Zhu Ying did not find the Kong family difficult to deal with.

The Kong family is now divided internally, and also because of the relationship between the north and the south, it is currently divided into two factions: Southern Kong and Northern Kong.

And this general was arranged by the Beikong faction.

"Well, you've worked hard recently. From now on, you will stay by my side."

Zhu Ying said to Song Zhong.

This incident seemed to be a test for Song Zhong, but in fact it was what Zhu Ying needed.

It was precisely because of the trust in Song Zhong that he let Song Zhong carry out this task.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Song Zhong's tone revealed excitement. The inner meaning of this sentence was that His Highness was beginning to use him.

Commander Jiang once told him that if Song Zhong could gain the approval of His Royal Highness Changsun, then Song Zhong would be the future commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

There is no need to explain the current situation of His Royal Highness Chang Sun. As a high-ranking official of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he naturally understands that the current 'His Royal Highness Chang Sun' is worthy of the title.

Don’t you see that His Highness is talking to him in Kunning Palace right now?

"You came back in a hurry, so you should rest for a day or two and recover your spirit."

Zhu Ying said casually that it was like giving Song Zhong two days off. After all, in such a short time, they had found out Li Xing's identity, background, and even his circumstances.

Naturally, this was achieved by Song Zhong working day and night. Zhu Ying was very satisfied with Song Zhong's style of doing things.

"It's not tiring for me. I don't feel tired at all to be able to serve Your Highness." Song Zhong expressed his desire eagerly.

"Just rest well when I tell you to, and stop saying these flattering words to me in the future," Zhu Ying said.

"I obey your order."

After hearing this, Song Zhong didn't dare to say anything more.

Zhu Ying nodded and let Song Zhong leave.

However, just as Song Zhong left, the eunuch Guo Zhong came to report, "Your Highness, the emperor's grandson Gao Chi wants to see you."

Zhu Ying was slightly stunned. Why did Zhu Gaochi come to see him so suddenly?

"Let him in."

"Yes, sir."

Soon, Zhu Gaochi came over under the leadership of Guo Zhong.

Seeing this familiar fat figure, Zhu Ying actually felt a sense of intimacy.

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Ying had been friends since a very early time.

That was when I was in Peking.

The reason why the two can become friends is not just because of their common interests, but also because they have many similar interests.

Moreover, Zhu Ying admired Zhu Gaochi, who was a truly kind person.

It may seem strange to use the word "kind" to describe Zhu Gaochi, but in Zhu Ying's heart, this is the only word that fits him.

Zhu Gaochi, who grew up in the Ming Dynasty, especially in the imperial palace and the Prince's Palace in Beiping, actually had the same moral concepts as later generations.

When Zhu Ying first came into contact with Zhu Gaochi, he found it a little unbelievable.

But it is indeed so.

"Gao Chi greets big brother."

After Zhu Gaochi came in, he bowed to Zhu Ying seriously.

The Zhu Ying of today is no longer the Zhu Ying of the past. The difference in their identities and status has completely reversed.

This made Zhu Gaochi look a little restrained after seeing Zhu Ying wearing the imperial robe.

Especially in Kunning Palace.

This was the first time Zhu Gaochi came to Kunning Palace. Everyone knew the special nature of Kunning Palace.

And now, Kunning Palace has a new owner.

"How can you be so distant after not seeing you for so many days?"

Zhu Ying said with a smile, and while speaking he stood up and lifted up Zhu Gaochi's hands as he bowed.

A hint of excitement flashed in Zhu Gaochi's eyes.

This familiar feeling showed that his elder brother's attitude towards him had not changed.

"Brother, I..."

Zhu Gaochi wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to start.

"Don't be so formal, come and sit down. We used to be friends as brothers, and now we're real brothers. Isn't this better?" Zhu Ying said.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaochi nodded excitedly and replied, "Brother, what you said makes sense."

"Well, you are the kind of person who never comes to see me for no reason. Tell me what you want to talk to me about this time. I am too lazy to talk too much with you. You should know that Grandpa has been very strict recently and has to review endless memorials every day."

"There are still many things to worry about. Don't beat around the bush with me. Just tell me what's going on."

Zhu Ying said directly, his tone sounding a little impolite.

But it was this kind of impoliteness that made Zhu Gaochi feel very cordial.

This means that you are completely treated as family, and family members naturally do not need too many polite words.

"Well, I can't hide it from you, big brother. This time I came here to invite you out for fun. Today is the Chinese Valentine's Day, and the capital is very lively."

Zhu Gaochi expressed his intention somewhat embarrassedly.

My eldest brother just said he was busy and I invited him to go out for fun, so he didn't even mention my aunt. I guess my eldest brother is too busy.

"If you hadn't told me, I would have almost forgotten that today is Chinese Valentine's Day. Where are you planning to go for fun?"

There have been a lot of things going on recently, and although it seems like I have a lot of free time, I actually have a lot of things on my mind.

"I haven't decided where to go, I just want to see if big brother is free." Zhu Gaochi said helplessly.

The aunt didn't say where they were going specifically, but he felt that it probably didn't matter where they went, as long as his eldest brother was there.

Zhu Ying nodded and said, "Then go ahead. I still have some things to deal with this morning. I will go out of the palace to find you in the afternoon."

When Zhu Gaochi heard that his elder brother was free, his eyes lit up and he quickly said, "Brother, can I bring along my aunt who toured Qinhuai with us last time?"

"There's nothing wrong with that. Let's continue together when the time comes." Zhu Ying said.

Zhu Gaochi nodded happily.

With my brother saying this, the task assigned to him by my aunt was considered completed.

"By the way, I asked you to go to the Gunpowder Department before. Did you go there?" Zhu Ying asked.

Zhu Gaochi said bitterly: "Brother, I don't have the imperial edict. The Gunpowder Department and other places are not places that I can go to casually."

The last time I went there, it was a reward from the Emperor.

Although my eldest brother said it last time, Zhu Gaochi couldn't go to the emperor to ask for special approval just because of a single sentence.

Zhu Ying almost forgot about it.

But now the Gunpowder Bureau was under his jurisdiction, so he didn't think about it at all.

"I'll let the Gunpowder Department know. You can come anytime you want."

Zhu Ying said.

Zhu Ying once talked a lot with Zhu Gaochi about firearms.

Of course, Zhu Ying had other ideas when he was talking about firearms with Zhu Gaochi, but it doesn’t matter now.

"Then I'll go and have a look tomorrow."

Zhu Gaochi said with some joy.

Since my elder brother said this, there must have been a lot of breakthroughs in firearms.

This was not beyond Zhu Gaochi's expectations. In his previous communications with his elder brother, he found that his elder brother was very good at firearms and had many very novel ideas.

I think it was because the firearms underwent a major improvement in the hands of the eldest brother.

"Okay, when you see it, you will know what I said and you will be surprised." Zhu Ying said with a smile.

He once discussed the idea of ​​the matchlock gun and its many principles and structures with Zhu Gaochi.

Of course, what I said at that time was not very clear. It was just a general idea, and I was still very reserved about some things.

After all, at that time, Zhu Ying still had the idea of ​​founding Annan, so he naturally would not reveal the single-soldier combat weapon such as the matchlock gun.

"How about I go there early tomorrow morning?" Zhu Gaochi became impatient when he heard that.

If he hadn't promised his aunt, he really wanted to go over and take a look right now.

After saying this, Zhu Ying did not keep Zhu Gaochi for long, as he had not yet finished reviewing his memorial.

Especially since I have to go out in the afternoon, the amount of memorials today can only be completed while I am at the top.

After Zhu Gaochi left, Zhu Ying began to review the documents in the room.

For the capital, the Qixi Festival is of course very lively, but for some places, it is completely different.

In a county town in Henan Province.

At this moment, the streets seemed a bit deserted, and there were hardly any pedestrians on the road.

Even if there were a few people passing by, they left in a hurry, with nervous and terrified expressions, as if there was some great terror.

In one of the houses.

A middle-aged man and a middle-aged woman were talking.

"Master, at this price, we won't make any money from our rice. If we were like the other rice merchants, we could just close the shop and make a lot of money after this plague is over."

"Besides, during this period, the master has also provided free porridge, and even the government has donated a lot of silver and rice. This reputation is enough."

Although the woman was wearing linen clothes, she had a lot of jewelry on her hands and head.

The lining was made of silk, but it was all covered by the linen clothes.

Only a merchant's wife would dress like this.

"What do you know as a woman? Now is the time to make money. I see that you only have money in your eyes."

"Henan is hit by disasters everywhere, and now the city is even more plague-ridden. Everyone is in danger, and people are in mourning everywhere. You still want me to make this dirty money. Who do you think I am, Song Lichang?"

"The rules of our ancestors have all been forgotten."

"Our Song family has been able to survive the Yuan Dynasty and continue to be popular, all thanks to the help of our fellow villagers."

"At this juncture, you only care about money. I think you are obsessed with money."

Song Lichang scolded his wife in a deep voice.

His tone was so deep that his wife dared not even breathe.

The woman understood that the master believed in making money through harmony and was extremely gentle.

But if you are really angry, there is no room for negotiation.

Because of the rice price issue before, my master almost sent me back to my parents' home.

However, the woman did not continue to talk about the price of rice, but instead said, "Master, when will our family leave here?"

"The plague outside is so terrible right now that I dare not go out. I heard that many people have died in the city recently. All those who died from the plague were taken to the mass grave outside the city."

"There are not enough coffin shops in the city. Many are just wrapped in a straw mat."

"I'm really scared here."

Hearing the woman say this, Song Lichang let out a long sigh, then sat in a chair drinking tea in silence, without answering what his wife had just said.

"Master, this plague is no joke. I know you have a kind heart, but if the plague comes here, what will happen to our family?"

"Master, why don't you tell the magistrate that we have to find a place where the plague can't go and find a way to avoid it."

"Besides, Xuan'er, Cheng'er and the others are still so young. If, if..."

When the woman said this, she couldn't help crying.

Song Lichang sighed again after hearing this and said, "It's not that I intentionally hid it from you. In this situation, where else can we go?"

"I have already talked to the county magistrate. Now the area within a hundred miles, or even several hundred miles, has been covered by the plague. There is nowhere to go."

"Instead of running around, it's better to stay at home. Didn't the county magistrate issue a plague prevention and control regulation some time ago? It is said that the effect is very good. The plague in the city doesn't seem to be as severe as before."

Upon hearing this, the woman collapsed into her chair.

As for the last sentence Song Lichang said, he didn't take it to heart at all.

She wanted to leave the city to escape before, but Song Lichang always refused.

As the master of the family, she, a woman, certainly had no right to speak.

I just didn't expect that the plague had spread to such a far place.

Thinking of this, the woman couldn't help but burst into tears.

"Why are you crying? The person is not dead yet. Follow the regulations issued by the government and control the situation in the mansion. Since it is issued by the government, it should have some effect and can at least be used as a precaution."

Song Lichang said in a deep voice.

This time, the government issued many incomprehensible methods to fight the plague.

When you go out, you must cover your mouth and nose with cotton cloth, wash your hands frequently, and drink boiled water.

All clothes worn after going out must be boiled in boiling water before being worn, and so on.

It's really confusing to look at people.

However, including Song Lichang, many families strictly enforce this.

It is said that this is a method of fighting the plague brought from the capital, and it is very effective.

at the same time.

Zhu Ying was reading the memorial related to Henan.

Suddenly he frowned.

There seems to be something wrong with the data in his memorial now.

Especially in the case of the plague, it seems to contradict what was reported previously.