Zhu Hejian was the seventh son of Emperor Deqing and the younger half-brother of Prince Zhu Heyu. He was famous for his filial piety and had a deep understanding of the Book of Rites. He was kind to others, humble and courteous, and low-key in his dealings.
Adhering to his principles, he not only had an excellent reputation, but was also deeply loved by Emperor Deqing and Prince Zhu Heyu.
It's a pity that all this is just Zhu Hejian's disguise. Very few people know how strong his ambition is, very few people know how deep his city is, and very few people know how vicious his methods are!
On the surface, the person Zhu Hejian respected the most was his brother Zhu Heyu, but in fact, Zhu Hejian had been coveting Zhu Heyu's position as prince for many years.
It has to be said that Zhu Hejian's disguise is so realistic that even Prince Zhu Heyu, who spent time with him day and night, or Emperor Deqing, who was proficient in the emperor's mind, never discovered his true face!
Now, Zhu Hejian is twenty-seven years old, and has already reached the age where he can be crowned king and leave the capital. However, because he is frail and sick, he will get seriously ill from time to time, and because of the many requests from Prince Zhu Heyu, Zhu Hejian still stays.
In the center of the capital, he has never been far away from the political arena.
This also means that if Zhu Heyu's position as crown prince is unstable, then Zhu Hejian will become the first candidate for crown prince!
Of course, the premise is that Zhu Hejian's physical condition improves. After all, no matter how much Emperor Deqing loves Zhu Hejian, he will never choose a weak prince to become the heir apparent.
Zhu Heyu did not know Zhu Hejian, but Zhu Hejian knew Zhu Heyu very well.
Zhu Hejian knew very well that Zhu Heyu's character was too upright, and sooner or later he would cause great trouble, and would gradually exhaust Emperor Deqing's patience. At that time, his opportunity would appear!
Zhu Hejian is very patient and firmly believes in his own judgment, so he has been waiting for the opportunity.
Now, the opportunity Zhu Hejian had been waiting for finally appeared.
In the past six months, Prince Zhu Heyu has made mistakes one after another. The preparations for the Southern Tour were messed up, the preparations for the fraud case during the Southern Tour were messed up, and the supervision of the country during the Southern Tour was also messed up...
Like Zhao Junchen's judgment, Zhu Hejian also believed that Emperor Deqing's patience with Prince Zhu Heyu had gradually run out, and he had already begun to think about exchanging reserves.
Therefore, it is time for Zhu Hejian to show his abilities and let his existence surface.
Of course, this requires a step-by-step process, and you should not be too hasty, otherwise it will only arouse suspicion.
It's just that the long-cherished wish of many years is about to come true. Even if the city is as deep as Zhu Hejian, there will inevitably be some restlessness deep in the heart.
Therefore, in order to keep a calm mind, Zhu Hejian has always stayed in the study room to practice calligraphy in the past few days, using calligraphy to calm his mind!
On this day, Zhu Hejian still stayed in the study and practiced calligraphy.
I saw Zhu Hejian standing behind the desk, copying Chen Jiru's "Little Window You Ji" with a pen.
"...Don't be surprised by favor or disgrace, just watch the flowers blooming and falling in front of the court; I have no intention of leaving or leaving, just follow the clouds rolling in the sky... The flowers are thick in the willows. The only way is to be able to spread them; when the wind is fierce and the rain is heavy, you can stand still.
Only then can you see the roots of your feet...hide skill in clumsiness, use obscurity to make it clear, combine clarity with turbidity, use bending to stretch..."
In Zhu Hejian's hands, there is already a thick stack of the same transcripts, and he doesn't know how many times he has copied them in these days.
While Zhu Hejian was copying quietly, a middle-aged scribe quietly entered the study room and stood in front of Zhu Hejian, quietly waiting for Zhu Hejian to finish copying.
After a long time, Zhu Hejian finally finished transcribing "The Secret of the Little Window" again.
Then, Zhu Hejian looked up and asked, "But what's the news?"
The middle-aged scribe nodded and said: "According to the urgent report from the Eight Hundred Miles Horse, Your Majesty has already set off to return to Beijing. The Southern Patrol Fleet sailed at full speed all the way without any delay. According to the itinerary, it has now arrived in Yangzhou
Yes, His Majesty will return to Beijing in about ten days."
Zhu Hejian nodded and said in a calm tone: "The prince has made such a big mistake, and the father is naturally anxious... Unfortunately, even if the father returns to the capital as quickly as possible, nothing can be changed.
"
After a pause, Zhu Hejian asked again: "How is the situation on the prince's side now?"
The middle-aged scribe shook his head and said: "The prince's plan to rectify business taxes is not going well. Although the officials dare not oppose it on the surface, they secretly work against it and cause many obstacles for the prince... Now, the prince is very
He was impatient and seemed to want to make some achievements before His Majesty returned to Beijing. In order to deter the officials, he dismissed three officials from their official positions today."
Zhu Hejian shook his head, as if he was very regretful, and sighed: "Haste makes waste, and toughness makes it impossible to last. I have told the prince all these truths, but the prince just can't listen!"
The middle-aged scribe bowed his head and said: "So, the prince is not a qualified prince! The position of prince should be obtained by a capable person!"
Zhu Hejian smiled softly and said: "Yes, I have persuaded everything that needs to be persuaded, so the prince can't blame me for taking advantage of the situation! Today is a great opportunity for me to surface and show myself! So, I
The chronic illnesses of the body should be cured... I heard that a famous doctor recently came to Zhao Junchen's house?"
The middle-aged scribe nodded and said: "Yes, this famous doctor is named Zhang Decheng. He is famous in Shaanxi and is known as the Buddha of all families. It was Liu Rui, the sister of Liu Zimin, a new scholar, who invited him to Zhao Junchen's house.
"It seems to be to treat eye diseases of a refugee girl named Xi'er."
After a pause, the middle-aged scribe added: "After Liu Zimin went to Beijing to take the exam, he accidentally met Zhao Junchen, and then sent his sister Liu Rui to Zhao Junchen's house. He himself became Zhao Junchen's disciple.
Taking advantage of the opportunity of this imperial examination, he attracted many candidates for Zhao Junchen. As for the refugee girl named Xi'er, she was a victim of fraud in the preparations for the Southern Tour and was once sold to Huang Yourong's house. Zhao Junchen
I also had a very unpleasant quarrel with Huang Yourong because of this woman."
Zhu Hejian shook his head and said with a smile: "This Zhao Junchen is strange. He is obviously a corrupt official, but he will do his best for a mere refugee girl."
At this point, Zhu Hejian suddenly stopped smiling and ordered: "Since this famous doctor named Zhang Decheng has such a great reputation, he must have some abilities... Well, you try to tell the prince about this famous doctor.
The prince will naturally invite him to treat me. After this famous doctor's treatment, my physical condition should gradually improve!"
After hearing Zhu Hejian's instructions, a smile flashed across the middle-aged scribe's lips.
As a close confidant of Zhu Hejian, the middle-aged scribe knew very well that although Zhu Hejian was frail and sickly, he was by no means weak. This was just a method used by Zhu Hejian to stay in the capital.
Now that Prince Zhu Heyu's status as crown prince is in jeopardy, Zhu Hejian's health will naturally gradually improve!
Only in this way, after Zhu Heyu loses his position as crown prince, will Zhu Hejian be qualified to become a candidate for the new crown prince!
In addition, in the eyes of outsiders, Zhu Hejian's body was cured by Zhu Heyu's lover, so it would not arouse too much suspicion.
So, the middle-aged scribe bowed and agreed: "I will do it now."
After saying that, the middle-aged scribe turned and left.
After the middle-aged scribe left, Zhu Hejian took a long breath and continued to copy "The Notes of a Small Window".
However, this time, there was an arrogant and unbearable flavor in Zhu Hejian's handwriting!