In the 25th year of Hongwu, which is this year, Zhu Yuanzhang built five tower buildings on the city platforms of Chengtian Gate and Duanmen.

The left and right Thousand-Step Corridors were built in the square in front of Chengtian Gate.

On the east side of the square are the five ministries of Personnel, Revenue, Rites, Military, and Works, and on the west side are the Five Military Governor's Office and the Embroidered Uniform Guard Office.

As for the Ministry of Justice, it was outside Taiping Gate in the north of the imperial city.

In the present Jinyiwei Yamen, even after several months, you can still smell a faint smell of paint.

In the current Ming Dynasty, of course, there is no big concern about these things.

Jiang Li was supposed to go in directly, and then the Southern and Northern Pacification Envoys would report a lot of intelligence about the capital today.

But looking at Song Zhong's appearance, it was obvious that something extremely private was going on.

He waved his hand, and the Jinyiwei who followed him immediately dispersed, and then Jiang Li followed Song Zhong into the house.

"If there is anything, you need to report it separately."

Jiang Li asked directly. Song Zhong's behavior confused him. There were many secrets in the Jinyiwei, but generally speaking, the two pacification envoys were his confidants and there was no need to conceal them deliberately.

"Commander Jiang, please look." Song Zhong did not hesitate and immediately turned the portrait around with its back to the wall.

Jiang Li took a look and felt that the person in the portrait was extremely familiar at first glance.

After taking a closer look, I recognized it immediately.

Then he turned around and scolded: "Song Zhong, you are so bold that you dare to copy the portrait of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in private. Do you know that this is a capital crime?"

Portraits of the emperor, the crown prince, many princes and grandchildren, and even noble ministers.

If you copy without permission, you are committing a crime of disrespect.

This is probably equivalent to the infringement of portrait rights in later generations.

In ancient times, drawing other people's portraits casually was not a good thing, as it had an insulting meaning.

There are only two conventional types of portraits. Either they are preserved as inheritance for future generations to commemorate and remember.

Or it could be an arrest warrant for a wanted criminal.

Obviously, according to Zhang Qianhu's previous working habits, the portrait he drew looks exactly like a wanted criminal's portrait at first glance.

This is why Jiang Li scolded angrily.

"Commander Jiang, please calm down. I am naturally aware of this taboo, but the key point is that the person in the painting is not His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Song Zhong explained hurriedly.

"What do you mean?" Jiang Li asked with a slight frown.

"The person in this portrait is the one I met earlier in a teahouse by the Qinhuai River. He is the owner of that teahouse."

"When I first saw him, I was immediately struck by his beauty. He is not very old, about twenty years old, but he is very similar to Your Highness, both in appearance and temperament."

"I was terrified, but luckily Captain Zhang was also there at the government office."

"Captain Zhang is proficient in painting. My humble duty is to ask Captain Zhang to paint the boy's appearance."

"That's it."

Song Zhong explained the whole story in a clear and logical manner.

He currently doesn't know how to deal with this matter.

"really?"

"really."

After Jiang Li confirmed it for the second time, he frowned and walked to the portrait to examine it carefully.

Upon such a close inspection, it was found that the person in the portrait was quite different from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

It is obvious that Zhang Qianhu's attainments in painting are not low, and even the temperament of the people in this painting is revealed.

But the more Jiang Li looked, the more frightened he became.

These two people are really too similar.

If you were to say that the person in this painting has nothing to do with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, no one would believe it.

"This man's surname is Zhu, and his given name is Ying. I dare not investigate privately at the moment, so I will wait for Commander Jiang to return and make a decision."

Song Zhong said carefully on the side.

This is the cleverness that has enabled him to reach his current position.

Things like this that have something to do with the royal family can easily get you into a whirlpool if you're not careful.

To survive in a place like the Jinyiwei Yamen, keeping a low profile is the basic principle.

Jiang Li nodded slightly and said, "Don't investigate rashly. Even the people who are going with you must be instructed carefully."

"This matter is of great importance, especially now that the crown prince has passed away. Your Majesty has already decided that the crown prince will ascend the throne."

"Now suddenly there comes another person like this."

"If there is any sinister conspiracy, you and I will fall into an abyss and be unable to escape."

After hearing what Jiang Li said, Song Zhong agreed with it deeply. Now the outside world was in a state of panic. Although Jiang Li did not say it explicitly, Song Zhong understood it in his heart.

Your Majesty is becoming increasingly irritable, emotionally unstable, and extremely prone to madness.

If someone really took advantage of this opportunity to set up a shocking conspiracy, then the matter cannot be underestimated.

It may even affect the stability of the entire Ming Empire.

"Send someone to check whose name the teahouse's title deed is currently in. Don't delve into other details."

"It's the breakfast seller. Tomorrow morning, I will go with you to meet this person, and then let His Majesty make the decision."

Jiang Li pondered for a moment and said.

"I understand." Song Zhong responded.

…

Prince Yan's Palace in Nanjing City.

"Master, you are right. Father chose my young nephew after all."

Zhu Di said somewhat dejectedly.

In his opinion, he was the best candidate for the throne. How could he choose Zhu Yunwen?

"Even if Your Majesty wants to choose His Highness, he will be obstructed by the ministers." Yao Guangxiao said.

"What do you mean?"

Zhu Di finished the wine in the glass in one gulp and asked Yao Guangxiao.

"Two days ago, I learned from a good friend that after the death of the crown prince, Your Majesty summoned a group of important officials to the East Pavilion Gate to discuss the issue of the crown prince."

"At that time, His Majesty proposed to make His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan the crown prince, but Liu Sanwu strongly opposed it."

Yao Guangxiao spoke slowly, and paused slightly at this point.

"Why did Liu Sanwu oppose me? On what basis did he oppose me?" Zhu Di shouted hatefully.

Only at this time did he realize that his father had actually wanted to make him the crown prince.

But it was blocked by these damn civil officials.

"Your Highness values ​​military power over literature, so naturally they will oppose Your Highness." Yao Guangxiao stated simply.

Zhu Di looked ruthless and said in a cold voice: "These civil officials are eloquent and are making trouble to sow discord between me and my father. If I have the chance in the future, I will execute them all!"

Yao Guangxiao's expression did not change at all when he heard this.

Prince of Yan Zhu Di killed quite a few officials in Peking. Some of them had indeed committed crimes, while a small number of them were killed by Zhu Di to eliminate dissidents.

Because of this, the entire Peking was managed smoothly by Zhu Di.

After a while, Zhu Di calmed down and asked, "How is Zhu Ying doing recently?"

"The teahouse that Your Highness sent has already opened this morning. It is said that the business is extremely hot. In just half a day, it has already caused a sensation in Nanjing." Yao Guangxiao said with a smile.

He didn't care about the profits of the teahouse. The booming business of the teahouse made his arrangements more convenient.

"This kid actually has such ability." Zhu Di said.

"Zhu Ying is indeed a very capable guy, but he is more convenient to control," Yao Guangxiao said with a chuckle.

"This matter must be arranged as soon as possible, the sooner the better."

"This matter must be done before my nephew is canonized." Zhu Di said in a deep voice.

"That's right." Yao Guangxiao echoed.