Chapter 194: Inferring the Snake

Xiao Fan and the other two entered the wing room. The wing room was very elegant. It was built with bamboo trunks. There were several ancient monuments of previous herringbone paintings hanging on the inner wall. There were a few pots of peonies planted in the corners of the wall. There was a mahogany eight-immortal table in the middle of the room. The table was already filled with delicacies.

Zhu Di took the first seat to sit down in the main seat, and Xiao Fan and others sat in the guest seats respectively.

Zhu Di regained his smile and stood up to face the south. He wished the current emperor Zhu Yunwen, who hated him so much that he was so angry that he could live a life of great fortune.

In the second glass of wine, Zhu Di, as the master, respected the imperial envoy Xiao Fanpeng, who was so angry that he hated him, and he had a great time to eat.

Xiao Fan has been in the officialdom for more than two years and naturally has become familiar with the etiquette of the officialdom. Zhu Di toasted Xiao Fan hurriedly stood up and was frightened and bowed his hands and said not to dare.

Zhu Di respected Fang Xiaoru and Taixu again, and took a round of respect. Zhu Di sat down and then glanced at Xiao Fan.

Everyone is a member of the officialdom, so naturally they all understand the rules. After the host has finished drinking, it is now the guest's turn to toast to the host.

Zhu Di sat upright in the main seat and waited leisurely for Xiao Fan to hold the cup.

Xiao Fan was embarrassed, ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

It is undeniable that Xiao Fan is a gentleman. Although others do not agree with it, he does think so. However, when a gentleman should be a villain, he still needs to be a villain, especially for things related to his life, and he must be more cautious.

After turning his eyes, Xiao Fan picked up the wine in front of him, smiled and handed it to Taixu, and said with a kind smile: "Master, try it, try it quickly. This is the spirit of Peking. It tastes wonderful than the daughter of our capital..."

Taixu's eyes shiny, he took the wine glass and became stuffy without hesitation, and then he smacked his lips with unsatisfactory feelings.

"Come on, Master, drink a few more drinks..." Xiao Fan temporarily put Zhu Di aside, but instead frequently persuaded Taixu to drink.

Taixu naturally did not understand these official etiquettes at all, nor did he think that there was anything wrong with his apprentice toasting his master, so he drank the wine until he drank it, and drank several glasses in a row.

Xiao Fan persuaded him a few times and stopped persuading him. He put down his glass and focused on Taixu's reaction after drinking.

Zhu Di looked at Xiao Fan with dissatisfaction. He couldn't figure out what this guy was doing. After two years of being in the officialdom, he wouldn't even understand these rules in the officialdom? He doesn't respect his master, why should he respect your master?

After a long time, Xiao Fan stared at Taixu's face without blinking, and said carefully: "Master, is it okay? What do you think?"

Taixu stroked his beard and laughed: "No, good wine!"

"Don't feel like you have a headache, a fever, and a burning heart inside?"

"No."

Xiao Fan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled relaxed from the bottom of his heart: "Then I'll feel relieved..."

Then he stood up, yelled at the sky, and smiled at the cup, "Your Majesty is so polite. The lower official is so ashamed. He doesn't say anything anymore. He has deep feelings and is bored..."

Zhu Di didn't say a word, his face gradually turned green, and finally turned ashen, and his teeth clenched: "…………”

——This bastard, who is in such a big circle, is actually afraid that I will poison the wine, so he will use his master as an experiment first...

All those who should be polite, and those who should be polite also. After drinking for three rounds, the atmosphere during the meal became a little warmer.

Taixu looked at the table full of delicious food and drooling. He didn't care about the etiquette of the occasion, so he simply abandoned the chopsticks and directly reached out to tear half of the salt chicken, chewed it all, and looked particularly ugly.

Fang Xiaoru savored the wine slowly, looking elegant and calm.

Xiao Fan smiled and said with a smile: "Prince, the prince is coming to Peking this time to convey the emperor's greetings to the emperor's uncle. They are both bloodlines of the Heavenly Family, and the prince is an elder. The emperor's time to ascend the throne is still short, and many things are inevitably not done well. The prince is the emperor's uncle, so please help and support him."

Zhu Di smiled and said, "It's easy to talk about, it's easy to talk about. Both of Zhu Ming's lineage are the uncles and nephews of the emperor. I should spare no effort and help them all my heart."

"In this way, the emperor thanked the prince on behalf of the emperor."

Zhu Di said perfunctorily without laughing, and suddenly he looked solemn, staring at Xiao Fan without blinking, and said, "Since Lord Xiao is the imperial envoy, I want to ask Lord Xiao, does the emperor mean to reduce the vassal?"

Xiao Fan was secretly shocked. Although the matter of reducing the vassals had already been spread among the vassal kings and the civil and military officials of the court, this matter was too sensitive. Those who were interested heard it and remember it in their hearts. No one had ever asked it so directly. Today, Zhu Di actually asked bluntly regardless of the rules. He was tempted or had other plans?

As his thoughts turned, Xiao Fan laughed and said with a relaxed expression: "The strategy of the vassal kings was established by the late emperor when the founding of the country. He intended to make the royal princes guard all places, and to comply with Emperor Gaozu of Han to enfeoff the kings to ensure the territory. If the court reduces the vassals, the military and political power in various places will be destroyed by other people. At that time, the world will be in chaos and wars will be rampant. If one stops and the other is growing, the court will be in a state of turmoil. Prince, how could the court destroy the Great Wall and sacrifice its own bloodline without using it, and insist on putting itself in a dangerous place?"

Zhu Diruo smiled meaningfully and said, "But... I heard many rumors in the court that the first major thing that the emperor would do after ascending the throne was to cut all of us, the emperor's uncles, remove the military power, and order him to return to Jing'an Lao. Lord Xiao, is there such a thing?"

Xiao Fan's eyelids twitched and laughed: "Rumors stop at wise men. The prince has always been wise. Do you really believe these nonsense? The emperor ascended the throne at a young age, and it is precisely when the emperor needs all the emperor to maintain and support Zhu Ming's country. How could he do his own actions? The rumors are not trustworthy, Prince!"

Zhu Di suddenly realized: "Oh, the so-called vassalization of the vassalization is all rumor! Haha, those who are very jealous are really hateful. Isn't this afraid that the world will not be in chaos? When I heard the rumor of vassalization, I was also very puzzled. The emperor did not need his uncle to help him guard the territory. Will he hand over the military and political power in various places to those foreign ministers who are unaware of the roots? If an ambitious minister takes charge of the military power and wants to rebel, the late emperor will work hard to create the country and country that has been operating for decades of Ming Dynasty, and the act of vassalization is too stupid..."

Xiao Fan smiled and said, "That's natural. The emperor also heard these rumors when he was in the capital. At that time, Long Yan was furious and scolded the rumor-caster for having ulterior motives. He wanted to alienate the flesh and blood of the Tian family. The emperor should punish the nine clans. He was afraid that the emperor would be uneasy when he heard these rumors, so he quickly sent his most trusted and favored minister, that is, the subordinate officials, to inspect the northern border on behalf of the emperor. First, to reward and comfort the kings, and secondly, to explain to all the princes that the strategy of the vassal king was established by the late emperor. The emperor was extremely filial and simple, and he would never dare to violate the national policy of the late emperor. Please believe that the emperor has no intention of reducing the vassal state. The Ming Dynasty has just established a new king, so I would also like to assist you."

Zhu Di smiled relievedly and said, "Since it is a rumor, it will be fine if it is explained. I and all the emperors and the emperors and brothers are ordered by the late emperor to guard the vassal areas for our Ming Dynasty, resist the Northern Yuan Dynasty outside, and safeguard the people inside. Now the Ming Dynasty is in harmony with people, with a peaceful border, no chaos inside, and no humiliation outside. Our vassal kings have some meager contributions. Haha, to say, "The emperor is young, but I have grown up when I see him growing up. He is kind and kind, like his father. How could he not do such a ruthless and unrighteous act? Lord Xiao, are you right?"

Xiao Fan smiled and said, "The prince said it very well. The so-called reduction of the vassal states is completely a nonsense made up by those who have ulterior motives. It makes things out of nothing, and his heart can be punished!"

Zhu Di glanced at the green bamboo forest outside the wing room, and suddenly said with a deep meaning: "The bamboo is not intent, and branches and leaves are growing outside the joint..."

Xiao Fan's eyes flashed and he quickly replied: "Although the lotus root has holes, there is no dust in his chest."

Zhu Di was stunned and then laughed loudly: "Mr. Xiao is very literary. No wonder the late emperor favored you so much when he was alive. You really have some ability."

Fang Xiaoru, who was standing beside him, also looked at Xiao Fan with admiration.

Xiao Fan hurriedly raised his glass toast, and Zhu Di also drank it all in one go. The two of them lit up the bottom of each other and smiled at each other, with deep meaning in their smiles.

A sensitive problem is resolved invisible in a couplet with different meanings.

The south of the Yangtze River is hot in midsummer. By the Qinhuai River in the capital, cicadas and frogs are chirping among the weeping willows. The green willow branches are hanging lazily in the continuous and calm river water. The beautiful picture is a bit more irritable with the scorching heat.

Chen Ying'er is very annoyed now.

While yawning, Hu Qin fanned listlessly. Chen Ying'er leaned against the window on the Taifeng Grain Store, staring blankly at the boats passing by on the Qinhuai River outside the window, and an inexplicable aura lingered in her chest.

Turning back, Chen Ying'er gave a blank look in her eyes and said angrily: "Have you eaten? You can't slap it quickly? The weather is so hot!"

Hu Qin pouted her mouth and complained: "Miss, I slap my hands for half an hour, my hands are so sore..."

"Hmph! You dare to talk back! It's all that...that guy spoiled you before..."

Bao Qin's eyes darkened, and his cheerful expression suddenly became dull. He looked at Chen Ying'er carefully, and Bao Qin tentatively said: "Miss, son-in-law... Oh, no, after the person named Xiao drove you back to the capital, your temper became so big..."

Chen Ying'er glared at her and snorted: "What? Are you not satisfied?"

Baoqin smiled and said, "How dare I..."

Chen Ying'er turned around and looked at the Biwa on the Qinhuai River. She suddenly bit her lower lip tightly, her eyes slightly annoyed.

"That hateful guy! What does it have to do with me when I go out for fun? Why do you care about me? So what about the commander of the Jinyiwei? Why do you care so much? Humph! He actually... he even hit me, he hit me..."

Baoqin said curiously: "Miss, the person surnamed Xiao hits you? Where did you hit you?"

When Chen Ying'er heard this, she dyed her cheeks and her pretty face turned red. Her round and plump buttocks seemed to pass through a current, itchy and numb, and a little...comfortable.

"Miss……"

"What?" Chen Ying'er said angrily.

"Your face is so red..."

"You... shut up! You are not allowed to say anything more!" Chen Ying'er was extremely embarrassed and annoyed.

While the master and servant were talking, a respectful voice suddenly came from the Grain Store downstairs: "Shopkeeper, the shopkeeper Wang of Dafeng Rice Store in Peking is asking for a visit."

Chen Ying'er was stunned: "Wang Gui? Isn't he in Peking? Why did he come to the capital?"

After calming down, Chen Ying'er ordered: "Call him upstairs."

With the sound of footsteps downstairs, a thin middle-aged man walked in. His face was filled with a smile, and his smile was full of pleasing and respect.

Chen Ying'er looked at him and said lightly: "Wang Gui, what are you doing in the capital? Lord Xiao arranged for you to open a grain store in Beijing. Haven't you ever told you to avoid being in the eyes and not to have any contact with my Chen family business?"

Wang Gui hurriedly smiled and said, "Shopkeeper, there are no outsiders here. Although I, Wang Gui, became a shopkeeper in Peking, the villain still had the salary of the Chen family. This time, the villain came to Beijing, so he didn't have to avoid people's eyes and ears. Because the villain's grain ship just arrived in Jiangyin, he received the urgent letter from the King of Yan. He suddenly increased the amount of grain purchased to Beijing, which was much larger than before. Isn't the villain's capital looking for grain merchants to purchase, so the villain came to find the shopkeeper this time, but he was upright."

Chen Ying'er looked stern: "The King of Yan increased the amount of grain procurement? How much did he increase?"

Wang Gui said: "In the past, the grain sent to Peking Prefecture was about 1,000 stones a month, but this time, the King of Yan asked the villain to buy 10,000 stones of grain, and he would also purchase it as usual every month, and it would be 10,000 stones a month. The villain had no choice but to discuss it with the shopkeeper. 10,000 stones, where can I find so much grain?"

Chen Ying'er's expression became more and more serious, and she frowned and said, "What did the King of Yan suddenly want so much food? Although he has many soldiers under his command, he can't eat 10,000 stones a month..."

After calming down, Chen Ying'er stared at Wang Gui and said, "Have you reported this to the Jinyiwei?"

Wang Gui scratched his head and said, "It's not yet. Lord Xiao once instructed to try to avoid exposing his traces to avoid exposing his traces. Besides, it is common for King Yan to increase the purchase. It seems that there is no need to report it, right?"

Chen Ying'er said coldly: "Is it worth reporting? Is this matter worth reporting? Is it up to you to judge? My grain store currently has not much grain reserve, only a few thousand stones. You can take it all first, and then you find those grain merchants to buy it yourself in Beijing. I am not convenient for me to come forward, but I will send someone to report this matter to Yuan Qianhu, the Jinyiwei, and ask him to send a secret letter to Lord Xiao, who is inspecting the northern border. After you have purchased the grain, the grain ship will take the water route, and you will quickly return to Peiping by land to see Lord Xiao and ask him to decide. Do you understand?"

Seeing Chen Ying'er's serious expression, Wang Gui hurriedly said, "The villain knows, the villain will do it now."

The wing room behind Baihua Building in the west of Beiping City.

The banquet continued, Xiao Fan raised his glass and respected King Yan frequently. The atmosphere during the meal was extremely warm. The two of them were chatting and laughing, and their intimacy seemed to be like having friends for many years. There was a false sense of joy and noise.

Taixu's belly was round and he listened to Xiao Fan and Zhu Di's praising each other's politeness. The hypocritical smell made Taixu feel nauseous for a while. It was hard to tell whether he was overeating or being disgusted by these two guys. He curled his lips, leaned on the chair and burped a few indifferently, and then wiped his mouth with his dirty sleeves of Taoist robe.

"Two, I'm full, please continue to eat, I'll solve it later..." Taixu laughed.

Zhu Di held the wine glass and said in confusion: "What is the Taoist priest solving?"

Taixu rolled his eyes and said, "I am so elegant, you can't understand... Let's solve it, it means I just ate too much and want to shit!"

puff!

puff!

Xiao Fan and Zhu Di turned their heads at the same time and sprayed each other's faces full of wine.

Then the two looked at each other's wet faces, with a rather awkward expression.

Taixu smiled wickedly and said, "Don't stop, please continue eating..."

Then a figure flashed and ran to the back of the wing room.
To be continued...