Zhu Yuanzhang took two more bites and left.
Queen Ma sat for a while, then said she was tired and led the others back to the palace.
Zhu Biao also left.
This is a common practice, and the palace only holds two or three family banquets every year.
Both Queen Ma and Zhu Yuanzhang would leave early so that the princes could get close to their mothers in an open and honest manner.
Then the princes walked towards their respective mothers.
The young prince couldn't figure out the mystery. After being led to his mother by the nanny, he just turned his head and looked around.
When I was older, I had already passed the stage of being coquettish with my mother, and I could only answer my mother's questions awkwardly but not politely.
At this moment, Zhu Xi was rare and quiet and shy like a child, but Zhu Fan was a little absent-minded.
Only people as big as Zhu Tan and Zhu Chun still long to be close to their mother and know that the person in front of them is their own mother, so the atmosphere is much more genuine and warm.
As soon as Zhu Bai leaned over, Concubine Hu Shun hugged him tightly.
Although Zhu Bai was embarrassed, he couldn't bear to struggle.
It would be hard for her to be away from her family and have to compete with countless women for a man.
But he is the only thought of this lonely woman to survive in this deep palace.
Zhu Yuanzhang himself was diligent and frugal, and his concubines were also able to save money.
Therefore, the concubines can't talk about glory and wealth, but they only have enough food and clothing.
Besides, he has been quite violent recently, and has been repeatedly testing the situation on the verge of committing suicide. Besides Lao Zhu, the one who is most frightened is Concubine Hu Shun.
To sum up, Concubine Hu Shun's life was really miserable.
Concubine Hu Shun finally let go and said with a nasal voice: "Your Highness has grown taller recently."
Zhu Bai grinned: "That's right. I've been getting myself a lot of meat recently."
He quietly took out a horn comb from his arms: "I accompanied the Crown Prince to the temple fair a few days ago. I saw this and bought you a comb."
Concubine Hu Shun's eyes grew hot: "It's great that Your Highness still remembers me."
But she didn't reach out to take it.
Zhu Bai whispered: "Don't worry, I also bought a handful for the Queen. Just keep it."
Concubine Hu Shun accepted it and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for remembering me. Your Highness has been doing well recently. His headache no longer seems to have happened."
Zhu Bai said: "It's good. I can eat and sleep. Everything is fine."
After saying a few words, the eunuch in charge came in and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to return to the palace."
Concubine Hu Shun shed tears again and said hurriedly: "Your Highness, don't be naughty, don't make your father angry, and don't worry about me."
Then he stood up and walked back three times.
Zhu Bai felt melancholy and helpless for the first time.
He could understand Zhu Yuanzhang's caution.
Queen Ma worked hard and was still the original wife. The key was that her family members were all dead.
No matter how favored she is, there is no hidden danger of her foreign relatives interfering in politics.
The other concubines were different.
For example, Concubine Hu Shun, whose father is the daughter of Hu Mei, the Marquis of Linchuan.
Hu Mei was originally Chen Youliang's general, guarding Jiangxi, but was later recruited and surrendered by Lao Zhu and then guarded Changsha.
Concubine Hu Shun gave birth to another son, and Lao Zhu had to guard against Concubine Hu Shun.
After all, any prince could become the heir to the empire.
-----
Just after Zhu Yuanzhang and Queen Ma left the table one after another, Zhu Di pulled Zhu Xi out.
Zhu Ru was a little confused.
He couldn't remember when he started, but every year when this moment came, Zhu Di would hold him back.
Then the two of them couldn't leave, so they had to hide in the corridor next to them, blowing in the cold wind, and wait for the meal to disperse.
Zhu Rui hesitated and finally asked: "Fourth brother. Can I ask you a question?"
Zhu Di replied dully: "Yeah."
Zhu Ju: "Who is my one?"
He wanted to know who his mother was, but he was afraid that the walls had ears.
Although it is a fact that everyone knows, it cannot be said clearly in this palace.
Zhu Di glanced at him and said nothing.
Zhu Rui asked again: "Are we the same?"
Zhu Di nodded quickly.
Zhu Ru lowered his voice and asked: "Why have I never seen her before? Who is she? Why did I ask the palace people, and the palace people either didn't know, or they said she was the queen."
"You don't need to know. You just need to keep it in mind." Zhu Di turned to look into his eyes, "Also, no matter who asks you, you have to say that our mother is the queen."
Zhu Ru pursed his lips.
Zhu Di hesitated for a moment and then said: "One day, I will clear her grievances and put her on the altar in the Ancestral Temple. You will know then."
-----
Zhu Bai came back from the banquet and found Zhu Biao waiting for him outside the palace.
Zhu Bai asked: "Hey, brother, why are you outside in such a cold weather?"
Zhu Biao bowed to him seriously: "Thank you very much, twelfth brother, for saving Master."
Zhu Bai: "Brother, you don't have to be polite. After all, he is also my wife."
Zhu Biao whispered: "Your method of breaking the cauldron and sinking the boat is really good."
Zhu Bai: "I don't understand what you mean by breaking the cauldron. I just want to eat a quail egg."
Zhu Biao smiled and cupped his hands again: "Twelfth brother has worked hard today. Let's rest early."
-----
On New Year's Eve, an urgent edict came out from the palace and Liu Bowen was released.
Because of Zhu Biao's instructions, the prison boss naturally did not dare to treat Liu Bowen badly.
So Liu Bowen had nothing to do inside.
According to what he said, the prison was good, he was well fed, and he didn't have to get up early to go to court, but the bed was not very comfortable.
The officials felt more and more that Zhu Yuanzhang was favoring Liu Bowen, and they were mad with jealousy and resentment. They secretly planned: "Just wait. When spring comes next year and the morning court resumes, we must embarrass that magic stick."
During the Chinese New Year, Liu Bowen wrapped a gift for Zhu Bai in a serious manner.
In the entire palace, only Zhu Bai and Zhu Biao received Liu Bowen's gifts.
Not for anything else, just because Liu Bowen was poor.
Zhu's design is a long and light box.
After taking it apart, it turned out to be a fine Langhaohu pen.
The wooden box Zhu Bai received was square and heavy.
He smiled from ear to ear: It must be silver if it is so heavy.
Liu Shengun has entrusted all his family property to me.
As a result, he took it apart and saw: a blue brick.
Also attached is a piece of paper: This strange stone is for your paperweight use. I wish His Highness to write more articles to help the world, and to have calligraphy and paintings that will be remembered for centuries.
I go.......
Liu Shengun clearly knows that writing is what I hate most.
Zhu Bai was so angry that he rolled up his sleeves and was about to carry the bricks to Liu Bowen's house and show him how to smash the bricks on his forehead.
But Zhu Biao stopped him: "Don't panic. There is still a piece of paper."
After unfolding it, it turned out to be a scroll with "Encouragement to Learn" written on it.
Zhu Bai sneered: "It's useless. It's too little to use as firewood. It takes up space if you leave it. I won't hang it up if it's square."
Zhu Di stretched his head over to take a look and said, "If my twelfth brother doesn't want it, give it to me."
Zhu Bai frowned: "What did you use it for?"
Zhu Biao said: "Master Liu's calligraphy is hard to find in the market. You don't want it."
Zhu Bai grinned: "It can be exchanged for money. Then I'll keep it."
Zhu Cang sneered: "I said you kid has nothing to worry about eating and drinking all day long, why do you need so much money?"
Zhu Bai: "Who would mind having too much money, right, second brother?"
----
On New Year's Eve, the world is reunited, peaceful and quiet.
Zhu Yuanzhang called all his children, wives, concubines, daughters-in-law, etc., to have dinner. After the meal, each prince who got married was given a set of gold and jade jewelry, and those who were not married were given a few gold ingots, and then they were asked to go back to their respective palaces to stay up late.
Zhu Biao and Zhu Bai were left alone to accompany him and Queen Ma.
