A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

"What puppy?" King Chen looked confused, as if he couldn't understand what Jiuzhu said: "When did this king say you are a puppy?"

"I heard it just now." Jiuzhu looked at him aggrievedly: "The dog is sneezing and the sky is fine."

"It's pure nonsense, why hasn't this king heard of such a statement?" King Chen said righteously: "This kind of rural language has no basis at all, you are so smart, you won't believe it? It's baseless, isn't it?"

Zhou Xiao and Sun Caiyao looked at King Chen together. It was a coincidence that they had all heard this kind of "country language".

"Really?"

"Naturally." King Chen jumped off the horse and helped Jiuzhu tidy up his cloak twice: "Do you think this king would be the kind of person who makes fun of little girls?"

Sun Caiyao and Zhou Xiao: That kind of person looks like that.

Jiu Zhu thought for a moment, then nodded slowly: "His Royal Highness is indeed not such a person."

Sun Caiyao looked at Ming Jiuzhu in astonishment. Logically speaking, it shouldn't be, ?? Ming Jiuzhu is such a coaxing person?

King Chen breathed a sigh of relief, ?? Next time when I am teasing the little pig, there must be no other people next to me, ?? If the little girl is not happy, ?? He still doesn't know how to coax him.

"Then His Highness saw me sneezing, why did he say it would be sunny tomorrow?" Jiu Zhu looked at King Chen curiously: "Is there any reason for that?"

"This... is related to a legend." King Chen opened his eyes and made up a story on the spot: "It is said that there is a lake fairy living in the Xianlei Lake in the capital. If this fairy sheds tears, it will rain in the capital. If she Sneeze and the sky will be clear the next day."

Zhou Xiao, who was standing behind Jiuzhu, thought in confusion, there is still such a legend in Xianlei Lake?

Why has she never heard of it?

Hearing "Xianlei Lake", Sun Caiyao was stunned, she and His Royal Highness Qi Wang were in love, it was in Xianlei Lake. On that day, the king of Qi, dressed in white, was better than snow, standing gracefully on the lake, like a banished immortal descending into the world.

"Do you know what I mean now?" King Chen put his hands behind his back, and snorted softly: "I praised you as a little fairy, but you think I'm scolding you. Ming Xiaozhu, talk about you, you will be worthy of me. ?"

Jiuzhu thought for a while, then stretched out her hand and pulled King Lachen's sleeve: "Your Highness, I was wrong." She secretly looked at King Chen's face, "I will never misunderstand you again."

"Really?" King Chen turned his head: "I don't believe it."

"Really, really." Jiuzhu nodded: "I will believe whatever His Highness says in the future, and Grandpa Sanqing can testify for me..."

"Hey!" Hearing that the little girl was about to make an oath with a god, King Chen quickly interrupted her: "This king is not a man with a small stomach, so how could he be angry with you because of this trivial matter. You just need to remember that this king is here today. It's right to praise you for being like a little fairy."

"Oh." Jiuzhu nodded, "I'll write it down."

King Chen looked at her smart eyes, and couldn't help but think, the little girl was a little stunned, but she was quite cute. The eyes are round, the mouth is small, the eyebrows are curved, and even the hair bag on the head is more lovely than other girls.

"You choose the spices?" King Chen noticed the spice shop behind her: "In the concubine's palace, there is a female official who is good at mixing spices. What kind of spices do you like, I will ask her to mix them for you. The spices outside, The raw materials are not particular enough, and the taste is still a little bit worse.”

Jiuzhu was afraid that His Royal Highness would really send her spices, so she quickly shook her head and refused: "Sister Zhou and I are just passing by this way. I'm not used to the smell of spices, and it's easy to sneeze when I smell it."

No wonder he was standing at the door and sneezing nonstop just now, King Chen thought to himself, then before Ming Xiaozhu gets married to the palace, he has to throw all the spices out of the palace, lest he listen to her sneezing all day long.

"Okay, I can rest assured about this." King Chen seemed to finally find Zhou Xiao standing behind Jiuzhu, nodded slightly to her, and without waiting for Zhou Xiao's return, he turned his eyes back to Jiuzhu and took out Two silver notes: "Buy whatever you like, don't feel wronged."

Your future husband is rich.

King Chen didn't say these words, but added them in his heart.

"His Royal Highness, I'm going out with money today." Jiuzhu patted her purse: "The provincial government just sent this month's salary two days ago."

With some regret, King Chen put the silver note back. It was he who forgot that Ming Xiaozhu was now the county head and a salaried person.

"His Royal Highness." Jiuzhu hadn't forgotten the snow scene picture she wanted to give to King Chen, she tiptoed to him and whispered, "I'm about to draw the snow scene picture, and I'll bring it to you when the Ministry of Rites has a rest."

King Chen was silent for a moment: "Okay."

Jiu Zhu became happy: "Then your Highness, hurry up and do business, don't delay."

King Chen turned on his horse, and then began to think about a question, what kind of means could be used to keep Ming Jiuzhu's confidence in painting skills all the time.

Is it too much to call a deer a horse?

When King Chen left, Zhou Xiao took Jiuzhu's arm: "My sister can still paint?"

"A little bit." Jiuzhu smiled modestly: "It's just that Your Highness prefers my paintings."

"You are from the blood of the Ming family, so it's normal to be good at painting. My father once said that Ming Shilang is also good at painting, but unfortunately he only painted for Lingci, and no paintings came out. There are occasional paintings that claim to be painted by Ling Zun. When you came out, it was denied by Ling Zun." Zhou Xiao thought about it and was not surprised that Jiuzhu was good at painting: "Your painting, even His Royal Highness King Chen loves it so much, it seems that you have inherited Ling Zun's talent in painting skills. points, and even the blue is better than the blue.”

"My sister is wrong, how can my paintings compare to my father's." Jiuzhu sighed: "Unfortunately, my mother said that the paintings of the Ming family can only be given to the family.

People and lovers, if the descendants violate the ancestor's teaching, it will bring bad luck, otherwise I will draw a picture for my sister. "

Hearing this, Zhou Xiao also deeply regretted: "It's a pity, but the ancestral teaching cannot be violated."

"It's not that I don't have a chance. Waiting for my elder sister and Fu Liuge..." Jiuzhu snickered while covering her mouth: "Sister will soon be my family."

"It turned out to be waiting for me here!" Zhou Xiao smiled and said with a red face: "Who did you learn this narrow temper from?"

After saying that, he was going to poke Jiuzhu's cheek.

Jiuzhu covered her face and ran away, and finally the two ran to the carriage, fell into a pile, and started joking.

Hearing the laughter coming from the carriage, Sun Caiyao couldn't help but doubt her dream again.

Is Ming Jiuzhu really as smart and ruthless as she dreamed?

"Girl, do you still want this box of Orchid spices?" The shop assistant came out with a box of spices.

Sun Caiyao came back to her senses, took the embossed wooden box containing the spices, and asked the maid to give the money to Xiao Er.

"Thank you girl, welcome to visit you next time." Little Er returned to the shop with a smile.

"Miss." The maid asked carefully, "Miss Ning, do you really like the scent of orchid?"

Sun Caiyao nodded slowly and handed the spice to the maid: "When you go back, light the spice and smoke it to bring the new clothes to Prince Qi's mansion." She remembered clearly that Concubine Ning in her dream liked Lanxiang the most.

"Concubine Ning is gentle and kind, why does Miss need to replace the spices she is used to for this trivial matter?" The maid whispered: "This is too wrong for you."

"What's wrong, husband and wife are one body." Sun Caiyao looked at the spice box in the hand of the maid: "When I marry into the Qi Wangfu, I will be the righteous Princess Qi. If I can get my mother-in-law likes and manage the Wangfu, I will It's like a tiger with wings."

It is difficult to be a royal woman. As a granddaughter, she will definitely be the best princess.

When King Chen came to the Ministry of Industry, it was not to get any important files.

But to rush to work. Seeing that the end of the year was approaching, the door of the Ministry of Rites had not been repainted, and some dead flowers and plants also needed to be replaced. He carried the hopes of all officials of the Ministry of Rites and stepped into the door of the Ministry of Engineering.

Hearing that King Chen was coming, the head of the Minister of Industry began to hurt: "This official is not feeling well today, and let Shilang Wu go to receive His Royal Highness King Chen."

"Sir." An official reminded in a low voice, "Wu Shilang went out to Beijing the day before yesterday for disaster relief."

The Minister of Industry rubbed his temples and stood up: "Let people welcome you, don't neglect, I'll go over immediately."

Wu Mian was the father-in-law of King Huai and had a close relationship with the royal family, so it would be more appropriate for him to receive King Chen. It's a pity that the most suitable candidate went to Beijing for disaster relief.

Could it be that King Chen recommended Wu Mian to go to disaster relief just for today?

Thinking of this, the minister of the Ministry of Industry suddenly realized that it is no wonder that King Chen would take the initiative to help Wang Huai's father-in-law to claim credit, it turned out to be to better benefit their Ministry of Industry!

He should have known that the royals are black even at the tip of their hearts, so there is no reason to do so.

"Hello everyone." King Chen couldn't recognize who these officials of the Ministry of Works were, so he asked to waive the ceremony of these officials, and directly took out the repair drawings of the Ministry of Rites and put it in front of the officials of the Ministry of Works: "This king is here today, I have come to discuss the repair plan of the Ministry of Rites with you, all of you, come and look at the drawings."

discuss?

The officials of the Ministry of Industry looked at the drawings, and even what kind of flowers to plant, how many pots to plant, and the size of the flower pots were clearly marked, and they were speechless.

Is this also a matter of negotiation?

The Minister of Works took a few glances at the drawings and said with a smile, "Your Highness, didn't you just change a batch of tables, chairs and windows for the Ministry of Rites a few days ago?"

"This king knows, so in this drawing, there is no mention of desks, chairs and windows." King Chen leaned back on the chair and said confidently, "Look carefully, right?"

Minister of Industry: "..."

Then does he have to thank His Highness for his simplicity and economy?

"His Royal Highness, there are a lot of things that need to be changed in the drawings, I'm afraid it won't be completed a few years ago." The Minister of Works put down the drawings and said with a smile, "Why don't we repair the gate, the main building, flowers, trees, etc., and we can plan later in the year. ."

Some things, drag and drop, and you can let it go. In this regard, Ministry of Industry officials have a wealth of practical experience.

"Lord Shang Shu is joking." King Chen didn't care about this, he drank a sip of tea brewed by an official of the Ministry of Works, and said slowly: "This king often listens to the royal father mentioning the achievements of the Lords of the Ministry of Works, such as building dams and transforming official roads. , building a commercial market, creating farm implements that are convenient for the people, etc., you adults have done these things quickly and well, and the people are all complimented.”

Hearing this, the officials of the Ministry of Industry raised their chins proudly. What King Chen said was true. Their Ministry of Industry had made a lot of credit for the establishment of the university.

"The Ministry of Work can handle these important matters of the country so perfectly. This king believes that repairing the small Ministry of Rites is a no-brainer for the adults of the Ministry of Work." Drinking the tea from the Ministry of Work, King Chen calmly Standing up, he gave an encouraging smile to the officials of the Ministry of Industry: "This king is waiting for the good news from all the adults in the Ministry of Rites."

After speaking, he left with satisfaction.

"It seems that we... haven't promised to repair the Ministry of Rites according to the blueprint?" After a while, an official of the Ministry of Works finally came back to his senses: "Is it too late to chase King Chen back now?"

"What do you think?" The Ministry of Industry looked at the speaking official with a blank expression.

The speaking official: "..."

The officials looked at the blueprints on the table and remained silent for a long time. An official whispered, "If I had known this earlier, it would have been better to ask Your Majesty to have King Chen come to our Ministry of Works."

At that time, after hearing that King Chen was assigned to the Ministry of Rites, how loud they laughed, how much regret they now regret.

Who would have guessed that King Chen was not only arrogant and domineering, but also had the problem of protecting his shortcomings.

"Isn't there a few other princes who don't have errands? Maybe after a while, our Ministry of Works will also have the support of princes."

"But...Which other prince is more valued by His Majesty than Prince Chen?"

Everyone was silent again, and it really wasn't.

"Okay." The Minister of Works sighed and shoved the blueprint to the right servant: "Since it was arranged by the prince, and the Wu servant is not here, I will leave it to you."

Right Servant: "..."

But what did he do wrong?

Early the next morning, the craftsmen sent by the Ministry of Works began to rattle on the roof, walls, and corners of the Ministry of Rites. Li En, the Minister of Rites, stroked his beard and looked at these craftsmen with a satisfied and kind smile.

Who said His Royal Highness King Chen was not good?

It was purely malicious serious injury, and it was created out of nothing.

He not only brought warmth and hope to their Ministry of Rites, but also brought them new roofs and new walls, and the Ministry of Rites became more beautiful with him.

What a young man.

Seeing Ming Jingzhou passing by the corridor, Li En called him: "Brother Ming, please stay."

"Sir." Seeing Li En calling him, Ming Jingzhou stopped to bow to Li En, accidentally revealing the Mingjing Kezhong list in his sleeve.

"This is..." Li En looked at the roster in the Mingjing Division that fell to the ground.

"Ah." Ming Jingzhou bent over to pick up the roster, and said casually, "This is the list of the Mingjing Division."

Of course Li En knew that this was the list of Ming Jing Ke, but what he wanted to know was, what did Ming Jingzhou do with this thing? The Ming Jing examination was not taken seriously before. After His Majesty ascended the throne, he vigorously carried out national infrastructure construction, and the status of the Ming Jing imperial examination was improved.

"What are you doing with this?"

"His Royal Highness has already finished copying the books that His Royal Highness arranged for His Royal Highness to copy a few days ago." Ming Jingzhou put the book into his sleeve: "Your Majesty has arranged His Highness to our Ministry of Rites, and your Highness can't let him do nothing."

But His Majesty arranged for King Chen to go to the Ministry of Rites, not for him to copy the book and endorse it.

Li En looked up at the roof that was being renovated: "Brother Ming, is there something wrong with this?"

"What's wrong?" Ming Jingzhou asked in a calm tone, "It's for his own good to ask His Highness to copy and recite more when the ten thousand zhang tall buildings rise from the ground."

Li En sucked in a breath of cold air, listening to Ming Jingzhou's tone, it seems that he intends to let His Highness copy the book to the end?

"Brother Ming." Li En felt that as the Minister of Rites, he still had to show a little sincerity to His Highness King Chen: "Some time ago, I was busy with official business and had no time to communicate with King Chen. I have some free time recently, why don't I talk to King Chen? Brother Ming, let's take King Chen to get acquainted with the affairs?"

After saying this, he quickly showed a friendly smile to Ming Jingzhou. He had known Ming Jingzhou for many years, and later became a colleague of the Ministry of Rites. The other party was even more devoted to his duties, and there was nothing wrong with him. He really didn't want to be unhappy with Ming Jingzhou because of King Chen's affairs.

Ming Jingzhou looked up at him, and was silent for a moment: "Do you think that the way to teach the prince is not good enough?"

"Brother Ming is worrying too much, I definitely don't mean it." Li Enxin mentioned: "You are always weak, I am worried that while you are handling the affairs of the Ministry of Rites, you have to teach King Chen to handle affairs, which is physically exhausting. King Chen, you can take it easy."

"So that's the case." Ming Jingzhou pleaded guilty: "It's the lower official who misunderstood the love of the adults, please forgive me."

"You and I have known each other for many years, why do you need to say these kind words." Li En looked at Ming Jingzhou and made sure that he was not angry before mentioning the words just now: "The palace of King Chen

Next, leave it to me? "

"Your Excellency is tired." Ming Jingzhou bowed to the end.

"It should be, it should be." Li En was completely relieved. The friendship between colleagues has been preserved, and His Royal Highness's side is not let down.

"Then Xiaguan first hand over this list to His Highness, and let him copy it." Ming Jingzhou smiled: "Xiaguan believes that His Highness will be able to copy the book while learning how to handle affairs with the adults."

Li En: "..."

I understand, you really hated His Royal Highness King Chen deeply.

"Sir, what do you think of the arrangement of the lower official?"

"Very good." Li En's voice fell, and saw King Chen walk in with a smile on his face carrying two large food boxes, and Ming Jingzhou's face became a little ugly at this moment.

From this, it can be seen that Brother Ming has a deep prejudice against King Chen.

Carrying the lunch box that Jiuzhu brought from home, King Chen found the future father-in-law who was talking to Li En: "Master Ming, I brought the lunch box, why don't we have a meal together?"

"His Royal Highness." Ming Jingzhou bowed his thanks.

"Mr. Ming is very kind, please." In recent days, he has become accustomed to eating Ming's meals at noon every day.

Li En glanced at King Chen sympathetically. I'm afraid this prince still doesn't know that Ming Jingzhou is deliberately tossing him.

"His Royal Highness, in two hours, Xiaguan is going to inspect the newly built school. If Your Highness has no other arrangements, please go with Xiaguan."

"But the Hongwen Academy that was built under the order of the emperor himself?" King Chen vaguely knew that this was the case.

"Exactly." Li En said with a smile: "Your Majesty cultivates good scholars and attaches great importance to talents. The money for repairing this academy is still from your private treasury."

King Chen whispered softly: "

There is quite a lot of money in the father's private treasury. "

Ming Jingzhou, who was standing beside him, silently turned his head to look at him.

"His Royal Highness?" Li En didn't hear what King Chen said: "Would you like to accompany the lower official on this trip?"

"Okay." King Chen smiled: "This king is also very curious about how the school that the father attaches great importance to has been built."

Before Li En and King Chen went out, the news had already reached the ears of the princes.

"Li En is going to take King Chen to visit Hongwen College?" King Qi sneered when he heard the news: "This king heard that the Ministry of Rites has been undergoing extensive repairs recently, and Li En has tasted the sweetness. No wonder he was flattering and patting the horse in front of Yun Duqing."

"My lord, from the humble point of view, Li En doesn't seem to be someone who would do such a thing for the sake of fame and fortune." The advisor said, "At a talk banquet not long ago, he was full of praise for you. , is there any misunderstanding in this?"

"Misunderstanding?" King Qi smiled indifferently: "In the face of interests, everyone may become disgusting, and this king never easily believes in people's hearts."

"Your Highness, please rest assured, I heard that Shi Lang is still very dissatisfied with King Chen." The counselor comforted King Qi: "The humble guessed that Li En only took King Chen to tour the academy out of love. If you let King Chen copy the book, you can't say that you don't have it at all."

Li En was young and poor from a poor family, and he entered the officialdom by taking the official road of imperial examinations. It was impossible to appreciate such a playful prince as King Chen.

"This king remembers that there is a female official who is very good at making incense beside Su Guifei. Yun Duqing grew up beside Su Guifei since childhood, and he also has the habit of using incense. After he moved into the palace, he seems to have raised a few perfumers?" King Qi walked to the incense burner and looked at the incense that had already burned out: "This king has heard that there is a kind of incense that can make people sleep well every night and have beautiful dreams."

"His Royal Highness, since the horse farm incident, all the guards and servants of Prince Chen's mansion have been placed by His Majesty as royal guards. Those who are humble and worried about us have no chance to touch the objects that Prince Chen usually uses."

"Why should we do it ourselves?" King Qi smiled lightly: "The good brothers of this king are very curious about the servants of King Chen's mansion."

"I'm humble and understand!" The advisor instantly understood the meaning of King Qi's words: "I'm humble and do it."

"This is Hongwen Academy?" King Chen rode on horseback and saw a number of thinly dressed students standing next to Hongwen Academy: "Are these students of Hongwen Academy?"

"No." Li En looked at these poor students and explained to King Chen: "The academy has not officially recruited students, but His Majesty has already issued a decree. The students of Hongwen Academy, regardless of their status, are only divided into academic levels."

Having said that, he knew in his heart that the cost of studying was a lot of money, and even if the children of the poor family were fortunate enough to be admitted to the Hongwen Academy, few people could compare to those children of the aristocratic families.

"Then why are they all outside the academy?"

"Although the academy does not enroll students, the books inside can be loaned to students for free copying." Li En looked at the students who were shivering from the cold but were reluctant to leave, with a little pity and unspeakable disappointment in his tone: "Precious books The price is very expensive, and if it can be copied for free, it can save a lot of money."

"So that's the case." Seeing the ruthlessness of these scholars in order to copy books, King Chen took out a few silver bills from his arms and handed them to Li En: "You can use this money to buy some pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and give it to them. For copying."

"Your Highness?" Li En looked at King Chen in surprise.

"Take it, this king is not short of this money." King Chen shook his shoulders, with a bit of reverence for copywriting in his tone: "We are all copywriters in the world, and this king understands their hardships."

Li En took these bank notes, and after a long silence, he bowed to King Chen to the end: "Xiaguan is on behalf of these students, thank you, Your Highness."

"You don't need to thank this king. In fact, the money is also given by the father." King Chen waved his hand indifferently: "If you want to thank me, then thank the father."

Anyway, this is all the money that the father secretly used to supplement him from his private treasury.

"His Royal Highness has a pure heart, and the subordinate admires it very much."

Um……

King Chen turned his head to look at Li En, how could the matter of a few banknotes be so innocent?

The civil servants praised people, and they were as beautiful as the articles they wrote.

Just can't be true. ??w??, please keep in mind:,