If not abolished

Chapter 154 Strange Chapter

"Father always said that my brother was kind-hearted and loyal. But today I see that he is just a facade." Zhu Gaoxu stood aside with his hands on his chest and spoke in a voice that both of them could hear.

"I don't quite understand what you are saying, second brother?" Zhu Gaochi looked at him innocently.

"Your Majesty, my brother, usually pretends to be a friendly and respectful brother in front of the emperor, but you don't have to pretend in front of me. Why is the time of our father's return different from what was agreed in advance? You knew it in advance, but informed me at the last minute. Did you do it on purpose? Do you want me to be punished by the emperor for my improper behavior in welcoming him, just like you did in person?" Zhu Gaoxu asked.

Zhu Gaochi still smiled and said, "Second brother, you really misunderstood me. I only learned the news early this morning. You know, I did suffer in this regard before, so I was in a hurry and afraid this time. I immediately sent someone to inform you, could it be that the person sent was too late? Don't worry, my slave. I will punish those people severely after the matter is over. Can't you handle such a small matter? Don't worry, second brother."

Zhu Gaoxu rolled his eyes at him and said nothing. He knew the prince's mouth well. A few more words could make people angry to death. Even his father might not be able to make sense in his hands.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Zhu Gaochi didn't say anything either. The two brothers stood there in silence waiting for Zhu Di's procession.

Half an hour later, they finally saw the team coming, and everyone knelt down and kowtowed.

"Welcome Your Majesty back to the palace. Long live His Majesty!" everyone said in unison.

Zhu Di got off the carriage, looked at them, and nodded, "Everyone get up."

"Father, you have worked hard on the journey." Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu got up and walked over immediately. However, Zhu Gaochi was not mobile and it was snowing, so it was difficult for him to walk and he had to be supported by someone, so he did not walk as fast as Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaoxu went to Zhu Di first and said, "Father, you see, my brother is really undermining the dignity of the royal family." Zhu Gaoxu really had to complain.

"Majesty is not just about appearance. It's mainly about being able to make people obey. In this respect, you have never been able to compare with the prince, and yet you keep complaining here every day. Besides, he is the prince and your elder brother. If he damages the royal dignity, you will lose face. Are you stupid?" Zhu Di always liked this son. He was like him in many ways. He indeed looked much better than the prince and was both civil and martial. But sometimes, what he did really made him doubt. He was his son, how could he be so stupid?

"I..." Zhu Gaoxu didn't understand. He had been like this before, so why was he scolded this time? His father had obviously been disgusted by the prince's pig-like body before, and had even ordered the prince to eat less and not eat too much. Why was he scolding him now? He was right. The prince needed someone to support him when he walked. Wasn't that embarrassing?

After a while, Zhu Gaochi walked up to Zhu Di and greeted him.

Zhu Di looked at him with satisfaction and said, "Thank you for your hard work in returning so hastily this time."

"This is what a son should do. It's not hard, but father is the one who has hard time," said the prince.

"Father, look at what my brother has prepared. It's not generous at all. In my opinion, my brother still hasn't learned his lesson from last time." Zhu Gaoxu came again to say that Zhu Gaochi's reception was not done well. Zhu Di could not tolerate this, after all, Zhu Di had scolded the prince last time and also locked up a group of people around him.

"Father, the reception this time was indeed a little..." Zhu Gaochi immediately admitted his mistake, fearing that it would be the same as last time.

But he was interrupted by Zhu Di, "You're almost there. I came back in a hurry this time. It's good enough that I can do this. Besides, why did you let so many people come here in this cold weather? You don't know how to be considerate of others. Stop talking and go back to the palace." Zhu Di was really tired along the way. He had to face his son's noise as soon as he came back. It was a headache.

When they arrived at the palace, Concubine Wang and the concubines also welcomed Zhu Di in the Yikun Palace.

When it was almost time, Zhu Di asked everyone to go back.

"Your Majesty is finally back. I thought you were going to say something wrong." She started talking after Concubine Wang and others left.

"I promised, how could I go back on my word? Besides, didn't I say that due to the emergency in Yong'an, I will stay a few more days?"

"I understand. Your Majesty must be tired from the journey. Would you like to take a good rest first?"

Zhu Di lay on Concubine Wang's lap, but he didn't fall asleep. After a while, he suddenly asked, "Is everything going well in the palace during this period?"

"There is nothing major happening in the harem. I don't understand what happened in the previous dynasty. I just heard from the Crown Princess that the Crown Prince has been very hard-working recently."

"I know the prince has a hard time. I scolded him when I came back from the expedition that year and locked up everyone around him. He couldn't let go of his work. Do you think I was too harsh on the prince?"

"Your Majesty and the Crown Prince are one the Emperor and the other the heir apparent. They are destined not to have the same affection as ordinary fathers and sons. Your strict requirements on the Crown Prince are also for his own good." Concubine Wang comforted.

Zhu Di sighed and said, "If the Crown Prince does not do well, I am afraid that he will not be able to shoulder the responsibility of the country in the future. If the Crown Prince does too well, I am worried that he may have second thoughts. It has been difficult for him for so many years. In fact, the court is full of the Crown Prince's people. If he really wants to rebel, I may not be able to do anything about it."

"What are you talking about, Your Majesty? The Crown Prince won't do that. Gao Chi has always been a loyal and honest child, and he has always respected Your Majesty as his father. The Crown Prince will definitely not do that."

"I know. Taizu said the same thing back then." Zhu Di knew in his heart that the prince would not rebel. To this day, he no longer had any intention of changing Chu. Among his three sons, if the prince was not qualified, the other two would be even less qualified.

"Since Your Majesty knows this, perhaps sometimes it is not good to let the Crown Prince always feel that you don't care about him. Putting aside the identities of Your Majesty and the Crown Prince, you are still father and son." Concubine Wang said finally.

Zhu Di closed his eyes and said nothing more.

The next day, Zhu Di checked the situation of the crown prince's regency as usual.

"The Crown Prince has done a good job during this period." Zhu Di said as he looked at the memorial.

Several ministers looked at each other, not knowing whether to praise or... After all, there was a lesson from before. Didn't they see someone praising the prince for doing a good job in front of His Majesty before, and then he was beaten? What should they say now? Saying that the prince is not good is not okay, what will happen when His Majesty comes to hold him accountable? So no one spoke for the time being, and no one knew what to say for a while.

"What's wrong? No one dares to speak. Forget it, I don't think you can say anything." Zhu Di saw that no one spoke.

Zhu Di suddenly had the urge to go back, "Stop."

"Your Majesty, do you have any instructions?" Wang Jinghong came over and asked.

"Is that the East Palace in front?" Zhu Di asked.

Wang Jinghong took a look and said, "Your Majesty, is it true?"

"I'll come down for a walk."

"Your Majesty." Wang Jinghong had no choice but to follow.

When Zhu Di was about to walk to the East Palace, he suddenly stopped. Wang Jinghong asked, "Your Majesty, do you want me to inform the Crown Prince to send someone to meet you?"

"Forget it, let's go back." Zhu Di thought about it and prepared to go back. Just as he was about to turn around, he saw the door open.

Zhu Zhanji led Jiaxing out.

"Grandpa Emperor, why are you here?" Zhu Zhanji was also surprised when he saw Zhu Di.

"I'm just passing by, passing by." Zhu Di immediately changed the subject, "Are you going out?"

"Well, Jiaxing wanted to come out to play snowballs, but her mother was afraid that she would catch a cold, so she wouldn't let her out. So the girl begged me to take her out," said Zhu Zhanji.

After Jiaxing paid her respects to Zhu Di, she didn't say much. She had rarely seen Zhu Di and was still a little afraid of the emperor.

Zhu Di looked at his granddaughter and said, "Your mother is right. It's too cold outside. You can just go to the yard and play for a while."

Jiaxing nodded timidly.

Zhu Zhanji still felt that the emperor was a little strange today, but he couldn't put it into words.

"Well, is the prince here?"

"Father is here, I'll go call him over right away." Zhu Zhanji said as he was about to go in and call for help.

"Well, I'll just go in like this, no need to say anything specifically." Zhu Di stopped him.

"Ah..." Zhu Zhanji was even more confused.

"Jiaxing, right? Can you take the emperor to find father?" Zhu Di said as he squatted down and held her hand.

"Okay." Jiaxing led Zhu Di in.

Afterwards, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess saw Zhu Di walking in with Jiaxing, and they almost dropped their jaws in shock.

"See Father."

"Get up, no need to be polite."

"I wonder why my father is here today?" Zhu Gaochi asked.

"Don't panic, I'm fine."

These words did not sound right to Zhu Gaochi, and he was still worried.

As if to prove his words, Zhu Di actually started playing with Jiaxing.

"Jiaxing wants to play in the snow, right?" Zhu Di asked with a smile.

"Yeah." Jiaxing nodded.

"Come on, Grandpa Emperor will take you to the yard to play." Zhu Di then took her to the yard to play.

The other three people were left confused.

"What's going on with Agui?" Zhu Gaochi asked in confusion.

Zhu Zhanji spread his hands to indicate that he didn't know either, so the three of them had to go out and watch them.

Later, when the prince and his men were seeing Zhu Di off at the gate, Zhu Di suddenly said, "Prince, please walk with me."

"Yes."

At first, neither of them spoke. Zhu Gaochi didn't understand what was going on today and didn't know how to start.

Zhu Di didn't know how to start, so he finally said, "Today when I was playing with Jiaxing, I thought of your childhood. It was the same. At that time, it snowed, and if you wanted to go out to play, I would accompany you. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye."

"Father..."

"Is it strange that I suddenly said these words?"

"Yes, a little bit." Zhu Gaochi nodded.

"Maybe I'm getting old, and I just think of your childhood. When I think of it, I feel a little..." Zhu Di rarely was so sentimental.

"Father came here today just to talk about this."

"I...what should I say? Anyway, do your best and don't be afraid. Father is here. It's ok."

"Yes." Zhu Gaochi was still confused.