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

Chapter 532 Queen Xia
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!

Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!

Finally, amidst a series of heart-stirring shouts, Zhu Qiyu, the eldest prince who had served as crown prince for over twenty years and the son of the founding emperor of the Dragon Kingdom, officially ascended the throne as the second emperor of the Dragon Kingdom.

Reign title: Xixiang! Title: Emperor Xixiang!

Following the successful ascension of Emperor Xixiang to the throne, and taking advantage of the military parade, the Dragon Kingdom's court sold another batch of firearms and equipment! At the same time, the court officials also innovatively sold a large quantity of decommissioned naval vessels!

Once again, the Dragon Kingdom made a fortune by using outdated equipment!

In no time, the courtiers of the Dragon Kingdom realized that as long as they were powerful enough, they could make a living simply by selling scrap!

As envoys from one group to another paid their respects to Emperor Xixiang and departed, all the members of the royal family of the Dragon Kingdom were detained by Emperor Xixiang.

Amidst the bewildered gazes of the clansmen, an imperial edict was finally delivered to them.

"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial edict said:

"Summon! All princes of the Dragon Kingdom, go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple tonight to offer incense!" The little eunuch came and went quickly, carrying only a single sentence in the imperial edict. The edict also instructed all princes who had already been enfeoffed to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer incense that night!

Although they didn't understand why, the princes still respectfully accepted the decree.

Even if some princes harbored uneasy suspicions, everyone knew that as long as the Emperor Emeritus was still alive, they had nothing to fear!
That very night, the princes of the Dragon Kingdom entered the imperial city in a carefree and elegant manner!

Seeing that the Imperial Guards protecting the city had not changed, the princes in the group secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon entering the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the group discovered that it was surrounded by three layers of imperial guards. Instantly, the eyes of countless princes cleared, but they still entered the temple with trepidation.

After entering the gate of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, everyone saw Emperor Xixiang standing high on the steps of the temple, looking down at them.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Seeing that Emperor Xixiang was waiting for them, the princes in the group quickly knelt down and paid their respects to Emperor Xixiang.

"Rise, all of you."

Since we're already here, let's go inside and offer incense first!

"Father will be here soon!" Looking at the densely packed princes below the steps, Emperor Xixiang seemed somewhat somber, but he still invited the princes into the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

"Your Majesty, we obey!" Although they didn't know what they would face next, the princes were already prepared since the Emperor Emeritus was coming.

"Your subject, Zhu Qiyu, the second emperor of the Dragon Kingdom, whose reign title is Xixiang, offers incense to the ancestors of the Dragon Kingdom!"

"Your subject, Zhu Zhan'an, King of Luzon, offers incense to the ancestors of the Dragon Kingdom!"

"Your subject, King Zhu Qili of Joseon, offers incense to the ancestors of the Dragon Kingdom."

"."

"Your subject, Zhu Yuming, Prince of Ansi, offers incense for the ancestors of the Dragon Kingdom." Starting with Emperor Xixiang, the princes of Emperor Xixiang's uncle lineage first offered incense, followed by the princes of Emperor Longwu's son lineage, and finally, the queens of Emperor Xixiang's aunt lineage offered incense.

The princes offered incense at the Imperial Ancestral Temple for about half an hour.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Emperor Longwu was still in Empress Xia's palace, looking at the weak and frail Empress Xia with eyes full of heartache.

"My lord, I want to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to see those princes."

"You go to sleep for a while, I'll be back soon." Emperor Longwu held Empress Xia's hand and gently comforted her. "Does Your Majesty have something important to say to the princes?" Empress Xia asked, holding her husband's hand tightly, full of doubt.

"I have thought about this for a long time, concerning the succession of the imperial court and the various vassal states."

Now, I have finally come up with a good solution.

Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to tell everyone. "Emperor Longwu did not hide anything from his wife and told her directly that he had found a path for succession for the court and the various vassal states.

"Your Majesty, do you need my help?" Empress Xia asked softly, looking at her husband's gentle face.

"Your Majesty, please rest well. I can handle this myself."

However, I must tell the Empress that I may have to shave my beard. Emperor Longwu did not want his increasingly frail wife to work hard, but he would not hide it from Xia Shi.

In order to make his words to the princes more convincing today, Emperor Longwu decided to shave off his beard!

After a moment of silence, Empress Xia gazed at her husband for a long time before gently stroking his face.

"Your Majesty, let me shave you." For some unknown reason, Empress Xia, who had been weak, seemed to have regained her spirits and actually sat up from the bed. She enthusiastically offered to shave her husband herself.

Looking at his wife, who had suddenly perked up, Emperor Longwu suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Someone, prepare hot water and a razor." But before Emperor Longwu could say anything, Empress Xia actually got up, put on her shoes, and ordered people to bring hot water and a razor with a strong voice.

Before long, a young palace maid entered, carrying hot water obediently, and another carrying a small tray with towels and a razor. Then, the two maids turned and left obediently.

"Your Majesty, come and sit here!" Then, Empress Xia, with a smile on her face, took her husband's hand and pulled Emperor Longwu to her dressing table, pressing him down onto the stool where she usually did her dressing.

At this moment, Emperor Longwu was like a puppet, completely at the mercy of his wife.

"Splash~" Empress Xia first tested the water temperature, then wet a towel, wrung it out gently, and used the towel to apply a hot compress to her husband's face.

After repeating this several times, Empress Xia finally picked up the razor from the plate and gently shaved her husband's face.

When the first strand of beard touched the ground, Empress Xia was visibly stunned for a moment. However, she quickly regained her composure and methodically continued shaving her husband.

Not long after Emperor Longwu finished shaving his beard, Empress Xia gently wiped her husband's face with a hot towel.

As the towel was slowly removed from Emperor Longwu's face, Empress Xia seemed to return to decades ago, seeing her once young husband.

"Your Majesty~!" Empress Xia didn't even notice the towel in her hand fall to the ground. She stared blankly at her husband, who looked like he was only in his twenties, and gently stroked his face with her hand, her face full of confusion.

It was as if she had truly returned to decades ago.

"My lord, I'm here!" Seeing his wife's dazed expression, Emperor Longwu held Empress Xia's hand and gently responded.

"Your Majesty has other matters to attend to, please go quickly." It seemed that Emperor Longwu's response brought Empress Xia back to her senses. She immediately realized what was going on and told her husband to attend to his business.

"Wait for me to return, my lord." Afterwards, Emperor Longwu gently carried Empress Xia to the bed and then turned to walk out of the palace.

"Your Majesty, I will look very ugly when I leave."

"May Your Majesty leave before me?" Empress Xia asked pleadingly as she watched her husband's departing figure.

Empress Xia didn't know when her husband would leave, but she knew that when she did, she would depart in a very ugly manner! She didn't want to leave her ugly side to her husband. Therefore, she hoped to leave after him!
"Alright!" Emperor Longwu, who was about to leave, paused for a moment, but did not turn around. With his back to Empress Xia, he responded in a deep voice. Then, Emperor Longwu walked towards the door again.

(End of this chapter)