The Holy Emperor of Ming

Chapter 4 He is just a child

His little mouth opened and closed, and he was sleeping soundly.

I've been practicing for nearly a whole day and I'm really tired.

Zhu Youtang had never seen his silly son so tired.

When it couldn't walk yet, it was very active and crawled around.

The cries are much louder than those of ordinary babies.

When he walks later, he will be the little bully of the palace, fearless and running and playing everywhere.

He seems to be full of energy all day long.

He would only be quiet when he fell asleep, but even when he fell asleep he would not be quiet, he would move his little hands and feet from time to time and always kick the quilt.

Zhu Youtang covered his son with the quilt again and asked several palace maids to watch him carefully. He tiptoed out of the palace.

"You just watched the Crown Prince practice for almost a whole day?" Zhu Youtang looked at Liu Jin and the other two with a stern look.

Liu Jin and the other two immediately knelt down and said in a terrified manner, "This slave deserves to die."

Everyone inside and outside the palace knew that Emperor Hongzhi was kind and gentle, and never punished people indiscriminately.

But when it comes to the Crown Prince, His Majesty's only son at the moment, they dare not take any chances.

"Humph, the prince is fine, I will spare you this time.

Continue to protect the prince at all times. No matter who you face or what happens, you must never let the prince get into any trouble. Do you understand?" Zhu Youtang said solemnly.

"Yes, we understand." Liu Jin and the other two were startled and responded immediately.

At the same time, they also smiled bitterly and helplessly. The prince's personality was such that sometimes he would not even listen to His Majesty's words. How could they stop him?
But there is no choice but to agree.

"You said the prince has made rapid progress?" Zhu Youtang said.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is indeed making rapid progress. Three of us have witnessed it with our own eyes. I'm afraid that in just a few days, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will be able to learn the Thirteen Forms of Tai Chi." Liu Jin replied hastily.

Cao Youxiang and Cao Zhengchun nodded.

They witnessed with their own eyes today that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince made progress every time he practiced.

He didn't even need them to teach him the essence of it. He said it was such a simple martial art that he could learn it by practicing it casually, without them having to teach him at all.

This is definitely a sign of extraordinary talent and understanding.

Zhu Youtang's eyes flickered. At the moment, it seemed that Zhaoer's comprehension talent, as well as his perseverance in practicing martial arts might exceed his expectations.

I hope Zhaoer can stick to it.

Suppressing his heartache, Zhu Youtang said nothing more and turned away.

Zhu Houzhao woke up early the next morning and felt better than ever.

After changing into her favorite gorgeous clothes and wolfing down her breakfast, she couldn't wait to continue practicing the thirteen Tai Chi moves.

until night.

Seeing that he only needed a few more times to reach 100, Zhu Houzhao didn't even have the mind to eat and kept practicing.

Liu Jin and the other two were unable to persuade him and could only report to His Majesty.

Not long after, Zhu Youtang arrived, "Zhao'er, why don't you have dinner?"

"Dad, don't disturb me while I'm practicing martial arts." Zhu Houzhao shouted loudly and fiercely.

Zhu Youtang opened his mouth, closed it, and waited.

He just looked at Liu Jin, Li Guang and the others, "Is the prince okay?"

Li Guang and the others looked at the prince carefully and shook their heads.

The hall became even quieter, with only the sound of Zhu Houzhao practicing martial arts, while everyone else waited quietly.

About half an hour later, after Zhu Houzhao finished playing it once, he felt that he had understood a lot.

My tired body now feels much more comfortable and relaxed, and I have more strength.

Looking at the talent with joy.

Tai Chi Thirteen Postures (Beginner: 1/200)

At this time, Li Guang, Liu Jin and others all showed surprise in their eyes.

Prince, it seems like you have gotten started!

"Hehe, Dad, I've gotten started and have already learned the thirteen Tai Chi moves.

Am I awesome?" Zhu Houzhao laughed triumphantly and rushed towards Zhu Youtang.

Zhu Youtang reluctantly and laboriously caught his naive son and looked at Li Guang. Li Guang and Liu Jin looked at each other and nodded, indicating that the prince had indeed entered.

"Hahaha, that's awesome, my Zhao'er is the best." Zhu Youtang immediately laughed happily.

At the age of five, he learned the thirteen Tai Chi moves in just two days. His level of understanding is absolutely rare in the world.

My Zhaoer really looks like Emperor Taizong!

Unable to resist praising him a few more times, Zhu Youtang accompanied Zhu Houzhao for dinner.

"Eat slowly, eat slowly, father will serve it for you."

The father and son sat at the same table, with a total of sixteen dishes carefully prepared by the imperial kitchen. Zhu Youtang personally picked up food for Zhu Houzhao from time to time.

Zhu Houzhao just buried his head in eating, and his whole little face was greasy.

After he ran away after eating, Zhu Youtang waved away the maid, picked up a handkerchief and wiped his silly son's face.

Zhu Houzhao felt that the way his father wiped him was not comfortable, so he skillfully pulled up the sleeve of his dragon robe and wiped it himself a few times.

Zhu Youtang had no choice but to let it go.

"Zhao'er, although you have already learned the Thirteen Tai Chi Postures, you must not be proud of yourself. You must practice the Thirteen Tai Chi Postures better and better, okay?" Zhu Youtang advised.

"Don't worry, Dad. In just a few days, I will be able to practice the Thirteen Tai Chi Postures better than anyone else." Zhu Houzhao patted his chest and said confidently.

Zhu Youtang would never expose his son's lies, he was used to it.

He just smiled and asked, "What about the meridian map?" Zhu Houzhao's face puffed up subconsciously, but without any hesitation, he shouted, "I'm sure you'll remember it in a few days."

"Haha, okay, father is waiting for good news from Zhao'er." Zhu Youtang said with a smile.

"Dad, just wait." Zhu Houzhao said confidently.

Without staying long, Zhu Youtang went to Kunning Palace as usual.

"Has the Queen had her meal? I have already had it with Zhao'er." Zhu Youtang said gently to Queen Zhang.

"I have already used it. The prince has started practicing martial arts?" asked Empress Zhang, who was the most favored one in the six palaces, calmly.

"Well, Zhao'er is extremely talented, absolutely rare in the world, Queen, you don't know——"

When talking about his son, Zhu Youtang immediately spoke with great interest, but before he could say a few words, he noticed the calmness on Empress Zhang's face, and he couldn't help but stop talking and sighed quietly.

After hesitating, he said softly, "Queen, Zhao'er has a kind heart. You can go and spend more time with him."

After a pause, he added, "We only have this one son."

Empress Zhang's eyelids twitched, and she said with some grievance and anger: "I also want to spend more time with the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince doesn't like me, what can I do?"

"Zhao'er is just a child, how could he dislike you for no reason?

Even if he has a childish temper, he can be coaxed more." Zhu Youtang said sincerely.

"Your Majesty, are you saying that there is something wrong with me and that's why the Crown Prince doesn't like me?" Empress Zhang snorted, feeling even more aggrieved.

"No, that's not what I meant." Zhu Youtang quickly grabbed Empress Zhang's hand and said softly, "There's nothing wrong with the Queen, but Zhao'er is still just a child. As parents, it's okay for us to coax him a little more. What do you think?"

"I understand. Your Majesty is right. I will coax the prince and spend more time with him." Empress Zhang was silent for a moment and nodded.

Zhu Youtang smiled with relief.

"But your majesty, the prince has grown up and can no longer act like this.

You see, he is domineering in the palace and doesn't care about etiquette or rules at all.

Last month, he said that the emperor loves his people like his own children, so all the people of the Ming Dynasty are your Majesty's children, that is, his brothers and sisters.

A eunuch who changed his job halfway suffered a little injustice, so he directly confronted me and wanted to beat my chief eunuch.

No one can bully his brothers and sisters for no reason.

I talked to him about it, and he started arguing with me directly, and even took the eunuch away. I was almost completely humiliated.

Your Majesty, how can I treat your mother like this?" Empress Zhang said, her eyes reddened.

Zhu Youtang hurriedly coaxed him a few words, then sighed, "Zhao'er is still just a child after all, we shouldn't bother with him.

Of course, he did something wrong, and I will teach him a lesson when I get back."

"Your Majesty, is this a lesson for the Crown Prince, or just a gentle pinch on the face?" Empress Zhang did not hide her questioning look.

"Ahem." Zhu Youtang was a little embarrassed. He wanted to say something harsh and teach the prince a lesson, but he couldn't say it.

Because he can't do it.

Empress Zhang was disappointed again, but she calmed down and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, I know you love Zhao'er, and I love Zhao'er too.

Just as Your Majesty said, we only have this one son now.

But if you love your son, you can’t spoil him too much, otherwise it will do more harm than good.”

Zhu Youtang was silent.

"Your Majesty, it's time to find some teachers for the Crown Prince and give him a good lesson," Empress Zhang advised again.

"I will think about it carefully." Zhu Youtang said hesitantly.

Empress Zhang wanted to say something, but Zhu Youtang said, "I am tired too. Let's rest first."

Empress Zhang felt powerless and angry.

When it comes to the prince's affairs, His Majesty seems to have become a different person, and even she is helpless.

It's simply a pampering without any bottom line, it's really too much.

Child, child, how can there be such a hateful child?
Another early morning, Zhu Houzhao got up in high spirits. After breakfast, he continued to practice martial arts with unabated interest.

In less than a cup of tea, after practicing the thirteen Tai Chi moves, Zhu Houzhao immediately went to look at his talent.

Tai Chi Thirteen Postures (Beginner: 2/200)

He nodded with satisfaction and continued practicing.

After practicing until noon and finishing lunch, Zhu Houzhao seemed to have thought of something. With a determined look on his face, he asked Liu Jin and others to bring the meridian map and memorized it as if he was fighting a battle.

Liu Jin and the other two were all extremely surprised.

The prince really loves martial arts!

Fast forward four days later.

"Hehehe, this prince has already grown up. Isn't that powerful?" Zhu Houzhao said with his hands on his hips and smiled.

"Awesome, awesome, the prince is so awesome!" Liu Jin and the other two praised.

More than six days passed.

"Why do I feel that His Highness's cultivation is getting faster and faster!" Cao Zhengchun said in surprise.

"It's not a feeling, it's a fact. The Thirteen Forms of Tai Chi are easy to learn but difficult to master. But for Your Highness, the more you practice, the easier it becomes.

This talent is truly astonishing." Liu Jin said solemnly.

“In a few days, Your Highness will be fully accomplished. Once you have mastered the skill and your inner strength is generated, you should choose a formal method.

I will report this to His Majesty." Cao Youxiang said in a serious tone.

"Yes." Liu Jin and Cao Zhengchun nodded in agreement.

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　Thanks to Chenshi Wanderer for the reward of 500 Qidian coins, thank you.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)