Ming Dynasty: Zhu Biao's younger brother, the most rebellious son in history

When Concubine Yi heard Zhu Di say this, she nodded.

"Good boy, you are right. The emperor is a suspicious person. You have had a lot of contact with the Mongols in the past year or so. They are also my mother's tribe.

In order to prevent the emperor from thinking too much, you should of course not ask casually. This is also good. He knows that my mother and I haven't seen each other for a long time, and it can be regarded as sympathy for us.

Oh, by the way, there is a good news that the emperor didn’t tell you. He sent someone to inform me last night and said that he would not arrange anything else for you today and would let you have a good rest for two or three days.

Although the emperor is quite strict with you, you are his biological sons after all, and he still feels sorry for you. The emperor said that he would let you stay with your mother today so that we can have dinner together."

When Zhu Di heard Concubine Yi say these words, he did not feel very moved.

There was no expression on his face, but rather a bit of anger, because he felt that after all, he was not yet an adult, had no title, and did not have a mansion in the capital.

He could still live with his mother, but Zhu Yuanzhang did not make such arrangements. He just came to let the mother and son meet and stay together for a day, and he did not plan to let him stay here.

"Di'er, what's wrong with you? This is all the emperor's grace. When you see the emperor, you must remember to thank him."

Zhu Di had some complaints about this arrangement.

"What is there to be thankful for? We have been separated for such a long time, it is normal for us to meet each other. He did not even let me stay here. Zhu Gang and Zhu Chong can both live in the Queen's palace.

But I am different. He would rather arrange a room for me in an empty palace nearby than let me come back to stay at your place. It is clearly a precaution against us.

It was only now that we, mother and son, were able to meet, as if it was such a great blessing. Why should I thank him? Sometimes I really felt that he, as a father, was a little too partial.

He treated all his sons the same, only favoring the Crown Prince. He didn't even take a son as outstanding as my second brother seriously, and was wary of him."

Zhu Di was a man who was usually careful with his words and actions. Only to his mother could he express his dissatisfaction.

He was not being outspoken, but he knew that he could say anything in front of his mother, no one would eavesdrop, and his mother would not tell anyone else what he said.

When Concubine Yi heard this, she immediately scolded him.

"Shut up. Diseases come from the mouth and disasters come from the mouth. You usually seem to be very quiet and don't like to talk, so why are you so tactless when you speak?

This is all the emperor's grace. No matter what he does, it is correct. You cannot have any resentment, let alone say these words. "

"Mom, I am usually very careful with my words and actions. Do I have to keep pretending in front of you? It's really tiring to keep pretending like this.

I really don't understand why he always treats me like a transparent person since we are both the emperor's sons. I have done so much, but he has not given me any reward or satisfaction. That's fine.

It seems like he is wary of the relationship between us mother and son. What's the point of living like this?"

When Concubine Yi heard what Zhu Di said, she became more and more excited and immediately patted him lightly on the mouth.

"Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang are both the Queen's biological sons. They are legitimate princes, and their status is naturally different from yours, who is born out of wedlock."

"The throne of the Ming Dynasty does not necessarily belong to the legitimate prince. Only the eldest legitimate son is qualified to sit on it. I think it should be held by the most capable. This is fair."

"Are you crazy? How can you be so outspoken? Don't say this again once you leave this room!"

"Mother……"

"Do you know that in the past year or so, your mother has been worrying about you every day.

He is afraid that if you are with your brother Zhu Kai, who has a weird temper, he will bully you. He is a very smart person and can be valued by your father. Moreover, he is the biological son of Empress Ma and the younger brother of Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

It's so risky to deal with Wang Baobao in the border area, I'm afraid he will send you to the battlefield.

I am even more afraid that something bad will happen to you. You are my only son. If something bad happens to you, how can you survive in this harem?"

"Mother, today I just want to tell you this. In fact, my second brother is really good to me, even better than my father.

Although he is not my brother from the same father and mother, he really treats his younger brothers equally and even treats me better.

I don't understand why he did this, but I believe he is not being hypocritical.

It was also because of this that I was willing to follow him to the border area, and I have indeed gained a lot in the past year or so, and I have also found my goal.

What I said about the throne just now was just a rant. I was just not satisfied with the way my father treated me. We are both his sons, so why doesn't he value me? I am not stupid.

I am not as smart as my second brother, nor as kind as my eldest brother, but I am much better than my third and fourth brothers. When I came back, my father only cared about them two.

They never take me seriously. Do you know how I got through last night when I was having dinner at the same table with them?

Normally my second brother would take care of my emotions, but when he is not here, I can only endure it and say nothing, treating myself as a background board, as a transparent person.

I finally made it to today and was able to meet my mother.

Even if I can't stay in my mother's palace to accompany you for a few more days, this one day is good enough. If my second brother has the chance, he will plead for me so that I can spend more time with my mother."

When Concubine Yi heard her son Zhu Di's complaints, she naturally felt uncomfortable.

But what can be done about it?

No woman in the palace could compare to Empress Ma, and no son born by any woman could compare to the son born by the Empress.

"Is your second brother really that good to you?"

"really."

"Di'er, are you sure that your second brother's attitude towards you is not false?"

"My son is neither stupid nor foolish. Of course he can clearly tell what is false concern and what is genuine care. My second brother does not regard me as a competitor. He regards me as his own brother."

The next morning, Zhu Kai was lying in bed. He slowly opened his eyes and saw that Xu Miaoyun beside him had already gotten up. This was their usual behavior.

Zhu Kai can stay up late, but can't get up early.

He usually wakes up very late, but today he woke up earlier than usual. Perhaps he was worried about something.

When Xu Miaoyun saw that Zhu Kai had woken up, she took a glass of water from the table and handed it to Zhu Kai as usual.

"Now that you're awake, get up and drink some water. You ate so many delicious dishes before going to bed last night, and they're still a little salty. I guess you'll be thirsty when you wake up."

"You are still more considerate." Zhu Kai sat up from the bed, took the glass of water and drank it all in one gulp.

At this time, he remembered a very important thing, which was what he said last night, that he had to draw a blueprint today and let Xu Miaoyun find someone to customize a more comfortable bathtub.

When Zhu Kai thought of this, he immediately climbed down from the bed and came to the table.

"What are you doing?"

"Didn't I tell you last night? If you want to change the blueprint, go out today and find a craftsman on the street to customize a bathtub."

"Oh, yes, thank goodness you reminded me, otherwise I would have easily forgotten about it. But what exactly is this bathtub you're talking about?"

Xu Miaoyun had definitely never seen this before, and Zhu Kai knew that he would not be able to explain it clearly in just a few words.

"Don't ask so many questions for now. I know you must have a lot of doubts, but please rest assured that I will make you understand. I will draw the blueprint in a while, and you will understand."

Xu Miaoyun had no choice but to nod.

At this time, breakfast outside was ready.

"Your Highness, the food is already prepared in the kitchen. Why don't you go have some breakfast first? You will still have time to come back and draw the blueprints after breakfast."

Zhu Kai thought that it made sense. Anyway, the blueprint was very simple and not particularly troublesome.

After I finish drawing the blueprint, I have to prepare to go out.

Logically speaking, the emperor should not summon them today, but he was still concerned about the situation in the palace and had to find a way to go out and get some information.

"Let's go. I'm feeling quite hungry too. I was busy for so long yesterday. After a night's rest, I have digested all the food I ate before going to bed."

"I guessed you would be hungry when you woke up, so I got up early and asked the kitchen to prepare some of your favorite food that you can't eat in the borderland."

"You can eat anything, but it's best not to eat beef or mutton for a while.

Following Wang Baobao and his men in the border area, we didn’t eat anything other than beef and mutton. I really felt a little nauseous about this. I felt like my whole body was marinated with this mutton smell.”

After hearing what Zhu Kai said, Xu Miaoyun smiled and said.

"Your Majesty, you are so humorous. This is not a pickled vegetable."

"By the way, since you mentioned pickles, I actually want to eat some now. It would be even better if I could drink some preserved egg and lean meat porridge."

"Preserved Egg and Lean Pork Porridge? What kind of egg is preserved egg?"

"Hmm... you probably can't eat this kind of thing at this time. Forget it. Let's prepare some seafood porridge first. Add some shrimp and fish fillets. You need something fresh to whet your appetite early in the morning."

Xu Miaoyun didn't quite understand Zhu Kai's taste in food.

"I've never heard of the century egg and lean meat porridge you mentioned just now, and now you're talking about seafood porridge?
Don’t you feel greasy eating meat and seafood early in the morning?

I specially prepared some pickles for you, which is also your favorite food. Have some light porridge with me. Isn’t that great?

And I deliberately didn't ask them to prepare those greasy cakes, but I did ask them to prepare some wild vegetable wontons, do you want to eat them?"

When Zhu Kai heard Xu Miaoyun say this, he became interested.

"Vegetable wontons?"

"Yes, you often say that you don't like to eat greasy food, so I specially asked them to go outside to dig some wild vegetables.

Although I don't know why you like to eat this kind of food, since Wang Ye likes me as his wife, I will definitely prepare it for you.

Ask them to go outside and dig up some fresh wild vegetables, mix them with some lean meat and make wontons. They should be fresh and delicious. It would be better if you eat less."

When Zhu Kai heard Xu Miaoyun say this, he was not only impressed by the other party's attentiveness, but also realized the extent of her concern for him, and he was very moved in his heart.

"Miaoyun, you've worked so hard.

If you hadn't married me, you would be the apple of Xu Da's eye in your own family. He would hold you in his hands for fear of losing you, and put you in his mouth for fear of melting you.

Now you have to take care of so many things with me, it's really hard for you, I feel a little embarrassed. "

"Let's not talk about these things between us, my Lord. I know you have a lot of things to deal with today, so I won't waste your time here.

Let's go, let's go eat first. As for the seafood porridge you mentioned, do you think I can prepare it for you in the evening?"

"You can prepare it anytime, I just said it casually.

I do have a lot of things to deal with today. The court should have already started by now, so it is not convenient for me to go to your father's mansion to find him.

But we can ask him out and meet him in a private place."

When Xu Miaoyun heard Zhu Kai say this, he must have been very happy. He also missed his family and his father Xu Da very much.

However, he was still worried about Zhu Kai at first.

"Your Majesty, we have traveled a long way from the border to the capital, and there are many people and many eyes watching our every move.

You have already said that it is best not to see your father before the emperor summons you.

If someone sees this, they will think that you are discussing some secret things in private. The emperor is the most suspicious person, so I'm afraid he won't be at ease.

It would be better if I don’t go to see my father and my brothers for now. It would be bad for everyone if I arouse the emperor’s suspicion.”

"I know you are very worried, but believe me, I have already arranged these things in advance, and someone will help us deal with them.

General Lan Yu should go to court with them today, and after the meeting is over, he will tell your father about this matter."

"So you had already arranged for General Lan Yu to arrange these things in secret. No wonder he insisted on following us back to the mansion yesterday."

"You are really smart. I had already told him all this on the road yesterday." (End of this chapter)