At noon, the banquet began as scheduled at Chengyun Hall. Zhu Gaoxu, two imperial concubines, ministers and nobles, officials and guests from Zhangde Mansion gathered in the hall. Musicians and dances helped to make fun of it.

The Ming Dynasty valued tribute, and there were rules for such banquets. The rules were very detailed, from the repertoire and music, to the lines and actions of people, there were fixed numbers. Not only the people who sang and dance were performing, but everyone was actually performing. Almost all the programs revolve around one theme, which was touting "Today", that is, Zhu Gaoxu sitting directly above.

There was a play performed by an old man and a child. The old man and the young man played the people of the countryside, but Zhu Gaoxu didn't understand some of the lyrics. When the old man sang aloud the lyrics "Today, respect the heaven and the ancestors, the country is peaceful and the people are safe", Zhu Gaoxu was completely trapped in abstract thinking.

He did not think that the actors played the people, but represented a symbolic meaning; after all, it would be too funny if anyone relied on such content to judge and understand the lives and mentality of the common people of the Ming Dynasty.

After several rounds of wine, a group of young dancers in thin clothes entered, dancing together with long sleeves, floating like white clouds. Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu knew that the rituals and music had passed, so he got up to change his clothes.

Suddenly everyone was a little more casual, and several people stood up and left the seat. At this time, people could rest temporarily in the corridor on the side of the hall, or go to the thatched cottage without having to sit seriously in the seat.

Zhu Gaoxu walked out of the door behind Chengyun Hall, and a group of palace maids and eunuchs followed and served. After a while, Gao Sui also came out.

Gao Sui bowed, and Zhu Gaoxu turned around and made a gesture to let the followers stop. The two continued to walk forward and walked together on the brick floor between the two halls.

Of course, there is nothing good about the scenery here. It is not that the Zhao Prince's Mansion is not well-built, but that Zhu Gaoxu is too familiar with this kind of prince's mansion. Zhu Gaoxu and Gao Sui were alone, and originally wanted to say a few heart-to-heart words to his third brother to enhance communication. However, after walking for a while, Zhu Gaoxu could not find the right atmosphere.

The two are brothers, but Zhu Gaoxu lacks feelings about the memories of their growth. Gao Sui may not have a deep impression of the past. The former Prince Gaoyang liked to run around since he was a child, and began to follow Zhu Di in various places in the north at the age of more than ten years old. Gao Sui often stayed in the Yan Palace and lived in the palace for more time.

In addition to the matter of his elder brother Gao Chi's family, Zhu Gaoxu really had no way to speak. Gao Sui may still doubt that that thing was done by Zhu Gaoxu. People often judge a thing emotionally. For example, Gao Sui should not have any doubts about the case-breaking process of officials such as Dali Temple at that time; his suspicion may be purely just an intuition.

Zhu Gaoxu remembered a saying, brothers are often not friends, but friends may be like brothers.

After the two walked for a while, Zhu Gaoxu finally let out a breath and said something irrelevant: "The third brother is similar to the royal mansion I lived in Yunnan back then."

Gao Sui hurriedly responded respectfully: "I have never been to Yunnan, but Zhangde's Zhao Palace is big and comfortable, all thanks to the emperor's kindness."

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head and looked at him.

After Emperor Taizong's death, the third brother had almost no threat. Zhu Gaoxu could not be so crazy and had any ideas about him. Besides, the world has already discussed the death of Gao Chi's family. If something happens to the third brother, does Zhu Gaoxu completely want moral reputation? In this era, family affection is highly respected. Therefore, as long as the third brother is not too much, Zhu Gaoxu will never touch him easily.

What's more, Gao Chi's family was burned to death, it was not done by Zhu Gaoxu at all.

Zhu Gaoxu said again: "Our little aunt, Princess Baoqing came to the palace last time, but she still remembered her third brother. Princess Baoqing could not come, and the princess He Kuisi fell on her way. She asked He Kuisi to pay homage to her third brother, maybe he brought Princess Baoqing's greetings."

Gao Sui smiled and said, "In the past, Princess Baoqing was like our sister in the Yan Palace."

Zhu Gaoxu said: "I was raised by my father and mother."

The two of them walked around the square and could only talk about such topics. When they returned to the back door of Chengyun Hall, Zhu Gaoxu suggested going in and continuing the banquet.

When he reached the door, Zhu Gaoxu finally couldn't help but say a few words: "In the future, some things, the third brother can send eunuchs to Beijing, find Wang Gui or Cao Fu to bring them into the palace, and say to me directly. Otherwise, if the memorial is around the court, many things will be difficult to handle."

After hearing this, Gao Sui showed relief on his face and nodded quickly and said, "Oh, I'm listening to the priest."

As for Gu Sheng, the chief of the Zhao Prince's Mansion, because the Zhao Prince's Mansion had sent the Tatars' secret letter to the capital, Gu Sheng's affairs were not a big problem. Therefore, Zhu Gaoxu did not mention this person at all, and did not intend to change the chief of the Zhao Prince's Mansion.

The main reason is that Gao Sui looks a little nervous and cannot make him feel that the court is monitoring the Zhao Prince's Mansion in all aspects. When Gao Sui feels at ease and relaxes himself too presumptuous, it will not be too late to change the chief minister.

...After the luncheon, the emperor and the two imperial concubines went to the house to rest in the west. Duan Xuehen took Xu and was with her cousin Mu Zhen. After a while, the concubine also came, and a few women drank tea and talked in the room.

Xu was here because she guessed that the emperor would come to the Zhao Palace when he was going to the northern tour. Duan Xueheng had an old friendship with Xu, so he agreed to help her. The matter was actually simple. Duan Xueheng first asked Cao Fu to speak, and Cao Fu agreed happily, and then took more personal matters with him. If Cao Fu was afraid of trouble at the beginning, Duan Xueheng had to tell Zhu Gaoxu.

Compared to Duan Xueheng, Xu said a lot on weekdays. But now Xu seems to be depressed and has not said anything for a long time. Like Duan Xueheng, he has become a dull gourd.

At this moment, someone reported that Princess Zhao Wei asked for a meeting. So Mu Zhen and others politely welcomed the door, greeted Wei Wei, and asked her to come into the room to talk.

I saw that Wei was still wearing a dress and the clothes at the banquet were not changed. The luncheon had been over for a long time.

Seeing this, Yao Ji asked softly: "Have the princess gone to see Duke Wei?"

Wei nodded and said, "I just parted with my father, so I came straight to meet my two sisters."

After hearing this, Duan Xueheng looked sideways in surprise and glanced at Yao Ji, thinking that the Virtuous Concubine was indeed smart. Xu, who was sitting next to him, had been observing Princess Zhao, and Xu's expression was very complicated. Princess Zhao didn't know Xu, so she didn't pay attention to her.

Wei still said to himself: "My father asked me how I was doing in the Zhao Prince's Mansion. I didn't want him to worry about me, so I chose to say it. My father was very happy because I was pregnant with the Zhu family's blood."

When Xu heard this, he immediately turned his head to look at Wei.

Mu Zhen said: "I think King Zhao is good to his sister. He takes care of him all the time, as if he is afraid that you will melt."

"Oh..." Wei sighed, as if she had difficulties. Perhaps Wei thought that their family members were brothers who lived and died together in the battle, so she acted not very dissatisfied and did not deliberately conceal her feelings.

Concubine Xian said in her voice: "I listen to my sister and choose the best ones. Is there any bad thing?"

Wei finally said aggrievedly: "He treats me well in front of others. He didn't say how bad it was. He just didn't ask much about it, and he often couldn't see him. Before I had a happy pulse, he came back every month with his days. He often got drunk and blew the lamp up, which hurt me. Then he covered his head and fell asleep."

The room suddenly became quiet, and no one knew what to say.

After Wei said this, his emotions gradually became excited and began to tell: "I pay attention to him. He is better to those actors than me. There are hundreds of opera singers in the palace, and he will reward them if he has anything to do. I kindly persuaded him not to waste the money of the emperor, so he said that Uncle Seventeen (King Ning) also raised many actors.

But Uncle Seventeen is a talented person. He loves reading and proficient in musical opera, and writes his own script. He is good. I think he doesn't understand opera at all. He chooses beautiful and stylish actors. Some actors are not accurate in pronunciation. He often messes with things outside the palace, no matter who the girls and wives are, or whether they get married or not, he will use money to lure them into bad habits. If he were not afraid of officials' impeachment or his second brother, he would have done evil things to bully men and dominate women."

Mu Zhen, who had previously persuaded Wei, couldn't speak at this time. With Mu Zhen's temperament, she rarely said something against her will, so she remained silent.

Yao Ji advised: "Most rich men have three wives and four concubines, not to mention that King Zhao is the priest's younger brother. The younger sister is Princess Zhao, so she usually persuades him, but she can't help but can't help but endure it."

Wei said: "The two sisters are telling me a word from the emperor, letting the emperor take charge of the prince. The prince is most afraid of the emperor. He knows that the emperor has not left the palace for at least a month, and has never been so regular."

Yao Ji did not agree, but turned around and looked at Mu Zhen.

Even people like Duan Xuehen also understood some things. King Zhao neither accumulated fame nor recruited talents nor committed serious crimes such as injury to human life or robbery. He just ate, drink, play, play, and sex. It would be strange if the emperor would care about him.

Besides, although Wei's father was a hero who was a crime and a noble man, King Zhao was a royal family member; Wei's status was not strong and could not be controlled at all. Who can do it?

Seeing that Yao Ji and Mu Zhen did not respond, Wei asked, "I heard that the emperor is also very romantic, he doesn't care about this?"

Mu Zhen suddenly said, "Some things are misinformed. The emperor is the emperor, and he is still restrained, or because the emperor has great ambitions. King Zhao is born noble and has no worries about food and clothing. If the emperor wants him to live a life like an ascetic, it will be difficult for him."

Yao Ji said: "My sister waits for a few more years and can be restrained when King Zhao is older. Those actors are just acting in a show. Only family members in the Zhao palace are the relatives of King Zhao. Why should my sister bother with them?"

Wei sighed and his emotions gradually calmed down.

She stopped talking about this topic, and asked the imperial concubines how much they were, whether their residence was comfortable, etc. Although everyone was not familiar with it, after a brief time of getting along, Duan Xuehen felt that Wei was actually a good person.

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Chapter completed!