The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

"Your subject has to grow up. If possible, your subject would like to live a carefree and wealthy life under the protection of Your Majesty and Your Majesty, but unfortunately, fate has not granted your wish."

Zhu Zaizhen gently shook the thick letter in his hand: "When my brother was alive, these people were naturally reliable confidants, but now that my brother is gone, most of them have already sided with another brother, and the rest are just waiting to be sold."

"I fear that relying on these lists of letters to win people over would only make me a laughingstock."

Faced with the concubine's surprise, Zhu Zaizhen did not offer much explanation. He had never intended to play dumb to deceive others. In this palace, fools do not live long, and only the clever are of value to be exploited.

What he needs to do is not to hide his intelligence, but to let others know his intelligence, but not to know just how intelligent he is.

"You're right, none of the ones above are of much use, but the seven or eight on the last letter are all loyal to the Crown Prince. Some of them are too deeply involved, having served the Crown Prince for over a decade, and are no longer willing to serve anyone else."

Some of them have committed serious crimes, but I've suppressed them. If they don't listen to you, just produce that letter about them, and that will be enough to have them dragged to the West Market and executed. They won't dare disobey you."

He knew that even a centipede with a hundred legs doesn't die easily. The Imperial Concubine and the Crown Prince had occupied this position for more than ten years, and they originally had the support of Grand Secretary Xia Yan. How could they have no foundation at all?

However, Zhu Zaizhen still didn't look at the last list, but instead lowered his head and asked, "Is there anything Your Majesty wants me to do?"

Consort Wang was not polite and said directly, "Two things. First, if you can succeed, I will thoroughly investigate your brother's matter again."

Zhu Zaizhen nodded without hesitation. It seemed that the Consort still felt that there was something amiss with the Crown Prince's death. However, in his opinion, neither Yan Song nor Lu Bing had the guts to murder the Crown Prince.

Because their power all came from the emperor's favor, and there were people both inside and outside the court eyeing this favor covetously, they would carefully consider their actions again and again, how could they dare to commit such a great offense?

As for the Emperor, as a ruler with absolute power, the word "filial piety" alone was enough to suffocate the Crown Prince, and he would never have murdered his own son.

"The second thing is that if you have more than two children in the future, one of them should be adopted by your elder brother so that the family line can be continued through festival sacrifices."

When she spoke of the first matter, the Imperial Concubine was still very strong, but her eyes were filled with hatred, an indescribable hatred.

The second thing she did was plead. She feared that after she passed away, her son's tomb would be left unattended, and he would not receive offerings from his descendants during festivals, leaving it desolate and miserable. Just thinking about that scene made her heart ache.

Zhu Zaizhen sighed. He was unwilling to make a deal with an unborn child, but although he was not the original owner, the memories had merged, and he could not distinguish who was who. He could clearly remember how kind the mother and child were to him.

He clearly remembered the woman before him, no longer the elegant and graceful woman she once was, who had held his and the late Crown Prince's hands as they strolled in the Imperial Garden. He remembered how, after tucking his son in, she had also tucked him in, gently patting his shoulder and singing a lullaby to lull him to sleep…

"Your Majesty, your son Zhu Zaizhen agrees. If a second son grows up, he will definitely adopt one to serve as an heir for the Emperor!"

"Good child, I know this is difficult." The Imperial Concubine sobbed uncontrollably, and after a long while she said, "It's much more difficult than the first one. If you had succeeded in the first one, it could have been done with just a word."

Her gaze fell on the top of Zhu Zaizhen's head, on the whorl of hair that was exactly the same as the former crown prince's.

"But even if you succeed in this matter, you may not be able to get it done. The Imperial Clan Court, the Ministry of Rites, the Grand Secretariat, the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, the discussions in the court and among the people—you have to get through every hurdle, and every hurdle could be a dead end."

"If you can't do it, I won't blame you." She paused for a moment: "But you must promise me, promise me, that you will remember this matter and not forget to send someone to sweep the tomb and offer sacrifices for your imperial brother."

Zhu Zaizhen stepped forward and gently nudged the Consort's hand with his head, just like a few years ago, like a little calf, being so mischievous and stubborn just because the Consort punished him.

"Your Majesty, Father accomplished something far more difficult back then. If I succeed, I will certainly be able to do it too."

Consort Wang embraced Zhu Zaizhen and cried silently for a while, as if she wanted to let her heart, liver, spleen, and lungs flow out with her tears.

She cried until she was exhausted and her eyes were red before she gradually calmed down. She said, "Zaizhen, my private savings will be sent to your mother in the next few days. Except for a small portion that will be sent back to your mother's home as a keepsake, the rest will be left for you and your mother."

If there are any left over in the future, and you have accomplished that task, please give them to that child and tell him that they were left to him by the late Crown Prince, wishing him peace, health, wealth, and many descendants.

Zhu Zaizhen did not refuse, but said sullenly, "I've got it."

As if wanting to explain everything, the Imperial Concubine added, "In a few years, it will be time for you to get married. Do you and your mother have anyone you like?"

"I have never heard my mother mention it, so I suppose it doesn't exist."

"Let me choose one for you."

Zhu Zaizhen was somewhat surprised, but he didn't have any objections. It was a blind selection anyway, and according to the system, to prevent interference from maternal relatives in politics, the families of princes' consorts were generally very ordinary.

For example, daughters of military officers, students of the Imperial Academy, commoners, and military households could participate in the selection of imperial concubines as long as they were of the right age, came from good families, and had dignified appearances.

It is strictly forbidden for the daughters of high-ranking officials, relatives of the emperor, merchants, doctors, sorcerers, and artisans to be given away, and it is strictly forbidden for them to privately exchange daughters with ministers.

Moreover, he knew that the historical King Jing had no children throughout his life. Although the reasons were hard to determine, it would not be bad to change to a virtuous wife.

He now takes care of his body and mind every day to strengthen his foundation because he knows that being childless is his biggest weakness, and he must never repeat the past.

Zhu Zaizhen then reminded her, "Although I have no objection, the court and the public are watching closely. Your Majesty's family is no longer what it used to be; they are now high-ranking officials and nobles. This would violate ancestral rules, and I fear Your Majesty will not allow it."

Consort Wang came from a commoner family, but over the years, the emperor has continuously bestowed favors upon her, and her father has long since risen to a high official position. Even her younger brother has reached the position of Vice Commander of the Rear Army.

Although these were all honorary titles without any real power, it was still a classic case of a father gaining prestige through his daughter, and a younger brother gaining honor through his older sister.

Consort Wang was clearly prepared, and explained softly, "She is the daughter of my maternal uncle's brother on my maternal side. Her father was adopted out a long time ago, and she no longer shares the same surname as my maternal grandparents."

She's two years older than you, smart, quick-witted, sensible, and generous. Originally, I was thinking... well, anyway, that child is the most suitable person to be your helper.

I sent people to train her six years ago, and so far I've had seven or eight female officials trained with her. They all say she's impeccable. You should know that these female officials were all carefully selected and hired by me from the Bureau of Ceremonial Affairs.

Zhu Zaizhen was speechless. He hadn't expected this. It wasn't that he hadn't expected the Imperial Concubine to choose someone from her own maternal clan, but rather that he hadn't expected this girl to be originally intended for the Crown Prince.

"Don't worry, your brother has never met her either, so it won't be easy to keep it a secret. Therefore, I didn't let anyone tell her anything. But I think, with her intelligence, she must have guessed it."

Six years ago, when the Crown Prince was still alive, the Empress began to prepare a wife for him. As expected of parents who love their son, they plan far ahead for him.

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