Ming Dynasty: Traveling through the harem, Zhu Yuanzhang was dumbfounded

Chapter 24: Smallpox Outbreak in the Ming Dynasty

Lu was the daughter of Taichangqing Lu Ben, who was originally a Jinshi in the Yuan Dynasty. Later, he found that the Yuan Dynasty was corrupt and was about to collapse.

So among the many rebel forces, he chose to join Zhu Yuanzhang.

Under Lü Ben's training, Lü became well-educated, intelligent, good at needlework, and had a gentle personality like jade. She was appreciated by Zhu Yuanzhang when she was young.

During the selection of concubines for the Eastern Palace during the Hongwu period, she, who already had a good impression of Zhu Yuanzhang, smoothly entered the Eastern Palace and became Zhu Biao's concubine.

After Chang died of complications during childbirth, she naturally became the Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace from a concubine.

And gave birth to Zhu Yunwen.

To a certain extent, the entire Lu family benefited a lot because of her improved status and position.

Zhu Biao was actually quite confident in his wife, and he left the education of the two brothers Zhu Yunhuan and Zhu Xiongying to her.

But I didn't expect to learn from Yang Chen that the other party was somehow involved in my son's death.

His first reaction was that it was impossible.

But there was one thing Yang Chen said that made him unable to doubt it no matter what.

As the Crown Princess, her son is not the Crown Prince. If he becomes the Emperor in the future, she will be the Empress, but her son is not the heir to the throne, which makes her feel unwilling.

Under the attraction of power, how many people can guarantee that they will not lose their minds and humanity?
As the crown prince who served as regent, Zhu Biao knew best that human nature could not stand the test.

"Conspiracy theories seem to be getting more complicated."

Queen Ma murmured softly. She was now very confused about how to face her daughter-in-law, Lu.

According to what Yang Chen said, if the Lu family really wanted to take action against Zhu Xiongying, then they would have too many opportunities.

Since ancient times, royal relations have been an unsolvable problem.

No one can guarantee when the previous friendship will be torn apart in the final battle for the throne.

This was exactly what happened to Li Chengqian in the Tang Dynasty. Li Shimin loved Prince Wei so much that all the ministers in the Tang Dynasty believed that he was going to re-establish the crown prince.

Liu Ju of the Han Dynasty was even forced to rebel because of his father's suspicion.

Brothers and fathers and sons may fight each other, not to mention mothers and sons who have no blood relationship.

Faced with this matter, Queen Ma also hesitated.

But I soon figured out how to solve it.

"Biao'er, don't tell your father about this for now. After all, Lu is the current Crown Princess and cannot be easily deposed. Moreover, she is Yun Wen's biological mother. It is not reasonable to depose her without any evidence.

If your father knew about this, there would definitely be a lot of trouble in the court.

As for Xiongying and Yunxun, the two brothers will be sent to my harem from now on, and I will take care of them personally."

This solution finally made Zhu Biao feel relieved.

He also knew that once the conspiracy theory emerged, he would always think of this matter in his heart.

It will not only affect Lu, but also him.

No matter what, the other party is Zhu Yunwen's mother. Even if, as Yang Chen said, Zhu Yunwen made historical changes to his brother after he ascended the throne, things that have not yet happened cannot be blamed on a child of a few years old.

"I understand. I will send someone to send Xiongying and Yunxun to Queen Mother's palace tonight."

Yang Chen's opinion of Queen Ma improved again.

Even in this situation, there was no impulsive action.

If it were Zhu Yuanzhang, he would have issued an order to depose the Lu family to avoid any further complications.

As for face, Zhu Yuanzhang was never a person who cared about face. Otherwise, how could he have been so unkind to Zhu Biao in front of all the ministers?

Even when he was reasoning with his own son, he still managed to make his crooked ideas sound reasonable.

This kind of bad temper and impulsive behavior are his usual style.

Only a remarkable woman like Empress Ma could suppress the other party.

"Besides the two rumors you just mentioned? Are there any other rumors?"

In order to eliminate all possibilities, Queen Ma must know how many rumors are behind this.

Yang Chen thought for a moment, then said:
"In addition to the two possibilities I mentioned above, there is another rumor that is more controversial. Some people say that the crown prince accidentally contracted smallpox, which you call smallpox.

The possibility is that people said that the prince went out for a walk and accidentally came into contact with clothes infected with smallpox, which led to him being infected with smallpox.

The reason why some people say this is because there was indeed a smallpox epidemic in the Ming Dynasty at that time, and it started in the south.

So this possibility is quite high.”

In ancient times, the word "smallpox" was something that most people would turn pale at.

Once infected, not only will one be deserted by friends and family, but one will also be doomed to die in advance, and may even end up being buried alone in a grave.

When his son was infected with smallpox, Zhu Biao couldn't imagine how much pain he would suffer.

Even if this disease is cured, it will still result in disfigurement.

In the end, he couldn't even see anyone. When others knew he was infected with smallpox, they would distance themselves from him, as if he were a disaster.

"Accidental contact with clothing infected with smallpox?"

Queen Ma's eyes suddenly became sharp, and she discovered the key point.

Everything used by the princes and grandchildren of the emperor is strictly selected and protected by special personnel.

Queen Ma was 100% confident that if her grandson went out to play, there was absolutely no possibility that he would come into contact with clothes of a person infected with smallpox.

But if someone around you does something shady, there would be no way to guarantee anything!
Yang Chen just said that Lu was suspected of taking action, and if she succeeded, she would be the one who would gain the most benefit.

In this desire for fame and fortune, no one knows what the other person is thinking.

You know, smallpox infection is very easy. As long as you come into contact with a patient, the possibility of you getting sick is very high.

Therefore, the common people would drive smallpox patients into the wild to fend for themselves by pushing them with a very long bamboo.

Even if a city was discovered where most people were infected with smallpox, the city would generally be sealed off and then all the people would be burned to death.

Regardless of whether there are patients inside.

Thinking of this, Queen Ma suddenly became nervous.

"You just said that smallpox would suddenly break out in the Ming Dynasty? Is the source of this news true?"

His grandson's life was important, but smallpox was more serious.

As the mother of a country, she might have selfish motives to some extent, but the current smallpox issue did not allow her to delve further into it.

"The outbreak of smallpox during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty is true news. I can guarantee that."

Upon hearing this, Queen Ma's eyes showed a bit more anxiety.

"If it's true, do you know where the smallpox outbreak occurred? When did it start? The exact location."

(End of this chapter)