Chapter 74 Hearts
The news that Aluta's people were causing trouble in the city and were shot with a hidden arrow soon reached Zhu Zhanji's ears. When he saw that the incident happened near Taiping Teahouse, Zhu Zhanji immediately understood who was the culprit behind the hidden arrow.
Who else could it be besides his sweet daughter? No wonder the people from the Military Affairs Division left the matter unresolved.
Zhu Zhanji had long felt that it was troublesome for Aluta's people to continue staying in the capital, and now this incident gave him an excuse. Therefore, he immediately issued an edict to reprimand Aluta, asking them to leave the capital as soon as possible and only allow simple trade at the border. If they were still not satisfied, they would not be allowed to come again.
Aluta had something to ask of the Ming Dynasty. Although he did not find out who the person who provoked him that day was, he had no choice but to give up and leave the capital.
After this treatment, Zhu Zhanji felt refreshed. He thought his daughter had really done what he wanted. He summoned his daughter to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, specially gave her a seat next to him, praised her highly, and rewarded her with many good things.
Zhu Yuhuan was not arrogant. He just spoke as if he was talking about a family matter: "Alutai has only survived so far by taking advantage of the convenience of hiding in the desert. He is just an old dog, and he dares to bark."
These words touched Zhu Zhanji's heart. He put his arm around his daughter's shoulders and said with a smile, "People say daughters are the most caring. Huanhuan really understands daddy's thoughts."
Zhu Yuhuan chuckled and, like a magician, pulled out a small ceramic bird and handed it to Zhu Zhanji, saying, "I bought this outside the palace. It was originally a pair. I gave one to Yu Ge'er. Daddy, please help Huanhuan take the other one to Zhen Ge'er for me."
Zhu Zhanji looked at the pottery bird lying in her palm and asked in confusion, "Why don't you send it yourself?"
Zhu Yuhuan seemed a little hesitant, and finally just said: "I heard that my brother has not adapted to the Imperial Concubine's Palace yet, and it is inevitable that he is unwell. Huanhuan does not want to disturb his rest."
Zhu Zhanji's brows relaxed when he heard this. He smiled and took the little gadget from his daughter's hand, saying, "Daddy promises to bring the things over. Don't worry."
Although he said this, Zhu Zhanji could not help but feel some resentment and helplessness towards Concubine Sun. Concubine Sun had a desire to regain the eldest prince, so it was inevitable that she would watch over him more strictly.
But no matter who the eldest prince was raised by, it did not change the fact that he was Concubine Sun's biological son. Why did she deliberately separate the eldest prince from the other princes and princesses? Wouldn't this hurt the relationship between the brothers and sisters? Huanhuan didn't even treat his two younger brothers as outsiders, but Concubine Sun was the first to draw a clear line between the brothers and sisters, which only caused trouble.
When the virtuous concubine gave birth to the emperor's second son, she did not hide him away like a treasure. No matter how many people came and went every day, the emperor's second son never cried or made a fuss. Instead, he was always cheerful.
The Imperial Concubine was so good, hiding the eldest prince in the palace and not allowing him to see anyone. What would people think if they saw him? Why didn't he realize that the Imperial Concubine was also petty?
Seeing Zhu Zhanji remained silent, Zhu Yuhuan shook his arm and said, "Dad, have you visited Yu Ge'er recently? He has really become a big white bun in Tongtong's mouth. Plus, the weather has been hot recently, so he wears a bellyband and a gauze dress. He looks like a lucky doll in a fairy painting."
Zhu Zhanji thought that he had not visited the second prince for some time, so he smiled and said, "Okay, let's go see Yu'er together today." After that, he gave an order to Wang Jin, asking him to go to the inner treasury to find some interesting things and bring them to the second prince.
Since she had a child, and her younger brother Wu An returned to Beijing and was awarded the honorary title of Deputy Captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and her mother Shen also left the palace to reunite with her younger brother, Wu Miaosu's life became simpler. Every day she read, embroidered, took care of her son, and chatted with the concubines who came to visit Zhu Qiyu.
For her, the most important thing is to ensure that the second prince grows up safely and healthily, so as to protect the empress and the princess.
The summer was extremely hot, but fortunately there were many trees and fragrant herbs in Wu Miaosu's palace, which provided shade. It was not too hot in the morning, so Wu Miaosu took Zhu Qiyu to relax in the cool air in the yard.
"Your Majesty has arrived."
Wu Miaosu put down the book in her hand, stood up and saluted Zhu Zhanji, "I pay my respects to Your Majesty."
Seeing this, the wet nurse beside him hurriedly took Zhu Qiyu to pay his respects to the emperor.
Zhu Yuhuan greeted her obediently, "Hello, Madam Wu."
Before Wu Miaosu could finish her formalities, Zhu Zhanji helped her to her feet and said, "What's the point of all this empty formalities?" He looked around and didn't see the expected person, so he asked, "Is the Queen not here today? I've heard people say that the Queen often comes to your palace to visit Yu'er."
Wu Miaosu smiled and said, "How can I ask Her Majesty to visit me every day? But Her Majesty said that the weather was too hot and would not allow me to take Yu'er to Kunning Palace, so I had no choice but to give up." She was wearing a gauze dress, which was quite cool. Seeing that both the father and daughter had sweat on their foreheads, she asked someone to bring them some steamed fruits to cool them down.
Wang Jin had the things brought in and said with a smile, "These are all goodies that the emperor took out from the inner treasury. They are all prepared for my brother."
Wu Miaosu exclaimed, "Your Majesty, why are you bringing all this? There are already many toys for children in the palace. It would be a waste to take more."
Zhu Zhanji, however, did not take it seriously and said, "Why save on such a small thing? There will be more in the future."
The chubby white Zhu Qiyu was babbling in his wet nurse's arms. The little guy was waving his white and tender arms like lotus roots, obviously very curious about Zhu Zhanji.
Zhu Zhanji could not help but happily took Zhu Qiyu, hugged him in his arms and said: "Good boy, you can't tell, he feels so heavy in my arms."
Wu Miaosu said with a smile: "He was not so white and fat originally, but the sisters in the palace often came to visit, and the Queen Mother taught me many ways to take care of children. The Empress Dowager even assigned a wet nurse, so he was raised to look like the piglet he is now. He didn't eat so much originally." After that, she reached out and gently pinched Zhu Qiyu's little face. The ignorant Zhu Qiyu didn't understand why and just giggled.
Zhu Zhanji said with a smile: "Then he has to learn more from his sister. Huanhuan is a girl who tries her best in everything she does, even when she was a baby."
Seeing Wu Miaosu looking at him, Zhu Yuhuan's face flushed inwardly, and he immediately denied it, "How could I not know? Daddy, please don't talk nonsense. Isn't this destroying my image as the eldest sister in Yu Ge'er's heart?"
Zhu Zhanji held Zhu Qiyu in his arms and sat down, teasing him with the jade ring hanging around his neck. He said, "You were only born that year, so of course I don't remember. You were so hard drinking that the wet nurse was frightened. In order to keep you full, several wet nurses took turns feeding you. When your great-grandfather heard about this, he said that you must have suffered injustice and were born into our family in this life. We must take good care of you."
Zhu Yuhuan couldn't help but complain in his heart, isn't his great-grandfather saying that she is the reincarnation of a starving ghost?
She had no choice. If anyone found themselves transformed into a baby, wouldn't their first reaction be to suckle hard to stay alive? She didn't want to die young.
Wu Miaosu, who was fanning the father and son with a round fan, smiled and said, "The Emperor Taizong is indeed far-sighted... Your Majesty and the Empress have raised the princess with such care, and the princess has made many contributions."
Zhu Qiyu was in Zhu Zhanji's arms. When he saw Zhu Yuhuan standing beside him, he immediately stretched out his hand to her.
Zhu Yuhuan often came to visit Concubine Xian's palace, so in Zhu Qiyu's eyes he was naturally an "acquaintance". This is how children are, they can't live without whoever is around them.
Wu Miaosu's words resonated with Zhu Zhanji. Seeing Zhu Qiyu getting close to his sister, Zhu Zhanji smiled and said, "Our Huanhuan is also a lucky star from heaven. With you taking care of your brothers, Daddy is much more relieved."
Zhu Yuhuan held Zhu Qiyu's little hand, looked into his still clear eyes, and said gently: "Huanhuan takes care of the brothers now, but in the future, the brothers will have to take care of me."
Zhu Zhanji was amused by her words and said, "With your two brothers, our Huanhuan will have a good life wherever he goes."
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