My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Empress Zhou looked up and met her husband's eyes, which were filled with guilt and longing. The tears she had been holding back for so long finally burst forth and slid down her cheeks.

She quickly lowered her head, gently wiping her face with a handkerchief, her voice trembling slightly:
"Your Majesty is too kind... I am not suffering. Your Majesty has been working hard for the country and has returned safely. That is a blessing for me... for all the people of the world. As long as Your Majesty is safe, I... am not suffering at all."

A six-month separation was indeed an unprecedentedly long time for this young couple and middle-aged emperor and empress. The longing and worry they felt were beyond words.

At this moment, Zhu Cilang also stepped forward and respectfully bowed deeply to Empress Zhou:

"Your subject greets Your Majesty. I have returned from my southern tour; is Your Majesty still in good health?"

Empress Zhou quickly helped her son up, forgetting to wipe away her tears. Holding Zhu Cilang's hand, she looked him up and down carefully, her eyes filled with love and relief, and choked back tears as she said:

"Lang'er...you're back too, good, good! Your mother is doing well, but I'm worried about you and your father day and night. Let your mother take a good look at you...hmm, you've grown taller and thinner, but you look more energetic! This southern tour must have been quite arduous."

She reached out and gently stroked Zhu Cilang's face, which had clearly lost much of its childishness and whose features were becoming more defined, her heart filled with tenderness.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I am young and it is nothing to worry about. It is Your Majesty who has lost weight, which must be due to your concern for me and Father."

Zhu Cilang said gently.

Just then, Zhu Cilang caught a glimpse of the little girl in the arms of the nanny behind Empress Zhou out of the corner of his eye.

The little girl was about a year and a half old. She was wearing a bright red embroidered jacket and a tiger-head hat. Her rosy little face was like a ball of jade. At this moment, she was curiously looking at the group of unfamiliar and lively adults in front of her with her big, dark eyes.

Zhu Cilang felt a warmth in his heart. He was about to signal the nanny to bring the child closer for a closer look when Chongzhen noticed him first.

Upon seeing the young girl, Chongzhen's smile instantly softened, revealing an awkward eagerness as he beckoned to the nanny:
"Double happiness, my double happiness! Quickly, bring it here so that your father can have a good look at it!"

The nanny holding the princess hurriedly and carefully stepped forward. Chongzhen eagerly reached out and, with some awkwardness but with utmost gentleness, took the small, soft bundle into his arms.

He lowered his head and gently rubbed his still-unshaven chin against his daughter's delicate face, his voice so tender it could melt your heart:
"Shuangxi, my dear daughter, did you miss your father? Your father is back..."

However, what happened next made the tender-hearted emperor quite embarrassed.

The little princess was suddenly taken in by this "stranger," and smelled an unfamiliar scent mixed with the dust of her journey and ambergris. She was also tickled by the rough stubble. Immediately, her little mouth twitched, and she burst into tears. She waved her chubby little hands wildly, trying desperately to push Chongzhen away and twisting her body, wanting to return to the familiar embrace of her nanny.

"Waaah—! Granny! I want Granny! Waaah..."

Emperor Chongzhen was immediately flustered, unsure whether to coax or release the child. His old face flushed red, and in front of his many concubines, palace maids, and even his son, he was truly embarrassed. He could only awkwardly sway and pat the child, repeatedly saying:

"Don't cry, Shuangxi, it's your father, your father has returned... Don't cry, don't cry..."

Empress Zhou, watching from the sidelines, felt both amused and helpless. She quickly stepped forward to defuse the situation and apologized to Emperor Chongzhen:
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Shuangxi is still young and can't remember people. She was still an infant when you left, and it's been more than half a year since we last saw each other, so she's naturally become unfamiliar with you. I've taught her to recognize her father's portrait and to call him 'Father Emperor' quite often. She used to call him 'Father Emperor' just fine when she saw the portrait, but perhaps she was scared when she saw him in person today and forgot everything."

Emperor Chongzhen shook his head with a wry smile, about to say "It's alright," when he saw the little princess, who was sobbing, suddenly stop wriggling, turn her head with teary eyes, and look past Chongzhen's shoulder at Zhu Cilang, who was standing a little behind her.

She blinked her big, wet eyes, stared at Zhu Cilang for a few seconds, then seemed to remember something. Suddenly, she stretched out her two chubby little hands towards Zhu Cilang and called out clearly, though her voice was trembling with tears:

"Brother...brother! Brother, hug me!"

That cry of "Brother, hug me!" was like the warm spring sun, instantly melting Zhu Cilang's heart.

Although he knew that this was mostly the result of Empress Zhou's or the palace maids' daily teachings, being called so affectionately by such a lovely little sister who was connected to him by blood still stirred up a warm feeling and protective instinct stemming from blood ties.

A genuine smile appeared on his face. He quickly stepped forward and carefully took the still-soothing little princess from the somewhat stunned Chongzhen.

Strangely enough, as soon as the little princess was in Zhu Cilang's arms, her crying gradually stopped.

She seemed reassured by the refreshing and peaceful aura emanating from this "brother," resting her little head on Zhu Cilang's shoulder, her small hands tightly gripping his clothes, her tear-streaked face showing a look of grievance and dependence.

Emperor Chongzhen watched helplessly as his daughter cried in his arms but quieted down in his son's. He was filled with mixed emotions, a complex feeling of disappointment, jealousy, and a little amusement welling up inside him.

Before this old father could even properly enjoy the happiness of family life and feel the warmth of his "little cotton-padded jacket," how did his "little cotton-padded jacket" suddenly end up in his brother's arms?
Where does this leave him, as the ruler of a country and the head of a family, to save face?
Indeed, at this moment, Emperor Chongzhen was genuinely jealous, and the object of his jealousy was his own son.

Zhu Cilang felt the resentful yet helpless gaze of his father, and chuckled inwardly, but showed it on his face. He simply patted his younger sister's back gently and coaxed her softly:

"Shuangxi, don't cry, your brother is here. Look, that's Father, your loving father, do you remember?"

Perhaps it was her brother's comforting words that worked, or perhaps she was tired from crying, but the little princess gradually stopped sobbing and calmed down in Zhu Cilang's arms, only opening her big eyes to look around curiously.

Seeing this, Empress Zhou quickly took the little princess, whose emotions had stabilized, from Zhu Cilang's arms, carried her to Emperor Chongzhen, and gently guided her:
"Shuangxi, my dear, look who this is? Your mother taught you that it is your father, call him Father."

The little princess felt very safe in her mother's arms. She looked intently at the "stranger" in front of her, who was dressed in bright yellow and looked both nervous and expectant. She tilted her head as if trying to remember.

After a moment, she opened her little mouth and softly called out in a childish, tentative voice:

"Father...Father Emperor?"

"Hey!"

Emperor Chongzhen was instantly overjoyed, as if he had heard divine music. The jealousy and disappointment on his face were instantly replaced by immense joy. He smiled so broadly that his eyes disappeared, and his whole face seemed to bloom into a radiant chrysanthemum.

He quickly agreed and reached out again, this time taking his daughter from Empress Zhou's hands with even greater care and anticipation.

This time, the little princess did not struggle or cry. She just opened her big, dark eyes and looked curiously at the man who called himself "Father Emperor," letting him hold her. She even stretched out her little finger and curiously poked the dragon pattern on Chongzhen's dragon robe.

"Good, good, my Shuangxi is so good! She recognizes her father!"

Emperor Chongzhen was overjoyed. Holding his daughter as if she were a priceless treasure, all his previous fatigue and embarrassment vanished, leaving only boundless love and happiness.

The emperor and empress reunited, fathers and sons were reunited, and brothers and sisters got to know each other... The area in front of the Qianqing Palace was filled with a long-lost, joyful, and warm imperial family atmosphere.

The cold wind seemed to have softened considerably.

Afterwards, the family moved to the grand welcoming banquet that had been prepared in the Kunning Palace. It is worth mentioning that Zheng Xiaomei, who accompanied Zhu Cilang on his return to the south, was naturally among them, and Qiqige was also arranged to be at the banquet.

As the Crown Prince's chosen concubine, it was perfectly reasonable for Zheng Xiaomei to attend such a family banquet, and no one would object.

But for Qiqige, the situation was rather delicate.

She has a special status as a Mongolian princess, but is now nominally a "guest" or "hostage," not a formal concubine.

Normally, she should have avoided such a royal family banquet. Before the banquet began, she did indeed privately tell the palace maids around Empress Zhou that she was not comfortable attending and wanted to return to her residence to rest.

However, Empress Zhou personally spoke up and gently persuaded her to stay.

"You've taken care of the Crown Prince all this way, and you've worked hard. Today is a family banquet, so please don't stand on ceremony. Sit down and have a simple meal with us."

Empress Zhou spoke gently, but her attitude was clear. She even personally instructed the palace servants to set up a seat for Qiqige not far from Zhu Cilang.

Anyone with eyes could see that Empress Zhou's words were more than just polite formalities.

In Empress Zhou's mind, she probably already considered this Mongolian princess as one of the candidates for her "prospective daughter-in-law".

As for her Mongolian origins, the Ming imperial family did not consider them an obstacle at all—during the Ming Dynasty, it was common for the imperial family to take Mongolian, Korean, and even Western Region women as concubines, especially during the Hongwu and Yongle reigns.

This would not be seen as a stain; rather, it could be a political success story when it was necessary to control the Mongol tribes.

As long as her son was happy and it was beneficial to the overall situation, Empress Zhou was pleased to see it happen.

The welcoming banquet was lavish and the atmosphere was harmonious. Emperor Chongzhen was in high spirits, chatting casually with Empress Zhou and his sons, occasionally inquiring about anecdotes from his southern tour. Zhu Cilang and Zhu Cijiong also enjoyed their conversation. Zheng Xiaomei was well-behaved and quiet, and although Qiqige was a little reserved, she gradually relaxed under Empress Zhou's gentle questions and Zhu Cilang's occasional glances.

The emperor, empress, concubines, fathers, sons, and brothers, at least on the surface, were all in harmony, with constant laughter and cheerful conversation, dispelling the chill of the winter palace.

The banquet lasted until evening. Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Zhou had much to say to each other, while Zhu Cilang, accompanied by Zheng Xiaomei, took his leave and returned to the Eastern Palace.

Six months later, stepping into this familiar palace complex that symbolized his status as the crown prince once again, Zhu Cilang was filled with emotion.

The palace remains unchanged, the furnishings are as they were, and the air is filled with the familiar, faint scent of sandalwood and books.

When I left six months ago, I felt that the rules here were complicated and restrictive, and I longed to spread my wings and fly away as soon as possible.

However, after months of planning and turmoil, having witnessed the prosperity and crisis of Jiangnan and experienced the vastness and turbulence of the sea, returning to this place that belongs to me now brings an indescribable sense of intimacy and peace.

This is where his power began, and also the fortress where he planned for the future.

Perhaps people are always like this: they only realize their belonging after leaving, and they only learn to cherish things after experiencing them.

Exhausted from their journey, Zhu Cilang and Zheng Xiaomei did not say much after returning to their bedchamber. They simply took a bath to wash away the dust of their travels.

By the time everything was tidied up, it was already late at night.

Zhu Cilang embraced the soft and fragrant Zheng Xiaomei, lying on the long-missed, spacious and comfortable carved canopy bed. Smelling the familiar calming fragrance in the tent, the fatigue accumulated over the past few days surged up like a tide.

He stopped thinking about politics and making plans for the future, and simply let his consciousness sink into a warm, dark tranquility.

Zheng Xiaomei soon began to breathe evenly and softly in his arms.

The palace lanterns gradually went out, and the Eastern Palace fell into a deep sleep.

Outside the window, the cold wind still howled, but inside the hall it was as warm as spring.

All the storms, schemes, battles, and even the impending thunderous blow that would determine the fate of the nation were temporarily kept out of this peaceful night.

Let's talk about everything tomorrow...

The following morning, at the Forbidden City.

Before dawn, the morning bell of the Forbidden City, which had been silent for more than half a year, once again rang out heavily outside the Meridian Gate in the thin mist of the morning light.

The deep, resonant tolling of the bells pierced the crisp winter air, echoing across the majestic palace complex and the empty square, awakening the heart of the empire.

With Empress Zhou's personal assistance, Emperor Chongzhen had already risen, changed into his twelve-symbol imperial robe, and with a solemn expression, rode in the imperial carriage to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to attend court, surrounded by eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial, the Imperial Secretary, the court attendants, and a large number of guards.

Six months later, the emperor held court for the first time. This was not only a formal announcement of his return from the southern tour, but also a necessary move to regain control of the political climate, appease and even intimidate his ministers.

All the civil and military officials in the court, regardless of rank, who were qualified to attend court in the capital, dared not be negligent. They all lined up outside the Meridian Gate early in the morning, preparing to pay homage to the emperor.

The spacious square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony was once again shrouded in a dark mass of figures in court robes and a solemn atmosphere under the dim light of day.

In stark contrast to the solemn and bustling atmosphere of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the eastern part of Zhu Cilang's residence was still immersed in a tranquil and peaceful morning atmosphere.

Inside the sleeping quarters, heavy brocade curtains hung low, and the warmth from the floor heating and charcoal brazier mingled with a faint, soothing fragrance that aided sleep, making one feel exceptionally languid.

Zhu Cilang lay on the large, comfortable carved canopy bed, covered with a soft and warm brocade quilt, immersed in a deep and sweet dream, seemingly oblivious to the distant bells that symbolized the start of the court assembly.

He naturally knew that Emperor Chongzhen was going to court today.

Before going to bed, a palace attendant came to report.

He didn't care about this at all, and even thought it was a matter of course. During his six-month southern tour, although state affairs were handled by the cabinet and the Prince of Jin, Zhu Cijiong, who was in charge of the country, many important decisions, especially those involving personnel and strategic direction, ultimately needed to be made by the emperor himself after his return, or at least as a gesture.

Emperor Chongzhen's attendance at court served both to appease his officials and to provide an opportunity to understand the dynamics of the court over the past six months. (End of Chapter)