Chapter Fifty-One: Brothers

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  My brother has also worked hard to repay, but the recommended votes just won't rise, it's too sad.

  Take a few more photos!

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  "Brother!"

  A little girl with a powdered face and jade pendant ran quickly, suddenly throwing herself into Zhu Ciyan's arms. The weather was still cold, and in the East Warming Pavilion of Kun Ning Palace, white cloud copper braziers were lit to warm up with high-quality incense charcoal. As soon as Zhu Ciyan arrived, Princess Zhao Ren heard about it and came out to greet him from afar, throwing herself into his arms on the temple steps.

  The princess, although only five years old, actually understood the imperial rules very well. However, in front of Zhu Ciyan, who loved her dearly, this little girl was spoiled and intentionally acted willfully.

  "Okay, in a few days we'll go downtown again and brother will buy you some fun toys."

  At the beginning of the new year, Zhu Ciwen had indeed bought many novel and lovely little trinkets to coax Zhao Ren, which didn't cost much money, but had coaxed the little one into being very happy.

  This made Zhao Ren's eyes narrow into a slit, her whole face was stimulated by the cold wind, red and white intertwined, it really looked like a big apple, Zhu Ci Yun couldn't help but want to take a big bite of her cheek.

  Unfortunately, it would be impossible for brothers and sisters to have ordinary relationships in the Great Ming Dynasty.

  After a hug, more than a dozen nannies and palace maids rushed out. As soon as Zhu Ciyan put down Zhao Ren, someone immediately took him away.

  "Brother!"

  Just after putting down Zhao Ren, Chang Ping ran over again in the same year, happily performing a courtesy, with a half-finished embroidered pouch in hand, adorned with exquisite patterns that looked like they took great care to make... After calling out, Chang Ping said: "Brother, what do you think of this pouch I made?"

  "Great, not bad, really good-looking."

  Zhu Ciwen could only shake his head and sigh, the enemy army invaded outside, but the two girls' family was completely unaware, until the very end, they suddenly tasted the most tragic ending in the world.

  Zhang Ping had one arm chopped off, while five-year-old Zhao Ren lived in the Zhao Ren Palace. When Chongzhen rushed over with his sword, the little girl thought her father still cared about her and happily came out to greet him. As soon as she shouted "Father!", Chongzhen swung his sword at her. The dragon spring used by Emperor Chengzu had never killed anyone in Chongzhen's hands before, but it ended up killing his own daughter!

  "You two, don't block the way..."

  It wasn't until I finally got rid of the two naive girls and stepped into the Dongnuan Pavilion in the Kun Ning Palace that the atmosphere became heavy.

  The emperor's crying in the Fengxian Hall, this is also already known. In the past, although the emperor had times when national affairs were not going smoothly, it was common to cry out a few times, and even to reduce food and withdraw from pleasure, and to be depressed all day... but to cry so loudly, wailing in pain and losing one's voice, completely without any royal dignity... this is also the first time in seventeen years.

  "Now there's no time to bother with the Emperor." Zhu Ciyan entered the door and calmly paid his respects, saying: "Empress Yi'an and Zhang Ping, Zhao Ren first batch left, tomorrow morning after meeting with the Emperor will set off, Empress Dowager and Ding Wang, tomorrow afternoon second batch leave. There are also several brothers, and I will follow the Emperor together."

  In the Dongnuan Pavilion, all the people he mentioned were rarely gathered together, and they were all there.

  These days, he has been increasing his position in the palace, secretly accumulating such a huge force, and all the people in the pavilion, from Empress Zhang to Concubine Yuan, as well as Prince Yong, Prince Ding, and Crown Prince Zhu Ciyan, are all staring at him.

  "Long time no see, big brother!"

  King Ding was the biological brother of Zhu Ciyan, and King Yong and Zhu Cihuan were born to Concubine Tian. The younger brothers stepped forward together and bowed: "We wish to advance and retreat with our elder brother."

  "Hey!" Zhu Ciyan tapped his foot lightly and shook his head, "Come with me, what if we get caught together, who will inherit the great Ming dynasty?"

  After the hair cutting order, Southern Ming had a chance to turn over, but because there was no emperor who was expected by the public, there were successive struggles between Fu and Lu vassals, then it was Lu's regent, deposed Tang Wang, Gui Wang, and Tang Wang, performing one absurd play after another, while others' swords were approaching, they were still fighting and making a fuss, so even if Qing frequently made foolish moves, the final winner was still the Eight Banners of the Great Qing with only 60,000 soldiers at most.

  It's different now, even if he can't escape, with the title of King of Jiangnan, he is still the undisputed heir to the throne. In terms of legitimacy, neither the remnants of the eunuch party nor the Donglin Party can oppose him.

  Whether it's the Crown Prince, the King of Jing or even the King of Yong, they are all the same in the eyes of many officials. After all, they are all sons of the current emperor, and as long as one of them is in Nanjing, that's enough.

  But there can be only one!

  What if the other princes were to go to Nanjing together, and Zhu Ci didn't escape, who knows what kind of trouble those ministers would stir up? There's the rule of primogeniture, but there's also the rule of seniority, and then there's also the rule of virtue.

  So it can only be that Ding Wang leaves first, he is the eldest son and the only one who came to Nanjing, others cannot go, he still has the sole legitimate right of inheritance.

  Although this treatment is a bit cruel, for the sake of the stability of the great Ming dynasty, it can only be done this way.

  Among them, several concubines were clear in their hearts. Empress Zhang showed a look of approval on her face. Although Concubine Zhou was reluctant and didn't want to give up, she still nodded and said: "Everything will be as you say."

  "Meet with the Emperor for a moment, and absolutely must not reveal any signs." Zhu Ciwen warned: "Today the Emperor cried at the temple, already having an absolute intention, let him know that it's not good for big things."

  "The Emperor's temperament is stubborn, I know. Empress Zhou's eyes were already brimming with tears, and she only held onto Zhu Ciyan's hand, saying: 'You stay by his side, if you can persuade him, then persuade him; if not, just leave first.'"

  "Yes, I understand..."

  Everything has been arranged, Li Zicheng just took down the Juyong Pass today, broke Changping on the 15th, and the vanguard of the rebel army arrived in Beijing on the 17th. Then they surrounded each city gate. Li Zicheng stayed at Diaoyutai, and the imperial camp and main force were located near Andingmen and Xizhimen, Deshengmen. On the afternoon of the 18th, the rebel army entered the outer city from Andingmen, and on the 19th, the entire city fell. Chongzhen hanged himself on Mount Wansui, and the Ming Dynasty officially perished.

  The history below is the remaining history of Southern Ming.

  These procedures, Zhu Cixian remembered clearly in his heart, were a matter of life and death, and could not be taken lightly. The reason he ended up leaving was also because all these matters required him to make arrangements, mediate and coordinate, and if someone else had done it, they would not have been able to handle these affairs properly.

  As long as he sets out from Beijing on the seventeenth, with Imperial Guards cavalry escorting him, even if some vanguard cavalry troops arrive ahead of time, it won't be a problem.

  "You've been working hard lately."

  Everything was arranged properly, and Empress Zhang stepped forward, saying to Zhu Ciyan: "Brother, you may be young, but you handle things very well. To tell the truth, you're better than your father."

  Although she was also only a queen with an honorary title, her status in the palace was extremely high, and even Chongzhen treated her with great respect. This Empress Zhang was a famous virtuous empress who, during the Tianqi era, did not fear Wei Zhongxian and Guest, maintaining her independence and self-respect, often advising Emperor Tianqi on government affairs, and managing everything in an orderly manner, so she was called virtuous by people at that time.

  Later, Tianqi died, and it was also her arrangement that Chongzhen entered the palace. At the beginning of the transition, without this empress in charge, I'm afraid Chongzhen wouldn't have taken control so smoothly and then seized actual power.

  Even if it was Zhou Hou, it was Chongzhen who trusted Xining Wang at that time. Empress Zhang brought him personally selected, so she praised Zhu Ciyan in front of Zhou Hou. The people present were all listening with rapt attention, and although Zhou Hou's heart was in a mess, she couldn't help but show a happy expression on her face.

  "So take care of yourself!" Empress Zhang rarely spoke, after all, she was a widow and it was best to avoid trouble. At this moment, she also appreciated Zhu Ciyan very much. If not for this young man, she might have had to hang herself to follow the country in death.

  Everyone dies in evil and is born in kindness, so she took a deep look at Zhu Ciyan and said softly: "I know, you are because you are too small, the ministers do not follow, to rescue your father emperor, to the south can quickly become a situation... but I advise you for the sake of the great Ming dynasty, when it's time to cut off, don't hesitate, always put your own safety first, understand?"

  The last words were spoken very lightly, and almost no one except Zhu Ciwen himself heard them.

  The anxiety and worry in his heart were all spoken out by this middle-aged woman in front of him!

  "Please rest assured, Empress Yi'an..." Zhu Ciyan bowed his head and said softly: "I will definitely go to Nanjing!"

  "In this way, I feel much more at ease."

  Yi'an Empress smiled slightly and gently patted Zhu Ciyan's head, saying: "You must still have many important things to attend to... with me here, you can go at ease!"

  Zhu Ciyan was indeed worried that his mother would hesitate at the last moment and ruin everything. He wasn't worried about his younger brothers, who were still too young to cause trouble. Everything had to be done according to the wishes of these few imperial concubines in front of him. His two sisters also listened and obeyed, but Zhou Fei was too weak and timid to make important decisions, while Yuan Fei was a kind old lady who couldn't be relied upon either. Fortunately, Empress Zhang took charge herself, which saved him a lot of trouble!

  There are really too many things in the palace and outside, let him handle them!

  At this moment, he bowed his head again, and when he stood up, there were also tears in his eyes. The person in front of him, no matter how much the royal family had lost their deep affection, was still his true blood relative in this life, with a bond thicker than water. At the moment of parting, it was impossible to hold back emotions.

  "The child is gone." He bid farewell to Zhou for the last time, and then instructed Ding Wang, who was plump: "If I and my father and brothers cannot arrive, you just remember to simplify government affairs, reconcile all parties, and be frugal with your expenses, so as to set an example for the world..."

  "Big brother, I cannot..."

  Ding Wang was actually mediocre and timid, only dodging and hiding in fear.

  "Alas!"

  Zhu Ciwen could only shake his head and stop looking at him, quickly walking out by himself. This burden, except for himself, others really can't bear it...