Gou was a member of the imperial family in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 955: The Crown Princess Enters the Capital

The Xie family was stunned by this pie that fell from the sky. Although they were a large family in Guizhou, and were also one of the top nobles in the Ming Dynasty, their ancestor Xie Cheng was Marquis of Yongping and a founding hero of the Ming Dynasty. In particular, the legitimate daughter of the Xie family was the wife of Prince Jin and had a noble status.

But the problem is that the Xie family is no longer the same as it used to be. Since Xie Cheng was killed after the Lan Yu case and his title of Yongping Marquis was taken away, the Xie family no longer has the wealth and status it once had. If it weren't for Zhu Yuanzhang showing mercy to Xie Cheng's two sons because of their military merits, and if the main branch of the Xie family had not ceased to exist with the killing of Xie Cheng, and the remaining branches went to live in Guizhou, gradually drifting away from the center and no longer being noticed, how could there be the Xie family today?

Although the Xie family has experienced more than 200 years of prosperity and decline, and has become a big family again, it also has some reputation in the local area. But after all, the Xie family is just an ordinary military household. Even if the current head of the family, Xie Suyun's father Xie Jikai, is the local garrison commander, what does a mere commander count for in the Ming Dynasty? There are countless commanders in the entire Ming Dynasty, and the current Ming Dynasty is no longer the previous Ming Dynasty. The garrisons are no longer the original garrisons, and the ranks of the garrison military officers are not valuable. From this point of view, Xie Jikai is nothing more than a local tyrant.

But Xie Jikai never expected that one day he would receive an imperial edict from the emperor, and this edict was not only for him, but also for his daughter Xie Suyun.

The emperor spoke eloquently in the imperial edict, and then mentioned the achievements of the Xie family in the founding of the country and the past of the Princess of Jin. Then he changed the subject and said that the Xie family had a daughter named Suyun. It was said that this girl was fifteen years old, with good looks and character, dignified and modest, beautiful and intelligent, and well-educated. Now that the crown prince Zhu Minlan was close to marriageable age, the emperor and the queen intended to choose Xie Suyun, the daughter of the Xie family, as the crown princess, and asked Xie Jikai to bring his daughter Xie Suyun to the capital to meet the emperor. As the rumors said, Xie Suyun was the current crown princess.

Such a big pie fell from the sky and smashed down directly. Xie Jikai, who received the decree, was dizzy and excited. The Xie family has been depressed for more than 200 years since the accident. No one expected that there would be such an opportunity. This is a good thing! It is a great thing! Once the Xie family has a crown princess, she will be the queen of the world in the future. The Xie family can finally turn things around. How can we not be happy?

After Xie Jikai received the imperial decree, the news that the daughter of the Xie family would become the Crown Princess spread quickly. The Xie family, which was ordinary on weekdays, suddenly became bustling with people. Countless people came to visit Xie Jikai, not only to congratulate him, but also to take this opportunity to get close to him, become familiar with him, and curry favor with the Xie family, which was about to rise in power.

However, Xie Jiekai is a sober person, and because of the ancestors of the Xie family, the Xie family has always been very low-key. In addition, the Xie family has always had a good tradition. To those who came to congratulate, they did not act like a villain or even arrogant. Instead, they were very respectful and humble.

In order to avoid more trouble, Xie Jikai discussed with his two sons and decided to take Xie Suyun to the capital as soon as possible. He left his eldest son to look after the family, and Xie Jikai took his second son Xie Guangping and daughter Xie Suyun on the journey to the capital.

The journey from Guizhou to the capital was long and not easy. They stopped and walked many times, and it took the group more than two months to reach the capital. When they saw the towering city walls of the capital appear in front of them, Xie Jiekai couldn't help but shed tears. The Xie family had a very difficult life. Since the ancestor was killed and the main branch was destroyed after the Lan Yu case, the other members of the Xie family went to Guizhou and never returned to the capital. Although the current capital is not the previous Yingtian Prefecture, the capital is still the capital. After more than two hundred years, the Xie family finally returned.

Because of Xie Suyun, Xie Jikai and his party were picked up as soon as they entered the city. The person who picked them up was none other than Kang Youfu, who had just returned to Beijing.

Kang Youfu is now a completely different person than before. As the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, although he does not have a formal official position, he has the title of a third-rank official. Moreover, as a third-rank official, he actually has more power than an ordinary vice minister. You should know that the Imperial Household Department now controls nearly half of the Ming Dynasty's economy, including border trade with Mongolia, maritime trade with Shandong, the Royal Bank, and the emperor's recent decree to sell mineral mining rights, as well as the trade routes of the Hengtong Trading Company after it was split up. All of these are the responsibility of Kang Youfu.

From this point of view, the Imperial Household Department controlled by Kang Youfu is equivalent to half of the Ministry of Revenue, and even the Ministry of Revenue probably has less money than Kang Youfu controls. To put it bluntly, without the support of the Imperial Household Department, it is still unclear whether the Ministry of Revenue can maintain its expenses. In this case, even if Kang Youfu does not have an official position, Yang Sichang, the Minister of Revenue, has to be polite to him when he sees him.

The prince's wedding should be organized by the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court, but how could the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court be as convenient as the Imperial Household Department? To put it bluntly, the Imperial Household Department is the emperor's private institution, and Kang Youfu, the head of the Imperial Household Department, is the emperor's agent.

Besides, whether it is the Ministry of Rites or the Imperial Clan Court, don't they need money to do things? Where do they get the money? Don't they ask the Ministry of Revenue for money? The Ministry of Revenue doesn't have enough money to spend at this time. If they ask the Ministry of Revenue to pay a large sum of money to do things, won't Yang Sichang, the Minister of Revenue, cry to death? So Zhu Shenzhu thought about it and decided to let the Imperial Household Department cooperate with the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court to undertake it. All matters involving money will be handled by the Imperial Household Department. Of course, the Ministry of Revenue agreed with this arrangement, and the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court also had no problem with it.

"Sir Xie, do you think this residence is suitable? If you think it is not appropriate, I will make other arrangements?" The residence for the Xie family and others was chosen by Kang Youfu. The location of this house is good and the place is large. Moreover, it has been renovated and the furniture is all brand new. Even the servants and maids are arranged properly. In addition, after reporting to the emperor and the queen, Kang Youfu also placed several female officials and two eunuchs in this mansion. These people were selected by the queen Xu Jingqiu from the palace in order to teach the Crown Princess the rules. After all, they are getting married soon, and many rules and etiquette have to be taught. Otherwise, it would be a big deal if something went wrong at the wedding.

"Thank you, sir. Your arrangement is so perfect. There is nothing wrong with this subordinate. I am really sorry for the hard work and trouble you..." Xie Jikai hurriedly thanked him, acting very respectfully. Although he was a third-rank commander, the same rank as Kang Youfu, the commander of a garrison was not worth much, and the other party only had an official title but no official position, but he was the general manager of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Although Xie Jikai had been in Guizhou for a long time, he was not completely ignorant of the situation in the capital. He had already inquired about the situation in the capital with the angels on his way to Beijing. The Imperial Household Department was an institution established by the emperor when he was the regent. It was a special department directly under the Imperial Household. Although this department was not a court department, it had considerable power.

Don’t forget that in addition to the general manager, there was also a special minister of the Imperial Household Department, and the latter was held by Xu Xiancheng.

Who is Xu Xiancheng? Xie Jikai knew him very well. He was the current uncle of the emperor. He was originally the governor of Shandong, and later served as the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. Now he is not only the Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but also the Minister of the Imperial Guard. He still has the title of Left Censor-in-Chief. In addition, he is the head of the Supervisory Department. His official position is so high and his status is so important that he is almost as important as the cabinet minister. He is just a mere commander of the guards. It is simply beyond his reach. Not to mention that his daughter has not become the crown princess yet, even if she really becomes the crown princess, Xie Jikai, as the crown princess's father, dare not be on an equal footing with Xu Xiancheng. The gap in status between the two sides is clear. And the general manager of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in front of him, Kang Youfu, is not an ordinary person. It is said that when the emperor was still a member of the royal family, Kang Youfu was the most capable person around the emperor. This is a person who has followed the emperor from poverty and humbleness. How can Xie Jikai despise him?

"Haha, I'm glad you're satisfied, Lord Xie. You can stay here first and see if there's anything missing. His Majesty has already given instructions. Just let me know if there's anything missing in the mansion." Kang Youfu replied with a smile. He had a good impression of Xie Jiekai. At least he was a sensible man. Although his daughter was about to become the Crown Princess, neither Xie Jiekai nor his son Xie Guangping were brainless guys. They had good family education, were down-to-earth, and knew their own status and position.

As for the future crown princess, Kang Youfu also met her when he received Xie Jikai. This woman was indeed as the rumors said, with good looks and good character, dignified and modest, beautiful and intelligent, well-educated and sensible. Of course, Kang Youfu could not see much from just one meeting, but he had a very good impression of her. It seemed that the emperor had a reason to choose Xie Suyun.

Xie Jikai and his family had just arrived in Beijing. Kang Youfu was tired from the journey and didn't want to disturb them any further. After arranging their accommodation and giving them some instructions, Kang Youfu got up and said goodbye.

After leaving here, Kang Youfu went straight to the palace and soon arrived at the Qianqing Palace.

"Have you settled down at the Xie family?"

"Your Majesty, everything has been settled. The female official and two eunuchs selected by Your Majesty have also stayed. Besides, when I came here, I had someone notify the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Clan Affairs." Kang Youfu replied respectfully.

Zhu Shenzhui nodded. He was confident that Kang Youfu could do the job, otherwise he would not have asked him to return to Beijing to handle the matter.

"Can you see it, Princess?"

"I met him when I received him, but we did not talk."

"how?"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty. The Crown Princess is excellent in both appearance and figure. Your Majesty has made the right choice."

Hearing Kang Youfu's answer, Zhu Shenzui couldn't help but laugh. To be honest, he spent a lot of energy on selecting the Crown Princess for the Crown Prince. After all, this was not an ordinary princess but a Crown Princess. The Crown Prince was the crown prince and the future emperor, and the Crown Princess was the crown prince's principal wife and the future queen. This person must be chosen well, and it would not be a good thing if the wrong one was chosen.

Zhu Shenzhu had conducted a thorough investigation of the Xie family's daughter through the Jinyiwei, and had personally looked at Xie Suyun's portrait before carefully selecting her from a dozen candidates after weighing the pros and cons. Of course, Xie Jikai was completely unaware of these things, and even Xie Suyun herself was unaware of them. Everything was done in secret.

After hearing Kang Youfu's words, Zhu Shenzhui finally felt relieved. As for appearance and character, the former is preferred, and the latter is fine as long as it is not bad. Of course, if she is beautiful, it is even better. After all, she is his daughter-in-law. As a man, which one doesn't like a beautiful woman? Although the prince is young, he is also a man. Zhu Shenzhui will naturally pay more attention to her.

Moreover, Xie Suyun had received some education and was said to have a good personality. In addition, although the Xie family had declined, it was still a family of meritorious service. Even though the title had long been lost, she still held the position of commander of the garrison. In this sense, Xie Suyun could be considered the daughter of a general.

Such a woman reminded Zhu Shenzhu of Empress Xu Jingqiu. Wasn't it because of Xu Jingqiu's character and personality that he chose her? Xie Suyun had many similarities with Xu Jingqiu. It would be a good thing for the prince to have such a princess, and it would also be helpful for the couple to support each other in the future.

(End of this chapter)