There were bursts of crying in the Qianqing Palace.

Not crying out of sadness, but crying out of joy.

Queen Zhou hugged Zhu Cijiong and cried, and Concubine Yuan hugged Zhu Cizhao and cried.

I don't know how long they cried before they calmed down and wiped away their tears.

At Chongzhen's signal, the eunuchs from the Imperial Kitchen began to serve the dishes.

Since it was a family dinner, everyone did not sit separately, but sat together and ate and chatted.

Queen Zhou and Concubine Yuan stared at their sons and kept asking questions.

While answering, Zhu Cijiong and Zhu Cizhao carefully observed Chongzhen's expression, fearing that they would be convicted for their words.

When they were almost done eating, Chongzhen suddenly asked, "You two have lived in Nanjing for a long time. Have you not fallen behind in your studies and martial arts?"

Zhu Cijiong said, "Father, I like swords and guns, and I am not very good at reading. But Ci Zhao is good at both civil and military affairs, which makes me very envious."

When Concubine Yuan saw Zhu Cijiong praising her son so much, she immediately said happily: "Cijiong, you are too protective of him. How could he be that capable!"

Without waiting for Zhu Cixiong and Concubine Yuan to exchange pleasantries, Chongzhen pressed the issue, "Do you like swords and guns?"

"yes."

"What about horse-riding firearms?"

"I know a thing or two about them."

"Where is the art of war?" Chongzhen continued to ask.

Zhu Cijiong was about to answer when he suddenly saw his mother, Queen Zhou, frowning at him.

He didn't know what Empress Zhou meant by this, and since Chongzhen was watching, he told the truth: "I have indeed dabbled in some military tactics, but they are all on paper."

"Haha," Chongzhen laughed heartily and said, "Lu You once said in a poem that what you learn from books is always shallow, and you must practice it yourself to know it thoroughly. Do you want to go to the battlefield and see it for yourself?"

This sentence stunned everyone present, except Queen Zhou.

She had already heard the hidden meaning in Chongzhen's words.

When he saw that Chongzhen was going to send his son to the battlefield, he immediately became unwilling.

She stood up from her chair and saluted Chongzhen gracefully: "Your Majesty, Cixiong just likes swords and guns, not wanting to go to the battlefield."

"What's more, the battlefield is cruel and human life is worthless. Your Majesty, please... Your Majesty, please..."

Having said this, she suddenly couldn't continue.

Because Chongzhen only asked Zhu Cijiong whether he wanted to go to the battlefield, and did not order him to go.

Obviously, she was too anxious.

Chongzhen gently patted Empress Zhou on the shoulder and asked, "What's the hurry, Empress?"

"Your Majesty..." Queen Zhou lowered her head, "Your Majesty is afraid that you will send Cixiong to the front line, so..."

Chongzhen rolled his eyes at her and looked at Zhu Cijiong: "Tell me what you think."

Zhu Cijiong glanced at Chongzhen, then secretly glanced at Queen Zhou out of the corner of his eye.

Queen Zhou frowned and kept shaking her head.

It means that he should act a little more cowardly and not go to the battlefield.

Zhu Cijiong closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes again and exhaled heavily, saying, "Father, I want to go to the battlefield and take a look myself."

"Oh," Chongzhen laughed, "The battlefield is no joke, people can die at any time, aren't you afraid of death?"

"I am not afraid."

"It's not shameful to be afraid of death, and it's not shameful to tell the truth. It's shameful to be afraid of death and not tell the truth." Chongzhen continued to mock.

Zhu Cijiong and Queen Zhou's faces flickered at the same time.

Seeing that Zhu Cijiong was about to fall for Chongzhen's provocation, Empress Zhou immediately pointed at Zhu Cijiong's nose and scolded him: "Zhu Cijiong, you left Beijing for Nanjing at the age of twelve. What ability do you have? How brave do you have?"

"Why don't you admit your mistakes and apologize to His Majesty!"

Chongzhen was really angry.

He knew that Queen Zhou only wanted Zhu Cijiong to live a peaceful life and did not want him to go to the battlefield.

After all, the battlefield is ruthless and accidents happen from time to time.

It's not just him, all mothers in the world have similar ideas. It doesn't have to be rich, just peace and safety is good enough.

But arranging Zhu Cijiong to go to the battlefield was a move made by Chongzhen after careful consideration.

Otherwise, Zhu Cijiong would not have been recalled to the capital at this time.

This is a very important chess move.

As for how effective this move would be, he had no idea and could only wait and see.

Now Queen Zhou was the first to oppose it, thwarting his plan.

Chongzhen turned his head and looked at Empress Zhou beside him: "The Queen is tired, go back to the palace and rest."

Queen Zhou was shocked and looked at Chongzhen with disbelief.

She had just reunited with her son and had not seen enough of him when she was driven back to the harem by Chongzhen.

At once, countless emotions and grievances flooded my heart.

Empress Zhou bowed to Chongzhen with red eyes and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I shouldn't have made the decision for Zhu Cijiong. Please allow me to sit quietly in the Palace of Heavenly Purity and rest for a while."

"Humph," Chongzhen snorted coldly and looked at Zhu Cijiong: "Speak your mind."

"Father, I am afraid of death!"

After hearing these words, Queen Zhou showed a relieved smile on her face.

Before she could smile, Zhu Cixiong continued, "It's not just me who is afraid of death. Most people in the world are afraid of death! But Sima Qian once said that everyone has to die, and some people's death is heavier than Mount Tai, while others are lighter than a feather!"

"I left Beijing when I was twelve years old. I have suffered a lot and got seriously ill! If it weren't for my elder brother and his wife (Zhu Cilang and his wife) taking good care of me, I might have died long ago."

"After going through all this, although I am still afraid of death, I have become indifferent to life and death. I am always thinking about how to die meaningfully and with value."

"Today, Father mentioned the battlefield, and I feel that this is my fate. Whether I return victorious or die on the battlefield, this is my fate."

"So," Zhu Cijiong looked at Chongzhen and said earnestly and sincerely, "I am willing to go to the battlefield in person."

Queen Zhou almost fainted from anger.

She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, wanting to rush up and beat Zhu Cijiong up.

But she couldn't bear to hit him, and didn't know how to persuade him, so she could only stand there and sulk.

After a moment, she suddenly had an idea and covered her forehead with her hands and said to Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, I feel a little unwell. Please excuse me."

"Oh?" Chongzhen looked at Empress Zhou and asked, "Should we summon the imperial physician?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I will just go back and rest. There is no need to summon the imperial physician."

"Then please do as you please, Queen!"

Queen Zhou left the Palace of Heavenly Purity with heavy steps.

Everyone's eyes returned to Chongzhen's face.

Chongzhen nodded: "Since you have this idea, I will arrange for you to go to Liaodong."

"Thank you, father!" Zhu Cijiong sat on the chair with a red face and continued eating.

Chongzhen took a sip of tea and looked at Zhu Cizhao.

With just one look, Concubine Yuan could no longer sit still.

She was afraid that Chongzhen would send Zhu Ci Zhao to Liaodong as well.

"Your Majesty," Concubine Yuan personally picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for Chongzhen: "I have a new cat that can do backflips. I would like to invite Your Majesty to go to the Yikun Palace to take a look."