This day is the Kitchen Festival, commonly known as Xiaonian. On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, candies, water, beans and mosses should be prepared to offer to the Stove King. Sweeping the dust before the New Year, putting up Spring Festival couplets, and cutting window grilles also started on this day, and everything in Prince Dai's mansion was busy.
Ma Sanbao looked at it with a smile, and took Xiao Hei in hand to prepare to return to Peiping. The prince has captured Datong, and Prince Dai's mansion is now safe. He has been ordered to send Princess Dai home. She has been out for several days, and now she has to go back to celebrate the New Year. Prince Yan's Mansion must also be in such a New Year atmosphere, right? The princess has led everyone to start cleaning, right
Suddenly a servant came over and called: "Master Ma! The princess invites you to go to the Flower Language Hall." Ma Sanbao was stunned, handed the horse to the servant, and quickly came to the Flower Language Hall.
Xu Xiu was in the hall, walking around uneasily. A fat-headed middle-aged man stood below, waiting cautiously.
As soon as Xu Xiu saw Ma Sanbao entering the hall, she quickly said: "Sanbao! Look at this." She handed Ma Sanbao a jade hairpin.
Ma Sanbao took it and looked at it, and couldn't help being stunned. It is a long hairpin of Hetian jade, which is as warm and soft as suet, with a touch of autumn pear yellow seed skin on the head.
Xu Xiudao: "I gave this to Princess Yining last time she came to Datong."
Ma Sanbao nodded: "Yes, the princess always wore it when she went to the capital." Later, when she was in mourning in Tianxi Temple, her hair was tied with a hemp rope. Ma Sanbao couldn't help but feel sad when he thought of her strange appearance in the tower.
Xu Xiu said: "This is Boss Xu of the pawnshop. Someone pawned this hairpin. Boss Xu remembered that it belonged to the palace, so he sent it over." Xu Xiu has always liked rare jewelry. Datong is a major thoroughfare, and there are often merchants and travelers pawning it. The pawnshop owner was told by the princess to bring good things to the palace for inspection first, so they were very familiar with them. Moreover, this hairpin was originally obtained from this pawn shop, and the boss was deeply impressed. There is no need to talk to Ma He about this.
Ma Sanbao looked at the fat Boss Xu: "Who did it? When?"
When Boss Xu saw Ma Sanbao dressed in military uniform and wearing a sword, with a smile on his face but unable to hide his majesty, he couldn't help but feel a little scared and timidly said: "I came here this morning. I didn't see it until I entered the store at noon. I saw it." It was delivered. The guy only remembers that he was a waiter."
"The waiter?" Ma Sanbao thought in his mind. Who will Lotus give this hairpin to? Or who stole this hairpin? It's impossible, the palace is heavily guarded, it's not that simple.
"Take me to see it!" Ma Sanbao greeted Xu Xiu and went out with Boss Xu. Xu Xiu was worried that he was not familiar with Datong, so he called housekeeper Tian to follow Ma Sanbao.
The pawn shop is located on the bustling South Street. A big sign with the word "dang" protrudes from the eaves, but the signboard on the shop reads the three words "Heng Shu Dian". There is a huge shelf at the door, full of exquisite things. On the left hand side is a tall nanmu counter, where the pawnbroker hands in the pawn items for valuation.
Boss Xu called out the waiter. He was a thin young man of medium height. He was a little nervous when he saw Ma He and said, "He just came here this morning and pawned three taels of silver. Where is he from? I don't know. He is a waiter after all." .”
Ma Sanbao frowned and asked Butler Tian: "How many inns are there in Datong?"
Butler Tian thought for a while: "There are seven or eight big ones, and there are many small ones. There are always dozens or hundreds of them."
Ma Sanbao asked the waiter again: "In which direction did the waiter go when he took the money?"
The guy pointed to the east: "Walk along the street."
Boss Xu quickly smiled and said: "Steward Tian, let this guy accompany you to look for it?"
That's all. Steward Ma Sanbaotian and the three waiters left Hengshu Dian and walked along the street to ask questions at every inn. We walked to the fifteenth inn, which was a somewhat shabby little inn with only a single door. The signboard said "Liansheng Inn" and a waiter was cleaning the door and posting Spring Festival couplets.
The clerk said happily: "It's him!" He grabbed him and said, "Ha! I found you!"
The waiter was startled and recognized him as someone from the pawn shop: "What's wrong?"
Butler Tian said warmly: "Who pawned this hairpin? Take us to have a look, maybe it's an acquaintance."
The waiter agreed. But this one is a chatterbox, nagging: "He is an old man with a local accent. He has been here for half a month and has been sick. Qian'er said he met a thief on the street and all his money was stolen. What do you think of this thief? How hateful! I had no money to buy medicine, and I owed a lot of money for room and board, so I went to get hairpins. I lost three taels of silver, and the old man probably wanted to redeem the money. Is the illness serious? Not serious! Please call the doctor. Look, it’s the Chinese New Year, but what should I do? You two, be careful, the ice on the ground is slippery, don’t fall!"
While leading the housekeeper Ma Sanbaotian through the hall, he came to a small room near the back door. There was a pile of firewood at the door. It turned out to be a firewood shed.
The waiter lifted the door curtain and said loudly: "Old man Wang, are you okay? Someone is here to see you!"
Ma Sanbao entered the room. It was narrow and cramped. There was a single couch in the corner without a kang. There was no table, so a square stool was placed in front of the couch. There was a medicine bowl on the stool with some medicinal juice still left. The room was cold, damp, and smelled of medicine.
A thin, stooped old man was lying on the couch facing the wall, covered with a quilt. Hearing the waiter's greeting, he slowly turned around and barely opened his eyes, but was squinted by the sunlight coming in from the door.
Ma Sanbao was shocked when he saw the old man's face: "Wang Banban!" He stepped forward to the couch and held Wang Zhi's hand. The withered hands were cold and thin, with veins protruding from them. It was probably because of the cold that the whole person was trembling.
Wang Zhi was a little dazed, letting Ma Sanbao hold his hand, and for a long time he called out in a low voice: "Ma, Master Ma!" A line of muddy old tears slid down his old cheeks.
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On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, everything in Prince Yan's mansion was filled with joy. Bright red Spring Festival couplets are pasted on the doors and windows, various palace lanterns are hung in the corridors under the eaves, and even the winter flowers and trees in the yard are covered in red and green, making everything bright and beautiful.
Xu Ying walked to Tingsongju holding a stack of brand new cotton clothes and robes.
The day before yesterday, Ma Sanbao arrived home late at night and actually brought back Wang Banban from the capital. That was the old man in the palace. Xu Ying often went to the palace to play with King Zhongshan when she was young, and she was very familiar with Wang Zhi. After thinking about it, I arranged for him to live in Tingsongju, which was also a long-term arrangement.
Xu Ying entered the door and couldn't help but smile when she heard the voice of King Yan speaking. My husband is a man who cares about old feelings. He spent the entire day yesterday arranging for medical examinations, bathing and changing clothes, and ordering the kitchen to prepare greasy food...
Xu Ying opened the curtain and entered the room. Sure enough, Zhu Di, Zhu Quan and Dao Yan were there. Wang Zhi was still leaning on the kang, but he was refreshed and clean, and much more energetic than yesterday. Seeing Xu Ying holding new clothes, she hurriedly greeted: "It's too troublesome for the princess."
Xu Ying said with a smile: "Don't be disloyal to me, companion. I caused you a lot of trouble in the palace when I was a child."
Wang Zhi sighed and recalled: "The princess was like a brat at that time. I remember that there was a time when King Qi was beaten to tears by you."
Zhu Di perked up: "Is this happening? Is Lao Qi so useless?"
Xu Ying smiled sheepishly: "This is all because of Chen Guzi rotting sesame seeds. I was just playing around when I was young." She looked at Wang Zhi and asked, "Is seventh brother okay in Beijing?"
Wang Zhi shook his head: "King Qi entered the palace when he first returned to the capital, and he looked a little depressed. After he was demoted, he never came again. He was so arrogant..."
Before Wang Zhi finished speaking, several people understood him. How can a demoted vassal king, who has been accustomed to being free and arrogant in his fiefdom, live in the capital
Zhu Di asked with concern: "What about the fifteenth and nineteenth brothers?"
Wang Zhi thought for a moment: "His Majesty is very kind to them both, and gave each of them a mansion. King Liao hurriedly entered the palace once, and King Gu and Master Huang are relatively close, so they come often."
Zhu Quan couldn't help but said: "This palace has become Mr. Huang's territory! The nineteenth brother rubbed oil on his feet and fled to Tianfu, but he still has the face to see others?"
Wang Zhi smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty listened to Mr. Huang's suggestion and handed over the Zuo Army Governor's Mansion to King Gu. There are only a few troops in the capital. I don't know how well King Gu can lead it."
Zhu Quan was even more angry: "The young emperor does not use such a capable man as the 15th brother, but uses the 19th brother? It's really crazy. In our Ming Dynasty, do we want to change our surname to Huang?"
Dao Yan seemed to be thoughtful: "How many sergeants are there in the Zuo Army Governor's Mansion?"
Wang Zhi was stunned, and then he realized that he had told all the details of the court, and he hesitated to answer.
Zhu Di waved his hand, signaling Dao Yan not to ask any more questions. He smiled and said to Wang Zhi: "Don't mention the matters in the capital. Don't worry, companion, just live here in peace."
Xu Ying also smiled and said: "Yes, companion, don't dislike it, my wife and I will support you until you die!"
Wang Zhi was moved. In the past few months, I have traveled all the way from Yingtianfu to Yuanping Village. My hometown is in ruins and I don’t know anyone. I came out, but I don’t know where to go. At his age, he has been staying in the palace for decades, and the world outside is really disturbing and scary. At this moment, looking at the sincere smiles of Zhu Di and Xu Ying, I actually wanted to cry.
Zhu Di saw Wang Zhi's sadness and patted his hand: "Don't think too much, let it go."
Zhu Quan said, "What on earth did you commit, Banban? The little emperor is so stupid that even an old man like you can't tolerate it?"
Wang Zhi wiped his tears and said slowly: "Your Majesty is a good person, but sometimes he is too good. I can't blame Your Majesty for this. If Your Majesty hadn't stopped me, the Queen Mother would have punished me to death." Thinking back to that day The Queen Mother's cold gaze made Wang shudder.
Zhu Di frowned when he heard this. Seeing that Wang Zhihou was scared, he patted him comfortingly.
Wang Zhi thought about it: "Who can enter the provincial palace and see the memorial?"
Seeing that he was concentrating, Zhu Di advised: "Don't think about it now, companion. Take good care of your health first and celebrate the New Year well."
Wang Zhi couldn't think of it and was very distressed. After a while, he suddenly grabbed Zhu Di's big hand and said, "Your Majesty! I don't know who it is, but there is a traitor in the palace, there is no doubt about it! The last time he poisoned Taizu and Li Cairen, this time It's probably one person who secretly read the memorials and started rumors. He came here to target the emperor! He didn't harm Taizu, but he will harm your majesty this time!"
Zhu Di and Xu Ying looked at each other with heavy hearts. What can King Yan do about the traitor in the palace
Xu Ying comforted Wang Zhi: "Your Majesty, the True Dragon Emperor and the Hundred Gods will protect you. It will be okay. Rest, companion. Don't think about it."
Zhu Quan let out a long sigh: "My eldest nephew! Your uncles all want to help you, why don't you understand! How can your Mr. Huang kiss your own uncle again?" He stood up and said, " It sounds depressing, so I'm leaving first." He stamped his feet and prepared to go out.
Wang Zhi hesitated and shouted: "Prince Ning!"
Zhu Quan turned around: "What?"
Wang Zhi looked at Zhu Quan, Xu Ying, and then back at Zhu Di: "Yingtian Mansion now has less than 10,000 defenders." He hesitated and said: "If the prince drives the capital quickly and the capital is weak, it is inevitable, it is inevitable..." He coughed as he spoke. Xu Ying quickly stepped forward and patted her on the back. Wang Zhi was out of breath and closed his eyes and stopped talking.
In Wang Zhi's heart, Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Di and Zhu Quan both grew up under his watch, and they were originally a family; no matter how much they quarreled, their lives would not be in danger. And this traitor in the palace did not hesitate to poison and spread rumors. The emperor's current situation is really worrying.
Zhu Di and Zhu Quan looked at each other with shock in their eyes. I never thought I could go straight to the capital without attacking Shandong! Dao Yan smiled slightly, with a look of understanding.
Xu Ying made a gesture to signal Wang Zhi to take a rest. Several people tiptoed out of the inner room, and Xu Ying gently closed the door.
As soon as he arrived at the outer hall, Zhu Quan said: "This is too risky! The Shandong army will definitely intercept it, and there will be many battles in the middle. Even if it rushes to the river, Sheng Yongping will be behind and attack from the front and rear. The Shandong or Liaodong army will then attack on their own. If you cut off my food and salary later, I will have to die!" He looked at Zhu Di and said, "Now that we are fighting the little emperor like this, Shandong can't take it, and they can't fight it. Sooner or later, those few villains in the imperial court will make mistakes. Just wait and see what happens, but instead Safety."
Xu Ying couldn't help but said: "But with this war every year, my Ming Dynasty has lost all its foundation. Moreover, I am worried that there is a traitor in the palace who wants to do harm to Your Majesty."
Zhu Quan said anxiously: "Sister-in-law, what you said makes sense. I, the Ming Dynasty, can't bear such consumption. But who understands our intentions? Fourth brother has already given memorials three times, which shows that it is Jingnan, but the little emperor only believes in those things." Mr. Huang and Mr. Qi want to capture my two brothers alive." He paused and said, "But he is not willing to kill us. He probably wants to argue in person."
Zhu Di was confused as he listened to the two arguing.
The civil war has been going on for almost three years, and the imperial court has sent thousands of troops over again and again. The food in Shandong has long been insufficient, and the Zhili people in Liaodong are also nervous. Now it is shipped from Jingzhou or even Shuzhong. If this continues, all Taizu's life savings will be exhausted. The young emperor was kind-hearted and accepted death, and just wanted to make a clear argument with himself, but the Ming Dynasty really couldn't waste any more time. Even if it failed, let's settle it! And what about the traitor in the palace that Wang Zhi mentioned? It would be better to resolve it earlier.
Zhu Di made up his mind and looked at Dao Yan, who nodded slightly to express his approval.
Zhu Di cleared his throat: "Seventeenth brother, why didn't you refuse to return to Beijing at that time? Wouldn't that be safer?"
Zhu Quan knew what he meant as soon as he heard it, and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "The fourth brother and the fourth sister-in-law are of the same mind. Well, it's up to you, let's fight! Let's have a showdown by the river!"
On the fourth day of the first lunar month in the fourth year of Jianwen, the Southern Army in Shandong was still celebrating the New Year. King Yan swore to go south and continue to fight against the enemy. This time, he went straight to Yingtian Mansion, the capital.