I am the prince of the Ming Dynasty, I don't give up

Chapter 147 Shocking News
"When was it?" Prince Xing Zhu Youqiu blurted out.

Zhu Houxuan smiled bitterly, "I originally thought it would be when I was summoned to the capital, when I went to pay homage to the Xiaoling Mausoleum, when I earned a lot of money, but later I found out that I was wrong."

“I found that I was freest and most unrestrained when I disembarked on the Grand Canal on my way to the capital and rode freely across the land of Qi and Lu.”

"It was the middle of winter, people didn't go out, there was still snow on the ground, and there was still fog in the air. It seemed as if I was the only one running between heaven and earth." Zhu Houxuan showed a look of reminiscence and nostalgia.
Prince Xing Zhu Youlang was also imagining the scene in his mind and couldn't help but immerse himself in it. When he was enfeoffed 19 years ago, he took the Grand Canal, and he could imagine that scene.

But when I thought about my current situation, I felt a little sad again.

"This incident made me taste the taste of freedom and realize the value of freedom," Zhu Houxuan's low voice was still ringing.

"Freedom is really a poison to us royal family! It is extremely toxic but also addictive." Zhu Houxuan sighed.

Prince Xing Zhu Youji nodded in agreement. This time when he came to Qizhou, he also tasted the long-lost freedom. The same was true for other vassal kings, otherwise they would not have stayed in Qizhou and refused to leave.

Zhu Houxuan slowly approached the warm couch, looked at Zhu Houcong sleeping soundly and whispered: "Cousin Houxuan is so smart and likes to practice Taoism. If he could visit famous Taoist mountains such as Wudang Mountain, Longhu Mountain, and Maoshan Mountain, he would definitely be very happy."

Prince Xing Zhu Youjun felt a little sad because he knew that with the current feudal policy, Zhu Houcong could not go anywhere. He also liked to practice Taoism. Anlu Prefecture was only a few hundred miles away from Wudang Mountain. Nineteen years had passed, and he had not been able to visit Wudang Mountain.
"I just became a father a year ago. After having my own child, I have a lot more insights in my heart. I just want to give my child the best things." Zhu Houxuan continued.

Prince Xing Zhu Youlang also understood this when he heard it, but he didn't understand why Zhu Houxuan suddenly said this.

"When His Majesty invited me, I was very hesitant because the burden was too heavy. I was afraid that I would fail and disappoint His Majesty. But I still accepted the invitation because I wanted to make my own efforts so that my children could ride horses freely on the land of Daming."

Prince Xing Zhu Youlang felt as if his heart was stabbed hard. As a father, he deeply resonated with these words.

"Are you serious? Can you get His Majesty to give us more freedom?" Prince Xing Zhu Youliang asked excitedly. He had not really thought of this just now, because the previous discussions in the court on reforming the clan system were more focused on reforming the lower-level clan members, because they were the ones who received the most clan salaries, but there was no sign of loosening of the restrictions on the higher-level clan members.

"Everything depends on human efforts! You see, the fourteen kings gathered in Qizhou this time. This is my suggestion to Your Majesty." Zhu Houxuan said lightly.

"If the royal family's business grows bigger, I may need some royal family members to help me. I think my cousin Hou Cong is very talented and will definitely be a good helper in the future."

Prince Xing Zhu Youju suddenly looked at Zhu Houxuan, who picked up the teacup and gave him a meaningful look.
Prince Xing Zhu Youlang looked at the sleeping Zhu Houcong again. He loved his only son so much that he immediately made a decision in his heart.

"Then I will borrow another 5 taels, a total of taels of silver. I hope that my dear nephew can remember what happened today and consider Cong'er more in the future." Prince Xing Zhu Youluo bowed to Zhu Houxuan.

"Uncle is so kind. I thank you for your help!" Zhu Houxuan hurriedly shook the hand of Prince Xing Zhu Youlang.

The two sat down again, and this time their relationship became closer, and they continued chatting.

As they chatted, they talked about Zhu Houxuan's visit to the capital four years ago. Prince Xing Zhu Youxuan liked to listen to Zhu Houxuan talk about his experience in the capital because that was where he grew up.

Finally, Prince Xing Zhu Youju could not help but ask, "My dear nephew, when you were in Beijing, you often went to the imperial palace. I wonder if you have ever visited the harem?"

"The harem? Your Majesty has taken me around here several times." Zhu Houxuan said calmly.

"Then have you ever seen the concubines in the harem?" Prince Xing Zhu Youqiu asked immediately.

"Uncle, do you want to ask if your nephew has met Concubine Shao?"

Prince Xing Zhu Youqiang nodded vigorously, his expression becoming a little nervous.

"Yes! And my nephew has also spoken to Concubine Shao."

Prince Xing Zhu Youxuan grabbed Zhu Houxuan's arm and asked excitedly, "Really? What did you say?"

Zhu Houxuan comforted Prince Xing Zhu Youluo, and then revealed a look of reminiscence, "At that time I didn't know that it was Concubine Shao. I was walking in the palace when I suddenly heard an old woman calling me and asked if I was her Yun'er."

"I said I was not her, but the old woman didn't believe me and insisted on touching my face. My nephew had no choice but to let her do that. After she touched me for a while, she said I was not her Yun'er and left disappointed. Later, the palace servants who accompanied me told me that it was Concubine Shao."

"Yun'er? Yun'er!" Xing Wang Zhu You'er stood up suddenly and thought quickly, "She must be talking about my eighth brother Zhu You'er. That must be it!"

He paced quickly in the room, looking very excited and agitated. Then he suddenly stopped, turned around and stared at Zhu Houxuan closely: "No! No! Why would she recognize you wrongly? Why would she recognize you wrongly? And she even touched your face with her hands?"

"There's something wrong with Concubine Shao's eyes and she can no longer see." Zhu Houxuan said with a sigh.

"Impossible! Impossible!" Prince Xing Zhu Youluo suddenly shouted, "My mother never told me about this in her letters, and I sent people to greet her every year, and they never said that there was anything wrong with her eyes! My dear nephew, are you mistaken?"

Prince Xing Zhu Youluo grabbed Zhu Houxuan's shoulders tightly and shook him vigorously.
"Uncle Prince Xing, I am not wrong. The palace servants who accompanied her said that Concubine Shao often cried in the palace, especially after the second year of Zhengde. She cried so much that her eyes had problems," Zhu Houxuan said with some reluctance.

Upon hearing this, Prince Xing Zhu Youluo was struck by lightning. He took a few steps back in disbelief and sat in a daze on the chair. His eyes instantly turned red and tears rushed out. He said in a sad voice, "It turned out to be like this! It turned out to be like this! Mother! I am so unfilial!"

Concubine Shao was the noble concubine of Emperor Chenghua Zhu Jianshen. She gave birth to three princes, all of whom lived to adulthood. They were Prince Xing Zhu Youqi, Prince Qi Zhu Youqi, and Prince Yong Zhu Youqi.

(End of this chapter)