I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 127: Moon Viewing in Xiyuan
Outside the gate of Wanshou Palace in Xiyuan.

Crown Prince Zhu Zaigui was wearing a red robe with a five-clawed dragon pattern on it, and a black gauze winged hat on his head. He got off the sedan chair, his legs went weak, and he grabbed the yellow brocade beside him.

With a trembling voice, he asked softly, "Mr. Huang, did my father really ask me to come and enjoy the moon today?"

"Your Highness, that's right. Today, the Emperor has invited you and His Highness the Crown Prince to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival at the Wanshou Palace to enjoy the moon."

"Well, now that you mention it, my legs aren't so weak anymore."

Zhu Zaigui turned around and saw Zhu Yijun getting off the sedan chair behind him and walking towards him leisurely.

He rushed forward and grabbed Zhu Yijun's arm as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw.

"Boss, we are father and son, blood is thicker than water."

Zhu Yijun didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Father, I am of the same mind as you and your son. Blood is thicker than water."

"Then please don't hide it from your father. Why did your grandfather call the two of us, especially me, to the Wanshou Palace? Has the emperor forgotten that two dragons should not meet?"

Zhu Yijun was silent for a few breaths, then said sadly, "Since the beginning of autumn, Grandpa Huang has not been in good health."

Zhu Zaigui was startled, and the hand that was holding Zhu Yijun's arm loosened. He looked up at the plaque on the gate of Wanshou Palace with a deep gaze. After a few dozen breaths, he slowly said, "Yes, my father is already sixty years old."

Swinging his wide sleeves, Zhu Zaigui walked in front, entered the palace gate, and walked along the corridor to the dragon steps.

Lifting his collar, he walked up the steps on both sides. As soon as he reached the platform outside the main hall of the Wanshou Palace, Zhu Zaigui's heart skipped a beat and he became timid again.

He turned around and pushed Zhu Yijun to the front.

"Boss, you are the eldest grandson of the emperor, go ahead."

"Father, you are still the crown prince of the Emperor! How can a son walk before his father?"

Zhu Zaiqi rolled his eyes and said, "We are the same age, so we should walk side by side."

Zhu Yijun replied helplessly: "Father, no, this is against etiquette and law. If foreign officials find out, they will be impeached."

"Are you still afraid of impeachment? Aren't you very good at fighting with those civil servants? You are not afraid of them at all."

Zhu Yijun had no choice but to use the Fantian Seal: "Father, if you do this and that and scare the emperor, you will be in trouble."

Zhu Zaigui was surprised and said, "Yes."

He walked forward quickly, put his hands in his sleeves, let his arms hang down and lowered his head, and took a few quick steps. Just as he was about to step over the threshold, someone grabbed his belt from behind.

Zhu Zaiqi turned around and asked softly, "Boss, what do you mean?"

"Father, wait a moment. Grandpa Huang is now practicing the Qigong."

"Circulate the Qi in the body? How long do we have to wait?"

"three"

"What, three quarters of an hour?"

"two"

"Two, twenty breaths?"

"One"

Zhu Zaigui was about to ask when he heard the clear sound of bronze chimes coming from inside. His eyes suddenly widened, then he narrowed his eyes and shook his head.

"Oh, the sound of the copper chimes in the West Garden, which is famous throughout the court and the public, turns out to be this sound. It sounds nice. I'll try to play it when I return to the East Palace.

Zhu Yijun poked Zhu Zaigui helplessly from behind and said, "Go, keep moving forward!"
Zhu Zaigui suddenly realized what was going on. He lifted his clothes, stepped over the threshold of the palace door and walked in.

Looking at his back, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but think, are all people who grew up in a free-range environment so lively and funny?

I heard that the fourth uncle who died of illness in De'an Mansion was also a notorious funny guy when he was in the capital.

Perhaps, the fact that they are not crazy can be considered mentally healthy.

Zhu Zaigui walked into the hall with a heroic and proud step, as if he didn't recognize any of his relatives.

After walking a dozen steps, his eyes adapted to the brightness of the hall from the strong light outside, and suddenly he saw an old man sitting not far away. He was wearing an ochre-yellow Taoist robe, a purple-gold Taoist crown, a thin and long face, and a pair of cloudy triangular eyes, staring at him.

Zhu Zaigui's legs went limp, and he fell to his knees with a thud, saying in a trembling voice, "Son, I pay my respects to you, father."

Zhu Yijun knelt down gently behind him and said, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, Grandpa."

"Everyone, get up." With the help of Li Fang, Emperor Jiajing slowly stood up from the mat.

After standing still, his body shook twice before he stood firm.

"Crown Prince and Grandson, please stand up." Emperor Jiajing straightened his back with all his strength and waved his sleeves.

"Your son/grandson thanks your father/grandfather." After Zhu Zaigui and Zhu Yijun stood up, Emperor Jiajing put his hands in his sleeves, walked up to them, and looked Zhu Zaigui up and down.

"You've grown up and become a father. I haven't seen you for ten years, right?"

"Eleven years and seven months." Zhu Zaigui answered honestly.

Emperor Jiajing was stunned for a moment, tears slowly gathering in his cloudy eyes, "Eleven years and seven months, has it been that long?"

He turned around abruptly and turned his back to Zhu Zaigui and Zhu Yijun.

"It's been so long, I really didn't expect it."

Zhu Zaigui asked carefully: "Father, didn't Master Tao say that two dragons should not meet each other?"

Emperor Jiajing turned around and looked at his only son. He wanted to laugh but couldn't, and he wanted to be angry but didn't know where to get angry.

He sighed, put his hands in his sleeves, straightened up, leaned back slightly, and looked down at Zhu Zaiqi, "Are there only two dragons here? There are obviously three dragons."

Zhu Zai's eyes lit up, "Yes, my father is a dragon, I am a dragon, and the eldest is also a dragon, so there are three dragons. The situation where two dragons cannot meet is broken!
Father, you are really smart."

Emperor Jiajing snorted coldly and said unhappily: "I am so smart, how could I give birth to such a stupid thing like you? What are you worried about? Two dragons cannot meet. If there is a nemesis, it will only be me."

Zhu Zaigui blurted out: "It would be bad if I defeated my father. I would rather not see my father."

Emperor Jiajing squinted his eyes at him and walked out first, "Let's go."

"Where are we going?" Zhu Zaigui asked stupidly.

"Let's go to the pavilion outside and admire the moon. How can we admire the moon in this great hall?"

"Yes." Zhu Zaigui quickly lifted his collar and followed Emperor Jiajing happily.

Zhu Yijun smiled and followed behind him.

When you walk to the back of the Wanshou Palace, your view suddenly opens up. To the left and back is the Western Garden where the water and sky merge into one and the mountains and forests are integrated. To the right is the majestic Forbidden City.

Emperor Jiajing suddenly stopped.

Zhu Zaigui followed so quickly that he lost control and almost bumped into Emperor Jiajing's back.

"Prince."

"Your son is here." Zhu Zaigui answered cautiously.

"I leave the Forbidden City to you, and this West Garden to Jun'er."

Zhu Zaigui chuckled, "The boss and I are father and son, there's no difference between us."

Emperor Jiajing turned his head and stared at him.

Zhu Zaigui was frightened and asked awkwardly, "Father, what did I say wrong?"

"From now on, you are both father and son, and monarch and subject. Do you understand?"

Zhu Zaigui nodded vigorously: "I understand."

Emperor Jiajing shook his head, went down the stairs first and walked through the corridor.

Zhu Zaigui looked around along the way, marveling at the exotic flowers and plants, pavilions and towers.

The old man renovated the West Garden so beautifully. It must have cost so much money.

Zhu Yijun quietly stepped forward, followed on the right, and supported Emperor Jiajing.

He turned his head to look at Zhu Yijun and smiled kindly.

Zhu Zaigui looked around and suddenly saw Zhu Yijun walking up to him and supporting Emperor Jiajing.

He looked at the thin figure of Emperor Jiajing, hesitated for a moment, then walked forward, went to the left side of Emperor Jiajing, and held his arm.

Emperor Jiajing was stunned, turned around and looked, feeling mixed emotions, but said nothing.

Huang Jin walked behind, with his head lowered, waist bent, tears in his eyes.

We walked to a pavilion by the water on the edge of Zhonghai Lake, where fruits and delicacies were laid out.

"Sit down, the view of the moon is the best here."

The three of them sat down.

Emperor Jiajing looked at Zhu Zaigui standing opposite him and suddenly called out in a hoarse voice, "Old Third."

Zhu Zaigui suddenly heard his father calling him by his childhood nickname. He was stunned for a moment, lowered his head, tears fell, and choked up as he replied, "My son is here."

(End of this chapter)