Chapter 1268 Epilogue: Battle for the East Palace (10)
The sun shone slantingly in, giving the entire palace a golden glow.
Zhu Jianshen lowered his head deeply, as if this could conceal his panic and embarrassment at the moment, but he did not deny what the emperor just said...
In the Qianqing Palace, both uncle and nephew fell silent. Zhu Qiyu looked at his nephew and seemed to suddenly become a little weak.
He shook his head slightly, returned to the throne and sat down. He thought for a moment and seemed to have made a decision. Then, he turned sideways and gave a few instructions to Wynn. Then, Wynn's eyes were surprised and his eyes fell down. Zhu Jianshen hesitated for a moment, then bowed and left in a hurry.
After an unknown amount of time, Huai En returned to the imperial court, and then Zhu Jianshen heard a tired voice coming from his superiors.
"Get flat..."
Zhu Jianshen stood up with some difficulty. After all, he was supporting his sick body. In addition, he was emotionally agitated and had been kneeling for a long time. His physical strength was inevitably a little weak. When he stood up, his body was shaking a little.
However, he still gritted his teeth and tried his best to stand firmly in place without making any sound.
What he said just now made Zhu Jianshen's emotions very complicated. Even after so long, it was still difficult to calm down.
He felt that he should say something now, but he didn't know what he could say. What he thought and did was invisible in front of this uncle.
He wanted to defend himself, but after thinking about it, he found that any defense he could offer at this moment seemed so feeble.
However, at the same time, an untimely but uncontrollable wave of resentment surged in his heart.
Since his uncle knew everything, why did he have to watch him spend every day in such pain and tangle, and why didn't he want to give him a happy life?
Thinking of this, Zhu Jianshen's face turned a little red, and he clenched his fists tightly, trying hard not to appear so excited.
Seeing this situation, Zhu Qiyu sighed and said.
"Brother Shen, do you know what I was most worried about after your father started the rebellion?"
Zhu Jianshen raised his head, not expecting that Zhu Qiyu would suddenly mention this old incident. His thoughts were still chaotic, but he could finally get rid of the uncomfortable silence for the time being.
"My nephew doesn't know..."
"It's you, and Brother Qing, Jiashan, Chun'an, Chongde..."
Zhu Qiyu spoke with a heavy tone and eyes full of worry.
Listening to Zhu Qiyu counting the princes and princesses in the palace one by one, another trace of doubt appeared on Zhu Jianshen's face.
It is understandable that the princes and princesses of the Nangong line are worried because they are implicated in the Nangong incident, but why are the princes and princesses of the emperor's line worried?
As if aware of his thoughts, the emperor's eyes quickly fell on him, and Zhu Jianshen seemed to understand something in his heart.
Seeing this situation, Zhu Qiyu was silent for a moment and said.
"For thousands of years, people of one family and one surname have drawn swords against each other in a struggle for power. There are countless things that have stained the steps with blood."
"At the beginning, your father raised an army to rebel and wanted to kill me and seize the throne. This was a crime of treason. However, he was not only a treasonous criminal, but also my brother."
"The former prince had few heirs, and only two princes, me and your father, ended up in such a situation. How sad is my heart?"
It should be said that this was the first time since the Nangong Incident that the emperor had mentioned the matter directly, and it was still to the eldest son of the former emperor.
Zhu Jianshen raised his head and looked at the deep sadness in the emperor's eyes. He couldn't help but be touched in his heart, and his clenched fists began to loosen slightly.
However, Zhu Qiyu did not notice this. Instead, he closed his eyes, exhaled, suppressed his turbulent emotions, and then continued to speak.
"So, what I am most afraid of is that you children will reach this point in the future. All of you are the descendants of the late emperor and the blood of your closest relatives. I hope that you will be able to live in harmony and peace in the future.
, I don’t want you to make the same mistake again one day.”
"Brother Shen... you are the prince and the heir apparent, but I know that after the incident in Nangong, you have resentment towards me. So, after you ascend the throne, how will you treat Brother Ji and the others?"
"But if you are deposed, the resentment in your heart will become even greater. If you follow in the footsteps of your father in the future, how can I see the late emperor again when I am under the influence of Jiuquan?"
These words were spoken with sincerity and deep concern.
Zhu Jianshen stood at the bottom with a complicated expression and couldn't help but say.
"Uncle, I..."
However, as soon as he said a few words, Zhu Qiyu raised his hand to stop him and said.
"It's not that I don't believe you, let alone blaming you. I just want you to understand that I treat you, Brother Qing... I treat you the same as I treat Brother Ji, and I won't do it because of
What your father did has implicated you."
"So, I will let you get along with other princes and princesses since you were a child, teach you with all my strength, and give you the opportunity to get what you want and follow the path you want to take."
"I hope that by doing this, I can resolve the resentment in your heart, so that no matter who succeeds me a hundred years later, you brothers and sisters will not make the same mistake again."
"but……"
As he spoke, Zhu Qiyu's expression became serious and he said.
"I am also responsible for the country, the country!"
"In the past few years, there have been many criticisms of the East Palace from high and low in the court. I know that your life has been difficult, but this is what you must bear as the crown prince."
"After Xu Youzhen's incident, I asked you if you wanted to continue to be the prince. You didn't answer me, but I knew you were unwilling to do so, so I asked you to continue to stay in the East Palace."
"But when you are in the East Palace, you have to bear the pressure. In all dynasties, it is the most difficult thing to be a prince. How can you become a promising prince without such experience?"
Although the final soft drink was not loud, it was not less than a burst of thunder when it fell in Zhu Jianshen's ears.
Immediately afterwards, he saw Zhu Qiyu gently pointing to the spacious throne next to him and saying.
"Don't say that you are just the Crown Prince of the East Palace. Even if you are sitting in this position, do you think you can really do whatever you want and do whatever you want?"
"There are clear and turbid currents in the court, there are honest ministers, and there are lucky ministers. The relationships are complicated and intertwined. Some of them dare to speak out, some of them ask for names to buy their integrity, some are flattering, and some are attentive. When your father was in Nangong, how many of them were there?
People use yang and yin to disobey, or use etiquette, or use the country, or use direct remonstrance, or use secret and private means to collude with the harem and attack me aggressively. "
"When your father was in Yibei, the Wara tribe was in full swing. They wanted to seize my land and invade my people. They wanted to satisfy their desires. Your father repeatedly asked for gold, silver, and silk, without any intention of peace talks. But even then, it was always on the table every day.
, I still don’t know how many memorials I have said openly or secretly that I am not loyal.”
"After your father returned to the court, many troubles occurred frequently. Foreign and internal troubles occurred frequently. Almost every year was a year of great disasters. There were many rumors in the government and the public that I had stolen the destiny and occupied a powerful position. But I...who can I blame?
Woolen cloth?"
It seemed that Zhu Qiyu's expression became a little excited because of years of accumulated emotions, but it was precisely because of this that it made Zhu Jianshen think deeply.
So, Zhu Qiyu took a long breath and continued.
"Brother Shen, when I say this, I don't want to tell you that it is not good to be in this position. It is good to take life and death, and to be worshiped by all people. But what I want to tell you is..."
"Unless you want to be a foolish king like your father, who will act as willfully as you want and ultimately destroy yourself and the country, otherwise, you have to give up something when you sit in this position, just like what I said to you before.
That way, everything comes at a price.”
"What...are you willing to give and what are you willing to give up?"
These words suddenly hit Zhu Jianshen's heart like a heavy hammer. He was confused for a moment and said.
"Uncle, I..."
However, Zhu Qiyu also had no intention of letting him speak this time. He still raised his hand to interrupt him and said.
"I will order the news about this incident in the East Palace to be blocked. I will treat it as if you suddenly heard the news of the death of a commoner in the town and were overly sad for a while. As for Wan Zhen'er, if you want to protect her, then I will do as you wish.
But...she can no longer stay in the palace!"
Zhu Jianshen's thoughts were still stuck just now, but now he suddenly heard that Zhu Qiyu was involved in the East Palace matter, and he quickly put those words behind him for the time being.
Hearing the previous words, he felt relieved, but the last sentence made him a little anxious, saying.
"Uncle, Zhen'er has been in the palace since she was a child and has been growing up with her nephew. She has no relatives outside. I beg you to keep her, even if she is not in the East Palace, she will be transferred to Kunning Palace or Jingyang Palace to serve..."
"Prince!"
Zhu Qiyu's tone dropped, causing Zhu Jianshen to stop talking.
"Isn't that ridiculous enough?"
"Even if we don't talk about the fact that you are not yet married, you hang out with the palace maids and indulge in beauty, let's just say that Wan Zhen'er has been serving you since she was a child. She is as old as your mother and concubine."
"You should know what the consequences will be if this matter is leaked to the outside world, or did you really not listen to even a single word of what I just taught you?"
Zhu Jianshen fell silent.
He knew clearly that what Zhu Qiyu said was true, not only about Wan Zhen'er, but also about the series of words just now.
In fact, this is what he has been wondering about for so many years. Now that the public opinion in the DPRK is fierce, the East Palace is already in danger. If the emperor wants to depose him, it will be very easy. However, the emperor has never done so.
.
In the past, he had been deliberately avoiding this matter and was unwilling to think about it, because once he delved into it, it would make him more painful.
However, those words just now, especially the emperor's treatment of Wan Zhen'er just now, forced him to face this problem.
That is, he has always been treating a gentleman with a villain's heart. The fact is that His Majesty the Emperor, his biological uncle, has indeed always treated him as his biological son.
This conclusion made him feel a little warm in his heart, but more importantly, he felt ashamed...
Countless emotions overlapped together, but strangely, among such complex emotions, the fear, resentment, and unwillingness that originally troubled him quietly dissipated. At the same time, many of the problems that originally troubled him were now
He also felt that it was time to think about it again.
It’s just… Wan Zhen’er…
Zhu Jian bit his lower lip deeply and felt sad for a while. People are always greedy. Reason told him that this was the best result. However, he still felt unwilling to accept it.
However, just when he was still thinking about how to continue to plead for Wan Zhen'er, the emperor had already spoken again, saying.
"This incident has reminded me that in half a year's time, you will be fifteen years old. According to the law, it is time to prepare for your wedding. I originally thought that I would wait until the end of the year to take care of this matter.
But now it seems that it’s time to prepare early.”
"Your Majesty, but...according to the law, nephews should observe filial piety..."
After hearing this, Zhu Jianshen had to put Wan Zhen'er's matter aside for the time being. He hesitated for a moment and then spoke.
Generally speaking, the crown prince does get married at the age of fifteen, but now the news of Zhu Qizhen's death has just come back. Although he has been deprived of the imperial title, he is Zhu Jianshen's biological father after all, and the filial piety period is still
need.
However, Zhu Qiyu had obviously already considered this, saying.
"The crown princess is of great importance. The selection process alone will take at least a year. Let the Ministry of Etiquette handle it first. When the three candidates are finally selected, they will be allowed to enter the palace to accompany the two empresses and empresses, and carefully observe them.
Character, after the filial piety period is over, the crown princess will be finally selected and the wedding will be held."
After saying that, Zhu Qiyu expressed his gratitude, so the latter picked up a volume of imperial edict from the imperial case and handed it to Zhu Jianshen.
"I have already ordered someone to draft the decree. When you leave, bring it to the cabinet..."
Looking at the decree in front of him, Zhu Jianshen's eyes flashed with confusion, but in the end he didn't say much, he just took the decree and said.
