Chapter 23 Storm Coming
After Saihazhi left, the Crown Prince glanced at the Crown Princess and Zhu Yuhuan and said, "Just let him do you a favor. Why are you two still pestering him?"
The Crown Princess leaned slightly aside and said, "This favor can only be repaid once, but the relationship between teacher and student is not that simple. My Lord, you don't understand careful calculation like us women do, so don't worry about it."
Zhu Yuhuan also said with a smile: "I think the commander is quite interested in me as his apprentice. Naturally, I can't let such an opportunity go to waste."
The prince shook his head helplessly and said, "I can't argue with you two, grandfather and grandson, but let me make it clear to you first. This Saihazhi is the commander of the Jinyiwei. It's just a matter of a few words for him to reach the emperor. Huanhuan, you can't speak carelessly. Otherwise, if your great-grandfather finds out, it will be a disaster for our family!"
The prince had suffered a lot of such losses in the past few years, so he naturally knew Zhu Di's character better than anyone else. Although the emperor is old now and seems to be always thinking about enjoying his grandchildren, he still has the same bad temper in his bones. If he is not careful, he may lose his head, let alone the position of prince.
Zhu Yuhuan blinked and said, "How could Great-grandfather not know who I am? He must have expected this day to come, so there's no need to worry."
There are the imperial Ming ancestral precepts. Not to mention Zhu Yuhuan becoming Saihazhi's apprentice, even if she developed martial arts and became a disciple of Princess Pingyang Zhao, it would not be the turn of a future princess to take over.
What would happen even if I let her do it?
The prince had no choice but to say, "Huanhuan, you are a smart child. You must never forget what grandpa told you. You must always keep it in mind."
Zhu Yuhuan then saluted obediently: "Yes."
She suddenly thought that Zhu Di seemed to have died of illness during the campaign, but she couldn't remember whether it was on the departure or return journey.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yuhuan hesitated and said, "Grandpa, where is Great-Grandpa? When will he be back?"
Seeing her hesitate to speak, the prince smiled and asked, "What's the matter? Are you missing your great-grandfather?"
Zhu Yuhuan put his hands behind his back, showing a rare shy expression, and said nothing.
"Your great-grandfather is busy chasing after Alutai."
Zhu Yuhuan asked tentatively, "Can I send a letter to Grandpa Zeng?"
To be fair, although Zhu Di didn't spend much time with Zhu Yuhuan, during that limited time, Zhu Di treated Zhu Yuhuan with exceptional care, almost like an elder in later generations caring for a younger generation. Unlike others, Zhu Yuhuan felt not only the generosity of an emperor, but also the kinship that only grandfather and grandson could have.
Even though she knew that Zhu Di would die in the expedition, Zhu Yuhuan would still be sad about it, not only because Zhu Di was a wise ruler, but also because Zhu Di was her loving great-grandfather.
Hearing this, the Crown Princess laughed and said, "Silly girl, we're too busy reporting military intelligence to send you a letter, so how could we possibly have the time to write you a letter? Just wait in the palace peacefully. Your great-grandfather will bring back many treasures for you."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuhuan also felt that he was indeed stupid and laughed along, but he felt a little sad in his heart.
It turned out that watching Zhu Di's army set off was the last time the grandfather and grandson saw each other.
The Crown Princess watched Zhu Yuhuan's lost figure gradually disappear, until she and the Crown Prince were the only ones left in the room. The Crown Princess then asked, "My Lord Crown Prince, do you think Huanhuan knows something?"
The Crown Prince sighed and said, "Zhanji was with the Emperor when he went on the expedition. He knows the Emperor's health better than any of us. The Emperor is a strong-willed person at heart, and even if he's not well, he won't easily let others see it. But last time, Zhanji brought Huanhuan to the Qianqing Palace to pay a visit, and he saw with his own eyes that the Emperor fell asleep while reading. It shows that time is indeed unforgiving..."
His words stopped there, but the Crown Princess understood. It should be said that ever since Zhu Zhanji came back, the Crown Prince and his family had already made some speculations about Zhu Di's physical condition.
The Emperor had just returned from a northern expedition, and before he had a few days to rest and recuperate, he was heading north again. If he were younger, it would be fine, but now that the Emperor is over sixty, how could his body withstand such an ordeal? He probably only has a few more years to live.
However, as long as the emperor is still alive, the prince still has to keep his tail between his legs and behave himself. After all, a sick tiger is still a tiger, and you still can't touch its tail.
Zhu Yuhuan was not a stupid child by nature. Seeing that his great-grandfather, who had always been wise and brave, was no different from an ordinary old man, he could naturally guess that Zhu Di's health was getting worse day by day.
The relationship between her and Zhu Di was pure and flawless, so it was inevitable that she would feel sad and lost because of this.
The Crown Prince sighed and said to the Crown Princess, "You must have someone keep an eye on Huanhuan. If anything happens, we can just keep it to ourselves. If others hear it, it will be a disaster."
The Crown Princess scolded, "Your Highness is right. Huanhuan is exactly like her father. She has been cunning and shrewd since she was a child. How could she go out and say such nonsense? But Huanhuan is innocent and always treats others sincerely. She has a very good relationship with her uncles. It is best for us to keep a tight rein on her in the palace."
The Crown Prince nodded, his words turning over in his mind. He then looked at the Crown Princess and asked, "Are you hinting at something? Are you worried that Zhan Chan and Huan Huan's friendship might leak the news?"
He naturally knew that there was discord between him and his wife and concubine. Concubine Guo often mentioned this to him, such as how the Crown Princess mocked her openly and secretly. The Crown Prince naturally heard the Crown Princess's hidden meaning.
The Crown Princess wasn't flustered. She just curled her eyes and said softly, "I'm doing this for your own good. Zhan Chan is young after all, and even if he's sensible, he's bound to make mistakes. Besides, only when you're well can we, mother and daughter, be well, and our whole family can live in harmony."
Her words were soothing, and the prince smiled and said, "My lady, you are right. We rely on you to manage the palace." He stood up and said, "There has been a famine in Daming Prefecture recently, which has delayed me all morning. It is time for me to report to work on time."
The Crown Princess then stood up and bowed, saying, "I respectfully see the Crown Prince off." She watched the Crown Prince leave, and the smile on her face gradually faded.
Ultimately, the Crown Prince still favored Guo. Otherwise, why would he have asked her that question just now? She truly did have the Crown Prince's best interests at heart. If he wasn't well, how could her son and granddaughter be well? Although Guo was relatively well-behaved, her petty tactics were truly despicable. She only knew how to whisper in the Crown Prince's ear, not realizing that what the Crown Prince valued most now was unity within the Eastern Palace, and that there couldn't be any mistakes at such a crucial moment.
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