Speaking of which, my son is now sixteen this year.
Most ordinary people at this age are already married and can barely be considered adults, but Zhu Jianshen doesn't feel reassured, at least not enough to entrust him with important tasks.
It is true that my son is very sensible and considerate in his work. If he were an ordinary prince, he would be really good, but as a prince...
But it's a bit worse.
Zhu Jianshen sometimes wonders if his demands are too high. With his achievements and Chenghua's actions in the past, it is not necessary for his son to follow the rules. It is enough to be a steadfast king.
But sometimes I feel that as the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, the future emperor cannot be too complacent.
Therefore, his attitude towards his son alternates between hot and cold, sometimes being close and sometimes being indifferent.
A tiger father may not have a tiger son... Zhu Jianshen felt bitter in his heart.
Zhu Youtang was vaguely aware of his father's disappointment, and held up his hands and said: "Compared with my father, my son is indeed stupid. But in the future, my son will become the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He is willing to imitate his father and be worthy of his ancestors at the top and the country at the bottom." All nations.”
Zhu Jianshen was startled for a moment, then suddenly laughed, heartily.
After laughing, he said: "You have the guts!"
It's no wonder that Zhu Jianshen is like this. It's really his son who has a dull and reserved personality. To put it bluntly, he is someone who can't be kicked out. It really makes Zhu Jianshen happy to be able to say such things today.
Zhu Youtang smiled. For a moment, he was not sure whether his father was praising him or derogating him.
So he changed the subject: "Father, it's cold, don't catch a cold, or else go back..."
Zhu Jianshen sneered: "Why, you are so fat that you are afraid of the cold?"
"...My son, I care about my father."
"Okay, come with me to Changle Palace to say New Year's greetings to your grandpa."
"Hey, okay."
~
Changle Palace.
Zhu Qizhen was still sleeping when the father and son came.
He has no regular schedule. He sleeps when he is sleepy, and does not sleep when he is not. He hardly leaves his bedroom, so much so that he forgets the day and has no idea that today is the first day of the Lunar New Year.
The two men sat in the bedroom for most of an hour before Zhu Qizhen woke up quietly.
With sharp eyes, Zhu Youtang saw the Supreme Emperor waking up and hurriedly came to the bed and said, "My grandson wishes Grandpa Emperor a happy New Year. I wish Grandpa Emperor good health and all the best."
Zhu Qizhen looked confused. After a while, he seemed to return to normal. He smiled and said, "It's Youtang. Get up. Is it the New Year today?"
"Yes, Father." Zhu Jianshen stepped forward, bowed his head, and said, "Shall we have a reunion dinner together at noon today?"
"Look at me..." Zhu Qizhen touched all over his body but couldn't find any red envelope. He said to Zhu Youtang in shame: "Grandpa has forgotten all this and is not prepared..."
After a pause, he said to Zhu Jianshen: "I won't go, you can get together."
He scratched his messy gray hair and smiled softly: "The old man won't join in the fun. You young people can gather together. I'll just read a book."
As he spoke, he picked up the storybook on the bedside, flipped through a few pages, and scratched his head in distress, as if he had forgotten where he was looking.
Zhu Youtang asked curiously: "Why did Grandpa Huang put the bookmark?"
"Haha... I forgot about it." Zhu Qizhen smiled, "I always forget things when I get older."
"See the depth."
"Father, please speak."
"If you're celebrating the New Year, don't waste your time here with me. Go spend it with your children." Zhu Qizhen said with a smile.
At this moment, Zhu Jian was deeply worried. He also had children and could sympathize with his father.
After a moment of silence, he said: "Father, I am also your child."
Zhu Qizhen was stunned for a moment, and then burst into tears...
At noon, the grandfather and grandson had dinner together. Mrs. Zhou from Kunning Palace waited for a long time, but her son did not come.
~
After lunch.
Zhu Jianshen advised: "Father, don't stay bored in the palace all the time. After a few days, spring comes, and you can go out for a walk to relax."
He didn't want to give his father a concubine. On the other hand, he felt that his father's state was quite embarrassing. However, he didn't want his father to be miserable in his later years.
Zhu Qizhen shook his head: "I'm used to this pace of life. I don't want to go out, and I don't know where to go. It's great to read a book and drink tea in the bedroom."
After a pause, he gave his son a chance to fulfill his filial piety: "I've almost finished reading this book. Let's get some new ones."
"Hey, okay." Zhu Jianshen agreed, and then said: "Father, it's okay if you don't want to go out. Don't be alone anymore. You always keep the door behind closed doors. Concubine Chen and the others, as well as your grandchildren, want to fulfill their filial piety." Neither can be done.”
Zhu Qizhen smiled: "There are so many slaves in the palace, how can I bear to call my daughter-in-law and grandson? I know that you are all filial, so I just want to be clean. You have your own affairs and your life. I don't want you to be with me." It’s a waste of energy, ugh…”
He sighed: "Everyone has his own way of living. My father likes this way of life. If you are filial, you should obey my father."
Zhu Jianshen smiled bitterly and stopped trying to persuade him.
Over the years, he had tried many times to persuade him, but his father was very stubborn and there was nothing he could do.
Just follow him...
~
When I came out of Changle Palace, it was almost the time.
Zhu Jianshen came to Kunning Palace.
It's a lively place here, all the concubines are here, even Zhen'er, who doesn't deal with the Queen Mother Zhou and is even incompatible with each other, is here.
Several tables of 10,000 cakes and sticks were opened, and it was like a big show, accompanied by laughter.
These people, their lives have always been very nourishing, they enjoy themselves all day long, and they don't have anything to worry about.
Zhu Jianshen is jealous...
However, during the Chinese New Year, he was not in a good mood, so he walked to his mother's table and sat down.
"Xiao Zhang, go to Zhen'er's table and bring her over."
Concubine De: "...Yes, Your Majesty."
Zhou: "..."
Zhen'er at the next table: "..."
Zhu Jianshen's command hadn't stopped yet, and he said again: "Xiao Shao, switch with Xiao Ji."
Concubine Chen's eyes turned red and she sobbed: "I obey your decree."
"You're celebrating the New Year, why are you still crying?" Zhu Jianshen was speechless.
Of course, Concubine Chen was not only changing positions, but the emperor's husband had become more and more distant from her and her favor over the years, and he no longer had the intimacy he once had.
Obviously, the emperor's husband changed his mind and still thought the prince was better.
Seeing this, Concubine Ji Shu said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, it's better not to change it. It's fine as it is."
Before Zhu Jianshen could speak, Mrs. Zhou spoke first: "Change, Xiao Ji, come and sit down."
Concubine Chen lowered her head, stood up, bowed, went straight to Concubine Ji Shu, and whispered: "Sister Concubine Shu, let's change."
"Uh...ok."
Concubine Ji Shu was helpless. She was indifferent to the world, but she didn't want to. Trouble would naturally come. Who could she ask to explain to her?
"Come, sit next to Queen Mother." Before Concubine Ji Shu arrived, Mrs. Zhou took her hand affectionately.
Obviously, the crown prince's position is unbreakable, and it is necessary to have a good relationship with this daughter-in-law.
There is already a king and empress, plus the prince's biological mother, and her as the empress dowager, this harem... is still her world.
Ever since the Emperor came back, her restless heart became restless again.
Of course, she just wants to take back control of the harem.
Pulling Concubine Ji Shu to sit down, Zhou turned around and said, "Your Majesty."
Zhu Jianshen turned to talk to Zhen'er, pretending not to hear.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Mrs. Zhou called a few more times. Seeing that her son still ignored her, she had no choice but to say, "Your Majesty."
Zhu Jianshen seemed to have heard this, he raised his head and said, "What's the matter?"
"The prince is already sixteen this year. Isn't it time to choose the prince concubine?" Zhou said, winking at Concubine Ji Shu, "What do Concubine Shu think?"
She was giving a favor.
Concubine Ji Shu also knew that she was trying to show her kindness, but...she knew even more about the emperor's husband's attitude towards his mother.
This is not a favor, it is clearly a disservice, you might as well not say anything... Concubine Ji Shu did not accept this hot potato, but said: "I am a son, a concubine, a woman, and I am a Taoist. If you have any opinions, I will listen to the emperor."
Zhou's face froze.
Zhu Jianshen's lips twitched into a smile.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, what do you think?"
"I don't think it's appropriate." Zhu Jianshen said calmly, "Youzhang was born in July of the sixth year of Chenghua. It is the first month of the twenty-first year of Chenghua. He is said to be sixteen years old, but in fact he is still young.
She is still in the stage of physical growth and is not suitable for marriage. "
Zhou: "..."
Zhen'er: Phew~ It's comfortable.
"Then the emperor thinks, when will it be appropriate to choose a crown concubine for Youtang?" Zhou asked.
Since these words are the beginning, they must have an ending. Otherwise, the favor will no longer be yours. As long as the emperor's son says the time limit, it is yours to fight for.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Jianshen went against common sense and said, "Ten thousand."
"Hu!" Zhen'er showed her cards, "Give me money, give me money."
Zhou:-_-||
Throwing away a piece of silver, she continued to ask: "When does Your Majesty think it is appropriate to choose a crown concubine for Youtang?"
"When the time is right."
Zhu Jianshen rubbed the cards and said naturally.
"There has to be a day, right?" Zhou frowned.
"It's still early, let's talk about it then." Zhu Jianshen counted the good cards, "Thirty thousand."
"Don't give up 30,000." Mrs. Zhou casually typed a card and urged, "The prince is the crown prince of the country. Choosing a princess for the prince is also a top priority. You must prepare for a rainy day!"
Zhu Jianshen was a high-ranking player who could compete with the big guys in the temple. How could he not know what his mother was planning? He said funnyly: "Does the queen mother think that Youtang will not be able to marry a wife in the future?"
"Well, when did the Queen Mother say that?"
"That being the case, what's the rush?"
"You..." Mrs. Zhou was displeased, "I just want to give birth to my great-grandson as soon as possible. Is it wrong?"
"That's right, that's right," Zhu Jianshen said with a chuckle, "Mother, if you take good care of your body, you will always be able to hug her."
After a pause, he looked at Concubine Ji Shu, "What do you think, Concubine Ai?"
Concubine Ji Shu nodded: "What the emperor said is that the prince is still growing up, and it is too early to consider getting married now."
When Mrs. Zhou heard what she said, she became very angry: I helped you so much, but you stabbed me in the back? I... I won’t play with you anymore!
I thank you. If you don't say anything, the emperor might still consider this matter. If you say it, the emperor will definitely object. You must not take me to play... Concubine Ji Shu was also a little angry.
She doesn't like to compete for favor, but when it comes to her son, she still cares about it.
However, after staying in the palace for so many years, she was no longer as stupid as she was at first. Although she was angry in her heart, her face looked like a docile little daughter-in-law.
She played a card that Zhou wanted and reminded: "Mother, mother."
"bump."
Zhou quickly showed a pair, and then was stunned again: Why is my card missing?
Zhen'er: You're stupid. Who told you that you can't afford to play cards after playing cards? Who will be separated from you?
gōΠb.ōγg
