Chapter 78 Enough

Even though he had so many doubts and ominous premonitions in his heart, Zhu Yuhuan still did as Zhu Zhanji said, stood up and walked around the screen to look for it. There actually was an imperial edict on the bookshelf.

Zhu Yuhuan carefully took it off, returned to the bedside, and brought it to Zhu Zhanji, saying, "Daddy, is this it?"

Zhu Zhanji nodded slightly and said, "Princess Shunde, please obey my order."

Zhu Yuhuan hurriedly straightened her skirt, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed, saying, "I accept your order."

After Zhu Zhanji finished reading the imperial edict, Zhu Yuhuan finally understood that the content of the imperial edict was almost the same as what Zhu Zhanji had said before. It simply asked Zhu Yuhuan to shoulder the responsibility of being the eldest sister, teach her two younger brothers well, and especially support and protect the prince.

This imperial edict was clearly written by Zhu Zhanji himself, rather than drafted by the cabinet or the Hanlin Academy. Otherwise, if the Three Yangs had seen such an imperial edict, they would have collectively opposed it, and there would have been no need for Zhu Zhanji to personally announce it privately. That being said, once it was written and sealed, it inevitably had the power of the royal family, and could barely be considered the "last will of the late emperor."

Zhu Yuhuan first accepted the imperial edict and thanked him, then took the imperial edict and held it in his arms, whispering, "Huanhuan has never received an imperial edict in person before."

If the imperial edict was damaged even slightly, the person would be punished. All the imperial edicts received by Wunong Temple were archived for protection. It was considered an honor for ministers to receive imperial edicts. They would be greeted with an incense table before receiving them, and then directly enshrined in the ancestral hall and taken care of every day.

Although Zhu Yuhuan was a princess, it was the first time for her to receive a written imperial edict as an individual, not to mention at such a special moment before Zhu Zhanji's death.

Zhu Zhanji smiled and said, "I give you this imperial edict in the hope that it will reassure you. Just as you said, be a person who is 'resolute and unyielding'. Never be soft-hearted towards outsiders again. Do you understand?"

Zhu Yuhuan met his gentle gaze, nodded slightly, and said, "I will remember my father's teachings."

She remained expressionless on the surface, but sneered in her heart. Her father was still playing this trick when he was about to die. Fortunately, she was not a native Ming Dynasty person who accepted the so-called "loyalty to the emperor and patriotism". Otherwise, there would be no better word than PUA to describe Zhu Zhanji's series of actions.

Zhu Zhanji looked at his daughter for a long time and said with emotion: "You are Daddy's first child. Daddy has watched you grow up day by day, but it's a pity that the day when you truly become an adult has not yet arrived..."

After he finished speaking, he had completely let down his guard against his daughter, and only a deep reluctance remained in his heart.

Zhu Yuhuan was his firstborn child, and she had been with him through the years of being the Crown Prince and then the Crown Prince. Beyond the father-daughter bond, Zhu Zhanji did feel a certain camaraderie towards his daughter. Furthermore, Zhu Yuhuan had devoted herself wholeheartedly to her family and country over the years, demonstrating the virtuous qualities of a princess. Distinguishing right from wrong, understanding the emperor's heart, knowing when to advance and retreat, and observing proper etiquette was already a difficult task for a person, let alone a woman.

To this day, Zhu Zhanji asks himself, if Zhu Yuhuan were a man, even if his mother was not the queen, Zhu Zhanji would probably pass the throne to Zhu Yuhuan. At least he would not have to worry so much about how the emperor would deal with his ministers in the future.

But if the throne is not passed on to him, the best way to deal with it is to eliminate the trouble forever!

Regardless of whether Zhu Zhanji's words were sincere or not, Zhu Yuhuan no longer had any trust in him. She feigned grief, suppressed her sobs, and said, "Daddy..." Seeing Zhu Zhanji's frown and clenched teeth, she knew that his headache had recurred. She hurriedly said, "Daddy, wait. I will ask Wang Banban to call the imperial physician to prescribe medicine."

Zhu Zhanji coughed a few times and was unable to speak. He could only watch his daughter walk out of the hall to call for help.

Zhu Yuhuan walked around the screen a few steps, knowing that Zhu Zhanji probably had no time to pay attention to his every move at the moment, so he quickly unfolded the imperial edict and read it as he walked.

Although she glanced at it, she actually didn't look at anything. She only looked at the cinnabar traces left by the seal in the corner.

The imperial edict was written in Zhu Zhanji's own handwriting, with "December 21, the ninth year of Xuande" written on the left, and stamped with "敕令之篆", with ink marks on the top and cinnabar on the bottom.

The heavy and cold stone in Zhu Yuhuan's heart finally fell to the ground as expected. She read the contents of the imperial edict as quickly as possible, and it was exactly the same as what Zhu Zhanji had just said to her.

But there was only one thing that went wrong, and it happened to be the most important one.

Zhu Yuhuan took the imperial edict into his arms and quickly walked to the palace gate. With a panicked look on his face, he grabbed Wang Jin's wrist and said, "Wang Banban, quickly get the imperial physician to take a look. Daddy's headache has come back. Quickly prepare some painkillers!"

Wang Jin responded quickly and asked several imperial doctors guarding the side hall to bring painkillers.

Tomorrow, when the Crown Prince's court session in Wenhua Hall is over, the Emperor will definitely summon the Three Yangs to write his will. There must be no accidents at this time!

Zhu Yuhuan watched the palace maids walking past him, looked at the snowy night sky, and thought of the imperial edict he had hidden in his arms. He felt as if there was a fire in his chest.

She had never seen the imperial edict, so they really treated her like a fool!

Death is imminent, death is imminent, it is indeed time for death!

Hu Shanxiang heard the noise and hurried over, but stopped after seeing her daughter. Even though Zhu Yuhuan was just standing there quietly, Hu Shanxiang could feel the tremendous anger hidden beneath the calm.

Hu Shanxiang first asked the people around her to go to Renshou Palace to inform the empress dowager, and then she walked to Zhu Yuhuan, gently pressed her shoulders, and called her daughter's name softly.

His heart, which had been beating rapidly, gradually calmed down at the sound of his mother's voice. Zhu Yuhuan turned back to look at his mother, her expression as calm as ever. She whispered, "The imperial physician has gone to see Daddy... I was afraid I'd cause trouble if I stayed inside, so I waited outside."

Hu Shanxiang touched her slightly cold cheek and said, "Come in. It's too cold outside. I'm afraid your grandma will be here soon."

Zhu Yuhuan turned around and looked at the tall vermilion-painted palace door, as if he saw the dying emperor.

Previously, Xu Wangzhi often visited the Imperial Hospital to consult with the imperial physicians, and Zhu Yuhuan followed him. He knew that cinnabar was often used for pain relief in the palace. Cinnabar was already poisonous, and the emperor's condition was showing signs of worsening. Perhaps consuming more cinnabar would bring him to heaven sooner.

She's had enough.