Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 7: Harem Master
Sure enough, Zhu Yijun heard the hidden meaning in his words, and his anger level, which had just subsided a little, immediately began to surge.

"How dare you! Are you saying that I want to harm you, or someone else wants to harm you?"

Zheng Mengjing couldn't help but feel his heart beating faster. This kid was too brave.

"Father, how many years have you not seen your son? Father, have you carefully looked at how your son looks now? Father, do you know your son's current temper?"

Zhu Changluo just kept asking questions, and then he looked a little sad and angry: "My son has grown up now, and he has copied the calligraphy of the emperor. He admires loyalty and filial piety. The proof is here, and the world can see it! The emperor finally met him, but he was full of eloquence and deep scheming. My son wants to be filial to the emperor, and wants the emperor to know that his son is trying hard to be a good son. But can his son easily step out of the gate of Jingyang Palace?"

Chen Ju didn't know the saying: madly testing the brink of death.

The situation today is that Zhu Changluo repeatedly rubs against Zhu Yijun's emotional sensitive points.

Sometimes he would contradict, sometimes he would flatter.

Then continue to be sarcastic.

How come he, the eldest son of the royal family, couldn’t even leave the palace where he lived?

The words were so sharp that who would dare to do so without the emperor's tacit approval?

Zhu Changluo did not directly answer who wanted to harm him, but the answer was self-evident.

Seeing that the conflict between father and son was revealed to this extent, all the eunuchs and palace maids felt threatened.

Is this audible?

Before Zhu Yijun had time to lose his temper, a voice suddenly appeared outside the hall.

"The Queen Mother's decree!"

Zhu Yijun's pupils shrank slightly, and he saw the eunuch Tian Yi, who was in charge of the Imperial Household Department, rushing in and kneeling down first.

"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother has issued an oral order: This is disgraceful! If you have anything to say, come and argue in front of me!"

Zhu Yijun's hands trembled and he looked at Tian Yi with complicated eyes.

Zhu Yijun did not dare to be negligent towards Empress Dowager Li in the slightest.

He came here with a knife, so it would not be surprising if Empress Dowager Li also knew about the incident.

But at that time, there were only these people around.

Zhu Yijun looked at Chen Ju. This servant just kowtowed repeatedly, and his injured right hand stained more blood on the ground.

Zhu Yijun then stared at Zhu Changluo fiercely: "Roaring in the palace, disrespectful and unfilial! In front of the Queen Mother, you still dare to be so presumptuous, I will never forgive you easily!"

Zhu Changluo was delighted: It’s done.

Who really wants to explain anything to you? This is what you are waiting for!

"My son has always been polite and reserved. Everyone in the palace knows this. Father, please understand. How dare my son be so talkative in front of the Empress Dowager?"

Zhu Yijun was extremely angry.

Polite? Reserved?
"Follow me!"

Zhu Yijun said in a muffled voice, and Zheng Mengjing just gritted his teeth.

The Queen was cautious and prudent, but the Queen Mother was just too lazy to say anything.

But everyone knows that he is the one who truly has the final say in the harem.

The emperor also has to weigh her words carefully.

Zhu Changluo was finally able to leave Jingyang Palace with a legitimate reason and go to meet his grandmother.

In the Cining Palace, Empress Dowager Li was in a very bad mood.

Halfway through the recitation, Tian Yi came over and knelt to report the matter.

Everyone in the palace knows that if it’s not a big deal, don’t bother her?

"He has been protecting that slave girl, waiting in the rain for her punishment?"

"To answer your Majesty's question, that is exactly the case."

Empress Dowager Li sighed softly and ordered casually: "Boil some ginger soup."

Then when Zhu Yijun and Zhu Changluo arrived, Empress Dowager Li frowned immediately when she saw her son, grandson and Chen Ju.

“…How shameful!”

"As soon as my mother has issued an imperial decree, my son came here immediately..." Zhu Yijun, who had been so majestic before, suddenly became a bit cowardly when he came in front of Empress Dowager Li.

It might not have been like this in the past, but what happened today really revealed some contradictions that made him feel guilty.

"You should change into dry clothes first. What if you catch a cold?"

As soon as the order was given, the eunuchs and palace maids had already gone to get dry clothes for the father and son to change into.

But at this time, Empress Dowager Li saw that the fitted clothes brought from Jingyang Palace were a little old, and she naturally knew what was going on.

In the past, the people in her palace would naturally not do anything intentionally when doing things.

It can only be said that the usual practice in Jingyang Palace was indeed quite different, and no one offered more.

There was still a faint smell of alcohol emanating from her son in her nose, and Empress Dowager Li paid more attention to her eldest grandson who had grown tall.

After Zhu Changluo came out from the side after changing his clothes, he knelt down and said, "Grandson pays respects to the Imperial Grandmother. May the Imperial Grandmother be in good health!" Empress Dowager Li did not say anything first, but solemnly said to Tian Yi and Chen Ju, "If today's incident spreads out of the palace, you know the consequences. Ignore the rest of the servants, but you should explain to the Yikun Palace that this is my imperial decree!"

"The servant understands."

"Go!"

Zhu Changluo knelt there, feeling the status and prestige of Empress Dowager Li in the palace.

Even Zhu Yijun didn't say a word.

"Your mother is not in good health, why do you want to cause trouble and scare her?"

When Zhu Yijun heard that Empress Dowager Li's first words were to blame Zhu Changluo, he felt a little relieved.

Seeing that Empress Dowager Li did not let him get up first, Zhu Changluo naturally knelt down and replied, "It is my grandson who is unfilial. I have been so polite and reserved for so many years. I was overjoyed when I heard the good news yesterday. But I did not expect that after seeing my father again in many years, the first thing he said was that he was a disobedient son. I also saw my father holding a knife to kill my grandson. That's why I was so angry and said something wrong."

Zhu Yijun's heart began to lift again and he glanced secretly at his mother.

Empress Dowager Li looked at Zhu Changluo with a deep gaze. She was silent for a while, and then she slowly said: "That shouldn't be disgraceful! You must know that if such a thing gets out, it will cause turmoil in the court and the country!"

"My grandson knows his mistake."

It's OK for Zhu Changluo to say whatever he wants to say.

Everyone has their own scale of right and wrong. It's just that as a prince, the matter involves the foundation of the country, so he shouldn't leave room for everything and be so extreme.

But who can blame him for being so young? And why did this happen so many years ago?

As for the government and the opposition? Their reaction to this matter was in the interests of Zhu Changluo.

"You haven't greeted me often enough in these years, so Grandmother thought you didn't know the etiquette. Could it be that the prisoner's words were true?" Empress Dowager Li then looked at Zhu Yijun, "Emperor?"

"…Mother, please understand. Who would dare to be so bold?" Zhu Yijun would certainly not admit it. "He is my son. Who could treat him like this?"

"I was timid before. Ever since I was young, rumors have spread that I was promiscuous with palace maids. Since then, I have not dared to leave the palace for fear of causing gossip. Apart from lectures, I have only studied and practiced calligraphy in Jingyang Palace. The prisoner's words were also spoken in a moment of anger. I know I was wrong..."

Zhu Changluo admitted his mistake, but what he pointed out was something that everyone knew.

At that time, Zhu Changluo was only thirteen years old and was falsely accused of having an affair with a palace maid.

In the end, a high-profile investigation was conducted. If Concubine Wang Gong had not cried and said that she was always worried about her son's death and had made Zhu Changluo sleep in the bed next to her every night to protect him, she would probably have never been able to clear herself even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

Empress Dowager Li also knew about this matter and reprimanded Zhu Yijun for it.

So now Zhu Yijun was embarrassed when he heard this: Although his son admitted his mistake, this was not the treatment that the eldest son of the emperor should receive in the palace?
The reason why I didn't often visit Empress Dowager Li to ask about her well-being was very clear.

Zhu Yijun looked at the respectful and reserved Zhu Changluo: You said you wouldn't talk too much, so this is what I mean by not talking too much?

Empress Dowager Li naturally sensed something different from Zhu Changluo's answer and asked meaningfully, "I just asked Chen Ju, and heard that you showed your calligraphy to the emperor just now?"

Zhu Changluo replied, "Yes! My grandson's respect and love for my father is obvious to all. My grandmother is wise. Is there any son in the world who does not hope to be in your arms and be taught by your words and deeds? Whether he is a kind father or a strict father, I am happy with it. When I practice calligraphy every day, I often feel like I am seeing the emperor's face, which comforts me."

Zhu Yijun muttered to himself: If you had experienced what your grandmother taught you, your father, through words and deeds, would you still be looking forward to it?
"If I remember correctly, you have only been to school a few times, right?" Empress Dowager Li looked at him with some surprise after hearing what he said. "What kind of books do you read on a daily basis? If you have any questions, who can explain them to you?"

Zhu Changluo naturally talked about all the books in the study.

Although he did not go to school with the ceremonial guard of the crown prince, since he had been taught in advance, and Zhu Yijun had also used the excuse that "he had already asked the eunuchs to teach him calligraphy" to evade the external officials, there was naturally no shortage of enlightenment books and various classics in Jingyang Palace.

After all, he is a prince, after all, he is in the palace.

Zhu Changluo then said, "After my grandson had a serious illness after the New Year, perhaps it was the blessing of the gods and Buddhas. In the past two months, he has not been as slow in studying as before. But when he has doubts, he often suddenly understands them after discussing them with Wang An. It's not that he is very knowledgeable, but it seems that my grandson has opened up on his own."

The prince is so smart, how can it be all my credit?

Zhu Changluo said this, and then continued: "However, Wang An helped my grandson to go to the inner library to get more books. He is indeed a good servant to my grandson. I beg my grandmother and father to have mercy and spare his life and let him continue to accompany my grandson to study."

Zhu Yijun was quite surprised. He did not expect that in front of Empress Dowager Li, Zhu Changluo still remembered to ask for mercy for Wang An.

This kid... knows how to win people's hearts.

After this conversation, Empress Dowager Li had a more intuitive impression of Zhu Changluo, and Zhu Yijun was forced to have a new impression of him.

How can we not talk about knowledge? If the previous conflict had not been so real, wouldn't the eldest prince in front of us be a young talent who is well-educated, well-mannered and well-spoken?
When she heard about the blessing of gods and Buddhas, Empress Dowager Li, who had more experience, naturally looked at her grandson more deeply.

The intention is indeed very deep.

But that's a good thing.

"Get up and talk first."

Empress Dowager Li asked him to stand up, and then looked at Zhu Yijun.

At this glance, it has been a long time.

Zhu Yijun gradually felt uncomfortable.

Queen Mother Li was silent for a long time before she spoke: "As the Son of Heaven, how can you handle swords and guns? Killing slaves with your own hands is already a laughing stock, and you want to kill your son in anger! If this matter gets out, what kind of waves will it cause? In this matter, Tian Yi and Chen Ju have done a good deed, not a fault!"

"…As the Queen Mother taught, the prince was too impatient and angry to handle things properly."

Every thing has its own strength, and Zhu Yijun was a little scared.

But it was that rebellious son who angered me!

(End of this chapter)