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

Chapter 918 Freedom
"Your Highness, you and I are husband and wife, there is no need to say all this. As long as I can stay by Your side, I will be satisfied in this life." Zeng said with a smile on her lips. Zhu Youjian was filled with emotion and felt even worse.

This princess didn't enjoy the happiness for long with him, and it was because of him that she suffered so much for so many years. But she never left him, and Zhu Youjian was really lucky to have such a virtuous wife.

The two continued talking and slowly walked in circles around the yard. They didn't know how much time had passed. Just as Zhu Youjian was about to take Zeng back to the house to rest, they suddenly heard hurried footsteps in the distance.

Zhu Youjian was slightly startled and could not help but stop. Zeng, who was beside him, could not help but look towards the closed courtyard door. The couple were both on guard. They were in a confined place. Even if someone sent something on weekdays, it was always at a fixed time. How could someone come now when it was not yet time? Could something have happened?
Zeng's hands tightened slightly, and she subconsciously looked towards her husband with worry in her eyes. Zhu Youjian was also alert in his heart, but in order to reassure his wife, he still gave her a gentle smile and held his wife's hand.

There was a clang sound, which was the sound of the tightly closed courtyard door opening, which made Zhu Youjian and his wife even more nervous.

As prisoners behind high walls, this gate had never been opened since they came in. The eunuchs who guarded them on weekdays went in and out, including when delivering things, through a small door on the side. But today the gate was opened.

Zhu Youjian used to be the King of Tang of the Ming Dynasty, so he was naturally very clear about the laws of the Ming royal family. There were only two possibilities when the gate of the place where the imprisoned royal family lived was opened. One was to let him out, and the other was to carry his body out through the opened gate. No one could predict what the result would be today.

"Your Highness..." Zeng also knew this rule. Her face was pale and her voice trembled.

Zhu Youjian once again tightly grasped her hand and straightened his back. No matter what the outcome, he was unwilling to lose his identity. As a prince, he had to maintain his dignity even in death.

As the sound of the door lock opening was heard, the gate that had been tightly closed was soon pushed open. As the gate had been closed for a long time, the creaking sound when it was pushed open was very uncomfortable to hear. Zhu Youjian and his wife stood there, staring at the gate that was gradually opening. Finally, when the gate was wide open, the figure behind was revealed.

There were several people standing outside, led by the eunuch Gu Guozhen, who was in charge of Fengyang Zhongdu. He had worked in the palace before. After Zhu Shenzhui came to Beijing, he cleaned up the eunuchs in the palace. Anyone who was loyal to Emperor Chongzhen or had questionable identities was sent away. Most of them were either sent to guard the imperial tombs or placed in inconspicuous places.

Gu Guozhen was an ordinary eunuch in the palace. Although he was older and had a decent status, he had never been involved in anything and had always been conscientious and honest in the palace.

After Zhu Shencui came to Beijing, he made adjustments to the eunuchs. Gu Guozhen was not marginalized but promoted to chief eunuch because he kept a low profile and did not interfere in other people's affairs. Zhu Shencui originally planned to let Gu Guozhen go to the Silijian to be a secretary, but Gu Guozhen said that he was not capable enough to take on such a big responsibility and declined Zhu Shencui's kindness.

Gu Guozhen's behavior actually attracted Zhu Shenzui's attention. After observing him for a while, he found that Gu Guozhen was a serious person with no selfish motives. It was a pity that he was a little old, otherwise he would be more suitable than Du Xun.

Just before Zhu Shenzui planned to send Du Xun to Nanjing, Zhu Shenzui thought of the position of eunuch in charge of Fengyang. He was ready to replace all the eunuchs in Fengyang and Nanjing together. He set his sights on Gu Guozhen. So Gu Guozhen was arranged to come to Fengyang from the capital and serve as the new eunuch in charge of Zhongdu. His arrival also greatly improved Zhu Youjian's originally poor life.

The courtyard gate was wide open, and Gu Guozhen walked in with a smile on his face. When he saw Zhu Youjian and his wife, he took the initiative to step forward and greet them.

"This old servant greets His Highness and the Princess..."

"Eunuch, there is no need to do this. I am no longer the King of Tang. I cannot bear such a title." Zhu Youjian pulled Zeng away and spoke at the same time.

Gu Guozhen did not change his words, and still finished the ceremony first, then said with a smile: "Your Highness, there is no need to panic. Today, this old servant came with good news. Your Highness and the Princess can go out. Not only that, His Majesty has also ordered that Your Highness and the Princess enter the capital. This old servant congratulates Your Highness and the Princess."

When these words were spoken, Zhu Youjian and Zeng were both stunned. They had never thought that the news would be like this. Soon, expressions of surprise and a hint of confusion appeared on their faces.

"Is what the father-in-law said true?" Zeng couldn't help but ask.

"Princess, this is the order of His Majesty. I dare not speak nonsense even if I have the courage of a bear and a leopard!" Zeng felt relieved. Yes! The emperor meant that he, a mere eunuch, even a left-behind eunuch, dared to fabricate an imperial edict? It seems that this is true?

"Is there an imperial edict?" Zhu Youjian asked very carefully. After all, he was still worried without seeing the imperial edict.

Gu Guozhen smiled and nodded, then stretched out his hand and the eunuch behind him handed him the imperial edict that had been prepared long ago.

This imperial edict was not a real imperial edict, but just a handwritten document from the emperor, but it was stamped with the emperor's jade seal. Gu Guozhen did not shout "receive the edict", but just held it in both hands and handed it to Zhu Youjian. After Zhu Youjian took it and opened it, he saw that the content was very simple, with only a few sentences. The meaning of the words was the two things that Gu Guozhen had just mentioned, one was to let Zhu Youjian go, and the other was to let Zhongdu send someone to escort Zhu Youjian and his wife to the capital.

After reading this imperial edict, Zhu Youjian finally felt relieved and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

Today was indeed a good thing, he was finally free. It was a happy thing to let him leave the confinement, but at the same time he was curious why he was not allowed to return to Nanyang but to go to Beijing? Why? But no matter what, the years of confinement were finally over, and at this moment he was free again. As for going to Beijing, it was not a big deal for him. He was just a commoner now, no longer a prince of the Ming Dynasty. The new emperor let him be free, and he was naturally grateful. At the same time, Zhu Youjian had hoped to have a chance to meet Zhu Shenzhui and see this man who had jumped from a royal family to the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Now that they understood Gu Guozhen's purpose, Zhu Youjian and his wife relaxed and said that they would follow Eunuch Gu's arrangements and thanked Gu Guozhen.

Gu Guozhen smiled and said that this was all His Majesty's intention, and he should just thank His Majesty, and he was just doing his job according to His Majesty's will. He also apologized for the poor hospitality of Zhu Youjian and his wife in the past few years. Zhu Youjian and his wife hurriedly said they dared not, they still had a good impression of Gu Guozhen. After all, their lives were much better than before after Gu Guozhen came to Fengyang, and this was all Gu Guozhen's care. Zhu Youjian and his wife were not villains, and knowing kindness and repaying kindness is a virtue that people should have. They saw Gu Guozhen's attitude and care for them, so how could they deny it against their conscience?
Both sides exchanged polite words. Gu Guozhen said that His Majesty wanted them to enter Beijing as soon as possible, so it would be best not to delay. He had made preparations and asked Zhu Youjian to set off today.

Zhu Youjian and his wife looked at each other and nodded in agreement, but said they still needed to pack up. After all, moving to Beijing was no small matter. They had lived here for several years and there were a lot of things they needed to pack up.

Gu Guozhen smiled and said that it was not necessary to bring these sundries, as he had already arranged them for the two of them. He even prepared the robes for them, and immediately asked someone to bring them to Zhu Youjian and his wife, asking them to change into them, and then pack up a little before setting off.

Seeing this, Zhu Youjian could only agree. The two went in and changed their clothes. When they came out, they were completely different from before. Zhu Youjian was wearing a brand new prince's clothes, while Zeng was wearing a princess's clothes. Looking at each other's clothes, they were filled with emotion. Since they were convicted and brought to Fengyang, they hadn't seen such clothes for many years.

"Eunuch Gu, isn't this inappropriate attire?" Zhu Youjian couldn't help but ask Gu Guozhen. He was a commoner now, but the clothes he was wearing were still those of a prince.

"Your Highness, don't worry about it. This is what His Majesty ordered. It's fine for Your Highness and Your Highness to wear it." Gu Guozhen replied with a smile. After thinking for a while, he lowered his voice and reminded, "Your Highness, let me say something in private. It seems that His Majesty is going to restore Your Highness's title this time. Your Highness, please don't act according to your temper when you come to the capital this time. When His Majesty summons You, you should be careful to respond. If you can please His Majesty, Your Highness's title will be restored. Otherwise, His Majesty would not send such clothes to Your Highness and Your Highness."

"Thank you for your advice, eunuch. I will never forget your kindness. If one day I can regain my title, I will repay you for your kindness..."

"No, no, I dare not. How can a mere servant like me ask Your Majesty to repay me for anything? All I did was His Majesty's wish. If you want to repay a favor, you should repay Your Majesty." Gu Guozhen hurriedly explained, and even clasped his fists and bowed in the direction of the capital. Seeing his attitude, Zhu Youjian understood and nodded in agreement. Then he packed up a little and followed Gu Guozhen out of the small courtyard where he had been imprisoned for many years.

When he stepped out of the courtyard and crossed the threshold, Zhu Youjian couldn't help but look back at the courtyard where he had lived for almost seven years. Every blade of grass, every brick and tile here were already deeply engraved in his memory. Just half an hour ago, he had never thought that he would have the chance to leave here one day in his lifetime, but now he was finally out.

Although they were only separated by a wall, the feeling he got was completely different. Even the air he breathed was filled with the cheer of freedom.

Free! Finally free! At this moment, Zhu Youjian couldn't help but have tears in his eyes, and Zeng beside him was also like this, but the two of them did not stop and continued to move forward. At this time, their steps were much lighter and more joyful than when they were just in the yard.

(End of this chapter)