Chapter 60: Breaking the Cocoon 3 "The lover you found?"
Zhu Song and his party hurried as fast as they could and without any delay on the road, finally returning to the capital within the specified time limit.
When he left, it was deserted, but when he came back, there were loud drums and gongs, and people came to the city gate to welcome him.
Zhu Jingchen impatiently jumped on the carriage before it even stopped. Seeing Meng Xiaohe tanned like charcoal, he immediately burst into tears. He took Meng Xiaohe's hand and said, "Madam, you are so old, why are you running around like this? You are so tanned that you have changed your complexion..."
Before he could finish his words, Meng Xiaohe covered his mouth, "If you don't know how to speak, shut up."
Zhu Jingchen's hesitancy was not because he had kept his mouth shut, but because he was covering his mouth too tightly and couldn't speak.
Zhu Song got off the carriage. Zhu Lingye's eyes also turned red when he saw him. "Brother, the last time I saw you this dark was last time."
Zhu Song punched him in anger, and Zhu Lingye immediately laughed. Zhu Lingwang called out to him with a very resentful tone, "You're finally back."
Zhu Song also punched him, but with less force. Zhu Lingwang covered his chest and did not cry out in pain.
"Second uncle."
The one standing on the far right was Zhu Jingshen, tall and slender, with a complexion like jade, who seemed ageless. He looked like a teenager yet exceptionally steady. He nodded slightly as a greeting.
The carriage behind them suddenly shook violently, and the sound attracted everyone's attention. Zhu Lingye frowned in surprise, "Did my parents start fighting?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a white-haired man walked out of the car curtain, his ears slightly red. Everyone present looked at Zhu Song, who was a little confused. "Why are you looking at me?"
Zhu Lingye leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Who are you looking for?"
Zhu Song pushed him in annoyance and said, "You must be joking. He's my godson."
Zhu Lingye's eyes widened. "Such a grown-up godson?"
Zhu Jingshen coughed lightly and said, "Let's go back home first and talk about it later."
There were certainly enough carriages to pick up the people, and several people got on the carriages. Xia Yunqing was timid, so Zhu Song let him go with him. Zhu Lingye also came over out of curiosity, and when he saw Xia Yunqing sitting timidly next to Zhu Song, like a little wife, his eyes and eyebrows immediately frowned.
"Brother, is this a serious act for your younger brother?"
Zhu Song glared at him and said, "How can you talk like that?"
"Okay, okay, I won't say anything." Zhu Lingye said this, but in reality, he couldn't hold back at all. He asked Xia Yunqing again, "Why are you blushing?"
Xia Yunqing looked up at Zhu Song, then shook his head slightly.
Zhu Lingye was very dissatisfied with his partiality. "We're both brothers, why are you looking at him? And you're looking at me. What's going on?"
Perhaps because the psychological trauma was too severe, Xia Yunqing has always been a little afraid of people, and he would be even more afraid if the voice was louder. At this time, Zhu Lingye's voice was quite loud. Xia Yunqing was so scared that he shrank towards Zhu Song. Zhu Song patted his shoulder to comfort him, and then drove Zhu Lingye away without mercy.
Zhu Lingye looked at Zhu Song in disbelief, pointing his finger at himself, "But I am..."
"Go down, go down." Xia Yunqing became even more frightened. Zhu Song quickly interrupted Zhu Lingye and drove him away.
After Zhu Lingye got out, only Zhu Song and Xia Yunqing were left in the car. Zhu Song patted his shoulder and said, "It's okay, don't be afraid."
Xia Yunqing nodded. He was indeed not afraid anymore since there was no one around. In order to avoid any misunderstanding, he sat down opposite.
Zhu Song asked, "So what happened just now?"
Xia Yunqing looked at Zhu Song, wanting to say something but stopping himself, which made Zhu Song laugh. "What's the matter?"
Xia Yunqing stammered, "I think it's a little hard to say."
"Ah? What's wrong with saying this?" Zhu Song didn't understand what he meant.
Xia Yunqing said, "Master Zhu kissed my godmother's palm, and she called him disgusting, and then they started fighting."
Zhu Song was shocked, "A fight broke out?" In just two months, his father had become so bold?
Xia Yunqing thought back to the situation and changed his words, "It should be the godmother who beat Master Zhu."
"Oh." Zhu Song was relieved.
There was silence for a moment. Zhu Song saw that Xia Yunqing looked worried and a little uneasy, so he comforted him, "Don't worry, everyone in the mansion is very nice. If you are not used to it, you can stay in my courtyard for a while, and then live alone after you are familiar with it."
Hearing him say this, Xia Yunqing's expression lightened up a bit, "Thank you, big brother."
"Family members keep their distance." Although they had not known each other for long, Xia Yunqing was a really nice person. Apart from being a little timid, he had a very good personality. That was why Zhu Song had no objection to Meng Xiaohe adopting him as her godson.
Soon they arrived at the Zhu residence, and Zhu Jingshen called out to Zhu Song, "Song, I have something to tell you."
Zhu Song asked Xu Songlan to take Xia Yunqing to his residence, while he followed Zhu Jingshen to the hall.
Zhu Jingshen said, "Two months ago, His Majesty woke up from his coma and summoned the virtuous prince back to the capital. He is now the regent."
Zhu Song had already known about this on the way back. When he knew about it, he was surprised that it was not the crown prince but the virtuous prince who was the regent.
Zhu Jingshen continued, "The first thing His Majesty did when he woke up was to banish you from the capital. After the virtuous prince returned to govern the country, he summoned you back. His intention was very clear."
Zhu Song didn't know about this. If he had known that he was demoted by Emperor Liang, he would not have scolded Wen Fengxuan for the past two months.
Zhu Song understood Zhu Jingshen's intention. He demoted him first and then reinstated him. This was Emperor Liang's way of finding a confidant for the virtuous king.
Zhu Jingshen said, "After the palace coup and two months of power development, the Crown Prince is now in the limelight, but the current situation shows that the Emperor is almost ready to pass the throne to him. You were very close to the Crown Prince some time ago. Emperor Liang demoted you not only because you are a leader of the younger generation, but also as a warning."
Zhu Song understood what he meant and nodded in response, "I know what to do."
Zhu Jingshen said, "Change your clothes and go meet the virtuous king."
Zhu Song said: "Thank you, second uncle."
Zhu Song knew that if they had not intervened, he would not be transferred back until the wise king ascended the throne.
Zhu Jingshen patted his shoulder and said, "We're all family, there's no need to say this. Your Majesty has gone to so much trouble. As long as you seize the opportunity, your future is limitless."
When Zhu Song was young, he was known as the king of children in Beijing. Almost all his peers treated him as their brother. Although they now have different responsibilities, the friendship they had when they were young is still there, and the relationship is always different.
Zhu Song nodded. Having lived in the capital since childhood, he was well versed in the ways of being an official. However, he couldn't help but think of Wen Fengxuan, who had put in so much effort, but in the end, it was all in vain.
Forget it, everyone has their own destiny. In the power field, everyone tries their best, but there will always be losers.
Given their current relationship, it would be considered magnanimous of Zhu Song not to step on each other's toes.
Zhu Song put on his official robes, which he had not worn for two months, and went to the palace to meet the wise king.
"I offer my congratulations to His Majesty the Wise King."
The virtuous prince was originally reading a memorial. When he heard Zhu Song coming, he went to greet him and held his hand firmly. "You and I are brothers, why are you so polite?"
This was too polite, and Zhu Song quickly said, "Your Highness is too polite. I am very embarrassed."
"Please sit down."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Zhu Song sat down as he was told. The virtuous king stopped reading the memorial and sat next to him to chat with him.
The two had served in the same court before and had dealt with each other many times. However, at that time, three kings were fighting for supremacy, and King Xian was the weakest and was often suppressed. He often had a melancholy look in his eyes, and rarely did he have a raised look like he did now.
It turns out that power supports people.
The virtuous king was very comfortable and spoke cheerfully, "I had wanted to go to the northern desert to see the yellow sand, but now that I see how tanned you are, I immediately gave up the idea."
He praised: "Many scholars and writers have praised it."
The wise king smiled and said, "Yes, no one ever said that I could get this tanned."
Zhu Song replied, "Not only is the sun strong, but the wind and sand are also strong. Every time I open my mouth, yellow sand pours into my mouth. There's sand in my food, and my mouth is never clean."
The virtuous king said, "This is too tragic. I wasn't there at the time, otherwise I wouldn't have let my father transfer you so far away. It's too much suffering."
Zhu Song stood up and said, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Your Highness. I will dedicate myself to your service until my death, and work hard to govern the country in return for your kindness."
The wise king supported him and said, "You are truly devoted to your work, and will never stop until your death. I can only feel at peace if you are by my side."
Zhu Song said: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I will definitely live up to your high expectations."
The wise king laughed heartily and said, "Don't be so formal. Sit down and talk."
The two chatted for a while. The virtuous king knew that he had a lot of things to do since he came back to the capital, so he didn't keep him for long. "You've just returned to the capital, so rest for a few days."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Since you left, Lord Zhu and Huai Yuzhoubai have been nagging me every day, so much so that I've been dreaming of going to Beimo to find you. I won't keep you here any longer. Go back and talk to them."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Although they seemed to be having a pleasant conversation, Zhu Song was actually very tense. Serving the king was like serving a tiger, so he could only choose to say things that the wise king liked to hear, which was very tiring.
Zhu Song didn't like this kind of conversation that sounded like a social event, so after getting the virtuous king's permission, he got up and left the palace.
Just as the wise king expected, the Zhu family was already preparing a grand banquet to welcome him.
Zhu Song returned to the mansion and looked at the tables set up in the courtyard. There were at least 20 or 30 of them. Zhu Song thought it was too exaggerated. "It's just a welcoming banquet, but it's like a 60th birthday party."
Meng Xiaohe said, "That's not an exaggeration. Your father said that after you left, all your friends spoke up for you. It would be rude of you not to treat them to a meal when you return."
"That doesn't require so much."
"Of course it's not necessary. It's better to have more than less. If someone comes and there's no room, it would be such a shame."
Zhu Song couldn't argue with him, so he went back to the room to change clothes.
When he returned to the courtyard, he saw wedding characters and red cloths everywhere. Zhu Song was immediately surprised. Did he come to the wrong place? He went back and looked at the plaque. It was Fengyayuan.
"What the hell is going on here? Who's getting married in this courtyard?"
The servant in red replied, "No one is getting married. Madam has ordered festive decorations to ward off bad luck."
"This is too festive." Zhu Song looked at the large wedding sign on the door and found it very annoying. "Someone who didn't know would think I was getting married today. Take it off now."
The servant looked embarrassed and said, "Master, this was posted by the Madam herself. We dare not tear it off."
Forget it, Zhu Song thought to himself, it’s okay to get rid of the bad luck.
Zhu Song went into the room to change clothes and saw the red clothes on the bed. He remembered that everyone had been wearing red since he entered the house. He couldn't help but frown. How unlucky did he feel?
Zhu Song thought about it and felt that there was no need to disobey Meng Xiaohe for such a thing, so he changed into it obediently.
In summer, the days are long and the nights are short. Soon after the shift was over, people came one after another. They were all acquaintances. Zhu Song sat in the hall to receive the guests, getting along with everyone and having a very happy chat.
Contrary to what Zhu Song expected, there were really a lot of people coming and all the tables in the yard were full. Zhu Song found it unbelievable. Zhu Jingchen was busy entertaining the guests and had no time to pay attention to Zhu Song, so Zhu Song whispered to his second uncle.
"Why are there so many people here?"
Zhu Jingshen whispered back, "Isn't it better to have more people?"
There's nothing wrong with it being bad, but "it's too abnormal."
Zhu Jingshen explained his doubts, "You blocked a knife for the emperor before, and the emperor obviously wants the virtuous prince to use you, so he came to make friends with you."
Zhu Song understood. He glanced at the people in the courtyard and saw that at least half of the court officials had come. It seemed that the wise king was really the trend of the times.
In such occasions, Zhu Song, as the protagonist, naturally did not have many opportunities to relax and was dragged away before he could relax for a moment.
"Brother Zhu, you have a bright future."
"Yes, this is a demotion in the open but a promotion in the dark."
“.....”
Zhu Song interacted with everyone for a long time, and the welcoming banquet ended only when the moon was at its zenith. Most of the guests had left, and the maids and servants were cleaning with the sound of dings and clangs.
Gu Huaiyu and Zhu Song said, "Come on, we two brothers will welcome you alone."
Zhu Song readily agreed, "Let's go."
"Go to Hibiscus Pavilion."
"Anything is fine."
Zhu Song, Gu Huaiyu and Qu Zhoubai came to Furong Pavilion.
The hibiscus flowers were in full bloom, so the three of them did not go up to the attic, but sat in the small pavilion on the lotus pond, where wine and food had already been prepared.
Gu Huaiyu said, "There were too many people just now, and we didn't drink enough. Let's not go home until we are drunk today."
Zhu Song said: "Okay."
The moonlight was bright, a gentle breeze blew, fireflies danced, and the delicate fragrance of lotus flowers brushed past his nose. Zhu Song leaned back in his chair and said, "The capital is still the best. This kind of life is what people should live."
Qu Zhoubai said: "If you hadn't run so fast, I would have gone with you. I really want to go to the Northern Desert to have a look."
Zhu Song shook his finger and advised sincerely, "Give up that thought. There's nothing but yellow sand. I still feel like I haven't spit out all the sand in my mouth."
Qu Zhoubai joked, "Come on, open your mouth and let me see."
Zhu Song laughed at him, "I really showed it to you, and you're not happy again."
Qu Zhoubai said, "Well, I don't want Gu Er to see it. After hearing that you went to Beimo, Gu Er rushed to the palace to ask the emperor for an explanation."
Zhu Song tilted his head and looked at Gu Huaiyu. Gu Huaiyu said without hesitation, "If you have any questions, I will definitely ask you if you have any questions. I just helped His Majesty block the knife and the next moment I was demoted to the border.
Qu Zhoubai said: "I heard that you told the emperor that you wanted Bei Mo to be Song Ge's advisor."
Gu Huaiyu, whose past was exposed, was not at all flustered. "You said it as if you hadn't said anything."
Qu Zhoubai retorted, "I'm talking about becoming a police chief."
Gu Huaiyu asked: "What's the difference?"
Qu Zhoubai said: "There is a huge difference between a legal advisor and a police chief."
Zhu Song listened to the two people's argument, shook his head helplessly and smiled, "You think Beimo is such a good place? You're still vying to go there."
Gu Huaiyu glared at Qu Zhoubai, who then changed the subject, "Hey, by the way, when you went to Beimo and passed by Beizhou, did you go to visit Prefect Zhao?"
Zhu Song replied honestly: "I didn't go to visit him, but I met him."
Qu Zhoubai asked, "How is it?"
Zhu Song said: "He seems to be enjoying it now. When I met him when I came back, he felt very sorry."
Gu Huaiyu asked, "What's the regret?"
Zhu Song said, "He originally wanted me to grow lychees with him. He had never met anyone as smart as me in Beizhou."
Qu Zhoubai laughed immediately, "If you can study, you can also grow lychees?"
Zhu Chan said: "It's better than not being able to read at all."
"Don't expose my scars."
"Okay, okay, okay."
A few people were joking and chatting, and somehow the topic turned to Wen Fengxuan.
Zhu Song still didn't understand, "Why doesn't Your Majesty give him a chance?"
Gu Huaiyu looked around and said, "No one, just tell me."
Gu Huaiyu then whispered, "Because His Majesty previously suspected that the prince was not his child."
Zhu Song was shocked, "Is there such a thing?"
Gu Huaiyu lowered his voice and leaned forward unconsciously, "This is a palace secret."
Zhu Song understood and quickly agreed, "Don't worry, it will be kept strictly confidential."
Gu Huaiyu said, "My mother only heard about this from the eldest princess recently.
When Your Majesty was rescued by the late Queen in Suzhou, he fell deeply in love with her. However, the late Queen already had a lover at that time and planned to get married the following year. So when the Emperor proposed to bring the late Queen back to Beijing, the late Queen actually refused.
However, the emperor did not consider the late queen's wishes and forcibly brought her back to the capital and made her his queen.
For the next three years, the late queen did not get pregnant because she had been secretly taking birth control pills. Later, the emperor discovered this and executed the palace maid who helped the late queen. Then the late queen became pregnant.
I originally thought that since the former queen was pregnant, she would stay in the palace peacefully, be the queen wholeheartedly, and stay by the emperor's side.
At first, the late queen behaved unusually well, which made the emperor relax his vigilance. So when the late queen was about to give birth, she asked to go to Xiangguo Temple to burn incense, and the emperor agreed.
It was originally agreed that the late queen would go to Xiangguo Temple alone that day, but after the late queen left the palace, the emperor became uneasy and hurriedly followed her.
When they chased her to Xiangguo Temple, they discovered that the late queen was having an affair with someone and was planning to elope. Emperor Liang was furious. Because the affair was discovered, the adulterer slipped and fell off a cliff and died, and the late queen also had a miscarriage and went into labor prematurely.
The late Empress died due to her incompetence, and the Emperor was extremely saddened and felt even more that the Crown Prince was not his child, so he abandoned the Crown Prince to the Changqiu Palace to fend for himself.
Zhu Song frowned when he heard this. Was there such a bizarre thing back then?
"Then what?"
Gu Huaiyu said: "Then it's something everyone knows."
Zhu Song was a little anxious, "Is the prince really the emperor's child?"
Gu Huaiyu said: "Of course it is, otherwise he wouldn't be allowed to rule the Eastern Palace."
Zhu Song asked, "When did you know?"
Gu Huaiyu said: "The following are my speculations based on my mother's fragmentary words, and they are not guaranteed to be true."
Zhu Song urged, "Just tell me directly, don't keep me in suspense."
Gu Huaiyu said: "In fact, the emperor has never forgotten the late queen in these years. It is said that the mysterious imperial teacher is a psychic who summons the spirit of the late queen to meet with your majesty on the first and fifteenth day of every month.
Two years ago, when the emperor was praying for rain on Mount Tai, he saw the prince, who looked very similar to the late queen. So when he saw the late queen's soul that month, he asked this question.
The late queen told him that the prince was his child.
After coming out of the Imperial Master's Mansion, the Emperor performed a blood test to prove his relationship with the Prince, and it turned out to be his child.
The emperor felt guilty towards the late queen, so he gave the throne to the crown prince as promised.
It would have been fine if the prince had been sick all the time, but he showed strong ambition, which reminded the emperor that the former queen also tried her best to leave the palace.
"Your Majesty is a sentimental person. He and the Crown Prince have never spent a single day together, and there is no affection between them at all. The throne was never given to him in the first place, and now he is forming a clique for personal gain. The Emperor is very angry, and the Crown Prince will not have an easy time."
Zhu Song's brows never relaxed as he listened.
Qu Zhoubai continued, "I know this. The Emperor is asking the Crown Prince to investigate the truth behind Princess Jin's murder of her husband and mother. I heard that she's been scolded several times for this."
Zhu Song was speechless. "Isn't it normal that they can't find out? Everyone is dead, it would be strange if they could find out."
Qu Zhoubai shrugged his shoulders, and everyone could see it. "I just want to find a reason to get angry."
Gu Huaiyu said, "Ah, if you ask me, the Crown Prince is also miserable. He has already sat in that position, who can resist fighting for it?"
Qu Zhoubai also sighed, "Maybe if we have to blame someone, we should blame him for not dying earlier."
Gu Huaiyu said: "That's right, otherwise she would be like the late queen, who never loved the emperor for a single day, but was remembered by him for her entire life."
Qu Zhoubai said: "The prince is always in a bad mood since the emperor wakes up."
Gu Huaiyu continued, "Can it be cured? The first thing the emperor said when he woke up was to summon the virtuous prince back to the capital."
Qu Zhoubai said: "I think the prince is not in good spirits, not just because of this. I feel that he is often absent-minded. I heard that he often looks at the north in a daze. He must be missing his mother. If the late queen were still alive, she would definitely not suffer these grievances."
Gu Huaiyu frowned, "Where did you hear this nonsense? Can Suzhou be in the north?"
"That's right, Suzhou is in the south." Qu Zhoubai smiled and said indifferently, "These are the things that have happened in Beijing recently. Anyone can say a few words. We just listen to them and forget about it."
Gu Huaiyu raised his eyes to look at Zhu Song and warned him, "Hey, don't get carried away and start sympathizing with the prince again. Now is not the time to be infatuated."
Zhu Song denied it, "Who's crazy about this? Don't worry, I can tell the situation clearly."
Gu Huaiyu laughed before he even finished listening to this, "If you're not a flower maniac, why would you go to Beimo and bring back a beauty?"
Zhu Song explained again, "I'm saving him, okay? I brought him back because my mother likes him and adopted him as her godson. It has nothing to do with me."
Gu Huaiyu reluctantly believed it, "Alright, at least you stay away from the prince."
Zhu Song said, "I won't go where he is. If I can't avoid him, I'll just take a detour."
"I'll supervise you."
Zhu Song pointed at him and said, "You really don't trust people."
After three rounds of drinks, everything that needed to be said was almost finished. Zhu Song yawned and said, "Let's go."
Gu Huaiyu said: "Just sleep here."
Zhu Song said, "No, when I left home, my mother specifically told me that I must sleep at home on my first night home. It's auspicious."
Hearing this, Gu Huaiyu didn't want to keep him any longer, and even urged him, "Okay, then go back quickly, can you still leave?"
"able."
Zhusong's alcohol tolerance has improved dramatically in the past two months. If he had drunk two pots of wine according to his previous drinking capacity, he would have been drunk a long time ago. But today he didn't feel dizzy at all and was steady all the way. But as soon as he returned to Fengyayuan, he felt like he was not feeling well.
Otherwise, how would he see Wen Fengxuan sitting in his yard?
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