The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 321 Talk Between Husband and Wife
Time flew by, and Jiang Han spent the entire day at the academy.

It wasn't until 7:45 PM, after he had finished listening to the last evening lesson and it was completely dark, that he reluctantly headed home.

When he returned to Changchun Palace, where the imperial concubines resided, Jiang Han, who had been busy all day, subconsciously wanted to walk towards the South Courtyard.

The South Courtyard was where Consort Li Manwen usually lived.

A few months ago, Jiang Han also married the eldest daughter of the Li family into the Prince's Mansion as planned, only without the grand ceremony.

Looking at the vast palace garden before him, which appeared deep and empty in the night, Jiang Han couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

That damned Zhu Zhishu has truly taken extravagance and debauchery to the extreme; his harem is far too vast.

In the original Shu King's mansion, there were at least four or five hundred palace maids, ladies, and concubines without rank.

Therefore, the palace complex was extremely large. Even if you walked quickly, it would take about half an hour to walk from the Chengyun Hall at the front.

Of course, given the character of Prince Zhu, he probably returned in a sedan chair.

Standing at the entrance to the corridor between the front hall and the rear palace, Jiang Han looked at the empty, dark palaces and pavilions in the distance and couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath:
"I wonder if that bastard Zhu Zhishu's body can handle it."

"With so many women, even if you slept with one a day, it would still take a year."

"Could it be that this guy enjoys holding uninhibited gatherings?"

As he was cursing, Jiang Han's gaze inadvertently swept over the main hall of Changchun Palace, and he was surprised to find that the windows of the main hall were still lit.

Hmm? It's so late, has the princess not gone to bed yet?
Jiang Han had some doubts.

The accompanying eunuch, quick to notice, immediately stepped forward and whispered:

"Your Majesty, you have been returning late these past few days."

"Your Highness... almost every day she waits until you return before turning off the lights."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han glanced at the eunuch beside him:

"is it?"

He hesitated for a moment, then immediately changed his mind.
"In that case, let's go take a look at the main hall first."

"So as not to worry the Princess."

After saying that, he strode toward the main hall of Changchun Palace.

A short while later, the group finally arrived outside the hall.

Outside the palace gates, there were not only palace maids serving, but also seven or eight female officials standing guard around the palace.

In the side room next door, there were doctors and female physicians on standby at any time.

Seeing the orderly arrangement, Jiang Han nodded in satisfaction, offered a few words of comfort to everyone, and then stepped into the main hall.

He walked quietly through several layers of soft gauze curtains to the innermost part of the bedchamber.

Princess Wang Yiying was seen leaning against a pillow, holding a book in her hands, engrossed in reading it by the bright candlelight on the bedside lamp stand.

She wore a loose and comfortable apricot-colored nightgown, her long hair simply draped over her shoulders, without any hairpins or ornaments.

Her cheeks, slightly fuller due to pregnancy, glowed with a warm luster under the light, and she exuded a tranquil and gentle aura.

Seeing that she was reading so intently, Jiang Han didn't want to disturb her, so he stood outside the gauze curtain and coughed softly.

"Cough cough."

Upon hearing the noise, Wang Yiying immediately came to her senses.

When she looked up and saw it was Jiang Han, her face instantly lit up with surprise, and her voice leaped with joy:
"Your Majesty! You've arrived!"

As she spoke, she put down the book and instinctively tried to get up.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Han immediately took two steps forward and gently pressed down on her shoulder:

"Just lie down. We're husband and wife, why be so formal and distant?"

But Wang Yiying insisted on getting up, muttering as she did so:

"These days, I've been cooped up in the house every day to recuperate, and I'm almost going crazy with boredom."

"Your Majesty, I am fully recovered. Please do not worry."

Seeing that she had a rosy complexion and her movements were quite nimble, Jiang Han didn't try to stop her anymore. He just smiled helplessly and let Wang Yiying get out of bed and skillfully help him remove his outer robe and take off his crown.

Immediately afterwards, she summoned a palace maid to bring over a basin of warm water and carefully washed Jiang Han's face and hands.

Enjoying the princess's meticulous service, Jiang Han couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

"Ah, being a king is indeed very happy."

"No wonder so many people throughout history have been intoxicated by the allure of pleasure and the allure of power."

"The feeling of being meticulously served and treated with great care can indeed make people complacent."

After washing up, the couple leaned against the large bed and chatted about everyday things.

Unfortunately, the princess is pregnant, and the first three months are the most crucial, so it's not appropriate for her to do anything else.

In addition, this era was not so open, and Jiang Han dared not easily mention some private and interesting stories involving "using both hands and mouth".

Some techniques can be used on concubines, but should never be used on one's wife.

Jiang Han understood this principle.

So for now, all they can do is chat under the covers.

As the couple talked, the topic naturally turned to their unborn child.

When the topic of children comes up, Wang Yiying's eyes soften, revealing a mixture of longing and worry for new mothers.
"Your Majesty, what do you say... if my first child is a girl..."

Will you... be disappointed?

She paused, and her voice lowered even further.

"To be honest, I've been having trouble sleeping at night lately, and I can't help but overthink things."

"Now, almost everyone in the court, the military, and among the common people is hoping that I am carrying a son so that the nation can continue and the people's hearts can be stabilized."

"But who can say for sure about this?"

"What if it's a girl..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han raised his hand to interrupt Wang Yiying and firmly grasped her hand:
"Your Highness, please don't put so much pressure on yourself."

"Whether it's a boy or a girl, the time will come and we'll know. Thinking about it now will only cause you more trouble and won't help you with your pregnancy."

"We have a long way to go, so there's no rush."

"Whether male or female, they are all our own flesh and blood, so how could I be disappointed?"

Feeling the warmth of her husband's hand and hearing the affirmation in his words, Wang Yiying's tense shoulders finally relaxed a little.

After a long silence, she raised her head again and asked:
"Then... if it really is a boy, have you thought of a name yet?"

"I heard that Emperor Taizu set twenty characters for each of his sons' generation names to ensure the continuation of the lineage."

"Does Your Majesty wish to arrange marriages for the children in advance?"

Before Jiang Han could answer, the princess enthusiastically began to explain her plans:

"I have already given instructions in advance to have people search for virtuous and learned scholars throughout Sichuan."

"I will teach my child well in the future and make sure he becomes a successful person!"

But Jiang Han shook his head, offering a different perspective:
"You have a heart."

"However, I have some other ideas about children's education."

"I believe that when children are young, it is best not to burden them with heavy and rigid academic studies too early."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yiying looked at Jiang Han with a puzzled expression, about to retort.

But Jiang Han stopped her and patiently explained:
"Don't rush, let me finish what I have to say."

"First of all, playing is a child's nature; suppressing this nature is not necessarily a good thing."

"At the very least, he should have a relatively easy and happy childhood."

"To become a qualified leader, ability is certainly important; but most importantly, one must be mentally healthy and normal."

"If an ordinary person has a distorted personality, the harm they cause may be small; but if they become an emperor, the harm can be much greater."

Wang Yiying looked at him, her brows furrowing slightly:

"What exactly does Your Majesty want to say?"

"Strict discipline is the only way to cultivate talent; this has always been the case."

Seeing that she didn't believe him, Jiang Han could only continue to explain:
"The princess is a lady from a prominent family; she must have read history books."

"Many emperors in history suffered from psychological distortions due to problems in their childhood education, which ultimately led to harm to their people and their country."

"Does Your Highness know Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi?"

Wang Yiying pondered for a moment and responded:

"I seem to recall it. Is it recorded in the Book of Northern Qi?"

"His name is Gao Yang?"

Jiang Han nodded:

"Yes."

"Emperor Wenxuan, Gao Yang, was born into a Xianbei family filled with killings and conspiracies."

"His biological father was the famous Gao Huan, and his family members often killed each other for power."

"In order to train his sons to be ruthless, Gao Huan often made them kill prisoners with their own hands to toughen them up."

"According to historical records, when Gao Yang was five years old, Gao Huan forced him to kill a surrendered enemy soldier."

"Gao Yang hesitated out of fear, so Gao Huan publicly rebuked him, saying that if he didn't even dare to kill his enemies, how could he possibly hold power in the future?"

"Then he personally demonstrated, cutting the throat of the prisoner in front of the young Gao Yang."

"From then on, Gao Yang equated violence with power."

"This……"

Wang Yiying looked horrified upon hearing this.

Jiang Han continued:
"That's not all. Gao Yang's elder brother, Gao Cheng, because of his lust for power, has been mocking and beating his own brother for a long time."

"Later, they even stole Gao Yang's wife."

"And their mother, Lou Zhaojun, favored her eldest son and turned a blind eye to Gao Yang's plight. She even said to him when he was being bullied, 'If you were half as capable as your brother, you wouldn't be bullied.'"

“Gao Yang experienced almost no family warmth throughout his childhood and survived entirely through forbearance.”

"The results of it?"

"In the early years of his reign, he was quite diligent and hardworking, but later his suppressed emotions completely erupted, and he became cruel, bloodthirsty, and licentious, eventually dying from alcoholism."

"And the Northern Qi dynasty also declined rapidly after his death."

Wang Yiying was somewhat taken aback, and after taking a breath, she sighed:
"How could parents behave so beastly? They are truly barbaric royalty, utterly devoid of morality!"

Jiang Han curled his lip:
"Then let's talk about another emperor who was of mixed Han and non-Han ethnicity, Emperor Yang of Sui."

"This person is very famous; Your Highness, you must have heard of him."

"Empress Dugu, Yang Guang's mother, was a thoroughly pragmatic and two-faced person."

"While teaching her son to feign frugality, Empress Dugu secretly accumulated wealth and curried favor with the court officials."

"His father, Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, became obsessed with Buddhism in his later years and neglected the education of his children, resulting in Yang Guang receiving almost no real education on benevolent governance and people-oriented governance." "You know what happened later. After Yang Guang ascended the throne, he was ambitious and abused the people's labor, which ultimately led to the demise of the Sui Dynasty after only two generations."

After listening, Wang Yiying nodded thoughtfully:

"These two children either had overly cruel parents, provided improper guidance, or were simply absent from their parents' lives."

"Then let's be stricter, keep the child by our side at all times to supervise and give them constant reminders, wouldn't that solve the problem?"

Jiang Han glanced at the princess. Why was this girl still so stubborn and wouldn't listen to reason?

"Be stricter?"

"Has Your Highness not heard of the affairs of Emperor Shenzong of this dynasty?"

Wang Yiying shook her head:

“My Wang family originally came from the Ming court, how dare we discuss the affairs of the imperial family? Your Majesty, please tell us.”

Jiang Han sighed helplessly and continued:

"Emperor Shenzong of Ming, Zhu Yijun, is a typical example of someone who, after being subjected to extreme discipline, ended up completely giving up."

"Zhu Yijun was made crown prince at the age of five and was educated by Zhang Taiyue."

"Although Zhang Taiyue was a capable minister, his education of Wanli was an absolute form of high-pressure control."

"He set an extremely strict schedule for the emperor: every day at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), before dawn, he had to get up to read and not rest until the hour of Chou (1-3 AM) in the middle of the night."

“If a mistake is made while reciting the classics, even a single word, Zhang Taiyue will reprimand the student on the spot.”

"It is said that the young Wanli Emperor was scolded so badly that he was in tears, yet he still dared not stop."

“This… is a bit too harsh,” Wang Yiying couldn’t help but interject.

Jiang Han sighed.
"Not only that, Zhang Juzheng almost deprived Wanli of all the joys of childhood."

"When Emperor Wanli happened to read a miscellaneous book, Zhang Juzheng discovered it and tore the book to pieces, angrily rebuking the emperor for reading the classics and not studying miscellaneous sayings."

“Even if a eunuch was a little slow in serving tea, Wanli would only frown slightly, but Zhang Juzheng would publicly reprimand him, causing the young emperor to lose face in front of his court officials.”

"Furthermore, Zhang Juzheng forbade Wanli from participating in any entertainment activities, believing that leisure would neglect state affairs."

Wang Yiying stared at Jiang Han suspiciously:
"How does Your Majesty know so much about these palace stories?"

Jiang Han didn't answer her, but just chuckled and continued:
"After Zhang Juzheng's death, the emperor, who had been suppressed for a long time, completely rebelled."

"He not only completely overturned Zhang Juzheng's reforms, but even ordered the confiscation of Zhang Juzheng's property, resulting in the starvation of more than ten members of his family, in order to vent his years of resentment."

"After that, Wanli began a thirty-year period of neglect of his duties, not attending court, not reviewing memorials, not appointing officials, and playing the role of an offline monarch, which brought the state machinery to a near standstill."

"The Ming Dynasty was doomed, but in reality, it was destroyed during the reign of Wanli."

After hearing this, Wang Yiying let out a long sigh:
"If this won't work and that won't work, then what do you think should be done with the child in the future?"

"Are we just... just going to abandon them?"

"What if he is the eldest son, the one who will inherit the family business in the future? If we let him run wild like this, how can he shoulder great responsibilities?"

Jiang Han took her hand, patted it gently, and comforted her:

"Control, of course we have to."

"But we can't be like Zhang Juzheng, so strict and controlling, leaving no room for breathing."

"Children are naturally playful, so let them play a little longer. They can learn about the world and build a strong body through play."

"Don't make it like Emperor Shenzong, where even flying a kite or playing football became a luxury. How could he not have psychological problems?"

He paused for a moment, then stated his thoughts:

“I plan to send my child to Tianfu Academy when he is seven or eight years old.”

“Let him go to school with those orphans.”

"what?!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yiying immediately raised her eyebrows and resolutely refused:
"No! Absolutely not!"

"The children in Tianfu Academy are all... are all orphans without fathers or mothers."

"What is your intention in sending him there to study? What will others think of us?"

Her tone was agitated, clearly indicating her strong resistance to the suggestion.

Seeing her reaction, Jiang Han quickly comforted her:
"Don't worry, let me explain it to you properly."

Wang Yiying angrily turned her head away from Jiang Han, her chest heaving slightly, clearly finding it hard to accept.

Jiang Han comforted her for a while before her emotions calmed down a bit. Although she didn't speak, she nodded slightly, signaling Jiang Han to continue.

Jiang Han breathed a sigh of relief, quickly gathered his thoughts, and patiently explained:
“I did this after careful consideration, not on a whim, and certainly not because I don’t love my child.”

“For children, it’s about having peers to read, play, and compete with. These are things that can’t be found in the deep palace.”

“Sending him into the academy, concealing his identity, and letting him live as an ordinary person will greatly benefit his character and abilities.”

"What future can he have if he's kept in the deep palace, surrounded by a bunch of obsequious eunuchs and maids?"

"Secondly, as you know, Tianfu Academy is the culmination of my life's work."

“What was taught in the academy was not only the Four Books and Five Classics, but also practical knowledge for governing the world, the principles of investigating things, and methods for strengthening the body.”

"I hope that my successors can receive this kind of education from a young age, so that they can gradually develop a mindset that values ​​practicality and is enterprising."

"Isn't this kind of teaching better than those old pedantic scholars who only know how to pick and choose phrases?"

Wang Yiying didn't speak, but judging from her expression, she was clearly somewhat tempted.

Seeing this, Jiang Han pressed his advantage and said:
"Besides, those children are all the adopted sons of fallen soldiers; they can't just come in to study anywhere."

“I will give them the best education. Once they have completed their studies, they will become the pillars of the regime and the most reliable foundation.”

"Let our children grow up with them from a young age. This bond of friendship is no less important than the relationship between ruler and subject!"

"This is tantamount to cultivating his confidants. Think about it carefully, and you'll see how many benefits there are."

"Furthermore, being in the academy allows students to experience the hardships of ordinary people and understand the grassroots level earlier through their classmates."

Jiang Han looked at Wang Yiying earnestly:

"I'm doing this with good intentions, for the long term, you have to understand me."

After hearing these words, Wang Yiying remained silent for a moment, and then sighed softly after a long while:

"Fine, I can't argue with you. You're right about everything."

"What if it's a daughter? Should we send her too?"

Jiang Han smiled:

"Forget about the daughter."

"Let him stay in the palace. The time is not right, there's no need to do anything too outrageous."

Wang Yiying nodded, then another question came to mind:
"But you can't let your child, who is only seven or eight years old, go and live in the academy, can you?"

"That's too small..."

Jiang Han looked at her and pondered for a moment:
"alright."

“The Prince’s residence is not too far from the academy, so at first we can let him walk there every day, sending him there in the morning and picking him up in the evening.”

“When he’s older, around twelve or thirteen, and has entered the higher level of knowledge at the academy, it won’t be too late for him to live there.”

"The academy has days off, so you can go home then."

Don't worry, I'll take care of everything.

Seeing that Jiang Han had made up his mind, Wang Yiying knew that she could no longer refute him.

The thought of her child leaving her side for an unfamiliar environment left her feeling somewhat down.

Wang Yiying lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting her sash, clearly unable to fully process the news for the time being.

Jiang Han knew he couldn't rush things, so he could only hold her and sigh.
"Your Highness, do you know that I often dream that I am in a new world?"

"In that world, many people can eat their fill and stay warm."

"There, flat roads stretched in all directions, there were carts that could travel a thousand miles a day, iron birds that whistled past, and giant ships that calmed the seas."

After hearing this, Wang Yiying looked at him with surprise:
"Unheard of before, could this be the realm of immortals?"

"Did Your Majesty dream of immortals? Or has the Purple Star changed its position?"

But Jiang Han shook his head and smiled:
"That's not the immortal realm."

There has never been a savior, nor a god or emperor.

"Alright, it's getting late, go to sleep."

After saying this, the couple blew out the candles and prepared to go to bed.

The hall instantly fell into darkness and silence, with only the soft sound of each other's breathing.

Jiang Han turned and hugged Wang Yiying, feeling her soft and warm body and smelling her faint fragrance. He couldn't help but feel a little restless and uneasy.

He lay quietly for a while, but the evil fire not only did not go out, but instead seemed to be burning even more fiercely.

Left with no other choice, Jiang Han could only slowly sit up, stretch his neck, and cautiously glance at Wang Yiying, who seemed to be asleep.

Seeing that the princess was breathing steadily, as if she was already fast asleep, Jiang Han's heart stirred.

He tiptoed away from the silk quilt, picked up the soft-soled cloth shoes by the bed, and like a thief, tiptoed, held his breath, and moved slowly towards the palace gate.

Just two or three steps away from touching the door frame and successfully slipping out, a thunderclap suddenly sounded behind him:
"Your Majesty?"

Jiang Han tensed up, his hands freezing instantly, like a thief caught red-handed.

"What are you doing here...?"

The voice behind me came again.

Jiang Han slowly and with extreme embarrassment turned around.

By the faint moonlight filtering in through the window, he saw that Wang Yiying had followed him out at some point and was leaning against the carved pillar in the hall, arms crossed, looking at him with a half-smile.

"Is Your Majesty getting up in the middle of the night?"

"Or...is there another place to go?"

Seeing this, Jiang Han forced an awkward smile and stammered:
"Um... I'm going out to take a shower; and get some fresh air..."

Looking at Jiang Han's furtive and evasive demeanor, Wang Yiying knew exactly what he was up to.

She couldn't help but chuckle softly, saying helplessly:
"Okay, stop pretending."

"My body can't take any more of this."

"You...you should go find Consort Li yourself, so you don't keep tossing and turning here and disturbing my sleep."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han was taken aback for a moment, then stammered:
"The Princess understands me best. Well... shall I go then?"

Wang Yiying waved her hand dismissively:
"Go on, Your Majesty! I'm afraid your sister isn't asleep yet, but don't stay up too late."

"Order!"

Jiang Han felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He didn't even bother to put on his shoes anymore. He grabbed his cloth shoes with both hands and ran out of the main hall in a flash.

Watching Jiang Han's disappearing figure, Wang Yiying could only shake her head helplessly and turn back to her bed alone.

(End of this chapter)