Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 344 Zhu Zhanhe: Listen to your wife on all matters concerning the inner quarters!
"Lord Xia, Lord Mu, contact the officials of Guangdong and Guangxi. After I return from Annam, I will have them come to pay their respects." After instructing his younger brother to temporarily take charge of the Prince's residence, Zhu Zhanhe then began to have his father-in-law contact the regions of Guangdong and Guangxi. After all, although Guangdong and Guangxi had experienced several ups and downs, they would eventually be the territory of his Prince Han's residence!
"Your subjects obey the imperial decree!" Xia Yuanji and Mu Sheng replied solemnly. Of course, Xia Yuanji and Mu Sheng both knew that this meant their prince would be fully committed to mobilizing the Guangdong and Guangxi regions after returning from Annam.

"My lords, I will be departing for Annam tomorrow and will return before the end of the year. During this time, I hope you will all work together for the sake of my Prince of Han's Palace," Zhu Zhanhe said in a loud and clear voice, looking at his subordinates in the Chengyun Hall.

"Your subjects obey the imperial edict!" In an instant, all the officials in the hall bowed down to Zhu Zhanhe. It was clear that they took the new Prince of Han's first instruction very seriously. And this was before the old prince's coffin!

For some reason, looking at the imposing Zhu Zhanhe standing before the coffin, Xia Yuanji suddenly had the illusion that his son-in-law, at this moment, seemed to have been freed from shackles.
At night, after Zhu Zhanhe finished keeping vigil, he returned to his bedroom. As soon as he entered the bedroom, Princess Xia hurriedly came to greet her husband, her face full of nervousness and a little grievance.

"Your Highness~" Princess Xia, the Crown Prince's wife, had just been promoted to Princess and was still a little unaccustomed to it. When she addressed her husband as "Your Highness," her face was filled with a mixture of caution and joy, making her delicate face appear somewhat serious. However, seeing his wife dressed in mourning clothes and looking so solemn, Zhu Zhanhe felt a ticklish sensation in his heart, like a cat scratching at him.

"Your Highness~" Princess Xia led her husband into the room, her face beaming with happiness as she stood before the tall mirror. At that moment, two maids, Yun'er and Jian'er, also emerged from a corner, both dressed in white mourning clothes.

Upon seeing the two maids, Zhu Zhanhe instinctively raised his hands. Then, in front of the tall mirror, the two maids, Yun'er and Jian'er, naturally began to help Zhu Zhanhe change his clothes, dressing him in a matching white robe-like nightgown.

After changing his clothes, Zhu Zhanhe waved his hand gently. Immediately, the two little maids obediently curtsied slightly to Zhu Zhanhe before going to guard the side hall next door. Zhu Zhanhe watched the two little maids leave with their slightly resentful eyes and swayed their hips before sitting down at the small round table in his bedroom.

"My lord, are you asking about Yu'er?" Zhu Zhanhe noticed the slight displeasure on his wife's face and immediately guessed the reason for her unhappiness. After all, the imperial edicts issued during the day were missing only one regarding the appointment of the new Han heir apparent. It seemed his wife wanted their son to ascend to the throne as heir apparent as soon as possible!
Of course, Zhu Zhanhe did not actually object to this, after all, Yu'er was his only son and the eldest son of the legitimate wife, so there was no problem with him inheriting the position of heir.

Hearing her husband directly expose her little scheme, Princess Xia, who had been pouting and looking unhappy, suddenly felt embarrassed and ashamed. After all, she hadn't even said anything yet, and her husband had already revealed her thoughts, making her genuinely feel awkward. Of course, in Zhu Zhanhe's eyes, his wife was simply shy!

"My lord~~" So, to cover up her slight embarrassment, Princess Xia quickly came to her husband's side, called him "My lord" in a sweet, drawn-out voice, and then picked up a cup of tea from the table and quickly fed it to her husband, hoping to shut him up. Then, Princess Xia stared at her husband with her large, watery eyes, full of resentment and shyness.

"Phew~" Zhu Zhanhe stroked his wife's small hand, gently took the tea that his wife had fed him, took a sip, and then casually put the tea on the table next to him.

"Sir, Yu'er is still young, not even a year old yet. There's no need to rush the matter of choosing a heir."

Besides, doesn't the imperial court require my personal recommendation to appoint the heir apparent?
Besides, even if the court has other ideas, I can appoint him myself.” To be honest, Zhu Zhanhe felt that his son was still too young, and appointing him as heir apparent now would be pointless. Moreover, in Zhu Zhanhe's view, his succession to the throne was up to him; whether the court agreed to the appointment or not was irrelevant. He'd just let them have their way!

"My lord~~" Hearing her husband's domineering words, the heavy weight that had been weighing on Princess Xia's heart finally lifted. Immediately, Princess Xia stood before her husband with a radiant smile, diligently massaging his forehead with her delicate hands, a gesture of gratitude and also a way to ease her earlier embarrassment. "If you're still worried, how about we have another son?" Zhu Zhanhe, seeing his wife's attentive demeanor, easily guessed her little scheme. So, Zhu Zhanhe naturally placed his hands gently on his wife's soft waist, savoring its suppleness, and added to her words.

Upon hearing her husband's words, Princess Xia's eyes lit up, and she unconsciously became even gentler in her massage of him. She even slowly pressed her voluptuous body against her husband.

"Sigh~" His wife suddenly began to massage his head with great care, leaving Zhu Zhanhe speechless. This little wife of his was really practical! She needed some discipline!

However, as Xia Shi gave Zhu Zhanhe a close-up massage on the head...

"Yun'er~, Jian'er~" After that, Princess Wei glared at her husband with annoyance. After tidying her clothes and emotions again, Princess Xia felt a tremor in her heart when she saw her husband's burning gaze. Then, she quickly called for help.

"Your Highness~, Your Highness~" Yun'er and Jian'er blushed when they saw the undergarments on the table after entering. However, they still greeted them sweetly.

"Your master is not feeling well, so you two come and take good care of him." When Princess Xia saw the two young maids, she felt she had finally found outside help and immediately assigned them tasks.

"Yes~~" Upon hearing the princess's arrangement, Yun'er and Jian'er were also startled. Then, the two walked over shakily and knelt down in front of Zhu Zhanhe in perfect unison.

"Hiss~, what does the official want to say?" Zhu Zhanhe sometimes seriously doubted what kind of thought process his wife had, how could she so accurately grasp his lifeline! Immediately, Zhu Zhanhe drank tea while chatting with his wife, and occasionally comforted the two little girls kneeling on the ground with his hands.

"Your Highness, there are some matters concerning the inner quarters that I must discuss with you." Princess Xia, seeing her husband's calm expression, couldn't help but inwardly curse. She then spoke truthfully.

"Things concerning the inner quarters? These are matters for the official to decide on his own."
"Or if there are any problems, just discuss them with Mother." Upon hearing his wife mention matters concerning the inner quarters, Zhu Zhanhe stated his position directly. "You're in charge of the inner quarters, my dear wife. I won't interfere. If you can't handle it, just go and discuss it with Mother."

(End of this chapter)