In the Buddhist room of Zhongling Palace, Concubine Yu knelt in front of the Buddha statue and recited the Buddha's name devoutly.
The emperor came with his hands behind his back, saw the figure kneeling in front of the Buddha, and waved to the palace attendants who were about to salute.
The palace attendants quietly retreated, and the emperor walked slowly behind Concubine Yu.
With her eyes closed, her ears were extra sensitive. Concubine Yu suddenly opened her eyes and turned around when she heard the steady footsteps approaching.
"His Majesty."
Concubine Yu was surprised and happy. She had not expected that the emperor would come to Zhongling Palace.
"How long have you been reading?" The emperor stretched out his hand and helped her up.
Concubine Yu said with a faint smile: "It won't take long."
It didn't take long for her to speak, but the way she walked was not smooth betrayed her.
The emperor's eyes narrowed and he led her to the main hall.
"Let me take a look at your Majesty's hands." Concubine Yu said worriedly.
The emperor obeyed and handed her the hand wrapped in cotton, and said slowly: "It's okay, just a slight burn."
Concubine Yu held the emperor's extended right hand, gently untied the cotton cloth and looked at it carefully.
The back of the emperor's right hand was burned to a size as large as his thumb, and the burn was a bit severe. Although he applied ointment, the skin and flesh could still be faintly scorched and blackened.
Concubine Yu looked at it with warm beautiful eyes: "The burn is the most painful. Can Your Majesty sleep at night?"
The emperor sighed: "I can't sleep a little. I just want to think about my merits and demerits over the years and why my ancestors gave me this warning and punishment."
"No one is a saint, and no one can do anything wrong. Your Majesty, don't be too responsible." Concubine Yu wrapped the emperor's hand again and tied it up.
The emperor retracted his hand, frowned and said, "Cheng'er was injured because of me this time. There will definitely be trouble in the court after the court begins."
Right and wrong merits and demerits have been recorded in history books and later generations commented that the emperor did not care much, and it was the situation in the DPRK that really worried him.
It would be fine if Yu Cheng and the Cao family share the same spirit, but he is upright, loyal, filial and benevolent, but he cannot escape the control of the Cao family, which makes people love and sigh at the same time.
Seeing Yu Cheng, the emperor seemed to see himself back then.
Knowing that the emperor was struggling in his heart, Concubine Yu said sincerely: "The prince was taught well by Master Zhou. He is upright and respectful, has the world in mind, and is a wise king."
The emperor thought for a long time and said in a low voice: "Cheng'er is very good, and Zheng'er is also very good. No matter which of them takes my position in the future, the Cao family must be eradicated."
This was the emperor's long-cherished wish, and it was the only thing he could do for them as a father.
As an emperor, what you weigh is the overall situation of the world, not personal gains and losses. No matter what the historian writes, no matter whether Yu Cheng blames him or not, he will follow his heart.
The Cao family cannot stay.
The harem was not allowed to interfere in politics, so Concubine Yu replied appropriately with one or two words and then stopped talking to her.
She knew that the emperor had his own judgment in his heart, but he just wanted to find someone to talk to because no one had told him.
Precisely because Concubine Yu was well-controlled, elegant and transparent, and never relied on favors to become arrogant, the emperor felt at ease when he was with her and was willing to talk to her when he had anything to say.
The palace walls are towering, and everyone within the walls is a trapped beast. If there is no understanding person, it will be torture every day.
"Zheng'er should be at Jiang's house right now." The emperor suddenly said.
Concubine Yu nodded: "According to custom, today is the day to return home."
Concubine Yu's father was once a Taifu. He had different opinions with Cao Taishi, who was also the emperor's teacher. They were repeatedly suppressed. Later, he was transferred to the Document Pavilion to sort out documents. He retired and returned to his hometown ten years ago and passed away a few years ago.
Concubine Yu was the only daughter in the family. She had no close relatives after her parents passed away, and she had no place to visit her relatives.
"Mother, concubine, eh, the emperor is here too." Yu Lan came with Zhuang Yun.
"Grandpa, grandma." Zhuang Yun greeted him politely.
The emperor smiled and said: "Yun'er is becoming more and more like an adult now."
Zhuang Yun's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Really?"
"Yes." The emperor nodded.
Zhuang Yun said: "Then when you talk later, can you stop asking me to avoid it?"
"What a ghost." The emperor and Concubine Yu were amused and laughed.
Due to the arrival of Yu Lan and Zhuang Yun, the deserted hall instantly became lively.
At the same time, the Jiang family was also filled with laughter.
When he returned home today, Yu Zheng gave Jiang Ning a fine bow and taught him archery himself.
"Brother-in-law, I hit it." Jiang Ning looked excited.
"Yes." Yu Zheng responded, nocked an arrow and drew his bow, and shot away Jiang Ning's arrow.
Jiang Ning was confused. How could he still play like this?
Yu Zheng said: "Archery is not a game for fun. If you want to learn it, you must learn it well. The more skills you have, the more you can protect yourself."
"Although the arrow you just hit hit, it was still far from the target, and the force was too shallow. If you hunted and killed the enemy, it would only cause skin trauma, but it would not be fatal."
Although the academy has professors of the Six Arts of the Gentleman, they do not pay much attention to riding and shooting. Therefore, although Jiang Ning has been exposed to them, he only has a superficial understanding of them.
What Yu Zheng taught was all solid and refined.
Jiang Shu and Jiang's father and mother were drinking tea and chatting in the hall. They were relieved to see Yu Zheng teaching Jiang Ning seriously.
"It's rare that the prince is willing to teach Ning'er himself." Jiang's mother was both pleased and grateful.
Jiang's father also said: "Yes, Ning'er is lucky to have the prince's guidance."
Although Yu Zheng is not a Taifu, he studied under Taifu Zhou, and his skills are excellent, so he is no different from a Taifu.
As Jiang Ning, it is a great honor to be taught by Yu Zheng.
Seeing that Jiang Ning had been studying for a long time and his hands were red, Yu Zheng stopped and said, "That's it for today. You can practice again when you have time at home."
"Remember, archery skills are not achieved overnight. The most important thing is persistence."
Jiang Ning kept it in mind, and the two of them walked into the hall.
Yu Zheng asked him as he walked: "Do you want to learn to ride a horse?"
Jiang Ning nodded repeatedly: "I think so!"
Yu Zheng curled his lips and said, "There is a racecourse in the palace. You can go to the palace someday and I will have someone teach you how to ride a horse."
The palace not only has a racecourse, but also many good horses.
"Thank you, brother-in-law." Jiang Ning thanked him loudly and wished he could go tomorrow.
Jiang's father was afraid of causing trouble to Yu Zheng, so he frowned and said, "The prince is busy with his affairs, so there is no need to indulge him in everything."
Yu Zheng sat down next to Jiang Shu and said, "It doesn't matter. The palace has a horse master, so I don't need to teach him personally."
When Father Jiang heard this, he felt relieved.
When the government starts tomorrow, Yu Zheng will be busy with government affairs again, and indeed he will not have time to teach Jiang Ning in person.
Of course, Jiang Ning will be going to school in a few days and won't have much time to go to the palace.
"Does your hand hurt?" Jiang Shu remembered Yu Zheng's injury.
Yu Zheng glanced at the hand wrapped in cotton and said slowly: "It doesn't hurt, it's not involved."
Only she would care so much about this little injury, and Yu Zheng felt warm in his heart.
"Brother-in-law, let's play chess after lunch." Jiang Ning was in high spirits.
"Okay." Yu Zheng agreed happily.
"Then we have to agree first, I'll come first." Jiang's father interrupted.
Jiang Ning was unconvinced and said, "Why?"
Father Jiang said with a serious face: "Because I am your father."
Jiang Ning was so angry that she had no words to retort.
Jiang's mother found it embarrassing and said: "You are still fighting with your children no matter how old you are, and you are not afraid of making the prince laugh."
Yu Zheng picked up the teacup and drank tea, and Jiang Shu peeled a handful of pine nuts for him.
The sky is gloomy and cold, but the family's heart is sunny and warm.
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Jiang Shu and Yu Zheng went to General Pingxi's Mansion.
