Xi Fuwei held her breath and listened to him talk about the second one. Who knew that Xu Jingchang said, "This is the second one?" He protracted for a long time, then frowned and asked the people around him: "Didn't you say that we have already asked you to prepare the table? Why are you like this?" Haven’t come up for a while?!”
The servant who looked like a steward hurriedly yelled and scolded: "You don't have any discernment? I don't know that the young master has worked hard all the way and finally settled here. Why don't you hurry up and help the kitchen personally?!"
Then he asked Xu Jingchang flatteringly, "Young Master has suffered a lot this time. It's boring to eat like this. Why don't you go to the Mianhua Building next door and call two Qing Guan'er over to relieve your boredom?"
Xi Fuwei thought to herself that since Xu Jingchang left her alone to talk about things, even if he deliberately teased her at the end of the words, he shouldn't be so ridiculous, right
But Xu Jingchang did just that. He nodded happily and said, "Go there in person and see if the people here are still attractive to you? After all, Jining has not been as good as before in recent years, not when the canal was still open. It's prosperous. If the beauty is not as good as the singers and dancers in the mansion, it doesn't matter if they don't scream, they are just an eyesore."
He pointed at Xi Fuwei and said, "At least he should be similar to this female gentleman."
This is really humiliating. After all, Xi Fuwei is a good family member no matter her real identity or her disguised identity. Moreover, she is a gentry, but Xu Jingchang compares her to a prostitute, which is like slapping her in the face. No different.
If possible, Xi Fuwei really wanted to jump up and roll up her sleeves to beat him up!
However, thinking about Ding Guogong's title and Emperor Yongle's attitude, he bit his lip and finally endured it.
However, she planned to settle the matter, but Xu Jingchang was a little pushy and suddenly asked with a smile: "Jing Yuan said that you and Shen Diolan have a close relationship, but you deliberately seduced Shen Diolan. Is it true or not?"
"Of course this is something that has no trace." Xi Fuwei said with a wooden face, "People's daughters have always been surprised. How could Miss Xu believe such rumors?"
"I also think this is nonsense!" Xu Jingchang actually nodded in agreement and said, "It's not that you are not beautiful enough, but I know that Shen Diaolan is full of achievements and achievements, and he is a hero of Conglong. At this moment Where is the thought of romance? Two or three years ago, in Yingtian Mansion, there was a man who was recognized as the most outstanding leader. In terms of family background, he was an official. He was a man who lived in the fireworks after Jianwen died. He was called Yunxiang Yishanghuaxiang. Rong! At that time, there were no nobles in Yingtian Mansion who didn’t like her! However, when Shen Tiaolan went to have a drink with us, he casually glanced at her from beginning to end... His biological brother was a little surprised and advised him not to take it too seriously. Take the advice of your elders to heart, when it’s time to enjoy yourself, you should enjoy yourself in time!”
"We knew at that time that it would be impossible to sway him with women unless he was successful."
Xu Jingchang took a sip of tea and concluded, "So until the results of the merits and rewards for opening the river come down... even if a real immortal stands in front of him, I'm afraid he will just be indifferent!"
Xi Fuwei finally found a chance to bring the topic back to the right track: "Now, apart from His Majesty who is in the north, what everyone in the court is most concerned about is probably the opening of the river. But they don't know about this matter, and His Highness the King of Han?"
She already thought her life would be shortened after getting into trouble with Duke Dingguo. Now the meaning behind Xu Jingchang's words might even be related to Emperor Yongle's favored second son, King Han
"The King of Han has made great achievements in war and won the support of the military commanders." Xu Jingchang said sarcastically, "Although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is excellent in martial arts, he can't even mount a horse. The military generals certainly dare not look down on the Crown Prince, but he is stranger after all. His Highness the King of Han has never surrendered to the vassal state. … Haha, as a son, who doesn’t want to please his father?”
He narrowed his eyes and said, "The mother of Shen Tielan, her maiden name is Zhang."
Seeing that Xi Fuwei still didn't know why, he added, "Zhang from the Crown Princess's mother's family."
This means that Shen Taolan is the nephew of the East Palace
Xi Fuwei was greatly surprised, because Shen Diaolan had never told her about his family background. Although she heard from the boy's hint that Shen Diaolan's family should also be a relatively powerful person in Yingtian Mansion, otherwise it would not be possible for her to be in the family. When Huitonghe was so hot, he brought his son over in such a timely manner.
But he didn't expect that this person was also a relative of the emperor.
"Thank you for the advice, Duke!" Xi Fuwei thanked her, but she was also a little confused, "Unknown, the Duke and the daughter of the people said this...?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and looked at her: "Nowadays, there are a lot of rumors about the opening of the river... Did you know that there are also people who are opposed to it?"
"A common girl is humble, but she doesn't know this." Xi Fuwei thought in her heart that Shen Tiaolan had said this before, but what she said was, "Please give me some advice from the Duke!"
Xu Jingchang said simply: "I just don't want to move the capital and open the river!"
"..." Xi Fuwei was silent for a moment, and thought it would be better not to speak: to say that what he did was right was against the Holy Order; to say that what he did was wrong, someone must have tried to persuade him, but none of them stopped him. Firstly, Xi Fuwei didn't want to dwell on this matter. Secondly, she was afraid that if this person suddenly got angry, wouldn't she be in a bad situation
"Don't you want to know the reason?" Xu Jingchang himself asked a little boringly when he saw that she remained silent.
Xi Fuwei actually felt that there was nothing to ask about this reason. At Xu Jingchang's age, such unbridled favor must have been spoiled by Emperor Yongle.
Just looking for trouble.
If someone else did this, he would be seeking death.
However, in order not to offend this person, she still lowered her eyebrows and said submissively: "A civilian woman speaks softly. I'm afraid it will be bad if she knows too much that she shouldn't know."
I don't know what these words made Xu Jingchang think of, and he suddenly laughed.
He laughed for a while. At this time, the dishes had begun to be served outside. Xu Jingchang looked at the dazzling array of dishes and refused to eat. Instead, he turned his head and asked: "Where is Xu Shi? Why haven't you come back yet?"
The man said hurriedly: "I think there are very few women in Mianhualou who are outstandingly beautiful, so Manager Xu needs to choose carefully."
Just as he was talking, he heard footsteps coming from outside. Xu Jingchang said "hmm" and said, "It looks like he's back... No, why does it sound like he's alone? Is Jining really in decline?"
Before he finished speaking, the visitor had already arrived at the door. He paused for a moment, opened the ajar door and came in. However, everyone in the private room was surprised: the visitor was tall and tall, and he should have been wearing indigo. But his robe, which had almost been washed to moon-white, was covered with a half-worn sheep fur. He walked in calmly with a solemn face and tight lips.
After he entered the door, he did not look at Xi Fuwei, but looked at Xu Jingchang on the main seat for a moment before sighing: "I heard that Miss Xu was going to stay in Jining. I guess she was trying to coax you to come, so I wrote you a letter immediately , it seems it’s still a step too late?”
"It's not too late." Xu Jingchang made a "please take a seat" gesture and said nonchalantly, "I received it on the way, but I was a little tired of playing in Yingtian Mansion. Jing Yuan asked me to come, so I will come. Turn around.”
Then he pointed at Xi Fuwei, trying not to smile, "This subordinate of yours is quite interesting."
Shen Tiaolan said expressionlessly: "The fact that you are in a good mood is interesting to everyone."
"It's just for your sake." Xu Jingchang said cheerfully, "Otherwise, he would have been beaten to death with sticks! I'm not telling you, if this subordinate wants to be used for a longer time, it is better to train him. Otherwise, You offend someone and yet you think you’re trying to please someone!”
Xi Fuwei's face froze when she heard this, and she was just thinking about how she had offended this person without knowing it, when she heard Shen Tiaolan say: "You are not bad in appearance, but you never hear others say that you have good looks and bearing. Isn't this right?" Is it someone else’s problem?”
Only then did she realize that it was her words of "extraordinary style" that had offended this person, and she felt speechless.
"We haven't seen each other for a while, why should we quarrel when we meet?" Xu Jingchang didn't like to hear the accusations, and his face instantly darkened, but after staring at Shen Taolan's expressionless face for a moment, he sighed and said hard He endured it and said, "Your Majesty was in the army two days ago. He thought about the opening of the river and asked a few questions. The servants answered in much more detail than you Jinyiwei... Although you are not the only one from the Jinyiwei sect who is in Huitonghe. , but if you want to get what you want, you'd better be more careful."
Shen Diaolan was unmoved and said, "His Majesty not only asked about Kaihe, but also asked about the current situation of the nobles' children in Yingtian Mansion. You were the first to be reported."
I also knew that Xu Jingchang should not be said to be good in this report.
Xu Jingchang looked indifferent: "Your Majesty has watched me grow up, and you don't know what kind of person I am."
He added, "I'm trying to find out who's chewing the tongue. If you have any information, you might as well tell me. I won't let you suffer."
Shen Taolan said: "His Majesty has always doted on you, but now that you are older, you should be more considerate of His Majesty."
"Youqing!" Xu Jingchang frowned, called his name, and said in a deep voice, "I came all the way to Shandong not to listen to you lecture me!"
The atmosphere in the room was tense for a moment.
After a while, Shen Taolan said slowly: "It's unwise for you to come here at this time."
"When is the right time for me to come out?" Xu Jingchang disagreed, "That person has been gone for almost ten years, and it is already the ninth year of Yongle... After these nine years of prosperity, how many rebellious officials and traitors can still resist giving up?"
Then he sneered, "No one showed up that night when Xing Xing's hair was combed back, let alone me coming out of Yingtian Mansion?"
Xi Fuwei was silently speculating next to him. Did Shen Diaolan think that Xu Jingchang might be assassinated by the remnants of Emperor Jianwen after he left Yingtian Mansion
After all, this is the ninth year of Yongle... less than ten years have passed since the Jianwen Dynasty.
If any of those officials at that time were lucky enough to escape, most of them should still be alive now.
These people had nothing to do with Emperor Yongle, who was under heavy protection, so it was impossible to vent their anger against others.
And Xu Jingchang, as the heir of Duke Zhongmin and now Duke Dingguo, must be ranked very high on their list.
She was thinking about it when she suddenly heard Xu Jingchang say again, "Xing Xingshou asked about you a few days ago."