The family banquet of Prince Yan's Mansion was held in Yongxuelu in Dongyuan, facing the garden. The garden is now covered with thin snow, the flowers and trees are withered, and the old plum blossoms are in bud. It is a desolate scene in the northern winter. There were bits of thin ice in the pond, and several servants were fishing for rotten leaves with long pole nets.
Yongxue Lu is very large, and the carved eaves, doors and windows are exquisitely carved, but the lines are wide and smooth but still a bit rough. It was probably made by the Mongolians. The window facing the garden was translucent. I had never seen lotus flowers before, so I couldn't help but take a closer look. Ma Sanbao explained with a smile: "This is called Mingwa, which is ground out of clam shells."
Lotus smiled and praised: "The craftsmen of the Celestial Dynasty are so clever!" Through the bright tiles, you can faintly see the scenery outside the window. "No wonder it's called Yongxuelu", Lianhua thought to herself. When it's snowing heavily, looking at the scenery outside the window through the open-tiled windows does have a poetic and picturesque feel to embracing the snow, right
In the hut, according to northern customs, there are two large hot Kangs. The Kangs are covered with bright red satin mattresses sprinkled with gold, with autumn-colored money python backrests, and a pair of plum blossom-style foreign lacquer small tables on each side. It is extremely rich and gorgeous. Xu Ying took Xu Xiu, Lian Hua and her two daughters-in-law to sit in the inner room. King Yan took his three sons to sit in the outer room. There was a bead curtain in the middle to separate them. Because the hall was large, they were quite far apart. Ma Sanbao, Wang Jinghong, a group of chief servants, and Hai Shou opened another table. Zhien also had Xu Ying's housekeeper's wife, who sat at another table.
Everyone took their seats one by one. Xu Ying asked Lian Hua to move to the east. Lian Hua naturally refused. After several refusals, Xu Xiu and Xu Ying sat down next to Lian Hua again.
Xu Ying introduced her two daughters-in-law. The older one was Zhang, the wife of Zhu Gaochi. She had slightly plump skin, a medium build, and was silent and approachable. The younger one was Huang, the wife of Zhu Gaoxu. She had a long figure, slim shoulders, slim waist, and pretty features. It was obvious that Mrs. Zhang was pregnant, so Lotus quickly congratulated her.
Xu Xiuzui smiled quickly and said: "This is the eldest grandson of the fourth brother, it is time to celebrate!" Mrs. Zhang was modest, Mrs. Huang couldn't help but change her face slightly, Xu Ying quickly interrupted: "It's always a happy event to have a baby! I heard that the emperor's grandson is about to be born soon. I have my second child, which will be next spring, about the same time."
Xu Xiu also regretted her mistake. She only cared about congratulations on accidentally hurting the Huang family. She also smiled and said: "Father is really lucky! Four generations live together! I haven't met Yunwen's eldest son Wenkui. Have you seen my sister? "
Xu Yingdao: "I haven't been back to Yingtian Mansion in the past two years. I heard Huizu said that he is good-looking and looks like a prince like Yunwen."
Xu Xiu turned her head and explained to Lianhua: "Yunwen has a son named Wenkui, who is almost two years old." After a pause, he joked again: "Princess hasn't seen Yunwen yet, are you a little worried? Don't worry! We will This eldest nephew is good-looking and has outstanding character. He is a perfect match for the princess. He also has a gentle and kind personality, so you two can get along well."
Lianhua blushed to her neck and lowered her head without daring to raise it. Xu Ying said quickly: "Axiu, stop joking like this!" She put her arms around Lianhua's shoulders and said, "Axiu is always so crazy, please ignore her."
Xu Xiu was not convinced: "Did I make a mistake?" At this moment, Zhu Di and his three sons came over with wine glasses. Xu Xiu raised his head and asked, "Fourth brother Ping Pingli, are our eldest nephew and Lian Hua a match made in heaven?" A pair of floor designs? What a perfect match!”
Zhu Di was holding the wine glass with a careless smile on his face. A look of sadness flashed across his eyes, and he said calmly: "Axiu, you are also a princess, so don't be so insignificant." He said, before Xu Xiu could speak. Then he asked his three sons to toast.
The eldest son, Zhu Gaochi, is twenty years old this year. He was crowned the Crown Prince of Yan in the 28th year of Hongwu. His legs are disabled and he cannot walk very steadily. Probably because I can't move much because of my bad legs, and I'm also a little fat. I'm already out of breath when I walk from the outer hall to the inner hall. He has a double chin, a round nose, a plain expression, and a pair of gentle and approachable eyes.
The second son, Zhu Gaoxu, is eighteen years old this year. He looks very much like Zhu Di from body to face. He is tall and tall, with thick eyebrows and tiger eyes. The joints of his big hands holding the wine glass are bulging and covered with calluses, which is obviously caused by daily martial arts training with horse archers. It's just that there is a bit of arrogance in his words, and he often looks a bit impatient when looking at Pan Shenfei.
The third son, Zhu Gaosui, is fifteen years old this year. His thin body is still growing taller, and there are two small pimples on his young face. He has been looking at the lotus curiously.
The three princes first toasted Xu Xiu and called her "Thirteenth Aunt". Xu Xiu had sex with each nephew in turn, talking and laughing, and everyone felt like a spring breeze. Then Xu Xiu pulled up Lotus and was about to speak with a smile on her face. Xu Ying was afraid that she would make another exaggerated joke, so she quickly protected Lotus and said to her three sons: "Princess Yining comes to our Ming Dynasty for the first time. She believes The Buddha doesn't drink alcohol, you just drink it yourself."
Zhu Gaochi was the first to drink wine and said sincerely: "Welcome Princess Yining to our Ming Dynasty. I wish the princess good luck in her trip to the capital." Zhu Gaoxu also did it, and only said two words "Welcome!" briefly. Zhu Gaosui asked curiously while drinking: "How do you believe in Buddhism? Is there also Buddhism in North Korea? Who is your master?"
Lotus thanked them one by one and said with a smile: "The Caoxi Zen Sect in Korea is a branch of the Southern Sect in the Central Plains. The founder Daoyi is the fifth generation disciple of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng. I have converted since I was a child, and Zichao is my master."
Zhu Gaosui shook his head: "I've never heard of it. You speak Chinese very well. I can't tell you are a foreigner."
Xu Ying smiled and scolded: "What a foreigner! North Korea is a vassal state of our Ming Dynasty. What you said is unreasonable to spread to the imperial court!"
Zhu Gaosui stuck out his tongue: "I know! Well, you are from the Ming Dynasty." Then he looked sideways at Lotus: "I didn't expect North Korean people to be so good-looking."
When everyone was astonished, Zhu Gaoxu reached out and patted his younger brother on the head: "You kid, are you jealous? You should also go and beg the emperor's grandfather and ask for a princess from the vassal country to come home."
Zhu Gaochi quickly came to Lianhua's rescue: "Don't make trouble, Princess Yining is not an ordinary person. Have you heard about the Desert Pagoda?"
Zhu Gaosui asked curiously: "What's going on?"
Zhu Gaochi said: "I heard what Sanbao said this afternoon. My father was trapped in the desert with no horses and no water. Princess Yining had a glazed tower that actually appeared in the sky. Sanbao led his army and ran towards the tower in the sky. Found my father."
"Really?" Xu Xiu was the first to shout.
"Isn't it possible?" Zhu Gaoxu didn't believe it.
"Is there such a thing?" Even Xu Ying was stunned.
"What a glazed tower? Come and have a look!" Zhu Gaosui was so excited that he pulled Lotus's sleeve and shook it. With a red face and a smile, Lianhua took out the glazed tower and placed it gently on the table.
At this time, Ma Sanbao and Wang Jinghong came over to toast, followed by Hai Shou. Ma Sanbao heard everyone's words and quickly stepped forward to prove: "It's really exactly the same. There is a huge temple in the whole sky, and there is this pagoda in the middle. It is really the manifestation of the Bodhisattva." Wang Jinghong also echoed.
Xu Ying turned her head and looked at Zhu Di: "Why didn't I hear you talk about it? It's so amazing."
Zhu Di still said calmly: "Mirages are not uncommon in the desert. They are a natural phenomenon caused by the bending of sunlight. Any scenery is possible." Then he glanced at the lotus and said: "The princess's tower appeared in the sky. It was just a coincidence." It happened that Lianhua was also looking at Zhu Di. Their eyes touched and they quickly moved away.
"Natural phenomenon?" Lianhua lowered her head, not believing it in her heart. Zhu Di was also puzzled. Thinking back to the scene in the desert that day, he couldn't help but pause in his words and couldn't continue.
At this moment, a loud voice was heard at the door: "Congratulations, Your Majesty! This is auspicious!" Then a tall monk strode in. The housekeeper Zhu Qin trotted behind and announced in a hurry: "Master Dao Yan is here." Apparently Dao Yan couldn't wait for the announcement and walked in on his own.
Zhu Di quickly asked. Dao Yan is the abbot of Qingshou Temple mentioned above. He was selected by the emperor to serve King Yan more than ten years ago. He is said to be a monk, but he is more proficient in Taoism, Confucianism, and military studies than Buddhist scriptures. He is especially good at yin and yang magic. He is a disciple of the famous Taoist Xi Yingzhen.
Dao Yan was already sixty-three years old at this time, and he was still full of energy, with great strides and a straight back. Wearing a brown monk's robe, a huge string of Bodhi beads hangs around his neck, his nose is like a hanging gallbladder, and his triangular eyes are sharp. After entering the door, he said loudly: "The pagoda appearing in the desert sky for the prince is no small matter!"
Zhu Di shook his head. This Dao Yan was accustomed to being far-fetched. He stopped Dao Yan and said with a smile: "Master, you haven't had dinner yet? Sit down and have some together?"
Zhu Gaoxu became interested and asked: "Master, do you think the appearance of this pagoda in the sky has something to do with my father?"
Dao Yan casually lifted up the hem of his monk's robe and sat on the side seat: "Of course! It's definitely auspicious! I have been traveling around the world for decades and have seen auspiciousness several times. Iron trees have blossomed, and even phoenixes have lived in sycamore trees. But what the prince saw was this one. The pagoda in the sky is different!”
He glanced at everyone with his sharp eyes: "There is no such building as a 'pagoda' in the world. It is said that when the Buddha was an annual disciple, he spread the square robe he was wearing on the ground, put the bowl upside down on the robe, and then put the tin staff Standing on the edge of the alms bowl, this is the earliest 'pagoda', which actually contains the infinite wisdom of the Buddha. After the Buddha passed away, his disciples built pagodas to bury the Buddha's ashes and relics, so the 'pagoda' is one of the three treasures of my Buddhist family. It is the place where Buddha, Dharma and Sangha rely." He then picked up the glazed pagoda on the table and looked at it, "This pagoda is round and round. It is actually the most precious treasure of my Buddhist family. It means complete perfection and is the place where all merits are accumulated. Appearing in the sky is God's will to demonstrate the prince's merits!" Dao Yan said excitedly, and everyone looked at each other.
Zhu Di was the first to wave his hand: "Master, we are reunited after a long absence. Let's not talk about this. Come, order some food!"
Zhu Gaoxu, however, refused to give up: "Then what does Master think this providence means?"
Zhu Gaosui was also unsatisfied: "Yes, this tower belongs to Princess Yining, not to the father."
Daoyan looked at Lianhua and didn't say a word for a long time. He bowed to the lotus crotch and said nothing. Seeing various expressions of inquiry, concern, surprise, shock, etc. flash across Dao Yan's face, it took him a long time to say: "Princess, please take care of yourself when you go to the capital."
Lian Hua didn't quite understand, so she thought it was a bad idea, and replied with a smile: "Thank you, Master, for your concern. If there is any karma in the world, it is Lian Hua's own karma, and she should bear it all."
Zhu Gaosui couldn't help it anymore: "Master Dao Yan, please explain clearly, what is going on?" Everyone looked at Dao Yan with concern.
Dao Yan shook his head: "The secret must not be leaked. You will know when the time comes." Then he changed the topic: "My lord, you have heard about it. The imperial court sent King Qi to command the soldiers and horses along the Shandong road to suppress the Japanese pirates."
Sure enough, Zhu Di's attention immediately came to this matter: "I just saw the Di newspaper. Shandong said that the Japanese pirates were causing a lot of trouble, and they dared to hijack passing merchants." Lianhua heard "Japanese pirates" and listened carefully.
Zhu Gaoxu said angrily: "The little Japanese pirates are too rampant! Let Uncle Qi give them some color to see!"
Dao Yan looked at Zhu Di: "What do you think, Your Highness?"
Zhu Di mused: "Since Lao Qi is gone, we can definitely wipe it out for a while. But I am afraid that it will be difficult to eradicate, and the island will keep coming again."
Zhu Gaoxu asked: "Why don't you go to the island?"
Zhu Di shook his head: "It's not easy to do an expedition with troops. The Japanese pirates came from a big island called Japan. Kublai Khan sent naval expeditions back then, but they encountered storms twice and returned without success. Once they landed in Hakata Bay, they didn't even make it. Use. Naval battles require strong naval forces and fleets. Our country, the Ming Dynasty, has only been in existence for thirty years, and these are still weak."
Ma Sanbao, who was standing aside, interjected: "I heard that the reason why Kublai Khan was defeated twice was because the ships at that time were made by Goryeo, which were not strong and could not withstand the wind and waves. Now our shipbuilding technology in the Ming Dynasty is first-rate. , Yingtian Mansion is also close to the mouth of the Yangtze River, so as long as the imperial court is willing, it will be able to build a large fleet."
Zhu Di glanced at Ma Sanbao: "Father, I think the Japanese pirates are just a minor problem, as long as the strict maritime ban does not affect the Central Plains, forget it. Mongolia is not at peace, so we will not consider these things for the time being."
Ma Sanbao looked at Lotus and couldn't bear it. Zhu Di also glanced at the lotus and said slowly: "Japan is now unified from the north to the south. The imperial court can send envoys to Japan's General Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and ask Japan to restrain the Japanese pirates along the coast. This should be a radical cure."
The lotus made no sound as it gnawed, and kept silently remembering it, hesitating in its heart: If I go to the capital, can I find a way to convince the court
Daoyan looked at Lianhua from a distance, his eyes full of sympathy and compassion.
Outside Yongxue Lu, I don’t know when little snowflakes started flying. Through the bright-tiled windows, they were flying and dancing, like jade butterflies and flying flowers. Princess Yining's journey of seeking help has only taken a small step. What will be waiting for her ahead