RPAGF Chapter 5: Are Zhu Yunwen and Lady Lü about to slip up?
Chapter 5: Are Zhu Yunwen and Lady Lü about to slip up?
Although Zhu Yunwen and Lady Lü behaved impeccably and without any oversights during Zhu Yuanzhang's illness, it seemed that they did nothing to win back Zhu Yuanzhang's favor.
Zhu Yuanzhang paid more and more attention to Zhu Yunwen. He not only had the skilled eunuch Ma Sanbao teach Zhu Yunwen martial arts and accompany him to hone his skills every day, but also made several surprise visits to the main hall to check on Zhu Yunwen's studies. He showed his care and attention to Zhu Yunwen without reservation, while Zhu Yunwen, who was more outstanding in his studies, was left aside and ignored.
Moreover, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Zhu Yunwen's maternal uncle Chang Sheng and maternal uncle Liang Guogong Lan Yu to the palace for secret talks on several occasions.
All signs seemed to indicate that Zhu Yuanzhang intended to appoint Zhu Yunwen as his heir apparent.
Zhu Gaoxi didn't care about these important matters; he only wanted to live a long and prosperous life and enjoy all the riches and honors.
It wouldn't be bad for Zhu Yunwen to be the crown prince. Based on the friendship we've built up over the past few days, we might be able to give him more benefits in the future.
A few days later, news of the death of Marquis Mu Ying of Xiping reached the capital. Zhu Yuanzhang was deeply saddened and suspended court for three days, ordering Mu Ying's eldest son, Mu Chun, to escort the coffin back to the capital.
According to the report, Mu Ying was devastated upon hearing the news of Zhu Biao's death, which led to a stroke, and he died a few days later.
Mu Ying was Zhu Yuanzhang's adopted son, raised by Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma from a young age, and had a deep affection for Zhu Biao.
In his intense pain, Zhu Yuanzhang was in a daze, holding Zhu Gaoxi's small, fleshy hand and calling out "Biao'er, Biao'er".
This old emperor lost both his parents when he was young, his wife in middle age, and his son in old age; he experienced all the misfortunes of life.
Zhu Gaoxi clung tightly to his grandfather, trying to offer the weathered old man some comfort.
A few days later at noon, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned his ministers at the East Pavilion Gate to discuss the matter of establishing an heir.
Liu Sanwu stepped forward to speak up for Zhu Yunwen, saying, "It is proper for the imperial grandson to inherit the throne."
Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent with a stern face, signaling the other ministers to speak up.
Military generals such as Lan Yu and Li Jinglong, as well as civil officials such as Ru Chang, the Minister of War, successively expressed their opinions, requesting the early establishment of a new national foundation, but did not specify who should be chosen.
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, deep in thought, dismissing his ministers.
Zhu Yunwen helped his grandfather back to the East Warm Pavilion to rest.
"Grandpa, my maternal uncle gave me a young eunuch who knows some martial arts. Grandpa, can I accept him?" Zhu Yunwen asked.
"If you like it, have Huang Liang send someone to register it and accept it," Zhu Yuanzhang replied gently.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Zhu Yunwen said, his voice filled with gratitude.
A barely perceptible hint of worry flashed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.
Zhu Gaoxi listened from the side and felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
After dinner, Zhu Yunwen went to the side hall to read, leaving only Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Gaoxi in the East Warm Pavilion.
Jiang Huan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, came to report back.
"How's the investigation going?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked directly.
"No abnormalities were found," Jiang Huan replied.
"Send more men," Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice after a moment's thought.
Jiang Huan accepted the order and left.
Who was Zhu Yuanzhang investigating?
Could it be blue jade?
He just gave Zhu Yunwen a eunuch. Is Zhu Yuanzhang suspicious of this?
To make a living, some boys from poor families would castrate themselves. Because the palace had limited demand for eunuchs, "self-castrated slaves" who had no way to enter the palace were often taken in as household slaves by powerful and wealthy people.
Lan Yu's actions were not excessive.
Zhu Gaoxi racked his brains for a long time but couldn't come up with a solution, so he simply gave up.
It's understandable that a four-month-old baby, with limited brain capacity, can't grasp the intricacies of the situation.
More than ten days later, Jiang Huan reported again that he still had not found anything.
I thought Zhu Yuanzhang would be unhappy, but to my surprise, he looked relaxed.
Something unusual must be going on, and Zhu Gaoxi felt there must be more to it than met the eye.
As expected, at the morning court the next day, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly issued an edict to appoint Zhu Yunwen, the eldest son of Zhu Biao, as the imperial grandson.
This bombshell news was so shocking that many ministers were stunned and couldn't react for a long time. Among them, Lan Yu was the one who lost his composure.
He almost retorted on the spot, but luckily Duke Ying, Fu Youde, quietly pulled him back.
Are you kidding me?! Zhu Gaoxi vomited several mouthfuls of milk in a row.
Grandpa Emperor is such a good actor!
What a great actress!
He's good enough to be considered for Best Actor.
It fooled almost everyone.
Zhu Gaoxi was worried that Zhu Yunwen would be hurt, but unexpectedly, this guy was in a great mood because Zhu Yunwen gave him two Huzhou brushes, and didn't care at all about who would become the crown prince.
It's true what they say: the emperor isn't worried, but the eunuchs are.
The room reeked of medicine, and Zhu Gaoxi wanted to go out for some fresh air, so he kept trying to get out while still in his wet nurse's arms.
Strange, Zhu Yuanzhang had basically stopped taking medicine and was now mainly recuperating through medicinal diets, so why was there still such a strong medicinal smell in the Qianqing Palace?
Seeing that the weather outside was sunny, Xu Miaojin asked the wet nurse to put him in the stroller.
As she was strolling in the courtyard, Zhu Yunwen walked over and greeted her, "Miaojin, take Gao Xi out to sunbathe."
Miao Jin performed the proper greetings.
Zhu Yunwen quickly reached out to help him up.
Where does that salty pig's hand touch?
When someone of the opposite sex greets you, a simple gesture of support is sufficient, understand?
What a newbie.
Taking advantage of the situation! Shameless!
Zhu Gaoxi was furious and wished he could kick Zhu Yunwen to the ground.
Xu Miaojin is definitely part of our family; how dare you touch her?
If you dare to harbor any thieving thoughts, I'll beat you to a pulp!
Zhu Gaoxi kicked and cried, almost overturning the stroller.
Zhu Yunwen reached out to hug him.
I can't help myself!
Zhu Gaoxi cried even more bitterly!
Zhu Yuanzhang heard the sound and came over to take him away.
Zhu Gaoxi immediately calmed down and, looking aggrieved, pressed his head against his imperial grandfather.
Zhu Yunwen looked embarrassed.
"It's alright, Yunwen, your younger brother will get to know you better in a couple of days," Zhu Yuanzhang comforted him.
Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to personally cultivate Zhu Yunwen's ability to be a ruler. Therefore, apart from returning to the Eastern Palace to sleep and going to the Donghua Hall to listen to famous scholars explain the classics and history, Zhu Yunwen spent most of his time by Zhu Yuanzhang's side, inseparable from him.
It turns out that the matter of choosing an heir is closely related to his own life.
Zhu Gaoxi was filled with remorse.
If I had known this would happen, I should have used every trick in the book to smear Zhu Yunwen and prevent him from becoming the crown prince.
Zhu Yuanzhang devised many methods to get Zhu Gaoxi to accept Zhu Yunwen as soon as possible.
For example, Zhu Gaoxi's favorite milk sticks could only be given to him by Zhu Yunwen.
If Zhu Yunwen wasn't there, he could only wait anxiously.
How could my wise and brilliant grandfather be so foolish?
You have no idea how Zhu Yunwen weakened the power of the princes after he ascended the throne. Even my cheap father was forced to feign madness, and the entire family of Prince Xiang, Zhu Bai, committed suicide by burning themselves.
Zhu Yunwen handed him a milk stick.
Zhu Gaoxi initially didn't intend to accept, but then he thought that Zhu Yunwen's hand was merely a tool for delivering the milk stick.
How can you refuse to drink soup just because you don't like rice spoons?
Although the tool was disgusting, he endured it for the sake of the milk stick.
Seeing Zhu Gaoxi enjoying his food, Xu Miaojin stepped forward and teased, "Little one, have you made up with your grandson?"
Zhu Gaoxi rolled his eyes at her, thinking to himself, "It's all because of you!"
After Xu Miaojin finished speaking, she and Zhu Yunwen exchanged a smile. Zhu Gaoxi was so flustered by what he saw that he almost dropped his milk stick.
If this continues, what will become of us? Zhu Gaoxi was extremely anxious, but he had no good solution.
The rate of satisfaction has been slow recently; Zhu Yuanzhang only managed to extend his life once after recovering from his illness.
As the weather grew colder, Zhu Yuanzhang, accompanied by Zhu Yunwen, returned from inspecting the guards at the city gates. In high spirits, he instructed Huang Liang to find someone to set up a hot pot and enjoy mutton hot pot.
This was his favorite thing, and Zhu Gaoxi cheered with delight in the stroller.
However, when it came time to eat, he discovered that there was no food for him at all.
No matter how much he tried to please him or put on a smiling face, nobody paid any attention to him.
Faced with such blatant disregard, the only recourse is to cry.
Prepare yourself emotionally, then burst into tears.
Zhu Yunwen turned around. "Gao Xi, do you want some too?"
That's obvious!
Of course I want to eat it.
"He doesn't have any teeth, he can't eat," Xu Miaojin muttered, then continued eating her meat.
This girl is so carefree. Didn't you see I was drooling?
Zhu Gaoxi glared at her with displeasure.