Chapter 89 A Cloud
After making some witty remarks, Zhu Qizhen finally got down to business: "The Ministry of Rites has just submitted a list of titles for mother, and I'm a bit hesitant. Why don't you choose one yourself?"
After saying this, he gave Wang Zhen a look, indicating that he should take out the calligraphy presented by the Ministry of Rites.
Hu Shanxiang was startled and quickly stopped Zhu Qizhen, saying, "The title was chosen by your majesty and the court officials together. How can you let me choose it myself? Your majesty, absolutely not!"
When Zhu Zhanji was alive, he never discussed topics related to the previous dynasty's political affairs in the harem. Even when talking about his mother, Empress Dowager Zhang, Zhu Zhanji only mentioned her occasionally. Empress Dowager Zhang never asked any additional questions, let alone asked her directly like Zhu Qizhen.
Zhu Qizhen didn't care and said, "Anyway, we are the only ones here and no one else knows." After saying that, he glanced at Wang Zhen.
Wang Zhen immediately said obediently, "I will definitely not tell anyone."
Seeing this, Zhu Yuhuan spoke up, "This title is meant to reflect your majesty's filial piety. Of course, it must be chosen personally to demonstrate your majesty's benevolent and filial rule. The Ministry of Rites is well aware of this, and the characters they send are undoubtedly of the highest quality. If your majesty is concerned, you can have an official from the Ministry of Rites explain the meaning in detail in person." She added, "In a few years, your majesty can personally choose the title for Grandma, further demonstrating your sincerity and filial piety."
Empress Dowager Zhang was the first Grand Empress Dowager of the Ming Dynasty, which was already extremely honorable, but it was okay to add another title, after all, it was a matter between the two of them.
After hearing Zhu Yuhuan's heartfelt words for his own good, Zhu Qizhen nodded in understanding and said, "I understand everything my sister said. Minister Hu is here, so I will ask him to explain them one by one to me. I will definitely choose the most suitable honorific title for mother."
In the afternoon, Zhu Qizhen had to return to the Qianqing Palace to continue reading government documents, and also summon Hu Yi to inquire about the title of emperor, so he had to leave without taking a rest.
Zhu Yuhuan noticed that the collar of Zhu Qizhen's round-necked robe was a little crooked, so he reached out to help him straighten it. He then said to Wang Zhen, "The weather hasn't warmed up yet. Your Majesty is young, so you should be more careful about your clothes. You should wear a scarf next time."
Zhu Qizhen came back to his senses and said to Wang Zhen, "Where's the scarf my sister made for me earlier? Take it out and use it for the next few days."
Wang Zhen responded quickly.
Zhu Yuhuan smiled and said, "Your Majesty has grown up now. The ear-warming scarf I made earlier is definitely not suitable. I will ask the people around me to make a few more for you later."
Zhu Qizhen responded cheerfully, saying, "The ones my sister made before were pretty good. If you have time, please make a few more for me. Winter is still early anyway."
Zhu Yuhuan did not refuse, but personally sent Zhu Qizhen to the door and reminded him: "Zhen'er, don't forget to pay your respects to Empress Sun..." After she finished speaking, she saw that Zhu Qizhen and Wang Zhen were both stunned, as if they realized that they had overstepped their bounds, and then she continued: "Your Majesty, don't forget to pay your respects."
Zhu Qizhen readily agreed. Just as he was about to get on the imperial carriage, he returned to Zhu Yuhuan and said, "Sister, can you still call me Brother Zhen from now on? Father said that we are siblings, not strangers, and we should support each other."
Zhu Yuhuan knew that he was getting close to him right now, so he smiled and said, "You can do that in private, but in front of everyone, you still have to address me as 'Princess' and 'Your Majesty'. Otherwise, it will be beneath Your Majesty's dignity, and the civil and military officials will gossip about it."
Zhu Qizhen nodded vigorously and said, "I remember." He looked at Zhu Yuhuan and thought for a moment, then asked, "Sister?"
Zhu Yuhuan replied, "Zhen'er."
Zhu Qizhen was in a good mood. He turned around and got on the carriage. He said to Zhu Yuhuan, "Sister, I will go to pay my respects to mother first. I will come back to visit her in a few days."
"good."
Zhu Yuhuan watched Zhu Qizhen leave. When he saw a palace maid passing by and secretly looking at him, he turned around and returned to Kunning Palace.
Han Guilan followed her and said, "Your Highness is trying to persuade the Emperor to go to the Imperial Concubine, but the Imperial Concubine may not appreciate it."
Zhu Yuhuan smiled and said, "We have to persuade him, and let everyone see that we have persuaded him. Otherwise, won't we be the one who is at a disadvantage?"
Han Guilan nodded heavily and said, "Your Highness is right."
The two walked through the porch and entered Zhu Yuhuan's yard. They watched the branches in the yard gradually turn green, indicating that the weather was gradually warming up.
It was not until they entered the house that Zhu Yuhuan asked, "By the way, is there any news from Madam Huang?"
Han Guilan personally helped Zhu Yuhuan make tea and said, "The palace has been under strict security recently, making communication difficult. I don't know the details of what's going on, but Lady Huang is getting more and more competent. It's reasonable for her to take money to Liaodong to purchase land under His Highness' orders, and there shouldn't be any mistakes."
Zhu Yuhuan sighed and said, "I hope everything goes well."
Zhu Zhanji had previously declined Zhu Yuhuan's proposal, so Zhu Yuhuan could only find a solution from other places. Fortunately, he was still able to leave the palace before Zhu Zhanji died. Zhu Yuhuan specifically instructed Huang Jinfeng to go to Jizhen or further north to purchase land and hire people to grow sorghum. Regardless of whether there was a harvest or not, wages and food would be paid.
Anyway, you are the one who pays and works for it, and you are responsible for your own profits and losses.
Han Guilan comforted him, “Madam Huang is no longer the same Madam Huang as before, not to mention that she is originally from the border, and it is easier to deal with her than Shen Sanfang, so your highness can rest assured.”
"That's true..." Zhu Yuhuan held his chin with one hand, looked at the sky outside the window, and said, "It's not convenient for me to leave the palace now, so I can only wait for news."
Elsewhere, after the emperor's carriage had moved some distance away, Wang Zhen finally spoke up and asked, "Your Majesty, is the dragon chariot heading to Changle Palace now? Empress Sun has not seen Your Majesty for a long time, and she must be thinking of you."
Zhu Qizhen yawned, his tone becoming a little sleepier as he said, "Since my sister has said so, let's go to Changle Palace. Since we have already paid our respects to Grandma, we can't not go and pay our respects to Mother."
Wang Zhen quickly said, "Yes."
He couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Now that the Prince has become the Emperor, he still listens to Princess Shunde's words, which shows that he values the princess very much.
Wang Zhen was still the person that Concubine Sun had originally assigned to be by her son's side, so naturally he would speak on Concubine Sun's behalf. However, Wang Zhen couldn't help but weigh the pros and cons of Princess Shunde and Concubine Sun, and it seemed that he would still favor Princess Shunde.
Concubine Sun finally waited for the news that her son was coming, and immediately asked someone to call Zhu Hanjia as well. After hearing the announcement, she went to the door to greet the emperor.
Seeing his biological mother and sister standing at the gate waiting for him, Zhu Qizhen's heart softened. After getting off the sedan chair, he said, "The weather is still a bit cold. My eldest sister told me to wear more clothes. Why are mother and third sister waiting at the palace gate?"
When Zhu Hanjia heard him mention his elder sister, she immediately felt something was wrong and tried to smooth things over, saying, "Your Majesty has specially put down his official duties to come and pay his respects to Mother. How can he just stand outside?"
Even though Concubine Sun understood the etiquette, Zhu Qizhen was her son after ten months of pregnancy and she gave birth to him with great difficulty. Naturally, she hoped that Zhu Qizhen could be closer to her. After all, the three of them were the real mother and son, and being taken away by Empress Dowager Zhang was a last resort.
It would have been fine if Empress Dowager Zhang had raised the emperor, but now even the empress was in front of her, her biological mother. It was really hard for Concubine Sun to accept this.
Princess Shunde, Princess Shunde again, like a dark cloud hanging over Sun Mengqiu's head. No matter how she walked or ran, she couldn't escape...
Fortunately, Zhu Hanjia's words helped Concubine Sun break free from her thoughts, and the anger that was about to rise in her heart was suppressed.
Concubine Sun forced a smile and said, "Yes, please come in quickly. I haven't seen you for a long time and I really miss you..."
After all, the mother-son relationship cannot be developed overnight, so she can only try her best to repair it.
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