The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 624: People in the scene

When the emperor did not go to court, the news was not announced to the top. Instead, the private newspapers published the news of success first. The direction of transmission was from bottom to top, so the direction of celebration was also from bottom to top.

Folks get the news first, and they need to verify the news first. After verifying the news, they will act as "prophet" and seek certain benefits for themselves through the news... The best way is to go to the homes of several parties involved in this great victory. , it’s called congratulations, but it’s actually just for relationship building.

The gate of Zhang Zhou's house is too high and no one can get in, but it does not prevent other houses from having relatively lower thresholds.

For example, the homes of Cui Yuan and Zhu Feng, of course, are not accessible to ordinary traffickers, but officials, especially officials in the capital, or retired officials in the capital, or honorable ministers and generals from the governor's palace, have to go to congratulate them. After all, it’s not that complicated to bring a gift into a house.

Yongkang Princess Mansion.

The palace was very busy that day. Princess Yongkang usually did not have much contact with people in the court. As a relative of the emperor and the eldest princess, she was already considered a has-been royal relative, but this incident immediately made her jump. Become a popular fried chicken in the court.

Dignitaries and dignitaries came to congratulate her. Many of them were royal relatives who were not even close to Princess Yongkang, and some were special envoys of local clans in Beijing. They had a sense of "we will establish a good relationship with you when you become famous."

Even Yongkang, who was responsible for meeting the guests alone in the back hall, was thinking that these people were really following the crowd.

"Your Highness, Master Shen is here." Just when Yongkang had just met Sui Xiu, the young minister of Honglu Temple, and was about to go in to rest, the old palace maid in charge of chores here came in to announce.

Yongkang said with a slight complacency on his face: "That's Master Shen from Yintai, right? He really doesn't come to the Three Treasures Hall for anything. He didn't even come if you invited him before. Now he comes uninvited?" "

It was Shen Lu who came.

Shen Lu was very busy that day.

First he went to Lin Han's house, and then he went to Princess Yongkang. He was both a political envoy and the queen's uncle. He had wide connections in the court and claimed to be a member of Zhang Zhou's faction in front of others, which also led to As soon as he arrived at the princess's mansion, he was surrounded by a group of people.

This group of people who came to visit seemed to be able to see Shen Lu, which was an unexpected bonus.

Yongkang personally welcomed him to the main courtyard.

The originally noisy courtyard suddenly became quiet. A bunch of people looked at the slightly wealthy eldest princess in front of them. Many people had never seen what a royal person looked like, but the princess in front of them basically satisfied their new expectations. The definition of a noble lady.

Compared to my own... the one in front of me seems to be more graceful and luxurious.

"Hey, who do I think it is? It turns out that Shen Yintai is here in person. This temple of mine is small, and I'm afraid it can't accommodate such a great person as Shen Yintai." As soon as Yongkang met, before he could formally meet Shen Lu, he started to talk in a sarcastic way. Guns and sticks up.

Shen Lu was also startled.

However, according to what he knew, Yongkang was indeed a little woman with an unforgiving talk, but who let her status be displayed there?
For Shen Lu, even if Yongkang has a status, it is not a status in the court, but a relationship between royal relatives. Even if there may be some unpleasantness after meeting, they just don't see each other. If they are not from the court, they will not meet. necessary.

But today is different from the past. Relying on his husband's relationship, Yongkang actually began to have a certain say in the court, which made him, Shen Lu, need to accompany him.

Shen Lu cupped his hands and said: "The eldest princess laughed at me. I usually want to come and visit, but the lintel of the house is too high, and sometimes I need to avoid suspicion, so I am not allowed to come in person. But there are some things... maybe I can help you a little bit. , I heard that there will be a happy event in the eldest princess’s mansion recently, wouldn’t it be nice to come over to congratulate her?”

Someone next to me immediately asked: "What's the happy event at home? It's the princess..."

Many people are looking at Yongkang, probably thinking, is this woman going to have a baby?

It doesn't look like it either.

Your husband is away at war and you have the baby at home? Isn't Shen Lu scolding someone?

Yongkang didn't seem to have thought about this at all, and smiled and said: "It is indeed a bit of a happy event, but it is not our house, but the Cui family. The Cui family is about to marry off their youngest daughter, who is the sister of the consort. I hope I can give you some face and join in the fun at the wedding banquet."

Everyone around him was stunned.

"I see, then I will definitely go there in person when the time comes." A bunch of people agreed in front of Yongkang.

Yongkang said: "Shen Yintai, please come inside. If you have anything to say, we can talk inside."

"I don't dare to accept it. Princess, please invite me." Shen Lu said with a smile.

……

……

Yongkang personally led the way, and Shen Lu followed.

When he first arrived, Shen Lu was still an unlikable character, and the eldest princess even used words to ridicule him. But when he mentioned that there was a happy event in the family, and hinted at marrying sister Cui Yuan to Zhang Zhou, someone still needed to come out to do it. , Yongkang immediately realized that Shen Lu could be used.

After there was a relationship of interest, Yongkang's face was not as cold as before.

After all, Shen Lu was also the number one figure in the court, commonly known as "Shen Bingren". At critical moments, the general affairs envoy also needed to come forward to speak out. In fact, Yongkang also knew that he should not be at odds with Shen Lu.

"This courtyard is really nice. By the way, the eldest princess has been living in Beijing for two years, right?"

There were some hints in Shen Lu's words.

Yongkang said: "The harvest in Zhuangzi is not good. Do you have to stay in Zhuangzi every day? Or this Shuntian Mansion is better. No matter what you buy and use, it is convenient and you don't have to search everywhere. In the past, just some food and clothing expenses were enough." It would be time-consuming and laborious to transport it from Shuntianfu there."

In fact, several princesses of the Ming Dynasty did not always live in the capital.

They will also have their own fiefs and towns, although they are only in name and in name... The princesses of the Ming Dynasty are different from the previous dynasties, most of them are just decorations.

Cui Yuan and his wife had always lived in the capital until Zhu Houcong ascended the throne, mostly because Yongkang had a good relationship with the royal family. Just like the Yongkang sisters, their relationship with the palace was relatively cold, and they paid more attention to life. My own little life.

In a sense, in the future, Cui Yuaneng will be granted the title of Marquis of Jingshan because of his contribution to the establishment, mostly because he has a sociable wife like Yongkang in his family. Otherwise, why would only this one of the three families be the most powerful?

Shen Lu said: "If there is any inconvenience, please tell me. I have some connections. I know a lot of people who come from north to south, and may be able to give the eldest princess some help."

Yongkang couldn't help his venomous tongue and said coldly: "Master Shen, you think you want me to leave the capital as soon as possible. Doesn't he mean that I am an eyesore if I stay in the capital?"

"Alas! What's the point? Princess, you have really misunderstood me."

Shen Lu was also smiling bitterly.

Who am I provoking?

I just came to the door to congratulate you and make you look familiar. As a royal relative, you can't be so disrespectful, right?
Yongkang immediately changed his smile and said: "It's just a smile, don't take it seriously, Shen Yintai is one of our own people. Today, the house even hosted two temporary banquets, one inside the table, no outsiders were invited, just Shen Yintai alone." What do you think about sitting at the main table?"

"Hey, how can I be embarrassed about this? I don't dare to take it, I don't dare to take it!" "Wherever, Shen Yintai always talks about what he says in the court. Being able to come to the house today, it can be said that the house is full of glory. Sometimes I also think Ah, if Shen Yintai comes, you must give him some advice on the courtyard and see how to renovate it. I heard that Shen Yintai has researched on the layout of courtyards and so on. Many people in the capital have become prosperous thanks to your guidance."

Yongkang looked sideways at Shen Lu and said nice words, but he always gave people a cold and distant look.

Shen Lu was also thinking in his mind.

This woman is not simple. No wonder she didn’t even give Cai Guogong face before, but now she knows how powerful she is. If she was born into an ordinary family, she must be a little shrew... What a lady, she seems to be the same as It doesn't matter to her either.

……

……

There are many visitors to Princess Yongkang's mansion, but Yongkang only invites Shen Lu to drink. It seems that all of them together are not as good as you, Shen Lu.

After Shen Lu sat down, he didn't feel very honored. As a court official, he went to the princess's house to drink. If word spread...it would be him who would lose face, and he might be criticized.

Ordinary people wouldn't come.

Only he, Shen Lu, was a flexible social worker in the court, and no one would be surprised when he appeared.

"Come, let me toast Master Shen."

Yongkang was holding the wine flask and was about to pour wine.

Shen Lu quickly pressed the rim of his cup and said: "Don't call me that. It makes me feel an inexplicable chill in my back, so just call me Old Man Shen. I'm an old man, I just want to accompany you wherever I go." With a smile, you don’t ask others to remember you, you just ask others to give you a place to sit.”

Yongkang put down the wine bottle and said with a smile: "You are an honored guest, and ordinary people cannot invite you."

Shen Lu quickly picked up the jug and poured the wine for himself. He did not pour it to Yongkang, which meant that each of us drank his own drink.

In other places, women were not allowed to serve at the wine table, especially at such social dinners. Shen Lu himself did not know how to return the favor with this host.

Yongkang said: "Mr. Shen, let me make it clear. Brother Huang wanted to be a matchmaker for my sister-in-law before. He also met Zhang Shangshu before, and the impression was not bad. When you came to visit me before, I also I mentioned it to you, but why didn’t I say anything more after that?”

Shen Lu sighed: "Isn't this a battle in the north? How can your majesty always remember such a trivial matter? But as far as I know, Cai Guogong did not refuse this matter in front of your majesty."

Yongkang was a little unhappy and said: "Oh, he's not happy to give him a beautiful little girl like a flower? Do you need him to nod in approval?"

Shen Lu smiled and said, "It's hard to say who will lose or gain in this matter."

"Humph, that means that Zhang Shangshu's family belongs to a high-ranking family. Can't we try to get him?" Yongkang continued to be dissatisfied.

"Oh, that's not what I mean. If it's in your house, there's absolutely no problem. But now it's the Cui family, not the eldest princess's house. This needs to be clearly distinguished. Although I also know that the eldest princess, you are doing this mostly for the sake of the consort. , but since there is such a relationship, it also depends on the husband’s family’s wishes, right?”

Of course Shen Lu knew that Zhang Zhou's door was not accessible to just anyone.

Just want to send your own lady to be your concubine? Did you really think it was something easy?
Fortunately, you still have the emperor to support you and even help you negotiate peace. If you were an ordinary dignitary, you wouldn't even have a chance.

"Princess, I have one more thing to tell you. Don't be angry after hearing this." Shen Lu said.

"What's the matter? Is there someone else who wants to demolish my palace's courtyard?" Yongkang said.

Shen Lu smiled and said: "The dignitaries in the capital want to curry favor with anyone who has a high family background. You have also seen the people outside. Do they care about the face of your princess? Or the face of the prince-in-law's meritorious service?"

"Hmph!" Yongkang snorted lightly and did not answer.

That look seemed to say, is this it? Do you think I'll get angry?
"As for the marriage with Cai Guogong, there were at least a dozen people in Beijing who mentioned this to me, but I immediately rejected them all because it was not within my ability. Let alone Cai Guogong. Mansion, even if it’s this guy in your house, there are a lot of people who want to be with him...that one." Shen Lu said.

"Snapped!"

Yongkang picked up the chopsticks and slammed them on the table.

Shen Lu was shocked.

"What do you mean?" Yongkang glared angrily.

As a person in charge of the scene, Shen Lu naturally knew that Yongkang didn't like to hear this, but he seemed to be very straightforward and said: "Just today, someone mentioned it to me."

"Who! Who are you telling me! Do you want me to tear his mouth apart? Are you making fun of a member of the royal family?" Yongkang was very angry.

Shen Lu seemed to be very indifferent and said: "Elder Princess, no one can stop this, right? If the prince-in-law becomes powerful, you should pay more attention. You are just helping the prince-in-law, what about you?"

"you!"

Yongkang was stunned for a moment.

This Shen Lu, she used to just think of him as a showman, who knew that his words were quite "to the point", but now she is actually criticizing him. She thinks about everything for the consort, why not think more about herself? Who said that if the prince-in-law loves you, he must stick to it till the end?
It is not uncommon for the concubines of the Ming Dynasty to take concubines. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, even the concubines of Princess Nankang and Princess Baoqing, the daughters of Zhu Yuanzhang, and Princess Changning, the daughter of Zhu Di, all took concubines, let alone those in the future.

It is rare for a prince-in-law who comes from a noble family not to cheat after marrying a princess.

That is to say, it is someone like Cui Yuan... who is not from a high background and is usually suppressed by Yongkang, so he does not seem to have such evil thoughts.

Shen Lu was probably tired from walking. He was still picking up vegetables and eating as he was talking. "Just take what I say and don't take it seriously. By the way, when Uncle Jingshan comes back this time, he may have to take things a step further, right?"

Yongkang said: "It's not easy to get promoted to a noble title. Uncle Xin Xin has made so many achievements before, and he hasn't been promoted to a noble title again. People in the royal family can't break the rules."

When Shen Lu heard this, he realized that although the princess was still speaking very coldly, there was more humaneness in her words besides the coldness.

This shows that your persuasion is effective.

"Then Princess, what do you say about this marriage? I mean, between the Cui family and the Zhang family..." Shen Lu asked with a smile.

Yongkang was silent for a moment.

Then she almost gritted her teeth and said: "Brother Huang said that he would only give the prince a chance if the relationship between the two families is well established. Otherwise, I don't have to worry so much. But you, Shen Yintai, just come and tell me." Just say this, you won’t fail to give me face in front of my consort, right?”

"How could it be?" Shen Lu said with a smile, "I pretended not to hear what others told me. Mao Ren is a sincere person, so he shouldn't be able to hear such things. I believe him!"

(End of this chapter)