King Xiang of the Red Chamber

Chapter 785 Liang Yi's Words
There were several eunuchs leading the way in front of Zhu Jinghong, and they entered the hall first.

Therefore, the several assassination methods that Miaoyu had envisioned had no chance of being carried out.

When Miaoyu was feeling flustered and didn't know how to face Zhu Jinghong, the latter had already entered the hall.

Miaoyu turned sideways and looked at the bookshelf beside her. There was no book on it.

Although she was wandering, Miaoyu's graceful figure still made Zhu Jinghong look at her a few more times.

After signaling everyone in the hall to leave, Zhu Jinghong moved over.

As Zhu Jinghong moved, Miaoyu slowly adjusted her direction, never facing him head on.

When he was one step away from her, Zhu Jinghong asked calmly, "Master Miaoyu, we haven't seen you for a long time!"

"Humph... Dog Emperor!"

Hearing this, Zhu Jinghong was stunned as he had never called him like that before.

But he did not get angry, but continued to walk around, trying to get in front of her, but Miaoyu did not give him a chance.

Since they didn't want to meet face to face, they could talk while standing behind each other, so Zhu Jinghong took another step closer, and now they were only a few inches apart.

"Miaoyu, you are now a prisoner, what should you do?"

Although she couldn't see Zhu Jinghong, the heat coming from her neck from behind made Miaoyu feel like a frightened bird, and she took two steps forward reflexively.

After standing still, although she was cursing in her heart, Miaoyu still tried her best to control her temper and make herself look calm.

So what if he is the emperor? I won’t be scared by him.

Miaoyu turned sideways, looked outside the palace, and replied coldly: "Today... there is only death!"

This woman does have some backbone... Zhu Jinghong had to admit it.

Then he said, "But if you want, you don't have to die!"

Miaoyu sneered: "How can I not die? Being treated as a plaything by you? Living in humiliation?"

From the failure of the prince to the subsequent changes in the sect, Miaoyu has lost all desire to live and has made up her mind to die.

"I only regret that I didn't act secretly at that time, otherwise I might not be captured by you today!"

Seeing her unruly appearance, Zhu Jinghong sighed: "You are a beautiful woman, why do you become a thief!"

Miaoyu was now ready to risk her life, and immediately retorted: "How can you be a thief? It's not clear who the thief is!"

"Am I a thief?"

"In today's world, the government is weak, treacherous officials are in power, militarism is rampant, taxes are heavy, and the people are living in poverty. Aren't you, the Emperor Zhu, a tyrant and a traitor to the people?"

Zhu Jinghong couldn't laugh at this moment. No emperor could tolerate such accusations, let alone being accused in person.

The emperor generally did not debate with others. Most of the time, he would use dimensionality reduction attacks, such as beating in court or physical annihilation.

Killing Miaoyu is a simple matter, but Zhu Jinghong does not intend to do so. After all, she is not afraid of death, and the butcher's knife cannot scare her at all.

"You say I am a tyrant and a traitor to the people. That is just your opinion. It is a slander and accusation against me because of our personal grudges!"

"Your body and name will be destroyed, but the rivers and streams will flow forever. It was me who led the army to fight against the barbarians, and it was me who crossed the oceans and drove out the Western barbarians. How could you understand my achievements?"

"Of course, you can only see your own achievements and this peaceful and prosperous era. How rare is this in ancient times!"

"In your so-called prosperous times, how many people died, how many farmers lost their homes, and how many babies starved and waited for food!"

"These people are also your people, but do your achievements have anything to do with them?"

Miaoyu's words were well-founded and made Zhu Jinghong feel uneasy.

Even though the Ming Dynasty was thriving, even though it was a rare golden age, what Miaoyu said did exist, and Zhu Jinghong could not deny it.

"So I will make sure that this kind of thing happens less often. This is the duty of a king and father!"

When he first aspired to become emperor, he did feel sorry for the hardships of people's lives and wanted to seek good governance for the common people.

Now that he is the emperor, the policies he implements are in line with his original ideas, but it is difficult to accomplish them overnight.

Therefore, Zhu Jinghong quickly regained his composure, because he had a clear conscience towards the common people.

He came to see Miaoyu tonight originally to have some fun and relax, but he unexpectedly ended up talking about these heavy topics.

Zhu Jinghong then said: "You said I was a tyrant and a traitor to the people. The White Lotus Sect stirred up trouble among the people and caused other people's families to be destroyed. You are the real traitors to the people!"

"As far as I know, the incense masters and divine messengers of your White Lotus Sect are all extremely wealthy!"

What Zhu Jinghong said was also true, so Miaoyu could not refute it at this moment, and the hall fell silent for a while.

"If you want to kill me, then kill me. Why are you talking so much nonsense? If you don't kill me today... I will come to kill you tomorrow!"

Hearing Miaoyu's threat, Zhu Jinghong smiled. He just liked the other party's fierceness.

"As long as you turn from evil to good, why would I kill you?"

"You are delusional!"

"You are unwilling to submit to the court now, but you may not think so in the future. I can wait slowly!"

Miaoyu glared at Zhu Jinghong for the first time, intending to kill him with her eyes.

Zhu Jinghong was not afraid at all. He walked towards Miaoyu again. When he got close to her, he lowered his voice and said, "Actually, I know you can't bear to kill me!"

"You fart!"

"During the Mid-Autumn Festival of the 18th year of Zhengtong, after your plot failed, the Northern Pacification Division arrested many people, among whom was your confession!"

Walking around to the front of Miaoyu again, Zhu Jinghong said slowly, "I heard that you told your men that you must spare my life and that you were planning to send me out of the capital and put me under house arrest!"

"Is this possible?"

This was indeed the case, but the prince's side was defeated too quickly at that time, and all her plans fell through, and she had no choice but to evacuate first.

Turning around again, Miaoyu said viciously: "I wish I could cut you into pieces!"

Unexpectedly, the next moment, Zhu Jinghong put his hands on her shoulders, which made Miaoyu shudder instantly and her body froze for a moment.

"You have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. I think that's you. But I know... you have me in your heart!"

Miaoyu wanted to break free, but she didn't have enough strength, so she could only curse: "You only know how to bully a weak woman like me, the so-called wise emperor... is nothing but a lecherous thief!"

Hearing this, Zhu Jinghong laughed and said, "You are angry because of shame. It is obvious that I hit the nail on the head. It seems that you really have me in your heart!"

When these words were spoken, Miaoyu didn't know how to respond for a moment. After hesitating for two seconds, she denied it.

"I just want to kill you, you dog emperor!"

However, her words had no lethality, and Zhu Jinghong laughed even more happily.

Turning her around, Zhu Jinghong looked at Miaoyu and said, "People from the Northern Pacification Office said that you are a saint in the White Lotus Sect, but you have lost your power in the sect and are almost a prisoner!"

"The people of the imperial court rescued you, so I am your savior. Is this how you repay me?"

"Benefactor? Who was it that forced himself on me and gave me... gave me..."

Miaoyu couldn't say what happened. After all, she was not as shameless as Zhu Jinghong.

"We were practicing together back then, it was something we both agreed to... Do you still want to blame me?"

"If I were not in the royal family, given our relationship, we would have become Taoist companions. How could we be shouting and killing each other like this?"

Zhu Jinghong's words sounded affectionate, but Miaoyu didn't believe a word of it. In her eyes, Zhu Jinghong had only two definitions: either a dog emperor or a lecherous thief. "Forget it, today we meet again, which is a happy event. Let's not talk about these old things!"

Zhu Jinghong pulled Miaoyu into the inner room and continued, "I have been reading Buddhist scriptures recently, and there are some things I don't understand. Today is a good opportunity to ask you for advice!"

He wouldn't be thinking... Miaoyu followed him like a wooden man, but her heart was already filled with turmoil.

"I won't go!" Miaoyu shouted angrily. She was not that humble, even though she did have someone in her heart.

Zhu Jinghong turned around and saw Miaoyu's resolute look. This time he did not continue to use force because he saw Miaoyu's determination.

At this time he smiled again. It was rare for an emperor to find something new to do, so he didn't mind spending some time with Miaoyu.

"What do you think I am doing by discussing the meaning of the sutra with you? Never mind. You haven't practiced for a long time, yet you have developed such a violent temper!"

"There is a Cihang Hall in the northeast corner of the palace. It is a great place for cultivation. You can go there and cultivate peacefully!"

Cihang Hall is a royal temple, mainly used to house deposed concubines. Yang Jingting once stayed here for two years.

To be honest, Miaoyu really didn't expect Zhu Jinghong to give in like this.

She didn't want to become Zhu Jinghong's plaything, so when there were other options, she had almost no intention of refusing.

Of course, she couldn't admit it herself, so she could only choose to accept it.

Zhu Jinghong then looked outside the hall and ordered, "Come here, send Master Miaoyu to Cihang Hall!"

So Miaoyu was taken away. At this moment she just wanted to leave quickly, so she cooperated much more than when she came.

Zhu Jinghong still smiled as he watched Miaoyu leave.

Although I didn't get to eat meat tonight, it was still an unusual experience, even though I was scolded at the beginning.

In a sense, his behavior is despicable, which shows that the statement that meat-eaters are despicable will not be outdated even a thousand years later.

After Zhu Jinghong left Chengming Courtyard, he went directly to Kunning Palace. At this time, Baochai was teaching her son to read.

The eldest son, Zhu Muzhen, is now seven years old and started school two years ago.

"You're back so soon?" Baochai asked, looking up, with a hint of teasing in her expression.

"Ok!"

"Looking at you like this, I'm afraid you've been disappointed!"

Zhu Jinghong did not answer, but walked behind Zhu Muzhen, who was writing at the moment.

Seeing that he was writing skillfully and his handwriting was neat, Zhu Jinghong didn't look at it any further.

Then he picked up Zhu Muzhen, his second legitimate son, who was now three years old.

And now, Baochai's belly is bulging again, and she doesn't know whether she is pregnant with a son or a daughter.

"I say you too, why are you so impatient? There is no beauty in the inner palace, why are you obsessed with a female rebel!"

Teasing his son in his arms, Zhu Jinghong sighed, "You don't understand!"

"Don't I know you? I'm just trying to find something new!"

What Baochai said was indeed correct. As husband and wife and business partners, she was truly the person who knew Zhu Jinghong best.

"You like her monk's robes? Isn't that how Tanchun dresses? Why do you have to go find Miaoyu?"

There is no doubt that Baochai had predicted what Zhu Jinghong was planning.

"Forget it, forget it. I'd better not say anything more, lest I upset His Majesty!"

Zhu Jinghong replied helplessly: "I didn't say anything!"

In the blink of an eye, a few days passed and it was October. The weather was getting colder.

Liang Yi, who had been busy outside all day, jumped off the horse, rubbing his hands, and hurried into the mansion.

Inside the residence of the Prince Consort's mansion, Zhu Yunsheng was talking to the women of the Liang family, who were people like Liang Yi's aunt.

"Princess, Your Majesty... please go to the study!"

Zhu Yunsheng was of noble status, and Liang Yi would take the initiative to come to her whenever he had something to do. It was indeed very rare for him to invite her over like today.

After saying goodbye to everyone, Zhu Yunsheng went to the study.

As soon as he entered the study, Zhu Yunsheng asked, "What does the Prince Consort want to see me about?"

In fact, Zhu Yunsheng had already seen that her husband was not very happy at the moment.

"Your Highness, have you sent someone to deliver something to Prince Gongshun's mansion again today?"

Zhu Yunsheng was stunned for a moment, then nodded calmly.

Suppressing his anger, Liang Yi said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, are you trying to kill our family?"

Today he was outside, playing polo with the sons of military honors, and these things in the mansion were told by others.

Liang Yi had advised against sending gifts to Prince Gongshun's palace many times before, as he knew that doing so would not be a good thing for his family.

Originally Zhu Yunsheng had agreed to it, but after just a few days the idea revived again, which made Liang Yi very unhappy.

Today outside, all his friends advised him to be cautious so as not to bring trouble to his family.

"I heard that Sixth Brother has been seriously ill recently. I just sent some medicinal herbs to his house. What's the big deal?"

"Don't forget, when we learned that Sixth Brother had been seriously ill for a long time, even the palace gave him medicine many times!"

Liang Yi just felt powerless at this moment. He found that sometimes the princess was very smart, but sometimes she could be stupid.

"Can we compare with the palace?" Liang Yi said angrily in a low voice.

However, Zhu Yunsheng was not afraid at all. He just stared at Liang Yi coldly for a few seconds, and the latter's masculinity disappeared instantly.

"Aren't you just afraid that Thirteenth Brother will be unhappy? Don't worry...if His Majesty is really angry, then you and I will just get divorced, and you will never be implicated!"

To be honest, these words really hurt Liang Yi's heart.

"Could it be that Princess thinks that I, Liang Yi, am a villain who is only concerned about my own safety and does not care about the relationship between husband and wife?"

Liang Yi asked very seriously, and there was no sign of fear in his expression, which made Zhu Yunsheng realize that he had said something wrong.

The two have been husband and wife for several years, so naturally they have feelings for each other and they have a good relationship on a daily basis.

"I said something wrong, I apologize!"

Zhu Yunsheng was a person who dared to love and hate. Seeing her admitting her mistake so straightforwardly, Liang Yi no longer cared about it.

"What I'm worried about is the safety of our family. You're not only alone now, but also me... and our child!"

Walking up to his wife, Liang Yi said in a gentle tone: "You can ignore our safety, but you don't care about the future of our child?"

"The Gongshun Palace doesn't need these few things from us. Please don't send any more... ok?"

Liang Yi's expression was full of pleading, which made Zhu Yunsheng feel very distressed.

Today, they spoke so bluntly for the first time, and it really made Zhu Yunsheng feel differently.

"I……"

"I'll listen to you!" Zhu Yunsheng nodded.

(End of this chapter)