"Will you become wise later?"
Mrs. Wu looked at Zhu Qiyu and repeated his words gently. Her expression was a little complicated for a moment. After a while, she sighed and seemed a little sad. She picked up the bead string on the table and fiddled with it a few times. Fang said .
"Brother Yu, the Ai family remembers that when you were young, you once wrote a large calligraphy painting and was praised by your husband. At such a young age, you had a graceful appearance."
"At that time, you excitedly ran to find your father. As a result, he rewarded you with a bunch of pearls and sent you away. After you came back, the Ai family punished you for this and made you kneel for two times. hour.”
Zhu Qiyu was stunned, nodded, and said.
"I remember that when I was young, I thought that my father would praise my son a few words. However, even though I received the reward, my father did not look at my son in the eyes. When I came back, my mother and concubine punished my son. At that time, my son was so embarrassed. I have been wronged for a long time."
This incident happened so long ago that Zhu Qiyu could no longer remember the scene as early as that time. He only remembered that his knees hurt during those two hours. Since then, he has He never took the initiative to run to his father's palace again.
Now, after a long time, he was able to mention this matter calmly, but there was still a hint of disappointment in his tone.
Seeing this situation, Wu shook her head and asked.
"Do you know why your father treated you like this?"
"Why did the Aijia punish you at that time?"
this……
Zhu Qiyu was silent for a moment. It might be difficult for others to answer these two questions, but now that he is the emperor, he naturally knows what the answer is.
It's just that he knew it was the same thing in his heart, but when he said it, his heart couldn't help but feel a little pinched and painful. However, even so, he still took a breath and pretended to be calm and answered.
"As the second son of a concubine, how can I overstep the authority of the direct eldest son of the East Palace?"
The emperor was surrounded by eunuchs who attended him and paid more attention to his daily life. Although the ministers could not see it, things in the harem would inevitably be spread through various channels.
As Zhu Qiyu said, at that time, he was just a junior prince who accompanied the prince to study. Take the coursework as an example, his writing was indeed good, but the prince's writing could only be regarded as mediocre. The teacher praised him at that time He was killed to inspire the prince.
However, when he showed it to his father, it seemed like he was overstepping his bounds.
Of course, a child would not think so much. At that time, he just felt that his father did not take him seriously and wanted to please his father.
However, now that Zhu Qiyu looks back and thinks about it, he can understand his father's reaction at that time.
The gentleman can praise his handwriting, but the emperor cannot, because once the emperor praises it and spreads it, some people will inevitably suspect that the emperor loves his youngest son.
More importantly, as a concubine, he cannot be better than the prince.
Therefore, it is normal for him to be treated coldly, and it is also normal for Wu to punish him after returning to the palace, but...
Zhu Qiyu sighed softly, with a complicated look on his face and said nothing.
Seeing this situation, Wu was also a little silent, but she still had to say what needed to be said, but she hesitated for a moment before she spoke.
"You're right, but it's also wrong!"
"At that time, you were young and ignorant, so you didn't know many things."
"In fact, not long after the prince came out of the cabinet, there were ministers in the court who suggested that the princes should be allowed to join the vassal in order to protect the country forever."
"Your father refused at that time, saying that the prince was still young and needed the companionship of his brothers of the same age. It would be okay to become a vassal when he was older."
The meaning of this is nothing more than that Emperor Xuanzong deliberately ignored Zhu Qiyu in order to reduce his sense of existence and keep him in the capital.
only……
"Thank you, Concubine Mother, for explaining. My son understands. However, it has been so long, why does Concubine Mother bring it up now?"
Of course Zhu Qiyu hoped that what Wu said was true, but even though he was still young at the time, he felt that he could never be wrong.
Whether it was to protect him or if he really didn't care, he could feel it himself.
Seeing this situation, Wu knew that he didn't believe it. However, the more he said this, the more false it became, so Wu had no choice but to stop mentioning it and continue.
"Brother Ji is your eldest son. Although he is a concubine, the Ai family can see that you have a preference for him. It is not just because he was the only prince before Brother Shu was born. How do you treat this child? He always had a preference."
"But, in fact, just like in the harem, excessive preference is not a good thing for the prince."
"During this period, Brother Ji was in Jingyang Palace. In fact, the Ai family only taught him one or four words: superior and inferior!"
Wu said it calmly, but Zhu Qiyu understood the heavy meaning of these words. He opened his mouth to speak, but Wu raised his hand to stop him and asked.
"The Ai family wants to ask you, you told the Ai family before that you would not change the East Palace without any reason, but do you still count?"
Zhu Qiyu frowned, but this time he said directly without any hesitation.
"Of course it's just a matter of time. The departure of the East Palace has been delayed for a while, but that is due to some considerations above the court. Why, someone spread gossip to the mother and concubine?"
However, this time Wu shook her head and said.
"No one spreads this gossip, and the Ai family is not interested in knowing what you are planning in the outer court. However, since you do not plan to change the East Palace for no reason, then from now on, Brother Ji should be careful in his words and deeds. This has nothing to do with you. Why was the situation different back then?"
"Mother and concubine, it's not like this. I was studying with the Supreme Emperor at that time, so there was a comparison. However, now, Brother Ji and the Crown Prince have different statuses and are different. It is normal. Why would it arouse people's suspicion?"
Faced with Wu's statement, Zhu Qiyu disagreed and asked.
To put it bluntly, Brother Ji is his biological son, but the prince is his nephew, so it is normal to have different loves. This is different from the relationship between Zhu Qiyu and Zhu Qizhen back then.
Wu shook her head and said.
"Then Ai Jia, let's put it another way. If you dote on this child so much now, what will happen if the queen gives birth to a legitimate son in the future?"
This question made Zhu Qiyu stunned.
If Wu's previous words were considered vague, then this sentence broke the window paper.
When he saw Ji Ge'er this time, his most obvious feeling was that Ji Ge'er was a lot more restrained. He originally felt that he was a little less like a child and too young and mature.
However, if you think about it carefully, Ji Ge'er's understanding now is actually different from his previous life.
In the previous life, Ji Geer was forced to grow up because he had to bear too many people's expectations. However, in this life, Ji Geer is more like simply learning this stereotype of superiority and inferiority.
Because he had always felt guilty about Brother Ji, he subconsciously felt that something was wrong, but was it really so?
The so-called respect for superiors and inferiors, the legitimate son is respected over the concubine, and the elder is respected over the young, just like what Wu said, he dotes on Brother Ji now, so what if the queen gives birth to a legitimate son in the future?
If he is not loved as much as Brother Ji, disaster is bound to happen. If he is loved too much, it is not a good thing.
Thinking a little deeper, this also involves his problem a hundred years later. Although he has not shaken the idea of Donggong for the time being, in the future... examples of side concubines bullying the main wife are common in the Ming Dynasty.
In the previous life, Xianzong's mother, Zhou, bullied Empress Qian, and what happened to Empress Zhang after Sejong ascended the throne are all clear examples.
Gu Ping
From this point of view, Ji Geer's current change is not a bad thing.
Seemingly seeing what Zhu Qiyu was thinking, Wu sighed and said.
"The Ai family knows that you like this child, but in the royal family, there are some things that you can't control yourself. Brother Ji is a good boy, and Hang is not a mean person, but after all, no matter how good the child is, he can't help himself. They all need to be taught well, do you understand?"
Zhu Qiyu pondered for a long time, with a complicated look on his face. Finally, he nodded slightly.
…………
After nightfall, a simple and low-key carriage parked leisurely at the door of the Chengguo Duke's Mansion. After the carriage stopped, Zhang Xi, dressed in brocade clothes, got out of the carriage. He did not look like a third-grade military attache, but like an ordinary rich man. .
Outside Duke Cheng's mansion, a housekeeper was already waiting. Seeing this situation, he immediately stepped forward, bowed and said.
"I have met the second master. The young master knew that you came here in a low-key manner, so he did not come out to greet you in person. He asked me to apologize to you on his behalf. Now the young master is waiting in the hall. Please come with me."
Zhang Min didn't think there was anything surprising. If we really talk about it in detail, he and Zhu Yi's father, Zhu Yong, were of the same generation. He was just a servant of Duke Chengguo. When he saw him, he was frightened and respectful. , is normal.
Zhang Min nodded reservedly, waved his hand and said.
"Lead the way."
He followed the housekeeper into the inner courtyard. Just after passing the second gate, Zhang Shi saw Zhu Yi coming towards him from a distance. He held his hands in greeting and said.
"I've met Shibo."
Then, he waved his hand, signaling for the butler to step aside, and personally led the way. The two of them went to the flower hall and sat down.
Even during the process of sitting down, Zhu Yi refused to let Zhang Shi sit in the upper position, saying that since the two families were married, they were the same family, regardless of each other, only based on seniority.
Fortunately, Zhang Xian was not completely ignorant of propriety. After all, he was in someone else's house. After some refusal, he still sat in the guest seat.
After everyone sat down, before Zhang Min could speak, he saw Zhu Yi asking with a calm face.
"Uncle Shi, are you here because of your nephew's suspension pending investigation?"
Zhang Mian took a sip of tea, put the tea cup on the table in front of him, nodded, and looked a little strange.
In fact, before he came, he had already thought about how to ask questions, but when he actually arrived at Chengguo Duke's mansion and saw Zhu Yi's calm appearance, he was stuck again.
You know, Zhu Yi is not just suspended pending investigation, he has even had the hereditary iron certificate of Duke Chengguo taken away.
Even if Zhu Yi wasn't so panicked after such a big thing happened, he shouldn't be so calm anyway.
But in the end, Zhang Xi thought about it and asked.
"How could it be like this? I heard that the eldest uncle in the palace was there at that time, but the elders didn't stop him?"
This was said euphemistically, but it was obviously referring to the World Voucher matter.
After hearing this, Zhu Yi shook his head and said.
"My father-in-law has never interfered with these things. What's more, this time in front of the palace, I also intend to fight for my name. If not, how can I put myself to death and survive?"
Zhang Min blinked.
He saw it at the risk of death!
However, he didn't even see the path to future life!
You must know that in the current situation, the emperor is obviously taking out his anger on the Chengguo government. If Zhu Yi had the idea of letting the civil servants hold grievances on his behalf, it would be a big mistake.
If a civil servant is being sued this time, and he is suspended pending investigation, there will definitely be many people who are dissatisfied with the imperial censorship.
But it happened that Zhu Yi was a son of an honorable noble. Especially now that the imperial court was about to reorganize the army and sharpen the sword against the noble noble family, the civil servants were eager to make the noble noble's power even weaker.
At this time, even if Zhu Yi is really wronged, no one may really be willing to complain for him. The only possibility is Zhu Yi's father-in-law Hu Xi.
However, Zhu Yi made it clear that he would never get involved in these matters.
Zhang Min frowned and asked.
"Young Master, what are you going to do? Don't tell me anything. Before I came here, I also inquired about some information, including the information about your memorial and the emperor's order to the East Palace to leave the cabinet after spring hunting. The reputation of Duke Chengguo’s Mansion has indeed changed a lot.”
"However, if Mr. Zhu Ge did not exaggerate the situation he described to me, then you have really offended the emperor this time. If he insists on refusing to let you return to the Duke Chengguo's palace, your life will be different. Where?"
Facing Zhang Min's doubts, Zhu Yi still looked calm, but when he spoke again, his expression became more solemn and said.
"Shibo, I admit that this time is a bit of a risk, but risks will be rewarded."
"Your worries are not unreasonable. However, all willfulness comes with a price. Now, His Majesty is not unwillful, but most of the time, he is more restrained."
"As for when to be restrained and when to be willful, it naturally depends on whether he is willing to bear the price of being willful."
"Shibo asked where the way to life is, and the way to life is right here!"
Seeing that Zhang Min still looked a little confused, Zhu Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, looked towards an unknown distance, and said calmly.
"Perhaps Shibo thinks that my nephew is doing this just to get his title back. However, now that the matter has come to this, I might as well tell the truth to Shibo. What my nephew wants is not only the title, but also me, Duke Cheng. The name of the house! Since you want to take it, you must take it back together!"
Seeing Zhu Yi's expression, Zhang Xi felt inexplicably breathless and couldn't help but ask.
"What...what do you want to do?"
Zhu Yi smiled, turned sideways, lowered her voice, and said a few words in Zhang Xi's ear, which immediately made Zhang Xi's face change and said.
"Young Master, this..."
However, he only said half of the words before he was interrupted by Zhu Yi raising his hand and saying.
"Second Master, everything is ready now. All we need is the east wind. Could it be said that Shibo wants to give up at this time?"
"But……"
"Don't worry, Shibo. After this incident, the Duke of Chengguo will definitely be the British Duke's most reliable ally!"
Zhang Xi's body was a little stiff, his expression changed for a while, and finally he nodded slightly and said.
"Forget it, in that case, I will take this risk with you!"
Hearing this, a smile finally appeared on Zhu Yi's face, she stood up and held her hands in her hands, saying.
"Thank you, Uncle Shi. With your style, my nephew believes that this matter will go smoothly!"
Looking at Zhu Yi's appearance, Zhang Min couldn't help but sigh and said.
"I hope so..."
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