Chapter 59 Practical Lesson
Although Empress Zhang was crying, she was completely different from Concubine Guo who usually cried and acted like a spoiled child. When she filed a complaint, she was still as organized and clear-headed as she usually handled palace affairs.
Although Zhu Yuhuan was whispering with his uncle over there, he was always paying attention to Empress Zhang's movements.
When both Zhu Gaochi and Concubine Guo were weeping uncontrollably, Empress Zhang wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and said, "Your Majesty, you don't know how much energy Huanhuan has spent on these things. I have always seen it... She grew up under your watch. Doesn't Your Majesty know what kind of child she is?"
Hearing that her grandmother had taken all the responsibility on her, she was slightly stunned, but she quickly reacted.
Zhu Zhanji was both the crown prince and an adult, so no matter what the mistake was, it would be a catastrophic disaster for him, so he simply said that everything was Zhu Yuhuan's problem. After all, it was understandable for a child to make mistakes, so this could barely be considered an explanation.
Concubine Guo also understood the meaning and echoed Empress Zhang's words, "Yes, the princess has been carefully taught by the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. The Empress also took the princess to Kunning Palace to take care of her for a long time. How could the princess have any bad intentions?"
The implication is that Zhu Yuhuan dared to do this because of the instructions of Zhu Zhanji and Hu Shanxiang, and even the handiwork of Empress Zhang, which shows the ulterior motives of these three people.
Zhu Gaochi frowned upon hearing this and rebuked Empress Zhang, "Listen, what has happened? How can we let outsiders hear this?"
Even Zhu Yuhuan understood what Concubine Guo said. She couldn't help but laugh. She nudged Zhu Zhanzhen and asked softly, "Hey, little uncle, does Concubine Guo always speak so bluntly?"
It was because she was born late that she didn't see the scene of Empress Zhang and Concubine Guo fighting each other in the early years. When she was born, it was the most cautious years in the Eastern Palace. Everyone kept a low profile and she didn't see such scenes. So although she knew that Concubine Guo was not very smart, she didn't expect her to be so stupid.
Zhu Zhanzhen held his forehead with one hand and whispered, "Stop talking... Let me explain. It's just a small matter. How did it escalate to a confrontation in front of the emperor..."
Before he could speak, Zhu Yuhuan reached out and grabbed his sleeve, saying, "No, let me listen again."
Zhu Gaochi was a master of balancing power. Even when Prince Zhao, Zhu Gaosui, ordered eunuchs to poison Zhu Di and instructed Huang Yan to slander the crown prince, Zhu Gaochi let it slide, even pleading for Zhao before Zhu Di. So, wouldn't balancing power between the empress and the concubine be a piece of cake for him? Empress Zhang, with her years of experience in the palace, was easily able to keep Zhu Di and Empress Xu happy. She was a match for Zhu Gaochi. How could Zhu Yuhuan miss this clash?
Seeing that she was still so carefree, Zhu Zhanzhen was at a loss whether to laugh or cry for a moment.
Everything in front of him clearly showed that his mother was framing Zhu Zhanji and his daughter. Why did Zhu Yuhuan seem to really intend to "confess"?
After hearing what Noble Consort Guo said, Empress Zhang felt even more aggrieved. "Your Majesty, listen! Such nonsense has even reached Noble Consort's ears. This shows how vicious the person who spread it is... Your Majesty knows Huanhuan's filial piety best. Otherwise, why would you make an exception and confer the title of Princess Shunde in advance? This is an honor only granted to her aunts!"
Zhu Gaochi wanted to question Zhu Zhanji, but after hearing what Empress Zhang said, he paused and said, "There are some rumors in the palace..."
Zhu Gaochi was busy changing government decrees soon after ascending the throne, leaving him with little time for filial piety, mostly going through the motions. Zhu Yuhuan, however, actually cried several times. Everyone knew Zhu Yuhuan was deeply filial, and Zhu Gaochi had mentioned this when he issued the decree. If he now accused Zhu Yuhuan of ulterior motives, wouldn't the emperor, who had bestowed the title of Shunde Princess on her for her filial piety, become a laughingstock?
Concubine Guo noticed that Zhu Gaochi's expression had softened somewhat, and immediately said, "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, there's no smoke without fire. Ultimately, it was the princess who made the mistake first..."
"Wrong?" Empress Zhang immediately asked back, "What did Huanhuan do wrong?"
Concubine Guo's voice softened slightly as she was stared at closely, but she still spoke loudly, "Of course, the copper and iron were brought into the palace without informing His Majesty. The princess would not do anything illegal, but if someone were to take advantage of it, it would lead to disaster..."
Empress Zhang glanced at the father and daughter not far away and asked, "What did you do wrong?"
Zhu Zhanzhen subconsciously avoided Empress Zhang's gaze and turned back to look at Zhu Yuhuan, only to see her kneeling on the ground, sobbing aggrievedly, saying, "Huanhuan is wrong. Huanhuan is wrong for not making such careful preparations for Dad and Mom's birthday gifts. She is wrong for not assuming that everyone can understand her sincere filial piety. She is wrong..."
Zhu Yuhuan winked at Huai'en, asking him to go find Empress Zhang and find a way to get the box to Zhu Gaochi. After all, this "treason" didn't exist. As long as there was solid evidence, what couldn't be cracked? However, she hadn't expected Empress Zhang to actually start a practical class in the Emperor's Palace of Heavenly Purity. In this case, Zhu Yuhuan decided to cooperate with her grandmother and imitate Concubine Guo.
She was secretly laughing just now, but now she is crying. Zhu Yuhuan's ability to change his face is not inferior to that of Empress Zhang, which makes Zhu Zhan'an almost unable to hold back his twitching mouth.
Seeing Zhu Yuhuan's parallel sentences going on and on, Zhu Gaochi interrupted and said, "Huanhuan, do you mean to use those things to prepare birthday gifts? But I'm afraid this bow and arrow won't require so much iron and copper, right?"
Zhu Yuhuan wiped away his tears and answered honestly, "It's a birthday gift for my mother."
Empress Zhang beckoned, and Wu Miaosu hurried in, holding the tray high in her hand. She said, "Your Majesty, please take a look. This is a birthday gift that the princess personally prepared for the Crown Princess."
Zhu Zhanji raised his eyebrows slightly, a little surprised why Wu Miaosu appeared here, but Empress Zhang was standing there, so she must have known something and did it on purpose.
Zhu Yuhuan was also quite surprised, but when he thought about the fact that Wu Miaosu was Hu Shanwei's favorite disciple and had contacts with Empress Zhang, it was reasonable for Empress Zhang to trust her more.
Zhu Gaochi reached out and lifted the red silk, only to see that it was covered with a wooden box. It looked ordinary, and the edges and corners were even made very roughly. There was really nothing special about it. There was also a stack of paper next to it with many small holes on it. No one knew what it was used for.
Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but wonder, "Is this it? There's not a single bit of copper or iron on it."
Concubine Guo was initially a bit nervous, but upon seeing this, she couldn't help but sneer, "Are you trying to fool His Majesty by bringing this out? There's nothing mysterious about this box."
Wu Miaosu said respectfully, "I was watching while the princess was making this wooden box. Please allow me to use it, Your Majesty."
Zhu Gaochi thought of the strange-shaped bow and arrow thrown on the ground and nodded slightly.
He wanted to see what this little girl was doing with these things!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
