Lao Zhu stared at Zhu Bai's originally round face that was now angular due to being much thinner. His heart trembled, and the anger he had just gritted his teeth had been thrown out of the sky long ago.
His voice was a little bitter: "Nizi, why are you so thin?"
Zhu Bai touched his face: "I'm not losing weight, I'm just getting stronger. I'm either riding a horse or walking every day, and my body is full of tendons."
I have raised this for a month, otherwise it would be even more uncomfortable for you to see it.
Sure enough, my strategy of walking slowly and playing at the same time was right.
Lao Zhu said to the eunuch beside him: "Go and ask Honglu Temple to prepare some delicious food for the evening."
Zhu Bai followed Lao Zhu and asked with a smile: "How is your father's health recently?"
It's okay if I don't ask, but when I ask Lao Zhu, he becomes very angry: "No, you are such a rebellious son. You only care about enjoying yourself on the grassland. Do you still care about your old father and mother?"
The words were full of resentment and grievance.
Even if Zhu Bai reported that he was safe, as long as Zhu Bai did not return to the palace, their hearts would be hanging for a day.
Zhu Bai replied with a cheeky smile: "I am not carefree. I am very busy. I have to milk cows, herd sheep, and think about how to escape."
Lao Zhu softened his heart, snorted, and said reluctantly: "Yes, you have worked hard this time, and you have made great contributions to our Ming Dynasty and eliminated future troubles."
Queen Ma and Concubine Hu Shun were waiting at the inner palace gate.
When Queen Ma saw Lao Zhu coming, she grabbed Concubine Hu Shun's hand and said, "Look, the child next to the emperor is Zhu Bai."
Concubine Hu Shun choked up: "Isn't it him?"
Empress Ma said: "I have become much taller and thinner. If the emperor hadn't brought it with me, I might not have been able to recognize it at first glance."
Concubine Hu Shun forced a smile.
Zhu Bai came up and kowtowed to Queen Ma and Concubine Hu Shun: "It makes you ladies worried."
Queen Ma pulled him up, patted him angrily, and said, "You kid, you are so naughty..."
I couldn't continue talking before I finished speaking.
Concubine Hu Shun turned her head and secretly wiped away tears.
Queen Ma: "You are tired too, go back and rest first."
Zhu Bai grinned: "The queen still loves her son."
Zhu Bai returned to the palace, and Zhu Ju was already waiting with Brother Monkey.
Brother Monkey jumped into Zhu Bai's arms, then screamed, scratched his ears and cheeks, and made various gestures.
Zhu Bai frowned: "Hey, who are you scolding? Who taught you these dirty words when you scold them so harshly? You are getting more and more courageous. I know I have been out for a longer time this time, it is not inconvenient. Will I take you with me?"
Number 7 thought that Brother Monkey was going to hit Zhu Bai, so he circled around Zhu Bai anxiously and barked at Brother Monkey.
Zhu Bai hurriedly asked Fugui to lead No. 7 behind.
Zhu Ju looked at Zhu Bai with his mouth flat.
Zhu Bai chuckled: "Oh, Ju'er is a lot taller?"
When he was willing to help Zhu Ju and let Concubine Hu Shun adopt Zhu Ju, it was out of brotherhood and pity for Zhu Ju, and secondly, he had some selfish motives.
Nowadays, he often goes out to do business. With Zhu Ju accompanying Concubine Hu Shun in the palace, Concubine Hu Shun will not be too lonely.
He will go to Changsha in the future, and Zhu Ju will be old by then, so she will take care of Concubine Hu Shun for him in Yingtian.
Zhu Ju said while crying: "You are the most annoying. You are really inconsiderate. You stay away from home for many days. Do you know how you scared my mother? I am so scared alone. What if there is something wrong with my mother? ,what do I do?"
Full of guilt, Zhu Bai stepped forward and held her in his arms, patting her gently: "I'm sorry, it's my brother's fault. I made you worry."
When it gets bigger, there will be bigger troubles, and it’s not easy to coax.
I used to smile when I was given some food, but now I don’t know what to do.
Zhu Ju sniffed, wiped her tears and said, "You should rest."
Then he left.
It's just like summer rain, it starts and ends so quickly that it's overwhelming.
Zhu Bai sighed: Women are so difficult to understand.
Zhu Bai took a shower and changed clothes, then went to Queen Ma's place to have dinner.
Those younger brothers and sisters gathered around him, and he gave each of them a bracelet or jade pendant made of Hetian jade.
Only then can the children sit down and eat quietly.
Zhu Tan asked: "Twelfth brother, how did you escape from Wang Baobao?"
Except for Lao Zhu and Zhu Biao, everyone only knew that Wang Baobao died and Zhu Bai escaped.
The children were very curious, and they all looked at Zhu Bai with wide eyes.
Zhu Bai coughed dryly and answered vaguely: "Ah, I just stole a horse and ran away at night."
These battles were so cruel and bloody that he couldn't bear to scare them.
Zhu Chun asked: "Aren't they chasing you? I heard that Wang Baobao is very powerful. Mongolian horses can also run very fast."
Zhu Bai said: "That night, the Mongols happened to have internal strife. Two tribes were fighting, and they had no time to take care of me."
Zhu Tan clapped his hands: "I know, Wang Baobao was killed during internal strife."
Zhu Bai nodded wildly: "Yes, yes, Brother Eleven is smart."
Zhu Gui, who was sitting opposite, stood up, put his arms on the table, leaned forward to get closer to Zhu Bai, and asked excitedly: "Brother Twelve, what does it feel like to ride a horse on the grassland."
Zhu Bai grinned: "It's so fun. The endless grassland, the sky is high and the sky is high, it's unrestrained."
Zhu Gui looked fascinated: "Wow, I want to go too."
Then he looked eagerly at Lao Zhu.
Lao Zhu snorted: "Okay, you want to play, right? I'll seal you off to the northwest tomorrow, and you can help us guard the border."
Zhu Gui tilted his head and asked: "Guarding the border fortress, do you want to fight?"
Lao Zhu sneered: "Otherwise, what's the point of defending the border fortress? You have to defend it only when someone attacks. Do you really think it's as easy as this traitor says?"
Zhu Zi shrank back, sat down, and whispered: "I won't go there. It's better to stay in Yingtian."
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Old Thirteen, don't be a coward. You are only two years younger than Twelve."
"That's right, he has just come back from running around on the grassland. In two years, you can do it too."
Queen Ma and Lao Zhu exchanged glances, each smiling at the children's laughter.
Just like that, we finished our meal laughing and joking.
Zhu Bai took out a piece of blue velvet and said, "Mother, this is specially brought to you and my father by my son. Make it into clothes and wear it inside. It will be light and warm in winter."
Queen Ma: "Well, as long as you can come back safely, it doesn't matter whether you bring something or not. Go see Concubine Hu Shun quickly. I won't keep you."
Zhu Bai saluted Queen Ma and Lao Zhu, then hurriedly went out and asked people to get flannel again to see Concubine Hu Shun.
Concubine Hu Shun stood waiting at the door, her cold figure seeming to melt in the moonlight.
Zhu Bai felt a little sad and guilty. Although he tried to get someone to deliver the letter as soon as possible, there was always a time lag in the middle.
I heard that Concubine Hu Shun did not drink water or eat during those days.
How could she make him feel free to go out and try something like this...
Zhu Bai was suddenly afraid of getting close because he was afraid of seeing her cry.
He had never been afraid of dragon pools, tiger dens, enemy camps and battlefields, but now he was so scared...
"Mom." Zhu Bai called from afar with a smile, "I'm here."
