Hai Rui was a good official, and all the emperors present admired such officials very much, especially Zhu Yuanzhang, who liked such upright and honest officials even more, but Hai Rui was too venomous.
Everyone else was paying attention to Hai Rui, but Zhu Houcong was thinking about a problem at this time.
"National Master, I have something unclear, and I hope that the Imperial Master can clarify the confusion..." Jiajing was very cautious when he spoke, always paying attention to Zhao Changge's expression. As long as Zhao Changge showed the slightest displeasure, he would Shut up immediately.
Although Zhao Changge was a little unhappy with Zhao Changge, he still saved some face for Zhu Houcong.
"What's your problem?"
Seeing that Zhao Changge did not refuse to answer him, Zhu Houcong smiled coquettishly and said respectfully: "Just now, the imperial master said that after my death, the person who will succeed me as emperor is King Yu Zhu Zaijing, not my crown prince Zhu Zaihen. This is Why, in my heart I still prefer the prince. If there are no accidents, the prince should be the one who inherits my throne."
Zhu Houcong actually had some guesses, but he really didn't dare to believe it.
Zhao Changge sighed softly: "Because your prince Zhu Zaihen suddenly fell ill after the crowning ceremony in the 28th year of Jiajing, and eventually passed away."
Zhu Houcong's eyes widened.
"Two dragons can't meet each other... It turns out that two dragons really can't meet each other!" Zhu Houcong had heard this sentence said early on, especially after his first son died, he tried to avoid it as much as possible. Meeting his son, he didn't expect that even the prince would not escape such a disaster.
"You really believe this sentence. Historically, because you firmly believed that the two dragons should never meet, you did not see your son for more than ten years. And because you believed that establishing a prince would have an impact, Yu Wang Zhu Zaijing never met. Called the Prince."
Zhu Houcong was a little concerned about his son, but not that much. Compared to his sons, it is obvious that Zhu Houconn cares more about himself.
But now that he knew that the prince would die of illness, Zhu Houcong couldn't help but ask: "Master, if the prince can come to future generations, will he not die of illness?"
"Although the medical level of later generations is advanced, it is not magic. It depends on what the disease is. I can't guarantee it."
Zhu Houcong nodded to show that he understood, and then closed his mouth.
Seeing that it was getting late outside, Zhu Yuanzhang clapped his hands and said that the gathering would end today.
Zhu Houcong, who returned to the Jiajing Dynasty, looked at the familiar palace with many thoughts in his heart.
"Come here, call the prince." Zhu Houcong shouted towards the door, and then added: "There is also Prince Yu."
The guards outside the door took the order and left, but they were surprised in their hearts. His Majesty usually wanted to avoid the princes, but why did he suddenly want to see them today.
While waiting, Zhu Houcong looked at the Taoist robe on his body, and suddenly felt that the Taoist robe that he usually liked so much looked so unpleasant today. From Zhao Changge's mouth, he learned that he had been practicing Taoism for half his life, and had sacrificed so much in the end. There is no way to live forever, so Zhu Houcong also accepted his fate. There is no point in cultivating the Tao. He might as well hope that the medical treatment in future generations can make him live longer.
After thinking about it clearly, Zhu Houcong threw his Taoist robe to the ground in disgust, then tore off his crown and sat on the chair with disheveled hair.
When Prince Zhu Zaihen and Prince Yu Zhu Zaijing heard that Zhu Houcong was looking for them, they didn't care that it was midnight and hurried over under the service of their servants.
Although Zhu Zaihen was the prince, his father-son relationship with Zhu Houcong was not very deep, let alone the Yu Wang Zhu Zaiyu. Who made Zhu Houcong go crazy with Taoism and didn't care about his son at all, so the two brothers came to Zhu Houcong. Very reserved at the time.
Looking at his two sons who were so submissive to him and didn't even dare to raise their heads, Zhu Houcong felt something strange in his heart. In the past, he lacked care for them because he had a delusional dream of immortality, but now his dream of immortality has been shattered. Now, Zhu Houcong's sanity has recovered again. Zhu Houcong is a smart man. He did a very good job when he first came to the throne. Now that he has sobered up and looks at his son, Zhu Houcong actually feels guilty in his heart.
"Prince..." Thinking that the prince died of illness at a young age, Zhu Houcong's eyes showed a trace of concern.
Hearing his father calling him, Zhu Zaihan was so frightened that he lowered his head even further: "Father, my son is here..."
Zhu Houcong sighed quietly and said: "Prince, are you afraid of me? I am your father, and the poisonous tiger will not eat its children. What are you afraid of?"
"My son...My son, don't be afraid. My father is the emperor, and he has a strong aura of emperor. I just don't dare to look directly at him."
"Hey, that's all, I can't blame you. I have been indifferent to you all these years. You are afraid of me and I can understand if you don't get close to me. I will make up for the shortcomings of these years in the future. You all get up. Now there is no Outsiders don’t need to be so reserved in front of me.”
Zhu Zaihen and Zhu Zaijing looked like they had seen a ghost at the same time. What happened to their father? Could it be that someone took away his body, or his brain was damaged by practicing Taoism? The father they knew never knew this. Apologize.
Zhu Zaihen and Zhu Zaijing slowly raised their heads, and when they saw Zhu Houcong with disheveled hair, the shock on their faces became even greater.
In the past, Zhu Houcong was very pious when he was practicing Taoism. He had to make his hair bun meticulously and the Taoist robes he wore must be very clean and tidy. But now, Zhu Houcong just pulled off his crown, and he looked like two different people from the past.
Especially the Taoist robe that was thrown on the ground. You must know that in the past, it was a huge sin for the palace maids to accidentally get a few wrinkles.
"Are you surprised? I tried to seek immortality in vain, but in the end it was all in vain. Now I also want to understand. Rather than seeking elusive immortality, it is better to live well in the present. I have missed too much in these years."
After all, they are all teenagers at heart. After hearing Zhu Houcong's words, Zhu Zaihan laughed happily: "Congratulations to my father for your enlightenment. Father, you have finally figured it out."
This Zhu Houcong practiced Taoism like a maniac. Even his sons were more afraid of him than affection. Now when he heard Zhu Houcong's words, the prince Zhu Zaihen smiled with joy.
Seeing the smile on his son's face, Zhu Houcong was a little confused. Why had he never seen the prince smile so happily in his memory? It seemed that he had gone too far before.
Zhu Houcong glanced at the silent Prince Yu Zhu Zaijing again. This Prince Yu's presence was not as strong as that of the prince. Zhu Houcong paid less attention to him on weekdays. However, knowing that this son was the heir to the throne in the future, Zhu Houcong felt a little strange.
