The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

Liu Zhou glanced gratefully at King Jing and bowed, saying, "Zhao Yude is learned and talented, but he gets so engrossed in lecturing on scriptures and essays that he often misses Your Majesty's meals. This servant... this servant will find a suitable excuse to go in and report later."

He had been serving the Crown Prince since he was an infant, and naturally valued the Crown Prince's health more than anyone else. However, the Crown Prince respected his teachers and always forbade anyone to disturb the teachers' interest in lecturing.

With Prince Jing's words, he could find a suitable opportunity to go in and offer some guidance.

Zhu Zaizhen led the way to the place where they would eat and rest. Originally, the Crown Prince would eat and rest in another place, but for the sake of brotherly affection, he had been having lunch and resting with his two younger brothers for the past few years.

After the two sat down, Zhu Zaizhen's attendant hurriedly ordered someone to bring over the still-steaming medicinal soup: "Your Highness, it's time to take your medicine. Taking it while it's hot will help you recover faster, so that His Majesty and Consort Jing can be at ease."

Beside him followed a palace maid in green, who quickly laid out many sweet pastries and dried fruits on the table, all of which were Jing Wang's favorites.

"Your Highness, Her Majesty is worried about you and asked me to persuade you. Good medicine tastes bitter but is good for the illness. You must drink this bowl of medicine without leaving a drop. If you don't drink it, we servants will all be punished. It is a small matter for us to be beaten and scolded, but Her Majesty will shed tears because she is worried about you."

The palace servants continued to coax her with the same attitude as before, cautiously and with a hint of helplessness and pleading, after all, as servants, they had no other choice but to do so.

Princes are of extremely high status, especially in this dynasty. There are only three princes in the vast country, and none of them are particularly strong.

Zhu Zaizhen didn't say much. He reached out and took the medicine bowl. The temperature was just right to his touch. He tilted his head back slightly and poured the bowl of thick, dark, and bitter soup into his stomach.

The strong medicinal smell caused him to furrow his brow almost imperceptibly, but then a warm current spread through his body.

Although it is unknown why he came here after his death and became the Prince Jing of the Ming Dynasty, what more could one ask for than to be alive and have a healthy body to carry on one's career?

Zhu Zaizhen's expression didn't change much after drinking the medicine, but Zhu Zaiji, who was watching from the side, had his face contorted in pain. Clearly, although the medicine hadn't actually entered his mouth, the bitterness had already spilled out of his memory.

Zhu Zaizhen picked up a piece of rock sugar rice cake and put it in his mouth. The eunuchs and palace maids next to him came to their senses and praised him repeatedly, saying that serving this young master had become easier and easier lately.

Then the dishes began to be served, but most of them were cold appetizers and pastries. Only four or five hot dishes were served, while there were supposed to be more than a dozen more. It was clear that the main course was to be served when the Crown Prince arrived.

Prince Yu and Prince Jing had become accustomed to it. From childhood, everyone and everything had told them that they were extremely noble and of imperial lineage, but there were also people and things that constantly reminded them that there were even more noble people above them.

Prince Yu understood this earlier than Prince Jing, because even between the two of them, the servants below were more obsequious to Prince Jing, whose mother was favored.

Thinking of this, Prince Yu's face suddenly turned somewhat gloomy. He silently began to eat some snacks, causing Zhu Zaizhen, who was about to speak to him, to swallow his words.

Despite the shared memories of growing up together, it must be said that the historical Longqing Emperor was a truly unlikable person, with a cold and unpredictable personality that made him difficult to approach.

The two ate some pastries to fill their stomachs, but they still had to wait for the Crown Prince to arrive before they could have a proper meal.

Fortunately, it didn't take long before the voices of those welcoming His Highness the Crown Prince came from outside the palace gates. The two princes stood up to greet him, and a young man dressed in a bright red silk robe with a jade belt around his waist walked in.

The two princes stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your humble servants and brothers respectfully welcome Your Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness live a long life."

"No need for formalities." Crown Prince Zhu Zaiyi stopped in front of his two younger brothers: "Close relatives need not be so formal."

After exchanging greetings, the Crown Prince smiled and said, "I just sent someone to inquire with Scholar Chen. Zaizhen has made great progress, which is excellent. If Father were to hear of this, he would surely be delighted."

Before Zhu Zaizhen could reply, Huang Jin, who was following behind the Crown Prince, said, "This servant will definitely report to His Majesty when we get back, so that he may be pleased."

This man is Huang Jin, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. He was His Majesty's study companion when His Majesty was still the Prince of Xing's son. He has served His Majesty closely for decades and is highly favored by him.

He was the second-in-command among the eunuchs, second only to Mai Fu, the Grand Eunuch who held the seal of the Directorate of Ceremonial and concurrently served as the Director of the Eastern Depot.

Zhu Zaizhen blinked, then suddenly revealed a hint of arrogance, raising his head and saying to Huang Jin, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Grand Eunuch, to put in a good word for me with Father Emperor."

Huang Jin smiled broadly, agreeing repeatedly, creating a harmonious atmosphere in the hall. Only Prince Yu stood to the side, barely managing a smile.

The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs today is essentially another cabinet of the imperial court, and its chief eunuch is an inner minister who can wield key authority on par with the Grand Secretary.

Although there were several eunuchs in charge of drafting documents, Huang Jin was in charge of the document room and was in charge of approving drafts, thus his power was equivalent to that of the second-in-command.

At this moment, the chief eunuch was very humble: "Your Highness's studies have indeed progressed well, and this servant will naturally report this truthfully to His Majesty."

"If Father is in a good mood, you should remind him that the ochre-white horse he promised to bestow upon me on New Year's Day has not yet been given."

Upon hearing this, Huang Jin pleaded for mercy: "Oh dear, the ochre-white horse is a tribute from the southwest to His Majesty, this servant has no right to speak on it."

Huang Jin looked troubled, but in reality, it was just a tribute horse presented from a local area. Although it was exceptionally fine, what did it amount to in this palace?

What he feared was that if this young master got on the horse and someone fell off and got frightened, he wouldn't be able to explain himself to the emperor.

Prince Yu remained silently standing to the side, showing no intention of speaking, even though his personal attendant had tugged at his sleeve several times.

The eunuch was secretly anxious. His Majesty was preoccupied with his spiritual cultivation and, although he valued his children, he was not close to them. In earlier years, the princes had even been raised outside the palace. Now that they had been brought back, His Majesty had not summoned them for a close visit more than a few times a year.

Apart from the Crown Prince, most of the messages and greetings from the other princes and princesses were delivered to His Majesty through Huang Jin. Although His Majesty would probably not care even if he heard them, it was still not good to not even send greetings.

The future of my princely fiefdom, and whether my descendants will enjoy any special blessings and favors, will all depend on His Majesty's wishes.

Zhu Zaizhen, however, persisted: "If Huang Ban refuses to help me, then I will personally go to Father Emperor to ask for it. Everyone says that Father Emperor's words are law and his promises are absolute; how could he not keep them?"

Although I don't remember the exact time, after the Crown Prince's death, the opportunities to see the Jiajing Emperor would only become fewer and fewer, so I had to seize the opportunity.

Now, less than a century has passed since Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself on Coal Hill. Even being a wealthy and idle prince would not be a secure life, let alone allowing the Tartars to continue to harm China.

Upon careful consideration, the only variable that could turn the tide lay with him.

One life is the same as ten thousand lives; if not me, then who?

…………