Wu Fang informed Miss An that the King of Shu intended to replace Ding Mei as the crown prince. Miss An was shocked. The wet nurse said anxiously: "What should we do?"
Wu Fang said: "It is extremely difficult for the prince to change his mind. Unless Ding Mei makes a big mistake, or my sister makes a great contribution, otherwise..."
Miss An's eyes were red: "Master Ding has never made even small mistakes, let alone big ones."
The nurse's eyes also turned red: "Our girl is just a weak girl in a deep boudoir, where can she make meritorious deeds?"
Wu Fang said: "A woman may not be useless. It's just that the imperial concubine is so delicate that it's hard for her to have the courage to do things for the court."
The wet nurse immediately burst into tears and said, "Our girl is extremely smart, courageous and resourceful, but we just don't know how to make contributions to the court?"
Wu Fang hesitated for a while and said: "If the imperial concubine is really determined to make a contribution, she can go to Taibai Tower and order a dish, meatballs with red pepper hearts."
The wet nurse was stunned: "What kind of dish is this?"
Wu Fang smiled and said, "I am so loyal." He couldn't help but walked away.
Just as the wet nurse was about to catch up with him and ask him, Miss An called out: "Come back." The wet nurse hurried back. Miss An smiled and said, "He knows who I am and came here to remind me." The wet nurse was startled. Miss An stood up.
, "Let's go to Taibai Tower."
After that, Miss An became more and more fond of going to the Prince's Mansion and wanted to become a female official with Ding Mei as her teacher. Ding Meixiao asked her to learn some basics first and made a list of books. Miss An took the opportunity to visit Ding Mei from time to time.
consult.
One day, Ding Mei went to the prefect's Yamen to do some work. After finishing the work, he was about to leave, when several people came in from outside the door. The leader was a eunuch, and he cupped his hands and said, "Master Ding, the prince has invited you." Ding Mei was slightly startled, and asked him to check his waist first.
Cards, Fang cupped his hands and followed.
Not long after, they arrived at the Prince of Shu's Mansion. The King of Shu looked at Ding Mei with a complicated expression. She just sat motionless. After a long while, the King of Shu said: "Ding Mei, you once visited the Qingyang Palace with Acen."
Ding Mei was stunned. After thinking for a moment, it suddenly became clear: "The young imperial concubine is actually a spy of the imperial court, but they underestimated her."
King Shu's face was covered with frost: "You won't deny it?"
Ding Mei said: "Your Majesty has brought me here, and it has been six days since I leaked the news, which is enough time to find out." She said calmly, "Wei Chen and Master Situ are discussing secret matters in Qingyang Palace.
It’s not the one the prince guessed.”
"Do you know which one Gu Wang guessed?"
Ding Mei smiled and said: "Who else can be in such a posture? Your Majesty, the two of us were discussing the prince's life-long affairs that day. She is becoming more and more fond of the young lady, and the young lady is becoming more and more comfortable in her presence. Now she has
It's a bit presumptuous. With my status as a minister, it's inconvenient to discuss with the queen, who else can I turn to besides Lord Situ?"
The King of Shu sneered: "When discussing the prince's lifelong affairs, is it necessary to draw a map of the Prince of Shu's palace?"
Ding Mei was startled. "What did the prince say?"
The King of Shu clapped his palms twice. Wu Fang led a little Taoist priest of thirteen or fourteen years old in and kowtowed. The King of Shu asked: "Is she the woman wearing a Confucian shirt you saw that day?"
The little Taoist priest raised his head and looked at Ding Mei: "That's her."
"You said she and the man spent half a day drawing pictures with branches under the tree?"
"Yes. Pindao was taking a nap on the tree, and the two of them didn't notice. Later, Pindao woke up and looked down."
The King of Shu glanced at Ding Mei and was surprised to see her calm and composed. "Do you remember what they drew?"
The little Taoist priest said: "Remember. I have the best memory, and I like to draw."
The King of Shu nodded: "Whatever they drew, you can come to the lonely king and take a look at it."
"I will obey my orders."
Wu Fang then led the little Taoist priest to the side to paint, but Ding Mei's expression remained unchanged. After the little Taoist priest finished painting, Wu Fang presented the painting. The king of Shu ordered Ding Mei to come over.
Ding Mei glanced at it and said, "It really looks like the map of the Prince of Shu's palace."
King Shu said: "What else do you have to say?"
Ding Mei's eyes showed a hint of smile: "Your Majesty, can Wei Chen ask this little Taoist a question?"
"allow."
Ding Mei looked at the little Taoist priest and said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, little Taoist priest. I just want to ask you, that day when you saw Master Situ and I painting under the tree, was it me or him?"
The little Taoist priest said: "You drew it."
Ding Mei nodded, turned around, stretched out his hand, circled a large area on the map and said to King Shu: "May I ask your lord, are these places drawn correctly?"
The King of Shu didn't know what he meant. "The painting is correct."
"That Wei Chen was framed." Ding Mei pointed out, "Wei Chen has only been to four places in the Prince of Shu's Mansion. Before entering the court, the prince summoned Wei Chen in the study outside. Here. After entering the court, he met with all the adults.
Went to court together in the outer hall, here. The palace hosted a banquet for ministers, here and here. Apart from these four places, Wei Chen has never been to other places. May I ask how Wei Chen could draw such a detailed map of the palace? If Wei Chen wanted to
It was just a matter of discussing matters with outsiders and trying to find out the structure of the palace from the crown prince's mouth. The person who discussed matters with Wei Chen was Lord Situ. He was the most familiar with the Prince of Shu's palace, so why did Wei Chen need to get the map? Of course it was.
How can he paint it by a humble minister?"
The little Taoist priest shouted: "It was clearly you who painted it! The man was watching and talking."
"Did you hear what we said?"
"It was windy and the trees were tall, so I couldn't hear you."
"It turns out that the wind and the trees were tall at that time, so you won't have misjudged the person?"
The little Taoist priest became anxious: "It's clearly you! You still want to deny it!"
Ding Mei clicked his tongue and said: "You are still a monk who coaxes such a young child into perjury. Who is so wicked?"
The little Taoist shouted: "You painted it! It's you! You painted it!"
"How can I paint a place I haven't been to? Are you dreaming?"
The King of Shu thought for a long time and ordered them both to be taken down. The little Taoist priest kept shouting, "It's you, it's you, it's you! Lord Wu, it's really her..."
Only King Shu and Wu Fang were left in the room. Wu Fang lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty, if Lord Ding has never been to these places, how can he draw a map of the palace, unless someone familiar with the palace has drawn it for her?
Pass."
The King of Shu thought for a long time and said: "Put Ding Mei into the prison first, let her be quiet for a while, and then you can make up your mind."
"The slave obeys the order."
That night, Wu Fang came to the cell to visit the prisoner. Ding Mei looked at him quietly. Wu Fang said: "Master Ding, do you know why you ended up in this situation?"
Ding Mei said: "I have thought about it for so long, but I really can't think of the reason. If it were in other countries, it would be the prince who took over the heir apparent and was beaten by others. In the Shu country, no one competed with the prince for the golden crown. What's your surname, sir?"
"
"My surname is Wu."
"Master Wu, who is your master?"
Wu Fang smiled. "My lord is the prince." He sat cross-legged. "Master Ding, you are here today because I want to get rid of you."
Ding Mei's expression moved slightly: "Master Wu, is he from Qin?"
"No. I'm from Shu."
"Since I came to Shu, I have been doing things on the surface. I have never offended anyone, and I have never betrayed my morality."
Wu Fang smiled solemnly: "Master Ding really doesn't recognize the Zajia? The Zajia remembers that you even glanced at the Zajia."
Ding Mei looked at him carefully for half a day and said: "When the prince knelt down and begged the prince to let her go to see Master Situ, Master Wu was standing in front of the palace."
Wu Fang nodded and said seriously: "The prince is the master, and you are the minister. Whether you want to kneel and how long you want to kneel is all up to the prince's will. It is definitely not something you, a subordinate, can decide. Mr. Ding has overstepped the rules too much. Although that matter is small,
Lord Ding and Wang Mang’s heart is clearly visible."
Ding Mei shook her head and said: "Eunuch Wu, you are wrong. The relationship between me and the prince is not the relationship between you and the prince. The prince is the master and you are the slave. The prince is the king and I am the minister. Master and slave are not the same thing as king and minister. A slave looks after the master.
In terms of food and daily life, there is mostly no right or wrong in these matters, only preferences, so slaves do everything according to the master's will. And ministers shoulder the responsibility of helping the master achieve great things. The king is also a human being, and he has omissions, mistakes, and shallowness. Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty
Liu Bang couldn't strategize and win thousands of miles away, so he used Zhang Liang; he couldn't control the country, feed the people, and provide wages and gifts, so he used Xiao He; he couldn't win a battle with millions of people and attack and capture it, so he used Han Xin. These are the emperors and ministers. If they were replaced by the Prince's Mansion that day
The maids and attendants are present, so naturally they can't say much. But what I, Ding, did was exactly what I was duty-bound to do. In that matter, I was half right."
After hearing this, Wu Fang thought for a long time and said: "It makes sense. However, Lord Ding still goes too far. If the prince's wishes are contrary to yours in the future, how will you deal with it?"
Ding Mei said: "Persuade her. If she can't be convinced, maybe I'm not right."
"oh?"
"I'm not a god, how can I do everything right? The prince has more than one adviser around him, and Lord Mingduan and I often quarrel."
Wu Fang nodded and said: "Master Ding regards the prince as his king, and everything is only for his own benefit, which is admirable. However, the prince has great ambitions but has to lie dormant under the prince. Master Ding is also worried for the lord."
Ding Mei smiled and said: "After going around in circles for a long time, Mr. Wu still wants to coax me to admit it. I'm not stupid, how can I admit it?"
Wu Fang laughed twice: "The Za family never expected Master Ding to recognize him." After saying this, he stood up, patted his robe, and walked out of the cell.
Not long after, the King of Shu also came out from the next door, his face as sinking as water. After walking out of the prison and standing solemnly in the court, the King of Shu was silent. For a long time, he asked an old eunuch next to him: "What do you think?"
The old eunuch hesitated for a long time and said: "Old slave... I don't know." He secretly glanced at the King of Shu. "Actually, what Master Ding said is correct. Master Wu obviously wanted her to admit the matter, but she had already said she would not admit it.
, the reason for not guaranteeing the completeness is to save Mr. Wu some words."
Wu Fang lowered his head and said, "If she hadn't done it, she should have said this to the slave. 'Master Wu, that matter really has nothing to do with me, let alone the prince. Why doesn't Master Wu believe it?' She said.
What’s wrong is that she won’t recognize it.”
The King of Shu snorted coldly, picked up his feet and walked away.
Half an hour later, a man who looked like a clerk sent an urgent letter to An Xuemin. An Xuemin went out immediately after reading the letter, and did not return all night.
The next day, the Prince's Mansion began to search for Zhan Shi Dingmei, while the An family searched for the uncle An Xuemin.
Three days later, the King of Shu suddenly issued an order, appointing the crown prince as the governor of the West Asian colony, and set off immediately. The old eunuch who delivered the order said: "The prince has said that the crown prince just packs up his things and leaves. There is no need to go and say goodbye to him."
The prince was stunned for a long time and said: "Please give me back my father, Zhan Shi Dingmei. There are many things in the colony and chaos, and I need her."
The old eunuch whispered: "Your Highness, don't push yourself too far at this time. Wait until the prince's anger subsides."
The prince smiled bitterly and said: "Ding Mei is just a businessman."
The old eunuch said: "Old slave, look at it. Master Ding is fine for the time being. The prince also said that she is a rare talent. The prince should leave quickly. If it is too late, the prince may have a change of heart. The old slave said goodbye." He knelt down and kowtowed three times with tears in his eyes.
He is tall and refuses to say more.
The prince hurriedly summoned his staff to discuss. Everyone looked at each other in shock. Ming Duan thought for a while and said: "It seems that the matter can't be covered up after all. It's better to avoid it for a while."
The prince said: "I just don't know what happened to Master Ding."
Ming Duan said: "Since it is rare for the prince to cherish her, it is rare... I guess this time I just punished the prince a little, and Master Ding will keep it for the prince to do things in the future. The prince can rest assured that although Ding Mei is young, he has experienced a lot and knows how to protect himself."
The Crown Prince shook his head and told everyone that if they wanted to stay in Shu or go to another country, they could. Ming Duan smiled and asked, "The Crown Prince has the final say in the colonies, right?"
The prince said: "This is natural."
Tong Buye rushed to say: "Then I will leave with the Crown Prince of course. The colony is bigger than the Kingdom of Shu."
The prince said: "Not to mention it is a foreign country, but the economic level is far worse than that of Shu."
Ming Duan said: "Isn't it more fulfilling to start from scratch?"
Everyone shouted: "Let's go! Make great achievements!" "Yes, it will save you from having to do everything! If you block this today, you will block that tomorrow."
Just as he was talking, the Supreme King sent a personal eunuch. The Crown Prince hurriedly went out to greet him and invited him to come in. The eunuch waved his hand and said: "I won't go in. Crown Prince, I only want to say one thing. The Crown Prince has said
, I’ll give you ten years and see what you can do.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Ming Duan in the room laughed loudly and said, "He is indeed his biological grandfather!" Everyone cheered in unison.
The prince heard these people rejoicing like thunder, and smiled and said: "Okay, my grandfather, father, and the king are all waiting, and they will be satisfied." The eunuch left with a smile.
He asked the two concubines living in the guest house. Both of them had found boyfriends under the crown prince and were willing to follow him to the colony. He also asked Miss An, but she had been ill for several days. The crown prince had already concluded that there was something wrong with An Xuemin.
This fake relationship could no longer be maintained, so he sent a divorce letter. He thought she would make a fuss, but unexpectedly she accepted it silently. The prince then guessed that An Xuemin had contacted her family or was being released home.
, snorted coldly.
On the third day of October, the prince of Shu left Chengdu to serve as the governor of the West Asian Colony. The Queen and the Queen Mother were under house arrest and could not leave the palace. The veteran Qiu Liang saw him off at the city gate in person and whispered: "Your Majesty said, if the prince has real ability, ten
He will abdicate after the year."
The prince smiled bitterly and said, "I don't believe it. This old man..." She suddenly shut up.
Ming Duan passed by with his horse on his back and said leisurely: "Just like the late emperor. Unfortunately, he only had a son." After saying this, he patted the horse and ran away.
Soon, newspapers from various countries published headlines: The King of Shu exiled his son to the colony. Situ Cen was shocked and broke into the Rongguo Mansion with the newspaper and asked what was going on. Jia Cong said in confusion: "How did I know!"
They went to Feng Ziying's office together.
Feng Ziying said: "You guys just wait, I'm waiting too. This matter is secret and our people haven't found out yet. I only heard that they have a ten-year agreement."
Situ Cen snapped the case: "Ten years? That long? Jia Cong, can you endure ten years?"
Jia Cong looked innocent: "What does it have to do with me!"
He glanced at Feng Ziying: What did you do? Feng Ziying scratched five fingers.