The Jingu Guard is far away from the Imperial Palace, and its main members are elderly eunuchs.
Don't underestimate the Shrine Prison.
It seems that he is in charge of the cleaning, incense and lighting of various temples in Taigao.
In fact, because of the importance Zhu Yuanzhang attached to the Xiaoling Mausoleum, all the eunuchs who were able to come here were his confidants.
Just like a minister who has retired and returned to his hometown, he still has a deterrent power that cannot be underestimated.
In particular, the Xiaoling Guard was, to some extent, also under the control of the Shengong Supervisor.
It is the only eunuch office that can influence military power.
But their power was limited to this Xiaoling Mausoleum.
Apart from the emperor, even the princes and grandchildren of the emperor could not be given the slightest face without the emperor's decree.
The old eunuch looked at Zhu Ying again, and he had a sense of déjà vu. However, due to his old age and confusion, he could not remember it at once.
That's why I call him Your Highness.
Song Zhong saw Liu Rixin and the official from the Imperial Astronomical Observatory coming over, and explained, "This is Master Zhu who was ordered to come and participate in the sacrifice."
After a brief introduction, Song Zhong said to Liu Rixin: "Mr. Liu, please preside over the sacrifice here."
"That's right." Liu Rixin nodded and then looked at Zhu Ying, bowed and said, "Greetings, Master Zhu."
Several members of the Imperial Observatory also bowed and said, "Greetings, Master Zhu."
Zhu Ying quickly returned the gift.
Then, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes as he lowered his head slightly.
He finally understood who was trying to plot against him.
He never expected that it was Song Zhong, the Jinyiwei who had always been respectful to him.
I actually forgot about them.
Clearly, he just came here to deliver breakfast as a sacrifice, but from Song Zhong's words, it became a participation in the sacrifice.
The meaning behind this should not be too obvious.
For a moment, Zhu Ying had the urge to grab the horse and run away.
Although the Xiaoling Guards were heavily guarded, he thought that with his own martial arts skills, the chances of him escaping before anyone could react were very high.
However, this thought only flashed through his mind before being suppressed by Zhu Ying.
Except for Song Zhong's somewhat ordinary meaning, the officials of the Shengongjian and the Qintianjian seemed to be unaware of this matter.
"Mr. Zhu, please come this way. Governor Song, please wait outside." The old eunuch spoke after he came to a trance.
Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard could enter the Xiaoling Mausoleum, it was clear that the Shrine Supervisor had the final say in terms of sacrifices.
Obviously, this old eunuch has great power here. Officials including Liu Rixin and the Imperial Observatory are vaguely under his control.
"That's right." Song Zhong bowed slightly and stood there waiting.
Zhu Ying frowned slightly and followed the old eunuch, Liu Rixin and others into the Gao Temple.
"We will go in and prepare first. There is still half an hour before the sacrifice. Please rest first, Master Zhu."
After entering the temple, Liu Rixin said slowly.
His expression was normal and his tone was calm, but his little finger, hidden in his sleeve, kept shaking without anyone seeing.
After Liu Rixin and others left, only the old eunuch, Zhu Ying, and the Xiaoling guards on duty outside the gate were left in the temple.
"My name is Zhu Ying. I wonder what your name is, sir?"
Zhu Ying bowed and said, without introducing his identity as a businessman in too much detail. At this time, it would not be a good idea to reveal everything directly.
He came here with the Embroidered Uniform Guards, and the identities of others were unknown, so naturally he had many guesses in his mind.
"Mr. Zhu, you don't have to be polite. My surname is Zhang, and I have been staying in this Yuwang Temple for ten years." Eunuch Zhang introduced.
After he finished speaking, he seemed to have just realized what was happening, and asked again, "I didn't hear Mr. Zhu's name clearly, please tell me again."
Apparently, Eunuch Zhang's eyesight and hearing were not very good, and just now a familiar feeling came over him.
"My name is Zhu Ying."
Zhu Ying was afraid that Eunuch Zhang might not hear clearly, so she spoke a little louder.
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Zhang, who was somewhat hunched over, suddenly stiffened, and a memory seemed to flash through his mind.
He turned around slowly and stared at Zhu Ying.
In the blurred vision, Zhu Ying's face became slightly clearer, but because Eunuch Zhang was old, only a faint outline was visible and the facial features were not clear.
Zhu Ying was not as old and dim-sighted as Eunuch Zhang. He had always been paying close attention to Eunuch Zhang's every move.
The abnormal state that occurred after hearing his name was clearly seen.
His brows suddenly furrowed, his body became like a cheetah, and all his muscles were slightly tense.
Although it was a bit disrespectful to the old man, if Eunuch Zhang directly asked for help, he would have no choice but to subdue him.
Obviously Zhu Ying was too vigilant.
After Eunuch Zhang behaved abnormally, he quickly returned to his original state, with his back even bent more severely, but he showed no intention of calling for help.
"Zhu Ying, what a nice name. I wonder how old Mr. Zhu is this year and whether he can reach adulthood." Eunuch Zhang asked in a kind tone as if he was chatting about family matters.
Zhu Ying relaxed his vigilance a little after hearing this, and replied, "Thank you for the compliment, eunuch. I came of age in March this year."
Upon hearing this, a trace of pity and compassion flashed in Eunuch Zhang's eyes, and he remained silent.
As the supervisor of the shrine, Eunuch Zhang had some understanding of the sacrifices at the Xiaoling Mausoleum.
Royal sacrifices have always been accompanied by burials and blood sacrifices.
He witnessed with his own eyes the shifting of celestial phenomena and the tumbling of earth dragons ten years ago, right here at the scene.
Liu Rixin and others are also very clear about the excavation of King Yu's tomb.
King Yu died young, and his resentment was extremely strong. This is why the news spread throughout the Xiaoling Mausoleum.
Yesterday, Liu Rixin wanted to invite His Majesty to come and suppress the resentment, but was rejected and told to send someone else.
Zhu Ying, whose name is similar to King Yu and whose age is not much different, is obviously the sacrifice this time in Eunuch Zhang's opinion.
No wonder he was escorted personally by the Jinyiwei's pacification envoy, and it seems that Zhu Ying still doesn't understand that he is being kept in the dark.
The atmosphere in the temple seemed a little tense after Eunuch Zhang stopped talking.
Zhu Ying hesitated for a moment, then took the lead in breaking the silence, asking with some curiosity, "I am not very knowledgeable, and I don't know what the relationship between Prince Yu and Your Majesty is. Please tell me, Eunuch Zhang."
Zhu Yuanzhang apparently had a large number of descendants.
Due to the limitations of the medical environment in ancient times, even among the royal family, many children died young.
Zhu Ying had no impression of the title King Yu.
Since you are here and want to participate in the sacrifice, you can't not even understand the people performing the sacrifice. That would be too rude.
As for the title of King Yu, it is engraved on the spirit tablet on the incense table in this temple.
Eunuch Zhang explained, "His Royal Highness Prince Yu is the eldest grandson of His Majesty, and the eldest son of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Zhu Xiongying."
"His Royal Highness Prince Yu was born in the seventh year of Hongwu and died in the fifteenth year of Hongwu. He died at the age of eight."
"Your Majesty treats the eldest grandson of the emperor as the emperor's own son, and posthumously conferred the title of Prince Yu on him, with the posthumous title of 'Huai'."