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

Chapter 246 Forced into the palace!

East Palace.

it's getting dark.

Crown Prince Zhu Changluo looked solemn and haggard. Ever since he returned from the Qianqing Palace yesterday, he had been looking desperate, as if a disaster was about to happen.

At this time, Zhu Changluo, like most people, did not know that his father had fallen ill. He only knew that Zhang Chonghui was in jail again.

"Wang An..." Zhu Changluo murmured, "You said... Is it because I betrayed Zhang Chonghui that he was thrown into prison?"

The answer was obvious. Eunuch Wang An didn't know how to answer. He could only comfort her:
"Your Highness, you are helpless."

"Yeah, I have no choice..." Zhu Changluo said with a wry smile, "But even if I have no choice but to give Zhang Chonghui away, my father will still depose me..."

Zhu Changluo felt that he was very sorry for Zhang Chonghui, but feeling sorry was one thing, but the most regrettable thing for him was to lose such a useful arm.

After all, apart from Zhang Chonghui, it seemed that no one would really help him, the so-called prince.

Just when Zhu Changluo was feeling sad about the passing of time, someone came to visit the East Palace.

The person who came was someone Zhu Changluo did not expect.

It was the first time that Zhu Changluo met Zhang Yunxiu in private. At first, he was reluctant to meet Zhang Chonghui's uncle, but after thinking about it, he decided to meet him anyway.

However, after seeing each other, Zhu Changluo felt that it would have been better if he had known earlier...

Because Zhang Yunxiu actually asked him to enter the palace on his own initiative, go to the dragon bed without being invited, and serve his "so-called" seriously ill father, the emperor.

"What nonsense are you talking about! My father is in good health, how could he be seriously ill? Be careful with your words!" Zhu Changluo warned.

Seeing that Zhu Changluo was so excited that he didn't seem to be acting, Zhang Yunxiu hesitated for a moment and asked, "Your Highness, didn't Lord Ye tell you?"

"Mr. Ye?" Zhu Changluo was puzzled: "What did he say to me?"

I don’t know if it was a coincidence, but as soon as I finished speaking, someone came to report that Ye Xianggao had arrived.

……

Ye Xianggao arrived on time, as if he had calculated the time carefully.

Zhang Yunxiu understood instantly and thought that this old guy was really cautious!
With Ye Xianggao's arrival, Zhang Yunxiu's words became more convincing.

In addition to learning that his father was hysterical, Zhu Changluo also gradually realized one thing -

——Zhang Chonghui had actually expected that he would betray the other party...

Zhu Changluo was moved. He was moved that Zhang Chonghui planned a way out for him even though he knew he would be betrayed.

However, the feeling of being touched was only temporary. After all, Zhu Changluo also knew that he and Zhang Chonghui were in the same boat, and Zhang Chonghui was protecting him as the prince as well as himself.

Zhang Yunxiu and Ye Xianggao told Zhu Changluo everything they could.

However, even with the persuasion of Ye Xianggao, the prince's teacher, Zhu Changluo was still hesitant and said:

"Whether or not the emperor is really seriously ill is one thing. The key is... he didn't summon me to the palace. It would be against the rules for me to go to the palace like this. What if the emperor wakes up and gets angry..."

"Your Highness, don't hesitate." Zhang Yunxiu urged again:

"Whenever parents are sick, filial sons must serve them by their bedside. You are the eldest son of the emperor and the crown prince of the Eastern Palace.

Right now His Majesty the Dragon is in poor health, so it is reasonable for you to enter the palace to serve him. Why do you have so many concerns?
Even if the emperor wakes up, he can only praise you for being filial. How could he be angry? "

What Zhang Yunxiu said was reasonable. After all, it was common for his son to take care of his father when he was sick.

However, that only applies to ordinary people, not the imperial family.

"But..." Zhu Changluo had no words to express his grievances. He didn't want to enter the palace at this time at all because he had already realized the seriousness of tonight's trip.

Now that the emperor is seriously ill, his uncle Zhang Chonghui, who had just been released from prison, has come to urge him to go to the palace to take care of him, and he is accompanied by Ye Xianggao, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

Zhu Changluo was no fool, he knew very well that if he succeeded in his trip tonight, he would be the next emperor entrusted by the emperor.

If not...

Then whether he will live or die in the future will be unknown...

After all, he is the crown prince of a country, and one who is about to be deposed. Entering the palace without an imperial edict when the emperor is seriously ill, what is the difference between this and forcing the emperor to abdicate and rebelling?
It was understandable that Zhu Changluo was afraid. Cowardly and worrisome, the person he feared most since he was a child was Zhu Yijun.

Even if he was beaten to death, he would not dare to rebel against his father!

Seeing that Zhu Changluo was still wavering and hesitant, Ye Xianggao just gave him a few words of advice as a formality.

Zhang Yunxiu couldn't help but think of what Zhang Chonghui once said to him: "Don't count on them, none of them can be trusted."

Yes, no one is reliable.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled bitterly in his heart. When he looked at Zhu Changluo again, he suddenly put away his smile and said coldly:
"Your Highness, since you have concerns and are unwilling to enter the palace to serve the sick, this is the only way."

Zhang Yunxiu raised his hands and said goodbye:

"Then I will not bother you any more and will go back first."

Zhang Yunxiu wanted to see to what extent Ye Xianggao could "extricate himself"!
The worst that can happen is we just break up, no one will have an easy time!

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu turned around and left after he finished speaking, not only Zhu Changluo was puzzled, but Ye Xianggao, who had originally wanted to sit back and reap the benefits, finally became anxious.

……

In the end, Zhang Yunxiu was unable to leave due to Ye Xianggao's "good voice".

Zhu Changluo still didn't want to enter the palace, but his Mr. Ye was really good at finding his weaknesses.

Ye Xianggao not only repeatedly pointed out the fact that Concubine Zheng frequently summoned Prince Fu into the palace, but also brought out Zhu Changluo's weakness - Concubine Gong Wang.

“Your Highness, Concubine Zheng concealed the emperor’s illness and sent people to summon Prince Fu to the palace several times. It is very likely that she wanted to take advantage of the emperor’s serious illness to usurp the throne.

Prince Fu did not enter the palace to attend to the emperor because he did not know that the emperor was seriously ill. But I know that you did not want to enter the palace because you abide by the rules.

But Your Highness, have you ever thought about this? If Concubine Zheng succeeds in her evil plan, and Prince Fu enters the palace before you to take care of the sick, what if the Emperor gets hysterical again and makes Prince Fu the crown prince in a moment of confusion?

If Prince Fu is the crown prince, after he ascends the throne, he might give you a good end out of brotherly love.

But what about the jealous Concubine Zheng? How will she treat your biological mother, Concubine Gong?"

When Ye Xianggao said this, he did not intend to scare his prince student.

Zhu Changluo also knew that Mr. Ye was not trying to scare him. After all, he also knew that his biological mother, Concubine Gong, was never favored.

If his third brother, Prince Fu, really became emperor by then, even if he, his elder brother, could survive, he would be exiled to a remote fiefdom and imprisoned.

Zhu Changluo had a place to stay, but what about his biological mother, Concubine Gong?
Concubine Gong had no choice but to stay in the harem. If the situation was good, she could still live as an old concubine with no power and tears all day long.

If the situation had been bad, she would have been killed by that vicious woman, Concubine Zheng, long ago.

The more Zhu Changluo thought about it, the more scared he became. Concubine Wang Gong was his only weakness so far. When he thought of his mother's eyes that were blinded by crying, he never wanted to live the bitter life of separation from mother and son again!
"Your Highness!" Seeing the hesitant prince's face gradually turn red, Zhang Yunxiu seized the opportunity, raised his hand and pressed Zhu Changluo's shoulder, and said in a heavy tone:
"Even if you don't think about yourself, you have to think about the mother who gave birth to you, raised you, and loved you!"

"Yes!" Ye Xianggao also followed up and echoed:
"Your Highness, we have already paved the way for you. Now that the arrow has been shot, there is no turning back. At this point, we have no choice!"

……

Qianqing Palace.

As night fell, it was already the hour of Hai.

Zheng Mengjing waited and waited, and finally his son came.

However, the son she was looking forward to was not Zhu Changxun, but the crown prince Zhu Changluo, whom she least wanted to see.

"Prince, why are you here?"

Zheng Mengjing was so shocked that her jaw almost dropped to the ground. She was just about to ask Zhu Changluo how he managed to get through the layers of guards and enter the palace without an imperial edict!

However, the next moment, she was speechless by Ye Xianggao, the Grand Secretary who came with Zhu Changluo.

"Your Highness, the Emperor is seriously ill. How come the cabinet was completely unaware of such a major event?
Where is the Empress? Why isn't the head of the imperial harem here? Instead, you, the Imperial Concubine, are here?
And what about the imperial doctors who are all over the yard, being locked up here like prisoners?"

Ye Xianggao's series of deadly questions that hit the nail on the head dumbfounded the imperial concubine, whose brain was not very good to begin with.

Fortunately, Zheng Mengjing still had some brains. She quickly pulled out the eunuch Chen Ju to defend herself, but...

"Chen Ju...Where's Chen Ju?"

Zheng Mengjing looked around like a fool. She didn't even know when Chen Ju disappeared!
A living person disappeared just like that!

"Where's Chen Ju? Wasn't he here just now?"

Zheng Mengjing had no time to care about his image and kept asking the palace servants around him.

However, the palace servants all shook their heads and lowered their heads. Even Cui Wensheng had a dull look on his face, as if he had discovered something.

"Empress Zheng, I think you are tired from taking care of the sick for too long. You should go back and rest first. I am here to serve father."

Zhu Changluo was very calm and indifferent, not at all like the timid and cowardly prince of the past.

From the moment he made up his mind and stepped into the Forbidden City, Zhu Changluo's state of mind had undergone a drastic change.

After all, he has embarked on this desperate road. If it succeeds, he will be the next emperor of the Ming Dynasty!
If the plan fails, he and his biological mother, Concubine Wang Gong, will be no different from death!

A man who is not afraid of death, no matter how afraid he was of Concubine Zheng in the past, to Zhu Changluo at this moment, the person in front of him was just a woman who posed no threat.

Ever since Zheng Mengjing discovered that Chen Ju was missing and the prince was acting unusually, he realized that the situation was not good!
How could she be willing to leave? Even if she died, she would die beside the emperor's bed!

……

Facts have proved that many things cannot be done just by thinking about them.

Zheng Mengjing still left the Qianqing Palace, although she was reluctant, but if she didn't leave, she might really die before the emperor...

……

Zhu Yijun had a very long dream. He dreamed of his father, Emperor Longqing Zhu Zaigui, his mother Li, and his younger brother Zhu Yiliu.

The father in the dream was no longer the weak and scabies-ridden emperor who was obsessed with beauty.

But a kind, tall and caring father.

The younger brother in the dream was still as naughty as before, but the mother was no longer strict with him.

There were only four of them in the dream, but Zhu Yijun felt that was enough. He even wanted to hide in this warm home of four forever and never come out.

However, dreams are just dreams after all, just like everyone will die, and dreams will eventually end.

Zhu Yijun finally woke up. Fortunately, the first person he saw when he woke up was his father, Emperor Longqing Zhu Zaigui.

Unfortunately, this father's hands were covered with scabies that were unpleasant to the eyes. His eye sockets were dark and sunken, and his eyes were empty and lifeless, as if they would collapse at any time.

"Jun'er, have you been doing well these years?"

Faced with the sudden concern from his father, the emperor who had passed away many years ago, Zhu Yijun was at a loss, but he still answered bravely:
"Father, I am doing...well."

"That's good." Zhu Zaigui showed a relieved smile on his weak face, and he asked again:

"What about Mr. Gao? Is he nice to you?"

For a moment, Zhu Yijun didn't know who Mr. Gao was. After a while, he remembered that he was Gao Gong, whom he had ordered to be expelled shortly after he ascended the throne.

When thinking of Gao Gong, Zhu Yijun inevitably thought of Zhang Juzheng.

During those years, Zhu Yijun always thought that it was Zhang Juzheng who saved them, an orphan and a widow, otherwise they would have been bullied to death by that bad old man Gao Gong.

For many years after Zhang Juzheng's death, Zhu Yijun felt that he had let down his father the emperor who had entrusted Gao Gong as the first regent before his death.

At this moment, Zhu Yijun didn't know how to answer his father Zhu Zaigui...

Zhu Yijun felt very guilty. He wondered, if he had listened to his father and made use of Gao Gong, would everything have not developed to this point?
But he was less than ten years old at the time... Did he, as a child, really have a choice?

Or...

Even if he had the chance to do it all over again, could he guarantee that he would not choose Zhang Juzheng again?

After all, Gao Gong was just the teacher that his father, Emperor Longqing Zhu Zaigui respected, trusted, loved and relied on the most.

The teacher that Zhu Yijun respected, trusted, loved and relied on the most was Zhang Juzheng from the very beginning...

Zhu Yijun was so lost in deep thought that he was completely unaware that his emperor father had disappeared.

When Zhu Yijun seemed to have thought it over and raised his eyes again, another person appeared in front of him, a person who was so familiar that he couldn't be more familiar.

"Mr. Zhang, you come to see me again."

Facing this man who had appeared in his dreams countless times, this man who once made him respect and fear him.

Zhu Yijun seemed particularly calm at this moment.

He was finally not afraid of this man anymore, not at all.

Because he finally grew up, and Zhang Juzheng had died long ago.

Everything can finally be let go. "Mr. Zhang."

Looking at the familiar figure in red robe standing proudly like a crane in front of him, Zhu Yijun seemed to be relieved. He smiled and said:
“I’m not a good student, and you’re not a good teacher.

You let me go, and I let you go, let each other go, okay?"

The Crane also laughed, and the voice that rang in Zhu Yijun's ears was that of a young man:

"Your Majesty, there is no letting each other go. From the beginning to the end, only you are unwilling to let yourself go."

……

Zhu Yijun finally woke up. The moment he opened his eyes, Zhang Chonghui's voice was still echoing in his mind.

"Your Majesty, there is no letting each other go. From the beginning to the end, only you are unwilling to let yourself go."

"I won't let myself go..." Zhu Yijun murmured to himself, then he realized that his voice was hoarse. He subconsciously wanted to shout "water", but when he turned around, he found that the bedroom was very quiet, with only one person kneeling quietly beside the couch.

"Father, you are awake."

Zhu Changluo's eyes were dark and blue. He had not slept all night. The bowl of medicine in his hand went cold and hot, hot and cold. It was originally a full bowl, but now it was only a little more than half a bowl left.

"Father, I have just heated up the medicine. Please drink some while it is still warm."

Zhu Changluo picked up the bowl and said this. It was his first time serving his old father and he was so clumsy that he handed the bowl and spoon directly to Zhu Yijun.

Zhu Yijun only glanced at Zhu Changluo. He should have been very weak, but he didn't know where he got the strength from, and he propped himself up and sat up easily.

"Prince, you are truly my good son."

Zhu Yijun sneered. From the moment he saw that only Zhu Changluo was in the hall, he had guessed what had happened.

Zhu Changluo's hand holding the medicine seemed to be frozen in the air. Looking at his father, the emperor, whose face was ruddy and looked like he had recovered from a serious illness, he forced a smile and said:

"Father, drink the medicine."

Zhu Yijun glanced at the medicine, then at his son, and finally looked out the window and asked:

"Where's Chen Ju?"

Zhu Changluo knew that his extremely intelligent father had already noticed something was wrong. He suppressed his panic and tried to speak as naturally as possible:

"Father, Eunuch Chen is busy with something. If you have anything to say, you can tell me the same thing."

"Ha..." Zhu Yijun laughed weakly and looked at his son again.

This time, Zhu Yijun looked at Zhu Changluo deeply for a long time.

As a father, it was the first time that he looked at his eldest son so carefully; as an emperor, it was not until this moment that he realized that he did not understand this prince at all.

Zhu Yijun remained silent for a long time, while Zhu Changluo was anxiously waiting for something during this period of silence and scrutiny.

Until the gentle fire in the hall made Zhu Changluo sweat all over his back, until the flame that had finally ignited in his heart was about to be extinguished under the sharp scrutiny of his father, the emperor...

"Prince."

Zhu Yijun finally spoke. He accepted his fate and said helplessly:
"Go and call in the cabinet minister who brought you into the palace. I want to entrust my son to you."

Zhu Yijun knew that his time was running out, and he also knew that the crown prince could not be deposed.

Moreover, even if he could still depose the crown prince, he didn't want to do that.

Perhaps this eldest son, whom he disliked, was really more suitable to be emperor than his favorite Prince Fu.

……

Ye Xianggao was waiting in the West Warm Pavilion. When he learned that the emperor had something to entrust to the cabinet, he sent someone to deliver the news to other people in the cabinet that the emperor was seriously ill.

Even Li Tingji, who was still waiting for the emperor to approve his resignation in a dilapidated temple, was informed by Ye Xianggao.

After all the news that should and should not be spread had been spread, Ye Xianggao walked towards the main hall.

……

When Ye Xianggao arrived at the main hall, in addition to the emperor and the crown prince, there were also the queen Wang Xijie, the eunuch Zhang Cheng, and even the noble concubine Zheng who had been driven away before.

The entire hall was filled with Zheng Mengjing's crying and eunuch Zhang Cheng's sobbing.

Crown Prince Zhu Changluo, however, stood motionless like a piece of wood, while Queen Wang Xijie had a sorrowful look on her face, as if her soul had been taken away.

Looking at His Majesty the Emperor again, his face was glowing red at the moment, not at all like a dying man who was so sick that he needed to be taken care of by someone else. He even raised his hand and waved at Ye Xianggao with full energy, saying with a smile:

"Ye Qing, come here."

After a hurried salute, Ye Xianggao came to the dragon bed and knelt down, waiting for the emperor's instructions.

Zhu Yijun did not even ask why the minister who was entrusted with the care of the young emperor was Ye Xianggao, the last Grand Secretary to enter the cabinet.

He did not even ask why Yu Shenxing and Fang Congzhe, the first and second cabinet ministers, did not come. He directly gave instructions to Ye Xianggao, saying:
"Mr. Ye, I am seriously ill and I feel that I don't have much time left. The prince is still young, and I will have to rely on you, the important ministers of the cabinet, to assist him in the future.

Besides, the mining tax issue has been going on for so long, it’s time to put it to rest… Alas…”

Zhu Yijun sighed as he spoke, and in the end, he finally compromised.

"Pass on my order." Zhu Yijun closed his eyes and ordered:

"I am seriously ill. The mining tax was previously imposed to build three palaces and two palaces, which is not a long-term strategy.

From now on, mining taxes, Jiangnan weaving, and Jiangxi kiln manufacturing will all be suspended, and all eunuchs sent out will be ordered to return to the capital."

His Majesty the Emperor finally abolished the mining tax, and Ye Xianggao was naturally very happy. Although even after the emperor's death, the new emperor would also abolish the mining tax, Ye Xianggao still had to give him this face.

"Your Majesty's abolition of the mining tax is a wise move, but now I just hope that Your Majesty can rest assured and take good care of your health, and not worry too much."

Zhu Yijun just smiled after hearing such polite words. He knew his own body well and there was no hope for his future.

Today's spirit is just a flash of light...

"I have one more decree." Zhu Yijun said, looking at Concubine Zheng who was lying in front of the dragon couch and crying.

He looked at his beloved woman with eyes full of guilt. In the end, the people he was most worried about were Zheng Mengjing and her son.

"After I leave, the new emperor should remember to confer the title of Empress Dowager on Consort Zheng. Also, I have already chosen the fiefdom for Prince Fu, so let him go to Luoyang."

This was all Zhu Yijun could do. He only hoped that his beloved woman and son could live well in the days without his protection.

When the emperor said this, Queen Wang Xijie sighed softly. She was not sighing for herself. After all, no matter who became the emperor, she, as the stepmother, would be the Holy Mother Empress Dowager. She just felt a little sorry for the prince's biological mother, Concubine Wang Gong.

At the same time, Crown Prince Zhu Changluo, who was originally like a piece of wood, finally became red-eyed. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't say anything.

His father was about to die, but he was still planning for Concubine Zheng and her son...

What about his mother? What about him? What about him, the prince?

His father didn't even mention his mother! Not even a word!
Zhu Changluo's hands were shaking all the time, and he didn't even notice that he was already in tears.

With a plan for recovery already arranged, Zheng Mengjing finally felt relieved.

I don't know whether she was moved by the fact that her emperor husband did not forget to arrange a way out for herself and her son before his death, or whether she was sad that she would be a widow without a husband or children to protect her.

All in all, Jung Mong-kyung cried even louder...

"Okay, stop crying." Zhu Yijun wiped away the tears of this crying woman for the last time and said to everyone:
"I'm a little tired and want to rest for a while. You all can leave."

Zheng Mengjing shook his head desperately, looking like someone who refused to leave no matter what and was ready to die for his love at any time.

It was impossible for her to commit suicide for love, after all, Zheng Mengjing still wanted to be the queen mother. After some reluctance, she was persuaded to leave by Queen Wang Xijie.

The two women left, and Ye Xianggao also retreated with red eyes. It was also unknown when Zhang Cheng left.

For a moment, the only people left in the hall were Zhu Yijun and Zhu Changluo, a father and son who were not very familiar with each other.

Zhu Yijun did not let Zhu Changluo go. On the contrary, he had things to tell his son who was about to inherit his throne.

"Prince...I have a few things to tell you."

Zhu Yijun seemed to be deflated suddenly, his voice suddenly became tired, he knew that the time for his last burst of energy had passed.

He looked at his son who was lowering his head, trembling all over and crying secretly. He said he felt sorry for him, but he didn't really feel that much.

He knew that his son blamed him for being unfair, but what did it matter? He just didn't like Concubine Wang Gong, even until his death.

"Prince, there were so many people around just now, and I only said two things. Now it's just you and me, father and son. There is another decree. After you ascend the throne, help me do it."

Zhu Changluo said in a trembling voice: "Father, please speak."

"After you ascend the throne..." Zhu Yijun sighed deeply, and after hesitating for a long time, although his emotions were still complicated, he still said:
"Rehabilitate Zhang Juzheng..."

Zhu Changluo was stunned: "Father... this..."

"There is one more thing." Zhu Yijun interrupted gently and said:
"Zhang Chonghui cannot stay. When I leave, you should give him a title of voluntarily dying for his father and king. Afterwards, give him a decent funeral."

Zhang Chonghui could not be kept. Zhu Yijun had already made this plan, and more than one plan.

At this point, Zhu Yijun has arranged all the funeral arrangements. He doesn't want to talk anymore. He is tired.

"Prince, you should go out too."

Zhu Yijun lay down with great difficulty. Every movement made him feel so painful that he could hardly breathe.

No matter how painful it is, it will pass.

Zhu Yijun lay down again, just as tired as he was when he led all the officials to walk to the Temple of Heaven, and just as uncomfortable as the days and nights when he could not fall asleep due to leg and tooth diseases.

The physical pain is painful, but what is even more painful is that the once blazing youthful ambition was eventually extinguished silently by basins of cold water.

Ultimately, it all comes down to - you're incompetent.

It is cruel, but very realistic and helpless.

After being ordered to leave, Zhu Changluo finally raised his head. He looked at his father with tears in his eyes and asked tremblingly:

"Is the Emperor…gone…gone?"

Zhu Yijun just perfunctorily replied with one word: "Yeah."

"Father..." Zhu Changluo asked unwillingly, "Don't you have anything... you want to say to your son?"

Zhu Yijun lay on the bed with his eyes closed, as if he was asleep, and there was no response for a long time.

Zhu Changluo didn't know how long he had waited before he finally saw the other person's teeth and squeezed out a word:

"No."

The voice was very soft, but Zhu Changluo still heard it clearly.

This light word was like the last straw that broke the camel's back, completely crushing Zhu Changluo's fatherly love that he had believed to be real for more than ten years, but which was actually just self-hypnosis.

Zhu Changluo collapsed. His emperor father had made plans for so many people before his death, even making plans for the future of outsiders like Zhang Juzheng and Zhang Chonghui.

As for his biological son? He had nothing to say...

Looking at his father, the emperor, who seemed to be asleep, Zhu Changluo, who still refused to give up, finally couldn't help but ask a question that had been bothering him for more than ten years:

"Dad... have you ever loved me?"

This was the first time that Zhu Changluo called his emperor father "Dad", which was the most common name in ordinary people's homes, but it was the first time for Zhu Changluo.

Zhu Changluo waited quietly for the answer. However, even when the sun was high in the sky and even when he heard crying outside the hall, he still didn't get the answer.

……

Zhu Yijun did not hear his son's question. He only saw someone who was familiar to him even after many years.

It was Sun Hai, his best childhood playmate.

When he saw Sun Hai extending his hand to him and inviting him, Zhu Yijun realized something, but he still smiled, extended his hand according to his heart, and said with a smile:

"Sun Hai, accompany me to play with the wind gourd."

"Your Majesty, have you finished all the tasks assigned to you by Zhang Yuanfu?"

Sun Hai's face was still as handsome and fair as when he was a teenager, but his words were much more steady, as if he had been with Emperor Wanli for the past twenty years, but his appearance had never changed.

"What?" Zhu Yijun shook his head gently. Although there were tears in his eyes, he smiled freely and said:

"No."

Sun Hai gave a bitter smile as usual and said helplessly: "Then I dare not accompany you to play. Later, Eunuch Feng will complain to the Empress Dowager and blame me for corrupting you."

Zhu Yijun still shook his head, looking at Sun Hai with a look of determination, comfort and confidence:
"Sun Hai, don't worry, it won't happen again."

"Your Majesty, how do you know that it won't happen?"

"Because... I let myself go."

(End of this chapter)