The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Yan Chengjin promised to return Zhu Houzhao's little mare and took it back to the East Palace.

Zhu Houzhao stood up happily: "Old Gao, I also want to go to the official sale and buy a birthday gift for the Queen Mother."

In the past few days, the official sale has been in full swing.

Many gentry wanted to sell antiques, calligraphy and paintings, or even their mansions, but they did not go to any dental shops and instead entrusted Liangxiang Yamen to carry out the official sale.

Zhang Xianqing has a reputation as an upright and honest official. If he is in charge, he will not be afraid of being greedy for money, and he can still fetch high prices.

Many dental shops and pawn shops in the capital are empty.

Some dental shops learned from Liangxiang Yamen and started auctions, but their credibility was too low and no one went there.

Yan Chengjin was a little disdainful: "The things sold by officials can easily cost thousands of taels. Does your Highness have any money?"

Zhu Houzhao happily took out something and said, "Look, I have already asked someone to paint it, so you can sell this!"

Lying~

Could this be...

The title deed of the East Palace?

Yan Chengjin has a lot of dark thoughts in his mind. If the Jin Yiwei informs His Majesty, His Majesty will think of the high profits from official sales, and he might ask Liangxiang to pay commercial taxes.

Ordinary things, as long as Zhu Houzhao gets involved, will always make a big fuss.

Yan Chengjin quickly advised: "Your Highness has sold the East Palace, where will he live?"

"There are many side halls in the palace, so it doesn't matter if I live in a cold palace." Zhu Houzhao said happily.

The land deed of the East Palace can be sold for at least ten thousand taels of silver, right?

He has never had so much money.

Yan Chengjin took a look at the land deed. The address and area were written very vaguely. Those who didn't know it might have thought it was true.

No need to think about it, it must have been copied by Zhu Hou.

"Your Highness really wants to give it to you, but I have something that I can teach your Highness. However, I want to take away the land deed."

Zhu Houzhao was very interested: "You tell me first, let me see if it is worth exchanging the land deed."

Do you really think I want the title deed from you? If you live in the East Palace, your head will be chopped off, okay?

Half an hour later,

Zhu Houzhao sneaked out of the palace and came to Yan's Mansion. He said happily: "What do you want to teach me?"

Yan Chengjin took him to the kitchen and ordered people to get flour and eggs and prepare all the utensils.

Start making cakes,

First, break ten eggs into a basin, stir until evenly mixed, then add sugar, and finally pour in flour.

Zhu Houzhao made rice krispies and was somewhat interested in eating.

When everything is ready, put it in the pot and steam it.

Yan Chengjin and Zhu Houzhao were waiting aside. After about an hour, they opened the lid of the pot and a ball of cake was ready.

It just didn’t look good and it cracked.

Zhu Houzhao looked at Yan Chengjin with a confused look on his face, that's it? To the Queen Mother?

"Lao Gao, please return the East Palace land deed to me."

Yan Chengjin said as if nothing had happened: "I just tore it up before leaving the palace."

Zhu Houzhao was so angry that he pinched his neck: "Guan Gu, it took me two days to paint that! How could you tear it up!"

After a while, the two of them sat in the main hall with a pile of cake in front of them.

"Your Highness, close your eyes and don't look at the appearance. The appearance is just the skin, and it will be the same when you eat it."

Zhu Houzhao picked up the knife, cut off a small piece, closed his eyes and put it in his mouth.

He Neng had tried this cake and was not afraid to let the prince taste it.

Yan Chengjin stared at him and said, "How?"

"It's delicious!" Zhu Houzhao blinked and said uncertainly: "Old Gao, if I offer this to the Queen Mother, will the Queen Mother like it?"

"As long as it is made by Her Highness, the Queen Mother will like it." Yan Chengjin said.

More than ten days passed, and the princesses from various vassal states came to Beijing one after another.

On the streets, we often see vehicles with a quota of no less than fifty people. Even the common people know that it is the princess of the vassal country and the royal ladies from various places who have come to the palace to celebrate their birthdays.

British government,

A dignified woman was sitting in the main hall. Zhang Mao treated her politely: "Princess Xing came to Beijing to celebrate her birthday. What are you doing in my house?"

After all, he was a martial artist, and he always spoke so vulgarly, and she felt offended.

The civil servants talked and liked to go around, but Princess Xing wanted to go to Li Dongyang and other ministers.

Unfortunately, Li Dongyang and others may not be able to help her.

Princess Xing chuckled softly: "It's great to congratulate the Duke that he is in charge of the capital. I came to the Duke's Mansion this time because I have something to ask of the Duke."

The late emperor once wanted to make King Xing the crown prince, and Zhang Mao also supported it. He had a good impression of King Xing: "Princess, please speak."

Princess Xing said: "My husband, Prince Xing, has granted me a fief in Anluzhou, Huguang. This place is flooded all year round. My husband wants to beg for a fiefdom in the south of the Yangtze River. Can I ask the Duke to help me with this?"

Compared with the southwest, Huguang and Anluzhou can be regarded as fertile vassal states.

It should have been satisfying.

But recently, the price of silk has increased more than ten times, and it is still rising. I heard that Prince Ning in Nanchang Prefecture is as rich as the enemy.

Princess Xing's wife Jiang was dissatisfied and rarely came to Beijing, so she took advantage of this opportunity to congratulate the Queen Mother on her birthday and asked for a change of fiefdom.

Zhang Mao knitted his eyebrows together and said in embarrassment: "I really can't do anything about this matter. Please forgive me, Princess."

Princess Xing's face stiffened slightly, and she tried her best to maintain a smile: "Prince Xing and I are far away in Huguang and are not familiar with the capital. I would like to ask the Duke to point out a clear path."

The British Duke thought for a while and said: "There is a person. If I can get his help, it is somewhat possible to ask for a change of feudal status.

This person's name is Yan Chengjin. He acts extremely cautiously and may not be able to help you. "

Yan Chengjin helped His Majesty retrieve the imperial seal.

In the past few days, His Majesty was in high spirits. He was very happy when he saw this boy. If he begged for help, he might be able to do it.

After a while,

Zhang Mao personally took Princess Xing to the door of Yan's mansion and gave her a few clicks.

Just heard, "I was born with talent and must be useful?"

Knowing that this was the codeword of the Yan Mansion, Zhang Mao shouted, "I am just a warrior, I can't match it! Open the door!"

The doorman flipped through the illiterate picture album in his hand, compared it with the picture, and it was indeed the illiterate Duke of England. He couldn't match it last time.

He hurried to report.

Princess Xing was displeased but a little confused: "Who is Yan Chengjin living in this mansion? Why did the Duke of England come so often?"

"An imperial censor in the court." Zhang Mao said, "The princess has something to ask him, so it's better not to talk in front of his mansion."

After a while, the doorman opened the door and invited the two to enter the main hall.

Yan Chengjin stood up and said, "I don't know what the Duke of England is doing here?"

He brought a woman with him. Although he didn't report her identity, it was guessed that she was not Zhang Mao's wife.

It can be seen that there is a subtle concern between the two of them about the etiquette between the monarch and the minister.

Zhang Mao said, "This is Princess Xing. I need your help with something. Bring me some tea."

Isn't Princess Xing the mother of Jiajing?

This woman is very powerful. Jiajing refused Yang Tinghe's negotiation and insisted on respecting his parents as his parents rather than being an emperor. It was she who taught him behind the scenes.

Why did she come to him?

After Princess Xing sat down, she went straight to the point and said, "Lord Yan, don't be polite. I heard that Lord Yan is highly valued by His Majesty. I have a favor to ask."

Yan Chengjin waved his hand and stopped him, saying, "Princess, wait a minute."

He got up and went out to tell He Neng a few words.

After a while, He Neng came in with Jinyiwei Ye Zhun: "My young master wants to find you as a witness and report to His Majesty later."

"Don't worry, I know what your young master means." Ye Zhun nodded and squatted outside the main hall.

It is a serious crime for a vassal king to collude with court ministers.

Who knows what the princess is going to say? To be safe, Yan Chengjin asked the Royal Guards to monitor her first.

Anyway, no matter what she said, he would not agree.