If not abolished

Chapter 180 Departure for Le'an

Zhu Zhanqi held the paper tightly with veins bulging, and punched the table angrily.

"Your Highness..." the maid shouted in fear.

"Besides believing in Mother, do you have anything else to say?"

The maid shook her head and replied, "The princess was no longer in good health at that time. She only left this letter and said nothing else."

"I understand. Just pretend you don't know what happened today. Where are you working now?"

"Your Highness, the supervisor has not yet had time to assign other tasks to me. I am only doing odd jobs in the yard."

"In that case, you should go back first and we'll make arrangements later."

"Yes, the slaves retire."

After Zhu Zhanqi and others left, he stayed inside for a long time before coming out.

"Princess Consort, the Second Prince is here." The maid came to report.

The Crown Prince's wife was giving the Crown Prince medicine. When she heard that Zhu Zhanqi was coming, she stood up hurriedly.

"Please come in quickly."

Zhu Zhanhe also quickly drank the remaining medicine.

"Brother, sister-in-law."

After the Crown Princess tidied up, she closed the door and left.

"Ahem, sit down quickly." Zhu Zhanhe was also anxious to know the letter left by his mother, and his hands were nervously grasping the quilt.

Zhu Zhanqi sat down as he was told. He had lowered his head just now, but when he raised his head, Zhu Zhanhe saw that his brother's eyes were red.

"What did mother say in the letter..." Zhu Zhanhe's voice was trembling.

Zhu Zhanqi had finally calmed down, but when Zhu Zhanhe said this, he couldn't hold it back anymore and said with sobs: "Mother... Mother said, no matter what, that man is our father, and she won't let us do anything to him. Brother, do you think that as sons, should we just watch our father like that... and pretend that we know nothing? Do you know? Now that I think about it, I can't control myself if I have to watch him. Why do you think so? Mother is his first wife. How cruel must one be to do such a thing? Why... Why on earth... Mother didn't explain the reason in the letter, and she still protected him..." Zhu Zhanqi's voice became more and more hoarse as he spoke.

Zhu Zhanhe listened to his questions one after another. When he first learned the truth, he was more angry. But now that he calmed down and thought about it, it was hard for him not to suspect that his mother's death was closely related to himself.

"Maybe it is related to that incident?" Zhu Zhanhe took a deep breath, but still felt very uncomfortable.

"What's the matter, brother, are you hiding something from me? I feel like you're a little different since you came back from Shuntian?"

Zhu Zhanhe didn't want to recall that incident either. He closed his eyes with difficulty and said, "Your feeling is correct. That incident did happen when I was in Shuntian. In fact, my father planned to rebel that time. Even if you didn't participate, it's impossible that you didn't hear any rumors. At that time, I'm afraid there were rumors in the capital that my father was the contemporary Li Shimin."

"Now that you mention it, it seems to be true." Zhu Zhanqi recalled that period of time.

"At that time, my father took advantage of the fact that my grandfather was not in the capital and made many preparations. So in order to be absolutely sure, he actually thought of assassinating my grandfather and His Royal Highness on the way. Later, this plan was discovered by my mother by chance. In order to pass the news to me, my mother was placed under house arrest by my father. It was at that time that my father announced to the public that my mother was ill."

"No wonder, no wonder at that time..."

"Later, my mother finally managed to get the news to me, which allowed me to prepare in advance and return to the capital safely. In my father's plan, I, the prince, was just a pawn that could be sacrificed," Zhu Zhanhe should have thought of it earlier. "You asked him why he did this just now. I think it was because he knew that it was my mother who passed the message out, so... If this is true, then my mother must have..." Zhu Zhanhe's heart ached again.

"Brother," Zhu Zhanqi went over to support him and calmed him down, "This is all because of his selfishness. It has nothing to do with you and mother. If it weren't for the position in his heart, we wouldn't have to do this. So brother, don't blame yourself too much. We all have to live well, so as not to let mother down."

"You are right, we must live well."

A few days later, the day finally arrived for the King of Han to leave the capital for his fiefdom.

The King of Han looked at the prince's still pale face and asked, "Zhanhe, do you want to recuperate for a while? You must have been exhausted from the long journey."

"Thank you for your concern, father. I am fine now. It's just that I don't look well. But it's nothing serious. It's okay." Zhu Zhanhe replied with a bow.

Seeing that he was determined to do so, the King of Han did not dissuade him any further. "In that case, let someone serve you well." He turned around and looked at his second son who was standing at the door to see him off, and said, "You will be alone in the mansion from now on. Take good care of yourself. Without your father and elder brother, don't act recklessly and think twice before you act."

Zhu Zhanqi dodged the hand that the King of Han extended and said unhappily, "Don't worry about me, father."

"Look, I haven't even left yet and you're already giving me the cold shoulder. Okay, you'll be the boss in the mansion from now on. Remember what your father told you." The King of Han seemed to have no attitude like Zhu Zhanqi.

"Yeah." Zhu Zhanqi replied in a muffled voice.

After the King of Han finished speaking, he got on the carriage. Zhu Zhanqi walked up to his elder brother and said, "Brother, take care of yourself."

"You too, be careful when you are alone in the capital."

Zhu Zhanqi nodded.

Zhu Zhanhe then said loudly, "That's enough. We spoiled you in the past. Even if you don't want your father and brother to leave, you can't talk to your father in that way. You're already an adult, but you still throw tantrums like a child every day."

"understood."

The King of Han, who was sitting in the carriage, also remembered that Zhu Zhanqi was like this when he was a child. Every time Zhu Zhanqi went to war, he was obviously reluctant to leave, but instead acted as if he ignored people.

Zhu Zhanqi watched the carriage go away for a long distance.

"Your Highness, it's windy outside, let's go back." Wang Jundai said as she put a cloak on her.

Zhu Zhanqi turned his head and looked at him, "I noticed that there are fewer maids around you. There are a lot of things to do these days. Let's pick a few maids these days."

"All is up to you, Your Highness." Although Wang Jundai didn't know why Zhu Zhanqi suddenly became concerned about the maid beside her, since he said so, she naturally had no objection.

"Before, the maids in mother's courtyard were all trained by mother herself. Now you want to be the housekeeper. Why not pick a few from there. This way you can manage the affairs of the mansion easier." Zhu Zhanqi said as he walked.

"Your Highness is really thoughtful. I am worried about this matter."