The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

After the Crown Prince's death, the parrot was released by someone. Some said it flew to the West Garden, while others said it died under the artificial rocks in the Imperial Garden. No one knew where it went.

"Your Highness has arrived." A tall and graceful female official stepped forward and bowed: "This servant, Zhao Jingxian, greets Your Highness Prince Jing."

Behind her followed two young eunuchs and two young palace maids, both of whom looked very capable. They bowed to her in unison, but with a more pronounced gesture.

"Lady Zhao, you may dispense with the formalities."

Zhu Zaizhen did not laugh, but solemnly offered a gesture of support: "Her Highness the Imperial Concubine's side is largely thanks to the efforts of the Palace Attendant."

"It is my duty, Your Highness."

Zhu Zaizhen did not move, so Ma Dezhao took the initiative to ask, "Is Consort Jing also here? I wonder if Your Highness would find it convenient to pay your respects to the two consorts?"

"This servant has consulted with Her Highness the Imperial Concubine; the two ladies are currently chatting."

Zhu Zaizhen then took a step, and at this moment, Consort Wang was leaning against the couch in the hall. Her hair was neatly combed, but there were a few strands of gray hair at her temples. She was smiling.

"Sister, you don't need to come every day." Consort Wang's voice was very soft and hoarse, like a crumpled and then smoothed-out piece of paper. "My palace is so deserted now. If you come, I won't have the energy to entertain you. It always makes me feel bad."

"What are you saying, sister?" Consort Jing's voice was also soft: "I'm just idling around anyway, so I came to keep you company and chat. I hope you don't find me noisy."

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Concubine laughed and said, "When I asked you to come and keep me company before, you said you wanted to stroll in the garden, make pastries, and feed the cats. Now that I'm not asking you to come, you insist on coming."

Consort Lu smiled but said nothing. Consort Wang simply reached out and stroked her hand: "As the saying goes, there is no greater sorrow than a broken heart. That is how I am now. If it weren't for the fact that suicide would be inauspicious and bring disaster to my maternal clan, I would not want to stay here any longer. I want to go and be with my child."

Consort Jing shook her head and said, "The Crown Prince is unwilling. He even appeared in my dream yesterday, asking me to spend more time with you, saying that his spirit in heaven will bless you to live a long and healthy life."

The Imperial Concubine's smile remained unchanged, but tears streamed down her face: "That unfilial son, he only remembers me now."

"Human effort cannot defy the will of Heaven; it was the Crown Prince's own doing..."

The imperial concubine interrupted her: "Are you saying my son really died of illness?"

Lady Lu was speechless for a moment before saying, "His Majesty ordered the eunuchs and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate, but they found nothing. Even if someone had the greatest courage, no one would dare to plot against the Crown Prince."

"After Chief Minister Xia died, I felt uneasy. Others may not know the inside story, but I do. It was Lu Bing and Yan Song who framed him and deliberately angered His Majesty, which led to Xia Yan's execution in the marketplace."

These two are incredibly powerful, and with Consort Kang joining forces, is it even possible for them to achieve this?

"Moreover..." The Imperial Concubine's tears flowed uncontrollably, "If His Majesty also intends to... he is already wary of the saying 'two dragons cannot meet,' and he also fears that the ministers will all side with the Crown Prince..."

"Sister!" Consort Jing stopped Consort Gui and coaxed her, "Don't overthink it. With so many people acting together, it's impossible that there wouldn't be any clues. Besides, the people around the Crown Prince are all handpicked by you. With such strict guard, no one could possibly have harmed the Crown Prince so quietly."

"His Highness Prince Jing has arrived."

"Let him wait a little longer," Consort Jing instructed. Consort Wang also wiped away her tears, as it wouldn't be appropriate to cry and whine when meeting a junior.

"Yes, Your Highness." Zhao Jingxian responded, turned around, and curtsied slightly to Zhu Zaizhen: "Your Highness, please wait a moment."

A moment later, upon hearing the summons, Zhu Zaizhen entered. He first saw Consort Jing sitting on a round stool, her back straight, her hands resting on her knees, her face gentle. When she saw her son enter, the corners of her mouth twitched slightly, which could be considered a smile.

Then his gaze shifted to the couch, where the Imperial Concubine was also looking at him. Her haggard appearance made Zhu Zaizhen's heart tighten.

"Your son pays respects to the Imperial Concubine and to his mother."

Zhu Zaizhen respectfully performed a grand salute, while Consort Wang looked at him, her gaze slowly moving from the top of his head to his eyebrows and eyes, and then from his eyebrows and eyes to his shoulders and back. She looked very carefully, as if she were trying to identify something.

"No need for formalities. Little monkey, you've become much more composed, you're starting to resemble your elder brother."

"Your Majesty and Mother are my subjects, so I dare not act recklessly anymore," Zhu Zaizhen said in a low but firm voice.

"Good boy." Consort Wang beckoned, and Prince Jing walked up and bowed his head. Consort Wang touched the top of his head: "You two brothers have the same hair whorl."

"Yes, I remember when I was little, the Empress pulled me aside and compared me with my elder brother."

"Zaizhen, how have your elder brother and I treated you?"

"Your Majesty!" Consort Jing stood up. She was willing to do everything in her power to take care of the Noble Consort, but that didn't mean she would let her drag the child into unfounded delusions.

Zhu Zaizhen glanced at his mother briefly, then looked away. Consort Jing stood there, her lips pressed into a thin line, the end of which curved slightly downwards, a sign of her anger.

When she's angry, her lips will look like this; you can't really see it unless you look closely, but he's her son, and he can tell.

"Mother, it's nothing. Her Majesty was just asking me a question."

After saying this, he looked at the Imperial Concubine and said, "Your Majesty treats me like your own child, giving me earnest advice and working hard for me. My brother treats me like a sibling from the same mother, taking care of me in every way and always thinking of me. I will never forget such kindness."

"Alright! Everyone except Prince Jing, get out!"

Apart from Consort Jing, no one else dared to disobey the Imperial Concubine's wishes. Zhu Zaizhen went over and whispered a few words of advice to his mother, and finally only the two of them remained in the bedchamber.

The imperial concubine pulled out a thick stack of envelopes from under her pillow.

"These are the civil and military officials who originally supported the Crown Prince." Her voice was very soft, so soft that it didn't sound like she was entrusting something heavy, but rather like she was talking about something trivial and insignificant.

"Now I'm handing it all over to you."

Zhu Zaizhen accepted it with both hands, his movements were steady, and his face remained expressionless.

His fingers touched the edge of the envelope of the top letter. The paper was old, and the edges were a little rough, as if it had been repeatedly turned over and rubbed.

Some of the letters had faded ink, but the handwriting was still clearly legible. It was the late Crown Prince's handwriting. He had seen the late Crown Prince's handwriting before; it was upright, gentle, and each stroke was carefully executed, as if afraid that if the ink was too thick, it would bleed, and if it was too thin, it would float.

Consort Wang looked at him, her gaze moving from his brow to the corner of his mouth, and from the corner of his mouth to the fingers holding the letter.

His fingers were steady, not like those of a teenager. He didn't rush to look through the pages, nor did he ask where these people were now or what their current jobs were.

She didn't even say thank you, Your Highness; she just held it quietly, as if waiting for her to finish speaking. Suddenly, she felt a little unfamiliar with her.

"You've really grown up." There was something indescribable in her voice, not just relief, not just emotion, but something more complex.

It's like someone who has been walking in the dark for a long time, and suddenly sees a figure in front of her. She thinks it is her son, but when she gets closer, she finds that it is someone else's son.

"It feels like a stranger to me."

...............