particular, the rampant situation of the relatives of Xiaozong and Wuzong dynasties was curbed.

That is, the abolition of the titles of foreign relatives, such as the Zhang family in the Wuzong Dynasty.

Since then, all the relatives have disappeared.

Sun Shirui's earl, because of Sun Chuanting, didn't have much discussion.

Sun Xueniang whispered about the succession of King Fu, and then said worriedly: "Does the emperor still want to change the prince?"

"Not necessarily." The young Sun Shining was the calmest:
"Don't look at the emperor's many tricks, but in my opinion, it is a sharpening stone for the prince."

"The prince is still too young and needs to be honed."

"Then such tempering, wouldn't it make brothers suspect? What will happen in the future?" The queen asked directly.

"In the future, there must be a way to eliminate it." Sun Shining said helplessly.

"Brother, what do you think?"

The two looked at Sun Shirui.

Sun Shirui is nearly forty, mature and steady: "Stay unchanged to cope with all changes, but we must never let Chong'er succeed King Fu."

He stared at his younger sister's face: "Although I know this is the best of both worlds, but if you do this, the prince will definitely be disappointed."

(End of this chapter)