Chapter 661
: No Good Banquet, Zhu Gang Got Shot Even While Lying Down
In an instant, the air in the bedroom seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible giant hand.
The stagnation was suffocating, and the silence grew deeper and deeper.
It was as if time had been frozen at this moment, standing still.
Queen Ma's sudden action was like a huge rock smashing into a calm lake, causing waves to surge.
But before the waves could completely dissipate, they were instantly swallowed up by the extremely depressing atmosphere, as if they had never appeared.
In this eerily quiet space, the slight gasping sounds hit everyone's eardrums clearly like heavy hammers.
That was the sound of Empress Ma's slightly rapid breathing as she tried her best to sit up straight, her weak chest making the sound.
The sound seemed to come from a deep, bottomless valley, or from the distant, unreachable sky.
Every word carried the weakness of Queen Ma's body and her unwavering determination.
His breathing was sometimes slow and sometimes fast, circling slowly in the empty and somewhat lonely bedroom.
It seemed to be telling us that even though she was bedridden, the majesty and tenacity of this harem master had never diminished in the slightest.
Everyone in the hall dared not breathe and held their breath.
It seems that any slight sound would anger this depressing atmosphere, leading to unpredictable consequences.
Only the slight gasping sound lingered in the air, as if questioning the unpredictable arrangements of fate.
"How many times have I told you that in this palace, the most taboo thing is gossiping!"
Queen Ma frowned slightly, and her tone, though weak, revealed unquestionable majesty.
"Tian'er is not an unfilial child. He has come to Kunning Palace less frequently recently. He must be busy with important official business.
Don't make random guesses behind my back and ruin the reputation of the King of Jin!"
Zhu Yuanzhang's brows knitted into knots, and he said with some dissatisfaction: "Sister, stop covering up for the third brother!
The third brother had previously submitted a special memorial regarding Fan’s affairs. We thought he wanted to provide shelter for Jiang Yongming’s widow, but who could have imagined that this kid was actually bewitched by beauty!
If we do something so foolish, wouldn't it make the whole world laugh at our royal family?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to be choked by something in his throat.
After a long while, he finally let out an extremely heavy sigh from his chest.
The sigh was like a rolling thunder, carrying with it endless disappointment and deep helplessness.
Then the shining light in his eyes, which showed the majesty of an emperor, dimmed in an instant, and was replaced by a deep loneliness.
Those eyes, which usually showed courage and determination, now seemed to be covered with a thick layer of haze.
Disappointment condensed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes like frost and snow, and it seemed that he no longer had any expectations for what was happening before him.
A feeling of helplessness followed him like a shadow, tightly entwined in the depths of Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.
It shows that although he is an emperor, he also has helpless predicaments that he cannot escape.
This complex expression, like a heavy and depressing painting, slowly unfolded on Zhu Yuanzhang's face.
It tells the story of Emperor Hongwu's painful struggle between power and family affection, and his deep sense of powerlessness.
From the moment the decision was made to hold a family dinner, Kunning Palace fell into an orderly yet busy preparation process.
The palace servants walked hurriedly, each performing their duties.
Like a group of busy ants, they shuttled between the various palaces.
In the Shangshen Bureau, the fire was burning brightly, illuminating the focused faces of the imperial chefs.
The imperial chefs carefully prepared delicious dishes one after another, and with the flash of their knives, various ingredients were skillfully carved into exquisite shapes in their hands.
The tender fish meat is sliced into sashimi as thin as a cicada's wing, and the brightly colored vegetables are cut into exquisite patterns.
The rich aroma gradually spreads, making people salivate.
In the palace hall, the palace maids walked lightly and carefully placed the gorgeous tableware.
They carefully wiped the tables and chairs with soft silk cloth until they were as shiny as new and could reflect people's shadows.
The colorful silks decorating the palace lanterns were carefully arranged, and the tassels swayed gently.
The light and shadow flicker on the walls, creating a warm and gorgeous atmosphere.
After two hours of careful preparation, this much-anticipated family dinner finally kicked off as scheduled, amid the anticipation of Zhu Biao and the five Ming vassal kings, like a carefully choreographed and eagerly awaited drama.
At this time, the Kunning Palace was decorated with lights and filled with warmth.
The candlelight danced happily, illuminating the faces of the people, some expectant and some delighted.
It seems as if one is trying to find a moment of warm family happiness in this complicated court life full of power struggles.
Looking at the newly decorated Kunning Palace, Empress Ma frowned slightly.
Then he said, "Your Majesty, although the Ming Dynasty has been established for more than ten years, there are still many things to be done and many affairs that require money.
Besides, it's still early now, there's no need to light so many lights, it's really a waste."
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Zhu Gang, who was talking in a low voice with Zhu Su, and deliberately raised his voice.
I only heard him say loudly: "We heard that the third brother submitted some manuscripts to Daming Commercial Bookstore in recent years and earned a lot of royalties from them.
The national treasury is not well-off and expenditure is tight, so we should not be so wasteful.
I just wonder if the third brother has the filial piety to use his own royalties to fill the gap in the national treasury caused by hosting this family dinner?"
In a corner of Kunning Palace, Zhu Gang was earnestly and anxiously persuading his fifth brother Zhu Su to come forward to treat Empress Ma.
I saw that his brows were tightly furrowed, and his eyes were full of anxiety and expectation.
Zhu Gang held Zhu Su's arms tightly with both hands, as if he wanted to convey all his anxiety and worry through these clenched hands.
"Fifth brother, our mother treats us with great kindness and regards us as her own children.
Now she is seriously ill and bedridden.
You have superb medical skills and can bring people back to health, so you must help me."
There was a hint of sigh in Zhu Gang's voice, but also an unquestionable firmness.
Just at this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang's words, like a thunderclap, suddenly sounded in this small world.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Gang's anxious expression froze instantly, and he stood there in a daze, as if he had been cast under a spell.
He opened his eyes wide, filled with astonishment and shock, as if he was unable to understand the deep meaning of his father's words for a moment.
The lips that had just been persuading the fifth brother were slightly opened, but he could not utter a word for a long time.
His expression was filled with shock, grievance, and a hint of indescribable complex emotions.
Zhu Biao, who was sitting not far away, came over and reminded him in a low voice, "Third brother, Dad is talking to you, don't just stand there."
Zhu Gang came back to his senses and said with a look of grievance: "Father, your treasury has made a lot of money by investing in national defense bonds over the years. Why do you have to keep an eye on this little money of your son?
Besides, these royalties were earned through hard work!" (End of this chapter)