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

While Zhu Yuanzhang was speaking, Mao Xiang, the commander-in-chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, came back from outside the palace.

He stood at the door waiting for the eunuch's announcement.

When the eunuch Wang Jinghong saw this important person coming back, he immediately spoke to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Your Majesty, Lord Mao Xiang has returned from outside. I'm sure Your Majesty would like to know the results of his investigation. Why not let him in first?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

Just as he was about to let him in, Ma Xiuying and the palace maid had already walked outside.

I happened to meet Mao Xiang who was about to come in to report.

"Master Mao? Why are you here?"

"I, Mao Xiang, the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guard, kowtow to Her Majesty the Queen."

"Don't worry about it, get up quickly, did the emperor assign you a secret mission?"

"Reporting to the Queen, the Emperor asked me to investigate a matter outside the palace. Now that I have investigated it thoroughly, I came back to report to the Emperor."

"Then you wait outside for a moment. I have something to discuss with the Emperor."

When Mao Xiang heard what Queen Ma said, he couldn't refuse and had to wait outside for a while. He was already so tired that he was about to collapse.

"Wang Jinghong, I am here. Do you still need to report to the emperor?"

"That's not necessary. Your Majesty, please come in."

When Zhu Yuanzhang knew that Ma Xiuying had arrived, he immediately sat up straight.

"Your Majesty, I heard that the court session lasted a long time today. What was the result of the discussion?"

"Is the Queen so anxious?"

"Of course I am anxious. Until now, I have not seen my son."

"Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang are both already in your palace, and they said they haven't seen their son."

"Zhu Chongba, don't act dumb in front of me. You know I'm talking about Zhu Kai. I haven't seen him yet, and I don't know whether this kid is fat or thin.

I saw that both of them have lost weight, and Zhu Kai not only has to worry about their affairs.

He was also responsible for the security of the border areas and had to do many other things. He worked so hard and I don’t know what he has become now. I am also thinking about him.”

"The child is already this old, you should give him more time to experience life. It's not good for you to always indulge him like this."

"I don't care about that. Anyway, I have discussed this matter with you. No matter what, you must go and get Zhu Kai to the palace. I have to take a good look at my son."

As soon as he said this, Zhu Yuanzhang's face immediately became serious.

“I was just telling Eunuch Wang that this brat Zhu Kai did it on purpose.

He clearly knew my temper as a father, and I have not allowed him to come to the palace to pay his respects until now.

Can't he come here on his own initiative? He has to wait for the imperial edict to come here. He is not even willing to express his feelings. He is not a filial son at all."

"Don't blame Zhu Kai for everything. He doesn't dare to do whatever he wants in front of you because he is afraid of your authority as a father.

Sometimes you are really too partial. It's because your sons cannot be treated equally, and you can't be too partial to one of them.

They will feel very uncomfortable, and now they can see that Zhu Di has become more and more taciturn. "

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he immediately asked.

"Zhu Di? What's wrong with him? I have already asked him to visit his mother, Concubine Xi.

Logically speaking, he just came back from the border and just met the people of the Mongolian Yuan tribe. He should not be allowed to see his mother so soon, but Queen, you have repeatedly pleaded for mercy, and I have given him some leniency. What else does he want to say?"

"Zhu Di didn't say anything. He never cared about these things. In fact, you should let him spend the night in Concubine Xi's palace today.

Concubine Yi only has Zhu Di as her son and she hasn't seen him for more than a year. The mother and son just had a simple meal together. It's really hard to understand her longing for her son."

"This is the palace and the common people. They are different. It is not easy to let them meet each other. Besides, the Mongol tribe is a sensitive place. It is good for them to be careful."

"The Mongolian tribes have long been subdued under the leadership of General Zhu Kai and General Lan Yu. What else do you have to worry about? How can our great Ming Dynasty be afraid of such a small place like theirs?"

Zhu Yuanzhang’s considerations were certainly not that simple. When he saw Ma Xiuying’s sympathy for Zhu Di and his mother, he felt very warm in his heart.

"Queen, please don't ask about these matters."

"Zhu Chongba, I think you have almost forgotten who you are after being the emperor for a few days.

Doubting this and that all day long.

It's not enough to doubt the people around you, do you even have to doubt your own son? I don't care if I can't see Zhu Kai tomorrow, I will go to his mansion in person."

"Empress, I have already said it before, you are the Empress of the Ming Dynasty and you are the mother of the country.

In the face of national affairs, you should restrain your longing for him. No matter where Zhu Kai goes, no matter how long he has been away from the capital, he is your son, and this will never change."

"I know these things won't change, but so what? Zhu Kai has been a bit naughty since he was little, but he's also very smart and has helped you solve many problems that you couldn't solve."

"But Zhu Kai is not the emperor after all, nor is he the crown prince. He has too many things to deal with now. I'm afraid he will become restless in the future."

"Are you afraid that Zhu Kai will try to compete with Zhu Biao for the position of crown prince?

No, this is absolutely impossible. The prince himself has already said that he values ​​and trusts his younger brother Zhu Kai very much. I think the relationship between the brothers is still very good.

Chongba, as long as you don't think about it in this way, they will not become enemies.

Zhu Kai didn't want to be the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, nor did he want to be the crown prince.

Don't impose the things you care about on him. I can see that Zhu Kai is a very free and easy child. He just wants to do something he wants to do. Why make things difficult for him?
Not everyone wants to be an emperor. At least I think Zhu Kai doesn't want to be one. He is my son and I know him very well. "I have always been thinking about this issue in my heart, but for the sake of the stability of the Ming Dynasty, I have to think so much. They are all my sons, and I feel the same pain in my heart. "

After Crown Prince Zhu Biao resolved so many conflicts, he gave orders to the people around him.

"You will go to the Imperial Hospital in a moment and find the best judge of the Imperial Hospital. Ask him to go to the mansion of Marquis Deqing in person and take a good look at what serious illness he has."

"Got it, Your Highness, I'll do it right away. Where are you going? Are you going to leave the palace?"

"This prince cannot leave the palace now. Let's go to the Queen first."

"The Queen is not in her own palace. She went to see the Emperor. I think it's about His Royal Highness Zhu Kai's matter."

After hearing this, the prince basically understood that the queen really missed her son.

The feeling of missing her son must give way to national affairs, but this does not mean that the Queen Mother does not care about her son Zhu Kai at all, or even turns a blind eye to him.

"My mother is indeed concerned about Zhu Kai, but now is not the time for him to come and meet me. Everything has to be arranged by my father. Since my father and mother are together, I will not look for them for the time being.

Let's go find His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin first. I'm sure he has a lot of things to ask me, his brother."

When Song Taishi Song Lian heard this, he immediately persuaded Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

"Your Highness, I advise you not to get too involved in this matter. His Highness the Prince of Qin is definitely not satisfied with the Emperor's arrangement."

"Song Taishi, please don't be so blunt. How could His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin be dissatisfied? What about the Emperor's arrangement? If that's the case, then what's the difference between him and disobeying the Emperor's order?"

"I made a slip of the tongue, but Your Highness the Crown Prince still has a lot of things to deal with.

Seeing that Wang Baobao still had a lot of arrangements to make, he shouldn't go looking for his brother until His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had finalized them.

I believe that sooner or later His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin will figure it out. Even if he doesn't, there is nothing you can do. The Emperor's edict cannot be changed.

Since he is a prince of the Ming Dynasty and the son of the emperor, he should bear some of the responsibilities. He cannot just enjoy the benefits of power without bearing the consequences. "

What Song Lian, the historian of the Song Dynasty, said can be considered sober words. After all, he is already so old. When he was young, he was a very sober person. Although he was a little pedantic, it did not prevent him from being a smart person.

"Song Taishi, I know everything you said, but His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin is my brother after all, and I cannot watch him go on like this.

The emperor already knew exactly how he would react, and he had actually given him some time to calm down. After all, this matter was still very difficult for him to accept.

Zhu Chong is still young, so it is normal for him to be unable to understand these things. It is better to persuade him first and not let him get stuck in a dead end.

The personalities of my brothers are not very different, and I know them relatively well."

At this time, Song Lian saw the prince. Zhu Biao actually cared so much about his younger brothers, so he had no choice but to nod helplessly.

"Your Highness, I am one of your closest ministers. I have always been outspoken in front of you. Since Your Highness is also being frank with me, I can't stop you."

Concubine Yi and Zhu Di finished their meal quickly.

"At the moment, it's almost time. I should go back."

"How come time passed so quickly? It's like you just came back."

"Mother, you are pregnant now, please don't work too hard or be sad. I came back from the border to wait until after the New Year so that father can make other arrangements.

Maybe I won't have to leave the capital. Anyway, I'm still young and not old enough to leave the palace and start my own household."

"But even if you are with the Queen, you can't come to me often. Unless the Emperor gives special permission, it will be extremely difficult for us mother and son to meet."

Concubine Yi still had some resentment towards Zhu Yuanzhang. In addition to resentment that Zhu Yuanzhang was unable to reunite her and her son, she also felt that Zhu Yuanzhang was too partial.

He looked differently at the sons born to Ma Xiuying, and never paid much attention to the sons born to other concubines.

"Mother, just listen to me and don't work too hard. I'm going back first.

The key is that my third brother received the emperor's edict today. I believe he must be feeling uncomfortable. I still have to go back and give him some advice. I should also play my role at this time."

When Concubine Yi heard what Zhu Di said, she understood.

"Well, you must be careful in front of the Queen, and don't say the wrong thing. After all, the Queen is your stepmother."

"Mother, you have told me these words countless times since I was a child, and my second brother has also told me these words."

"Did His Highness Zhu Kai also say something like this to you?"

When Concubine Yi heard what Zhu Di said, he was very shocked.

“My second brother really treats me sincerely.

It can be seen from every detail, and I am willing to believe that my second brother has a pure and kind heart.

That's why I'm willing to stay by his side and help him at all costs.

But while helping my second brother, I also got some training myself. This is a good opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, and my second brother and I have similar temperaments. "

When Concubine Yi heard Zhu Di say this, she was finally relieved. In fact, she felt that if Zhu Di could rely on Zhu Kai, he would basically not have to worry about anything in his life.

If Crown Prince Zhu Biao really became the emperor, he would not kill all his brothers. In addition, with Zhu Kai's protection, Zhu Di could live a peaceful life.

As a mother, she no longer had any other extravagant demands and had never thought of asking Zhu Di to compete for the position of crown prince.

Because they all knew very well that in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart, only His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was the most important son, and the others were just icing on the cake.

After Zhu Di said goodbye to his mother, he left.

"Please remember the time I left."

"Please rest assured, Fifth Prince. I have been watching closely. There won't be any mistakes. I will tell His Majesty everything in detail."

Zhu Di smiled. He was just being polite to the guy in front of him because he knew that the people around him were untrustworthy and unreliable. (End of this chapter)