"Who are you trying to show to me with this ghost look?!" Seeing Zhu Zhanji kneeling on the carpet like a drowned rat, with water droplets dripping from his body on the carpet, looking pitiful, Zhu Gaochi said
I'm so angry.
"I don't want to show off to anyone, I just feel guilty and want to punish myself a little." Zhu Zhanji said with a shiver involuntarily.
"What do you have to feel guilty about? Didn't you always think that I was the one who was wrong?" Zhu Gaochi sneered.
"That's because I am too ignorant and don't understand my father's painstaking efforts." Zhu Zhanji's tears flowed down like thunder, and mixed with the water drops on his body, making it difficult to tell what was what. "Today, I saw those things
Only after seeing the true face of Xungui did I know that they are really ambitious! They dare to send troops to force the palace to rebel. They are really crazy!" At this point, His Highness Taisun burst into tears and twitched all over, like a frightened child: "I
To actually think they are good people, and to hang out with them all day long, is really stupid and deserves death! Even if my father killed me, my son and I would not complain at all!"
"Humph!" Zhu Gaochi snorted coldly and asked, "You mean, you don't know anything about their actions today?!"
"My son is not completely unaware, but I only know that they want to challenge my father and take back the right to participate in politics. I don't know that they have also sent troops to force the palace!" How could Zhu Zhanji dare to deny it completely? He avoided the important matter and said lightly: "My son.
If I knew this, I would definitely report it to my father as soon as possible, how could I be their accomplice?"
"Do you think I will believe it?" Zhu Gaochi looked at Zhu Zhanji coldly, with a strong sense of powerlessness hidden under the clouds on his face.
"I don't think it would be difficult for me to believe my words if I were my father." Zhu Zhanji said with tears streaming down his face: "But this is the truth. I don't ask for my father's forgiveness, I just want my father to know.
Your son is not a beast without a king and a father!"
"Hmph..." Zhu Gaochi stared at Zhu Zhanji for a long time, and then asked quietly: "I ask you, is there any edict left by the late emperor?"
"No!" Zhu Zhanji shook his head without hesitation: "Before the emperor died, I was lucky enough to see him for the last time. I didn't hear the emperor mention it. I never saw any posthumous edict after that. If there is one,
If so, I will definitely announce it to the public as soon as possible so that my father can ascend the throne without any regrets!"
"Hmph..." Zhu Gaochi snorted again, but this time it was softer than before. "Then why did Dingguo Guild publicly declare the existence of a posthumous edict in the court and ask me to verify it with you?"
"I have already answered this matter in court. It is completely false!" Zhu Zhanji replied: "Dong Guogong may have intended to sow discord between my father and son, or he may have forged a will. In short, he has ulterior motives.
A gentleman cannot figure it out! Only through rigorous interrogation can we know what his plan is?!"
"Haha, you really pushed it all away..." Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but sneered, and said with a cold smile: "As a father, I don't believe a word you say." He paused and said: "But
As the emperor, I will trust you this time."
Zhu Zhanji didn't expect that he would say this, so he could only bow his head to the ground and say nothing.
Zhu Gaochi was tired of this kind of dialogue full of lies and hypocrisy. He waved his sleeves and said coldly: "You are the one who died for Emperor Daxing. Since you said that there is no posthumous edict, I have the right to believe you for once."
"Thank you very much, Father, for still giving me your trust." Zhu Zhanji quickly raised his head and said with tears.
"But what if there are more rumors, or a forged edict appears?" Zhu Gaochi stared at Zhu Zhanji closely and asked word for word, the word 'forged' being emphasized very strongly.
"My son will stand up as soon as possible to prove that the rumors are false and the edict is forged!" Zhu Zhanji hurriedly assured loudly: "Grandpa Huang did not leave any edict!"
"Okay, after you go back, you can write a memorial about this matter. I will make a record of it and make it known to the whole country. I will clarify the rumors and put things in perspective!" Zhu Gaochi nodded and said expressionlessly.
"..." Zhu Zhanji felt like he was struck by lightning. The emperor's 'house-killing strategy' was too cruel. It was to completely destroy the imperial edict in his arms! Once he writes such a confession and publishes it nationwide, it will really
The imperial edict will become a forgery, and I will no longer have this trump card to play!
But at this moment, Zhu Zhanji knew that if he hesitated at all, he would be in trouble. He did not dare to delay at all, and immediately agreed: "My son, I obey the decree." Even though his heart was bleeding...
"Okay." The big stone in Zhu Gaochi's heart finally fell to the ground, and he finally said the word 'good'. His tone became softer and he said: "Although you were not involved in this matter, if you didn't practice virtue on weekdays,
If you don't follow the right path, how can you be taken advantage of by evil villains? If I and Duke Zhen hadn't seen through their conspiracy long ago, you and I, father and son, would still be able to talk here at this moment, both of them."
"I really know that I was wrong..." Zhu Zhanji paused on the ground and burst into tears. This time he was really crying, not fake. But it was not regret, but fear, but happiness! He knew that the emperor said
These few words clarified the matter, and I was considered safe.
"Okay, don't cry." As Wang Xian judged, Zhu Gaochi had no idea of easy storage. On the one hand, he was the eldest son, and on the other hand, his other sons were far behind Zhu Zhanji.
.Zhu Zhan basically had good talents and qualities, and Zhu Di had taken him with him and taught him carefully for twenty years. Zhu Gaochi believed that he was even far better than himself in many aspects.
Zhu Gaochilong is weak and has limited energy. He does not intend to cultivate another heir. He wants to concentrate all his efforts to complete the reform. As for the issue of Zhu Zhanji's character, although Zhu Gaochi is very unhappy, he also knows very well that he is not a good person.
As a good emperor, no one can say that Emperor Taizu was not a bad person, so Zhu Gaochi forced himself not to dwell on this point anymore.
It's just that Zhu Gaochi will not give Zhu Zhanji the crown prince position easily. Once Zhu Zhanji becomes the crown prince, he will gather powerful political power. If the father and son have different ideas, there will definitely be many constraints on his reforms. This is
Emperor Hongxi could not accept it.
Fortunately, after this incident, we won't have this kind of trouble again in a few years.
When Zhu Zhanji stopped crying, Zhu Gaochi said earnestly: "You are the eldest son and eldest grandson of the late emperor. On the night of your birth, the late emperor who was still King of Yan had a dream. He dreamed that Emperor Taizu gave him a big kui.
, and said to him, 'The grandson passed down from generation to generation will be prosperous forever.'" As he spoke, he looked at Zhu Zhanji's face that looked exactly like the late emperor's and said: "You were born by luck. As long as you don't make mistakes, who can?
To take away your merit?"
Zhu Zhanji breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that his father had never thought about Yi Chu. He listened obediently as the emperor continued: "However, having destiny does not mean that you can just sit back and enjoy the benefits. Emperor Taizu was blessed with great luck.
Great fortune, but without more than ten years of life and death, cultivating benevolence at home, recruiting talents from abroad, expelling the Tartars, and restoring the Chinese people's clothes, the eternal achievements would not have fallen on him in vain, and the Ming Dynasty's thousands of miles of country would not have been lost.
Wait there for him to sit."
Zhu Zhanji nodded repeatedly, as if he was devoted to the teachings. As for whether he would listen, the emperor didn't have much hope, but the emperor didn't care, because the emperor's focus was not on preaching.
So Zhu Gaochi cleared his throat and continued: "So, luck alone is not enough. You also need to cultivate your moral character and practice hard to be worthy of the position that God has given you. Otherwise, you will be allowed to sit in that position.
, will also be virtuous and unworthy, bringing disaster to oneself, to the ancestors, and to the people of the world..."
"..." Zhu Zhanji completely understood now. His father always meant the same thing. You are not worthy of being the prince yet. As for when you will be worthy, of course it will be when the emperor thinks it is appropriate. But he is not a person at the moment.
He couldn't speak any words, so he could only let the emperor speak.
"After you go back, don't associate with those bad friends anymore. I will arrange a teacher for you. Calm down and study hard for a few years. You will understand how shallow and immoral you are today." Zhu Gaochi said slowly: "You will also understand the meaning of life.
In view of the suffering of the people and the danger of the country, I understand that I am not targeting the late emperor, I just want to continue the legacy of my ancestors..."
"My son, I will remember my father's lesson. I will definitely study hard and reflect on myself when I go back!" Although he knew that he would have to stay in seclusion for the next few years, Zhu Zhanji still happily agreed. Because it is not happy either.
no……
Zhu Gaochi looked at Zhu Zhanji sternly and warned in a deep voice: "From now on, you have to take care of yourself and don't make any mistakes again, otherwise I won't protect you no matter what your luck is!"
"I understand, there will be no next time!" Zhu Zhanji nodded in horror.
"Go down." Zhu Gaochi waved his hand and looked away, not wanting to look at him again.
"Yes, I'm going to leave." Zhu Zhanji tried to get up with support, but his knees still didn't regain feeling. He didn't get up several times, so he had to say to Zhang Cheng: "Eunuch Zhang, please help me."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng quickly stepped forward and helped His Highness Taisun up...
Zhang Cheng helped his grandson out of the palace, and asked people to quickly bring him ginger soup, put on dry clothes, and arranged for a sedan to be sent back to him. This time, Zhu Zhanji no longer refused and accepted everything.
Zhang Cheng sent the grandson's sedan chair to the gate of Qianqing Palace and said with a guilty look on his face: "I have always wanted to say a few words for His Highness, but I didn't expect that I would never have the chance to speak."
"I can't thank you enough for your father-in-law's kindness." Zhu Zhanji finally regained some color on his face. He took Zhang Cheng's hand and said softly: "I can't always accompany you in the future. Father, if anyone says
If I say bad things, please pay more attention to my father-in-law..."
Zhang Cheng knew that Zhu Zhanji was referring to Zhu Zhanchun and others. Although he felt a little embarrassed, he still nodded.
"Thank you so much, father-in-law." After Zhu Zhanji said this, he sat in a sedan and left the palace in the wind and rain.
Lightning flashes across the sky and spring thunder rolls, indicating that the time has come for everything to be renewed.