I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 128 The Forbidden City is for you, and the West Garden is for him
"Back then, you, the second brother, and the fourth brother, surrounded me. It seems like it was just yesterday." Emperor Jiajing leaned back in his chair, looking at the water outside the window, and said sadly.

"A few days ago, I suddenly had a dream at night. I dreamed that the second brother and the fourth brother were still the same, just like they were more than ten years ago."

"Your Majesty, my father is partial to me and has never dreamed of me." Zhu Zaigui wiped his tears and muttered to himself.

Emperor Jiajing turned around and glared at him fiercely.

Zhu Yijun was also speechless. Dad, did you really not understand what the emperor meant at all?
If I really dream of you, this Ming Dynasty will be mine, and you will have nothing to do with it!
The sun slowly sets, and the world becomes cold and clear.

The moon hung high among the stars, reflected on the surface of Zhonghai Lake, pure and flawless.

When the breeze blows, the water ripples and the lake sparkles.

"Third brother, if you became the emperor, who do you think would be your biggest helper?" Emperor Jiajing moved in his chair and asked.

Zhu Zai ate melon seeds with a crunch and spat out the shells, and answered casually: "The scholars and ministers, they govern the people of the country on behalf of the emperor, pacify the local areas, and guard the borders."

Emperor Jiajing glanced over and saw that he was eating with gusto. He did not feel disgusted, but instead felt that he could not get tired of watching him.

"Sure enough, those tutors taught you very well."

"Yes, the lecturers arranged by the emperor are all well-educated people who understand the teachings of saints and sages, and the principles of heaven and the classics. I have learned a lot from them."

"Have you learned the art of being an emperor?" Emperor Jiajing asked again.

"Then they didn't teach it, so they probably don't have the mind or ability to do it."

Emperor Jiajing's eyes lit up, "The third brother is not entirely a fool."

Zhu Zaigui chuckled, "I also know what those masters are thinking. I am a prince, a prince of the Ming Dynasty, and I don't have to take the imperial examination. I just need to listen to those things."

"Yes, just listen to it. The key is to have your own ideas in mind."

Zhu Zaigui immediately replied: "Father, this son is not good enough. I know what I am thinking, but I am the one without any ideas."

Emperor Jiajing turned his head and sighed slightly, "So, they taught you very well."

There was silence in the pavilion, except for the sound of Zhu Zai's crunching melon seeds.

After a while, Emperor Jiajing turned around and asked Zhu Zaigui again: "Third brother, if you were the emperor, who would be your biggest enemy?"

This question was a bit difficult. Zhu Zaigui slowed down his eating of melon seeds, tilted his head and thought for a while, then answered hesitantly: "An Da Khan?"

Emperor Jiajing's triangular eyes flashed, and he grabbed a raisin from the plate in front of him and threw it over.

Zhu Zaigui reacted very quickly, turned his head and dodged.

"Father, you know that I am stupid. If you have any advice for me, just tell me. I will remember it in my heart."

Emperor Jiajing was too lazy to pay attention to him. He pointed at him with his left hand and said to Zhu Yijun without turning his head: "Jun'er, tell your good father who is the emperor's biggest enemy?"

Zhu Zaiqi turned around and looked at Zhu Yijun, stuffing another piece of walnut kernel into his mouth: "Boss, yes, you are smarter than me. Tell me, who is it?"

Zhu Yijun replied: "The greatest enemy of the emperor is the civil officials."

Zhu Zaigui held a walnut kernel in his right hand and put it to his mouth. "Boss, you are right, right? Civil officials are the emperor's greatest helpers, how can they also be his greatest enemies?"

Emperor Jiajing turned his head and a light voice came from behind: "Jun'er, tell me, let your father open his mind."

"Grandpa Emperor, Father, the civil officials are the greatest helpers of the emperor. They govern the people of the country, pacify the local areas, and guard the borders on behalf of the emperor. In other words, they have been given a lot of power by the emperor.

"Authority means power, fame, and wealth. Once you get it, you won't be willing to give it up, and you will only want more and more."

Zhu Zaigui understood a little bit, "The civil officials want to take more power from the emperor?"

"Yes, father. Evil ministers need more power if they want to be greedy; even righteous ministers need more power if they want to save the world. So for ministers, no matter whether they are evil or righteous, as long as they can do something, they need more power."

Zhu Zaigui thought for a while and said, "If they can really do something, then give them the jobs." Emperor Jiajing turned his head, glanced at Zhu Zaigui, sighed, and tried to stand up holding the handrail. Zhu Yijun quickly got up and helped him up.

Emperor Jiajing put his hands in his sleeves and slowly walked to the outdoor terrace, looking at the lake and moonlight outside.

"Come out, the moonlight outside is beautiful."

Zhu Zaigui stood up, brushed off the crumbs on his hands, took a step forward, and was about to follow him out, but was stopped by Zhu Yijun.

Zhu Yijun waved his hand, and Li Fang hurried forward, offering a feather cloak with both hands. He took it, presented it to Zhu Zaigui with both hands, and pointed his mouth at the back of Emperor Jiajing.

Zhu Zaigui was stunned for a moment. He looked at the feather cloak in Zhu Yijun's hand, then looked at the thin figure of Emperor Jiajing. He silently took the feather cloak, walked lightly behind Emperor Jiajing, held the collar of the feather cloak with both hands, and draped it over Emperor Jiajing.

Emperor Jiajing turned his head inadvertently and saw that it was Zhu Zaigui. He was stunned for a moment, and his stern eyes softened.

Zhu Zaigui stood on the left side of Emperor Jiajing, Zhu Yijun walked up and stood on the right side of Emperor Jiajing, and the three of them stood side by side on the terrace.

Emperor Jiajing had his hands in his sleeves, his head slightly tilted, and he tried to straighten his waist but couldn't, so he could only lean slightly to the right.

Zhu Zaigui put his hands behind his back, his head drooped, and his waist slightly bent forward.

Zhu Yijun also put his hands in his sleeves, tilted his head back, and held his back very straight.

A bright moon hung above the three people's heads, and the pure white and clear moonlight poured down, enveloping their entire bodies.

After a long time, Emperor Jiajing spoke quietly: "Third brother,"

Zhu Zaigui immediately responded, "My son is here."

"Once power is given away, it is very difficult to take it back. It can only be taken back by causing great changes, even the death of a human being."

Zhu Zaigui asked, as if possessed by a ghost, "The grand ceremony?"

Emperor Jiajing did not answer, but continued: "Yang Tinghe, Yang Yiqing, Xia Yan, Zeng Xin, all of them were outstanding people at that time and pillars of the country.

I know that Yang Jisheng and others are upright and pure people.
Jun'er is right. A young man cannot live without money, and a great man cannot live without power. To achieve great things, you must seize power. If they seize power, you will be trapped in the Forbidden City and unable to leave. "

Zhu Zaigui turned his head and looked at Emperor Jiajing with a complicated expression, "So father said, leave the Forbidden City to me, your son, and leave the Western Garden to Jun'er?"

Emperor Jiajing also turned his head, and their eyes met. A smile appeared on his thin and old face.

Zhu Zaigui looked at the rare smile on his father's face, and couldn't help but think of his youth when he followed his brothers and played around his father, and he also had a similar smile on his face.

For a moment, it seemed as if I was in another world and I felt lost.

Emperor Jiajing looked at the moonlight on the lake, glanced around the cold West Garden, waved his hand, and said somewhat bleakly: "Although the scenery is beautiful, it's a pity that it's cold. Let's go back to the house and sit and enjoy the scenery."

Zhu Zaigui took the initiative to reach out and hold Emperor Jiajing's right hand.

Zhu Yijun silently supported the left hand of Emperor Jiajing, and the three of them slowly walked back to the waterside pavilion and sat down in their respective chairs.

Before Emperor Jiajing sat down, Zhu Yijun took off his feather cloak for him, and then covered him with it after he sat down.

Emperor Jiajing shook Zhu Yijun's right hand with his skinny hand, smiled, and motioned him to sit down.

"Jun'er, tell your father why the civil officials are the emperor's greatest enemies?"

Upon hearing the voice, Zhu Zaigui turned his head and looked at Zhu Yijun, who was sitting opposite him like an adult. His eyes flickered and his expression was complicated, and suddenly he smiled.

"Boss, you talk, I want to listen."

"Yes, Grandfather Emperor, Father."

(End of this chapter)