Zhu Di: My fourth son is a great emperor of all time?

Chapter 105 The couple's love was evident; the arranged marriage was indeed based on mutual affection.

Many ores were discovered and categorized for management. Among them were some special ores that we now call gemstones, such as agate, tourmaline, diamond, ruby, and aquamarine.

Gemology is an independent discipline in Xunzhou. It includes gem mineralogy and gem design.

[The renowned lecturer of gem design, and one of the founders of this discipline, is none other than Empress Dunzhuangwen, whom everyone knows. She was also the first wife of our Emperor Zhongzu, the love of his life, and his only wife, Zhang Xiuping.]

Wow.

Zhu Gaoshuo's hand trembled, and he broke the teacup.

Just as Tianmu was passionately recounting this story, Wang Ao happened to push open the door and enter.

He was so frightened that he had one foot inside the door and the other outside, unsure whether to go in or out.

"Your Highness..." Wang Ao said, trembling as he lifted one foot.

"come in."

Zhu Gaoshuo looked at the broken pieces on the ground with a helpless expression: "This was the best waist drum cup ever made in Quanzhou. What a pity."

"It's all my fault."

Wang Ao knelt down with a thud.

He would not normally kneel before Prince Qi.

But this is not the usual situation.

It wasn't because of the broken waist drum cup; it wasn't a rare item, and Prince Qi wouldn't make things difficult for him over a cup.

It was because of what Tianmu said when he entered the room.

Later, when Prince Qi became emperor, Lady Zhang became empress and his only wife!
This is not just a royal secret, but also a private matter. How could an outsider like him possibly hear about such things?
"Oh, you heard me? It's nothing. Get up."

Zhu Gaoshuo waved his hand: "It wasn't really a secret to begin with. Besides, it's something for the future, not something that will definitely happen."

"Yes." Wang Ao stood up tremblingly, still looking like he wanted to kneel.

"Do you have something to discuss with me?" Zhu Gaoshuo reminded him.

Wang Ao isn't the type to wander around aimlessly.

"Yes. Lord Zhang Fu sent someone with a message saying that the young lady wishes to meet with you privately."

Oh?
"Young lady," she said tactfully, "who else could it be but Zhang Xiuping?"

This girl is really bold. She agreed to the arranged marriage but didn't talk about it. She even risked her reputation as a young woman to meet him before the marriage.
It should be noted that only she and her father, who had seen the sky, knew that Prince Qi had only married her in his entire life.

“Alright. Since they’ve made their demands, and they told you through Zhang Fu, let’s just be more open about it.”

Zhu Gaoshuo fiddled with the tea scoop on the table.

Wang Ao immediately became anxious: "My Prince Qi! She is an unmarried young lady! She said she wanted to meet with you privately! Don't you understand what 'privately' means, or don't you understand the etiquette of our Great Ming Dynasty!"

"That's more like Wang Ao. Your usual hurried and impulsive manner is more in line with your personality." Zhu Gaoshuo laughed heartily.

Wang Ao was so angry he was speechless.

However, Prince Qi is right; this is just how he usually is.

Could it be that Prince Qi was joking just now, trying to make me angry and forget the embarrassment when I pushed open the door?
This Prince Qi always does things that are both troublesome and deeply touching.

"Don't overthink it. I do need to make things more formal."

Zhu Gaoshuo didn't let Wang Ao immerse himself in the emotion for more than three seconds.

"Isn't this inappropriate?" Wang Ao hesitated, for a woman's reputation was of utmost importance!

"Hey, don't rush, listen to me." "First, go and arrange the Buddhist ceremony at Jingtai Temple the day after tomorrow. Make it a grand affair so that all the nobles in the capital can attend."

Tell Zhang Fu privately that he is a devout Buddhist and wants to stay overnight.

"The abbot of Jingtai Temple and I are tea buddies, so he naturally knows how to make the arrangements."

"As for me, it's a real pity that this waist drum cup is broken, leaving only the matching teacup. I couldn't bear to part with it, so I'm sending it to Jingtai Temple to receive some incense offerings from the Buddha, which is its destiny."

As fate would have it, the sky came to an end that day.

Wang Ao was ordered to make the arrangements, while Zhu Gaoshuo simply closed the study door and secluded himself inside.

Zhu Gaochi, however, was in a good mood in the palace.

"Father, the wife you arranged for your fourth brother is really good." Zhu Gaochi was happy, pleased that his sister-in-law seemed reliable.

He seems more reliable than his younger brother.

"I'm asking you, what is this jewelry design?"

Zhu Gaochi's eyes darted around: "I suppose it's just grinding and setting jewels to make all sorts of jewelry and trinkets."

"Hmm. Although it's a woman's pastime, it's still a sign of extravagance." Zhu Di sighed, "Our Great Ming should not be like this."

Zhu Gaochi wanted to remind him that Zhang Xiuping only became like this because she married your fourth son. Who knows if it was your fourth son who led her astray?

Besides, that was a matter for Xunzhou. The Ming Dynasty was frugal because it didn't have the means to do so!
"Well... I think Zhang Fu is straightforward, his family is simple, and he is also one of our founding heroes. He doesn't seem like the type to raise a girl in a life of extravagance and debauchery."

Zhu Gaochi bowed, intending to use the opportunity to escape: "Perhaps I should go home and ask my wives. They might have some information. Women's words shouldn't be spoken to His Majesty, but..."

Zhu Gaochi was waiting for Zhu Di to make a statement.

Zhu Di frowned, then decided against it: "No need. It's a matter between a young couple. Even if it's a luxury item, developing it into a field of study is her own ability as a woman."

As he thought about it, Zhu Di became happy: "Hmph, it seems this arranged marriage was the right decision! This girl wasn't bullied by the fourth prince after she married into the family! I've done right by the Duke of Rong!"

"Yes, yes, Father has a discerning eye." Zhu Gaochi took his leave as it was time to take his medicine.

Zhu Di waved for him to go back first and get some rest, saying he would come back the next day to watch the celestial spectacle together.

Zhu Gaochi said with a smile, "Father still favors me."

In reality, all he wanted to do was cry. A mountain of memorials awaited his attention. Various national policies required his consideration, and several senior officials were waiting at home for him to dismiss them.

How could the crown prince live such a hard life?

The fourth brother, on the other hand, managed to steal a moment of peace!
When Wang Ao arrived at Zhang Fu's residence and told him about Prince Qi's arrangements, Zhang Fu was somewhat dissatisfied.

"Such things should be done quietly, either at our residence or in the suburbs. Why go to Jingtai Temple? Such a crowded place is too conspicuous."

Zhang Fu originally wanted Wang Ao to make another trip to persuade Prince Qi to change his mind.

However, Zhang Xiuping behind the screen coughed, signaling her brother to agree.

Zhang Fu didn't understand what his sister was thinking. But he knew she was a woman of her own mind, so he eventually agreed.

"You must tell Prince Qi that if this matter gets out, I will kill him even if it means committing treason, to restore my sister's reputation!"

"Yes, yes, yes. Definitely." Wang Ao hurriedly agreed.

These two, each with an even more fiery temper, put him in the middle, caught in the middle.

That wasn't all; he also had to hurry to Jingtai Temple.

If you arrive too late and the mountain gate is closed, you won't be able to see the abbot.

(End of this chapter)