While following Wang Chaofu into the palace cautiously, the two of them kept looking at it from the corners of their eyes.
Starting from Huangji Gate and ending outside the main hall of Qianqing Palace, there are guards wearing armor and holding swords in all directions, and the person responsible for guarding the gate of Qianqing Palace is actually Yang Huan, who has a notorious reputation.
Both of them were secretly surprised that the palace was so serious. It seemed that the emperor was really going to die and this was their last chance.
After entering the Nuan Pavilion, the two of them did not dare to be careless and gave a big gift to the emperor.
"I see your Majesty, and I respectfully wish you His Majesty's peace!"
Zhu Shenxuan and Zhu Cunshu were extremely nervous, but in order to return to the vassal state as soon as possible and leave the capital, a place of right and wrong, they could only choose to take a bold risk.
"Get flat."
Zhu Youxiao also followed his usual practice, lying on the bed in a weak state as if he was about to die. He spoke feebly, as if he couldn't breathe.
Then Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and signaled Wang Chaofu to come and ask questions.
"You two princes, I don't know why you came to the palace this time."
Faced with Wang Chaofu's question, the two princes, who had been extremely naughty since childhood, could not think of any euphemistic reasons or vocabulary to answer.
After looking at each other, Zhu Cunshu, who was a little bolder, replied:
"Go back to your majesty. I would like to ask your majesty for a favor and let us go back to the feudal country."
After hearing the two people's answers, Wang Chaofu did not dare to open his mouth casually. He turned around and took a look at the emperor lying on the bed. He saw that the emperor had his eyes closed as if he was asleep.
Wang Chaofu immediately understood and asked in a rather serious tone:
"Let you two go back? This old slave doesn't understand the meaning of the prince's words. You two have committed no crime and have always been free. You are just living in the capital temporarily."
"Is it possible that someone is secretly putting on the shoes of the two princes, or is there someone with ulterior motives spreading rumors and causing trouble? Is it damaging the relationship between His Majesty and the vassal?"
Zhu Cunshu also understood the questioning meaning in Wang Chaofu's words, and quickly explained:
"My father-in-law has misunderstood. What I mean is that my father, the king, is old and ill. As a son, I should serve him filial piety at my father's knees."
"Why didn't I realize that Prince Qin has such a filial heart before?"
This time, before Wang Chaofu asked for instructions, Zhu Youxiao sat up from the bed and said angrily.
Seeing the emperor standing up suddenly and staring at the two of them with piercing eyes, Zhu Cunshu and Zhu Shenxuan did not react and were startled.
The timid Zhu Shenxuan even shouted, causing everyone in the palace to look over.
Although Zhu Cunshu was not so miserable, his mind was blank at this time.
The emperor, who looked like he was about to die, didn't have the strength to speak. Why did he suddenly get up and look like a completely different person.
"You two don't need to panic. I was indeed poisoned, but I have already recovered from treatment."
"You two, just tell me the truth, who told you that I was assassinated and poisoned, and who instigated you two to enter the palace."
At this time, Zhu Shenxuan was so frightened that he broke into a cold sweat. When he lost his composure just now, if he saw it correctly, the two guards standing not far from him had their swords half drawn.
At this time, he was so frightened that he didn't pay attention to what the emperor said.
Seeing his appearance, Zhu Youxiao didn't say anything, nor did he feel strange.
Everyone is afraid of death, let alone a noble prince like him.
Zhu Cunshu, who was kneeling with him, was slightly better. Although Zhu Youxiao also saw that his hands were shaking a little, he was much better in comparison.
Zhu Cunshu naturally felt Zhu Shenxuan's panic. At this time, he realized that it was useless to count on him, and replied helplessly and nervously:
"Your Majesty is serious. I am entering the palace this time because I and the Crown Prince miss their family too much, so they imagine that your Majesty is asking for a favor."
Naturally, Zhu Youxiao wouldn't believe his extremely lame reason.
"Do you know the crime of deceiving the emperor?"
Hearing the words "crime of deceiving the emperor", Zhu Cunshu was frightened and kowtowed repeatedly:
"I don't dare!"
Seeing him kneeling under his bed and kowtowing as if pounding garlic, Zhu Youxiao didn't stop him and asked calmly:
"Do you know your last name?"
Zhu Cunshu didn't understand why the emperor asked him this, but he didn't have any extra time to think about it at this time.
He immediately replied:
"Of course my surname is Zhu."
Zhu Youxiao then asked:
"Are your Zhu and my Zhu the same Zhu?"
"Of course it's Zhu."
After asking, Zhu Youxiao crossed his arms over his chest, looked at the Qin Prince with a half-smile and said:
"It turns out you all know it. I thought you didn't know it, so I specially reminded you."
"Since your Zhu and my Zhu are the same Zhu, why do you want to help others deceive me and harm your own family?"
After listening to the emperor's words, Zhu Cunshu raised his head and was about to explain, but Zhu Youxiao interrupted him directly.
"Say! This is your last chance."
"It's Zhang Ruitu, the Minister of Rites. The night before yesterday, someone sneaked into Prince Xin's mansion secretly. He said he was one of his people and that he wanted to discuss something important with me."
"I originally wanted to inform Jin Yiwei, but the man said that this is a critical period of our life and death, and it is related to whether I can return to Xi'an safely."
"The man also said...said..."
Seeing that Zhu Cunshu got stuck in the middle of his words, Zhu Youxiao also knew that the key point was coming and said immediately:
"Just tell me what you know, I won't blame you."
Zhu Cunshu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said tremblingly:
"It is said that all the money and food that His Majesty claimed from the Qin and Jin vassals during his expedition to the southwest last year will be returned to the new monarch after he ascends the throne."
"When the two of us inherit the throne, he will give us the most generous rewards and treatment."
"What you two have to do is to find a way to get into the palace, see if His Majesty is still alive, and just inform them."
After saying this, Zhu Cunshu could no longer bear the fear coming from deep inside his heart, and he kowtowed heavily and said:
"Your Majesty, I forgive you. I didn't know what was going on at the time, so I agreed as if my brain was flooded. I hope your Majesty will forgive me."
"Look at your achievements. You are also a member of the royal family and the crown prince of the two largest sects in the world. I bought you off with just this benefit."
"Okay, let's all get up. I have spoken so well that I won't break my word to you two."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
With the emperor's reassurance, the heavy stone in Zhu Cunshu and Zhu Shenxuan's hearts finally fell.
But they also knew that they had done something wrong, so they were still frightened. If they hadn't supported each other, neither of them might be able to get up.
Zhu Youxiao didn't blame the two of them at all, but looked down on them a little.
As he just said, the noble prince of the vassal has such virtue. No wonder the vassal princes in the late Ming Dynasty were sitting at home eating and waiting to die.