I open a history tutorial class in Daming

Chapter 56 Couple
Ming Dynasty, the tenth year of Hongwu.

After Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao left the tutoring class space, they went straight back to Kunning Palace.

They did not wait in the main hall as before, but consulted with Empress Ma and went to her bedroom. After all, the emperor and the prince were not outsiders, and it was only natural for their husbands and sons to go to the bedroom, and the palace servants could not interfere.

For this reason, when Zhu Yuanzhang and his son returned to the main hall of Kunning Palace, they were both shocked.

Inside the palace, Song Shenzheng was having a very pleasant conversation with Queen Ma!

"...Oh, Ziwei, it's getting late. If I keep you any longer, I'm afraid your grandfather will have to come to the palace to ask for you."

Empress Ma glanced at the father and son of the Zhu family standing at the door, and after a brief pause she resumed her normal voice.

She patted Song Shen on the shoulder, looking at him as if he were her own junior:

"I will take the things you said earlier to heart. Don't worry. Before the matter is investigated, it's best not to tell anyone else, not even your grandfather. Do you understand?"

Song Shen was a little surprised.

After leaving the tutoring class early, he went directly to Kunning Palace and had a conversation with the kind Queen.

During this period, he learned many things from Queen Ma that he didn't know before - of course, they were about the original owner.

For example, he knew that Song Shen was a very good student, but he didn't know that Song Shen was so good that he was once a strong contender for the top spot in the imperial examination. Unfortunately, because the emperor issued an edict to suspend the imperial examination, he did not take part in the examination, but instead entered the palace to serve through his father's influence.

For example, Song Lian used to have a very good relationship with Liu Bowen, the Marquis of Chengyi, but their relationship inexplicably deteriorated a few years ago. During the last few years of Liu Bowen's life, the two pretended not to see each other when they met, and Song Shen also stopped studying with Liu Bowen.

Song Shen also heard that Empress Ma's attitude towards him was gentler than that of ordinary elders.

Even an ordinary elder would probably fly into a rage upon hearing a youngster who hasn't even fully grown his hair cursing himself and his sons and grandsons to die early. But Empress Ma didn't do that. She remained calm throughout the whole process. Not only did she not get angry, she even tried to comfort him.

After a long silence, Song Shen fumbled to his feet and bowed solemnly to Queen Ma.

"I know. Thank you, Queen, for your advice. I will live up to your trust."

Not long after, the two said goodbye, and Queen Ma sent someone to take Song Shen to the carriage near the palace gate.

After a brief silence.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, who had been hiding at the door for a long time without daring to make a sound, watched Song Shen's back getting farther and farther away, then they tiptoed into the main hall of Kunning Palace.

"You two are thieves at the door?"

Empress Ma got angry when she saw them like that:
"Mao Xiang came to look for me several times just now. It seems that he couldn't find you, and he was afraid that he would be held accountable for killing a royal heir with his own hands."

"Although I sent him away, Chongba, you still have to explain it clearly to him when you go back. Don't let your subordinates be scared when they help you do something, or I will have to clean up the mess for you later!"

In many dynasties and at many times, the emperor and the empress were each tied to people from different factions, and their relationship was complicated.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma were exceptions.

Not to mention ordinary emperors, even the founding emperor had no lower birth than Zhu Yuanzhang. Like him and his wife, they did not have any powerful background.

They started from scratch and knew each other from humble beginnings. Apart from being husband and wife, they were also lifelong friends, with one mind and one goal. Therefore, every time Zhu Yuanzhang got angry and wanted to chop off someone's head, it was only Empress Ma who could persuade him to stop.

This was not because of the queen's face, nor was Zhu Yuanzhang concerned about who was behind her, but simply because she was his own sister, his own daughter-in-law. Although Empress Ma was the ministers' savior, the savior could sometimes feel annoying.

For example, now, Zhu Yuanzhang himself sent Mao Xiang to deal with Lu and the unborn child in Lu's belly, but even his most trusted confidant would be afraid of being held accountable later. After all, this concerns the royal heir, and it is no joke.

It was natural for Mao Xiang to be afraid, and it was also because Zhu Yuanzhang was too anxious and hurried, so he just left his stall and went to teach. It was normal for Empress Ma to be upset as she had to keep an eye on Song Shen and deal with her subordinates.

Zhu Yuanzhang knew that the girl was really a little angry, so he quickly put on a smile.

"Hey sister, you know we are too busy right now, so we have to trouble you. Thank you for your hard work."

As he said this, he went over with a playful grin and rubbed his wife's shoulders, glaring at Zhu Biao as he did so, signaling this tactless young man to get out of here and not disturb the couple.

After Zhu Biao left speechlessly, Zhu Yuanzhang let go and sat down, sighing continuously.

Queen Ma glanced at him:
"Why are you groaning about this? Hasn't everything been resolved?"

"The baby in Lu's belly is gone, and she is also seriously injured. The imperial physician is fighting with the King of Hell for the baby. Zhu Yunwen, the future great threat, was strangled to death in the womb."

"I have already comforted Song Shen. If he thinks of something in the future, I think he will let down his guard and tell me."

"I have solved most of the problems on your mind. What else are you not satisfied with?"

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't say anything, but kept rubbing his temples and eyebrows, and Empress Ma didn't urge him.

After a moment of silence, Zhu Yuanzhang finally sighed:

"That kid Biao'er...even though he has learned a lot of thundering methods from us, he is still too naive and soft-hearted."

"If he hadn't heard Song Shen mention Chang's, Ying'er, or even your future, I'm afraid he wouldn't have agreed so easily."

"This time, even if the order was given to Mao Xiang, he will still feel that he killed his own child with his own hands. It will be difficult for him to get over this mental hurdle."

When this matter was mentioned, Queen Ma also fell silent.

As a grandparent, it was impossible for her to remain indifferent when she heard with her own ears that Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the disposal of a grandson.

But what can be done?

"It's time for him to learn to face these things."

After a long while, Queen Ma's voice softened a little, patted the back of her husband's hand, and whispered:
"I know you are planning to take action against Hu Weiyong and the others..."

"Yes, we cannot leave it to him to deal with the affairs of those old friends. He wants to be a benevolent king, but a benevolent king must have blood on his hands, otherwise he will be a cowardly and incompetent king."

"If the unborn child will bring disaster in the future, Biaoer, as the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, should personally deal with this source of disaster."

"You coming here to issue the decree is for his own good. If he were older, I wouldn't want you to come. He should do it himself."

"Don't worry, Biao'er has been sensible since he was young, he won't hate you... Besides, don't we still have Song Shen?"

"Call Song Shen to the palace as soon as possible and let him teach Ying'er. He can also teach Biao'er at the same time."

(End of this chapter)