Sitting down in the lobby, Han Qian talked about what he had seen and heard along the way, and presented the map of Jingxiang that he had initially approved, as well as his travel notes about Jingxiang and other places over the past month.
Compared with the current tradition of Confucian scholars writing books that are concise and concise, Han Qian's travel notes are more like a chatterbox.
In the past half year, Han Qian has been studying the situation in Jingxiang. He is very familiar with the customs, mountains and landforms, as well as the products and population, astronomy and water conservancy. This more than one month of travel is mainly to conduct on-site surveys based on what he has learned in the past. , verify, refute some erroneous information, and conduct a more detailed investigation and understanding.
The travel notes written by Han Qian were also rough and detailed. All the relevant information was transcribed, with 70,000 to 80,000 words and a thick stack of nearly 200 pages, which is almost equivalent to a scribe's lifetime writings.
Wang Lin and others were dismissive of this.
"Zuo Zhuan" says that the most important thing is to establish virtue, the second is to perform meritorious service, and the third is to establish words.
Writing a book and establishing a theory is regarded by many Confucian scholars as one of the three immortal achievements that they pursue throughout their lives. Each word has to be considered for a long time. It is unimaginable that Han Qian scrawled seven or eight thousand words in one month, which is nearly two hundred thousand pieces thick. Do you dare to present this piece of paper to His Highness?
What made them even more puzzled and even unhappy was that the third prince found the travel notes presented by Han Qian as if they were a treasure. He ignored everyone sitting in the hall and started reading them carefully.
"Yuan Pu returned to Beijing with his father. Along the way, he heard his father talk about many things in Jing and Xiang. He was quite puzzled. After reading Master Han's book, Yuan Pu suddenly became enlightened in many places." Yang Yuan Pu raised his head and said.
Han Qian just smiled slightly and said: "In front of Mr. Shen Yang and Mr. Wang, Han Qian is just doing his best. If His Highness wants to know the world's affairs, he still needs to consult Mr. Shen Yang more. Mr. Wang can only ask for advice."
While they were chatting, a famous palace maid came in and said, "I have learned that Mr. Li Hou, Mr. Shen Yang, Mr. Zheng and Mr. Han are all in the house today. I would like to ask Your Highness to invite all of you to come and see them."
Han Qian was slightly startled. In the past two years, the third prince had left the palace to visit the prince. Except for him being able to return to the palace to visit the concubine during the holidays, the concubine had never been allowed to leave the palace and enter the prince's mansion. However, she did not Thinking that the imperial concubine was actually in the prince's palace today, I thought that this might be one of the benefits of a mother being more valuable than her son.
In the ten years since the founding of the Great Chu Dynasty, all the institutions were imitated in the previous dynasty, and concubines in the harem wanted to see foreign ministers, but they were strictly restricted.
Han Qian looked at Guo Rong and Zhang Ping, who were sitting next to him, and there were no strange expressions on their faces. He thought that Concubine Shi invited them to meet in the inner palace, and she must have received permission from Emperor Tianyou.
"Master Han, my concubine has been talking about wanting to see you. She has been out of the palace to stay for a few days, and it happens that you come back to Jinling." Yang Yuanpu stood up happily and invited Han Qian, Shen Yang, Zheng Hui and his His father-in-law, Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu, went to the inner palace together, while everyone else could only wait where they were.
It is said to be an audience, but the restrictions are more stringent than meeting the God Blessed Emperor.
Han Qian entered the Xiaoxiang Pavilion where the third prince lived before and stood in the courtyard under the sun. He just thought he could see with his own eyes what the imperial concubine looked like, but now he saw that the corridor was full of palace maids and eunuchs. With a double curtain, you couldn't even see whether the imperial concubine sitting in the main room talking was short or tall, fat or thin, and I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed in my heart.
After the third prince opened the curtain and entered, a slightly cold voice soon came from the curtain:
"Master Han is a man of extraordinary talent. Yuan Pu was able to defend Xichuan this time. You have made great contributions. Master Shen, Master Zheng, and Lord Li have all been rewarded by His Majesty, and they should not be missing out on your share. In my early years, I There is a farm at the foot of Baojiao Mountain with more than ten households of slaves. I will reward you this time, Mr. Han!"
Han Qian secretly wondered what a woman with such a voice would look like. He hesitated to stand up and accept the gift of thanks, but when he looked up, he saw Shen Yang looking towards him with a slight frown on his brows.
Seeing Shen Yang's eyes asking him to refuse, Han Qian's head was as big as a knot. Although he was not dissatisfied with Shen Yang's sometimes being too upright and abiding by the rules, he didn't want to cause any conflict with Shen Yang, so he bit the bullet and pretended to be sincere and frightened. He thanked him and said: "Han Qian misjudged the enemy's plan and put His Highness in danger. Although he was lucky enough to make some small contributions, compared with Han Qian's sins, it is hard to make up for it. If the imperial concubine does not chop off Han Qian's head, Han Qian will I am so frightened and grateful for the concubine's kindness that I dare not accept any more rewards from him."
At this time, Shen Yang stood up again and advised: "In the Jingxiang War, the rewards and punishments have been decided. It is not appropriate for the imperial concubine to give private rewards outside of His Majesty."
The concubine obviously did not expect that Han Qian would thank her and Shen Yang would remonstrate. She remained silent for a long time behind the curtain but no sound came out.
Xinchang Hou Li Pu and Zheng Hui stood there somewhat at a loss. They didn't expect that Shen Yang, who had been assisting the third prince in reorganizing many affairs these days, would actually stop the concubine from rewarding Han Qian privately. Moreover, the implication was so obvious and straightforward. He almost publicly pointed at the concubine's nose and said that Han Qian was a minister of Da Chu, not the personal belonging of the concubine and the third prince.
Xinchang Hou Li Pu sometimes wondered whether Shen Yang was really confused or fake. If His Majesty didn't reward Han Qian, wouldn't he just leave it to the third prince or concubine to reward him privately?
Li Pu glanced at Han Qian and saw Han Qian standing there as if nothing happened, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.
Although he was full of opinions about Han Qian, he still admired Han Qian's calmness at this time, but he couldn't help but be confused in his heart. Is this guy really only twenty years old this year?
As the Prime Minister of the Prince's Palace, Zhang Ping assists the third prince in governing the internal affairs. According to the rules, when the concubine meets with foreign ministers in the Prince's Palace, he must be present to supervise.
Zhang Ping looked at Han Qian and Shen Yang thoughtfully at this moment, then lifted the curtain and walked into the main room.
After another long silence, I didn't know how Zhang Ping persuaded the imperial concubine. Then I heard Leng Ji's voice became slightly stiffer and came out again:
"In the Battle of Xichuan, Master Han's merits and demerits are equal to each other, so it is not appropriate to reward him. I consider it inappropriate. However, Mr. Han and Mr. Shen's teachings and assistance to Pu'er are meritorious. The farm and slaves can be regarded as my reward for Master Han's teaching and assistance. Mr. Shen, I heard that your wife Xu has not remarried since she died of illness, and there is no careful person around to take care of her. Mingxiu has been taking care of me for many years, and she is quite old. It is time to leave the palace. On that day, I will ask her to serve you, and please Master Shen not to refuse."
At this time, someone saw a waitress in her twenties, thirties or fours, lifting the curtain and walking out. She stood in the corridor a little helpless, looking down at the tips of her shoes, her face tensed up. She probably didn't expect to be rewarded by the imperial concubine at this time. Is Shen Yang such a bad old man?
As the Prince Fu appointed by Emperor Tianyou, Shen Yang has the right to advise the third prince on every move he makes. However, the concubine’s temper seems to be tougher than expected. Han Qian lowered his head and glanced at Shen Yang sideways. Know how he will respond.
Shen Yang was not stupid. Of course, he could hear that Concubine Shi was dissatisfied with him for discouraging Han Qian from receiving the reward. She just changed her words and insisted on rewarding Han Qian, and even forced a woman to his side, which really made him complain endlessly. At the moment, I can only accept the reward with a bitter look on my face.
"Pu'er is stupid, you should be a good student and help him, don't let me down." The concubine's voice came out stiffly from behind the curtain again.
"Knowing your humble position, you won't dare to slack off even a little bit." Han Qian, Shen Yang and others said.
At this time, Yang Yuanpu lifted the curtain and came out and said to everyone: "You all retreat, my mother is a little tired. I will summon you to talk to you next time I leave the palace."
Shen Yang knew that the concubine was asking His Highness to come out and send them away. He saw the hesitation on the third prince's face, and he must be dissatisfied with him for contradicting the concubine just now.
Shen Yang didn't want to explain much, so he walked out with Han Qian and the others.
After walking out of Xiaoxiang Pavilion, regardless of the presence of Xinchang Hou Lipu and Zheng Hui, Shen Yang lowered his voice and warned Han Qian:
"Han Qian, you must remember that you are a subject of Da Chu, not the personal belongings of His Highness and the Concubine!"
Han Qian smiled bitterly and couldn't help but want to say something to this stubborn old man: You have the guts to say this to Emperor Tianyou.
Seeing that Han Qian was disdainful of his warning, Shen Yang looked lonely and said, "I have something to do with Mr. Zheng and have to go to Taowu first, so I won't have a banquet with you at the Prince's Mansion at noon."
Han Qian cupped his hands and sent Shen Yang off. Zheng Hui left first. He and Marquis Xinchang stayed here to wait for the third prince to come out.
"Shen Yang has no intention of assisting the third prince to ascend the throne, so why does your Majesty use him as the prince's tutor?" Xinchang Hou Li Pu asked Han Qian with a trace of confusion on his face.
Emperor Tianyou's current tendency is quite obvious. Li Pu believes that Shen Yang is not stupid. He doesn't understand that Shen Yang would care about these trivial details. He also doesn't understand that Emperor Tianyou should be very aware of Shen Yang's bad temper, but still appoints him. Shen Yang serves as the most powerful Prince Fu in the Prince's Palace.
And with the current power structure of the county king, it is impossible for Li Pu to ignore Shen Yang.
Han Qian glanced at Xinchang Hou Li Pu. He didn't know whether he really didn't understand or was trying to test himself. But thinking that the situation was quite dangerous, he didn't want to make any detours with Li Pu and said: "Whether it's you or... In His Majesty's eyes, I, all those who have dedicatedly assisted His Highness in his fight for the right to be the heirs, have selfish motives and ambitions, and even harbor evil intentions. When I say this, Mr. Li still hates me for encouraging Zhi Zhi when I was in Xiangzhou. Brother Gao disbanded the guard camp to control His Highness?"
Seeing Xinchang Hou Li Pu curl his lips and say nothing more, Han Qian thought that they should have some reflection during this time.
At this moment, Zhang Ping came out and said: "His Highness wants us to go to the east courtyard first. His Highness will then have a conversation with the concubine, and then the concubine will go back to the palace."
Han Qian, Marquis of Xinchang, Lipu, and Zhang Ping were about to cross the West Courtyard and walk towards the East Courtyard Hall. They saw a figure coming towards them in the passage. However, when the person saw them, they did not say a salute, so they turned around and walked towards the side road.
Although it was only a short glance, Han Qian could clearly see the appearance of the person who came. It was clearly Song Xin, the female secretary of the palace sent by Anning Palace to the third prince. However, Song Xin's cheeks were swollen today and there were dozens of blood marks. Zongheng, there was a big gash in the left corner of his mouth, which looked extremely ferocious and ugly. He had obviously been slapped in the mouth with a board more than ten times, and his pretty appearance was probably ruined.
Han Qian couldn't help but glance at Xiaoxiang Pavilion behind him.
If the third prince wants to deal with Song Xin, shouldn't he happen to do it in the next two days?