Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

The carriage carrying Zhu Gaochi quickly returned to his own mansion near the palace.

Now that the three princes Zhu Di have grown up, I don’t know if Zhu Di stayed or helped them grow up. In short, the princes all live outside the palace by themselves. Well, living in the imperial prison can be considered living outside the palace.

The carriage had stopped smoothly, but Zhu Gaochi, who was full of thoughts, leaned tiredly on the soft cushions of the mahogany carriage and sighed heavily.

"Why"

It didn't matter that he came out in one breath, but Zhu Gaochi's heart suddenly felt a stinging sensation that was a bit electric.

At this time, Zhu Gaochi looked at himself reflected in the bronze mirror in the carriage with thick dark circles under his eyes, and smiled bitterly.

He looks like the iron-eating beast under Chi You in ancient mythology.

Of course Zhu Gaochi knew why his heart felt uncomfortable. It was simply a matter of poor sleep, plus he often felt anxious and stressed, but couldn't relieve it.

After sitting down for a long time, Zhu Gaochi rubbed his heart again, feeling that he didn't feel so uncomfortable anymore, and then slowly walked out of the carriage.

"Your Highness, what's wrong with you?" The two personal eunuchs standing nearby rushed over and supported Zhu Gaochi's somewhat swaying body.

These two personal eunuchs were the two who helped Zhu Gaochi do the scale twisting experiment.

One is called Haitao, and the other is called Hou Tai.

It was getting dark at this time, and the surrounding mansions of top nobles were all lit with large lanterns, creating a festive atmosphere for the New Year.

"It's mid to late November."

Zhu Gaochi looked at the festive atmosphere and said silently.

Now it is only more than a month before the official change of Yuan Dynasty to the first year of Yongle.

In other words, after Jiang Xinghuo is released from prison, only the last two classes are left.

What Zhu Gaochi cared about most at this time was whether Jiang Xinghuo would stay or go.

After all, the existence of Jiang Xinghuo is so unbelievable that even in the battle for the throne, it can be said that whichever side you stand on, the probability of winning will be greatly increased.

But from a human perspective, Zhu Gaochi himself is completely incomparable to Zhu Gaoxu.

After all, Zhu Gaochi stays with Jiang Xinghuo every day. Mr. Jiang is older than Mr. Jiang, and although Zhu Gaochi has basically listened to all Jiang Xinghuo's classes without missing a beat, his contact with Jiang Xinghuo, strictly speaking, Not even as good as Zhu Di.

Anyway, when Jiang Xinghuo passively escaped from prison, Zhu Di still met Jiang Xinghuo face to face as "Colonel Lieutenant Yan Polu" on Li Jinglong's painting boat.

I even got some spoilers about the future Ming Dynasty, and went to Hangzhou West Lake to meet Yu Qian. As for Wang Zhen, he has not been found so far, and he is probably not born yet.

While Zhu Gaochi was deep in thought, a small man wearing a small cotton-padded jacket crossed the threshold and walked toward him under the care of the old eunuch.

"Father!"

Zhu Zhanji's childish voice sounded, with a bit of excitement and joy.

After hearing this, Zhu Gaochi immediately came back to his senses and turned his eyes to his son, with a happy smile in his eyes.

I have to say that Zhu Zhanji is a very cute child. His facial features are like those drawn by an artist, and his skin is crystal clear, just like a white porcelain doll.

Moreover, he is very clever. Although he is only a child of five or six years old, he already knows how to read people's emotions and figure out other people's emotions.

This also makes his mind relatively mature, far beyond that of his peers, which makes people feel very unusual.

In fact, in the history of Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, Zhu Zhanji relied on this innate talent to be loved by Zhu Di and established him as his grandson early, which legally cut off the possibility of Zhu Gaoxu's succession. .

Zhu Gaochi did not squat down, but instead suppressed his smile and said, "Where is your mother? Why did you run out on your own?"

At this time, Zhu Zhanji was standing outside the threshold, still a few steps away from him.

Zhu Zhanji was still a child after all. The expression on his face changed slightly when he heard this, and he seemed a little disappointed. He lowered his head and said, "Father."

He paused, then looked up at Zhu Gaochi, and explained in a clear voice seriously: "The weather is nice today, and the mother wants the child to finish his homework and go to the garden to relax, but the child really can't stay in the garden because the child wants to see his father. Sir, I want to see my father as soon as possible."

Zhu Gaochi nodded and said warmly: "I know that my father knows that your mother is still angry with my father. It's okay. My son doesn't have to blame himself."

This means that recently, Zhu Gaochi's brother-in-law, Zhu Zhanji's uncle, has been seeking an official position, and Zhu Gaochi's refusal has made the couple somewhat angry and hurt their children.

Zhu Zhanji sniffed slightly, his eyelashes were curled up, and tears flashed in his eyes.

"Father...uncle, he has no bad intentions."

"Well, my father knows."

"My child may have said something wrong just now. Please forgive me, father."

Zhu Gaochi said: "You are a smart child, why do you need to be like this? This is a matter between my father and your incompetent uncle."

Zhu Zhanji finally smiled.

His eye circles were red, but the pear dimples at the corners of his mouth became more and more obvious, just like when Zhu Gaochi was young.

Zhu Zhanji took a few steps forward, stretched out a fleshy finger, wiped away the tears swirling in his eyes, and continued to look outside.

Zhu Zhanji asked: "Father, can we go back?"

Zhu Gaochi nodded and said, "Of course."

"Um."

Xiao Zhu Zhanji responded, stepped forward, and jumped in.

Zhu Gaochi then followed.

After entering the study, Zhu Zhanji walked to the chair next to the desk, raised his head and said to Zhu Gaochi: "Father, let me make you tea."

"No need to be busy, let them sit on father's lap and have a rest." Zhu Gaochi said.

"Um."

Zhu Zhanji responded obediently again.

Zhu Gaochi sat down on a chair, and Zhu Zhanji sat on his lap. Zhu Gaochi looked at his son, his eyes gradually softened, but then became a little sad.

This is when Zhu Gaochi thought of Jiang Xinghuo's upcoming release from prison.

As for Zhu Gaochi, strictly speaking, Zhu Gaochi and Jiang Xinghuo had no interaction at this time, and they had never even met each other.

For Jiang Xinghuo, he didn't know Zhu Gaochi at all.

Of course, if it is just a matter of not knowing, being familiar with, or not understanding, Zhu Gaochi believes that he can solve these problems with his characteristic of always being kind to others. After more interactions, he will know the root cause.

But the problem is that Zhu Gaochi also realizes that the estrangement between him and Jiang Xinghuo is not caused by the two not knowing each other.

But the position under Zhu Gaochi's butt!

Because Zhu Gaoxu has the support of most of the generals and nobles in the army, if Zhu Gaochi wants to compete with his second brother, or even defeat Zhu Gaoxu in the battle for the throne, he must also have a solid foundation of his own.

Zhu Gaochi's basic plan is the civil service system.

The civil service system included not only the former administrative and civil servants of the Yan Army who Zhu Gaochi had left in the north, but also the old officials of Jianwen who Zhu Gaochi had newly gathered to move closer to him.

For example, people such as Xie Jin, Yang Rong, and Yang Shiqi were actually people whom Zhu Gaochi gradually came into contact with after the Yan army invaded Nanjing because Zhu Gaochi was responsible for handling government affairs for Zhu Di, and then slowly became included in his entrainment.

As the top young talents among scholars at this time, these people were destined to be the future temple elites of the Ming Empire. They had their own considerations and interests in moving closer to Zhu Gaochi.

This kind of interest appeal means that Zhu Gaochi wants to replace Emperor Jianwen's role in a sense and become the agent of the Jiangnan gentry class to safeguard their interests.

Because the representatives of the Jiangnan gentry class in the court, that is, the old Jianwen ministers from Jiangnan, knew very well that it was difficult for Zhu Di himself and the second prince Zhu Gaoxu to exert influence on the Jiangnan gentry class, because Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu basically Pan was the military aristocracy represented by the large and medium-sized landowners in the north, and the Yan army, which was mainly composed of border troops and free people in the north.

Only Zhu Gaochi's basic base is relatively weak and his compatibility with them is stronger. Therefore, the Jiangnan gentry will choose Zhu Gaochi as the target for cooperation and assistance.

Zhu Gaochi, who lacked his own strength, actually had no good choices. If Zhu Gaochi wanted to compete for the throne, he had to get more supporters. Therefore, Zhu Gaochi hit it off with the Jiangnan gentry class.

This also means that even if Zhu Gaochi really, really wants to be friends with Jiang Xinghuo instead of his enemy, now that he has made his choice, this possibility has become very small.

"Father, are you worried about Mr. Jiang's upcoming release from prison?"

Zhu Zhanji suddenly raised his little face and spoke, but Zhu Gaochi was shocked.

Zhu Gaochi touched his cheek and said with a wry smile: "Is it so obvious to be a father?"

Zhu Zhanji nodded seriously.

And Zhu Gaochi didn't know how to tell his son about this.

After all, this is not a personal choice, but a decision involving the throne, faction, and orthodoxy. It is a decision that involves countless people.

Zhu Gaochi's personal likes and dislikes did not play a decisive role in this choice.

And Zhu Gaochi clearly realized that as long as Jiang Xinghuo is released from prison, according to Jiang Xinghuo's character and ideals, it is inevitable to confront the Jiangnan gentry class.

But this also means that it is almost impossible for Zhu Gaochi to stand on the same side as Jiang Xinghuo.

Because if we say that the previous measures such as sharing labor and entering his mother's land can be explained as Zhu Di forcing Zhu Gaochi to do it, and Zhu Gaochi could foresee that if he and Jiang Xinghuo were on the same side as Jiang Xinghuo's various measures after he was released from prison, then he would not be able to do it. Fa explained to his supporters.

And if he lost the support of the gentry class in the south of the Yangtze River and relied solely on the support of the northern administrative system that he ruled during the Jingnan War, Zhu Gaochi could be said to have announced in advance that he was out of the battle to establish the crown prince.

This is where Zhu Gaochi's concerns lie.

While Zhu Gaochi was hesitating, Zhu Zhanji suddenly said: "Father, if Mr. Jiang is released from prison, you might as well send me to Mr. Jiang."

"What did you say?!"

Zhu Gaochi looked at his son blankly.

"I want to take Mr. Jiang as my teacher!" Zhu Zhanji said seriously: "Father, Mr. Jiang is a man of extraordinary magnificence who is rare to see in hundreds of years. It is far better for my child to follow Jiang than to study with ordinary Confucian scholars. gentlemen."

"In addition, the child is young, and the second uncle will not and dare not do anything to the child." Zhu Zhanji hesitated for a moment, and then said, "You can't learn from Mr. Jiang, but it is better to have a child by Mr. Jiang's side than with you. Mr. Jiang has no intersection and is much stronger.”

Zhu Zhanji didn't say it clearly, but Zhu Gaochi understood what he meant.

"As a father, please think again."

Zhu Gaochi was silent for a moment, and then said: "When Mr. Jiang is released from prison, your imperial grandfather will definitely arrange for his father and your second uncle to draw lots or draw lots. According to the Ming Dynasty's current demand for one person from each town in the north and south, it will be There is a result."

"After this result, I will decide as a father whether I should send you to study with Mr. Jiang. What do you think?" As a father and parent in this era, Zhu Gaochi rarely asked for his son's opinion.

"My child will never give up!"