My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Chapter 294 His Highness the Crown Prince truly has the support of the people!

After lunch, Zhu Cilang had nothing to do, so he wondered if he should go out for a stroll and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Xuanfu again.

After all, they were about to return to the capital, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, they probably wouldn't have another chance to come to Xuanfu.

Before he could make a decision, he saw Qiqige walking over.

Upon seeing Qiqige, Zhu Cilang suddenly thought of something, then smiled and asked:

"Qiqige, I will be returning to the capital in three days. Would you like to stay on the grasslands or come back to the capital with me?"

Upon hearing this, Qiqige replied almost without hesitation, without even thinking:

"I'll go back to Beijing with you."

Zhu Cilang, somewhat curious, then asked:

"The matter in Mongolia should be mostly resolved now, and you have received all the food you requested. With this food, your tribe should be able to survive the winter without any problems, so you no longer need to be a hostage. Why do you still want to go back with me?"

Upon hearing this, Qiqige's expression changed slightly, and she was speechless.

To be honest, life in Beijing was much more comfortable than on the grasslands.

Because she no longer had to endure the harsh climate and difficult living conditions on the grasslands, and no one in the capital treated her as a hostage; instead, they treated her as a distinguished guest.

She could enter and leave the Eastern Palace whenever she wanted; no one stopped her, and she was free to do whatever she wanted.

But to be honest, as a girl who grew up on the grasslands, Qiqige still felt that life in Beijing was too oppressive.

So she still longed to return to the grasslands, because there were the familiar blue skies and white clouds, her beloved horses, and her carefree life.

However, when she went to discuss this matter with Abunai, Abunai still insisted that she not return to the grasslands and instead follow Zhu Cilang back to the capital.

Abunai felt that only by keeping her by Zhu Cilang's side could the safety and interests of the tribe be ensured.

After all, Zhu Cilang was the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, with extremely high status and power. As long as Qiqige was by his side, the tribe would have a layer of protection.

Qiqige had no choice but to agree in the end.

Thinking of this, Qiqige could only bite the bullet and say:

"I like staying in the capital, is that alright?"

After saying that, she turned and left angrily.

That expression seemed to convey his inner dissatisfaction and helplessness.

Zhu Cilang saw this scene, but just smiled and shook his head, not paying much attention to it.

He actually knew why Qiqige did this; it was simply because of Abunai's orders.

But he didn't care. After all, Qiqige was just a hostage, and it didn't matter where she was.

As long as it doesn't affect the overall situation of the imperial court, Qiqige's fate is not an important matter.

Time flies by, and in the blink of an eye, three days have passed.

It was finally time to leave Xuanfu.

On this day, the sky was exceptionally clear, and the gentle sunlight shone down, warming the earth and as if draping everything in the world in a golden glow.

Zhu Cilang sat upright on Chongzhen's dragon carriage, surrounded by countless soldiers of the Ming Dynasty.

Once everyone was ready, they slowly made their way towards the outside of Xuanfu.

Along both sides of the road, there were foreign merchants who came to watch, as well as people from Xuanfu who came to see them off.

At this moment, these people were filled with reluctance and excitement, their eyes brimming with gratitude.

This was because, in consideration of this great victory, Zhu Cilang ordered the exemption of customs duties in Xuanfu for three months, which was undoubtedly a great thing for these merchants and people.

Behind the procession came a group of civil and military officials from Xuanfu who were seeing them off. They followed the procession slowly, their eyes filled with emotion.

During the month or so that Zhu Cilang stayed in Xuanfu, his various decisions and actions left a deep impression on everyone.

They increasingly felt that this Crown Prince was no ordinary person.

No matter how difficult the situation, once it falls into his hands, it seems as if a magical spell has been cast upon him, and he can always solve it with ease.

This makes one feel genuine admiration.

They secretly thought that if this Crown Prince were to ascend the throne in the future, the Ming Dynasty would surely usher in an unprecedented period of prosperity, perhaps even regaining its former glory and becoming a peaceful and prosperous world where the people could live and work in peace.

Only after the procession had completely disappeared from everyone's sight did the civil and military officials of Xuanfu leave.

The journey from Xuanfu back to the capital was generally safe and smooth.

However, fate always seems to like to give people some unexpected little episodes. Just when the journey was halfway through, white snowflakes suddenly began to fall from the sky. The snowflakes fluttered down, like light butterflies dancing in the air.

The light snow came somewhat suddenly, instantly covering the ground with a thin white blanket and making the roads a little slippery, slightly hindering their journey.

Fortunately, the light snow didn't last long and soon stopped.

About five days later, Zhu Cilang finally arrived near the capital.

In the distance, the magnificent city came into view.

The towering city walls, like a giant dragon, meander across the land, guarding this ancient capital.

The flags fluttering atop the city gate waved gently in the breeze, as if welcoming Zhu Cilang's return.

Seeing this, Zhu Cilang breathed a sigh of relief, a feeling of indescribable joy welling up in his heart.

Finally, he's back!

And they returned in triumph!

Just then, a surprised exclamation suddenly came from inside the dragon carriage, and the next second, Zheng Xiaomei said with a look of delight:

"Your Highness, look! The capital city seems to have changed a bit."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang felt a surge of curiosity and slowly lifted the carriage curtain.

As one could see, the capital city seemed to have truly changed at this moment.

The most noticeable change is the road ahead. The bumpy, dusty road that used to be is gone, replaced by a solid cement road.

The cement road was flat and wide, and walking on it felt very stable, as if it could bring people a sense of security.

Keep in mind that they had not yet reached the capital, but were still several miles away from it, yet this road had been built all the way to them.

Moreover, this cement road is not simply paved with cement; various markings have been painted on it with paint.

Arrows indicate directions, lines delineate lanes and sidewalks, and special patterns remind pedestrians to be careful.

Zhu Cilang smiled upon seeing this, a smile tinged with pride and satisfaction.

Because these were all drawn according to his wishes.

As a time traveler, Zhu Cilang was well aware of the importance of warning signs on cement roads for traffic management in later generations, so he directly brought these ideas to the Ming Dynasty.

The artisans in the Ministry of Works were very helpful and quickly carried out his orders.

Looking at the cement road under my feet, I really felt like I had returned to modern society.

Thinking of this, Zhu Cilang smiled knowingly, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Because he knew that if even the roads outside the city could be repaired so well, then the roads inside the city must have been repaired as well.

Although he had not yet entered the capital, Zhu Cilang seemed to already see the city's completely transformed appearance.

Meanwhile, at the gate of Anding City, a group of civil and military officials had been waiting for a long time.

After all, it was the Crown Prince's triumphant return to the capital; how could the people in the capital not know about such a momentous event?

They received a report from Xuanfu five days ago, informing them that Zhu Cilang was about to return to the capital, and began making preparations in earnest.

Emperor Chongzhen was overjoyed upon hearing the news and wanted to come and greet him personally.

After all, Zhu Cilang's personal expedition this time not only resulted in a great victory but also expanded the territory, which was a great honor for him as a father and a way to vent his anger.

However, in the end, Emperor Chongzhen abandoned his idea of ​​personally going out of the city to welcome them.

There was no other way, because Zhu Cilang was the son and he was the father, and also the emperor. In the traditional social order and etiquette, how could a father personally go out of the city to welcome his son?
Wouldn't this create chaos?
Therefore, Chongzhen eventually obediently waited in the palace.

In addition, upon learning of Zhu Cilang's return to the capital, the entire Imperial Guard and the Five City Garrison in the capital began to get busy.

After all, the assassination attempt on Emperor Chongzhen's return from his military campaign was a deeply memorable event, and the harrowing scene remains vivid in everyone's memory. Everyone fears that such a thing might happen again.

Therefore, during this period, the control in the capital was extremely strict, with guards every five steps and sentries every ten steps.

The Imperial Guards, dressed in flying fish robes and with embroidered spring knives at their waists, patrolled the streets constantly, their sharp eyes observing everything around them.

Soldiers from the Five Cities Garrison set up checkpoints at various intersections to conduct strict inspections of passing pedestrians and vehicles, ensuring that no suspicious persons could sneak in.

In short, the capital is now peaceful and tranquil, and everyone is preparing to welcome Zhu Cilang's return.

When Zhu Cilang's carriage appeared before the crowd, the civil officials led by Xue Guoguan and the military generals led by the Duke of Ying hurriedly paid their respects.

They knelt on the ground in unison and shouted in unison:

"Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome Your Highness the Crown Prince back to the capital in triumph!"

Immediately afterwards, the dragon carriage carrying Zhu Cilang slowly came to a stop, and then Zhu Cilang slowly stepped down.

Seeing everyone, Zhu Cilang said gently:
"Please rise, everyone. This great victory is not due to my own efforts, but to the efforts of all the generals. Without their valiant fighting and bloody battles on the front lines, how could we have achieved such a great victory?"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately stood up and echoed with smiles:
"Your Highness, please do not be modest. Without Your Highness's skillful command and strategic planning, how could the army have achieved such a great victory? Your Highness is the key to this victory!"

Zhu Cilang just smiled when he heard this and said nothing more.

Afterwards, Zhu Cilang exchanged pleasantries with everyone and inquired about the recent situation in the capital.

The officials reported to him on the situation in the capital, including improvements in people's livelihoods and economic development. Zhu Cilang listened attentively, nodding occasionally, feeling very pleased with the changes in the capital.

A moment later, Zhu Cilang sat back in the imperial carriage, which then went directly into the capital.

As for the troops behind them, they all returned to their camps, with only the Tengxiang Five Guards, who were originally stationed in the city, following them into the city.

As soon as they entered the capital, they were greeted by a deafening cheer.

The cheers came in waves, one after another, and were clearly the cheers of the onlookers on both sides.

The people of the capital had learned of Zhu Cilang's return to the city well in advance, and so they flocked to both sides of the street, eager to catch a glimpse of him.

After all, they had finally achieved another great victory, so the Da Ming Daily had been promoting it everywhere recently.

Upon hearing this news, the people of Beijing were already overjoyed.

Although the victory had little to do with them, the Ming Dynasty had been feeling frustrated for far too long.

During the more than ten years that Chongzhen reigned as emperor, news of defeats came every year, casting a pall of gloom over the court and leaving the people living in fear and unease, lest the Ming Dynasty one day be gone.

But now, in less than a year, the Ming Dynasty has undergone earth-shaking changes and has won several great victories. How could they not be happy?

Besides, the capital city has completely changed now.

All the roads in the city were covered with cement, making them incredibly wide.

The roads used to be bumpy and muddy, making them very difficult to walk on when it rained or snowed. Pedestrians would easily slip and fall, and vehicles also had great difficulty driving on them.

But now the roads are all paved with cement, so we don't have to worry about rain or snow anymore.

Those smooth cement roads, like veins, run through every corner of the capital, connecting the entire city more closely.

In short, in the eyes of these people, the Ming Dynasty is getting better and better, and naturally, their lives are also getting better and better.

Putting everything else aside, in the past, every winter, there was never enough firewood at home, and charcoal was ridiculously expensive. They didn't have the money to buy it, so sometimes they couldn't even get a hot meal.

Sometimes the family could only sit shivering in the cold house, hoping that winter would pass quickly.

However, with the widespread use of honeycomb briquettes, the situation has changed dramatically.

Honeycomb briquettes are affordable, burn for a long time, and provide excellent heating.

Even the most ordinary families can now enjoy three hot meals a day.

Moreover, using honeycomb briquettes for heating is very cost-effective, costing only a dozen or so coins per day, ensuring that no one in any household will freeze to death in winter.

Children can play in warm houses, and the elderly no longer have to suffer from the cold. How could they not be happy?

With the deliberate propaganda of the Da Ming Daily, many people knew that most of these decisions came from this young crown prince.

That's why they were so excited, filled with gratitude and admiration for Zhu Cilang.

As the people cheered, Zhu Cilang sat in his imperial carriage, a smile unconsciously appearing on his face.

At the same time, I was filled with emotion, feeling that my journey had not been in vain.

According to the original history, an unprecedented plague was to occur in the capital that year, a terrible disaster that killed or injured no fewer than 100,000 people.

The entire capital city will be shrouded in the shadow of death, and the people will live in fear and despair, with countless families being torn apart.

However, because of his time travel, he took precautions against the plague early on, organized people to clean up the environment, and strengthened epidemic prevention measures, which resulted in no plague outbreak in the capital.

Those people who should have died in history were now standing alive before him, their faces beaming with happiness as they enjoyed the beauty of life.

For a time traveler, isn't this the greatest achievement?
At the same time, the cabinet ministers who were closely following the imperial carriage were all filled with a deep sense of emotion.

Xue Guoguan stroked his snow-white beard and slowly began to speak:
"His Highness the Crown Prince truly has the support of the people! In my opinion, if His Highness the Crown Prince can successfully ascend the throne in the future, he will surely be comparable to Yao and Shun, and the Ming Dynasty will surely usher in a period of prosperity and regain its former glory."

The other ministers standing nearby nodded subconsciously upon hearing this, their eyes filled with agreement.

Someone echoed:
"What Grand Secretary Xue said is absolutely right. His Highness the Crown Prince is kind-hearted and exceptionally intelligent. He will surely become a wise and virtuous ruler in the future."

His words were full of praise and expectations for Zhu Cilang.

In fact, under normal circumstances, it would be extremely bold and risky to openly discuss matters after the crown prince's ascension to the throne.

After all, everyone knows very well that although the emperor and the crown prince are father and son by blood, politically they are more often political enemies.

Openly discussing the succession of the crown prince is undoubtedly a veiled criticism that the emperor is unpopular with the people. For the supreme imperial power, this is an extremely sensitive and dangerous matter. A slight misstep could lead to death.

But clearly, the current emperor and crown prince are an exception.

Not long ago, Emperor Chongzhen had specifically summoned several ministers of the cabinet.

Then he subtly revealed his desire to abdicate and pass the throne to the crown prince.

When they heard the news, the cabinet ministers were stunned, their eyes wide as if struck by a bolt from the blue. They stood there dumbfounded, completely terrified.

Their hearts were filled with doubt and unease; they couldn't understand what Chongzhen meant by this.

Was it a test?

Or is there really already such a plan?
But in either case, they dared not answer the question directly.

Therefore, the ministers could only answer tremblingly:
"Your Majesty is currently in the prime of your life, the time to make great strides for the court and the country. How could you possibly have such thoughts?"

That makes a lot of sense.

After all, at this time, Emperor Chongzhen was only thirty years old.

This age is considered the golden age of life for later generations, even in ancient times!

That's why they were so shocked and puzzled when they heard the news that Emperor Chongzhen wanted to abdicate.

They were well aware that Zhu Cilang was indeed exceptionally intelligent, possessing wisdom and courage beyond that of ordinary people, making him the best candidate to become emperor.

Even so, it shouldn't have led Chongzhen to suddenly decide to abdicate and pass the throne to the crown prince.

Keep in mind, the Crown Prince is only fourteen years old!

For an adult emperor to suddenly pass the throne to an underage crown prince without any reason is almost illogical in any dynasty or era; it is simply unheard of.

Seeing the shocked and bewildered reactions of the cabinet ministers, Chongzhen did not continue to discuss the topic further.

Because he was just testing everyone's reaction.

But now it seems that this is not very realistic.

After all, these officials didn't know that Zhu Cilang was the reincarnation of the True Martial Emperor, so their worries were perfectly normal.

But in any case, through this test, the cabinet ministers have already learned one thing.

That means that Emperor Chongzhen seemed to genuinely intend to pass the throne to Zhu Cilang.

It's estimated that once Zhu Cilang comes of age, this matter can be put on the agenda.

This is neither good news nor bad news for these cabinet ministers.

After all, these people have served in the court for many years and have weathered many storms. Some of them will probably retire in two or three years. When that time comes, no matter who becomes emperor, it will just be a change of master for them to continue to serve loyally.

Before long, the imperial carriage finally arrived slowly at the palace gate.

Seeing this, the ministers dispersed.

After all, they had already brought Zhu Cilang here; they couldn't just take him directly to the palace in the imperial carriage, could they?
Then, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the imperial carriage drove directly into the palace.

After all, Zhu Cilang had just returned to the capital, and according to court etiquette and rules, he should first pay his respects to Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Zhou.

Meanwhile, Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Zhou in the palace had already received the news.

Therefore, they waited anxiously and expectantly in the palace early in the morning, their hearts filled with longing and concern for Zhu Cilang.

When she heard the news that the imperial carriage had arrived in the capital, Empress Zhou couldn't help but stand up and pace back and forth in the palace, her eyes filled with anxiety and anticipation.

Soon, a commotion broke out outside, and then Wang Chengen rushed in.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived!"

Empress Zhou was thrilled to hear this and was just about to go out to see Zhu Cilang when she saw a figure suddenly walk in.

Who else could it be but Zhu Cilang?
Upon seeing Empress Zhou and Emperor Chongzhen, Zhu Cilang hurriedly and respectfully kowtowed, then said:

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty and Your Majesty."

The next moment, Empress Zhou could no longer contain her excitement and hurriedly stepped forward to greet her.

Her eyes glistened with tears, and she held Zhu Cilang's hands tightly, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke:
"Get up quickly, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. Your mother has missed you terribly these past few days and has been hoping for your safe return day and night."

As Empress Zhou spoke, she couldn't help but gently wipe away her tears with her hand.

She felt that her son had worked too hard.

She tirelessly worked for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, even more so than her emperor husband.

(End of this chapter)