Throughout his stay in Jiankang, he was closely monitored by internal guards to prevent him from having any contact with the ministers in the court.
After all, the conditions he proposed made even the emperor himself, who had always had a strong attitude towards the Northern Expedition, a little moved. If those civil servants listened, Emperor Hongde would definitely face huge pressure in the court and be pushed by the civil servants to agree to the Tartars. Ministry of Justice's request.
When the emperor was in doubt, he would not allow this foreign envoy to influence his decision-making by contacting the courtiers.
After the Tatar envoy left, time came to the end of the year.
The government also hung up red lanterns to welcome the New Year.
It's just that this New Year's Eve is different from previous New Year's Eve. In the past, Shen Yi would always be at home during the New Year's Eve. There was a backbone in the Hou Mansion, so the New Year's Eve was more lively.
But Lord Shen didn't come back this year, so the whole family felt a little empty.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the court officially began to rest, and Shen Heng finally began his half-month vacation.
But even so, he still got up early, put on thick clothes, and asked Chen Youniang to help him comb his hair before walking out of the room.
After arriving in the front yard, the little Marquis, who was less than ten years old, came jumping up and down. When he saw Shen Heng, he knelt on the ground with a plop, kowtowed, and said with a smile: "Uncle Ninth, have a happy new year."
Shen Heng stretched out his hand to help him up with a look of helplessness, and said with a wry smile: "You kid, shouldn't you be here early in the morning, waiting for Uncle Jiu?"
Shen Yuan stood up and said with a smile: "It's the Chinese New Year, so you should kowtow to Uncle Jiu, right?"
Shen Yi has been spending less time at home these years, and his status is getting higher and higher now. When Shen Yuan faces his father, he feels a little in awe.
But facing his uncle who has doted on him since childhood, he has to be more casual.
Tanhua Lang took out a piece of broken silver from his waist and handed it to Shen Yuan, and said with a smile: "Have you gone to kowtow to your eldest father?"
"Went early in the morning."
Shen Yuan accepted the piece of silver with a smile, put it in his waist in a decent manner, and said: "My eldest father told me that he wants to go back to Jiangdu to visit my eldest grandpa, but you guys, Uncle Jiu, have never allowed it."
Hearing this, Shen Heng shook his head.
"It's not my fault. It's because your father doesn't want your eldest father to leave Jiankang. It's hard for anyone in our family to leave Jiankang at this time."
Shen Yuan rolled his eyes and waved to a little girl in the corner behind him.
"Sangsang, come quickly."
Shen Sangsang was a few years younger than Shen Yuan. After this year, she was already six or seven years old. She followed her brother, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed to Shen Heng: "Uncle Ninth, have a happy new year."
Shen Heng laughed, bent down and picked up the little girl, and said, "You also followed your brother's example."
Shen Sangsang blinked: "Uncle Jiu, my brother said it is a good thing to pay New Year greetings."
Shen Heng rubbed the little girl's face and said with a smile: "Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, I will take you to Jilong Mountain to pay your grandpa a New Year's greeting. Then I will kowtow to his old man and ask for more money to help support the family."
After playing around with his two nieces and nephews for a while, Shen Heng put Shen Sangsang down, gave her some money, touched her head, and said with a smile: "Sangsang keeps this money for yourself, don't waste it." Your brother cheated me. I heard from your mother that he has been using family money to buy things for the little girl in the palace."
Shen Sangsang turned around and looked at his brother with wide eyes.
Shen Yuan's face turned red, he lowered his head and said, "Uncle Jiu, why are you talking nonsense..."
"She gave me things, and I want to return some to her. My mother said I can't take advantage of the palace..."
Shen Heng laughed.
"Okay, okay, Uncle Jiu doesn't care about your affairs. Uncle Jiu has to go out for something. You two, brother and sister, just go and have fun on your own."
Shen Yuan smiled and said, "Let's go play with brother Lu."
Shen Lu is Shen Heng's son. He was originally the last among the third generation of the Shen family. Now that Ye Chan has given birth to a son, he is no longer the youngest.
As Shen Yuan spoke, he looked at Shen Heng again and asked, "Uncle Jiu, I heard that aunt is going to have another baby, right?"
Shen Heng glanced at him and smiled dumbly: "Children, don't ask too much. Uncle Jiu has gone out and will bring you food when he comes back."
When the brother and sister heard this, they both cheered for a while. Then Shen Yuan looked at Shen Heng and asked, "Uncle Jiu, this is not the time to pay New Year's greetings on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Where are you going?"
Shen Heng raised his head and looked outside the house. He was silent for a while and then said, "Go and take a look at the people for your eldest father and your father."
After that, he touched Shen Yuan's head and left home with his hands behind his back. After getting on the sedan, he quickly arrived at the door of Prince Jin's Mansion.
Standing in front of the door of Prince Jin's Mansion, Shen Heng looked up at the plaque of Prince Jin's Mansion, shook his head slightly and sighed, then walked to the door and handed over the name sticker.
He is currently a lecturer at the Hanlin Academy. He is not said to have a high position, but he is extremely noble. In addition, he has an elder brother who is actually very powerful. Soon, the small door of the Jin Palace opened, and he was wearing a purple robe. Li Mu was convinced and walked out, bowed his hands to Shen Heng and saluted: "Master Shen, please speak."
Shen Heng quickly bowed his head and returned the courtesy: "Your Majesty, you're welcome."
After saluting, Shen Heng raised his head to look at Li Mu and sighed: "Your Majesty, I am here to visit the prince on behalf of my father and brother. The prince..."
Shen Zhang worked in the Jin Palace in his early years.
Shen Yi has a good personal relationship with Li Mu.
It's just that when Shen Zhang was in Prince Jin's Mansion in his early years, he had no identity, and even Prince Jin and his son might not recognize him, so it's not appropriate to come here now.
Needless to say, Shen Yi is currently presiding over the war in the north, so it is relatively appropriate for Shen Heng to come over on behalf of the two of them.
Li Mu's face had no expression, but there was a look of fatigue visible to the naked eye. After hearing Shen Heng's words, he sighed.
"Thank you Zi Chang."
"Father..."
"Already unconscious."
Li Mu said with some pain: "The imperial doctor said that it will only happen in an instant."
Shen Heng froze on the spot. After hesitating for a moment, he lowered his head and said, "No matter what, Prince, please take care of yourself."
"I'm fine."
Li Mu rubbed his temples and said sideways: "Zichang, stop standing at the door. Go in and have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up."
As he invited Shen Heng in, he asked, "I heard that Ziheng didn't come back this year. Is everything okay at home?"
"all good."
Shen Heng lowered his head and sighed: "To be honest, it was my eldest brother who sent me a letter, asking me to come and visit the prince on his behalf. But I didn't expect that the prince would be so serious."
Li Mu forced a smile: "Zi Heng is busy with everything on the front line, so it's hard for him to remember my family's affairs."
When the two were talking at the door, a purple sedan also landed at the door of Prince Jin's Mansion. A middle-aged man with a white face and no beard came out of the sedan. He walked forward quickly and came to the door of Prince Jin's Mansion. He looked up and saw Li Mu and Shen. After Heng, he was stunned for a moment, then lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty is here."
"Come to visit Prince Jin."
Hearing this, Li Mu looked at the high eunuch in front of him, took a deep breath, and looked complicated.
He knew that his father was probably on his deathbed.
The reason why he never left was probably because he was waiting for his nephew, Emperor Hongde, to come over and meet him.
In order to eliminate the conflicts left between the uncle and nephew when the late emperor died of illness.
He was silent for a moment, lowered his head slightly and said, "Yes, we will prepare to meet you immediately."
Gao Ming shook his head slightly: "No need to bother, Your Majesty will be here later. When the time comes, Your Majesty, you can just lead Your Majesty to see the prince."
Li Mu lowered his head and agreed.
A moment later, the Emperor's guard of honor arrived at the door of Prince Jin's Mansion.
His Majesty the Emperor, who was dressed in fur clothes, looked a little pale due to the cold wind.
After getting off the dragon chariot, the emperor looked up and saw the Prince Jin's family waiting at the door, and Shen Heng kneeling beside him to salute.
He glanced at Shen Heng in surprise, then stepped forward, helped Li Mu up, and asked, "Brother Wang, how is Uncle Wang's health?"
Li Mu's body trembled slightly: "I'm afraid it's already his deathbed."
Emperor Hongde was moved and said quickly: "Take me to see Uncle Wang quickly."
The prince lowered his head and said, "Yes."
After a while, the emperor entered King Jin's bedroom, and several imperial doctors in the room knelt down to salute.
The emperor came to the bedside and looked at Jin Wang Li Rui who had closed his eyes tightly and was only breathing weakly. He couldn't help but feel a little sad. He sat on the bedside and called out: "Uncle Wang."
Prince Jin, who had been asleep on the bed for a long time, slowly opened his eyes.
He looked at Emperor Hongde with tears in his eyes.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty."
Prince Jin's voice was weak and almost inaudible.
"then…"
"I...I...have no intention of competing for position..."
After saying these words, His Highness King Jin no longer had any strength and fell unconscious again.
At the beginning of the seventeenth year of Hongde's reign, the King of Jin passed away, and the Emperor visited him in person and mourned for him.
It is the month when the crown prince Mu Xijue.
…………
At about the same time, Marquis Shen, who was far away in Jing County, also received a personal letter from the emperor.
This letter made Lord Shen's face look ugly.
After reading the letter, he immediately wrote a reply to the emperor, and then sent someone to call a thousand households from the inner guard.
Lord Shen looked at the internal guard Qian Hu in front of him, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice: "The Tatar envoy Mu Tuo is about to return north."
"Stop him along the way and bring him to see me."
These thousands of households bowed their heads in salute.