Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 335: Old Zhu meets "Queen Ma"!
The harem, the kitchen.

Next to the conveyor belt connecting to the imperial kitchen in the front palace, several eunuchs were busy unloading basket after basket of exquisite dishes.

These eunuchs were dressed in uniform navy blue palace robes with narrow white belts around their waists. The black round hats on their heads, although a little old, were worn upright.

They all looked focused and their hands and feet were nimble, and it was obvious that they were already familiar with this daily task.

Shang Xingyu was curled up in a basket at the moment. She was petite and tried to curl herself up as much as possible in the small and cramped space.

Through the narrow gaps between the bamboo strips, he carefully observed the movements outside.

Her heart was beating like a drum and her hands unconsciously clutched the corners of her clothes.

After all, if you are not careful when sneaking into the harem this time, you may be killed.

Just then, a eunuch came hurriedly in with small steps. His face was yellowish, his eyes drooped slightly, and he looked a bit tired from being so cautious in the palace for many years.

He reached out and swiftly tore off the seal on the lid of the basket.

The seal was torn off with a "hiss", and then he opened the lid steadily with both hands.

"Ah?" The eunuch screamed in panic as if he was struck by thunder, and the sound instantly broke the original tranquility of the kitchen.

His eyes widened, and his eyeballs seemed to pop out of their sockets.

No one expected that a living person would jump out like a ghost from the basket that was supposed to be filled with vegetables and meat.

"How dare you sneak into the harem?"

As soon as the eunuch finished speaking, his eyes seemed to be fixed by some mysterious force. They froze in an instant and did not move at all.

The whole person's expression was as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight, with fear, astonishment and disbelief intertwined on his face.

"you you you……"

He stretched out a trembling finger and pointed it directly at Shang Xingyu in front of him.

The shock and surprise in those eyes were like a flood that burst a dam, pouring out with no place to conceal.

"Ma...Ma...Queen Ma?"

The eunuch's legs went limp, and he knelt down with a plop. He kowtowed and shouted, "Your servant pays respect to Her Majesty the Queen."

His voice trembled with deep awe and fear, and his forehead instantly became red and swollen.

At this time, the others were also startled by the sudden noise. They put down their work and gathered around.

When they saw Shang Xingyu, many people's expressions were exactly the same as the eunuch before. They were all dumbfounded and stood there in a daze.

Nowadays, except for a very small number of young eunuchs and palace maids who have just entered the palace, most of the people in the harem are old people who have served in the palace for many years.

They all had the honor of seeing Empress Ma, and her dignified, majestic, yet gentle appearance was deeply engraved in their hearts.

At this moment, he suddenly saw a person who looked almost exactly like Empress Ma. It was as if time had gone back and Empress Ma was reborn. How could he not be surprised?
"You...who are you?"

A thin, young eunuch with an innocent face mustered up the courage to ask.

As he asked, he secretly grabbed a thick wooden stick next to him and held it tightly in his hand, his palms full of sweat.

The hand holding the wooden stick turned slightly pale, obviously extremely nervous.

It is common knowledge that Empress Ma had passed away long ago.

How can a person come back to life after death?
Could the person in front of me be a haunting ghost?

The eunuch who was kneeling on the ground and kowtowing was also suddenly stunned. He realized that something was wrong. He slowly raised his head and stared at the scene blankly, his eyes full of confusion and fear.

Shang Xingyu calmed himself down slightly, then calmly tidied up his slightly messy clothes.

She was dressed in simple peasant clothes, a coarse linen shirt of dark color, simple style, and with several patches on the corners.

It is said that this was Queen Ma's favorite style of dress when she was alive.

King Zhu Su of Zhou specially hired someone to carefully make clothes of this appearance and asked her to wear them to sneak into the deep palace.

Shang Xingyu's eyes slowly swept over the panicked eunuchs. The look in her eyes was exactly the same as that of Empress Ma in the past, which made everyone's heart tremble. Then she opened her red lips and said, "I want to see the emperor."

The voice was rough but soft, yet mixed with a tone of unquestionability, just like when Empress Ma gave the order back then.

The eunuchs looked at each other, bewildered, and for a moment, they were at a loss.

One eunuch said with his teeth chattering, "This voice is exactly the same as that of Empress Ma back then!"

His face was pale, his lips were bloodless, and his body was shaking slightly unconsciously.

"Could it be, could it be that she is really the reincarnation of Queen Ma?"

The other eunuch was still in shock, his eyes were wide open with fear, and he spoke with a stutter.

"Impossible?" An older eunuch who looked calmer said, "How can someone in this world come back to life after dying?"

He frowned and tried to analyze the strange scene before him with reason.

"Not necessarily!" Another eunuch said, "When I was a child, I heard a lot of strange stories about people coming back to life in my hometown. Maybe she is the resurrection of Empress Ma. The imperial palace is mysterious and unpredictable. What strange things can't happen?"

In this era, there are many people who are superstitious about ghosts and gods.

The lower class of people are, the more they believe this.

For many people, ghosts and gods are the faith of their lives.

Most of the young eunuchs in the palace came from poor backgrounds and had little education, so they naturally believed in the stories of ghosts and gods.

However, some people do not believe it.

"I don't believe it. Even if Empress Ma came back to life, her body would have long since rotted away and turned into dirt. Where did her body come from?"

The eunuch who was speaking raised his chin slightly, his eyes showing a bit of stubbornness and questioning, trying to break this absurd fantasy from a realistic perspective.

"I heard that the queen's coffin was specially made to preserve her body for a thousand years. Maybe she crawled out of that coffin."

An imaginative eunuch muttered quietly.

Although the sound was small, it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples.

"Stop arguing. This is the Ming Dynasty Palace, the residence of the emperor. It is protected by the nine gods and Buddhas. Even if there are ghosts in the world, they would never dare to act recklessly here."

An experienced old eunuch in charge of the kitchen affairs started to scold.

He looked stern, trying to calm everyone's panicked minds.

"Yes, stop talking and decide quickly whether to report to His Majesty the Emperor."

Everyone echoed, their voices rising one after another, but they all carried a bit of anxiety and helplessness.

The news of Lao Zhu's death was announced to the public.

After the harem was sealed, the eunuchs and palace maids inside knew that the old emperor had not actually passed away.

However, the harem had been sealed at that time, and the news was like a caged bird, difficult to be transmitted to the outside.

"No! If this evil demon hurts Your Majesty, we will not be able to bear the consequences."

A timid eunuch shouted in fear and shrank back, as if Shang Xingyu really carried some deadly evil spirit.

"What should we do? Let's go together and kill this ghost?"

A young and hot-headed eunuch waved the carrying pole in his hand and shouted loudly, with a look of impulsiveness and recklessness.

"Are you crazy? Even if she is a ghost, she is the ghost of Queen Ma. How dare you hurt her?"

A eunuch nearby quickly grabbed him and scolded him with wide eyes.

"Yes, yes, yes... I almost forgot. Let's report it to the emperor for the final decision."

The impulsive eunuch instantly became like a deflated ball. He put down his carrying pole and stammered.

"Your Majesty is the true dragon emperor. He has dragon energy to protect him and the gods and Buddhas to bless him. He will be fine."

Everyone nodded, as if they had found their backbone and felt a little relieved.

"Yes, go and report to the emperor."

Amid the urging, a eunuch hurriedly turned around and trotted towards the palace where the emperor was.

……

There is a quiet courtyard in the harem, shaded by green trees and dotted with flowers. The sunlight shines through the gaps between the branches and leaves, casting fine shadows.

Old Zhu was wearing a plain cotton shirt with the corners of his shirt casually tucked into his waist. He wielded the hoe steadily in his hand, turning over the land beneath his feet forcefully again and again.

Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking his graying temples, but he seemed unaware and remained fully focused.

After pretending to die and quietly confining himself to the harem, Zhu Yuanzhang, freed from the political affairs and court disputes, immersed himself in the pastoral life of digging the land and growing vegetables. At present, the Daming Academy of Sciences has set up a special agricultural research institute to vigorously advocate scientific methods of growing vegetables.

The highly anticipated "Agriculture" journal has published a lot of novel and practical knowledge on farming and vegetable planting, with rich pictures and detailed explanations.

After Lao Zhu accidentally flipped through an issue, he became obsessed with it.

Although he was hiding deep in the harem, isolated from the world, he still sent the Imperial Guards and inspectors to ensure that every issue of "Agriculture" magazine was collected and quickly delivered to the palace through secret channels.

Whenever he got a new publication, Lao Zhu felt like he had found a treasure. He would immerse himself in the words and read them carefully, and often put them into practice.

His seriousness was no less than when he handled military and national affairs in the court.

"Your Majesty, please take a rest."

Yoshigaki was standing by with a worried look on his face. He advised, "Don't tire the dragon's body. If anything goes wrong, I won't be able to bear the consequences even if I have ten thousand lives."

He hunched over and trotted over to her.

"Or, you can just sit here for a while and let me help you dig a few times, so that you can relax."

When Old Zhu heard this, he glared at him, straightened up with the help of his hoe, took a deep breath, and said,

"The only way to dig the ground is to dig it yourself. What's the point of asking you to do it? This is not even a small job that can tire me out."

"Although I am older now and not as skilled as I was in the past, if it were in the past, I would be able to clean up a piece of land this small in no time."

As the two were talking, suddenly, there was an urgent shout from outside: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Queen Ma is resurrected!"

The voice was shrill, carrying a hint of fear and confusion, and instantly broke the silence of the courtyard.

"What?" Old Zhu's body shook violently, and the hoe in his hand almost fell to the ground.

He widened his eyes, his face full of shock, and suspected that there was something wrong with his ears.

The same happened to Yoshigaki. He stood there in a daze for a moment, as if he had been cast under a spell.

However, he reacted very quickly and came to his senses in an instant. His face darkened and he took two steps at a time and quickly walked out of the hospital gate.

He glared at the eunuch who came to report and shouted, "What are you talking about in this palace? Are you tired of having your head on your neck for too long and want to move?"

In front of Zhu Yuanji, he was always humble and respectful, with his head lowered and his eyes pleasing to the eye. The same was true when he served Zhu Yunhuan.

But in front of these ordinary eunuchs and palace maids, he seemed like a different person, very majestic.

As Zhu's personal eunuch, he had followed him for many years and was deeply trusted.

He holds a high position in the palace and has the power of life and death. Everyone under him trembles in fear when they see him.

The young eunuch was so frightened that his legs went limp. He knelt down hastily with a plop, kowtowed like crazy, and said in a trembling voice, "Eunuch Ji, I dare not say anything nonsense."

"Today, a living person emerged from the basket that was brought into the kitchen from outside."

"That person was wearing the coarse linen clothes that the Empress loved to wear when she was alive. The color was dark, the style was simple, and there were a few patches on the corners. He looked familiar."

"She looks just like the Queen, cut from the same mold."

"Even her voice is exactly the same as that of the former Queen."

"Everyone in the kitchen saw this with their own eyes. Even if I were to eat the courage of a bear or a leopard, I would not dare to deceive the emperor!"

The young eunuch spoke urgently, the fear on his face was evident, beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead, splashing up a small piece of dust.

When Yoshigaki heard this, his heart was shocked, and the anger on his face froze instantly, replaced by a solemn and vigilant look.

His mind raced, and he immediately realized that this matter was of great importance and might cause a huge uproar.

"Did that person say anything?"

He asked quickly, his voice unconsciously lowered, revealing a hint of nervousness.

"She said she wanted to see the emperor." The young eunuch answered tremblingly.

Just as Yoshigaki was about to say something, Lao Zhu's slightly trembling voice rang out from behind him: "Take us to see her quickly."

His tone was full of urgency and desire.

"Your Majesty, it is absolutely impossible!"

Yoshigaki was horrified and rushed to Lao Zhu, knelt down, hugged Lao Zhu's legs tightly with both hands, and tried to persuade him.

"This person's origin is unknown and his identity is strange. What if he is someone with bad intentions and is harmful to Your Majesty? What should we do?"

"Your Majesty is worth a fortune, so you must be careful and cautious."

"Why don't you let me investigate first to make sure it's safe, and then ask Your Majesty to make the decision."

Old Zhu, however, seemed to have not heard anything. He stared straight ahead, lifted his leg to shake off Yoshigaki's hand, and shouted to the young eunuch kneeling on the ground: "What are you still standing there for? Didn't you hear what I said? Take me to see her!"

At this moment, Old Zhu no longer looked like the calm and majestic emperor he usually is.

Her heart and eyes were filled with the "Empress Ma" who seemed to be reborn, and her anxiety was beyond words.

"Yes... yes... yes! As you command!"

The young eunuch got up tremblingly, not daring to delay even a bit, and immediately led Old Zhu to the kitchen in a hurry.

Old Zhu followed behind with hurried steps, his clothes fluttering and an anxious look in his eyes.

Yoshigaki sighed helplessly, full of worry, but he also knew that Lao Zhu had made up his mind at this moment and it was useless to dissuade him. He could only grit his teeth and follow closely.

He knew very well that the status of Empress Ma in the Emperor's heart was unmatched in the world.

Back then, His Majesty the Emperor rose from obscurity and established the Ming Dynasty.

All of this is inseparable from the support and companionship of Queen Ma.

She also saved the Emperor's life.

To His Majesty the Emperor, Empress Ma was not only his first wife, but also his close companion and spiritual support.

Now, he suddenly heard that a person who looked exactly like Empress Ma had arrived. No matter whether the other person was a human or a ghost, or an assassin with murderous intentions, no one could stop the emperor's eagerness to meet him.

Old Zhu strode forward with great speed, and the young eunuch almost jogged all the way to barely catch up with the emperor and lead the way.

After a while, Shang Xingyu's graceful figure came into Lao Zhu's sight.

At one glance, Old Zhu seemed to be struck by lightning and froze in place instantly.

He stared blankly at Shang Xingyu in front of him, his eyes wide open, unblinking.

Time seems to stand still at this moment.

There was astonishment, realization, and more importantly, an indescribable complex emotion in those eyes, as if seeing a glimpse of gentleness from the past.

Shang Xingyu didn't know that the plain old man in front of her was the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. It was not until the eunuchs around her knelt on the ground and shouted "Your Majesty", that she woke up from her dream and her heart tightened.

In an instant, I felt my heart beating like thunder, as if it was about to burst through my chest.

Although he had undergone countless rigorous training in Prince Zhou's Palace, imitating Queen Ma's every move and every word.

But at this moment, facing the legendary Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, she realized that training was just talk after all, and imitation could not even come close to achieving one percent of it.

What's more, Lao Zhu's gaze at this moment seemed to be real, fixed directly on her.

The compassion, pain, joy, and happiness in those eyes... were intertwined and blended, so complex that she couldn't describe it. She just felt uncomfortable all over, as if all her disguises had been seen through.

After a while, Shang Xingyu took a deep breath and tried his best to calm his disordered heartbeat, trying to regain the composure he had during the rehearsal in the palace.

The long training finally paid off. She raised her chin slightly, straightened her back, and did not kneel down to greet him like other eunuchs. Instead, she stared at Lao Zhu blankly, opened her lips slightly, and said with difficulty: "Zhongba, are you...are you okay?"

The voice was trembling a little, yet revealing a hint of stubbornness.

"Sister!"

Old Zhu's lips trembled, and tears suddenly flowed from his eyes like a flood bursting through a dam.

He seemed to have lost his mind, and rushed forward desperately. He stretched out his hands, grabbed Shang Xingyu's hand, and held it tightly, as if he was holding the most precious treasure in the world.

He looked at her infatuatedly, his eyes blurred.

At this moment, the Hongwu Emperor, who was usually far-sighted and well-planned, seemed to have his brain shut down instantly. He no longer thought about the identity of the person in front of him, nor did he care about the conspiracy that might be hidden behind him...

In his eyes, the only thing left was the phantom of the "Queen Ma" that haunted him.

Memories of the past flooded into his mind like a tide, drowning him completely.

Yoshigaki, who was standing nearby, witnessed this scene and instantly cried out in his heart, “Oh no!”
……

(End of this chapter)