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

Moreover, it must be said that Zheng Xiaomei's figure is becoming more and more mature and charming. She is wearing a light pink palace dress, and the delicate silk clings to her figure, outlining her graceful curves.

Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, with a few stray strands casually falling beside her cheeks, adding a touch of languid charm. Her eyes had lost some of the girlish naiveté and gained more gentleness and allure, like peach blossoms blooming in spring, carrying a hint of sweetness. Seeing this, Zhu Cilang couldn't help but feel a ripple in his heart, and he felt a little itchy and restless.

Even Qiqige, standing to the side, seemed to have "grown up" a lot in this short period of time. Her already tall figure was now even more slender, and her steps were light and elegant, like a lively deer on the grassland.

However, this was not a good time for romance. Zhu Cilang simply nodded to them and then quickly walked up to Empress Zhou.

"My son, please see your mother!"

The next second, Zhu Cilang bowed deeply to Empress Zhou, his forehead hitting the ground heavily with a crisp sound.

After all, it's easy to imagine that during his absence, Empress Zhou must have been living in constant fear and anxiety.

Looking at her son whom she hadn't seen for so long, Empress Zhou felt tears welling up in her eyes in an instant. Her eyes were slightly red, and tears were swirling in her eyes, as if they might fall at any moment.

But she quickly recovered, gently wiping away her tears with a handkerchief. Then she reached out and helped Zhu Cilang up, saying softly:

"Get up quickly, get up quickly! The ground is cold. I'm relieved to see you're alright!"

At this moment, her voice trembled slightly, and every word was filled with love and tenderness for Zhu Cilang.

Zhu Cilang then slowly stood up, and immediately noticed that behind everyone, an older woman was carrying a beautiful little girl and slowly walking over.

The little girl looked to be only two or three months old, with a pink and tender face, like a freshly peeled egg, delicate and flawless.

That tiny nose,

Her lips were slightly upturned, making her look very cute; her cherry-like little mouth would smack from time to time, as if she were savoring some delicious taste.

As for why Zhu Cilang could recognize her as a girl at a glance, it was because of her clothing. It was clearly the attire of a princess, with its exquisite patterns and gorgeous accessories, all of which highlighted her noble status.

Seeing this, Zhu Cilang understood immediately; it was obvious that Empress Zhou had given birth to a princess.

However, Zhu Cilang didn't care whether Empress Zhou gave birth to a boy or a girl. He only knew that he had gained another brother or sister, and his heart was filled with joy.

Then he said with a smile:

"This is my little sister. Let me see her quickly."

The nanny smiled and carefully handed the little princess to Zhu Cilang.

Then Zhu Cilang finally met this little sister who did not exist in history for the first time. He carefully reached out and gently stroked the little princess's soft little face, his heart full of tenderness.

Well, his happiness at this moment was genuine; the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up, and his eyes were full of joy.

After all, strictly speaking, she was born because of his time travel.

Just then, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly spoke up:
"Because she was just born when the good news from Hanzhong arrived, your mother and I discussed it and decided that her nickname would be Shuangxi, meaning double happiness."

Upon hearing the words "Double Happiness," Zhu Cilang was speechless, because he immediately thought of the name of a certain cigarette brand from later generations, which he found quite amusing.

But the next second, Chongzhen suddenly spoke again:
"Her formal name has been decided, it will be Xi Yue."

Xi Yue?

Zhu Cilang was speechless again, because the name still sounded like "double happiness".

It seems that Emperor Chongzhen still wanted to give the child a name that meant "double happiness".

However, he could understand Chongzhen's feelings. After all, the peasant army had always been a force that threatened the foundation of the Ming Dynasty, but now it had been completely eliminated, so it was only natural that Chongzhen was happy.

When Empress Zhou heard this, she shook her head with a wry smile.

She originally thought that after naming the child "Double Happiness," Emperor Chongzhen would give the child a proper name. However, she didn't expect that in the end, he would give her a name that meant "Double Happiness Arrives at the Door." Fortunately, it wasn't "Double Happiness," so she reluctantly accepted it.

Then Zhu Cilang said with a smile:

"Xi Yue, Xi Yue, what a joyous name. It seems Father Emperor put a lot of effort into it."

Upon hearing this, Chongzhen was naturally delighted and laughed triumphantly, his smile filled with pride, as if he had accomplished something truly great.

After a moment of joy, everyone arrived at the banquet that had been prepared in advance.

The banquet was filled with all kinds of delicious dishes, and the aroma was so enticing that it made one's mouth water.

The palace maids, dressed in neat attire, moved between the dining tables, pouring wine and serving dishes to everyone.

After all, it's not easy to win a battle, so we always need to have a welcome-back party.

The meal lasted for several hours. Zhu Cilang savored the delicious food while talking about the joy of the victory, which made everyone sigh with admiration.

After a hearty meal, Zhu Cilang bid farewell to Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Zhou, and then returned to the Eastern Palace with Zheng Xiaomei and Qiqige.

However, Qiqige was quite perceptive at this moment. She rode a tall, fine horse to the side, while Zhu Cilang and Zheng Xiaomei sat in the carriage. The carriage was decorated very warmly, with soft cushions underfoot and an exquisite small table next to it, on which some fruits and snacks were placed.

Inside the carriage, Zhu Cilang gently held Zheng Xiaomei's hand. Her hands were delicate and soft, which made him feel a pang of tenderness.

Zheng Xiaomei nestled in Zhu Cilang's arms, enjoying this rare moment of peace.

A moment later, Zheng Xiaomei looked up at Zhu Cilang with gentle eyes and said softly:

"Your Highness has been away for so long, you've lost weight, but you've also grown taller."

That's true. Zhu Cilang's height has increased by leaps and bounds recently. He is now 1.75 meters tall, a full head taller than Zheng Xiaomei.

That's normal, though, since he's going through puberty and this isn't his final height yet; he might grow to 1.89 meters.

Zhu Cilang then jokingly said with a smile:
"You're not bad either, you've become more mature."

Hearing this, Zheng Xiaomei gave Zhu Cilang a reproachful look, but her gaze became even more alluring, like a deep lake that made one unable to resist being captivated. Zhu Cilang almost lost control; he felt a surge of heat in his heart, and his breathing became rapid.

However, Zhu Cilang was not yet driven by lust, because he knew that his body was not yet fully developed, so he did not intend to do anything.

Just then, Zhu Cilang suddenly remembered something, and gently opened the curtain, looking at Qiqige riding outside and asking:
"By the way, when I passed through Shaanxi and Henan, I noticed that potatoes and sweet potatoes were already being grown in many places. I wonder how it is in Mongolia?"

Upon hearing this, Qiqige smiled brightly and then said to Zhu Cilang:

"Speaking of which, I have to thank you. Some time ago, your Ministry of Revenue sent some people to Mongolia to investigate and help us find some suitable places to grow potatoes and sweet potatoes. According to the news that came from there in the past month, the growth of these two crops is quite good, and I estimate that we can harvest a lot of grain this year."

Zhu Cilang smiled and nodded upon hearing this, seeing it as a win-win situation. The reason was simple: once the Mongols learned to farm, they wouldn't be able to escape. Even if they did rebel, they could simply find their fields and attack directly.

After all, having a fixed piece of land and crops gives them something to hold onto, making them less likely to leave.

Of course, the Mongols weren't stupid; they certainly knew this too. But what good did knowing it do? After all, compared to such risks, having enough to eat was the most important thing.

In an era of relative scarcity, having a stable source of food was undoubtedly a great blessing for the Mongols.

Moreover, there aren't many places in Mongolia suitable for growing potatoes and sweet potatoes. Even if all of them were grown, it would only be enough to feed a small portion of the population, so it wouldn't affect the overall situation.

But no matter what, Qiqige is still very grateful to Zhu Cilang deep down.

Upon returning to the East Palace, the eunuchs and palace maids were already waiting at the entrance.

Upon seeing Zhu Cilang arrive, the group quickly knelt down and shouted in unison:

"Greetings, Your Highness! Long live the Crown Prince!"

"Greetings, Your Highness! Long live the Crown Prince!"

For a time, the sounds of flattery from the crowd were endless, echoing in the air above the East Palace and lingering for a long time.

Zhu Cilang smiled as he looked at the crowd before him, then waved his hand and said:

"Rise, all of you. I am in a good mood today, and everyone will be rewarded!"

Upon hearing this, everyone expressed their gratitude once again. After not seeing each other for more than ten months, the prince bestowed gifts upon their first meeting, proving he was truly a good master.

That night, Zhu Cilang stayed with Zheng Xiaomei as usual, but he really didn't do anything; he just took advantage of every opportunity he could.

Then he prepared to rest early, because he had to go to court the next morning.

He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, recalling the day's events, and gradually drifted off to sleep.

The next morning was not originally the time for court, since court had just been held the day before. However, given the magnitude of the event, an additional court session was definitely necessary.

So, the next morning, the ministers got up very early as usual and hurriedly went to the palace to prepare for court.

Zhu Cilang arrived as promised, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe and wearing a crown, walking into the palace with steady and confident steps.

Even Emperor Chongzhen rarely attended court. He sat on the dragon throne, his eyes revealing a sense of majesty and excitement.

After all, such a big thing has happened, and he can't avoid it even if he wants to. Besides, Chongzhen doesn't want to avoid it either, because he knows without a doubt that when he comes to court today, he will be met with congratulations from civil and military officials. How could Chongzhen miss such an opportunity?

He still harbored some expectation for praise and flattery from the ministers.

After the civil and military officials shouted "Long live the Emperor!", Chongzhen immediately smiled and said:

"My beloved ministers, the Crown Prince recently led an expedition and decisively defeated the peasant army, completely resolving a problem that had plagued our Great Ming Dynasty for over a decade. Now, our Great Ming is free from internal strife, a truly joyous occasion! I am deeply gratified, truly gratified!"

For a moment, his voice was loud and passionate, echoing throughout the palace.

Upon hearing this, the crowd, who had just stood up, had no choice but to kneel down again, shouting:
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince! May the Ming Dynasty live on forever!"

The sound was deafening, as if it would blow the roof off the palace.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen naturally couldn't stop smiling. His face was beaming with pride, and his eyes were almost squinting into slits.

But then Chongzhen suddenly remembered something and waved his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

After everyone quieted down, Chongzhen continued:
"Although the peasant army has been completely eradicated, this incident has also served as a warning to us that we must treat the people well. Otherwise, in a few years or a decade or so, another Zhang Zicheng or Wang Zicheng will emerge. In addition, in the future, whenever a place is hit by a natural disaster, officials must report it in a timely manner and must not conceal anything."

Upon hearing this, Grand Secretary Xue Guoguan immediately stood up and said:
"Your Majesty, rest assured, we will always keep this in mind and will never repeat the same mistake."

His voice was firm and powerful, and his eyes revealed loyalty and responsibility. The other ministers around him also stood up, all vouching for him.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, we will keep this matter in mind and dare not be negligent in the slightest."

They spoke with great conviction, as if they were already prepared to bring benefits to the people.

As for how much of it is true and how much is false, only they themselves know.

However, not long after, Chongzhen's face suddenly darkened, and his previously smiling face instantly became serious and cold.

He then gave Wang Chengen a wink, and Wang Chengen immediately understood, then shouted:

"Summon Zhang Xianzhong to an audience!"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze toward the palace entrance.

Although Zhang Xianzhong was not as famous as Li Zicheng, he was still one of the important figures who threw the Ming Dynasty into chaos. Therefore, all the civil and military officials were curious about what this person looked like and how he could have such great abilities.
Filled with doubt, they craned their necks, eager to catch a glimpse of Zhang Xianzhong's true face.

Before long, a figure appeared at the palace gate. Who else could it be but Zhang Xianzhong?

At this moment, Zhang Xianzhong was dressed in tattered clothes, his hair was disheveled and draped over his shoulders, and his face showed a hint of fatigue and panic. Then, he slowly walked into the palace with heavy steps.

At first glance, one might mistake him for a beggar from somewhere! (End of Chapter)