Chapter 35: What is light and what is heavy

In the inner hall of the prince's mansion, the prince's consort Zhang came in holding her one-year-old son Zhu Zhanji. As soon as she came in, she said, "Father has returned to Beiping. You and your son have been separated for nearly a month. Why are you still sitting here? Why don't you go to your father's mansion to greet him and discuss important matters?"

Ms. Zhang has a pair of bright single-lidded eyes, a mouth as small as a cherry, and she is young and has good skin, which is a bit pleasant. When she entered the room, she sat down on the imperial chair next to the prince, let her son sit on her lap, and took a rest to hug her limp arms.

But the prince sat there and sighed, with a depressed and hopeless expression on his face, and did not answer her words.

"What's wrong with the prince?" Madam Zhang asked again.

The prince sighed again, and just as he was about to speak, he saw his son Zhu Zhanji climbing up the table and reaching for the sword that held the house. The prince quickly stopped Zhu Zhanji, but Zhu Zhanji refused to give in and insisted on catching him. The boy didn't stop for a moment from the moment he entered the house.

"This kid!" The prince said upset, "Why is he so naughty!"

Mrs. Zhang hugged him back and said, "What's wrong with the child being more lively?"

"Alas!" The prince sighed again, "I am just like a useless person. My father doesn't like me anyway, so why should I bother myself?"

Zhang's eyes turned slightly, looking at the prince who was like a piece of fat meat lying on the chair, she almost nodded in agreement with the prince's statement. But she immediately asked calmly, "What about mother, mother doesn't like the prince either?"

After hearing this, the prince looked a little relieved, "My mother is fine... But I must see my father when I go. My father didn't ask any questions that day, and he didn't even care that I was poisoned. I, the prince, am just a lucky charm, alas!"

Zhang sneered disapprovingly and said, "Your Highness, do you think I am not as capable as Prince Gaoyang?"

The prince said, "It's obvious. How can I compare to him? How can I help my father? No wonder everyone treats me like this..."

Zhang sighed softly and shook her head slowly, "Whether he is capable or not is really not important. The prince is the eldest son of the father, this is the most important thing! And it cannot be changed by human power! The birth is the most important, prince, do you understand?"

The prince remained silent.

Zhang added, "Let's let him take the spotlight. As long as the prince is careful with his words and actions and doesn't make mistakes, what belongs to you will still be yours."

The prince frowned, "What's mine?"

This question stumped Zhang. She opened her mouth for a while before speaking, "My Lord, you have to understand what is light and what is heavy in this world."

At this time, an eunuch came outside and said in front of the hall, "Your servant reports to the prince that someone has come from the Prince of Yan's mansion. Please go there immediately."

Zhang urged, "I can't disobey you now. Let me help the prince change his clothes. Hou Tai, come and look after the grandson."

The eunuch said happily, "I obey your command."

...

Zhu Gaoxu also received a letter to go to the Prince of Yan's Palace, so he changed out of his military uniform, put on a red robe, and went to the Prince of Yan's Palace with his entourage.

The streets of Beijing were no longer as busy as they used to be. The war had quickly changed the atmosphere in the city. August was approaching, and the autumn wind was blowing. The grass and trees in the north seemed to be more sensitive. The fallen leaves kept falling to the ground, creating a bleak atmosphere.

Zhu Gaoxu rode a tall brown horse, surrounded by a guard of honor. Pedestrians along the way gave way to him. From time to time, brave people would stop and watch, all casting glances of awe and envy.

Most of the royal family members in Peking were used to such scenes and probably had no feelings about it. However, Zhu Gaoxu was quite touched without realizing it.

Some fragments of his past life flashed through his mind. When he was very young in his past life, he worked on a construction site in the coastal area for a period of time. He would come out of the workplace and walk back to his residence along the city streets. Of course, he was dirty and torn after working on the construction site. He felt humiliated and inferior as he walked among the decent citizens... Or maybe he was too young and too vain at that time, and maybe he would calm down in a few years, but it still left a deep impression on him.

People are social beings. How many people can be free from vanity? This is probably part of the reason why Zhu Gaoxu, who originally loved peace, quickly adapted to and actively participated in the war.

Zhu Gaoxu entered the gatehouse of Prince Yan's mansion and soon a eunuch came to meet him and urged him to go to the inner courtyard. Zhu Gaoxu asked about it and the eunuch said that Princess Xu's illness had recovered and Prince Yan was very happy.

Zhu Gaoxu was relieved when he heard that the reason for the visit was this and that Prince Yan was in a good mood. He also thought of his encounter with Princess Xu. His mother loved him very much. After all, she thought he was her own son. Zhu Gaoxu was also happy when he learned that she had recovered from her illness.

Led by the eunuch, they walked along the brick road into the palace. When he saw the princess, Zhu Gaoxu found that he was the last family member to arrive. The Prince's Mansion was next to the Prince of Yan's Mansion. Gao Sui and his three sisters lived in the Prince of Yan's Mansion, so they were naturally closer to the water than Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaoxu stepped forward to pay his respects and saw that the prince's eyes were red. Princess Xu looked at the prince with the most loving and caring eyes. She thought: The prince feels that his family doesn't love him all day long, but in fact he gets the most motherly love.

But Zhu Gaoxu was not jealous. The prince was the most caring and sincere to his mother. Zhu Gaoxu had no choice. The memory of the former Prince Gaoyang was still in his brain, but he could not feel the feelings in those memories. It was as if something was forcibly implanted. He had no sense of substitution, and he was powerless.

Zhu Gaoxu took the initiative to step forward and greeted him, "Brother, come first. I am late."

The prince nodded and said calmly, "My second brother has a long way to go."

After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu was a little unsure about the prince's attitude, but today he seemed much calmer, at least he no longer had the resentment and hostility as before.

The family members chatted with each other for a while. The Prince of Yan and Princess Xu sat side by side on the upper armchair. Zhu Gaoxu was relieved but also looked worried. Zhu Gaoxu knew that the Jingnan Campaign had just begun and the Prince of Yan was under great pressure.

At this moment, Princess Xu turned to look at Prince Yan, "During the days when the prince was away, thanks to Chi Yue's careful care day and night, and personally cooking medicine for me, I was able to overcome this difficulty."

King Yan said, "I have been busy with the war recently and neglected you."

Princess Xu shook her head and said, "I don't blame you, Your Highness. You should focus on the important matters and not let down the spirit of your royal ancestors."

Prince Yan said, "I am deeply grateful for your generosity and understanding, Princess."

The couple spoke very politely, with a feeling of respect for each other. However, Zhu Gaoxu remembered that the Prince of Yan and Princess Xu had a good relationship. When the Prince of Yan was free, he stayed at the mansion and was almost inseparable from the Princess. At this time, in front of their children, it was probably to set an example, so they were so polite.

At this time, Princess Xu said, "Chi Yue is close to me, and this time I have the grace of rebirth. I want to recognize her as my youngest sister. Will the prince agree?"

Prince Yan forced a smile and said, "Have you not called your princess and that Taoist nun sisters for a long time?"

Princess Xu said seriously, "This time I really want to recognize her as my biological sister and give her the surname Xu."

Xu Da's family was a founding hero, and the family with the highest nobility besides the Mu family. To have the surname Xu was a very high status. Moreover, Princess Xu was the first wife of the prince. In this way, giving a woman the surname Xu was indeed a great favor and reward.

King Yan said , "It depends on your wishes, Princess."

So Princess Xu called Ma He at the door and asked Chi Yue to come over.

After a while, Chi Yue came in. Zhu Gaoxu stood among the brothers and sisters, turned his head and looked over, and suddenly his heart was shaken.

The first two times he saw Chi Yue, he was stunned by her face that was vaguely visible through her veil, but she was wearing a very loose Taoist robe. But today, she was wearing a thin robe that fitted her body, and Zhu Gaoxu suddenly realized that Chi Yue's stunning appearance could be completely ignored, and her figure was really amazing!

Zhu Gaoxu had sharp eyes, and the faintly visible lines of Chi Yue's waist, hips, and legs made him marvel at the first sight.

From the upright side back, the slender waist is inward curved, and then it rises rapidly with a smooth and flowing curve, and the plump and rounded hip line is difficult to create even by the imagination of painters... Zhu Gaoxu has seen countless photos edited by software in his previous life. Even the refined pictures cannot compare to this one in ten thousand beauty. Zhu Gaoxu thinks it is not exaggerated at all. The slender legs once again highlight the hip line, and the long legs become the background instead.

Zhu Gaoxu suddenly thought vulgarly in his heart: This ass is priceless.

Even the Crown Prince and the younger Gao Sui stared in amazement.

When Zhu Gaoxu saw the surprised look on the Prince of Yan's face from the corner of his eye, he suddenly felt a strange and inappropriate feeling of sadness. But he soon calmed down: some things are just for viewing, thinking too much can easily lead to obsession.

"Greetings to the King of Yan and the Queen." Chi Yue stepped forward, made the Ziwu seal with both hands, and bowed.

Princess Xu glanced sideways, her eyes swept across Prince Yan's face, and said, "Sister, from now on, treat me as your real sister and give me the surname Xu."

Chi Yue was silent for a moment, but without any rejection, she called out, "Big Sister."

"Good, good!" Princess Xu was delighted. "Before the Xu sisters got married, they all had names with the word 'miao' in them. I'll give you a name today, too. I'll call you Xu Miaojin. Do you like it?"

Chi Yue said, "The princess is talented and the name she gave is also very elegant. My sister is very happy. Thank you for the name."

Princess Xu turned around and said, "From now on, when you see me, call me aunt."

The prince followed suit and obediently called her "Auntie" and bowed to Chi Yue. Zhu Gaoxu and his brothers and sisters followed suit, whether they were willing or not. Anyway, Zhu Gaoxu felt weird when he called her "Auntie"...

Chi Yue's expression today was a mixture of smiles and frowns, but for some reason, Zhu Gaoxu always felt that these expressions were just superficial, and actually still gave people a cold feeling.

It was so hard to guess the mentality of such a young girl. But when Zhu Gaoxu thought of her identity, it didn't seem so mysterious... Her father was Jing Qing, a court official. Jing Qing had been an official in Beiping, and the Prince of Yan had made friends with him and confirmed this.