King of Han Dynasty of Ming Dynasty

evening.

The prince's residence.

The three brothers Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui rode in a carriage and headed straight for the gate.

The guards who were waiting at the door to protect the safety, when they heard the noise, suddenly held their breath and tightened the hilts of the swords across their waists, staring straight at the three carriages that had just appeared in the street one after another and made quite a noise, standing in front of them, alert.

After a while.

After seeing the appearance of the leading carriage clearly, he couldn't help but relax the expression of holding his breath while tightly gripping the hilt of the knife, and then sent someone to report that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had returned home. After all, the Crown Princess had instructed them to pay close attention and inform her as soon as they saw the Crown Prince's carriage returning home.

At the same time, he also informed the guards that Prince Zhao would return to the capital today, and a welcoming banquet for Prince Zhao would be held at the Prince's residence. He asked the guards to be alert and not to allow any problems to occur.

Not long after.

The carriages carrying the three people stopped steadily in front of the prince's residence.

Seeing this, the guards who knew the situation did not dare to be negligent in the slightest. They all stepped forward to help, bowed respectfully and said:

"Your humble servant pays respect to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Prince Han, and Prince Zhao."

Zhu Gaochi, who got off the carriage first, as the host and master of the place, waved to the guards who were saluting, and then without any airs, he quickly stepped forward and stretched out his hands to hold the two people who had just got off the carriage, Zhao Wang and Zhu Gaoxu, and said:
“Go, go, go”

"Everyone has been busy all day."

"I think everyone's stomach is growling with hunger, so don't be polite or talk about the ceremony."

"Come in quickly!"

"I think by now your sister-in-law has already prepared everything and is waiting for the three of us brothers to come back home to have dinner together."

In response to this, Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui looked at each other, smiled without comment, and did not say much. They just nodded in agreement with a smile. After all, to be honest, not only the prince felt hungry, but the two of them were not in a good situation either.

Just like what the prince said, the three of them were really busy all day today. They only drank a few sips of water to moisten their throats from beginning to end. They really didn't eat anything else. They were so hungry that their stomachs growled countless times.

In this situation, if you still want to be polite and show off, you are a complete fool.

Of course, the most important point is that the place for today's meal is the prince's residence. The three of them are brothers from the same mother, so it can be said to be a true family dinner. In this case, why would there be so much to be particular about?
Then shouldn't we do whatever makes us feel comfortable and happy?

After so many years, who doesn't know each other's character? Why are you pretending to be so high and mighty?

Afterwards, the three of them did not stay for too long and walked towards the mansion talking and laughing.

Inside the mansion.

The Crown Princess received a report from her subordinates and learned that the three people would be home soon. Without the slightest hesitation, she hurriedly called upon the servants to give orders, asking them to serve the dishes and warm the wine. She was very busy and had a great time.

However, compared to the busy crowd, Zhu Zhanji, the crown prince, was sitting on a chair, shaking his legs from time to time, staring at the busy people in front of him with a bored look on his face, his eyes spinning from time to time in his half-closed pupils, and no one knew what he was thinking about.

When the arrangements were almost done, the Crown Princess paused and seemed to have thought of something. She turned her head to look at her son who was silent and dazed, and greeted him softly, saying:
“Zhanji!!”

"What are you thinking about?"

After hearing this, Zhu Zhanji, who was originally in a daze, suddenly came to his senses and replied:
"Nothing."

"I'm just a little bored. I don't know what to do. I'm just in a daze."

"Does mother have any instructions?"

The Crown Princess seemed to have thought of something. Her originally peaceful expression suddenly became extremely solemn. Her pupils shrank involuntarily and she warned,

"Today is the welcoming banquet."

"Your father has greeted you before."

"What should be said, what should not be said, what can be said, and what cannot be said."

"You're not a child either."

"I think you understand these principles in your heart."

"However, I still have to remind you again. You must remember this and take it seriously. Don't do it. Otherwise, don't blame me for being more ruthless than your father if your father gets angry and beats you up."

"When you're making trouble and saying irrelevant things, we can turn a blind eye to it."

"But today, you must not act recklessly or speak nonsense."

"Today is the day when your uncle returns to Beijing after his expedition to Japan. According to what your father said before, if nothing unexpected happens, your uncle's expedition to Japan will not only help us eliminate banditry and expand our territory along the coast of Ming Dynasty, but also bring back unimaginable wealth to our Ming Dynasty. His contribution is indeed great."

"Originally, your second uncle said he would prepare the welcoming banquet, but in the end he couldn't persuade your father, so he held it in our house."

"If you act recklessly at this banquet without knowing what's good for you, not only will your uncle be disappointed, but your father will also be embarrassed."

"If it gets out, people all over the court will criticize and attack your father behind his back."

"After all, a person who has made such contributions to the Ming Dynasty and is a prince is treated like this at the welcoming banquet. Then what kind of treatment will other people of humble status receive? People's words are scary."

"If any accident happens, it is very likely that the reputation your father has worked so hard to build up over the years will instantly vanish and cease to exist."

"so."

"We must not act recklessly in this matter."

"No special skills, absolutely not, understand???"

This is not an unimportant statement.

However, it does explain the interests involved and the risks involved.

Hearing this, Zhu Zhanji's expression changed involuntarily, revealing a bit of impatience. He forced out a smile that was uglier than crying, and said with a wry smile:
"Okay, okay."

"My dear mother, my dear mother!"

"My son knows. My son really knows."

"You said these words. Since today, you have been reminding your son every once in a while. I am afraid you have said them at least 20 or 30 times today. My ears are callused from hearing them."

"I can almost recite everything you said by heart."

"Just put this matter aside for now!"

"I admit that I am sometimes impulsive, but my son is very clear about what he can and cannot do."

"Moreover"

"You have clearly stated to me the interests involved and the issues involved."

"How could I be that stupid?"

"Of course. If you are still worried, why don't we just stay in the study and not come out?"

To tell the truth.

As for the current matter, Zhu Zhanji was really extremely impatient to listen, but when facing his father, he still had the courage to throw in the towel and run away, but the person who said this was his mother.

Although the Crown Princess is usually smiling and acts as if nothing has happened, when the Crown Prince is dealing with him, she will occasionally stand up and say a good word or two for him, to ease the relationship between them and protect him as much as possible.

But there is a prerequisite here, that is, his usually cheerful mother is not really angry. Once she is really annoyed or really angry, she will be a person who even the prince will have to stay away from when she gets angry.

When he hits someone, he really hits them. He will never hold back, and his attacks are more ruthless than anyone else. When he faces such a person, he can't help but feel weak and panicked.

This was also the real reason why, even though the Crown Princess had repeated these words and warned him several times, he did not dare to get angry or feel uncomfortable or angry.

Have no idea!

That's real fear, not fake.

For this reason, no matter how brave he was, he could only nod cautiously, accompany carefully, or want to escape.

When the Crown Princess heard this, her eyebrows raised, her pupils condensed, her face darkened at a speed visible to the naked eye, and she said in a deep voice:
"What did you say?"

"Go back to the study and be alone?"

"Family dinner, don't you know what a family dinner is?"

"You ran away"

“Is that still called a family dinner?”

"Just stay still and stop thinking about those nonsense things."

"Put away your insignificant little thoughts. Do you really think I don't know what you are thinking?"

"You think I'm annoying?"

"If you could really make me worry less and not be so impulsive, why would I be like this?"

"What?"

"Is it all my fault?"

"Is it my fault?"

Zhu Zhanji: “!!!!!!”

Look, look.

These words made him so confused that he didn't know how to respond.

Dele.

There's no way to avoid it.

What can he do?
Run away quietly?
To be honest, he had thought about it, but he really didn't dare, and he didn't have the courage to put it into action!
For this reason, he had no choice but to shut his mouth obediently, not daring to argue for himself anymore. He just sat there quietly without saying anything or replying, just like a transparent person!

Just now.

Outside the originally silent courtyard, there was a burst of chatting and laughter, accompanied by a series of chaotic footsteps, and at the same time, the sounds of servants bowing and greetings could be heard from the door.

In this regard.

The Crown Princess, who was about to say a few more words, had to take back the words that were about to come out of her mouth. At the same time, the expression on her face suddenly became restrained, revealing a gentle and generous smile. She stretched out her hand to greet Zhu Zhanji, who was sitting on the chair like a good baby, and the two of them quickly walked to the door to greet him.

Zhu Gaochi and his two companions, who had just arrived at the door, happened to meet the Crown Princess and Zhu Zhanji who were standing at the door to greet them.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui quickly shut up, restrained their expressions, and greeted respectfully.

Then, seeing Zhu Zhanji following the Crown Princess like a good boy, they both looked sideways in surprise. When did this little bastard Zhu Zhanji become so polite and respectful to them brothers?

Didn’t you always look arrogant in the past?
The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, who were waiting quietly at the door, instantly noticed the intentions of Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui. They were stunned for a moment, and guessed what the two were thinking, but did not say anything.

Then, the two of them greeted Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui with a smile and sat down to eat.

Just then.

Zhu Zhanji, who had been very well-behaved, smiled wickedly, walked past the crowd and came directly to Zhu Gaosui, stretched out his right hand, and said with a smile:
"Uncle Three!"

"This expedition is to conquer the Japanese bandits."

"I wonder if I could bring some gifts and gadgets to my nephew?"

This is said.

Looking at Zhu Zhanji, who had an innocent face and a smile like an ordinary child asking for gifts, Zhu Gaosui, who was about to sit down, was stunned on the spot.

at the same time.

The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess standing by the side had their faces turned gloomy at a speed visible to the naked eye, and they quickly scolded, saying:

"Bastard thing."

"Come back here, you're so reckless..."

Before he could finish his words, Zhu Gaosui, who had been in a daze, came to his senses and quickly waved his hand at the Crown Prince and Crown Princess who were scolding him.
"Hey hey..."

"Boss, sister-in-law, not really, not really."

"No need, no need."

"As an uncle, it's perfectly normal for my nephew to ask for gifts."

"Is my nephew wrong? Why scold him?"

"If this gets out, wouldn't it mean that I, as an uncle, am wrong?"

As he spoke, Zhu Gaosui also laughed, stretched out his hand and gently patted Zhu Zhanji, who was quietly waiting for his gift, and said:
"You brat!"

"Don't worry, don't worry."

"We have already prepared it for you."

“No matter who I forget, I will never forget you.”

"Ha ha……"

Then, Zhu Gaosui reached into his arms and took out a delicate little gift box that he had prepared long ago and handed it over.

Seeing this, Zhu Zhanji paused and was stunned on the spot. He never dreamed that this gift was real. He was in a dilemma for a moment, not knowing whether to accept it or not. He looked at his father and mother embarrassedly!
"What are you still doing?"

"Go on, say thank you!"

The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess shouted in rebuke upon seeing this.

Zhu Zhanji came back to his senses in an instant after hearing this. With an excited smile on his face, he reached out to take it and said:
"Thank you, nephew!"

See what's going on.

Nothing unusual happened, and Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi was afraid that there would be another disturbance, so he repeatedly called out:

"Hahaha…"

"Come on, come on, do it!"

"Stop standing there!"

(End of this chapter)