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

Chapter 73 Your Majesty, there is something wrong with your cognition (Please order first)
Rather than living a life worse than death, I might as well solve it myself."

Looking at Yang Chen's terrible look, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but clench his hands behind his back.

After what happened just now, the study was in chaos. The chair was smashed away by Lao Zhu, and everything on the table was scattered all over the floor because of what happened just now.

As Zhu Yuanzhang's emotions gradually calmed down, several maids quickly came in and lowered their heads to pack up their things.

At the same time, another brand new chair was brought out.

Everything was cleaned up neatly, and there was no way to tell what had just happened here.

The wound on Yang Chen's neck was also bandaged, but in order to save his life, he dared not use medicine indiscriminately.

There were only some skin breaks on my neck and my blood vessels were not damaged. If I used any improper medication, the wound would become infected.

In the end, you will die in pain, which is not worth it.

Because there were examples of emperors being killed by medical treatment in the Ming Dynasty, he had some subconscious resistance to these imperial doctors.

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't understand why the other party was like this, but he didn't care much.

Now he felt very helpless towards Yang Chen.

When the two of them sat down again, Zhu Yuanzhang took the initiative to pour a cup of tea for Yang Chen.

Yang Chen was a little surprised to see the other party's actions.

This is the emperor. There aren’t many people who can have the emperor personally pour tea for them, right?

What's more, he was just an ordinary person. In an instant, an inexplicable feeling of joy came over him.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Yang Chen drank the herbal tea in one gulp.

When he looked up, he heard Zhu Yuanzhang asking him questions.

"I've only seen people begging for mercy, but never begging for death. Can it be that you can't stand being under my hands? If you have the chance, will you still commit suicide?"

Recalling the scene just now, Yang Chen leaned forward without hesitation and tried to catch the blade.

If he hadn't reacted quickly and hadn't had the habit of lifting the stone lock to exercise on weekdays.

I'm afraid that Yang Chen's neck was not just a broken skin, but blood was spilled all over the ground and he died on the spot.

He finally understood that this guy was not just talking big.

Once he gives the other party a chance, he really wants to die.

As for the explanation, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't believe Yang Chen's words that he slipped.

After what happened just now, and with Zhu Yuanzhang personally pouring tea for him, Yang Chen's impression of Zhu improved a lot.

The Hongwu Emperor was also a human being, and he was not always heartless.

"Your Majesty, no one in this world really wants to die, but your temper is really unpredictable, so you can understand me, right?"

"I can't understand it. I just know that I don't like your personality at all."

Zhu Yuanzhang leaned back in his chair, expressing his displeasure at what Yang Chen said.

This was quite speechless for Yang Chen. The two of them were silent for a long time before Lao Zhu spoke again.

"Is there no way you can stop these things from happening?"

"What is it? Are you talking about the death of the Empress, or the Crown Prince, or the Crown Prince?"

After hearing what was said, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly felt overwhelmed. How could someone speak so directly?

I finally used a gentle way to explain it, but Yang Chen turned around and explained it bluntly.

"Can't you change your way of speaking? You know that Biao'er and Xiongying are so important to us, can't you speak a little more gently? Just a little bit!"

At the end, Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table every time he said a word, to show that what he said was very important.

Although I know that the future ending will not be perfect, it can even be said to be tragic, more miserable than most people.

Even if none of these things happened, for Zhu Yuanzhang who lived in this era, there are some things that need to be avoided and should be strictly followed.

Especially when it comes to the issue of Queen Ma, he dared not take it lightly.

I have lived for most of my life, but I can't even keep the last bit of tenderness. What's the point of living so long?

Knowing Zhu Yuanzhang's temper, Yang Chen said with a wry smile:
"Your Majesty, why do you have to do this? But since you have made a request, I, a junior, will obey.

The matter regarding the Empress and the Crown Prince can actually be easily resolved."

Zhu Yuanzhang heaved a sigh of relief when he heard Yang Chen finally mentioned the key point. He was afraid that the other party would say something strange again.

By then, he didn't know if he could make it through.

For this reason, he chose to continue listening without interrupting.

Yang Chen frowned and spoke slowly:

"The rift between His Majesty and the Queen is nothing more than the fact that His Majesty has committed one massacre after another. As for who was killed, I don't need to say more."

The massacre that Yang Chen knew about was naturally the massacre committed by the current Prime Minister Hu Weiyong.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked dissatisfied, but did not interrupt the other party.

“Your Majesty, you slaughtered the prime minister in order to monopolize the imperial power, but the emperors of later generations did not do as you wished and even created a cabinet.

In the end, Your Majesty, not only did you not accomplish what you wanted to do, but you also accidentally promoted another result, and ultimately caused the death of your loved ones.

It's not an exaggeration to say that it's like picking up sesame seeds and throwing away watermelons, right? "

After another round of scolding, Zhu Yuanzhang's brows gradually furrowed. It was obvious that he was no longer happy.

"So, you're saying that it was wrong for us to abolish the Prime Minister?"

"No, no, Your Majesty, you need to know that as a member of the ruling class, every word you say and every decision you make is seen by the whole world as an imperial decree, and by future generations as a policy.

All policies have a passive feature, which is timeliness.”

Zhu Yuanzhang's frown was almost like a robbery. After hesitating for a while, he spoke again:
"Can't you speak human language? I don't understand. Can you explain to me what this means?"

Yang Chen had expected Zhu Yuanzhang to ask this question, so he continued to explain in an orderly manner:

“The so-called timeliness means that a policy is effective within a certain time frame. Beyond this time frame, the policy may no longer be applicable or need to be adjusted.

What this means is that, Your Majesty, the benefits you think of may be useful during your reign, but when you are gone, these so-called benefits will begin to disappear with your death.

For example, household allowances, support for vassal kings, and so on. "

Zhu Yuanzhang thought he understood and said in a rather unfriendly tone:
"So in your opinion, it is wrong for us to abolish the prime minister? We shouldn't abolish it?"

The corner of Yang Chen's mouth twitched unrecognizablely.

"That's not what I meant. What I meant was that Your Majesty is too impulsive and always wants to solve the problem once and for all. Although you are the emperor, your cognition is constrained by your upbringing, which led to this situation."

This is the period from when Zhu Yuanzhang was a beggar to when he reached adulthood.

He could not read a single word, and the only bit of education he had was spent on chanting Buddhist scriptures.

I know nothing about those ancient books and famous works.

This is why he became a famous emperor throughout the ages.

Although he was a latecomer, he was able to understand the emperor's mind on his own and was the best among them.

However, no matter how smart Zhu Yuanzhang was, he was constrained by his own cognition, which made him extremely paranoid about certain things.

For example, he believed that after the death of an emperor or a noble, his wife and concubines must be buried with him.

This reflects the fact that he was influenced by the deep-rooted and sinister feudal ideology.

Once cognition is constrained, it will lead to one's own way in certain things.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang cannot be blamed for these, just like city people don’t know the difference between grass and rice.

This is caused by one's own living and growing conditions.

After Yang Chen's detailed explanation, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to understand it vaguely.

"Anyway, just tell me how to solve these problems. I don't want to hear the rest."

Although Zhu Yuanzhang realized that the "timeliness" mentioned by Yang Chen was very important, he had no time to think about how to arrange political issues.

He had only one idea in his mind

"Save Empress Ma, save my eldest son, and save my eldest grandson."

Yang Chen waved his hand to signal Zhu Yuanzhang not to worry, and then said softly:

"Your Majesty, the root of the problem lies with you. You killed someone and created a rift between you, the Queen, and the Crown Prince.

Then, the Crown Prince encountered an accident, causing the Empress, who was already in poor health, to completely collapse.

If you want to prevent the Queen from encountering these problems, you need to solve two things.

First of all, Your Majesty, try not to be angry with the Queen. You two are a model couple among the royal family. Be as harmonious as possible. This will not only make the Queen happy physically and mentally, but also prevent her health from deteriorating.

Then there is the matter of the Crown Prince.

It is rumored that the Crown Prince died unexpectedly due to infection with smallpox, but now the Crown Prince has entered the harem.

With this level of security, I believe no one can ambush him.

Isn't it easy to solve the problem?"

Yang Chen slowly sorted out the matter, and at this moment Zhu Yuanzhang also understood the cause and effect.

To put it bluntly, it means making him submit.

But could Zhu Yuanzhang give in? Even if he did, he would never show it in front of Yang Chen.

Then his frown slowly relaxed, but his tone remained domineering.

"Humph! I really thought you could come up with some solution, but now it seems like it's nothing special."

Yang Chen's first reaction was that his kindness was being taken for granted.

However, the next second, Zhu Yuanzhang's reaction made him realize that the other party did it on purpose.

"I was so careless tonight that I actually came to you to ask questions that can be easily solved. Go, go, go, leave us now. I don't want to see you today or tomorrow."

"Someone, take this bastard back to us. Take him back the same way you brought him here."

Zhu Yuanzhang said the last sentence with a cunning look in his eyes.

Yang Chen didn't react for a moment, but the guards at the gate were quick and tied Yang Chen up again, then carried him back to the East Palace like a wooden stake.

During the whole process, Yang Chen cursed Zhu Yuanzhang dozens of times in his heart.

He promised that if he had the chance in the future, he would make Lao Zhu feel what it was like to be so angry.

At the same time, in a special courtyard in Prince Yan's Mansion.

Silver moonlight shone on a stone-carved chess table. Two people sat facing each other, and dead leaves fell from a tree nearby from time to time.

The fallen leaves seemed to have life, dodging the two people as they fell, and finally slowly fell to the ground.

Hey!
The sound of chess pieces colliding with each other could be heard.

"Your Highness, Prince of Yan, you don't seem to be in the mood to play chess with me today. I wonder what is bothering you that makes you so absent-minded."

The monk sitting on the left spoke softly.

The monk was tall and dressed in a black cassock. His exposed wrists were enough to show his extraordinary arm strength, which was much stronger than the ordinary monks who could only chant scriptures and recite Buddhist scriptures.

The person opposite him was naturally Prince of Yan Zhu Di.

However, Zhu Di, who used to be full of vigor and vitality, now looked gloomy.

He raised his head to look at the moon hanging high in the sky, and his whole eyes seemed to be gradually moving away with his gaze.

The monk was none other than Yao Guangxiao, the famous black-robed prime minister in history.

He also accompanied Zhu Di all the way to become the strongest strategist of Emperor Yongle.

He doesn't seek fame or fortune, he just wants to prove himself.

After Zhu Di became emperor, he could have obtained wealth and glory, but he chose to refuse.

Finally, he was forced to settle in a temple and became a private monk. In his spare time, he presided over the compilation of the Yongle Encyclopedia and served as the prince's junior teacher.

With Yao Guangxiao's gentle reminder, Zhu Di came back to his senses from his emotional immersion.

He looked at the other party with a heavy heart and asked hesitantly:
"Master, you once told me that you would help me achieve great things in the future. Did you expect that the Ming Dynasty would be taken away by the Jianzhou Jurchens in the north?"

Zhu Di looked at Yao Guangxiao with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

The reason why he was able to get to know the other party was because by chance, both of them could see the ambition in the other's heart.

Now, he wanted to see how Yao Guangxiao would react when he knew what would happen in the future.

Faced with the question, Yao Guangxiao was also quite surprised.

Putting down the Buddhist beads in his hand, his triangular eyes looked straight at Zhu Di.

"Who can predict the future? A hundred years from now, Your Highness and I will probably have already returned to dust. The Buddha said, 'All things arise from causes and conditions, and all things cease from causes and conditions.'"

For some things, mortals can only deal with the present with their power, so why bother thinking too much about what will happen a hundred years in the future?

Human power is limited, and the sky is difficult to overturn. The more you think about it, the more trouble you will suffer."

Zhu Di had never understood anything about Buddhist scriptures, so he ignored what Yao Guangxiao said.

Instead, he continued to talk to himself:

"Master, do you still remember the person I mentioned to you before?"

After hearing this, Yao Guangxiao finally understood the source of Zhu Di's troubles.

"I wonder if the person King Yan is talking about is the one who claims to be from six hundred years in the future?"

Zhu Di nodded in acknowledgement:

"Yes, do you know what he said to Father today?

He said that more than two hundred years later, the Ming Dynasty court had been eaten away by the officials and became a hollow shell, the people were cannibalizing each other, and uprisings broke out in various parts of the Ming Dynasty to overthrow the rule of my Zhu family.

There were also foreign invasions in the north, and the rebel army finally failed because the imperial border troops joined forces with the foreign tribes. The Eight Banners of the Jurchens attacked southward and finally seized the Zhu family's kingdom.

Young Master, if I don't stop these things from happening, what good will it do even if you can help me achieve great things?

As an ancestor, can I just watch these tragedies happen while my descendants are being slaughtered? "

Today during the day, Zhu Di also felt the same way about these tragic events.

As the King of Yan, he was originally based in the north, and Beiping was a place very close to the Jurchens.

Assuming that the Jurchens invade the Ming Dynasty in the future, I am afraid that Peking will suffer quickly.

They were surrounded before they even had time to defend themselves.

If this time really comes, it is foreseeable how tragic the fate of my descendants will be.

Yao Guangxiao was not surprised to hear the news. Instead, his eyes sparkled and he reached out his hand to place a chess piece in front of him.

“Since the King of Yan is worried that the northern barbarians will persecute your descendants in the future.

So why not make your ambitions bigger, like Wang Shang Jia Bai.

If you trust me, then I promise that I will use everything I have learned in my life to assist you to the best of my ability.

Let you become the emperor of Ming Dynasty second only to your father!"

Since Zhu Di was worried about future generations, Yao Guangxiao wanted to take advantage of the situation and stimulate the other party's inner desires.

However, the situation he expected did not occur. Zhu Di felt powerless and said with a wry smile:
"Master, the king is so arrogant! You don't understand. You will never understand my father's mind.

Don’t you know how outstanding my eldest brother is among all my father’s children?

Do you know how father views my eldest brother?
Today, just today, my eldest brother had a quarrel with my father about the treatment of officials. My eldest brother yelled at my father, but my father not only did not blame him, but praised my eldest brother for his imperial power.
I will never be able to gain any recognition from my father, even half of what my eldest brother has. I don't have the slightest chance.

In this situation, your claim of King Shangbai is nothing but a foolish dream! "

At this moment, there is no Prince of Yan Zhu Di, no prince status, but just a younger son who is jealous of his older brother who has all the love of his father.

In the twilight, Yao Guangxiao remained unmoved by Zhu Yuanzhang's roar, which was like that of a young animal.

Only after a while did he sigh softly:
“Your Highness, those who achieve great things must have the strongest heart. The Crown Prince has indeed been recognized by your father, but in my opinion, you are no weaker than your brothers.

Besides, no matter how outstanding your elder brother is, as long as he can't become the emperor, then all this is nonsense."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere around them suddenly turned as cold as ice.

Zhu Di looked at Yao Guangxiao in disbelief, doubting whether the other party would dare to say such a thing?
After a long while, Zhu Di said with mixed feelings:

“Master, don’t forget that Yang Chen came from the future more than 600 years ago. What he has seen may be beyond our imagination.

Just as you said, my eldest brother cannot become the emperor. Not only do I know this, my eldest brother and my father all know it.

But have you ever thought about what would happen if my father asked Yang Chen to change my brother's fate?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Yao Guangxiao's sparkling eyes finally showed signs of movement.

Yes.

He overlooked one thing. Yang Chen came back from the future to the present, which meant that he must have extraordinary abilities.

If the other party could defy fate and change the destiny of Zhu Biao, Zhu Xiongying and others, then how could he assist Zhu Di in becoming emperor?
In the end, isn't it just assisting the air?
As long as Zhu Biao and Zhu Xiongying were not dead, Zhu Di would never fight for the throne. Yao Guangxiao knew this best.

As the fourth son, Zhu Di respected his eldest brother very much and also loved Zhu Xiongying.

Perhaps it was because when Chang was still alive, this eldest sister-in-law was also very respectful to her other brothers-in-law.

The most important thing is that Chang's father, Chang Yuchun, once brought Zhu Di to his side and personally taught him military knowledge.

Whether in public or in private, Zhu Di's feelings for Zhu Xiongying were absolutely the most sincere.

In a state of confusion, Yao Guangxiao couldn't help but twitch his lips when he spoke:
“Your Highness, Prince of Yan, the reason why I dare to assist you is because the Dragon Supporting Technique that I learned was the legacy of Liu Bingzhong, the Imperial Master of the Yuan Dynasty.

Only those who have dragon energy in them can rely on the dragon-supporting technique to fight for the world in troubled times.

Just like your father, it is obvious that the previous rebel forces were stronger than the current emperor.

But in the end, the person sitting on the throne was your father.

From this incident, we can see that it is extremely difficult to change one's fate by human power. Is there any young man who has such ability?

Isn't he worried that the karma will lead to suffering for the rest of his life?"

Zhu Di glanced at the other person, was silent for a moment, and said with a slight smile:

"Master, Yang Chen is different from the others. He is not afraid of death, nor is he afraid of anyone.

It's not just because my mother supports him, the most important reason is that he involves the lives of my nephew Zhu Xiongying and my eldest brother.

The most important thing is that his temperament is something I have never seen in anyone.

It seems that in this Ming Dynasty, no one can restrain him, not even my father."

Yao Guangxiao's eyes flashed and his brows were twisted together.

At this point, he has realized that the obstacle preventing him from proving his value in life is Yang Chen.

"Your Highness, Prince of Yan, do I have a chance to meet this Yang Chen? I may be able to convince him to follow the will of heaven and not affect what will happen in the future."

"Young Marshal wants to meet him and let the future happen as usual?"

Suddenly, Zhu Di's aura changed drastically, but Yao Guangxiao failed to notice it and was immersed in Yang Chen's question.

"good."

"If that's the case, then Master, I'm very sorry. From now on, we'll have to say goodbye."

Zhu Di’s words instantly surprised Yao Guangxiao.

"Your Highness, why is this?"

Sitting on the stone bench, Zhu Di's eyes were bright.

"Master, do you know that if I follow the will of heaven, my mother will die of illness in the future? Since I became the King of Yan, only my mother has called me Di'er. She is the mother who loves me the most.

Anyone can get into trouble, but I can't just watch her get into trouble.

If the price of my great undertaking is to lose my mother, then I would rather not have this great undertaking!"

Zhu Di's words made Yao Guangxiao tremble.

His expression gradually turned gloomy, and finally he sighed deeply.

He saw that Zhu Di was ambitious, but he also overlooked the fact that Zhu Di was still a passionate young man in his twenties.

As long as Empress Ma exists, the Zhu royal family will be safe.

"Well, if that's the case, then I won't force it. But I still hope that the young commander can introduce me to someone. I want to meet this person from the future."

See Yao Guangxiao change his mind.

Zhu Di's tense heart finally relaxed a little.

"As long as you don't dissuade him from saving my mother, I have no objection to what you want to say to him, but it may be difficult to see him.

His identity is very special. There must be someone around my father who is keeping an eye on him.

As soon as I have the chance, I will bring him to you."

Upon hearing this, Yao Guangxiao performed a Buddhist ceremony to express his gratitude to Zhu Di.

Afterwards, neither of them took the initiative to speak.

(End of this chapter)