Prince Tan's Mansion is in the inner city. Yu Qian got off duty, got on the sedan chair and took a nap before arriving.
After getting out of the sedan chair, what came into view were two majestic stone lions. On the red lacquer door, there was a nanmu plaque hanging with the powerful inscription "Prince Tan's Mansion".
There were guards guarding the entrance to the palace. When they saw it was Yu Qian, they hurriedly welcomed him in.
Entering the mansion, you will see intertwined pavilions, green tiles, waterside pavilions, ancient trees and strange rocks. It not only has the royal and majestic style, but also has the charm of folk elegance and elegance.
"Yu Shilang!"
Yu Qian looked up and saw that it was Zhu Qiyu who came to greet him in person, and he quickly kowtowed and saluted.
"Your Majesty, Yu Qian, pays homage to His Royal Highness, King Xi!"
"Please get up, Mr. Yu!" Zhu Qiyu stepped forward to help Yu Qian up and said, "I heard that Mr. Yu likes the things in the cup, so I have specially prepared the best wine. I will not get drunk tonight!"
Seeing Zhu Qiyu's enthusiasm, Yu Qian had to say: "It's an honor to be a lower-ranking official!"
Zhu Qiyu laughed and said: "Shilang Yu is a minister of the dynasty. It is my honor to come to my palace to have a drink!"
Yu Qian's expression tightened and he hurriedly said: "This official is scared!"
"There are no outsiders here, don't be too reserved!"
As he spoke, Zhu Qiyu took Yu Qian's hand and came to the front hall. The place was already full of people. When they saw the two people coming in, they all stood up and saluted.
Yu Qian took a glance and saw that those present were Datong Left Counselor Shi Heng, Datong Commander Shi Biao, Hanlin Academy Minister Xu Jue, Jinyiwei Commander Ma Shun, Chief of Ceremonies Bingbi Eunuch Cao Jixiang, and Cao Jixiang's godson.
Cao Qin, and two other godsons of Wang Zhen, Mao Gui and Wang Changsui.
Uncles and nephews Shi Heng and Shi Biao ran back after the defeat of Datong. The rest were Wang Zhen's comrades. Okay, they are all here. I went to look for them one by one!
Zhu Qiyu waved his hand and said: "Tonight is my king's private banquet. Don't be restrained. Please take your seats!"
Everyone first moved Zhu Qiyu to the first place, and then moved Yu Qian to the first position on Zhu Qiyu's left, and then they all took their seats.
Yu Qian came to the banquet tonight just to test it out. He was not polite at the moment, lifted up his clothes and sat next to Zhu Qiyu.
Zhu Qiyu picked up the wine glass and said a few polite words, and the dinner officially began.
At first, everyone was relatively restrained, but after three rounds of drinking, they slowly relaxed.
Xu Jue came to Yu Qian with a wine glass and said: "Master Yu, I would like to propose a toast to you!"
Yu Qian picked up the wine glass and drank it in one gulp without saying anything.
“Good drinker!”
Xu Jue picked up the jug and helped Yu Qian pour wine and said, "Master Yu has a good drinking capacity and is highly regarded. It is really enviable!"
Yu Qian said with a smile but not a smile: "I am just doing my best. You are all the pillars of the country. What is there to envy?"
"That's different!" Xu Jue shook his head and said, "Today's Queen Mother, as well as several bachelors in the cabinet, call us Minister Xu, General Shi, Commander Ma... But when we call Master Yu, we are all Yu Qian
, Yu Qian! The closeness and distance between them can be seen immediately!"
"What Shi Xu said is right!" Cao Jixiang also came over with a wine glass and said, "When the late emperor was here, he also called him this, which is enough to show that Mr. Yu's status is extraordinary!"
Yu Qian had no choice but to pretend to cater to him and said: "Eunuch Cao spoke harshly, probably because he was more direct in his speech and his words were very offensive to the late emperor. The late emperor called me by his first name as a warning."
"This is more evidence that your Excellency's status is extraordinary!" Ma Shun also came over and said, "If it were an ordinary person who dared to contradict the late Emperor, he would have been caught in Zhao Prison long ago. How could he be like Master Yu?
, not only did he have no faults, he was also deeply appreciated by the late emperor."
Everyone was chatting and came to toast one after another, but Yu Qian refused to refuse anyone who came, drinking one glass after another, drinking and drinking, gradually getting better.
"What a pity, what a pity!" Xu Jue shook his head and said drunkenly, "When the late emperor was here, he paid so much attention to you, but now your majesty...sigh..."
Yu Qian understood in his heart that these words seemed to be unintentional, but in fact they were carefully considered. Finally, the topic came!
"How did Master Xu say this?"
Xu Jue seemed to realize that he had made a gaffe while drunk, so he smiled and waved his hand.
"Stop talking about this, come and drink!"
Yu Qian did not continue to ask. He knew that this was a message for him. They are all old foxes and of course they would not tell the truth.
Everyone understood it tacitly and continued to drink. The banquet lasted until late at night before they left.
When everyone was almost gone, Yu Qian stood up and saluted: "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness. It's time for me to go back!"
"Stay with the Minister!"
Zhu Qiyu wiped away the drunkenness on his face and said seriously: "Please move to the study room. I would like to chat a few more words with Minister Yu."
Yu Qian bowed and saluted, and then followed Zhu Qiyu to the study.
A maid brought tea, and Zhu Qiyu said in a deep voice: "After you go out, close the door and no one is allowed in!"
"Yes!"
There were only two people sitting facing each other in the study. Zhu Qiyu's face suddenly turned grim and he asked: "Yu Qian, there are no outsiders here. Tell me the truth. Did you do it?"
Yu Qian was greatly puzzled and asked: "What do you mean by this, Your Highness?"
"Don't pretend to be confused with me!" Zhu Qiyu asked as if he was a different person, "Now that the emperor has gone deep into the desert, his life or death is uncertain. At this juncture, as an important minister of the dynasty, you don't think about how to stabilize the situation, but you push me away.
To be at the center of the storm, wouldn’t it be to betray this king and be disloyal and unfilial?”
Yu Qian scratched his head and said helplessly: "Your Majesty... you don't understand what your Highness means?"
"That eunuch Cao Jixiang found me and said that you advocated that I supervise the country. You still don't admit it?"
"No!"
Yu Qian is almost crying. Are you trying to put any hat on my head?
Zhu Qiyu said coldly: "If not, why did you come to the banquet?"
"I, I...Xiaguan..." Yu Qian sighed, and had to say truthfully, "Actually, the reason why Xiaguan came here this time is to get some information, so please forgive me!"
Zhu Qiyu's expression softened a little and he asked: "Is it really not you?"
Yu Qian explained: "I have contradicted the emperor face to face, but it was all for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and the country, and there was no selfish intention. Please give me a clear warning!"
After a while, Zhu Qiyu asked again: "What's going on with that edict?"
"I don't know even if I'm a low-ranking official..."
"The emperor appointed you to be the Minister of the Ministry of War, the governor of the left, and the commander of the capital camp. You can't explain clearly now? Yu Qian, are you fooling the devil?"
Yu Qian just wanted to cry without tears. How do I know what the emperor is thinking? It’s so difficult for me!
"This edict came suddenly. As for its profound meaning, I'm afraid we can only explain it clearly when the emperor comes back."
"Well, I will trust you for now!" Zhu Qiyu thought for a while and said, "Don't mention the matter of supervising the country again!"
"Your Highness is benevolent and righteous, I think..."
At this time, Yu Qian suddenly changed his mind and said: "It is okay for His Highness to serve as the supervisor of the country at this time!"