Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 314 Suspecting Each Son Equally

"Mom..."

"What's the noise outside?"

The eldest prince, Zhu Zaiji, opened his eyes. He was not surprised that Consort Yan was guarding him, but he was puzzled by the noise outside.

He was frail from a young age, and his mother stayed by his bedside for countless days and nights. Later, as he grew older, his health was finally restored, and he grew to be quite tall and strong.

However, Consort Yan had already formed a habit. Whenever Jiajing was not in the palace to serve him, she would often come to her son's bedside at night to keep watch and quietly watch him sleep.

Tonight is no different.

Gently stroking her son's square and composed face, Consort Yan said softly, "It's probably another fire somewhere in the palace. Anyway, it's not here, someone will be there to put it out. There's no need to worry about it!"

As she spoke, she tucked her son's quilt up a little more: "My dear son! You have to get up early tomorrow to study in the study!"

"Well!"

Zhu Zaiji felt somewhat relieved, yet also somewhat resistant. He nodded and closed his eyes.

He didn't know how long he had slept, but he had another nightmare where he was being scolded by his teacher in the Imperial Study for being too stupid. The prince suddenly woke up with a start.

Consort Yan is no longer by the bedside.

Not only her mother, but also the nannies and maids who usually served her were nowhere to be found.

Zhu Zaiji walked towards the outer room, looking around blankly.

"Grandma? Aunt Liu? Zhenxia? Caiwei?"

The sound echoed in the hall, but no one answered.

The lights that usually stay on all night are all out, and only moonlight shines through the window lattice, casting spiderweb-like shadows on the ground.

"Ho...ho..."

Just as he was looking for someone, he suddenly heard heavy breathing not far behind him. Zhu Zaiji turned around sharply and saw a figure sitting in the darkness, staring at him eerily.

Zhu Zaiji was so frightened he almost fell over. He was about to shout when he suddenly recognized the man's silhouette. He then stopped screaming and said in a trembling voice, "Father...Father Emperor?"

Half of a pale face slowly emerged from the shadows.

Zhu Zaiji was startled and suddenly knelt down: "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"

He was already terrified of his father, and most of the people around him flattered him. The tutor in the Imperial Study devoted himself to teaching him, and even though his younger brothers secretly laughed at his stupidity, they still had to be respectful to him on the surface.

This father, however, was the strictest of all. Whenever he made him recite scriptures, he would scold him with a stern face if he made even the slightest mistake. Sometimes, the look he gave him was even more icy.

Children are extremely sensitive to such feelings, which is why Zhu Zaiji was never close to his father, the emperor. Upon seeing him now, he felt even more like a stranger.

Zhu Houcong looked at his son and sensed the distance between them. He said coldly, "Are you this distant from your mother too?"

Zhu Zaiji was stunned.

"Father... Father... Ah!"

Zhu Houcong grew angrier the more he thought about it.

"Father Emperor" is a very formal title, and it only came into use during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

According to the History of Ming, when a prince was granted the title of king, he would refer to himself as "the so-and-so prince" before the emperor, and address the emperor as "Your Majesty the Emperor." This was not the case in the Tang and Song dynasties.

Of course, apart from the formal titles used in the imperial court, even the imperial family members were addressed as family members in the palace.

Just like how Zhu Houcong called Empress Dowager Jiang, he never addressed her as "Mother Empress Dowager," but always directly called her "Mother."

Now this son calls him "Father Emperor" but isn't close to him at all!

Regardless of why his son wasn't close to him, Zhu Houcong began his interrogation: "What did your mother say to you tonight?"

"Mother... Mother is urging me to study... She wants me to go to the study tomorrow and listen carefully to the teacher's lecture..."

Zhu Zaiji grew increasingly frightened and stammered as he recounted in detail what Consort Yan had told him that night.

Zhu Houcong stared intently at his son, then continued, "And yesterday?"

What about the day before yesterday?

Three days ago?

……

"Your subject... Your subject doesn't remember!"

Zhu Zaiji's voice was already trembling with tears: "Mother...where is Mother?"

From Consort Yan to all the maids, servants, and eunuchs in Zhaoyang Palace, everyone was brought under control.

Zhu Houcong led his troops to the scene and arrested the man with lightning speed.

They didn't even gasp in surprise.

The purpose was to isolate the inside from the outside world, so as not to give the traitors the opportunity to collude after their plot failed.

Having personally interrogated his eldest son, Zhu Houcong was basically convinced that the other party was unaware of the situation.

But this realization did not bring relief; it still weighed heavily on my heart like a giant boulder.

Even if you are not interested now, some people already see you as a future wise ruler!

The emperor rubbed his temples wearily: "They're so eager to force me to abdicate, they're even willing to commit patricide!"

Zhu Zaiji didn't understand at all. He looked around blankly, tears welling up in his eyes, wanting only to find his mother's figure.

"Why would you need to assassinate me and take my life?"

Zhu Houcong muttered to himself, then suddenly exclaimed, "Tell me, and I will abdicate!"

"For twenty years, Emperor Wuzong has diligently governed, conquering north and south, bringing peace to all. It was not a mistake for him to entrust this great empire to me. I will have no regrets when I meet my ancestors in the future!" "But I am tired. It would be good for me to pass the throne to you and live as an emperor emeritus in the palace, enjoying a peaceful and comfortable life!"

"If you can't tolerate me in the future, then send me to a Taoist temple or Buddhist monastery. Just leave this old man some peace..."

Zhu Zaiji finally understood, and was utterly terrified: "Your subject is foolish... lacking in virtue and talent, I dare not... dare not..."

He racked his brains, trying to recall what he had learned, but he couldn't come up with a single complete excuse.

"Not at all like me!"

Zhu Houcong leaned forward, his eyes filled with disgust: "If you grow two more years older, you'll be the age I was when I entered the Forbidden City alone. At your age, wouldn't you be devoured alive by those old foxes? Where is the slightest bit of the demeanor of a ruler?"

As he approached, the wound on the other half of his face was immediately exposed.

Zhu Zaiji was so frightened by this demeanor of a ruler that he felt as if he had seen a vengeful ghost and burst into tears.

Zhu Houcong was so angry that he stood up abruptly, said no more, and strode outside.

Only the eldest son's wailing echoed behind him for a long time.

at the same time.

Outside Zhaoyang Palace, a group of people were kneeling.

When Zhu Houcong had just arrested Consort Yan and wanted to personally meet the Crown Prince, Zhang Zuo, Gao Zhong, and other guards disagreed.

Unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done to stop him. He could only watch helplessly as the man disappeared into the palace. He dared not approach to eavesdrop and could only wait anxiously outside.

Upon seeing the emperor slowly emerge, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhu Houcong immediately spotted the dignified and elegant Consort Wang, with his second son, Zhu Zaiyi, kneeling beside her.

When Consort Wang saw the bandit leader quietly hanged in her own Gyeongbokgung Palace, her blood ran cold.

But later, when she gave a large sum of money to the guards she had taken care of, and learned that the thieves had revealed that the eldest prince was benevolent and could be a wise ruler, Consort Wang was immediately relieved.

This is clearly a clumsy scheme by assassins from Zhaoyang Palace to frame someone after their assassination attempt failed!
With Your Majesty's discerning eyes, it's impossible for you to believe it.

She suppressed her overwhelming joy and hurriedly brought her son, Zhu Zaiyi, to pay her respects.

Seeing the tragic state of Zhaoyang Palace now, he secretly felt that coming here was the right decision.

However, Zhu Houcong walked up to her, suddenly bent down, and a faint smell of blood wafted over her. His thin lips almost touched her earlobe, and his usually familiar tone sounded as strange as the roar of a poisonous dragon: "My beloved concubine is very happy?"

Consort Wang was stunned.

Before she could react, Zhu Houcong's hand had already reached out and landed on the head of his second son, Zhu Zaiyi, who was kneeling beside him.

Zhu Zai Rui's behavior in the face of his father was no better than that of his older brother Zhu Zai Ji.

Instinctively shrinking back, yet remembering her mother's usual admonitions, she froze motionless—her thin body trembling uncontrollably, like a fledgling sparrow in a storm.

The angry old dragon rubbed his son's head, his movements gentle but his expression devoid of warmth: "Yan Shi's son is the eldest, she doesn't need to be in such a hurry!"

Consort Yan naturally wanted the eldest prince to ascend the throne, but since the eldest son is the heir apparent, her advantage was the greatest.

The eldest prince is still young, so even if Consort Yan wants to elevate her son to the throne, it would be too hasty.

Moreover, the clues provided by the traitors in this palace coup were far too obvious.

It was as if they desperately wanted everyone to know that they plotted to assassinate the emperor in order to support the eldest prince's ascension to the throne.

Even if the mission is accomplished, once the thief is captured by the guards and interrogated, the eldest prince will be suspected of patricide. How can he then inherit the throne?
in this way.

The most suspicious individuals are actually the second prince and his mother, who appear to have been framed by the bandit leader after he committed suicide.

Lady Wang and Lady Yan were the only two imperial concubines in the harem. With the empress having no children and being out of favor, their competition was the most intense.

From the perspective of who benefits the most, she becomes a prime suspect.

Meeting the scrutinizing gaze, Consort Wang's face drained of color, and she said sadly, "Your Majesty is wise! Even if I were willing to die a thousand deaths, I would never dare..."

"You've already dared to do it!"

Zhu Houcong traced a fingertip around the Second Prince's temple: "Otherwise, why would you be so eager to bring him here and make him stand out in front of me?"

"The joy of father and son! The joy of father and son!"

Consort Wang pressed her forehead against the cold gold brick, tears streaming down her face: "Father is in danger, and I am worried about him. How could I dare to stop you?"

After saying this, he kowtowed repeatedly.

When she brought Zhu Zaiyi with her, she also considered whether she had acted too hastily.
But then I thought, if I don't bring the child, wouldn't that mean I don't care about my father's life or death?
"Filial piety! Ah!"

Zhu Houcong clearly did not think so.

He was somewhat more restrained towards his eldest son, but became increasingly harsh towards his second son. He rubbed his hand hard, causing Zhu Zai Rui's head to swing outwards and his body to nearly fall over.

Those around remained silent in fear.

But they also took in this whole scene.

Unexpectedly, after the eldest prince, the second prince also fell out of favor.

So……

Just then, a panting imperial physician arrived.

Upon hearing the report, Huang Jin, who couldn't bear to see the father and son growing apart, was overjoyed. He leaned down and whispered, "Your Majesty, please calm down! It's wonderful news—Consort Li has woken up! The imperial physician said that if the hairpin wound had been half an inch further off, it would have damaged her heart, but Consort Li insisted on asking about the Emperor's well-being first!"

"I will not die!"

However, when faced with the concubine who had risked her life to protect him, Zhu Houcong turned his head slightly, the coldness in his eyes not softening at all: "A person who would be blown away by the wind on a normal day, is three times more nimble than the Embroidered Uniform Guard when blocking a hairpin. No wonder she was able to save the emperor!"

(End of this chapter)