The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

Chapter 82 Shaking

Zhu Zaizhen raised his head, the dejection on his face gone, replaced by a cheerful expression: "Forget it, I'll just go back to raising the kittens. I hope these three will grow up to be as clever and quick-witted as Shuangmei."

If Your Majesty has no further instructions, I will take my leave.

Jiajing didn't speak, but was trapped in his own emotions. He was resisting and rejecting it because he had realized that he had actually started to favor this brat!

Zhu Zaizhen seemed to have just remembered: "I will send some new Binglu tomorrow, but Father should use it sparingly to avoid chilling your spleen and stomach."

After a long while, Jiajing slowly came to his senses, suppressing the inappropriate favoritism in his heart, and his voice returned to its usual calm: "I understand."

These three short words, devoid of praise or criticism, perfectly reveal the emperor's aloofness; Jiajing ultimately refused to show even a hint of soft-heartedness.

Zhu Zaizhen, unsurprised, bowed neatly and stood up, then steadily retreated until he was outside the hall before turning and leaving.

After the palace doors closed gently, Huang Jin cautiously stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, Prince Jing's filial piety is truly commendable."

Having served Emperor Jiajing for many years, Huang Jin understood the emperor's mind best. He clearly saw the emperor's unusual behavior just now, but dared not point it out, and could only offer this tactful advice.

"It's just childish behavior."

Huang Jin said no more. Jiajing got up and picked up Shuangmei from the cushion next to him, holding her in his arms like a small child, and paced around the hall.

"Is Chang'an alright?"

Huang Jin replied, "This servant sent someone to check on her yesterday. The princess is already able to walk around, which shows she is doing very well."

"That's good. Those who have made contributions will be rewarded, and those who have made mistakes will be punished."

"promise."

"In Chang'an's matter, this brat actually did a good job by sending the painting over and having that Xu Wei copy it and send it back."

"promise"

Huang Jin was secretly delighted, but dared not show it on his face, for fear that His Majesty would become angry.

His Majesty is a bit of a paranoid. There's nothing wrong with a father being close to his son, but he can't stand the thought of being close to his son.

Huang Jin dared not let anyone else deliver it, lest someone carelessly trip and bump into it, damaging the calligraphy left by Emperor Xuanzong. Seeing that His Majesty had no other instructions, he personally stepped forward to take the scroll and left the hall.

After rushing for a while, Zhu Zaizhen finally caught up with Prince Jing in front of the palace gate. He was quite surprised and his eyes involuntarily looked towards the direction of the palace.

Huang Jin smiled and said, "Your Highness should be careful when ordering someone to make a copy. If that person's skills are not good, I have someone under my command whose painting skills are passable."

Zhu Zaizhen thought about the historical evaluations of Xu Wei's painting skills: a wandering monk who had attained sainthood, a bizarre and unconventional style, vigorous and graceful, a unity of calligraphy and painting, unrestrained spirit, and a treasure even for a single piece of paper.

"It should be good. Please have Huang Ban taste it when the time comes."

"Okay, okay."

Although he agreed, Huang Jin didn't really care. What talent could a down-on-his-luck scholar possibly have, even if he had some writing skills?

Your Highness is pitiful. The only people you can come into contact with in the palace are those from the Hanlin Academy, but those people are unwilling to serve you sincerely. As a result, a prince and a phoenix have to find someone himself, and the person he finds is just a commoner scholar.

Thinking about this, Huang Jin felt a pang of sadness and decided to go back to the Directorate of Ceremonial to select two eunuchs who were skilled in writing and calligraphy, and find an opportunity to send them to Prince Jing's side.

Those who come from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs are not necessarily less capable than those from the Hanlin Academy!

From the time Emperor Xuanzong established the Inner Academy, the clever and quick-witted young eunuchs who had just entered the palace could go in to study and learn to read and write, and their teachers were the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) from the Hanlin Academy.

They also studied the Four Books and Five Classics, historical books of various dynasties, calligraphy, official document formats, court regulations and systems, and even the rules for reviewing imperial edicts and memorials.

Among them, the most outstanding ones may not be as good as the Juren and Jinshi who came from the regular imperial examination system in terms of classical studies, writing style, and academic achievements, but in terms of writing skills and political experience, they are in no way inferior.

Zhu Zaizhen, of course, had no idea what Huang Jin was thinking. He was just feeling warm inside. In any case, being able to feel his father's favoritism was something to be happy about for his son. Blood ties are sometimes so mysterious and unreasonable.

"Please convey my gratitude to my father, Huang Ban."

Just as the two were exchanging pleasantries, Zhao Cheng, who was on duty, suddenly bowed to the side and said, "This humble general greets Your Highness Prince Yu."

Zhu Zaizhen was somewhat surprised, while Huang Jin glanced at Prince Jing before stepping forward and politely smiling, "Today is truly a fine day. His Highness Prince Yu has also come. This servant greets you."

"Huang Ban, you may dispense with the formalities." Prince Yu's expression was very upright, but his eyes were somewhat shifty and evasive, making it clear that he had come reluctantly.

Zhu Zaizhen also smiled and bowed: "Brother Wang has come too. Father is in a good mood today, and he will surely be even happier to see you, Brother Wang."

Prince Yu nodded slightly, his tone reserved: "It has been a long time since I have entered the palace to pay my respects. Today I have come specifically to pay my respects to my father."

This was a good opportunity, and I should have been able to get an audience with the emperor. I don't know whose idea it was, but Prince Yu himself certainly didn't have the courage to do it.

However, this matter was never resolved once he saw his father. Even he, who had thought things through and wasn't too afraid, would feel nervous and uneasy when he saw his father.

With Prince Yu's temperament, meeting him would likely not only bring no benefit, but would also make Father Emperor dislike him even more.

However, this had nothing to do with him. Zhu Zaizhen even comforted him and told him to relax.

Then he took his leave gracefully and even had the leisure to say goodbye to Zhao Cheng.

After seeing Prince Jing off, Huang Jin asked Prince Yu to wait while he went to report. After all, he was the current eldest son of the emperor, and he had to go personally.

Prince Yu, Zhu Zai, stood there, his heart filled with trepidation. He unconsciously lowered his head to look at his toes, but then immediately became alert and forced himself to stand up straight.

His conversation with Zaizhen some time ago made him want to back down, but his mother wouldn't agree and his teachers kept urging him, so he had no choice but to keep fighting.

But he didn't know how to fight back. Just like now, he was persuaded to come, but then he was made to face his father alone.

Thinking of his father, a figure hazy yet imposing and aloof in his memory, he only wanted to hide behind the Crown Prince and beside Prince Jing, just like before.

Meanwhile, Zhao Cheng was also glancing at Prince Yu out of the corner of his eye. He had been transferred here last year, and Prince Jing had met him several times, but this was the first time he had met Prince Yu.

How to put it? It was very tiring. This prince did not have the composure of a royal prince at all. His brows and eyes were full of restraint and fatigue.

At first glance, his overwhelming sense of unease and helplessness made anyone who saw him feel exhausted on his behalf.

Zhao Cheng silently withdrew his gaze and stood still like a statue.

Huang Jin left for quite a while. Under the sun, Prince Yu was sweating profusely. Cheng Yin was not far away, but he dared not move, feeling that doing so would not show his filial piety.

He hoped that his father would see the sweat on his brow and know that he had obediently stood waiting for his summons under the scorching sun.