Chapter 90: Finally Home
The military exercises in Huailai lasted for nearly a month. In addition to tactical exercises and battle simulations, all the firearms used in the conquest of Luchuan and the battle against the Oirat in recent years were brought out for display.
Zhu Yuhuan followed Zhu Di's example and trained the army here for many purposes, both external and internal.
The purpose was to tell these small countries that no matter who sat on the throne, the Ming Dynasty was still the same Ming Dynasty and would not be worse than when Zhu Di was still alive. Don't think that you can look down on others just because a woman sat on the throne. If you dare to offend, the Ming Dynasty's muskets will naturally teach them a lesson.
Internally, it was to intimidate relatives like Zhu Huiyan who were still secretly dissatisfied. The command of the Ming army had long been in the hands of the current emperor. Those who were captured were interrogated in the capital and imprisoned behind the high walls of Fengyang. This was because they were all descendants of Taizu. If anyone dared to rebel again, the army would be sent directly, and no matter who your ancestors were, you would be served by the three camps.
After the military exercise, Zhu Yuhuan met with the envoys at the Tumu Fort camp. The scene was more lively than the first meeting.
It was already August when Zhu Yuhuan returned to Beijing from Huailai. After resting for a few days in the capital, the team escorting the envoy headed south from Tianjin Port to Guangdong.
This time, in addition to sending the envoys back to their country, they also sent people to Malacca to replace the crew members who had previously gone south, and brought some food and other supplies to prevent Malacca from running out of food and water.
Coincidentally, not long after Zhu Yuhuan's dragon chariot left Huailai, it began to rain in the north, and it rained for five or six days in a row, which was rare. For a time, rumors inevitably spread in the capital that the emperor could communicate with gods.
Zhu Yuhuan praised the officials of the Academy of Sciences who were studying astronomy. It was because of their observations that they detected the appearance of rain clouds. During this period of time, the muskets had been bombarding wildly, producing countless smoke and particulate matter. When they came into contact with the water vapor in the air, they condensed into rain, which led to the rain.
In this way, locust plagues caused by drought can be avoided as much as possible.
However, as this story was passed on, its meaning changed. Combined with Zhu Yuhuan's former identity as a Taoist priest, it revealed a sense of divine connection.
In addition, this military exercise also had another benefit, which was that it allowed the craftsmen of the Academy of Sciences to test the current level of firearms, so as to further improve the firearms on this basis.
Since there would be no sweet potatoes or corn for the time being, there was no need for Zhu Yuhuan to wait for Western firearms. It was just that it would be time-consuming and laborious to do the research and development himself, and Zhu Yuhuan was not so stingy.
Shortly after the delegation left Beijing, Zhu Youtong and Zhu Hanjia brought the captured Zhu Huixuan to Beijing. Also brought with them was Zhu Huixuan, the heir to the throne. The 52-year-old King Min specifically submitted a petition requesting to go to Beijing to defend himself, and with Zhu Yuhuan's approval, he returned to Beijing with Zhu Youtong.
In terms of seniority, he and Ming Renzong Zhu Gaochi are of the same generation, and can be considered Zhu Yuhuan's elder. But now that the matter has come to an end, how could Zhu Huizhen dare to put on airs? The one who plotted rebellion was his own brother, who was from the same mother. He was so busy clearing his own suspicion that he had no time to act as an elder. Along the way, he was very caring and concerned about Zhu Youtong and Zhu Hanjia, and even brought many paintings, calligraphy and treasures as gifts, and indirectly asked Zhu Youtong to help say a few good words in front of the emperor.
Zhu Youtong pretended not to understand what he meant and only discussed the mystery, but would not accept anything.
How could Zhu Huixuan not understand Zhu Youtong's meaning? He had no choice but to go to Beijing quietly and did not dare to have any more expectations.
As long as the emperor does not implicate the entire line of King Min, he would be willing to lock him up in the high walls of Fengyang.
"Your Majesty, the two eldest princesses and King Min request an audience."
Zhu Yuhuan put down the teacup in his hand and said, "Let them in."
"yes."
Zhu Youtong and Zhu Hanjia both entered the palace after resting in the princess's mansion. They had already changed their clothes and Zhu Youtong brought a large stack of manuscripts with him, which he had someone put in a box and brought into the palace.
With Zhu Huiyan present, Zhu Youtong also bowed politely, which was rare for him, and briefly reported his itinerary in Jiangnan.
Zhu Yuhuan took a quick glance at his two sisters and saw that they were in good spirits and showed no signs of weight loss. Zhu Hanjia had even gained a little weight, which made him feel much more at ease.
After hearing this, Zhu Yuhuan looked at Zhu Huiyan and said with a smile, "Prince Min has come all the way to the capital to pay a visit. What is the important matter?"
Zhu Huixuan quickly knelt and kowtowed, saying, "I earnestly request Your Majesty's permission to enter the capital to pay homage to you regarding the rebellion of Zhu Huixuan, a commoner. I wish to prove the innocence of Prince Min's mansion. This matter has no connection to Prince Min's lineage and is solely the work of Zhu Huixuan. I ask Your Majesty to understand this."
Zhu Yuhuan smiled slightly and asked, "When did I ever say that this matter had anything to do with Prince Min's Palace?"
Zhu Huixuan couldn't guess the emperor's thoughts. He just stared at the floor tiles and said, "Treason is no small matter. Anyone who plots treason will inevitably be implicated. I know I am innocent, but Your Majesty is far away in the capital. I am worried that my defense will not reach the emperor directly. Therefore, I implore Your Majesty to allow me to enter the capital and testify before the emperor."
Zhu Yuhuan narrowed his eyes slightly, and the eunuch beside him understood and reached out to help Zhu Huixun stand up.
"Prince Min, don't worry. The Miao native officials have already reported the whole story to me. I understand that this matter has nothing to do with Prince Min's lineage." Zhu Yuhuan smiled gently as he looked at Zhu Huixuan before him. "Prince Min is my elder, older, and more experienced. In your opinion, how should I deal with Zhu Huixuan?"
Zhu Huixun had dared to personally enter the capital to meet the emperor, so he had naturally anticipated this question. He immediately responded with a humble and submissive attitude, "I, Zhu Huixun, the commoner, dared to collude with the Miao people to rebel. Fortunately, Your Majesty's grace and power have prevented this from happening. However, the crime of treason is unforgivable. I implore Your Majesty to execute this commoner!"
Zhu Youtong and Zhu Hanjia beside them remained silent, just looking at the green-glazed tea bowls in their hands.
Zhu Yuhuan received a satisfactory answer and said, "Prince Min is absolutely right. Cui Lian, pass the word down that the commoner Zhu Huixuan be imprisoned and executed on a later date."
"yes."
Zhu Huixuan heard that the matter of his biological brother had been settled. He suppressed his weakness and did not behave rudely in front of the emperor. He simply bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise."
After Prince Min Zhu Huixun left, Zhu Youtong hesitantly asked, "Sister...isn't this a bit too cruel..."
When Zhu Yuhuan encountered such a situation before, he would at most lock them up in the high walls of Fengyang. But now he was going to execute them directly, and it took Zhu Huixuan's brother, King Min, to speak up in person.
Zhu Yuhuan leaned back in his chair, his expression more relaxed and comfortable. He said, "If I don't let him speak in person, I'm afraid he'll be anxious again, worrying that I have ulterior motives. In that case, it's better to give them two brothers a quick death."
Zhu Youtong thought it made sense, so he stopped thinking about it and said with a smile: "Sister, you don't know yet, but we encountered many interesting things during our trip to Jiangnan this time -"
Seeing her eagerness to share, Zhu Yuhuan quickly stopped her and said, "If you have anything to say, wait until you see mother. Otherwise, we'll have to trouble our eldest princess to tell you again. Mother has been looking forward to your return and has asked the kitchen to prepare a lot of delicious food."
Zhu Youtong said coquettishly: "Then sister, come back with me!"
"Okay." Zhu Yuhuan looked at Zhu Hanjia who was silent beside him and said, "Jiajia, your mother misses you too. Go back and see her."
Zhu Hanjia was slightly stunned, but finally nodded and said, "What about Jiangnan..."
Zhu Yuhuan soothed her, "There's no rush. I'm free today and won't be attending the lecture. Let's talk slowly, sisters."
"yes."
The two sisters have been away from Beijing for more than two years and have not returned. They are less childish and more mature than before.
But when standing in front of the gate of Kangning Palace, Zhu Hanjia couldn't help feeling a little hesitant, not knowing whether he should go in to see his mother.
"Your Highness?"
Zhu Hanjia raised his eyes slightly and saw the palace maid beside Sun Mengqiu holding a medicine pot in her hand with a look of surprise on her face.
Zhu Hanjia then walked into Kangning Palace and asked, "Why did mother suddenly take medicine? What disease did she have?"
The palace maid muttered, "It's a symptom left over from the birth... The Empress has been depressed these past few years, and this ailment often flares up..."
Zhu Hanjia sighed silently and said, "Mother, don't you want the doctor to see her?"
The palace maid didn't expect her guess to be so accurate. She whispered softly, "Yes... The Saint has sent female doctors here many times, but the Imperial Concubine has forbidden them to see the patient... Only once, when they secretly came in to see the Imperial Concubine while she was asleep, and then prescribed medicine for her to take..."
Zhu Hanjia lowered his eyes, but finally mustered up the courage to walk inside.
Sun Mengqiu was sitting in the hall, pruning a pot of flowers.
Seeing this, Zhu Hanjia couldn't help but stop and just looked at Sun Mengqiu in the hall quietly.
She used to like bustles the most and dislike silence, but now the Corning Palace is desolate.
As if sensing something, Sun Mengqiu raised her head slightly and looked outside the door. Seeing that it was her daughter, she was slightly startled. After a long while, she suddenly stood up. She looked Zhu Hanjia up and down, her lips trembling slightly. Finally, she just asked, "What are you doing back? Didn't you go to do errands for the emperor?"
Zhu Hanjia hadn't expected his mother's first words to be like this. He froze in his tracks for a long time before saying, "The errand... has been completed..."
Sun Mengqiu placed the copper scissors on the table and said with a stern face, "Then go back to your princess's mansion and don't come to see me."
Zhu Hanjia wanted to cry, but she held it back and said, "Big sister won't blame me. If she really wanted to blame me, why would she help me get a divorce, and why would she let me go south with my second sister?"
Sun Mengqiu just stared at her in silence for a long time before saying, "Aren't you afraid that I'll drag you down? Perhaps one day, the emperor will hold the Sun family accountable for their crimes..."
"But I will always be my mother's daughter."
Sun Mengqiu finally shed tears and said, "I'm a burden to you..."
Zhu Hanjia went forward and hugged his mother, patting her back gently and saying softly, "It's okay..."
In Shouning Palace, Hu Shanxiang and her two daughters were in a harmonious atmosphere. Zhu Youtong had been away for a while, and when he ate the food from the small kitchen again, his face was full of satisfaction, and he said, "This is what it feels like to be home."
Hu Shanxiang was a little amused and said, "I heard from your sister that you and Jiajia went to Yunnan together when you went south this time."
"We were originally going to Nanzhili, but Jiajia said others might deliberately inquire about our whereabouts, so it would be better to go somewhere else first. So we went to Jiangxi first, then to Nanzhili, and secretly inspected and investigated a circle before finally heading towards Yunnan." Zhu Youtong said with some pride, "Yunnan is where my sister personally supervised the land reform, so of course I had to go and see it. I even painted a lot of scrolls."
After saying this, she asked someone to bring her painting box.
Zhu Yuhuan quickly stopped her and said, "Wait until you finish your lunch first."
Zhu Youtong seemed to have thought of something and said excitedly, "Sister, you may not know that there are local people in Yunnan helping you build a shrine!"
Zhu Yuhuan found it a bit funny that she seemed to have grasped some new information. He pretended not to know and said, "Why haven't I heard of it?"
In fact, Mu Bin had already submitted a request to Zhu Yuhuan shortly after he ascended the throne, but Zhu Yuhuan had not yet changed the reign title, so he refused. In the second year of Yuanguang, when Zhu Yuhuan was 30 years old, Mu Bin applied again, and this time Zhu Yuhuan did not refuse. This is how the emperor's ancestral temple was built in Yunnan.
Zhu Youtong was now interested and immediately described the emperor's shrine he had seen in Kunming.
Zhu Yuhuan waited patiently until his sister finished speaking before speaking: "I have had the memorials for you and Jiajia sorted out. You can stay in the palace for the next few days."
Seeing her serious expression, Zhu Youtong asked curiously, "Why? Did something happen in the court?"
Zhu Yuhuan said calmly, "I will issue an edict to make you and Jiajia kings."
Hu Shanxiang and Zhu Youtong were both a little surprised when these words came out. Zhu Youtong even stood up and said, "Ah? Become a king?" She hesitated a little and said, "But I don't have the merits like my sister. If my sister rashly makes me a king, there will definitely be people who object. Wouldn't that cause trouble for my sister..."
Zhu Youtong believed that his sister was gifted, skilled in both civil and military affairs, and had made many contributions, so becoming emperor was a natural choice. However, since she herself only enjoyed calligraphy, painting, and music theory and had not made any significant contributions to the country, it seemed unsuitable for her to be crowned a queen.
Zhu Yuhuan smiled helplessly and said, "Have my fifth and tenth uncles ever made any significant contributions? Since my grandfather's generation, how many vassal kings have actually benefited our country?"
Zhu Youtong blinked, but couldn't help asking, "What if my sister and the ministers quarrel?"
Zhu Yuhuan was amused by her words and asked, "Why aren't you afraid that I will fight with them?"
Zhu Youtong slammed the table and said, "How dare they! It's easy for me to beat up these old men!"
Upon hearing this, the palace maids in the hall lowered their heads and tried to suppress their laughter, for fear of being seen.
Zhu Yuhuan shook his head helplessly.
She trained with the army in Huailai for a month, and after returning to Beijing, she slacked off for a while. She really couldn't guarantee whether she could fight with those ministers who were holding tablets and using their hands and feet.
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