Chapter 2: Relatives

  After knowing his situation, Zhu Ciyan felt like a grasshopper tied to a rope, or one that had been caught after autumn.

  "Is the heavens playing a trick on people? Why did it have to be the 16th year of Chongzhen?"

  It's now the end of September in the 16th year of Chongzhen. Sun Chuanting is about to fall into a trap in Henan and Huguang, with an army of 100,000 men and civilians, 40,000 have died, the Henan troops are scattered, Chen Yongfu has surrendered, and Bai Guang'en and Gao Jie, two generals, have escaped with Sun Chuanting to defend Tongguan.

  Then Tongguan fell, Sun Chuanting was killed in Weinan, and the Li Zicheng's rebel army captured Xi'an, spending the winter there, and also took down Mizhi and Yulinbao.

  After crossing the pass, Pingyang was conquered, Taiyuan fell, Wuning and Datong were traversed, and Juyongguan was captured. In just a few days, the army arrived at the foot of the capital city. On March 19th, 1644, a date familiar to later generations, the Ming dynasty came to an end.

  Zhu Xianye is now like a prisoner on death row, the Supreme Court has approved his death sentence and is just waiting for the day of execution to arrive.

  Everyone is bound to die, but except for death row inmates, I'm afraid no one else has the mentality of waiting for death every day.

  This taste is too damn unbearable.

  Heavens, thank you and your whole family!

  Just after crossing over, Zhu Ciyan was possessed by a demon. Every day, apart from crying and throwing tantrums, she would count the days on her fingers.

  It won't be long before the days are gone.

  Thinking about it makes me even crazier!

  It's been a while since then, and thinking about the impending doom, Zhu Cixi has been training desperately. Fortunately, people who have practiced martial arts, even if they are reborn, still have a grasp of their body that is beyond ordinary people, and in a short period of time, he has already shed a lot of excess fat, his body becoming more agile and nimble by the day.

  When it comes to his own survival, he is very clear-headed and determined, with an unprecedented strong will!

  ……

  ……

  Zhu Ciwen rested for a moment, then took a bath and changed his clothes.

  Wearing formal crown clothes, then getting on the sedan chair, going to various palaces to pay respects.

  First were two elderly imperial consorts, then came the residence of Empress Zhang, followed by Consort Yuan, and finally, it was the turn of his own mother, Empress Dowager Zhou.

  In these places, some people meet and exchange a few words. Others make excuses, saying their bodies are not feeling well, and say: Please, brother, don't bow your head, just go back.

  Whether seen or unseen, the head must be knocked.

  By the time they arrived at Kun Ning Palace, Zhu Ciyan had already become a standard head-bowing insect. Fortunately, he had been running for about ten days recently, and his physical fitness had improved significantly, otherwise, it would have been really unbearable.

  "Your son has come to pay his respects to you, Mother!"

  By Sunday, Zhu Cuiyun was much more relaxed here.

  After all, she is a kind mother, and unlike the emperor's father, she doesn't have a deep-seated hatred. She looks gentle and affectionate, making people want to get close to her.

  "My dear child, come here and let me take a good look at you. How's your body been lately?"

  The moment the queen saw him, she let out a loud wail of grief.

  "Mom, I'm all better now."

  Embraced by Empress Zhou in her arms, Zhu Ciyan didn't feel anything out of the ordinary. It was a motherly instinct, and Empress Zhou's actions only made him feel warm and intimate.

  "It's all right, it's all right." Although her son was already grown up, Zhou Hou still couldn't help but pinch and squeeze his face, and only let go of Zhu Ciwen reluctantly after a while.

  After all, one is an empress and the other a crown prince, it's laughable for people to see.

  "I heard you've been doing something every day... exercising?" After they sat down, Zhou Hou looked at Zhu Ciyan and said with a smile: "This is great, you look more spirited already."

  "Don't worry, madam," said Zhu Ciwen with a confident expression, "In less than two months, the child will definitely train his body to be strong and healthy."

  "But this martial arts, wielding swords and rods, doesn't sound good if it gets out."

  "Miss, in these times, not practicing martial arts, is it okay?"

  She was silent for a whole week afterwards. She didn't have the strong and resolute character of Chongzhen, but instead often deceived herself and didn't dare to face reality squarely.

  But Zhou Hou was different. Although he didn't know much, he understood in his heart that the situation had deteriorated to an irretrievable point and the danger of losing the country was right before him.

  "Alas!"

  Mentioning this, Zhou Hou could only shake his head.

  "Mother, if you have time..."

  “Prince Brother!” Just as the mother and daughter were sitting and talking, Zhu Ciyan was about to persuade Empress Zhou to whisper some pillow talk to Chongzhen, suggesting that they return to Nanjing with their family as soon as possible. Before she could say it out loud, a beautiful young girl rushed out of the eastern warm pavilion, smiling slightly at him.

  But all I see are bright eyes and white teeth, a clever smile so captivating.

  "Crown Prince brother!" The girl's voice was as sweet as a canary, and she took several steps forward to greet him. When she arrived in front of him, she suddenly remembered something and stuck out her tongue, then solemnly curtsied, which counted as a greeting. Then she stood up again, beaming with joy, and said: "Brother, you're all better now!"

  "Alright, alright."

  Zhu Ci Yun subconsciously averted his gaze... The girl in front of him was indeed a first-class beauty, with beautiful eyes and a charming smile... completely applicable.

  It's really... beautiful!

  In his heart, Zhu Ciwen made a very forceful and solemn conclusion.

  The Great Ming has been around for over 200 years, and the emperors of each generation are at least above average. After so many years of genetic improvement, the princess born to the royal family is indeed beautiful.

  She was about the same age as him and also called him "older brother", naturally it was the famous Princess Changping of later generations.

  A few days ago, when they met again, Zhu Ciwen really couldn't associate this young girl with the one-armed nun, and the memories in his mind were still very vivid. The brother and sister had a good relationship, but now it was difficult to keep their distance, especially after she had been ill recently.

  "Brother, how did you just jump down from the sedan chair? You look so carefree, I've never seen you like this before." Ignoring Zhu Ciyan's slightly embarrassed expression, Zhu Meiwa grabbed the hem of the prince's robe and said with a smile: "It's been several days since we last saw each other, brother. I heard that you were seriously ill a few days ago, and I wanted to come see you, but Mother wouldn't allow it. Oh dear, I was worried sick."

  "Hmm..." Zhu Ciyan tried to find the feeling of being a brother in his heart, looking at the smiling Changping Princess, and gradually found some warmth and affection. He scratched his head and smiled: "Nothing, just caught a bit of wind chill."

  "Uh-huh!" Zhu Mei'er nodded vigorously, her small nose scrunched up as she said, "Brother, you must be careful from now on."

  "I'll be fine." Zhu Ciwen nodded and replied: "I plan to toughen up my body, I don't want to be as weak as I am now."

  "I also want to learn how to run with my brother," Zhu Xiangxiang said with a smile: "Recently, everyone in Kun Ning Palace has been talking about it, saying that my brother is running back and forth in the palace every day, the more he runs, the longer he goes. Brother, can I run together with you?"

  The two siblings originally grew up together in the Ning Palace and had a very good relationship. They did everything together.

  Later, Zhu Ciyan moved to Zhongxiang Palace to live, and although they were not far apart, Princess Changping still clung to him, her elder brother.

  Now... Zhu Ciwen rubbed his nose, but didn't know how to respond.

  "Don't be ridiculous, your brother is running with a purpose. What's the point of girls from good families running?" Luckily, Zhou came out to mediate.

  The queen said so, and Princess Changping had no choice but to give up. However, she still couldn't help but make a ghostly face at Zhu Ciyan before it was over.

  "Crown Prince brother, I also want to run."

  Just as Zhang Ping had not yet been sent away, another little maid came out of the warm pavilion, with her hair combed into a bun and a round face like a big apple, a small piece of Suzhou mud figurine, jumping and running out, arrived in front of Zhu Ciwen, hugged Zhu Ciwen's thigh tightly, a pair of bright eyes, very touching.

  This was the Princess Zhaoren, born to Empress Zhou, who had just turned four years old and didn't even have a name yet. At this moment, she heard the commotion outside and ran out, clinging to Zhu Ciyan and refusing to let go.

  "Oh dear, Your Majesty, I still have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."

  "Go now, come to Qianqing Palace at dinner time. Your father is busy during the day and will look at the memorial before nightfall, so you can serve him then."

  "It's okay, I understand."

  At this point, national affairs can't be mentioned anymore, and we can only slip away quietly. After finally coaxing Zhao Ren to calm down, when Zhu Ci came out of the palace, he was already drenched in sweat.