lovenovelstory Chapter 119 You wouldn't have any improper thoughts about His Majesty, would you?!
Chapter 119 You wouldn't have any improper thoughts about His Majesty, would you?!
Chapter 119 You wouldn't have any improper thoughts about His Majesty, would you?!
After Zhu Houzhao finished all the arrangements, he waited quietly for the full moon the next day.
As the moon sets and the sun rises, the Mid-Autumn Festival, which everyone has been eagerly anticipating, has arrived.
This morning, the atmosphere in the capital was somewhat eerie.
But everyone tacitly kept quiet about it and just went about their lives as usual.
The imperial guards and constables continued their duties, people from the martial arts world continued to drink and chat, and civil and military officials went to court as usual. Zhu Houzhao, as before, continued to hold court assemblies in Fengtianmen Square.
The civil and military officials in the capital had long sensed the tense atmosphere in the city. They went through the court assembly in a distracted manner, and soon the assembly came to an end.
Before the court session ended, Zhu Houzhao addressed all the civil and military officials, saying, "My dear ministers, today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for family reunions."
"I advise all my beloved ministers to stay at home tonight, spend quality time with your families, and not go out."
"No matter what happens tonight, as long as you stay at home, I will ensure your safety."
"But if you go out without permission—don't say you weren't warned."
The civil and military officials present immediately became serious, realizing the gravity of the matter and taking it extremely seriously.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Some of the other lower-ranking officials, though somewhat confused, still followed the others in bowing to Zhu Houzhao.
"Court adjourned!"
After Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, he turned and left Fengtian Hall Square.
On the way, Zhu Houzhao ordered Liu Jin beside him, "Go, issue an edict summoning all the princes of the realm to the palace for an audience."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After receiving the order, Liu Jin immediately dispatched eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial to visit the various vassal kings at the Southern Palace.
Upon learning that they could finally enter the palace, the regional princes, some excited and some nervous, put on their imperial robes and followed the eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial to the palace.
Meanwhile, the secret police and constables who had been lurking throughout the capital were also placed in the palace under the arrangement of the four chief secret agents, and infiltrated every corner of the palace.
Pi Xiaotian, Ma Jinliang, Ji Xueyong, Qinglong, Baihu, Zhuque, Xuanwu, Duan Tianya, Guihai Yidao, Cheng Shifei, Tieshou, Lengxue, Zhuiming, and others were also ordered to enter the palace and hide around Zhu Houzhao.
Zhuge Zhengwo commanded the Tengxiang Four Guards and the Yulin Guard in the capital to guard the inner palace with strict vigilance, leaving no corner unchecked.
Shangguan Haitang and Wuqing followed Xia Tianxin and Li Xianran, protecting Zhu Houzhao's concubines in the harem.
They were summoned to Yikun Palace by Zhu Houzhao at a very early age and gathered together for protection.
At this time, Yikun Palace was filled with layers upon layers of Tengxiang Four Guards, Yulin Guards and Factory Guards constables.
The eunuchs and palace maids were also busy moving back and forth in the palace, cleaning, setting up the venue, decorating the palace, and cooking delicious food.
After the court session ended, Zhu Houzhao went directly to Yikun Palace to chat with his concubines.
"Your Majesty, the imperial physician says that Consort Shu will give birth next month. The weather is getting cooler now, so I have prepared a red padded jacket and a pair of tiger-head shoes for the little prince."
"Your Majesty, what do you think of it?"
Consort Kang, Xia Tianxin, took out a red padded jacket and a pair of tiger-head shoes and showed them to Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Houzhao lay on the soft couch, enjoying Liu Ningwei's massage, while glancing at the padded jacket in Xia Tianxin's hands. He nodded, "Not bad. What about Consort Shu? Does she like it?"
Li Xianran smiled and said, "What Consort Kang prepared is naturally all good stuff, and I like it very much."
Xia Tianxin's personal maid couldn't help but say, "Both of these items were made by my mistress herself!"
"Oh? Is that so? Let me see it?"
Zhu Houzhao became interested and reached out his hand. Xia Tianxin handed all the items to Zhu Houzhao.
"If there is anything you find unpleasant, Your Majesty, please do not laugh at me."
Zhu Houzhao took the padded jacket and tiger-head shoes, looked them over, and then handed them all over to Li Xianran.
"Well done. I didn't expect Consort Kang's needlework to be so good. It's even better than the embroiderers in my palace."
"Your Majesty flatters me. I was just acting without thinking."
After accepting the padded jacket and tiger-head shoes, Li Xianran said with some emotion, "Consort Kang is so kind. Thank you, Consort Kang."
Xia Tianxin waved her hand demurely: "We're like sisters, no need for thanks."
As Liu Ningwei gently massaged Zhu Houzhao's shoulders, she felt a pang of regret. Why hadn't she prepared anything for the young prince?
Now, Zhu Houzhao will probably like Consort Kang even more.
Liu Ningwei is eager to win favor, but she only has cleverness and lacks wisdom.
She tried her best to please Zhu Houzhao, but could only watch helplessly as Xia Tianxin gained more and more importance in Zhu Houzhao's heart, which made her feel somewhat discouraged.
Fortunately, her favor with the emperor did not wane, and she remained the concubine whom Zhu Houzhao favored the most.
Shangguan Haitang stood to the side, looking somewhat uncomfortable at Zhu Houzhao's concubines who were vying for his favor.
Although she was also one of Zhu Houzhao's women, she voluntarily gave up her status as a concubine because she wanted to continue working for him outside the palace.
In the harem, some concubines had already noticed her unusual relationship with Zhu Houzhao, such as Xia Tianxin and Liu Ningwei.
However, there are still many concubines who do not understand the origins of this affair.
In any case, Shangguan Haitang cannot cross that line in public.
Wuqing watched as Shangguan Haitang turned her face away, glanced at Shangguan Haitang without making a sound, then looked at Zhu Houzhao, and suddenly raised an eyebrow, feeling shocked.
"Shangguan Haitang, you—you don't actually like His Majesty, do you?"
Wuqing pushed the wheelchair to Shangguan Haitang's side, lowered his voice, and spoke in a volume that only the two of them could hear.
"ah?!"
Shangguan Haitang was startled. She subconsciously raised her head, glanced back at Zhu Houzhao, then lowered her head again, frowning as she looked at Wuqing.
"I didn't know that Wuqing, the leader of the Four Great Constables, who is famous throughout the world, is such a gossipy woman."
Wuqing was not annoyed by Shangguan Haitang's retort; instead, he became even more convinced that he had seen through Shangguan Haitang's little secret.
Wuqing frowned and said seriously, "Shangguan Haitang, I just want to remind you that as His Majesty's subjects, we must never have any improper thoughts about him!"
"You'd better watch yourself!"
"I know what I'm doing without you reminding me."
Shangguan Haitang curled her lip impatiently, thinking to herself that her relationship with His Majesty had long been extraordinary.
Besides, it was clearly His Majesty who had improper thoughts about her first, okay?
At that time, Zhu Houzhao was the one who summoned her to serve him in bed. Before she could even react, she had already climbed onto Zhu Houzhao's dragon bed.
Suddenly, Shangguan Haitang sensed something was wrong and looked at Wuqing in surprise.
Could it be that Wuqing herself has improper thoughts about His Majesty?
Looking at Shangguan Haitang's strange gaze, Wuqing felt uneasy all over.
Why are you staring at me like that?
"It's nothing."
Shangguan Haitang shook her head, thinking to herself, "Although Wuqing is crippled, he is really good-looking."
Could it be that His Majesty has actually fallen for her?
Just as Shangguan Haitang was lost in thought, Liu Jin, after reporting to the emperor, entered Yikun Palace and whispered something in Zhu Houzhao's ear.
"Your Majesty, the regional princes have already entered the palace."
"Some princes are visiting the Dowager Princess, and some princes wish to request an audience with His Majesty."
Some of these princes of the Ming Dynasty were brothers of the late emperor, and some of their birth mothers were still alive in the palace.
For example, Zhu You, the Prince of Xing, had a mother, Consort Shao, who was still alive in the palace.
Similarly, Prince Yi, Zhu Youbin, also had a mother, Consort Zhang, who was still alive in the palace.
The first thing they would do after entering the palace was to catch up with their mother.
The other princes, having nothing to do after entering the palace, wanted to pay their respects to Zhu Houzhao first.
But Zhu Houzhao waved his hand after hearing this: "Take them to the Fengxian Hall to worship our ancestors first. After the banquet is prepared, I will summon them."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Zhu Houzhao then stayed in Yikun Palace until nightfall. After the banquet was prepared, he left Yikun Palace and went to Fengtian Hall.
Inside the Fengtian Hall, Zhu Houzhao sat high on the dragon throne, while thirty-two princes of the Ming Dynasty sat below him, respectfully bowing to him in unison.
"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"
Zhu Houzhao smiled slightly and waved his hand: "My dear imperial uncles, there's no need for formalities. Please have a seat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Because the imperial line of the Ming Dynasty had a relatively short history of dying young, when Zhu Houzhao ascended the throne, none of the princes in the various regions of the Ming Dynasty were of his generation; all the princes were one or two generations older than him.
Therefore, every vassal king was either his imperial uncle or his grandfather's generation.
After everyone was seated, Zhu Houzhao raised his glass first, thus beginning the gathering.
Because the seating order was arranged according to the closeness of the relatives, the two people closest to Zhu Houzhao were Prince Qing, Zhu Wushi, and Prince Xing, Zhu Youbiao.
After the banquet, Zhu Houzhao casually asked Zhu You, "Does the Imperial Uncle Xing have an heir?"
The Prince of Xing smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, my eldest son died five days after birth, and I have since given birth to three daughters. Now my queen is six months pregnant, but I do not know whether it will be a boy or a girl this time."
No wonder the Prince of Xing smiled so bitterly; the laws of the Ming Dynasty stipulated that only the crown prince could inherit the title, and if there was no son, the kingdom would be abolished.
King Xing has no son to this day, so the position of heir apparent is vacant.
Zhu Houzhao asked with great interest, "If Princess Consort of Ruoxing gives birth to a prince, has Your Highness thought of a name for the prince?"
Zhu Youyuan smiled and said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, I have already thought of a name. I will choose the character 'Cong'."
The naming rules for his descendants were fixed by Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang.
In addition to each line of princes having their own generational names, they also had to choose names according to the principles of the five elements.
The generational names of Zhu Di's lineage are Gao Zhan Qi Jian You, Hou Zai Yi Chang You, Ci He Yi Bo Zhong, Jian Jing Di Xian You.
By the time it came to Zhu Houzhao's generation, the last character had to be written with the fire radical, so Zhu Houzhao was actually written as Zhu Hou? ?.
Zhu Youbiao named his next child Zhu Houcong.
The historically renowned Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty, also known as Feiyuan Zhenjun, Zhongxiao Dijun, Wanshou Dijun, and Zhu Houxi.
She's due next year!
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