Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 95: First Father, Then Emperor
Zhu Changluo waved to Wu Jiaqi, the eunuch who was Zhu Youxiao's tutor.

Wu Jiaqi immediately understood that the emperor was calling him to come and dress the eldest prince. Wu Jiaqi took out the red and gold-threaded dragon robe, the Yishan crown, and the jade belt from the usual wardrobe and slowly walked to Zhu Youxiao's side.

In the third year of the Yongle reign, Emperor Chengzu established a rule for the Crown Prince's daily attire: a black gauze cap with a folded-corner scarf, a red robe with a round collar and narrow sleeves, and a gold-woven coiled dragon on each shoulder, front, back, and shoulder. The jade belt and boots were made of leather. In the third year of the Yongle reign, it was further established that the daily attire of the princes was the same as that of the Crown Prince's.

In other words, it is impossible to distinguish between the Eastern Palace and the prince just by looking at their daily clothes.

"Wu Twelve! Why didn't you call me?" When the eunuch holding the red robe with a gold-threaded dragon pattern walked behind Zhu Youxiao, he heard his master's soft call.

"Our Lord came at dawn. Seeing that you were still sleeping, he not only ordered us not to disturb you, but also ordered us to stop the clock." Because five plus seven equals twelve, the eunuch who served as a tutor got the nickname "Wu Shier".

"Then the emperor is here." Zhu Youxiao looked towards the door. Zhu Changluo was standing there ordering the eunuchs to prepare lunch.

"He's been sitting there all morning." Wu Jiaqi whispered, "Our Lord has been reading a book there, and we servants standing beside him dare not breathe." Not to mention seeing the emperor, even the eunuchs accompanying the eldest prince had to kowtow and call the eunuch an ancestor when they saw the eunuch holding the pen.

When I was dressed, lunch, which was served an hour earlier, was also ready.

"Father." This was not the first time Zhu Youxiao had lunch alone with his father, but yesterday's experience and his earlier gaffe made the young man, who was about to turn fifteen in a few days, feel awkward.

"What are you looking at me for? Sit down and eat." Zhu Changluo jokingly said, "I have already had breakfast, so you can only wait for two people."

To hide his awkward expression, Zhu Youxiao pointed to the copper object on the desk and asked, seemingly changing the subject, "Father, may I ask what that is?"

"Your birthday is in a few days. But we can't have a grand celebration this year, so I had the Imperial Household Department make this little thing for you as a gift," Zhu Changluo said. "As for how to make it, we'll talk about it after lunch."

"Your son thanks the emperor." Zhu Youxiao was about to lift his robe and kneel down when Zhu Changluo's big hand stopped him.

"Let's just have a casual meal privately between the two of us, father and son, so let's not make it so formal."

"Yes, sir." Zhu Youxiao bowed again.

Zhu Youxiao sat down and the atmosphere immediately fell into silence.

"Brother, you seem to have something to say." Zhu Changluo saw that Zhu Youxiao seemed to be hesitant to speak, so he took the initiative to start the conversation. "If there is anything you want to ask or say, just speak up. The emperor will not blame you."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao mustered up his courage and asked, "Is the Emperor still the same Emperor as before?"

Zhu Changluo raised his eyebrows, but immediately calmed down and asked calmly, "Why do you ask that?"

"Because I feel that my father has changed." Zhu Youxiao licked his lips.

"Becoming a stranger?"

Zhu Youxiao lowered his head slightly, his cheeks flushed, and his face was full of embarrassment: "Yes, he has become particularly friendly."

Zhu Changluo was taken aback, suddenly feeling a deep sympathy for the young man. What he wanted was simple and obvious, but even until he died as an emperor at the age of twenty-two, he never received this gift called "fatherly love."

Zhu Changluo picked up a handful of vegetables with his chopsticks and placed them in Zhu Youxiao's bowl. He imitated his father and said softly, "Your Majesty, your father is your father. Your father, your father is your father. I, your father, your father is your father. I, your father, your father is your father. I, your father, your father is your father." Zhu Changluo sighed and added, inexplicably, "Or perhaps, it should have been your father before your father." The atmosphere gradually warmed, and Zhu Youxiao began to initiate conversation. Initially, father and son chatted about family matters, ranging from the weather and food to their siblings. However, the royal family was different from ordinary families, and by the end of lunch, the topic inevitably turned to academics and the political situation.

"Father, you never thought of handing Ti'er over to someone else to raise, right?" Zhu Youxiao hesitated for a few seconds and asked as tactfully as possible.

Zhu Changluo's hand holding the chopsticks suddenly stopped. His face darkened, and he said to Wang An, who was standing beside him, "I have a few private words to say to my brother."

Wang An immediately understood and walked out, calling out, "Everyone get out."

After all the eunuchs had left, Zhu Changluo spoke again: "Why do you think so?"

"Your Majesty, yesterday morning, Imperial Tutor Sun had just finished his lecture on filial piety and forgiveness, and you brought me back to the West Warm Pavilion." Zhu Youxiao felt a little regretful when he saw his father so serious, but the arrow had been shot.

"If the imperial teacher didn't teach you these two things, what would you do?" Zhu Changluo asked.

"I, your son, was trying to put myself in other people's shoes. It was only at the last moment that I remembered the words of the sage." There was no sign of hesitation in Zhu Youxiao's eyes.

"Extend your own thoughts to others?" Zhu Changluo said self-deprecatingly, "If only it were a year earlier."

"Your Majesty, I dare not blame you." Zhu Youxiao misinterpreted Zhu Changluo's meaning.

"To correct the ruler's ways and clarify the minister's duties are what Hai Shaobao said are the most important things in the world. Hai Rui is fighting for the ruler's injustice, and you are fighting for your father's injustice. He is loyal, and you are filial." Zhu Changluo smiled slightly and shook his head, telling Zhu Youxiao not to worry.

Finally, Zhu Changluo changed the subject: "But whether it is loyalty or filial piety, it is the duty of a minister."

"Ministerial Way?" Zhu Youxiao was shocked. However, what shocked him was not the "Ministerial Way" itself, but another word that contrasted with it.

"Do you still remember the court meeting on the first day of winter?"

"I remember." The events of the first day of the winter month were still vivid in his mind. "First, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War reported on revenue and expenditure. Then, Xu Honglue, on behalf of General Xiong, reported on the Liaodong war. Father used this as evidence to dismiss the false accusers and finally announced a reform of the court system."

"Well, that's right. Then who told what do you think was the biggest lie that day?" After asking, Zhu Changluo put the last bite of rice into his mouth, lowered his head and began to chew silently.

"Naturally, it's the criticisms leveled against Xiong Jinglüe in the memorials submitted by Yang Yuan, Feng Sanyuan, and Gu Xu." Zhu Youxiao pondered for a moment and uttered three words: "Raising taxes under false pretenses, extorting the common people, deceiving the emperor and harming the country."

"It seems you remember it very clearly." Zhu Changluo smiled but denied it. "But this kind of lie that is easily exposed is nothing. The biggest lie that day was actually just two words."

"Two words?" Zhu Youxiao was puzzled.

"'That makes sense.'" Zhu Changluo put down his chopsticks and looked at Zhu Youxiao.

"Makes sense?" Zhu Youxiao didn't react for a moment, until he met his father's eyes and suddenly realized: "This is what the emperor said!"

(End of this chapter)