King Xiang of the Red Chamber

Chapter 414 Zhu Shisan’s Wife

"Baochai, hurry up and get a glass of water from His Majesty!" Yang Qingyin said with a smile.

It's okay for the queen to drink it cold and for free, but now she wants the emperor to drink it too. Baochai will inevitably feel absurd in her heart.

"Yes!"

In any case, since this is the queen's order, Baochai will take care of it.

When she turned around and entered the room, Zhu Xianming sat next to the queen, his eyes focused on her bowl of cold white cabbage.

"Is this what you're drinking?"

Yang Qingyin smiled and said, "My son drinks this, why can't I?"

Her words made Zhu Xianming very embarrassed, and the latter immediately changed the subject and said: "There are so many people following here, why let the thirteenth daughter-in-law serve in person!"

Although this sentence was ordinary, Yang Qingyin was greatly surprised. The emperor actually called Baochai "Thirteenth Wife", which was a clear statement of approval of the girl.

"It is natural for a daughter-in-law to serve her parents-in-law. Am I still unable to control her?" Yang Qingyin replied with a smile.

Baochai was walking out of the house. She heard what she just said, and she was extremely excited at the moment.

"Father, please use it!"

Looking at the steaming white water in the bowl in front of him, Zhu Xianming couldn't help but laugh: "I haven't drank like this for a long time!"

At this time Yang Qingyin said: "Your Majesty has not drank water like this for a long time. Thirteen and the others have never suffered such a crime since they were born!"

Zhu Xianming replied: "Since you are plowing for me, you should suffer a little. When I went into battle for my father, it was much harder than their life!"

After taking a sip of hot water, Zhu Xianming looked at Baochai, who was standing in front of him, and asked: "I heard... Old Thirteen has often expressed resentment here?"

"Father, your Majesty, this matter is a misunderstanding..."

While Baochai was racking his brains to make up his words, Zhu Jinghong also took his two brothers and slowly hurried towards the thatched cottage courtyard.

He looked calm on the surface, but in fact his CPU was about to burst into smoke, and he was thinking about how to get the old man to let him go.

"Brother Thirteen!"

When he heard someone calling him, Zhu Jinghong raised his head slightly and saw Zhu Yunsheng and others not far away.

"Third sister, you are here too!" Zhu Jinghong rarely smiled.

Although they hadn't seen each other for two months, he could clearly feel that Daiyu and Xiangyun had grown taller, and their whole temperaments had also changed.

If I remember correctly, Daiyu will be fourteen this year, and Xiangyun is also thirteen... Zhu Jinghong thought to himself.

"Brother Thirteen, what are you thinking about?" Zhu Yunsheng stepped forward and asked.

"Third sister, I would like to ask you... what have you been doing these past few months when my brother has been in trouble!" Zhu Jinghong said with a sad look on his face.

"Thirteenth Master, please don't wrong the princess. She pleads for you every day!" Xiangyun was the first to come out to fight the injustice.

Daiyu then said: "Thankfully, I thought Master Thirteen was an upright man, but now he seems to be almost a reckless man!"

"Why am I just like a reckless man?" Zhu Jinghong asked with a smile.

Giving Zhu Jinghong a rollicking look, Daiyu raised her head and said, "If he wasn't a reckless man, how could he have wrongly accused the princess casually?"

Zhu Yunsheng was particularly happy when he heard Dai Yu speak for him, secretly praising these two as really good sisters.

From now on, we will be sisters for life... Zhu Yunsheng thought.

"Oh...why are you so aggressive? How could Master Thirteen mean this? He is just joking with the princess!"

Zhen Qin's voice suddenly sounded, causing Zhu Jinghong's eyes to glance over, and then he realized that this girl was also missing.

Although it is still silly, it is now smooth and has reached the age where it can bloom.

Zhen Qin would not know that she was "stupid" in Zhu Jinghong's eyes.

At this moment, she was very happy, because with so many people present, she was the only one who spoke out to defend Zhu Jinghong, how could she not be treated differently.

Bravely facing Zhu Jinghong's appraising gaze, Zhen Qin's face suddenly turned red.

The Thirteenth Master really has me in his heart. If my aunt hadn't stopped her, how could the princess be taken advantage of by that Xue family member... Zhen Qin thought to herself.

"Sister Qin, what are you so crazy about? Your saliva is about to flow out!"

After saying this, Daiyu laughed out loud, causing Xiangyun to also laugh.

Daiyu Xiangyun knew what Zhen Qin was thinking, so how could he not laugh at her when he saw her like this.

Subconsciously touching the corner of her mouth, Zhen Qin found that she was not drooling, and looked at Daiyu with eyes full of anger.

At this time, Zhu Yunsheng said: "Brother Thirteen, where do you work? How do you work? Take us to see you!"

"What's there to see..."

However, before Zhu Jinghong finished speaking, he heard Daiyu say: "What the Thirteenth Master said is wrong. As a people, food is the most important thing. If there is no work, how can we get food and clothing? It can be seen that this work is the most important thing in the world!"

Why is this girl always quarreling with me?Zhu Jinghong was a little puzzled.

Now he had no intention of fooling around with a few girls, so it was only right to go back and attack the emperor and empress.

But before he could say anything, a eunuch came flying from a distance. Everyone present recognized this person as one of the great eunuchs in Kunning Palace.

"Reporting to the Thirteenth Master, the Queen has ordered you to come over immediately!"

Zhu Jinghong was about to find a reason to leave, but when he heard this, he replied: "I'll go right away!"

After saying this, he looked at Zhu Yunsheng and said, "Third sister, you see...it's not that I don't want to accompany you, it's that I can't help myself!"

Unexpectedly, Zhu Yunsheng didn't look at him, but asked Zhu Jingchun: "Brother Fourteen, are you two okay?"

These two people didn't want to go to see the emperor and the empress. When they heard the inquiry, they quickly responded and led Zhu Yunsheng and others away.

Only Zhen Qin was reluctant to leave. Unfortunately, his loving eyes could only see Zhu Jinghong's leaving figure.

When Zhu Jinghong came outside the hospital, he heard harmonious chatter and laughter inside, including even an old man.

It's rare to see an old man laughing. Could it be that he ate bee poop?Zhu Jinghong said secretly.

Of course Zhu Xianming did not eat the bee poop, but he was so happy that he heard Baochai "hijack" Zhu Jinghong and make him deflate.

Zhu Xianming had always had a headache when he thought that this bastard was a fool and no one could restrain him except himself and his wife.

Now that the daughter of the Xue family can persuade and persuade, how can she not give Zhu Xianming great comfort?

In addition, Zhu Xianming laughed heartily after listening to the interesting things Baochai told about this place, and he became more and more satisfied with the daughter-in-law in front of him.

Even Zhu Xianming was prejudiced, and Yang Qingyin on the side was even more satisfied.

Looking at Zhu Jinghong who appeared outside the hospital, Baochai said with a smile: "Father, Queen and mother, look, my husband will be back soon!"

The emperor and empress glanced outside the room. The smile on the former's face gradually disappeared, while the latter stood up and greeted: "Thirteen, come in quickly!"

Zhu Jinghong entered the courtyard, but he still looked "half-dead", without any of the energy he had when he was a prince. At first glance, he seemed to have been greatly wronged.

Seeing his appearance made Yang Qingyin feel very distressed, and she immediately stepped forward to take a look at her precious son.

"It's been hard on you these days. You should apologize to your father quickly. He will let you out when he is happy!" Yang Qingyin tried to smooth things over.

She had to call the emperor here today in order to let her son pass the test and leave this hard place as soon as possible.

"Mom, my son really doesn't know where he went wrong!" Zhu Jinghong asked.

Even at this time, it is extremely important for him to maintain his personality.He wanted to get involved in the military power, and this was the path the old man took. If he didn't behave "recklessly", it would be difficult to make the emperor feel at ease.

After drinking the last sip of cold water, Zhu Xianming said calmly: "Look at it... I just said that he is a guy who refuses to change despite repeated admonitions and can't hold up the wall with mud!"

Seeing this situation, Baochai also said: "My lord... please stop acting like a child. Father, I am willing to forgive you. This is a great grace!"

Information can easily change during the dissemination process. For example, when the Queen's words came out of Baochai's mouth, the meaning became that the Emperor had forgiven Zhu Jinghong, and now all he had to do was kowtow to express gratitude.

This was Baochai's little cleverness, and it couldn't be hidden from Zhu Xianming's discerning eye, but he didn't take it lightly either.

Neither deaf nor blind, he is not a family member. As long as Zhu Jinghong relents now, Zhu Xianming can still consider letting him go.

"Go quickly!" Yang Qingyin pushed Zhu Jinghong.

When he came to the emperor, Zhu Jinghong seemed reluctant. He had to make his expression real, but this moment was a great test of his acting skills.

I saw him kneeling on the ground and saying in a somewhat stylized manner: "My son, thank you father!"

"I don't think you're convinced!" Zhu Xianming said calmly.

At this moment, Zhu Jinghong could basically confirm that whether the old man was under pressure from the queen or felt that the test was in place, he indeed had the idea of ​​"pardoning" him in his heart.

Once Zhu Jinghong is sure of this, he feels at ease. Next, it's up to him to make some moves and continue to consolidate his character.

Facing the emperor's question, Zhu Jinghong looked directly at the queen: "Mom, look...my father never thought of letting me go!"

"Thirteen has already knelt down with you, what else do you want... Could it be that you, the king of this country, are angry with a child!"

When it comes to moral kidnapping skills, Yang Qingyin is also the best.

"Child? He has already opened a mansion, or is he a child?"

Yang Qingyin immediately responded: "Even if he becomes a father, he is also your son!"

"Dad, my son, I'd better not make things difficult for you. I'd better stay here and continue farming. When the wheat is harvested next year... I'll send you a few loads!"

Good guy, this is a miserable thing to say!
Call him unfilial, but he still accepts everything. Call him filial. There is something wrong with that.

"Look, Thirteen is so sensible now!" Yang Qingyin added.

Zhu Xianming still didn't answer, but picked up the "water bowl" from the side, but unfortunately it was empty.

This just gave him an opportunity to use the topic to his advantage, so he immediately said angrily: "Bring me some tea!"

The eunuch waiting next to him was frightened to death, so he immediately brought tea and ended the conversation.

Yang Qingyin is not a fool. She knows that because of Zhu Jinghong's nonsense, it is impossible to pardon him today, and the matter can only be postponed for two days.

When she complained about her youngest son, Baochai, who was standing by her side, was very calm because she knew what Zhu Jinghong was planning.

He obviously wanted to go out, but at this juncture he was still acting out. Even Baochai had to sigh that his man's thoughts were deep enough.

Then the topic changed. The empress and Baochai were mainly talking, while Zhu Jinghong and his son rarely spoke. The two of them looked at each other with disgust at this moment.

After a quick meal here, the emperor and the empress were about to take the people away, and the lively thatched hut would become cold again.

In the afternoon, Zhu Jingyuan, who had been out socializing for a day, was finally carried back to Prince Rui's palace.

Leaving aside the accompanying eunuchs, Zhu Jingyuan entered the inner house and was about to go to the residence of his concubines, but was stopped by Chen Zhi who was sunbathing outside Yin'an Palace.

"Does Your Majesty know that my father went to Shanglin Garden today?"

Stepping towards his wife, Zhu Jingyuan responded casually: "I know!"

Chen Zhi continued: "I heard someone say... the mother asked the thirteenth brother to confess his mistakes to his father, and planned to use this to ask his father to pardon him, but the thirteenth brother made rude remarks and disturbed him!"

Zhu Jingyuan really didn't know about this news. It wasn't that he couldn't get the news, but that he was busy with more important things.

"This old Thirteen is as clumsy as ever!" Zhu Jingyuan couldn't help but sigh.

At this moment, he had completely let down his guard against him, and felt that his previous excessive suspicion was unnecessary. How could such an idiot threaten him.

"Sometime in the next two days, you'd better go to your father to say hello, and on the way to beg for mercy for your thirteenth brother. I'll also go to my mother to say more nice things for him!"

"Yes!" Zhu Jingyuan nodded, showing filial piety and brotherhood is what he should do.

"By the way... yesterday, someone from Jinling sent tens of thousands of taels of silver. How to deal with it?"

"Who gave it? To whom?"

Chen Zhi replied: "Anyway, those same people sent it to my uncle's house this time, saying it was a gift for his birthday!"

The people who gave the money were very smart and would not send the money directly to Prince Rui's Mansion, so they played various tricks in it.

"Go back!" Zhu Jingyuan said in a deep voice.

In the past few months, he has rejected the money from Jinling more than ten times. Now that he has made a decision, he will stick to it.

Chen Zhi also knew that the matter was of great importance, so she asked: "I'm afraid they will give it away in the end. If they really go back...then there will be no turning around!"

As a princess, Chen Zhi has an understanding of the current political situation and the interests involved in the New Deal. What does it mean for Zhu Jingyuan to reject Jinling's overtures?

Picking up a piece of pastry from the table, Zhu Jingyuan said slowly: "Whatever father decides, I will follow!"

"Then you will offend a lot of people!" Chen Zhi reminded again.

Her mother-in-law was also a local gentry, so she naturally did not want the court to find out who was hiding her land, so many female relatives came to lobby her.

After taking a deep look at his wife, Zhu Jingyuan said: "Most of the gentry in the world think that the eldest son, Lao Si, should be the crown prince, so if I ask them, all these people will help me? Even if they help me, I can become the crown prince?"

"The old man has great power now, and no one can rebel under him. I'm just following the trend!"

Seeing that Chen Zhi wanted to say more, Zhu Jingyuan's tone turned cold and said: "Don't forget... you are already a member of the Zhu family!"

Zhu Jingyuan did not know who Chen Zhi met every day. He had reminded him several times before that he should not associate with these people.

"What do you mean by this? Don't I think about you?" Chen Zhi looked unhappy.

"You are very lighthearted. You go out of the palace every day to see this and that. I am left to deal with the officials and their families alone. How can those people be easy to get along with..."

"They all have evil intentions, but they speak in a high-sounding way. I have to take care of their face and maintain the dignity of the palace... Is it easy for me?"

To be honest, it is really difficult for him to be Zhu Jingyuan's princess. All kinds of social interactions are extremely complicated, especially women who tend to care about everything. Sorting out various relationships is not only tiring but also labor-intensive.

"Forget it...anything I do is wrong anyway, I just don't care about these nonsense!"

After saying that, Chen Zhi stood up to leave, but fortunately Zhu Jingyuan caught her quickly with quick hands and eyes.

"Princess, if you don't care, how can this palace be maintained without me going to see those women?" Zhu Jingyuan said with a sneer.

"Why does the prince need to go in person? There are two concubines and three concubines in the palace, plus the seven or eight concubines... Why don't I do what there are people doing!"

Chen Zhi's words were full of sarcasm, and it was obvious that she also had resentment towards Zhu Jingyuan.

"Princess, these words are enough to make a difference...you are the royal concubine of the palace, and you enjoy the honor of sitting on the palace council, how can you let someone else do it for you!" Zhu Jingyuan explained.

He and his wife have a solid relationship foundation, and now they are working together to seek a high position. It would be nice to put aside many conflicts.

"Come on, come on, sit down... let's talk!"

While talking, Zhu Jingyuan helped Chen Zhi back to his position, and now he had no intention of looking for anyone else.

Next, the two of them discussed again, first deciding on a plan to politely refuse to contribute money, and then discussing how to attack the Emperor and the Empress tomorrow.

Being of the same mind as husband and wife is the only way for them to get things done.

(End of this chapter)