In the prince's governance, the role of Zhan Shifu was clearly demonstrated.
At the beginning, Emperor Mu Xuan had great regard for the prince. As the auxiliary organization of the East Palace, Zhan Shifu was filled with top talents. For example, Zhuo Yushi was the teacher pointed out by Emperor Mu Xuan to the prince. Lu Guogong left in a rage, and Zhuo Yu
When Shi came in, he passed by him. He wanted to say hello, but Lu Guogong had turned a blind eye and passed by with his robe in the wind. Zhuo Yushi scratched his chin and said to himself, what's going on? It seems that the two nephews and uncle are really having trouble.
collapsed.
The night wind started to pick up, Zhuo Yushi walked a few steps quickly and saw you in the corridor.
Not long after, a chamberlain came out to invite Zhuo Yushi to talk in the palace.
A group of attendants walked over carrying food boxes and toiletries. Zhuo Yushi stopped for a moment and asked the chamberlain, "Your Highness is eating just now. How about I wait outside for Your Highness to eat before going over."
The chamberlain made an invitation gesture and said, "Your Majesty, just come over. Your Highness just said that I would like to invite you to have a meal with me."
Because Zhuo Yushi was sent by Zhan Shifu, he came to the East Palace more frequently. He thought that the prince had always been kind and courteous. Since he was breaking with Lu Gongfu, he must use people like them. Thinking of the current government affairs, Zhuo Yushi no longer wanted to fight.
With heart in mind, he stepped into the palace.
There was still a trace of loneliness on the prince's face. When he heard the footsteps, he quietly covered it up and put on his usual gentle and friendly expression, "Master Zhuo is here, sit down."
Zhuo Yushi bowed his head and sat down, "I have always wanted to talk to Master Zhuo alone, but I thought that the cabinet must be very busy today, so I postponed it until now, just in time for us to have dinner together. Has Master Zhuo had dinner?"
Even if I have used it, I have to say I have never used it. Besides, Zhuo Yushi has really not eaten yet. The cabinet will provide lunch at noon. In the evening and night, only those on duty will eat in the cabinet. After all, the taste of big pot rice is ordinary. Of course, if
Send someone a message and the kitchen will prepare an extra serving. Zhuo Yushi was mainly in no mood to eat and didn't even take a few bites of lunch. After all, he was still young and not as good as his mentor Pei Xiang.
He still ate the four dishes and one soup thoroughly, and the taste was as good as before. Because today's mutton soup was a bit salty, Prime Minister Pei also drank two more bowls of strong tea to quench his thirst.
So, Zhuo Yushi said, "I haven't had a few bites at noon. I just saw a servant coming over with a food box. I have a good meal today."
As he said this, the steward of the East Palace Dining Room had already gone outside to report, "Your Highness, dinner is ready."
The prince got up and took Zhuo Yushi to the compartment to eat.
Many of the habits of the prince are like that of Emperor Mu Xuan. For example, several rooms connected to the study will be arranged as dining rooms and bedrooms for use when the state is busy. In fact, it is normal, after all, they are close relatives and father and son. Think about it, Zhuo Yushi, his son
Just like me, I don’t eat onions or garlic.
Thinking of his own children, Zhuo Yushi's face showed a bit of softness.
"What are you thinking about? You are so happy." The prince wiped his hands and sat at the dining table, motioning Zhuo Yushi to sit down with him.
Censor Zhuo said, "Thinking that His Highness and His Majesty have many similar habits, I can't help but think that the boys in my family also have many bad habits that are exactly the same as mine."
The prince smiled and said, "This is inevitable. I grew up by my father's side. I want you to educate Mr. Zhuo Yushijia personally."
"Yes." Zhuo Yushi nodded and did not say more about his children, but he could not hide the hint of love in his eyes.
The prince picked up chopsticks to eat, "Master Zhuo, you're welcome, try this spicy stir-fried chicken with melon seeds."
The prince's diet has always been light, and such dishes were obviously prepared for Zhuo Yushi. Zhuo Yushi tasted them and praised the food. It was indeed delicious, and the spicy and explosive taste was simply amazing. Because Zhuo Yushi loved ginseng.
He is also the big boss of Yushitai. He is addicted to spicy food, so he has a nickname in the court, called Zhuo La Gua.
Another good thing about him is that he is not pretentious, and unlike ordinary high-ranking officials who can express their emotions and anger, Zhuo Yushi has a temperament that is full of emotions. Both Emperor Mu Xuan and the prince think he is good, and the prince thinks of him.
I like this dish and feel happy in my heart, "Master Zhuo's hometown is obviously in Zhili, why do you like spicy food so much?"
"I will admit to Your Highness that I suffered from my illness when I was on duty in Lianghu. When I was a child, I couldn't eat even the slightest bit of spicy food. Later, when I traveled to the southwest, it was very humid and the locals were addicted to spicy food. I gradually got used to it."
"What does Master Zhuo think of the situation at the two lakes?" the prince asked casually.
"It's hard to lose a country but hard to gain it." Zhuo Yushi put a piece of mustard melon in his mouth, "It's cold and freezing right now, so it's not easy to march. Next year when the spring is warm and the flowers bloom, Prince Hu should take action. From Hu
Judging from the memorial sent by the Crown Prince, he will have no problem stabilizing the situation in Jiangnan, but he may not be able to recover it so quickly."
"Indeed, from the memorial to the Ministry of War, Hu Qing is good at defense but not good at fighting." The prince picked up some green vegetables with chopsticks and said, "I want to send Lu Guogong to take over the defense of Shaanxi and Gansu."
Zhuo Yushi's hand holding the braised mutton paused slightly, then he put a piece of mutton in the red soup into a bowl and nodded, "Your Highness is wise."
"Master Zhuo has no objection." The prince was slightly surprised.
"I expect that His Highness the Third Highness will join in the robbery next year. Whether it is on the side of the Qing Emperor or in the name of others, His Highness will not miss such a good opportunity. The Duke of Lu and the Marquis of Lu have been at odds for a long time. If the others are in Shaanxi and Gansu, I will not let you go."
You have to worry about whether you will be bribed by His Highness. I heard that His Highness is fighting fiercely with many merchants in Northern Xinjiang. Merchants are the most indifferent group of people. They live in pursuit of profit. Lu Guogong is different. When Lu Guogong is here, he will definitely use his heart.
Defend Shaanxi and Gansu." Zhuo Yushi could understand the pros and cons of this after a brief thought, and said sincerely, "I really hope that His Highness can defend the northern border, I would rather be a villain who guesses wrong."
The prince smiled noncommittally, and both Zhuo Yushi knew that this was absolutely impossible. Mu Anzhi had always been at odds with Emperor Mu Xuan. Even if Mu Anzhi guarded the northern border, just because of his relationship with Emperor Mu Xuan, even if the prince really fell,
It was extremely difficult for Mu Anzhi to become the heir apparent. However, Mu Anzhi's temperament and the ministers around him would not allow him to stay in the feudal position.
However, strangely enough, the prince did not dislike Mu Anzhi.
Everyone has their own position. The prince's current position is that he cannot be reduced to fish on the chopping board no matter what. The position of prince must not fall from the first day he ascends it. Falling means death. And Mu
Anzhi's position is that he must get the throne. If he can't get the throne, Mu Anzhi's outcome is not much better than death!
They are natural enemies.
"Your Highness, please order Lu Guogong to go to Shaanxi and Gansu after the new year." Zhuo Yushi said.
The prince nodded, "That's what I mean too."
"Did the cabinet say anything today?" the prince asked, ladling soup from the bowl.
"Of course I did. There was a palace incident last night, and we knew nothing about it, so we couldn't help but talk about it. Also, His Majesty, looking at Long Ti Kangtai, handed over all military and political affairs to His Highness, which is a bit puzzling."
Zhuo Yushi didn't hide anything at all. He sighed softly, but did not get to the bottom of it. Instead, he said seriously, "Your Highness, the current situation can no longer make any mistakes. Your Majesty pointed me out to Your Highness as your teacher.
Let me boldly say that the war in the southwest is stalemate. Once the war starts in the northwest, the national power will be rapidly depleted. We in the imperial capital cannot have any more disturbances. No matter what happens, we must get through this period first. The fate of the country will rise and fall at this time.
Already."
"I need Master Zhuo's help."
"I will do my best."
After retiring from the East Palace, Zhuo Yushi went directly to Prime Minister Pei's house regardless of the cold winter night.
Prime Minister Pei, who always had the habit of going to bed early, had not yet fallen asleep. When he heard Yushi Zhuo coming to pay his respects, Xiang Pei put on his clothes and went to the study. Yushi Zhuo stepped forward to help him a few steps, and Xiang Pei dismissed the attendant with a wave of his hand, "Come here now.
, but is there something urgent?”
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to use Zhan Shifu, but the student is afraid that he will become a middleman between Zhan Shifu and the cabinet." Zhuo Yushi directly pointed out the key points.
Prime Minister Pei let out a long "hmm". I don't know whether he was sighing or having some thoughts about what the prince had done. After a pause, Prime Minister Pei looked at Zhuo Yushi and said, "Zhan Shifu is an institution that assists the East Palace. His Highness has also done this in the past.
It is human nature to be used to Zhan Shifu."
"Also, Your Highness wants to reprimand Duke Lu Guo for going to Shaanxi and Gansu to lead troops to prevent the Northern Xinjiang army from invading."
Prime Minister Pei frowned tightly with a few silver eyebrows, and did not speak for a long time. The room was so quiet that he could hear the quiet wind blowing slowly outside the window.
Zhuo Yushi waited for a while and couldn't help but ask, "Master, don't you agree?"
"The Crown Prince asked Duke Lu Guo to go to Shaanxi and Gansu to guard against the Third Highness. In the short term, it was a good move. But this move is not easy to play. The dispute between the Crown Prince and the Third Highness cannot be settled. They both know this. The Third Highness can take that
When the rumors come out, they will probably go north next year. Lu Guo, both public and private, is a good candidate to stop the Northern Xinjiang Army. But one thing, do you still remember the iron armor that Marquis Lu got from the cannibal?" Pei
Worry flashed in Xiang's deep eyes.
Zhuo Yushi was horrified and immediately thought, "My master is saying that the big cannibals will join the gang to rob."
"Not only." Prime Minister Pei's worried voice sounded in the room, "The Third Highness has been in the vassal for too short a time, but there have been two wars in the vassal territory. Although the Third Highness has won the victory, isn't it possible that the defeated tribes have not slipped through the net?
?It’s okay for His Highness the Third Highness to be in Northern Xinjiang. Once the army follows His Highness the Third Highness to the north, Northern Xinjiang may not be peaceful.”
Zhuo Yushi thought about it several times and even walked around the room anxiously twice, "I really can't think of a perfect solution. Does my teacher have any ideas?"
Prime Minister Pei sighed, "There is no foolproof strategy in the world. We can only take it one step at a time."
Zhuo Yushi walked around for a few times before sitting down next to his mentor. He suddenly thought, "I heard that His Highness the Third Prince is very kind to the Third Prince's Concubine. Didn't the Third Prince's Concubine just give birth to a pair of unicorn twins to His Highness this year?"
Master, the Third Highness is a rebel. His son is still young, so he cannot take his wife and children with him. Northern Xinjiang will definitely leave soldiers and horses behind. If the Third Highness really cares about his wife and children, he will not fail to consider it.
After all, it is his base camp."
"When dragons and sons fight, they only hope not to harm the foundation of the country."
Northern Xinjiang.
Mu Anzhi didn't know yet about the changes in the Forbidden Palace in the Imperial Capital. In fact, whether he knew or not would not affect his plans for next year. As the new year was approaching, Mu Anzhi braved the heavy snow to enter the house. He first had the maid help him clean the snow flakes outside.
, rubbed his head and face to warm up, and then went inside. Little Qilin was stretching his neck to look outside. When he saw his father entering the room, he happily waved his little arms and greeted his father dumbly. Mu Anzhi was very happy.
He stepped forward, picked up the little Qilin and kissed him twice, "Qilin must have missed his father."
Little Qilin happily rubbed his fat face against his father's face, and he and his father kept laughing. Li Yuhua breathed a sigh of relief, "Third brother, you are back. Our little Qilin has been waiting for you for a long time."
Little Qilin didn't let go after touching his father. Mu Anzhi sat on the kang with little Qilin in his arms, looked at Dahai held in Li Yuhua's arms, and asked, "Does Dahai miss daddy?"
Little friend Dahai glanced at his father to confirm that he was back, then he closed his eyes reservedly and continued to sleep in his mother's arms. Mu Anzhi didn't realize it and said with a smile, "I came back today.
"It's late, I thought the children were all asleep." Children usually go to bed early.
"Grandma Sun and I stayed awake for half a day. Little Qilin was just waiting for you. He is used to sleeping with you. If you didn't come back, he would sit on the kang and play and keep looking at the door, just missing you.
." Li Yuhua stretched out her hand to touch little Qilin's chubby face. She felt very fond of this child. After the two children were born, Li Yuhua loved them equally. But Dahai was born to be a troublesome person. He was very clingy to his mother and had to nurse him every time.
He picks the left and right first, which makes him angry to death. Little Qilin is born with a good temper and a good boy who doesn't care about anything. With such a troublesome younger brother, little Qilin suffers a bit.
Now that the children are getting older, Li Yuhua cannot bear to have two little ones in bed at night, so he has to give little Qilin to Mu Anzhi. Fortunately, little Qilin is a good boy and sleeps well with his father.
At this moment, his father came back, and little Qilin yawned and began to feel sleepy. The quilt on the kang was laid out, and the quilt had been warmed with Tang Pozi. Mu Anzhi hurriedly took off his son's outer cotton coat, and then carefully put it on
The little one was put under the quilt. He washed himself outside and was worried about disturbing the child. Li Yuhua also took care of Dahai and went to sleep. With his parents by his side, the two children quickly fell asleep.
Li Yuhua ordered the maid to bring him a hot midnight snack. Mu Anzhi said, "I'll go out to eat. Don't disturb the children."
"They just can't see you and miss you, so they are not afraid of making noises." People often come to Li Yuhua's place, it is very lively every day, and the two children are used to many people. Li Yuhua's children are well-raised, and they are not the kind of children who are easily awakened.
Mu Anzhi picked up the chopsticks and said, "I'm really hungry."
"Are you going to the camp in the suburbs again today?"
"Well, let's go and take a look. Winter is so annoying. It gets dark early, and without much effort, it's completely dark when I get home."
Li Yuhua gave his third brother a piece of crispy stewed beef soup. He was busier than usual throughout the winter. No matter how much he took supplements, his third brother still lost weight. Although Li Yuhua firmly believed that he was a phoenix destined to be a queen in the future,
She also hoped that the third brother would have a great future, but now somehow, seeing the third brother working so hard, her desire to be a queen also faded away.
Sometimes Li Yuhua thinks that living like this in northern Xinjiang is not bad at all.
But she also knew that she couldn't hold back and discourage the third brother at this time. Li Yuhua said, "Don't work too hard, you have to take care of your health. As long as you are in good health, you won't be able to do many big things in the future."
"This opportunity must not be missed, it will never come back." Mu Anzhi glanced at his wife, "The army will set out in the spring next year."
Li Yuhua was startled, she didn't expect it to happen so quickly.
For a moment, Li Yuhua had thousands of thoughts in her mind, and then she only said one word, "Okay."