The once high and mighty Prince Zhaode, Zhu Jihuang, was now filled with fear. He had only intended to falsely accuse his elder brother before the emperor. If his brother were deposed by the emperor, the Prince of Jin would be his, or at least he had that opportunity.
Moreover, even if these slanderous accusations couldn't immediately depose his elder brother, as long as the emperor had his grievances, that was enough. As long as he continued to file complaints, he would eventually be able to reclaim the title of Prince of Jin.
It didn't matter that he was only the third son; he could badmouth his eldest brother, and naturally, he could badmouth his second brother as well. Anyone who stood in his way of vying for the throne of the Prince of Jin was his enemy, and he would bring them down completely.
Her father was biased, and even her so-called legal mother didn't treat her well. In fact, Zhu Jihuang had long harbored thoughts of revenge.
But now he had no chance at all; he truly couldn't understand the emperor's thoughts.
The King of Qin and the King of Jin harbored resentment towards the emperor, yet they only received minor punishments as a warning? This loyal subject was reprimanded and then sent back to Taiyuan to guard the royal tombs?
Although he wasn't stripped of his title as a prince, the difference between being a high-ranking, wealthy prince and being reduced to someone who could only wander around the tombs of the Prince of Jin was entirely different. His punishment could even be described as practically demoting him to a commoner and stripping him of his title.
The emperor is unjust!
Although he was furious, Zhu Jihuang dared not say anything at this moment, for he was facing the emperor. Most importantly, he knew very well that if he dared to disobey the imperial decree, the next decree would be to demote him to commoner status.
The imperial clan learned of this matter immediately, and some even feigned concern by submitting memorials to plead for Zhu Jihuang. However, most chose to remain indifferent, and many were actually aware of the situation.
Although they are all of the same bloodline as the Hongwu Emperor, it is the Ying Shi Emperor who is sitting on the dragon throne now.
Moreover, everyone understands that Zhu Jihuang is ultimately a descendant of the Prince of Jin, and he has little to do with most of them. Furthermore, everyone is also aware of why Zhu Jihuang offended the emperor.
Even if some people share Zhu Jihuang's thoughts—they would overthrow not only their elder brother but even their father for the throne—such actions are ultimately quite disliked, and everyone is aware of this.
The emperor was making an example of someone to warn others; he wanted to teach the imperial family members a lesson. Making false accusations might backfire, and the emperor was more magnanimous than many people imagined; he could also be quite petty.
The emperor didn't care about the private complaints of his imperial relatives. As long as they didn't cross the line, the emperor could turn a blind eye and ignore these things.
However, once it comes to things like infighting or conspiracies, the emperor will obviously not be lenient.
In fact, some members of the imperial clan felt that the emperor was definitely biased. This Prince Zhaode was beaten by Prince Wu, and Prince Wu ran away immediately. Who knew that Prince Wu actually carried an imperial edict? It was simply a charade.
Everyone knows the temperament of the King of Wu. Moreover, the King of Wu indulges in eating, drinking, and merrymaking with many members of the royal family. If there were really any official business, the King of Wu would have announced it to all the people long ago. It is not possible that the court would only belatedly release the news after everyone had already gone out.
This must be because the emperor is protecting the King of Wu again. The Prince of Zhaode was exiled back to Taiyuan to guard the royal tombs simply because the Prince of Zhaode offended the King of Wu.
Zhu Yunying wrote the letter home, making the decision himself, but he should have informed his father, Zhu Yunying. Even if it earned him resentment, Zhu Yunying should have done so; he genuinely did not want to see the imperial clan killing each other or plotting against their own people.
Using a good-for-nothing cousin as a scapegoat is something Zhu Yunying is capable of doing. If any of his uncles were incompetent, Zhu Yunying wouldn't actually show any mercy or say anything hypocritical like "don't harm the imperial uncles."
After finishing his letter home, Zhu Yunying headed towards the East Palace to see Xu Miaoqing. He was quite worried about her, as she was in her late pregnancy and would soon be giving birth.
Seeing the pregnant woman, Zhu Yunying quickly went over to her, "Don't get up. We've been married for a long time, you should know my temperament."
Xu Miaoqing stood up, supporting her belly, and said, "After all, I am the Empress, and His Majesty already favors me. If I were to become arrogant because of this favor, that would not be good."
"Don't think so much. It's just us in the palace, who dares to say anything?" Zhu Yunying helped Xu Miaoqing sit down and said, "Our imperial grandfather and imperial grandmother have been devoted to each other through thick and thin, and our mother and father were childhood sweethearts. We two have been a couple since we were young, supporting each other as we've walked this path together."
Xu Miaoqing felt much more at ease. Although she had already given birth to one child, she was still nervous. Even an empress would feel nervous about childbirth, as it was considered a life-or-death ordeal for women in that era.
This is also why Zhu Yunying is now visiting Xu Miaoqing. In fact, Zhu Yunying considers himself to be somewhat like his father, Zhu Yuanzhang. He values the Empress highly, but while the other concubines in the harem are also important, he doesn't have particularly deep feelings for them.
It is also very important to comfort Xu Miaoqing and keep her in a good mood.
As if remembering something, Zhu Yunying said with a hint of sarcasm, "Yin'er urged Grandfather to continue his tour, and the news has already reached our ears. He's with Grandfather, and that kid is making all the decisions. Although the family letters were written by Grandfather, they were all Yin'er's ideas. Our Grandfather is wise all his life, but who knew that he would be controlled by a little brat like this."
Xu Miaoqing was in a good mood and explained to her beloved son, "Grandpa Emperor has always valued his people, and Yin'er is also the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty. It is only right that he visits the people's homes."
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