The eldest brother of the Lin family in the Red Chamber

"There's something wrong with the Nan'an palace." Prince Duan took some time to meet Sheng. Although he is only the Zongzheng of the clan's mansion and is in charge of the clan's affairs, he has to help watch the behavior of Jingli from time to time. He was not in charge, so he mentioned it briefly, "I have too close contacts with envoys from various countries."

The emperor said "hmm" and didn't say anything.

Duan Wang knew what he meant, so he didn't say any more, but mentioned the matter of the clan's New Year, and said: "Miss Lin, the empress has adopted her as a foster daughter, and now she is also called Emperor Ji, titles and so on... …

"

The emperor said: "I know it well."

King Duan agreed.In terms of seniority, he is the emperor's uncle. However, when many clan members rely on the elders to sell the elders, seek benefits for the clan, or even interfere in political affairs, as usual, he only mentions everything and does not talk or do things indiscriminately.Although many clan relatives saw that he was not going well, and even said that "Prince Duan has really lost the arrogance of the Shui family", but they have to admit that Prince Duan's mansion is more secure than those jumping around.

In terms of domineering, King Duan and his son fought in Tibet back then, forcing the Tibetan chieftain to bow his head and pay tribute every year, that is also a skill.

"Recently, Uncle Jiu Wang has been telling me that most of the clan's children are at home now, and they are free to play chickens. It's better to find something for them to do. I also have a heart. Didn't you take the exam for the children of the aristocratic family in Beijing? Said, those who are under my nose have more opportunities than those far away. It's just that they show their high status and are afraid of losing the price, so they don't want to fight. Do I still ask the children to arrange seats for them? "

Duan Wang said with a smile: "Maybe it's just that those seats are not worth fighting for."

"Uncle Duan's words are true." The emperor smiled.

King Duan thumped in his heart. The emperor seemed to have a lot of dissatisfaction with the clan when he said this. To be honest, even he looked at the behavior of the clan in the past few years and felt that it was a bit too much. Back then, King Song Yang said, "My father and his My father is the emperor, why is he the emperor in the capital, and I have to lie in this square inch of land." When the political opponents found out and said it, Taizong was furious, ignored the intercession of the officials, and executed him without trial, which alarmed the government and the public. The Tianan massacre was later caused. After the chaos of the clan, he colluded with the Turkic people when foreign enemies invaded, and almost caused chaos in the world. After Taizong put down the chaos, he punished the six kings including King Ningyang, King Pingyang, and King Siyang, which was known as the Seven Kings Rebellion in history.

Since then, the clan's relatives have restrained a lot in speaking and doing things, but it is still difficult to reach the level of military power and the power of guarding the four directions when Emperor Taizu was in control.

Today's emperor, looking at the silent, stepped up to the throne step by step, and sat unsafely, has caused many clan members to gossip, but it's just talk, they are now , I really have no patience.

Even King Duan, upon his return from Tibet, he voluntarily handed in his military talisman and went home to retire.

This year, the empress proposed to reduce the expenses of the harem, led the concubines to raise silkworms and farmer, and became frugal. However, the Ninth Prince Shuiqin made a performance, saying that the life of the royal family is not as good as before, and many descendants of the royal family are even inferior to ordinary wealthy families. Asked a lot about the emperor.

No emperor would be happy about this matter.

"The descendants of our Shui family, I took a cold look, and there are a few capable ones, so naturally they won't treat my family badly." The emperor stroked the inkstone gently, and raised his eyelids, "It's just the emperor and the courtiers, brother As the emperor, younger brothers are ministers, and there is a difference between monarchs and ministers, isn't that right?"

Duan Wanglian claimed it was.

"I don't have time to see Uncle Jiu Wang. When Uncle Duan Wang sees him, I will tell him for me. If you want to be an official, you must be a minister. If you learn how to be a minister, you will naturally have something you can do." .”

The emperor's words were serious, Duan Wang was also full of sorrow, but he didn't dare to argue, so he heard the emperor ask again: "Now my nephews are raising their heads one by one, they are a bit more noble than me. It seems that everyone in the world is an ant, but there are not many people who can really stand on the stage. We are not as honest and stable as Wang Xiang Songqing. Uncle Wang, you have been on the battlefield since you were a teenager, and now the child..."

Although King Duan looked at his son and felt that he was not up to date, but after hearing what the emperor said, he knew that something was wrong, and when he heard the emperor ask: "How does Uncle Duan feel?" Linhou Liulang, don't say he is the best among the young people, even if the old ministers were young, he would not dare to compare with them." These words have been said, but there is no flattery, just hear Somewhat doubtful.

The emperor laughed and said, "I originally thought that Prince Duan and Jing Ning still have some kind of friendship."

"The Junjun was appointed by the eldest princess's granddaughter, this minister naturally knows about it." Duan Wang said.

"The queen mother intends to promise Jingle to the Kong family."

King Duan shook his head lightly. The Kong family has a great reputation. Throughout the dynasties, most of the emperors promised their daughters and sisters to their home, but now the emperor wants to manipulate the Kong family. Well, Princess Hehui has been in their family for decades, and she has children and is still just a princess. One more Jingle will not help, but it will make the princesses feel alienated.

The emperor said: "Uncle Duan disagrees?"

"I dare not speak nonsense," Duan Wang said.

"Uncle Wang is too cautious." The emperor laughed, "It's getting late, Uncle Wang should stay in the palace and have dinner, just to talk to the emperor."

Ever since the Taishang Emperor had a stroke, he felt more and more angry in his heart, especially when there was an aunt from Jia's family who was taking care of him carefully, reminding him from time to time of the freedom and joy of riding horses on the battlefield, with pride and ambitions in his chest, seeing Duan Wang was also gray-haired, but he also sighed: "Our old brothers are getting old."

King Duan gave a wry smile and didn't know how to start a conversation, he just said: "These days I often sweat at night, I don't know what's going on, I always feel that my body is not as good as before, and I can't do anything. The palace comes to greet His Majesty."

Concubine Yuan smiled and said, "What are you talking about, Prince Duan? You and Emperor Father are both growing strong."

Duan Wang frowned. Concubine Yuan was no matter what, she was the daughter-in-law of the Supreme Emperor—not a serious daughter-in-law, but a noble concubine who always served her father-in-law, which was a bit unusual.Although no one in the palace dared to discuss it openly, gossip would never be less, and the Empress Dowager didn't care about it. Duan Wang's family was strict, so naturally he couldn't see it, but he just didn't say anything, and passed away with a smile.

"Let's drink two cups, old brother." Taishang Huang said.

King Duan knew that the Supreme Emperor had just been hit and could not drink too much, so he said: "Your Majesty, forgive me, this old minister's body is becoming more and more useless. Not long ago, the imperial physician said that if you want to have smooth blood, you'd better quit this cup. Forgive me for not being able to drink with my brother."

The Supreme Emperor really sighed: "You are getting old."

"Who says it's not." King Duan recalled how he was overwhelmed by the emperor in the imperial study today, and said, "I finally understand what Lian Po was like back then. But my minister Mei Lian With that kind of consciousness, our world is more peaceful now than it was then, so I just thought, live two more years."

What he said was honest, the Supreme Emperor and he were very close cousins, they had taken care of each other on the battlefield, and they had a relationship with He Hui, and they had always been lenient to Duan Wangfu, and now he heard it with emotion: "He Hui this year Going to Beijing to send Jingning to marry, I reckon this will be the last time I see her. She looks pretty good."

Duan Wang smiled and said: "Yes, the princess looks good."

"Jingning married a powerful family." Taishang Huang said calmly.Yuan Chun listened, frowned, still smiling, and helped Duan Wang pour a glass of fruit wine: "Uncle Wang, try it, it's from Jiangnan. It's heavy, it doesn't hurt your head after drinking it, and it also has the effect of nourishing your health."

"Thank you, ma'am." Duan Wang hurriedly said.

The Supreme Emperor asked: "He Huitong, did you tell me, how did you think of marrying Jingning to the Lin family back then?"

Duan Wang pondered the sacred intention and said carefully: "The princess told my wife that she didn't expect Mrs. Lin to come to Beijing to take an exam at that time. They thought that he would stay in Shandong to inherit the Lin family, thinking that her granddaughter would be close to her natal family. , the in-law’s family is not very powerful, so I dare not bully Jing Ning, isn’t that family a medical practitioner?

"That place is famous for being easy to produce family members. In the Tang Dynasty, didn't even the royal family look down on them? Now even a medical practitioner can be regarded as a member of the family." The Supreme Emperor snorted coldly.

Duan Wang hurriedly said: "That was the Tang Dynasty. If there are still aristocratic families who dare to look down on the royal family, our Emperor Taizong will not agree."

The Supreme Emperor himself laughed.

Emperor Taizong was a majestic and talented emperor, but his temper was a bit grumpy. There were mixed praises and criticisms in history, but this one did raise the status of imperial power to a level that people had to look up to.

"Although He Hui has been in the palace since he was a child, I still look more like you." The Supreme Emperor shook his hand, "Don't apologize first, it's time now, and I don't bother to play around with you, can I forgive you?" Can you beat those young people? I just want to find someone to talk to. These few days, only Yuan girl came to accompany me. I miss you old brothers. Her grandfather was under your hands back then, and you were punished. You Remember? And the one from Wang’s family, they’ve been gone for many years too.”

Yuan Chun said coquettishly, "Your Majesty despises my daughter-in-law."

Duan Wang secretly thought that this "courier's daughter-in-law" was a bit impolite, and he still only said: "Your Majesty is a king, a real dragon emperor, with dragon energy to protect his body, he should live longer than us courtiers, that's what he should."

The Supreme Emperor shook his head: "My body is not as good as yours. When the imperial concubine is gone, I will also..."

Concubine Hua had already stripped her of the title of Imperial Concubine, and the Emperor had not seen her for many days, so for some reason she said this, King Duan was shocked: "Your Majesty, you can't say that."

"I know it in my heart." The Supreme Emperor actually said leisurely the catchphrase that he is the emperor's son.

These two are father and son after all.