King Xiang of the Red Chamber

Chapter 646 I wish it was the same as before

The punished eunuch was about to plead for mercy when he was slapped in the face by his companion, so he immediately behaved himself.

At this time, there was a noise outside. The people who were delivering the imperial edict looked outside unconsciously and saw a sedan chair being carried into the Chengyun Gate.

"It's Princess Xiang!" the leading eunuch said in a low voice.

Sure enough, Baochai walked out of the sedan chair with the help of several maids.

Zhu Jinghong was under house arrest, but she herself was not restricted and could still enter and leave the palace freely. It's just that she rarely went out in recent days.

Now that the situation is getting worse, Baochai feels that she should do something.

She had planned to meet the Queen today, but was unable to do so because the Queen was ill, so she chose to go to the East Palace.

Even though she was just pretending, she still had to perform her role. She went to the East Palace in the morning and planned to go to Prince Rui's Mansion in the afternoon.

As soon as Baochai got off the sedan chair, a maid came forward and reported: "Madam, those are people from the palace, coming to summon the prince to the palace to see the emperor!"

As Baochai passed by, her eyes glanced at the eunuchs who were delivering the imperial edict, who immediately bowed and saluted.

Baochai just nodded slightly, which was a great courtesy to these people, because the latter had completed their mission of conveying the imperial edict and had returned from the status of imperial envoy to the status of royal servants.

When Baochai rushed to Yin'an Hall, she found that Zhu Jinghong had changed his clothes and was looking at himself in the mirror with his back to her.

Beside Zhu Jinghong, three eunuchs were carefully adjusting the folds on his clothes, which could definitely be described as a pursuit of perfection.

Seeing Baochai enter the hall, the dozen or so eunuchs and maids present all bowed to him at the same time.

"You guys go down first, I'll serve you here!"

"Yes!"

After everyone left, Baochai walked over to Zhu Jinghong and personally tidied his clothes.

Compared with the previous audience, this one is much more serious, so there must not be any mistakes.

"Are you ready?" Baochai asked softly.

Every time at a critical moment, she would ask this question because she was unsure.

Zhu Jinghong said expressionlessly, "I don't know!"

This time, he was not as confident as before, but his mentality was very calm.

I have already prepared a strategy for how to answer the question, so it all depends on how you perform next.

Turning around, Zhu Jinghong held his wife's shoulders and said calmly: "When the enemy comes, we will fight him with our soldiers; when the water comes, we will block it with earth!"

Baochai didn't say much, just smiled, and then said: "I'll wait for you to come back for dinner tonight!"

"The braised beef in soy sauce made by the kitchen recently is pretty good, don't forget to ask them to make one!"

Baochai nodded, turned around, picked up the gauze hat beside her, tiptoed and placed it on Zhu Jinghong's head, and asked, "What kind of wine would you like to drink?"

Zhu Jinghong smiled and replied, "No need... maybe I'll drink it and come back!"

"Come back after drinking?" Baochai was a little surprised.

"Okay... no more talking, I should get going!"

Baochai saw Zhu Jinghong out of Yin'an Gate, watched him disappear at the end of the corridor, and then turned and walked inside.

Half an hour later, Zhu Jinghong entered the palace and came to the outside of the Qianqing Palace.

After receiving the report, he was led into the palace, where Zhu Xianming was already waiting on the throne.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Xiang requests to see you!" Cheng Ying reported.

Zhu Xianming was also in a complicated mood at this time. After a few breaths of silence, he said, "Call him in!"

"Yes!"

Soon, Zhu Jinghong appeared outside the warm room and looked directly at the emperor with a calm gaze. It can be said that he showed no respect at all as a subject should.

After entering the room, Zhu Jinghong bowed deeply to Zhu Xianming according to the rules.

"Your Majesty, your son Zhu Jinghong, kowtows to His Majesty...Long live the emperor!"

After hearing these words, Zhu Xianming actually felt uncomfortable, but he couldn't explain why he felt uncomfortable.

"Get up!"

Afterwards, Zhu Jinghong stood up and asked, "What's the important matter that the emperor summoned me for?"

"You have been living a carefree life in the mansion these days!" Zhu Xianming asked calmly.

"You have to find some fun for yourself. Enjoy life to the fullest when you are happy!" Zhu Jinghong responded.

"Then it seems you are very proud!"

"My son is a prince. How many people in the world can compare to him? This is a time of pride!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xianming laughed, thinking that this kid's eloquence had improved, which showed that the months of studying had been useful.

"Do you know...something big happened in the capital recently!"

"A lot of things happened in the capital. Which one is Father asking about?"

"Zhu Jingting was beaten to death, and everyone said it was you who ordered it!"

"This is nonsense!" Zhu Jinghong denied it directly.

"I also believe that you won't resort to such despicable means!"

Even if this matter was exposed, Zhu Xianming continued, "But now, people inside and outside the court are constantly attacking you, saying that you are forming a clique for personal gain... What do you say?"

Zhu Jinghong asked back, "Dad... do you also think that your son is trying to form a clique for personal gain?"

Zhu Xianming really couldn't judge. As an emperor he had to be suspicious, but as a father he didn't want this to be true.

"Now I'm asking you!" Zhu Xianming said coldly.

Looking into the emperor's eyes, Zhu Jinghong said calmly: "Son wants to drink some wine, and then answer!"

"drink wine?"

"Yes... I want strong liquor, three jugs!"

When Zhu Xianming heard that this boy wanted to drink before replying, he felt it was outrageous. He thought that there had never been such a situation from ancient times to the present.

He was not an ordinary emperor, and the people standing before him were not ordinary ministers, so Zhu Xianming agreed to this outrageous request.

Soon, Cheng Ying personally brought the wine into the hall. When she was about to pour the wine for Zhu Jinghong, the latter snatched the wine jug away.

Zhu Jinghong took off the lid of the pot and threw it away, then picked up the pot and poured the liquid into his mouth. After he finished the first pot, he drank the second and third pots.

Within two or three minutes, all three pots of wine were poured into Zhu Jinghong's stomach, making him a little drunk.

"Tom..."

Hearing this strange statement, Zhu Xianming subconsciously asked: "What?"

"Dad... I knew you didn't believe me!"

"I formed a clique for personal gain? Who did I form a clique with? Who did I meet in private? What kind of personal gain did I engage in?"

"Weren't all those errands assigned to me by you?"

"Suppressing the Japanese in Nanjing, suppressing the rebellion in the northwest, and establishing the dynasty in Liaodong...wasn't my son acting according to the emperor's orders?" "Oh...now that the matter is done, you heard a few slanderous words and said that my son was forming a clique for personal gain. Aren't you killing the donkey after it has done its work?"

No wonder this kid wanted to drink. It was true that alcohol made cowards brave. He actually dared to say such outrageous words... Zhu Xianming was shocked.

But he didn't intend to stop him, as he wanted to hear what the boy had to say.

At this time, Zhu Jinghong took off his hat and threw it to Cheng Ying, then said, "As you said, my son could have been free and easy, why did he want to get involved in military power?"

Finally, when talking about the issue of military power, Zhu Xianming's expression became serious.

Holding the leather belt at his waist with one hand, Zhu Jinghong paced back and forth, and angrily said: "Interfering with military power? What do you mean by interfering with military power?"

"If my son doesn't lead the army...how can we eliminate the Japanese pirates? How can we quell the rebellion?"

Standing in the hall, Zhu Jinghong stopped and said to the emperor, "Besides, my son is giving up his carefree life and risking his life to fight. Is it just to get his hands on military power?"

"Shit!"

"My son's goal is just to relieve your worries and seek peace for the court and the people!"

"If the Japanese pirates are pacified, the people will live and work in peace. If the northwest is peaceful, the country will be safe. We must also build a strong navy, because we must not only defend against the enemy at the border, but also defend against the enemy in all corners of the world..."

"In today's world, the Western barbarians are coming across the sea. It is a time of great contention. The strong will become stronger, and the weak will perish..."

For a moment, Zhu Jinghong talked about the general situation of the world again. Just from his fanatical and determined eyes, one could still believe that he was a passionate young man with aspirations.

In other words, the so-called interference in military power is a means, a tool to realize ambitions, not an end in itself.

To put it more bluntly, the purpose of holding military power is to do practical things for the court and the emperor, not to form cliques for personal gain or even to cause sabotage.

Zhu Jinghong had previously told the emperor many ideas and long-term considerations, and after several years of indoctrination, they actually influenced Zhu Xianming's concepts.

According to Zhu Jinghong's explanation, the Ming Dynasty is currently in a period of great changes unseen in a century, and it must have long-term considerations in order to continue to prosper.

Zhu Xianming had the Imperial Guards at his disposal, and his ears and eyes could be said to be spread all over China and abroad. He was the most knowledgeable person in the world except Zhu Jinghong.

Zhu Jinghong's ideas were ahead of their time, and the person in the world most likely to understand and agree with him was the emperor.

At this time, Zhu Xianming did recognize him and basically believed him.

Zhu Jinghong noticed this, but he wanted to solve the problem once and for all, so he had to continue.

After analyzing the situation, Zhu Jinghong straightened his clothes and then knelt before the emperor.

"If a father is not kind, his son will be unfilial. What you just said is not the way a father should judge his son. I beg you to take it back before I make my next statement!"

After saying this, Zhu Jinghong put his head to the ground to show that he was arguing for truth and had no intention of disrespecting the emperor or his father.

Of course, only he could do this, and dare to make the emperor take back his words immediately, which was something no one else would dare to think about.

Zhu Xianming didn't take it seriously and said slowly: "What I said just now was just repeating what others said!"

Translated, what he said means that the slanderous words against Zhu Jinghong were said by others, and he was just relaying them so there is no need to take them back.

Zhu Jinghong certainly wanted to give the emperor a way out, so he stood up and said solemnly: "Dad... you just said a lot of nonsense, your son can answer your questions just now!"

The emperor's question just now was about forming a clique for personal gain, and Zhu Jinghong only gave a side explanation instead of giving a direct answer to the question.

Zhu Jinghong looked solemn and said with a piercing gaze, "Since I took command of the army, I have been in charge of suppressing the Japanese in the southeast, commanding the suppression of the rebellion in the northwest, and presiding over the reform of the Beijing army... Every step has depended on your support!"

"If you're talking about forming a clique, I can only be your subordinate. If you're talking about pursuing personal interests... I'm also pursuing personal interests for your great cause!"

"Alas, my parents, you have worked so hard to give birth to me..."

"Last time you reduced my salary and confined me to my home, and I accepted it calmly. This time you want to reduce my title and even confiscate my property, and I will not complain at all!"

Hearing this, Zhu Xianming couldn't help but feel moved. He saw Zhu Jinghong's innocent heart and understood how much harm his questioning had done to him.

"Dad...it's just that your son is unwilling to accept this..."

"For you, your son can endure any hardship. But your son doesn't understand why the one who does more, always suffers more!"

Pointing outside the door, Zhu Jinghong cried, "Those people in the temple don't know how biting the northwest wind is, they don't know how difficult it is to prepare for war, they don't know how dangerous it is to charge into the battlefield..."

"They only know how to talk big and gossip. What makes me even more sad is that you don't believe me..."

Zhu Xianming looked solemn. He found that just as Old Thirteen had said, his vision was indeed not enough.

As the saying goes, don't employ a person you doubt, and don't doubt a person you employ. He always compared himself to Emperor Taizong of Tang, but he was far inferior to him in terms of broad-mindedness... Thinking of this, Zhu Xianming felt extremely ashamed.

Objectively speaking, the forces in Zhu Jinghong's army can only be called "old friends", which is far from the so-called confidants.

Even if those people were really Zhu Jinghong's confidants, they were only a minority in the army, and the situation was still under the control of Zhu Xianming.

So at this time, Zhu Xianming had to wonder whether he lacked self-confidence.

While he was thinking, Zhu Jinghong continued, "Since the last time I was summoned to Longwu Palace, I have felt that I am not close to you. Although I have been having fun every day since I returned home, I am actually feeling empty inside and can't sleep or eat well!"

"Dad, do you know what your son misses the most?"

Seeing his youngest son looking at him, Zhu Xianming asked, "What's the matter?"

Looking at the emperor, Zhu Jinghong said with admiration: "My son wishes to hold your warm hand and stroll within the palace walls like before..."

Zhu Jinghong felt uncomfortable when hearing such greasy words, but today he really gave it a go.

He was indeed a good actor, and his statement was particularly sincere, which really touched the emperor again.

At this moment, Zhu Xianming couldn't help but recall how much he loved his youngest son, how he later worried about him growing up abnormally, and how happy he was for his hard work and success...

What made the father and son, who were originally close relatives, reach this state of suspicion?
Was it the criticism of the court officials? Was it the instigation of the fourth and sixth sons? Was it the so-called suspicion of the emperor?

Zhu Xianming felt that neither was the case. The root cause was that he, as a father, did not have the proper trust in his son.

"Ever since you became emperor, we've spent less and less time together, to the point where we've become so estranged!"

Pointing at the dragon throne where Zhu Xianming sat, Zhu Jinghong continued, "Even if you punish me, I will say... this position is a disaster!"

This position is a disaster...

This sentence is as loud as a bell, revealing the cruel reality of thousands of years.

Over the throne, many brothers turned against each other, fathers and sons shed blood, couples broke up, and even families were destroyed and their lands were lost.

Feeling this, Zhu Xianming looked at Zhu Jinghong again.

In order to avoid these disasters, it is necessary to select qualified heirs.

Who is the qualified successor? Zhu Xianming already has the answer in his mind.

But as the heir, he will become everyone's target and will inevitably suffer more dangers.

Therefore, we should first set up a target, or two targets, to attract the attention of the world. This is the only way to ensure the safety of the heir.

At this moment, Zhu Xianming finally sorted out all his thoughts. He felt suddenly enlightened and his mood improved a lot.

"Okay, what's the harm or not? Are these the words you can say?" Zhu Xianming asked with a cold face.

"You call yourself a hero, but when you are wronged you cry like a woman. You have made me lose face..."

The emperor continued to chatter, and now it was time for him to show off.

Zhu Jinghong showed an expression of dissatisfaction, but he was very happy in his heart. He knew that the relationship between father and son had been restored and now returned to the way it was before.

"Look at your character. You are showing off your misery in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. How can you be worthy of being the heir of the royal family?"

(End of this chapter)