Ming Dynasty: At the beginning, the house was ransacked and the ancestral temple was burned down.

Chapter 201: Sowing discord between the emperor and his son! Wanli: I knew it!

August 11, the 24th year of the Wanli reign.

Zhu Changluo's birthday has arrived.

It was the Crown Prince’s birthday, so naturally the lecturers had to give him a day off. As a result, the East Palace, which was not very lively to begin with, was even more deserted today, which was really sad.

Emperor Wanli seemed to have forgotten that today was the birthday of his eldest son Zhu Changluo. Or rather, he almost forgot that he had such an eldest son.

After all, in six days it would be Emperor Wanli's birthday.

Now Emperor Wanli was only immersed in the joy that Concubine Li Jing was pregnant with a royal heir, and was thinking about how to celebrate his own birthday which was approaching.

He seemed to have completely forgotten that the only person left in the cabinet was the Prime Minister Zhu Geng, who was complaining and struggling to hold on.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sent someone to ask for an audience early in the morning, saying that he wanted to personally pay his respects to you."

After listening to Chen Ju's report, Zhu Yijun waved his hand without thinking and said as usual:
"Just say I'm busy and don't have time to see him."

In fact, Zhu Yijun was indeed busy, busy looking through various books, trying to name the baby in Concubine Li Jing's belly, whom he didn't know whether it was a boy or a girl.

"But Your Majesty, today is the Crown Prince's birthday..." Chen Ju reminded.

"Oh, I almost forgot about this." Zhu Yijun finally raised his head and said:

"Go to the storehouse and pick out some gifts for the prince."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Yijun turned his gaze back to the book. Obviously, even though it was his eldest son's birthday today, he didn't want to see him.

Chen Ju had no choice. Although he felt sorry for the little prince, he had to obey the order and leave.

Chen Ju left to pick out a gift for the Crown Prince. At the end he had to make up a speech to comfort the Crown Prince who had just turned fourteen.

Not long after Chen Ju left, Zhu Yijun found the word he wanted in the book.

"Ying, this word is good!"

Zhu Yijun turned his head to look at the person next to him with joy. Just as he was about to say something, he found that the person standing next to him was neither Chen Ju nor Zhang Cheng, but another familiar old face.

"In reply to your Majesty, I remember that the word 'Ying' originally meant sea. In the 'Records of the Grand Historian - Annals of the First Emperor', there are three sacred mountains in the sea, one of which is named Yingzhou. This is the name of a sacred mountain, so it is naturally very good."

The person who was speaking was named Tian Yiyi, and he was a eunuch in charge of writing in the Silijian. On weekdays, he basically just focused on his work in the Silijian and rarely came to serve the emperor.

The reason is very simple, because this person is too rigid and is not liked by His Majesty the Emperor.

Moreover, in the eyes of His Majesty the Emperor, whenever Tian Yi appeared before him, he almost never had anything good to say.

Zhu Yijun actually liked Tian Yi very much. He knew that this man was loyal and capable and mature in his handling of matters. In his eyes, among so many eunuchs in the Imperial Household Department, Tian Yi was the only one who was really doing practical work.

However, Zhu Yijun did not like such a capable eunuch. In his eyes, Tian Yi was not what a eunuch should be like. Instead, he was very much like the civil servants of the previous dynasty who always liked to talk about the word "morality".

"Why are you here? Where is Zhang Cheng?" Zhu Yijun asked.

"Your Majesty, Eunuch Zhang Cheng has other things to do, so I will serve you just the same." While Tian Yi was replying, he stepped forward and massaged the emperor's shoulders.

Although Zhu Yijun didn't like Tian Yi's mouth, he liked Tian Yi's massage technique very much. But just when he was so comfortable that he wanted to doze off, Tian Yi's voice came to his ears again.

"Your Majesty, today is the Crown Prince's birthday. After today, the Crown Prince will be fourteen years old.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is not young anymore, and recently the Imperial Household Department has been receiving petitions from ministers requesting marriage for the Crown Prince."

Tian Yi's meaning was very clear. Although His Majesty the Emperor had already asked the Ministry of Rites to select the candidate for the Crown Princess, a long time had passed.

The Ministry of Rites had already selected the candidate for the Crown Princess, but the Emperor was reluctant to make a decision.

"He's only fourteen years old, still young, no rush." ​​Zhu Yijun just said this.

In fact, considering the prince's current age, it is not too early to talk about marriage. After all, Zhu Yijun himself got married when he was fifteen years old.

"Your Majesty is right. There is no rush for the Crown Prince to get married." Tian Yi agreed first, then said:

"But it takes a lot of time to prepare for the wedding. It doesn't matter if we arrange the wedding earlier. The crown prince's coronation ceremony was too hasty..."

"Hmm?" Zhu Yijun interrupted Tian Yi with a light voice and said:

"Why, when is my son going to get engaged? Is it your turn to make the decision for me?"

"I dare not!" Tian Yi knelt down immediately after saying this. He did not beat around the bush and said directly:
"Your Majesty, I don't want to hide it from you. Recently, the Imperial Household Department has received many memorials, all of which mention the engagement of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!
I am also afraid that if this matter is left unsolved for too long, it will arouse resentment among the ministers!"

Looking at Tian Yi, who was kneeling on the ground to admit his mistakes but actually showed no sign of admitting them, Zhu Yijun only said one word expressionlessly:

"roll."

……

Tian Yi left and Zhang Cheng came.

This time, Zhang Cheng brought news that made His Majesty the Emperor very unhappy.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager sent someone to tell her that today is the Crown Prince's birthday, so...she made a decision on her own and took Concubine Gong from Jingyang Palace out. The Empress Dowager said that she just wanted Concubine Gong to make a bowl of longevity noodles for the Crown Prince..."

Upon hearing this news, Zhu Yijun's face instantly turned cold, and he snorted unhappily:
"My good mother is so kind that she always acts first and asks for permission later!"

Zhu Yijun was very unhappy. He did not like Concubine Wang Gong. Even though he had imprisoned this poor concubine who had given birth to a son and a daughter for him for nearly five years, he still did not feel that he had treated her unfairly.

The biggest reason why Zhu Yijun didn't want to see his son on Zhu Changluo's birthday was actually because of Concubine Wang Gong.

Father and son are still father and son after all. Zhu Yijun knew that if Zhu Changluo could see him on this day, he would desperately beg him to release Concubine Wang Gong.

Zhu Yijun would not agree. Since he would not agree, he might as well not listen, let alone see him.

This way, it won't hurt the relationship between father and son too directly.

"Forget about it this time, but from now on, no one is allowed to release Concubine Gong without my order! Even the Queen Mother is the same!
In addition, after Concubine Gong makes the longevity noodles, immediately lock her up in Jingyang Palace! To prevent her from corrupting my son!"

The last words of Emperor Wanli were so funny that Zhu Yijun himself felt embarrassed even after realizing it.

Thinking back to the person who was sent to corrupt his son, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but ask:

"What has Zhang Chonghui been doing recently?"

"Your Majesty, I didn't pay attention to it." Zhang Cheng said, "I will go check it out right away."

"Forget it." Zhu Yijun just realized that all matters concerning Zhang Chonghui were under the responsibility of Chen Ju.

At this time, Chen Ju was still in the warehouse choosing a birthday gift for the Emperor's eldest son.

……

Cining Palace.

Zhu Changluo was very sad that he could not meet his father, the emperor.

However, when he arrived at the Cining Palace in a daze, ready to pay his respects to his grandmother, Empress Dowager Li, he was so overwhelmed with joy at the sudden surprise that he burst into tears on the spot.

"Mother..."

Looking at his biological mother who looked haggard and had lifeless eyes, Zhu Changluo burst into tears.

He had so many things he wanted to say to his mother, but amidst the joy of reunion and the outburst of all sorts of complex emotions, all he could do was throw himself into his mother's arms like a child, twitching and crying loudly.

Yes, he was still a child, a child who had been separated from his biological mother for a long time under the coercion of his biological father.

Concubine Wang Gong was also crying, but over the years, she had cried day and night because of missing her son, and her eyes had become sore.

She couldn't see clearly anymore. She finally got to see her son, but she couldn't even see how much he had grown. She could only touch her son's head carefully, crying and smiling with relief:
"Brother, you have grown taller."

Zhu Changluo had been crying so hard that he was unable to speak. He really wanted to ask his mother what was wrong with her eyes, but when he opened his mouth he could only make painful cries.

The mother and son hugged each other and cried for a long time, but not for long.

The people sent by the emperor arrived, and before the longevity noodles that were supposed to be prepared had even started, Concubine Wang Gong had already been forcibly taken back to Jingyang Palace and imprisoned.

After all, Concubine Wang Gong couldn’t even see clearly, so how could she make longevity noodles?

On his birthday, which should have been a happy one, Zhu Changluo not only failed to eat the longevity noodles, but also cried so hard that his eyes were red and swollen.

But Zhu Changluo was satisfied because he finally saw his biological mother.

For Zhu Changluo, this was the best birthday he had ever had since he became the crown prince.

Yes, there was actually only one birthday gift that Zhu Changluo really wanted, and that was to hope that his father, the emperor, would show mercy and release his biological mother, Concubine Wang Gong, from the "cold palace."

The young and timid prince thought that only his father, the emperor, could give him a gift like this.

At least Zhu Changluo still thinks so now.

……

Ciqing Palace.

After a day of hard work, Zhu Changluo had just returned to Ciqing Palace when someone came to visit him.

The person who came was his teacher Guo Zhengyu who had been ill for a long time.

Mr. Guo said that starting tomorrow he would no longer take leave.

In addition, Guo Zhengyu asked Zhu Changluo a question:
"Your Highness, during the days I was away, did Zhang Chonghui come to see you privately?"

Zhu Changluo hesitated for a moment and replied decisively:
"No."

"Is that so?" Guo Zhengyu didn't seem to doubt anything.

After putting down the gift and giving a few more words of concern, Guo Zhengyu left.

……

Guo Zhengyu left, and soon someone else came.

The person who came this time was Zhang Chonghui.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, are you satisfied with the birthday gift I gave you?" Zhang Chonghui asked directly as soon as he came up.

"How come it was you who gave me my birthday gift?" Zhu Changluo pretended to be dumb and said, "It was obviously my grandmother who ordered people to take my mother out of Jingyang Palace."

"Your Highness," Zhang Chonghui asked tentatively, "You don't really think that it was her credit that the Empress Dowager was able to bring Concubine Gong out of the cold palace to meet you, right?"

"What else?" Zhu Changluo asked anxiously, this was an impulse that the young man could not hide.

Seeing this, Zhang Chonghui finally believed that Empress Dowager Li had kept her promise this time. He immediately said to Zhu Changluo confidently:

"That was of course what I got from pleading with the Emperor. Otherwise, how could the Emperor allow the Empress Dowager to send someone to bring Concubine Gong, who was imprisoned by the Imperial Order, to meet you?

Your Highness, do you know how much effort I put into convincing the Emperor to allow you to meet Concubine Gong and your son?
But it doesn't matter, no matter how tired I am, I am willing to do it, and it has nothing to do with you, Your Highness."

Seeing Zhang Chonghui speak so confidently and sincerely, the fourteen-year-old Zhu Changluo couldn't help but believe him more and more.

After all, before this, Zhu Changluo had heard his grandmother, Empress Dowager Li, tell him in person that the reason he was able to see his biological mother, Concubine Gong, with his own eyes today was actually because of his father's secret agreement.

"So, do you really have a way to rescue my mother from the cold...Jingyang Palace?" Zhu Changluo asked half-doubtfully.

"Of course!" Zhang Chonghui said with certainty.

"What method?" Zhu Changluo's eyes became more and more expectant, and he didn't know whether it was real or fake.

Zhang Chonghui seemed to have no defenses and said:

"Your Highness, you are so smart. I believe you have already discovered that the only person who can save Concubine Gong is the Emperor. After all, it was he who ordered Concubine Gong to be imprisoned in Jingyang Palace and not allowed to see you and your son."

"Alas..." Zhu Changluo lowered his eyebrows and sighed, "Of course I know, but what can I do..."

Zhang Chonghui asked again: "Do you know why the emperor refused to see you on your birthday?"

"I know." Zhu Changluo nodded again, knowing full well: "Because... my father is tired of me pleading for my mother..."

"Your Highness is smart." Zhang Chonghui said immediately:

"The Emperor is indeed concerned about this, and as far as I know, Concubine Zheng has made a lot of trouble in this!
Concubine Zheng is not a peaceful person. She has always had the ambition to seize the position of crown prince for Prince Fu! "

"What a restless and vicious woman!" Zhu Changluo's eyes flashed with naked resentment. He was not pretending, and there was no need for him to pretend at this time.

"Your Highness, you also know that only the Emperor can make the decision to release Concubine Gong." Zhang Chonghui's voice sounded faintly in his ears, and he asked in a bewitching tone:

"I want to ask you a question. Do you respect the emperor?"

"Of course I am in awe." Zhu Changluo said without a doubt.

"Just being respectful is not enough." Zhang Chonghui said meaningfully:
“Instead of looking up to someone in awe, it’s better to be that person yourself!”

……

Qianqing Palace.

Chen Ju came back. The old eunuch not only personally delivered gifts to the prince, but also made up a reasonable reason to comfort the little prince.

It is worth mentioning that when he delivered gifts to the Eastern Palace, Zhang Chonghui was also there.

What is more noteworthy is that they left almost one after the other.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Chonghui whispered to me that he has successfully gained the trust of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"He gained the prince's trust so quickly... He... is really amazing..."

Upon hearing the news, Zhu Yijun looked slightly gloomy and did not seem happy, although before this, he had clearly urged Zhang Chonghui to hurry up many times.

Now it was fast, but he felt it was too fast...

Chen Ju could understand his Majesty. After all, the prince was the Emperor's biological son.

Although the Emperor did not like his son very much, his father would inevitably feel a little disappointed that his own son so easily trusted an outsider like Zhang Chonghui.

Seeing that the Emperor was so lost and dazed, and stood still like a wooden chicken, Chen Ju racked his brains to comfort the Emperor.

Facts have proved that God is still very kind to his son, the Emperor. At this unnecessary and critical moment, news came.

"Your Majesty, I have an urgent letter from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Upon hearing the news, Zhu Yijun immediately perked up and quickly asked someone to bring the letter!
In the past, even if Zhu Changluo wrote a letter in blood, his old father Zhu Yijun would not be so eager to check it.

But at this moment, Zhu Yijun was extremely nervous. He was so flustered when he opened the letter that his hands were shaking with anxiety.

Chen Ju didn't know what the prince wrote in the letter. He only knew that after reading the letter, the emperor, who was originally nervous, breathed a sigh of relief and laughed happily:

"I knew it! I knew it!"

At the same time, Zhu Yijun was filled with joy, for he knew that his son Zhu Changluo "dared not" deceive his father!
Yes, Zhu Changluo not only wrote down all the words that Zhang Chonghui had used to deceive him, but also wrote them down word for word in the letter.

Zhu Changluo even asked his father, the emperor, to quickly drive Zhang Chonghui, the scourge, out of the Eastern Palace!
(End of this chapter)