I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 234: The Deep Love between Mother and Son in the Forbidden City

Not long after Zhu Yijun's sedan chair turned around, someone was waiting at the side of the alley.

"Your Highness, the Queen invites you." A palace maid with two palace maids standing at the side bowed and reported.

"The Queen Mother is in Kunning Palace?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go to Kunning Palace."

"Yes."

Zhu Yijun and his entourage soon arrived at Kunning Palace. Led by the palace maid, they came to the left side hall of Kunning Palace, where Chen was waiting for him.

"My son, I pay my respects to my mother."

"Stand up, stand up. Make a pot of Biluochun tea that Gu'an Bo presented the other day and serve it to the prince." Chen said, holding Zhu Yijun's hand and sighing, "Jun'er is busy with military affairs and doesn't like other things. He lives a more austere life than the great monks. It really makes me sad."

Indeed, Zhu Yijun was an anomaly in the Zhu family.

My grandfather worshipped Taoism and was fond of practicing the mystical arts and respecting the heavens. He would often build Taoist temples and palaces, and spend huge amounts of money to pray for blessings.

My father is known as Zhu Sanhao, who loves fine wine, beautiful women and delicious food. He cannot be happy without fine wine, cannot eat without delicious food, and cannot sleep without beautiful women.

When it comes to Zhu Yijun, he doesn't like anything.

He doesn’t like wine and delicious food; he doesn’t like Buddhism or Taoism; he doesn’t like building projects; now he is fourteen years old and doesn’t even have a palace maid around him.

His daily life is very regular. He gets up early, runs around the Xiyuan Lake, and exercises for half an hour in the South Parade Ground.

Take a shower and have breakfast, then go to Ziguang Pavilion to handle state affairs and meet with court officials.

After lunch, he would take a short rest for 15 minutes, and then continue to handle state affairs in Ziguang Pavilion, or sit and talk with the lecturers, or go out to Yi Nian Tang, Wubei Academy, and the New Army Camp. In the afternoon, he would come back to practice riding and archery in the South Parade Ground of Xiyuan.

After dinner, he would go for a walk. He would often have dinner with Hu Zongxian, Zhang Juzheng, Zhao Zhenji, Hai Rui, Qi Jiguang, Xu Wei, Li Zhi and other close officials, and walk around the lake to digest the food.

Read for another hour and go to bed early.

Except for the morning court on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, when he would get up earlier or if there were emergencies, the rest of the day was almost the same.

At first, the foreign officials could hardly believe it. Was this the prince? Was he from the Zhu family?

However, since the death of the late emperor, he has been living such a regular life, and until now, there has been no change at all.

This could not help but make the foreign officials admire.

Ministers such as Xu Jie, Zhang Juzheng, and Gao Gong suddenly remembered that the late emperor once said during a meeting in the Wanshou Palace, "I have chosen a resolute and unshakable heir for you."

Only then did I understand it deeply.

If you are so cruel to yourself, how about others?
Perseverance cannot take away your will!

However, if we have to find a hobby in Zhu Yijun, it would probably be his love of power.

Zhu Yijun said modestly: "I am still young. If I act rashly, it will be bad for my health and will hurt my own Yuan."

Chen sighed and said, "It would be great if your father had such self-discipline as you."

Zhu Yijun didn't say anything, but he disagreed in his heart.

If my father is so self-disciplined, then I have no hope at all.

Zhu Yijun was a "latecomer", so he had feelings for Emperor Jiajing and Chen.

Emperor Longqing, to be honest, that's all. In the past, the father and son only saw each other once every ten days, and most of the time it was just a routine. How good could their relationship be?
Blood is thicker than water?
Haha, it’s more about the moral principles and ethics there.

Chen knew that she was expecting too much, so she quickly turned to the main topic: "Jun'er, I heard that Concubine Xian took the third child to Baoen Temple to burn incense and worship Buddha. Did something happen?"

"Yes. There was a murderer who intended to beat the third brother with a club, but he was caught by the Jingjun and Jinyiwei."

Chen frowned and said, "Xianfei is really something. She insisted on leaving the Forbidden City to go to Baoen Temple. There is a Buddhist temple in the Forbidden City, and there is also a Guanyin Temple in Nanyuan. She pestered His Majesty for half a month, and His Majesty was really annoyed, so he allowed her to leave the palace and go to Baoen Temple.

Well, such a big mess has happened, but the responsibility is being pushed onto Jun'er." At this point, Chen also realized that something was wrong, "Jun'er, why do I feel something is wrong? Is Li crying thief?"

Anyone who could survive in the Forbidden City for a few years would be very smart, not to mention that Chen was the empress in charge of the six palaces in the east and west.

Moreover, Chen’s family background was not low.

His father, Chen Jingxing, the Earl of Gu'an, was from a military family and was a scholar when he was young. His mother, Zhang, was the daughter of Zhang Wenzhi, the Minister of Rites and the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince during the Chenghua period.

Chen's level is much higher than Li's. Zhu Yijun is also very fortunate that his biological mother, Chen, who is close to him and is reasonable. If it were Li, he really would not be able to lead her.

Zhu Yijun replied, "Mother, I have the same suspicion. Li and the third son went to Baoen Temple and presented it to the emperor half a month ago. It took a long time to get approval.

This period of time is enough to pass the message and let the outside world prepare. I have already asked the Jinyiwei to arrest all the monks in Baoen Temple and interrogate them strictly.

Without the protection of the people in the temple, how could that murderer have escaped the investigation of the Jingjun and Jinyiwei?"

Chen nodded approvingly, "It's good that Jun'er knows what's going on. This wouldn't happen for no reason. I also know Li's temper. She can't come up with such a plan, nor can she make such a thorough arrangement.

Jun'er, if it was someone from outside who instigated this, I'm worried that there would be more tricks than just this."

"Mother, you are wise and insightful. I have asked someone to investigate this matter thoroughly. However, it happened suddenly, so it will take some time to find out the whole story."

"That's good. Some people just don't want the outer court and the inner court to be too peaceful. These people are just so evil at heart. If Jun'er finds them out, don't let them off easily."

"Don't worry, mother. I will keep it in mind."

Chen was still a little worried and continued to nag, "Prime Minister Shao Hu Gong is a shrewd man, but he is now wealthy and powerful, and is just waiting to retire, so he probably won't take the risk of doing this.

After the failure of the Lianghuai Salt Administration, Duke Xinzheng was helped by Jun'er and Duke Shaohu to save some face. Now he is concentrating on his work, so he probably has no time for these things. "

Zhu Yijun leaned forward and replied, "My queen is wise. Now the court is in a three-way balance of power and everything is peaceful. As my queen just said, the three families have stopped fighting, which is very uncomfortable for some people."

Chen understood something and nodded in approval: "Jun'er is right. Don't underestimate some people who are very talented and well-educated. In fact, they are no different from wild dogs.

Jun'er saw all of this clearly, so I feel relieved. By the way, I want to tell you that Yang Jinshui from the southeast recommended a beautiful girl. I have seen her and she is indeed excellent in talent, virtue and appearance. She should be a good match for Jun'er.

Now there are five beautiful girls. I have placed them in the East Palace and will always keep them by my side to teach them well. I will decide who will be the Crown Princess before Jun'er gets married."

Zhu Yijun replied: "Thank you, mother."

Zhu Yijun didn't have too many thoughts about his harem, he just let everything follow the rules.

"By the way, Jun'er, I heard you say that you are planning to transfer Yang Jinshui back to Beijing. Have you thought of a suitable candidate to take over?"

"In reply to your Majesty, I chose Lu Yong."

Chen smiled and nodded, "Lu Yong is loyal and can be used. Jun'er has chosen a good talent."

Lu Yong was also an old man in Prince Yu's Mansion. He had served Zhu Yijun's biological mother, Li, before. Later, he always stayed with Chen and was her confidant.

Previously in Prince Yu's Mansion, Wanfu was the general manager of the entire mansion, and Lu Yong was in charge of financial expenditures. During those difficult years, Prince Yu's Mansion barely survived thanks to his efforts.

Therefore, Lu Yong had the ability to manage finances, so Zhu Yijun could use him with confidence, and he could also do a good job in selling Queen Chen.

Zhu Yijun and Chen are now as close as mother and son, but they also support each other.

With a powerful prince like Zhu Yijun away, Emperor Longqing would not dare to depose the empress because of his favor, no matter how dissolute he was; Zhu Yijun also had Chen to help look after him in the Forbidden City.

There were many things going on in the inner palace that Crown Prince Zhu Yijun was not convenient to intervene in, so it was natural for Empress Chen, as the mistress of the harem, to take charge.

"I haven't asked them to hand over the position yet. I want to wait until Lü Yong finishes organizing the celebration for my mother's birthday."

Chen said with satisfaction: "With Jun'er's filial piety, I am satisfied."

Zhu Yijun sat on the sedan chair and walked out of Xihua Gate. He turned around and looked at the Forbidden City. His face became gloomy and he said to Qi Yan who was following him: "Call Huang Gong, Feng Bao, Liu Yi, Fang Liang, Wang Cheng, Zhu Xixiao, and Song Gongliang to the Ziguang Pavilion."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)