Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 145 The Crown Prince's Complete Childhood [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

"How can you speak here?"

Yan Maoqing immediately put on a stern face and rebuked him sharply.

"His Majesty has appointed me as the Crown Prince's Tutor, which grants me the authority to act as I see fit. How I should guide the Crown Prince is none of your business!"

After the Court of Imperial Sacrifices learned about Zhu Zaiyi's current situation.

He knew in his heart that the people he needed to guard against most right now were Zhu Zai Rui's wet nurses, eunuchs, and palace maids.

Because he was already certain that before Zhu Zaiyi came of age, he had almost no contact with the officials of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. The only people he could occasionally see were the scholars who taught him the classics. His food, clothing, daily necessities, and living arrangements were all taken care of by his wet nurses, eunuchs, and palace maids.

Therefore, if the historical event that Zhu Zaiyi suddenly fell seriously ill and died on the second day after his coming-of-age ceremony was a deliberate conspiracy, then these wet nurses, eunuchs, and palace maids must have colluded with him from both inside and outside the palace.

There are bad people in this Zhongcui Palace, and they are very deeply entrenched bad people!

Otherwise, Zhu Zaiyi would not have died so mysteriously in history. Not only was no one found out afterward, but it also made Zhu Houcong even more convinced of the prophecy that "two dragons cannot meet".

Moreover, given the level of medical knowledge and understanding in this era.

It's not actually that difficult to do something like this.

Yan Maoqing knew of several natural toxins that could kill people without leaving any trace for coroners of this era.

Furthermore, with the increasing frequency of smuggling trade between the southeastern and western barbarians, it is highly likely that some of the exotic poisons from abroad, which are now unknown to the Ming Dynasty but have quietly entered the hands of certain individuals within the country through smuggling, are also present...

Of course, this is just Yan Maoqing's speculation.

However, if someone wanted to harm him, his time in office would be the best opportunity, and it would be a matter of life and death.

As the saying goes, "A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall."

Yan Maoqing was a cautious and cowardly man, and this was why he only wanted to retire and return to his hometown as soon as possible.

This is why he especially wanted to get rid of the position of Crown Prince's tutor as soon as possible.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness, but I also bear the responsibilities of the Imperial Concubine, and I must consult with Her Highness on this matter."

The old woman was clearly intimidated by Yan Maoqing's arrogant attitude, and her tone softened considerably, but she still did not back down easily.

Yan Maoqing sneered:
"Does what you're saying, Granny, mean that Consort Wang's words carry more weight than the Emperor's decree?"

"This servant would never have had such an intention!"

Upon hearing this, the old woman's face turned deathly pale, and she hurriedly tried to defend herself.

"This servant is only fulfilling my duty and would never dare to be negligent. Otherwise, if something were to happen to the Crown Prince, whose body is of utmost importance, this servant would have no way to explain to the Imperial Concubine, let alone to the Emperor."

While speaking.

While protecting Zhu Zaiyi behind her, she also gave a wink to the palace maid beside her.

The palace maid immediately understood and turned to run quickly into the depths of Zhongcui Palace.

Needless to say, she must have gone to inform Consort Wang, Zhu Zaiyi's birth mother.

"What you're saying, Granny, is that the Emperor isn't as good at judging people as Consort Wang, that the Crown Prince won't go wrong in your hands, but will definitely go wrong in my hands?"

Yan Maoqing sneered again.

Yan Maoqing had observed the subtle actions of the old woman and the palace maid, and naturally, he could guess what was going on.

However, he was also aware that Consort Wang would never personally stop him, because concubines and court officials had to avoid suspicion; this was a rule of the inner palace.

Therefore, this is the wisest course of action for Consort Wang.

The plan was to first order someone to stall him, and then immediately send someone to see the Emperor, tell him what had happened, and ask the Emperor to come and make a decision in person.

This was exactly what Yan Maoqing wanted.

Playing in the water and catching fish is just a pretext; the real fun is to make it work.

Even if they didn't manage to have the game, they could still give Zhu Houcong a "surprise," only the "surprise" wouldn't be as big.

In addition, not long ago he had acted so perversely in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

It is clear that the Junior Chamberlain named Kong Jian is also an upright and honest gentleman.

If he is not mistaken, Kong Jian should have already begun writing a memorial to impeach him.
Thus, while some submitted memorials impeaching him for corrupting the atmosphere of the Imperial Household Department, others accused him of daring to take Zhu Zaiyi to play in the water, stirring up Zhu Houcong's concerns about the previous Zhengde Emperor, who had been so devoted to water...

With this two-pronged approach, the situation was as stable as Mount Tai, and the dangerous burden of serving as the Crown Prince's tutor should be lifted immediately. However, the saying "Ming emperors are easily dissolved in water" is ultimately a later anecdote; it's unknown whether Zhu Houcong actually grasped this pattern at that time.

After all, before this, only Emperor Zhengde, Zhu Houzhao, had died from drowning. Emperor Tianqi, Zhu Youxiao, drowned later. Even if you're playing a number game to find patterns, you should at least give two numbers, right?
Just as I was thinking this.

"Granny, I want to go fishing with him..."

Zhu Zaiyi, who was being held back by the old woman, suddenly spoke timidly.

With Zhu Zai Rui's interruption, the old woman conveniently avoided Yan Mao Qing's trap of self-proof, and squatted down to pull Zhu Zai Rui aside, gently persuading him:
"Your Highness, the water's edge is far too dangerous, and the fish there are fishy, ​​smelly, and dirty. It's not fun at all. Let's listen to Her Majesty and not go anywhere..."

"Granny, you've never even fished before, how do you know it's not fun?"

Yan Maoqing then added casually.

Zhu Zaiyi was taken aback upon hearing this and curiously pressed for an answer:
"Yes, Granny, have you ever fished before?"

"Of course it was fished out before, before it entered the palace..."

In order to appease Zhu Zaiyi, the old woman then went along with it and said something else.

Before she could finish speaking, Yan Maoqing immediately interrupted her with a barrage of questions:

"You've tried it yourself, so why do you say it's not fun?"

"Why would you go fishing if it's not fun?"

"Tell me, how many children in the world haven't caught fish when they were little?"

"If you, a mere servant, can go and fish, then all the children in the world can go and fish. It just goes to show that fishing is fun."

"Such a fun activity, why can't the Crown Prince go?"

"If that's the case, what's the point of the crown prince's position? Wouldn't he be worse off than a child from an ordinary family?"

"Your Highness, I do not know what your thoughts are."

"But if it were me, I'm afraid I would absolutely not be able to accept it. I would rather not be the crown prince than not go fishing. Otherwise, how can my childhood be considered complete?"

"???"

"!!!"

Upon hearing those last few words, the old woman was so shocked that her eyes bulged out.

Is this something a tutor to the Crown Prince should say?!
So, you'd rather give up being the crown prince than not go fishing?!
The Emperor couldn't find anyone else, so he brought this oddball to the Crown Prince?!
Before she could even react, she saw Zhu Zaiyi already teary-eyed from Yan Maoqing's charms, clutching her clothes and pleading:

"Granny, I also want to go fishing. I also want a complete childhood. Otherwise, being the crown prince is worse than being a child from an ordinary family. I might as well not be one at all."

"His Royal Highness..."

The old woman felt a tightness in her chest; the Crown Prince had actually been corrupted by this eccentric Grand Tutor so quickly.

If Consort Wang were to hear these words, it wouldn't just be a simple matter of being forced to kneel as punishment; at the very least, she would receive a severe beating.

While they were talking.

"Madame Li."

The palace maid who had gone to deliver the message earlier returned with small, quick steps, keeping a wary eye on Yan Maoqing as she whispered,
"The Imperial Concubine orders you to take the Crown Prince to see her, and not to speak much with this Crown Prince's tutor."

"Understood... Your Highness, the Empress has summoned us. Let's go."

Upon hearing this, the old woman felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She immediately took Zhu Zaiyi's small hand, who kept turning back to look at her, and hurried towards the depths of Zhongcui Palace as if avoiding a plague.

After a while.

"Whoa-whoa-!"

Yan Maoqing vaguely heard a child's pitiful cry coming from Zhongcui Palace, and shook his head helplessly:

"Well... he didn't get to play in the water after all, but at least Zhu Zai Rui had a complete childhood."

"But it's alright. After this incident, Consort Wang will surely go to Zhu Houcong and complain about me. She'd rather die than let me continue tutoring the Crown Prince, right?"

"This should be considered a three-pronged approach, it's a solid strategy!"

(End of this chapter)