At this time, in the old Shandong Palace where Crown Prince Zhu Hexing lived, there were also three people who stayed awake all night. Those who couldn't sleep were the lucky prince Zhu Hexing and his two wives, the crown prince Ding Yuying and the crown prince's concubine Ding Yuru.
Zhu Hexing, who has been the prince for more than fifty years, does not have a group of Yingying Yanyan. He only has two wives, Ding Yuying and Ding Yuru, and they are biological sisters. The relationship between Ding Yuying and Ding Yuru, who is six years younger than her, is extremely harmonious. The two sisters have never been jealous and have always been sisters.
In fact, Ding Yuru didn't want to enter the palace to be Zhu Hexing's little girl - her sister was already a powerful princess, so she was worried about not finding her husband? However, Ding Yuying did not want women from other families to be her "candidates", so she tried her best to persuade her sister to enter Jinling Women's University to be her husband Zhu Hexing's junior.
And Zhu Hexing did not let down his sister-in-law and always doted on her. And after Nadine Yuru became a concubine, he did not accept a third concubine. For thirty years, Zhu and Xing lived a life of monogamy and two wives. And he didn't take turns spending the night with his two wives... as long as both wives were around, he would sleep with them, which was really very affectionate.
Unlike all the crown princes and concubines before the Ming Dynasty, the two sisters Ding Yuying and Ding Yuru were both "student masters" selected by examinations. They also received extremely good education, were proficient in finance and law, and were knowledgeable in politics and politics. Military, diplomacy. Among them, Ding Yuying is the "alternate queen mother" who was personally trained by Zhu Cixiang, and her level of governance is much better than that of Prince Luck!
And Ding Yuru is a candidate trained by Ding Yuying herself - the medical level is just like this these days, and Ding Yuying has a good relationship with Prince Luck, so she has been pregnant more frequently. Giving birth to a child is just hanging around the door of death! Ding Yuying must cultivate a reliable candidate for herself, lest she have any eventuality and the position of crown princess falls into the hands of unreliable people, thus affecting Zhu Yi's status... And her sister Ding Yuru , of course became Ding Yuying’s first choice.
The couple has been together day and night for so many years, loving each other, and at the same time, they are also trembling with fear. They hope that Zhu Hexing's career will go further... Of course, this expectation can only be kept in the heart, and they dare not appear on the surface. Revealed.
Accompanying you is like accompanying a tiger!
Although Zhu Cixiang has never revealed his intention to depose the crown prince in the past fifty years... But who still doesn't know that Zhu Cixiang is not very satisfied with Zhu Hexing, otherwise nothing would happen to Ding Yuying. !
The status of this lucky prince was actually stabilized after marrying Ding Yuying.
Originally, Zhu Hexing, Ding Yuying, and Ding Yuru didn't have anything to worry about. It's nothing more than waiting patiently...Zhu Hexing's body looks very good, so he should be able to wait.
But in the past twenty years, there has been a situation in Zhu Cihong's harem where Wu Ake dominated the sixth palace! Moreover, Wu Ake also repeatedly mentioned that Zhu Cihong gave birth to three sons and three daughters. Among them, the twenty-second son Zhu Heke, born by Wu Ake, was very favored by Zhu Cihong, and he also performed extremely well, with both civil and military skills and talents. There are a lot of shadows of Zhu Hehao and Henry Zhu back then.
At the same time, Wu Sanmei's health was getting worse day by day... Wu Ake was the imperial concubine!
Once Wu Sanmei dies, Wu Ake will definitely become the queen, and her sons by Zhu Cixiang will become legitimate sons.
Although Wu Ake has always been a supporter of Zhu Hexing, that was based on the fact that her son was not destined for the throne... Who knows what weird ideas the elderly man would have?
Recently, Henry Zhu’s daughter Maria Theresa came to Yingtian, and she was very fond of Zhu Cixiang. In addition, Henry was very prosperous in Europe, which made Zhu Cixiang full of praise for this "smart son", which also made Zhu Cixiang full of praise. He Hao, Ding Yuying, and Ding Yuru had a sense of crisis.
The date of Zhu Cixi's promised abdication has been delayed again and again, making Zhu Hehao and his wife deeply uneasy!
"Yuying, Yuru," Zhu Hexing frowned and said to the two women sleeping next to him, "Why do you think dad still has concerns about me?"
Ding Yuying smiled bitterly: "Your Highness, when did dad ever feel at ease with you? He doesn't even feel very at ease with me now..."
Ding Yuru shook her head: "Sister, don't say that. Dad still trusts you and is okay with me... But what kind of hero is he? What kind of glorious foundation has he created? Now we have to Leave it to us, so it’s not surprising to have some hesitation for a while.”
"How much percentage can he pay?" Zhu Hehao also gave a wry smile, "My grandfather didn't leave until he was 90 years old, and my father was only in his 70s..."
Ding Yuying frowned slightly, "Your Highness is right... Yuru, you and the imperial concubine are on good terms, go back to her and ask her what on earth are you worried about?"
"Ask her?" Zhu Hexing was a little worried, "Will she say it? What if she tells dad about this..."
Ding Yuru smiled and said: "Prince, you are worrying too much. A'ke doesn't have that thought...at least not now. If we go to her and find out the reason, we can follow the old man's wishes. . As long as the old man is willing to give you the throne, then you don’t have to worry about the duck flying."
Zhu Hexing nodded lightly, "We have to go and inquire about it carefully to find out what our father is thinking!"
...
"Dad, this is the memorial for you to read today."
"Father, here is also a letter from the Department of Shipbuilding Director of the Navy. I read it carefully and think I can give it a try... Please take a look at it."
In the Yanshan Palace, Zhu Cixiang, who was having lunch slowly, was also listening to reports from his son and daughter-in-law on national affairs. He was now older, his energy was not as good as before, and he did not have as tight a grasp on government affairs as he used to. We didn't even go to the noon morning every day, but once every three or four days. When I don't go to court on weekdays, I listen to reports from Zhu Hexing and Ding Yuying.
To be honest, it doesn't really make much difference if he does not abdicate now... If he really does retreat, the most he can do is change from three days and four days to one day every seven days or once every ten days. .
He has been the "Holy Lord" for more than fifty years. Who among the ministers below dares not to listen to him?
But for Zhu Hexing, there was still a difference. At least once he sat on the emperor's seat, he was unlikely to be grabbed by others.
"The Directorate of Shipbuilding of the Ministry of the Navy?" Zhu Cixiang smiled, "What new ship do they want to build?"
"Father," Zhu Hexing shook his head, "I don't want to build new ships... Last year we only approved a 10-year shipbuilding project. How can we send a new shipbuilding project so quickly?"
"Yes," Zhu Cixiang nodded, "It won't be so fast...then what are they playing?"
"They want to develop steam battleships."
"What?" Zhu Cixiang felt his eyes light up, "What did Gewuyuan say?"
The Ming Dynasty already had the Academy of Science and Technology - so many great scholars studying natural philosophy had emerged in the past forty or fifty years. Emperor Zhu had to have a place to arrange for these great scholars, so he established it in the 28th year of Hongxing's reign. Ordered the establishment of the Gewuyuan.
"Father," Zhu Hexing smiled, "people from the Gewuyuan said that England's Savery steam water lifter is extremely sophisticated... Although its practical value is limited, there is much room for improvement. If we can If we make improvements along the lines of steam drive, we might actually be able to create a steam water steamer!"
"Really?" Zhu Cixiang looked at his son, "What do you think?"
Zhu Hexing said: "Father, I think it is feasible... If the steam engine can drive a water wheel, it can be used to drill holes for cannons, and can also be used to drive other equipment. This can save a lot of money." Manpower. And after all, human and animal power is limited and cannot compare to the power of steam!"
"Hahaha!" Zhu Cixiang laughed, "Good luck, you still know how to observe things!"
"Father," Zhu Hexing said, "my son, Yuying and Yuru have all studied gewu. Yuru, in particular, is particularly good at arithmetic and gewu. He even went to Imperial College!"
It turns out that Ding Yuru, like her sister, is also an out-and-out academic. She is even more knowledgeable and has even studied at Taixue University!
Zhu Cixiang smiled, "I almost forgot about Yuru's knowledge... Good! The three of you are very good, I'm relieved now! Where is the Hanlin bachelor? I have prepared the imperial edict of Nei Zen, and I am going to live a long life." !”
