"Depressed for decades, depressed for dozens of years..." Zhu Yuanzhang murmured softly.
These words were like a sharp sword, tearing open his chest and gouging out his heart. Zhu Yuanzhang's big tears fell down. After a while, he started to cry loudly, heartbreakingly.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
The little eunuch was the first to respond. His cry suddenly rose in pitch, and his high-pitched voice echoed in the hall and spread far and wide.
In an instant, everyone in the hall burst into tears.
The prince passed away. Such a big thing cannot be concealed, nor can it be concealed.
The harem was the first to get the news. Zhu Biao's woman and children hurried over. Looking at her husband and father lying there quietly, they felt like five thunders were hitting their heads.
The emperor's grandsons Zhu Yunwen and Zhu Yunxi knelt at the front next to the bed, and others knelt behind them. The sound of crying in the hall was suffocating.
Li Qing looked at Zhu Yunwen. He was now a fifteen-year-old boy with a handsome face. He didn't howl or even make a sound. He just cried silently. But it was just like this, which made him even more distressed.
Zhu Yunxi was also crying, but his crying was far less than that of Zhu Yunwen.
Is it acting?
Li Qing didn't know clearly, but Zhu Yunzhen looked similar to Zhu Biao, with soft facial lines, not only similar in appearance, but also similar in spirit.
Zhu Yunxi, on the other hand, is with his mother's family. Although he is still immature, he can inexplicably associate it with Lan Yu after just one glance.
This is not surprising. Chang is Lan Yu's niece. Uncle-nephew images are very common. It makes sense that Zhu Yunxi looks like Lan Yu.
Li Qing secretly sighed: "Is this the general trend?
No, there is still a chance. As long as Zhu Yunwen is not allowed to take the throne, everything can be undone.
The second eldest son, Zhu Zhen, was tyrannical, cruel and easy to kill, while the third eldest son, Zhu Fan, did many evil things and committed many illegal acts.
The fourth child, Zhu Di, never disturbed the people and made great achievements many times. Although it is deeply rooted in his belief that he should not establish a virtuous person, he is by no means a stickler for rules."
Li Qing saw clearly, and with Zhu Yuanzhang's emphasis on Jiangshan Sheji, he would never be emotionally biased in choosing a successor.
He didn't know how Zhu Yunwen got to be the crown prince in history, but it was different now. With him as a variable, it might not be unchangeable.
Although Lao Zhu loved to paint cakes for him and often exploited him, Li Qing certainly knew how much Lao Zhu valued and trusted him.
…
Outside the Qianqing Palace, the ministers knelt on the ground, heartbroken. From time to time, some ministers fainted from crying and were carried out by the young eunuchs.
The tall man with blue jade was kneeling on the ground with tears in his eyes and his eyes were red. Li Jinglong beside him was also crying in grief. Neither of them could care about the other, they were both extremely sad.
When Zhu Biao became the prince, even the civil servants and generals who did not deal with him were convinced. But if such a popular person passed away suddenly, how could they not be sad?
All the civil servants and military generals cried bitterly, sadly and sincerely.
Especially Wen Chen, his heart was broken and he cried so hard that he was even more sad than his father's death.
The entire palace was filled with cries, intertwined and making people feel numb.
Li Qing took a deep breath, walked to the couch, and whispered to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Your Majesty, my condolences, you must rest now."
Lao Zhu is already over 60 years old. He has been working hard for several days and has not slept all day and night. His gray hair is even snow-white. If he continues like this, his body and bones will definitely not be able to bear it.
If he collapses again, the Ming Dynasty will really be in chaos.
"Your Majesty, the overall situation is important!" Li Qing emphasized his tone slightly.
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, then slowly regained some consciousness and opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Li Qing's eyes narrowed, and he instantly understood that Lao Zhu had lost his voice. He put the needle box beside the bed into his sleeve without leaving a trace, then helped Lao Zhu and walked out slowly.
Zhu Yuanzhang held Li Qing's hand tightly and stared at him tightly. He could not speak, but Li Qing understood what he meant:
Don't make any noise, don't let people know that I can't speak!
Li Qing nodded, but he was not too worried. Lao Zhu just lost his voice due to excessive sadness, not muteness.
But Zhu Yuanzhang didn't know this. He only knew that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make a sound. He was really panicked at the moment, fearing that others would find out. He even changed from Li Qing supporting him to him pulling Li Qing.
When the two came to the imperial study room, the little eunuch kneeling on the floor immediately grabbed the ground with his head and cried sadly.
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him, and Li Qing understood, and immediately said: "Everyone leave, no royal orders are given, and no one can come in to disturb the emperor's peace."
As if he had been granted amnesty, the young eunuch kowtowed to Zhu Yuanzhang and immediately left the hall.
Li Qing helped Zhu Yuanzhang to lie down on the bed in the side hall. The latter held his hand tightly and said with his lips: "We must be cured!"
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will definitely be able to heal Your Majesty."
In fact, what Zhu Yuanzhang is really worried about is not that he can't speak, but that he is now old. Once he can no longer speak, it is inevitable that someone will have other ideas, which may cause big changes.
Li Qing took out the needle box and gave him acupuncture, then secretly mobilized a little Qi, massaged and massaged him. After working hard for half an hour, Zhu Yuanzhang breathed a long sigh of relief and was finally able to make a sound.
"Hoo~ Li Qing." Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was hoarse, but it had already calmed down.
"I'm here." Li Qing helped him up and put a pillow on him, "Your Majesty, the country is important..."
"We all understand." Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand gently, leaned on the bedside and fell into deep thought. After a long time, he whispered, "Who do you think can take over the position of crown prince?"
Li Qing's heart was agitated, but he also knew that he must not say the name easily, otherwise not only would he not be able to achieve his goal, but he would also be embarrassed.
He could only guide and let Lao Zhu make his own decision.
"I dare not lie."
"Speak confidently and boldly."
"Uh... I obey the order." Li Qing muttered, "In order and in order, according to etiquette, we should..."
He directly passed the emperor's grandson and transferred Lao Zhu's attention to the prince.
What Li Qing said was in line with etiquette. After all, Zhu Biao did not become the emperor. Although he was the most powerful and highest-status prince in history, the prince was still the prince.
He didn't become the emperor himself, so how could he let his son become the prince?
Li Qing had no objection to Zhu Biao, but he didn't want to give Zhu Yunwen a chance to rise to power.
If Zhu Di can ascend to power, not only will he avoid the battle of Jingnan, but he will also be able to create a prosperous age, which is a good deal no matter how you look at it.
In the Ming Dynasty, when it came to being the emperor alone, Zhu Di was undoubtedly the first person, and Lao Zhu was slightly inferior.
Of course, on the surface, Li Qing seemed to be asking Zhu Ping to take over, but he knew that Lao Zhu would never agree.
Sure enough, Lao Zhu's reaction was exactly as he expected.
"What is more important, the country or the etiquette?" Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said, "How can the second brother be the emperor if he is so bearish?"
Li Qing scratched his head and said, "Since the second prince does not agree with the emperor, then..."
"The third child can't do it either!" Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, "He is no better than the second child."
Finally, it’s the turn of the fourth prince. Zhu Laosi, Zhu Laosi, I didn’t drink that drink from you in vain... Li Qing suppressed his mood and said, "If the third prince can't do it, why don't you stop looking down?"
"Di'er..." Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up, and a look of satisfaction appeared on the corner of his mouth, "Di'er is indeed excellent. Among our sons, he is the most like us."
Li Qing was very excited. He could see that Old Zhu was moved.
He was afraid that Chi Ze would change, so he took advantage of the situation and said, "Then what does the emperor mean...?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was about to speak, but at this moment, a young eunuch hurried in.
"emperor……"
"Who asked you to come in?" Li Qingfei was almost furious and roared: "Didn't I say that? You are not allowed to be summoned, and no one can come in to disturb the emperor!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was startled by his posture. Lao Zhu could speak now and calmed down. He glared at Li Qing and said to the little eunuch, "What's the matter?"
"Go back to the emperor. The second prince wants to see you."
The fact that the title of King Zhu Fangfan was inherited by his son was known all over the world, so he was called the Second Prince of Qin.
"Zhu Qing?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's attention shifted instantly and he said in a deep voice: "Let that beast come in, and I will ask how Biaoer died."
Now that the eldest son is gone, the second eldest son will benefit the most, plus what Li Qing just said in accordance with etiquette.
Now Lao Zhu seriously suspects that the death of Zhu Biao was caused by his second brother, and he has a motive for committing the crime.
Li Qing has been busy for most of the day, and it's not clear whether he can push the fourth child to the top, but he has definitely given the second child a hard time.