Having completed his task of persuading Lan Yu, Zhu Xiong Ying naturally returned to the palace. He still had many things to do and much to be busy with.
During dinner, Zhu Biao also came to the Qianqing Palace. "Father, Lan Yu is returning to the capital. Have Yunhu go and greet him."
“Biao’er, we know Lan Yu is arrogant and you don’t like him. We can disregard his dignity, but we should give dignity to the soldiers.” Old Zhu said, “This time, the victory at Buyurhai was a great one, and Marquis Ningyuan, Wang Bi, offered a brilliant strategy and made outstanding contributions.”
Zhu Biao could only smile; Lan Yu was indeed his absolute confidant. However, some of the things Lan Yu had done this time had made Zhu Biao quite angry and annoyed.
Zhu Biao handed over the slips of paper, which naturally contained the names of the civil and military officials he intended to retain in the court. Although some of the civil and military officials would accompany Zhu Biao to Beiping to establish the capital, the court could not be short of people.
Old Zhu looked at it carefully, occasionally discussing it with Zhu Biao. The list wasn't completely finalized, but it was largely settled, and there weren't many changes. However, they soon started discussing the officials in the Crown Prince's palace and the selection of the Crown Prince's consort.
The Xu family of the Prince of Zhongshan had a suitable second daughter, and the eldest daughter of the Duke of Ying, Fu Youde, was also quite suitable. Zhu Biao disliked that the daughter of the Duke of Hai, Wu Zhen, was a bit too old. Old Zhu felt that Tang He's third daughter was born out of wedlock and was not a good match for his grandson.
Zhu Xiong Ying had no say in her marriage; she could only listen patiently—this was a political marriage.
Zhu Xiong Ying, grinning, suddenly said, "Grandpa Emperor, our Great Ming Dynasty doesn't limit the number of three consorts, nine concubines, twenty-seven ladies-in-waiting, and eighty-one imperial wives. I'll definitely have many concubines in the future. But Father, shouldn't we start selecting concubines?"
The titles of the Third Consort and the Nine Concubines were established according to the rites and laws of the Zhou Dynasty, ranking second only to the Empress and above the Nine Concubines. In fact, there were many changes throughout the dynasties.
Zhu Biao angrily threw the memorial at Zhu Xiong Ying, who naturally dodged it with a smile.
Old Zhu's eyes lit up, and he said, "Biao'er, your offspring are still too few! If you ask me, it's because there are too few people in your palace! You two are the same, father and son. Doesn't our Ying'er like the maids who warm the bed? We did as you said and had Consort Guo Ning choose the maids for you."
"Wait a little longer, wait a little longer, the kidney essence is not stable yet." Zhu Xiong Ying was not afraid of embarrassment at all and said directly, "In my opinion, lust is a knife that scrapes the bone, and I should not indulge in pleasure when I am young."
Zhu Biao rolled his eyes at Zhu Xiong Ying, then got down to business, “The Chang family is reliable, but Lan Yu is currently very powerful, so it’s time to check him. Father, how about the Zhongshan Prince’s Mansion?”
Zhu Xiong Ying emphasized again, "Father, but this messes up the generational order, which is unreasonable."
Old Zhu said calmly, "You don't need to worry about this. Your father and I have taken care of it. Just wait for the Crown Princess to enter the palace."
Politics is always dirty. According to Zhu Di's thinking, the current problem appears to be a clash of rites and rituals, so let the rites and rituals make sense. The biggest problem now, naturally, is Zhu Di's principal wife, Lady Xu...
Speaking of Zhu Di, his whole family is currently in Yingtian Prefecture. Zhu Di has given up hope; he can't return to his fiefdom, or rather, he'll have to change to a different fiefdom.
After lingering in the Qianqing Palace for a while, Zhu Xiong Ying prepared to return to the East Palace, as he had other matters to attend to.
Wang Chengen looked at Zhu Xiong Ying and whispered, "Your Highness, His Highness the Prince of Yan has sent word that he wishes to speak with you."
Zhu Xiong Ying paused for a moment, then said, "Okay, where is Fourth Uncle now?"
Prince Yan, Zhu Di, is currently trapped in the capital and unable to leave. His entire family is currently in Yingtian Prefecture. Prince Yan must be feeling utterly lost and confused at this point, as he may never be able to return to his fiefdom. Having experienced the pleasures and power of a prince, being confined to Yingtian Prefecture as a mere prince must be incredibly frustrating.
Zhu Xiong Ying slowly walked towards the Fengxian Hall, took the incense, lit it, and respectfully offered incense to the ancestors of the Zhu family.
Zhu Di stared at the ancestral tablets and slowly said, "Nephew, I heard that it was you who suggested moving the capital to Yan?"
"Fourth Uncle thinks too highly of me," Zhu Xiong Ying said with a smile. "Grandfather and Father only had a few places to choose from for the capital relocation, so there were very few options."
Zhu Di looked at Zhu Xiong Ying and said, "Nephew, the land of Yan is so desolate..."
“Once the capital is moved, Yan will soon become prosperous.” Zhu Xiong Ying looked at Zhu Di and said with a smile, “Nephew still wants to learn from Wei Qing and Huo Qubing. Liaodong has been recovered, and nephew still wants to go and take care of it.”
At this moment, Zhu Di said again, "Nephew, your fourth uncle has heard that you dislike the princes' efforts to pacify the borders."
"That's not quite right," Zhu Xiong Ying said slowly. "It's just that I don't like the princes having too much power. Currently, the princes control three guard commands, two fortified posts, and one ceremonial guard, with about ten thousand people. Not only do they have their own system of officials in their palaces, but they also control the generals and interfere in local affairs during wartime, which is inappropriate."
Zhu Di looked at Zhu Xiong Ying and said, "Nephew, neither your grandfather nor your father would reduce the power of the princes."
"That's not necessarily true!" Zhu Xiong Ying said bluntly. "Fourth Uncle, don't talk to me too much. If I were to have a voice one day, I would definitely have the right to continue the lineage of the Prince of Yan. But if you were to have a voice, I'm afraid my lineage would be extinct."
Zhu Di was taken aback and became a little nervous. "Nephew, don't talk nonsense!"
Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and shook his head, saying, "If Fourth Uncle wants to take up a fiefdom, there are plenty of places. If it's not Yan, then it's not Yan. Fourth Uncle, although we are relatives, it's best not to ask too many questions about court affairs. A prince is a prince after all, right?"
Zhu Xiong Ying didn't want to say anything more; sometimes, the imperial court is just heartless.
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