Chapter 78: Three Years Without Changing the Way of the Father
In the square in front of the Qianqing Palace, all the princes looked at Zhu Yunhuan who was carried away in a sedan chair, and they all showed shocked expressions.
Isn't this the sedan chair that only my father can sit in? Even my eldest brother the Crown Prince has never sat in it, but this grandson can sit in it so casually?
Moreover, listening to the conversation between the grandson and the old man just now, not only did he not show the slightest sign of gratitude, but he took it for granted and acted justified. You said that the grandson was giving you face by letting him sit in your shabby open-top sedan chair!
Not until the sedan chair disappeared behind the Qianqing Gate did everyone slowly withdrew their gazes, and then looked anxiously at their father on the imperial steps, only to see that their father was still looking in the direction of the Qianqing Gate with a look of deep worry on his face.
Everyone was shocked again when they saw how concerned their father was.
It turns out that the old man has his eyes on this grandson!
Old Zhu gradually came back to his senses, looked at the princes below the steps, and said lightly.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting for so long. Please follow me into the palace to have dinner."
When everyone heard this, they all lamented in their hearts that it was so difficult to have a meal with you after coming back from so far away!
"Your Majesty, you are too kind!"
Everyone bowed to Lao Zhu, then followed him into the side hall and sat down in order.
When the eunuchs placed the dishes on the table, the princes exclaimed in their hearts again.
Oh wow!
Bear paws, abalone, shark fins, venison...
I haven't seen you for a few years. My father's food standards have increased very quickly!
Zhu Chong was even more delighted when he saw this. Firstly, he was in for a treat today, and secondly, he no longer had to worry about the old man scolding him for being extravagant.
Humph!
I thought you would be frugal all your life, but I didn't expect that you would learn to be extravagant and indulge in food in your later years, right?
Zhu Gang was dumbfounded when he saw so many dishes. He still remembered what his father had taught him, that it didn't matter whether the food was good or bad, it would just fill his stomach, so why had to pick a fight with the cook.
However, I haven't seen him for a few years. My father is living a life of luxury, but he lets his son eat pig food in Datong?
The princes had been hungry for the whole morning. Now, looking at the table full of delicious food, they all looked at Lao Zhu eagerly, waiting for him to pick up his chopsticks so that they could enjoy the meal!
Old Zhu ignored everyone's eager gazes, thinking about the conversation that his eldest grandson had just had with Xu Xingzu, and pointed to several dishes on the table and said.
"I've been feeling irritated lately and have no appetite."
"Please take away the steamed bear paw, the braised venison, the abalone, and the shark fin..."
As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, Xu Xingzu immediately ordered the eunuchs to remove those hard dishes, which left the princes stunned.
What does father mean?
I thought I could have a good meal today, but it turns out that all this time was just for show!
When Zhu Chong saw his coveted bear paw being taken away, he was so angry that he almost cursed.
This old man is too stingy. His grandson is his biological grandson, but his son is not his biological son?
At this moment, Zhu Chong saw Xu Xingzu actually coming to take the plate of donkey meat in front of him, which made him angry.
I've come all the way back from here, I can't just eat vegetables and tofu!
"Uncle Xu!"
"My father didn't say to withdraw this, did he?"
"oh!"
"His Highness the Third Grandson said that dragon meat in the sky and donkey meat on the ground are good for your health!"
Xu Xingzu explained casually and took the donkey meat away from Zhu Chong. However, when he went to take the roast chicken, Zhu Chong grabbed his arm tightly.
"Uncle Xu, I advise you to be kind!"
"You can't give that grandson all the delicious food, at least leave some meat for us!"
“Ahem…”
Xu Xingzu smiled awkwardly.
"Well, I won't take this old slave away."
"It just so happens that this has cooled down a bit. His Royal Highness the Third Grandson likes to eat crispy ones. I will go back to the Imperial Kitchen and make it for him later!"
When Zhu Chong heard what the old man said, he wanted to throw the plate of roast chicken on the old man's face.
My goodness, these princes were all raised by young women, and even when they eat roast chicken they have to rely on the leftovers from other women!
Lao Zhu also felt that it was a bit too much. If he removed more dishes, there would be no meat left on the table.
Fortunately, it was during a period of great mourning, and vegetarian dishes were just right for the occasion.
When Lao Zhu thought of this, he immediately picked up the chopsticks, took a symbolic bite and put it in the bowl.
Seeing this, Xu Xingzu quickly stepped aside and stopped clearing the dishes from the table. He was silently thinking about how to cook a few dishes for the little grandson when he returned to the imperial kitchen...
The emperor's family banquets were very boring. The emperor never spoke on his own initiative, and he would not care even about what his own sons said.
Old Zhu was in no mood to talk in the first place, and what little passion he had was vented out on the butt of a certain rebellious grandson.
Therefore, the meal was bland, tasteless and unusually quiet.
After having lunch with everyone, Old Zhu took everyone to the Prince's Mansion to pay homage to his eldest son, and then sent them out of the palace.
Originally, Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to leave after paying tribute to Zhu Biao, but at this moment he saw Zhu Yunhuan being carried back from the Imperial Hospital, which made him hesitate.
When the little maids in the Prince's Mansion saw Zhu Yunhuan coming back, they immediately rushed over and chattered around him. They kept asking questions until Zhu Yunhuan was carried to the bed in the bedroom.
"Third brother, you are finally back. Grandpa Emperor must have punished you, right?"
"Can we see if Grandpa Huang hit you hard?"
The older maids were quite sensible and just chattered around the sedan chair. The youngest, Zhu Mingyao, climbed directly onto the bed and pulled away the white cloth covering Zhu Yunhuan's buttocks.
"Wow, Third Brother's butt is blooming!"
Upon seeing this, Zhu Mingyue and others immediately covered their eyes in embarrassment, and then looked through their fingers.
However, after just one look, they all burst into tears.
"Third brother, how could the Emperor be so cruel to hit you so hard!"
"It's all our fault. If it weren't for us, Third Brother wouldn't have been beaten so severely. Sob... "
Zhu Yunhuan listened to the voices of these beautiful girls and just smiled and comforted them.
"Don't look at it as scary, it actually doesn't hurt at all."
"When Grandpa Huang beat me, I didn't have lunch. I was so hungry that I didn't have any strength. He beat me with hundreds of whips, but I didn't even scream!"
"In the end, the emperor's arms were sore from exhaustion, but I was fine!"
When Zhu Mingyu heard this, he immediately exclaimed.
"Wow!"
"Third brother, you are so awesome. If it were me, I would cry after just one whip!"
Old Zhu stood outside the window, listening to his granddaughter's words and thought to himself, let alone a little girl like you, even your third brother would start crying if he was whipped!
But this guy is still in the mood to brag, so his injury should be fine.
"Mingyue, Minglan, have your mothers been rescued? Is anyone forcing them?"
"Replying to Third Brother, no one is forcing them anymore, but someone came and said that they want to shave their heads and send them to the nunnery to become nuns!"
"Oh, by the way, my mother asked me to thank you on her behalf, thank you for saving my life!"
"That's what my mother said too!"
"And me, my mother also said..."
Zhu Mingyue took two steps back and knelt on the ground with a thud. The other little girls followed her and knelt down, then kowtowed three times to Zhu Yunxun on the bed.
Zhu Yunhuan hurriedly waved at them.
"Hi!"
"We are close siblings, why are we talking about this vulgar etiquette?"
"As long as you can save him, it's fine. Although it's miserable to be a monk, at least you will have a chance to meet in the future. You won't end up like me, a child without a father or a mother..."
"Don't be sad, Third Brother. You saved our mother. From now on, our mother is your mother!"
Zhu Mingyao's childish words came without restraint, and the other little girls did not dare to agree with him. Even if the third brother dared to call him, their mother would not dare to respond.
When Lao Zhu heard this, he led Erhu out of the yard with a melancholy look on his face.
He finally understood why this child suddenly developed such a kind heart. It turned out that he was sentimental about his past and didn't want his sisters to become motherless children like him ...
"The Master said, ' When the father is alive, observe his aspirations; when the father is dead, observe his conduct. If a man does not change his father's ways for three years, he can be called a filial son!"
Erhu suddenly heard the emperor talking about literature and said that he just felt lonely.
"Your Majesty, what did you mean by that? Are you praising the Third Grandson?"
When Old Zhu heard Erhu's silly question, all the melancholy that he had finally felt was washed away.
"I told you to read more books, but you didn't listen!"
"Go ask Qi Tai when you have time!"
"okay!"
Erhu sent Lao Zhu back to the Qianqing Palace, and immediately ran to the main hall to ask Qi Tai.
When Qi Tai suddenly heard that Erhu, a warrior, could actually recite words from the Analects, he immediately expressed extreme surprise.
"Master Tiger, where did you hear this from?"
"Mr. Qi, I just accompanied the emperor to visit His Majesty Yunxun. The emperor heard His Majesty Yunxun tell his sisters that they finally didn't have to become orphans like him..."
"I just asked the emperor, but he ignored me and told me to ask you instead!"
After listening to Erhu's narration, Qi Tai was even more shocked when he heard that it was His Majesty who asked him to ask him questions.
Under normal circumstances, this sentence would describe a filial son.
But at this critical juncture, these words might be the determination of His Majesty to appoint a crown prince!
"Master Tiger, this is Confucius' definition of filial piety."
"When the father is alive, one should observe the son's aspirations. After the father dies, one should observe the son's behavior. If the son does not change his father's teachings for three years and still follows his father's teachings, then he can be called a great filial son!"
When Erhu heard this, his heart and eyes were immediately filled with joy.
"So, Your Majesty is very satisfied with what Your Highness the Third Grandson did today?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Tai smiled and shook his head.
"Not only am I very satisfied, I should say I am extremely satisfied!"
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince valued benevolence and righteousness the most during his lifetime. The person who can inherit his benevolence and righteousness after his death is the one that Your Majesty likes the most!"
Erhu was overjoyed and asked again.
"May I ask Mr. Qi, does the three years of not changing one's father's ways have any special meaning?"
When Qi Tai heard this, he immediately looked at Erhu with new eyes.
This warrior is really smart. He grasped the key point right away!
"According to Lord Tiger, what should we do with these three years?"
"According to my understanding, I think these three years could be a period of mourning, right?"
"Master Tiger is extremely wise and understands everything very thoroughly, hahahaha..."
After laughing, Qi Tai suddenly spoke seriously.
"There are still three years in history."
"If you don't fly for three years, you will soar into the sky when you do. If you don't sing for three years, you will start to sing when you do."
"Your Majesty may want to make a splash!"
