Three months after her illness, Empress Xu suffered another stroke. Although she survived this time, Empress Xu lost the ability to speak and could only utter a few syllables indistinctly.
After another half year, Queen Xu finally passed away.
Everyone was prepared for this day, but when it actually came, it was still heartbreaking and painful.
Zhu Di spent three full days without any water or rice.
The Ministry of Etiquette handled Queen Xu's funeral according to the highest standards.
And on the seventh day after the death of Empress Xu, Zhu Di issued an edict to the world, clearly telling everyone that he would not establish another empress... The death of Empress Xu was a heavy blow to Zhu Di.
Just like the blow that Empress Xiaocigao had on Zhu Yuanzhang.
With the person closest to him gone, Zhu Di became even more serious in speech. He focused his energy on government affairs and was crazy busy every day, dealing with complicated government affairs. He was extremely busy.
Xu Jingchang saw clearly that it was not that Zhu Di liked these things, but that he needed to fill his life with these things, otherwise he would think of his wife and the days when the two of them loved each other.
Zhu Di, who is no longer young, deeply understands the pain of being widowed in old age. Although he has so many concubines and so many children and grandchildren, no one can replace Empress Xu in his heart.
This was a rare ten-day break. Zhu Di did not deal with government affairs as before, but came to the Duke of Wei's mansion and met Xu Huizu who had returned from the north.
The two sat down, and Zhu Di said directly: "Can I drink?"
Xu Huizu nodded.
Then they drank one cup at a time.
Then Zhu Di grabbed Xu Huizu's shoulders and burst into tears.
"My father is gone, my mother is gone, and even she passed away before me. My heart is... uncomfortable now!" Zhu Di pulled Xu Huizu and asked: "Do you still remember? When you were young, you were all in the palace.
There was also my eldest brother Zhu Biao inside. We played together and laughed together. What a wonderful life those days were! When I think about it now, it’s like a dream that I can never go back to."
Zhu Di's crying made Xu Huizu deeply moved and burst into tears, "Your Majesty, I have now lost my parents, my sister, and my younger brother. I don't know what it is like to live in this world anymore."
When Zhu Di heard this, his eyes suddenly widened and he said angrily: "You can't die. If you die, I won't even have anyone to talk to. Even if you want to die, you have to wait until I'm gone."
Xu Huizu couldn't laugh or cry, "Your Majesty, the length of life is not something I can decide."
"Huh! I am the emperor. If I don't allow you to die, that means I don't allow it. No one can do it... I am too lonely. You have to spend more time with me."
Xu Huizu had no choice but to say, "Your Majesty, there were so many children back then, but you were the most willful and thoughtful. Otherwise Emperor Taizu would not have sealed you in Beiping. That was the capital of the old Yuan Dynasty, and both the King of Qin and the King of Jin were not as good as you!"
"
Zhu Di hummed: "Who says it's not the case? I am my father's favorite son, so I am naturally much better than others."
Xu Huizu smiled and did not refute him, and the two of them continued drinking.
After three cups and two cups, Zhu Di was obviously drunk. He suddenly said: "I don't want to be the emperor anymore, I want to abdicate."
Xu Huizu was so frightened, "Your Majesty, are you drunk? You can't joke!"
"Who said this is a joke?" Zhu Di snorted: "I have thought about it. After these few years of experience, the boss has been able to take charge of the court. Let him succeed to the throne in advance and learn how to be a good emperor. Compared with me, I have been relying on
It’s much better to be on the Dragon Throne.”
Xu Huizu was stunned, he didn't know what to say.
Should he persuade Zhu Di not to abdicate easily, or should he agree with Zhu Di and let the crown prince take the throne... "Your Majesty, I am just a warrior. Such important matters should be discussed with the important ministers in the court!"
"The important minister? Who is the important minister? Your nephew?" Zhu Di sneered: "He hopes that I will abdicate as soon as possible. It is much easier to manipulate the boss than to manipulate me."
Xu Huizu was speechless again, he really couldn't say anything...
"Do you know what I plan to do?" Zhu Di asked with a smile again.
Xu Huizu shook his head quickly, you are like a cat and a dog, how could I know?
Zhu Di smiled and said: "That nephew of yours, they tied me up in the capital and didn't allow me to lead troops casually... I gave up the throne and handed over the state affairs to the boss. If I go out again, no one will care about me, right?"
"
"Your Majesty? Are you going to abdicate the throne in order to conquer overseas?"
Xu Huizu really couldn't understand his train of thought, so he might as well stop talking, this is just the crazy talk of a drunkard...
But Xu Huizu really didn't expect that Zhu Di actually invited Yao Guangxiao into the palace a few days later, and the emperor and his ministers chatted for a long time.
"Young Master, I only have one question left now. Is Lord Dingguo reliable?"
Yao Guangxiao suddenly laughed when he heard this.
"Young Master, who are you?"
Yao Guang Xiao said: "Your Majesty, I asked Duke Ding about this not long ago, and we all want to go together."
Zhu Di asked curiously: "What did the boy say?"
"Replying to His Majesty, what he means is that although His Majesty is wise and wise, he can only control it for a while. If we want to make the Ming Dynasty long-term and stable, we must also look at the arrangements of the court and make the courtiers perform their duties loyally and do their best."
Zhu Di pondered for a while and suddenly said: "Young Master, do you think the prince is more popular than me?"
Yao Guangxiao did not answer.
At this time, silence was better than sound. Zhu Di nodded, "I understand."
After asking Yao Guangxiao, Zhu Di called Zhu Gaochi to his side after being silent for a few days.
He looked at his son, "Are you over thirty this year?"
Zhu Gaochi nodded, "Zhan Ji is already over ten years old."
Zhu Di pondered for a moment and then asked: "Now that you are asked to carry the Ming Dynasty, are you sure?"
Hearing his father's question, Zhu Gaochi did not immediately deny it, but pondered deeply and said after a while: "I don't dare to say it, but if I really take on a heavy responsibility, I can only do my best to live up to my trust.
Live up to the people."
Zhu Di looked at his son and asked: "Then if you become the emperor, I, the father, can lead troops and conquer overseas at will?"
Zhu Gaochi was shocked, "Father, you, you are giving up your position as emperor and becoming a general! This is not possible no matter what!"
Zhu Di's face sank, "What's wrong with this? Your mother is gone, and you have the heart to let your father live in the palace, seeing things and missing people every day? You are unfilial!"
Zhu Gaochi was dumbfounded and said, "Father, this is not a matter of filial piety or unfilial piety at all. You are the Son of Heaven, the Nine-Five Supreme Being, and you cannot be so willful!"
Zhu Di sneered, "You said I can't be willful? I just told you that your mother is dead and no one can control me. I can do whatever I want. You are ready to ascend the throne and become the emperor!"
…
"That's just the thing. You'd better ask my dad about the specific matter!"
After Zhu Gaochi finished speaking, he raised his head and looked at the important ministers in front of him.
Headed by Xu Jingchang, followed by Jian Yi, Xia Yuanji, Huang Guan... these few have returned to the capital for a long time.
We have talked about the reform of the official system for too long.
But there is still no consensus on how to divide authority.
Those Hanlin ministers were far more tenacious than imagined. They did not surrender their authority obediently just because the old seniors came back.
And Jian Xia and others also felt strong pressure... During their time abroad, they saw too many situations. The original official system of the imperial court was really a straw team, with too many loopholes and too many drawbacks.
Xia Yuanji simply looked at Xu Jingchang and said: "Ding Guo Gong, we have been away from Beijing for a few days, and it is difficult to guess His Majesty's thoughts. What do you think?"
Xu Jingchang said: "Let me tell you on this matter that Your Majesty really wants to abdicate... But it seems to me that His Majesty is not disheartened and wants to retreat to peace and quiet. On the contrary, His Majesty wants to do more things. He
I feel that the throne is a limitation."
The imperial throne has actually become a limitation!
It sounds new to me, but when I think about it carefully, it makes sense.
The emperor naturally has to bear much more than ordinary people.
There are not many things that can be called difficult problems at the moment... Internal affairs is the biggest problem, but this is what Zhu Gaochi is good at, and Zhu Di is not keen on it. Externally, the Tatar situation has been solved.
The remaining Wala was originally intended to be conquered by Zhu Di.
However, the more he learned about the situation, the more Zhu Di felt that instead of chasing the disappearing Oara cavalry in the vast desert, it would be better to start from the Kingdom of Hallie and form an encirclement situation.
All in all, there was too much land waiting for him to conquer.
He must visit these places in person to know the customs, customs and prosperity before entrusting them to others. If they are critical places with enough oil and water, they should be left to the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Gaochi nodded and said with a wry smile: "I understand. Originally, my father was the leader of the army, and I was responsible for overseeing the country for him... Now that he wants to use troops abroad, he asked me to be the emperor for him. After all, there is still no difference!
"
Jian Yi coughed slightly and said, "Your Highness, you can't say that. The prince of the prison country and the emperor are different after all."
"What's the difference?" Zhu Gaochi asked.
Jian Yi rolled his eyelids and just uttered four words: "Zun Wu Er Shang!"
To put it bluntly, the supervisor is just a housekeeper for the emperor.
But becoming the emperor means that you can really make the decision and make drastic changes in the government. You have the supreme power to develop the country according to your own ideas.
"If you say so, it seems that I should agree... Duke Dingguo, what do you think?"
Xu Jingchang chuckled, "It's a good thing that Your Highness is responsible. I guess His Majesty wants to take the throne at this time. Another thing is to ensure that His Majesty successfully inherits the throne... Your Majesty doesn't want to see any trouble."
Zhu Gaochi thought about it again and again, then shook his fist and said, "I know."
Suddenly, Zhu Gaochi sent for Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui.
After the three brothers sat down, Zhu Gaochi got straight to the point, "Second brother and third brother, I will issue a decree to respect your property rights and never take them away easily. What do you think?"
Zhu Gaosui was still a little confused, "Brother, I'm afraid it's not you who has the final say on this matter, right?"
Zhu Gaoxu was obviously more astute than his third brother. He hummed: "It's easy for you to say, how can I believe it?"
