Gou was a member of the imperial family in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 829 Entering the Palace
Xu Jingqiu finally arrived in the capital with her children. It was the first time for her and the children to come to the capital. When the towering city walls of the capital gradually appeared before their eyes, Zhu Mincheng looked up intently with a shocked expression on his face. Even the steady Zhu Minlan clenched his fists, suppressing his excitement, looking at the capital not far away with great anticipation and excitement in his heart.

The Queen and the Prince were naturally different from ordinary people when they came to the capital, not to mention they were accompanied by many guards, and the line of carriages and horses stretched for nearly three miles, which was an astonishing sight.

Xu Xiancheng, who had received the news early and brought his men to the outside of the city, was already waiting. Not only him, but also the eunuch Han Zanzhou, the seal-holding eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, Fang Zhenghua, the eunuch in charge of the pen, Li Guofu, Zhou Anmin, the commander-in-chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and officials from the Ministry of Rites. Qian Qianyi was supposed to come as well, but because he was busy with the ceremony and could not spare the time, Vice Minister of Rites Qiu Yu led the officials of the Ministry of Rites to greet them.

According to etiquette, Zhu Shenzhui was waiting in the palace, accompanied by Du Xun. Although he could not welcome the empress in person, the people he sent and the specifications were all done to the utmost, and he also specially asked Xu Xiancheng to bring the empress's special ceremonial carriage.

Xu Jingqiu and his party were about to arrive. Xu Xiancheng hurriedly looked and saw the convoy in the distance. He gave an order to the people around him, straightened his clothes, and then led his men to meet them.

When he got closer, Xu Xiancheng went directly to the carriage where Xu Jingqiu was sitting, and bowed solemnly, saying in a loud voice: "I, Xu Xiancheng, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, the Minister of the Imperial Guard, the Minister of the Supervisory Department, the Prince's Junior Tutor, and the Imperial Doctor, kowtow to the Empress, kowtow to the two Highnesses, may the Empress live a thousand years, and may the Highnesses live a thousand years..."

Following Xu Xiancheng's salute, the people behind him also bowed down. For a moment, the sound of greetings resounded, and everyone knelt down in front of the carriage.

"Since...all my life..." Xu Jingqiu's voice came from the carriage. The voice sounded so familiar and kind in Xu Xiancheng's ears. Hearing his sister's voice, Xu Xiancheng's body trembled slightly with excitement, and his eyes became moist in an instant.

He stood up and bowed again, then Xu Xiancheng stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty and His Highness, please move the imperial sedan chair. I will personally escort your Majesty and His Highness to the capital."

The curtain of the carriage moved slightly and was lifted from the inside, and finally his sister's familiar face appeared in front of Xu Xiancheng.

Looking at his sister whom he hadn't seen for many years, and her two nephews beside her, Xu Xiancheng was even more excited. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down, but there was an unconcealable smile on his face.

Xu Xiancheng looked at Xu Jingqiu, and Xu Jingqiu also looked at his only brother. The siblings had not seen each other since Xu Xiancheng went to Beijing for the imperial examination during the Tianqi period. In these years, Xu Xiancheng first served as an official in the capital, and later was responsible for rebuilding the Ministry of Works workshop near the capital. After the Chongzhen period, Xu Xiancheng was once again valued and served as an imperial envoy to inspect Shandong. Because he quelled the Shandong mutiny, Xu Xiancheng first took over the post of Governor of Leiden, and later served as Governor of Leiden and concurrently as Governor of Shandong.

Although Xu Xiancheng did not participate in Zhu Shenzhu's rebellion, after Zhu Shenzhu entered Beijing to take control of the central government, Xu Xiancheng helped do many things in Shandong. Zhu Shenzhu was able to stabilize the north so quickly, especially the areas around Zhili, with the help of Xu Xiancheng. Later, Zhu Shenzhu summoned Xu Xiancheng to Beijing and first appointed him as the Right Censor-in-Chief. Not long after, he took advantage of the Beijing Inspection to establish the Supervisory Office. Xu Xiancheng rose to prominence from the Right Censor-in-Chief to the Left Censor-in-Chief, and concurrently served as the Minister of the Imperial Guard, the Minister of the Supervisory Office, the Prince's Junior Tutor, and the Grand Master of Imperial Households.

In my memory, Xu Xiancheng is still the young man who has just left his youth, but now Xu Xiancheng is nearly thirty years old and is no longer the young man who left home to go to Beijing for the imperial examination.

Although he had a beard on his upper lip, Xu Jingqiu recognized his brother at a glance. Looking at his brother's familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar face, his eyes immediately reddened.

“Uncle…” The eldest brother Zhu Minlan still recognized Xu Xiancheng. Although he had not seen him for many years, he still had some memories of him. However, the second brother Zhu Mincheng did not recognize him. Xu Xiancheng had left his hometown when he was born. This was the first time they met today.

"Your Highness..." Xu Xiancheng looked at his eldest nephew with a smile. Time flies so fast. Such a long time has passed in a flash. When he left his hometown, Zhu Minlan was still a baby, and now he has become a teenager.

The other boy next to him must be his little nephew. The boy tilted his head and looked at him with curiosity and excitement in his eyes, as if he wanted to ask him something, but his hand was held tightly by his brother Zhu Minlan, who followed his brother and called him "Uncle" in a crisp voice.

Although he wanted to talk to his sister and nephews from the bottom of his heart, this was not the place to say such things. After the ceremony, Xu Xiancheng asked Xu Jingqiu and her son to move to the ceremonial carriage. At this time, the ceremonial carriage was not far away. Xu Xiancheng stepped forward and was about to help his sister get off the car, but as soon as he moved his body, he realized that although they were siblings, they were now the emperor and his subject, and it would be inconvenient for him to do so.

"Sir Xu, please let us do it. We are more suitable for this matter." Han Zanzhou on the side took half a step forward and whispered to Xu Xiancheng. Xu Xiancheng nodded slightly and thanked him. Han Zanzhou gave a look to Fang Zhenghua and Li Guofu on the left and right, and the three of them stepped forward.

Han Zanzhou was the highest-ranking official in the Imperial Household Department, so naturally he was the one who served Xu Jingqiu, while Fang Zhenghua and Li Guofu served the two princes respectively.

After getting off the carriage, Xu Jingqiu led the two princes and walked towards the imperial carriage with Han Zanzhou at their service. However, she stopped after taking two steps and looked back at the carriage behind her: "Sister-in-law is still in the carriage behind."

"Your Majesty, don't worry. His Majesty has already made arrangements." Han Zanzhou hurriedly explained and pointed to the left. Only then did Xu Jingqiu see that there was another ceremonial carriage next to her own ceremonial carriage. This ceremonial carriage was smaller than her own and not as sophisticated, but equally impressive. It seemed that this was prepared for her sister-in-law Zhang.

"Excuse me, eunuch." Xu Jingqiu smiled and nodded. Han Zanzhou quickly said that he dared not, saying that this was what a servant should do. Then he carefully helped Xu Jingqiu onto the ceremonial carriage. After the two princes followed, Han Zanzhou was relieved. "It is said that the queen is from a scholarly family and has been familiar with poetry and books since childhood. Today, I see that it is true. She looks rich and noble." Han Zanzhou stood beside the ceremonial carriage and couldn't help thinking so in his heart.

Today was the first time he met Xu Jingqiu and the two princes. It was natural for him to feel nervous before the meeting. In the palace for so many years, Han Zanzhou had gone through countless years and many things, climbing step by step from a small eunuch to the head of the internal officials and taking control of the Silijian.

He had seen many women in the palace. He had seen Concubine Zheng and Concubine Li Jing of Emperor Wanli, not to mention Concubine Li of Emperor Taichang, the empress and imperial concubines of Emperor Tianqi, and the harem of Emperor Chongzhen.

These women have their own beauty, especially Emperor Tianqi's Queen Li Yan, who is extremely beautiful. In comparison, Xu Jingqiu is indeed not as beautiful, but Han Zanzhou feels that Xu Jingqiu has a unique temperament that other women in the harem do not possess. Perhaps this is what literati call bookish air. If it weren't for such a sister, she would not have a brother like Lord Xu Xiancheng.

As for the two princes, they are not simple at first glance. The eldest prince has a calm temperament and behaves well. Although the younger prince has a somewhat eccentric personality, he has clear eyes and behaves equally well. It is no wonder that with such extraordinary parents, the children born are naturally different. No matter which of these two princes is taken out, the princes of Emperor Chongzhen cannot compare to him at all.

Feeling emotional, Han Zanzhou was respectful and did not dare to neglect them at all. The same went for Fang Zhenghua and Li Guofu. Of course, they understood that these three masters would be their masters in the future, especially Xu Jingqiu and the eldest prince. The former would be the empress after His Majesty ascended the throne, and the eldest prince would definitely be the crown prince. If they didn't serve them well now and leave a good impression, would they try to curry favor with them in the future?

After Zhang was helped out of the carriage and sat in another ceremonial carriage, everyone continued their journey towards the capital.

According to etiquette, although they came from the west, they still went around to the south and entered through Yongding Gate, then crossed the imperial road on the central line to reach Zhengyang Gate and enter the inner city.

After reaching the inner city and moving forward, they arrived at the Meridian Gate in a moment. At this time, the Meridian Gate was wide open, with fully armed guards standing on both sides. The general and the left commander-in-chief Wang Jinwu was welcoming them at the Meridian Gate. When he saw the carriage coming, Wang Jinwu quickly stepped forward to greet it, and then personally escorted it into the Meridian Gate.

After passing through the Meridian Gate, the carriage continued forward and finally stopped in the square. Xu Jingqiu, who was sitting in the ceremonial carriage, heard Han Zanzhou's reminder outside and got off the car with the two princes. As soon as she got off the car, she saw her husband Zhu Shenzhui standing not far away. Her husband, whom she hadn't seen for nearly three years, was right in front of her. His appearance had changed slightly, but his demeanor was even better than before. He was wearing the prince's ordinary clothes and a Yishan crown on his head, and he looked at them with a smile on his face.

For a moment, Xu Jingqiu wanted to throw herself into her husband's arms. She had missed her husband all the time in the past few years. Although Xu Jingqiu told herself to be steady and well-mannered before coming, when her husband appeared in front of her, Xu Jingqiu almost couldn't hold back.

Just as she took an involuntary step forward, Xu Jingqiu realized that this was not their home in Pingyang, but the imperial palace of the Ming Dynasty. Her husband was no longer the inconspicuous member of the royal family, but was about to become the emperor of the Ming Dynasty and sit on the throne. And she was not only his wife, but was about to be the most honorable woman in the Ming Dynasty, the queen of the six palaces.

Reason allowed Xu Jingqiu to control her emotions, but her body still couldn't help shaking slightly. On both sides of her, Zhu Minlan and Zhu Mincheng also looked at their father. Zhu Minlan's memory of his father was more profound because of his age. When he saw his father, his eyes first lit up, and then he couldn't help but get excited. Zhu Mincheng looked at Zhu Shenzhu curiously, as if he was matching the vague figure of his father in his mind with his memory, to determine whether the extraordinary man in front of him was his father.

While the three were hesitating, Zhu Shenzhui walked towards them with a smile. When he got close, he took Xu Jingqiu's hand and looked at his wife's face with a gentle gaze for a long time.

"You have worked so hard these past three years..."

"I... this is what I should do... it's not hard..." Xu Jingqiu's tears welled up in her eyes. Thousands of words she had to say instantly turned into tenderness. She held her husband's hand tightly, feeling the sincerity and warmth, and Xu Jingqiu smiled.

"Lan'er, good, you've grown a lot taller. How have you been doing in your studies in recent years? How's your martial arts training going? When I have free time, dad will test you carefully." Zhu Shenzhui's eyes moved to Zhu Minlan, and he put his hand on his shoulder and asked with a smile.

"Dad!" Zhu Minlan grinned and called out "Dad", nodding and saying, "Please rest assured, Dad, I have not fallen behind in both literature and martial arts over the years, and I will let you test and teach me."

"Good boy!" Zhu Shenzhui patted his shoulder, feeling even happier. At this time, Zhu Mincheng couldn't help but said, "Dad! I'm still here! I'm still here! I can also let Dad test me!"

"Haha! Good, good, good. And you, kid, you've grown so fast. You were only this short when dad left, and now you've become so tall." Zhu Shenzhui gestured to his younger son and touched his head with a smile on his face. After a brief chat, he held Xu Jingqiu with one hand and his younger son with the other. He held their hands and talked to Zhu Minlan, and led them straight into the palace.

(End of this chapter)