Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 880: Female Phoenix Falls

Old Zhu has a very quick temper. Normally, if he heard someone nagging like this and accusing him of being inhumane, he would have been angry a long time ago.

However, at this moment, Emperor Hongwu was obeying the order, holding Empress Ma's hand, without a trace of displeasure on his face. "Listen, I know... Sister, don't say discouraging words, you will be fine. I am the emperor, what I say is not false..."

Empress Ma smiled, patted her husband's hand, and turned to look at Zhu Biao. "Biao'er, come here."

"Mother... Mother!" Zhu Biao had been regent for many years and had become more and more calm, but today his cheeks were wet with tears. When he heard Empress Ma calling him, he hurriedly knelt forward. Empress Ma touched Zhu Biao's face, which had grown a beard, and said reluctantly: "I can still remember the way you looked when you were born. In the blink of an eye, you have grown up so big."

"Mother..." Zhu Biao burst into tears.

"You have always been kind and honest. You have been polite and sensible since you were young, and you are humble and eager to learn. Mother is not worried about whether you can help your father and manage this vast country." She gently stroked Zhu Biao's face, "But... you must remember to take good care of yourself, you must, you must... remember?"

Today, she knew her time had come, and she could not help but think of Zhu Biao in history who also died young. She had escaped smallpox, but today she could not escape her fate. How could she know if Biao would follow in her footsteps?
"Yes... yes, child, remember..." Zhu Biao's voice trembled, and tears as big as beans kept rolling down.

After hearing Zhu Biao's agreement, Empress Ma nodded and then instructed Zhu Chong: "Chong'er..."

"My son is here..." Zhu Chong hurriedly crawled forward on his knees.

"You are straightforward, but you lack kindness..."

……

After giving instructions to her four sons, Empress Ma's breathing began to become uneven. But she still waved to Zhu Su, who was kneeling at the back: "Little Five."

"Come on, come here quickly."

Just like when he was a child, calling Zhu Su to come for dinner.

"...Mother." Zhu Su bit his lip. Not wanting to make Empress Ma worried any longer, he forced out a stiff smile.

Empress Ma raised her hand with difficulty, and Zhu Su understood and quickly held her hand and put it to his cheek. Empress Ma gently stroked Zhu Su's face and said something that seemed confused.

"Mother has always treated you as her son."

When Zhu Su heard this, he could no longer hold back his tears, which flowed down like a broken thread. Tears burst out, and his whole body trembled: "My son knows, knows..."

In his body, there is a soul from hundreds of years later. In fact, ever since he confessed his identity, he felt that there was a barrier between him and Empress Ma and Old Zhu, and he never dared to get close to them... He didn't expect that Empress Ma was very considerate and she always knew the little grudge in his heart.

Empress Ma looked at him kindly all the time, and Zhu Su burst into tears, as if he had let out all his emotions. Finally, the crying gradually subsided, and Empress Ma gently raised her skinny hand to wipe away the tears on Zhu Su's face.

"Thank you for taking care of your father and our Zhu family..."

Empress Ma finished her words in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum. Her vitality was finally exhausted, and one of her hands fell down helplessly. Old Zhu had always been paying attention to her expression. Upon seeing this, he hurried forward. "Sister, sister? Wake up, wake up..."

"Sister? Hurry up and get up. I'm calling you. How can you just sleep like this..."

"Girl? Get up, get up quickly!"

Old Zhu's eyes gradually turned crazy. On the other side, Zhu Biao was already shouting, "Imperial Physician! Quick! Send for the Imperial Physician!"

……

The imperial physician was naturally of no use, as Empress Ma had already died. Even though Dai Sigong was now a superb doctor, he could not really bring the dead back to life.

The news of Empress Ma's death was announced to the world, causing a huge uproar in the court and among the people.

Empress Ma had been the empress for many years, and her reputation was almost the same as that of Zhu Yuanzhang. Among the meritorious officials, countless were favored by her. In the early years when Zhu Yuanzhang was fighting in all directions, it was the big-footed Empress Ma who showed up in public, comforted the people and provided relief to the victims of disasters, regardless of the hard work.

She lived frugally and cared about the people. Even when she was in the palace, she spun cloth, made shoes, and planted vegetables herself, unwilling to use a penny of the people's money. Except for receiving foreign envoys or attending festivals, she, as the queen, usually wore a simple skirt and never wore silk and fancy clothes. The length of her skirt could not even cover her feet... In terms of her living expenses, she was no different from ordinary people.

The money saved was all used to subsidize the nursing home and the Welfare Bureau in Yingtian City. The elderly, the lonely and the poor in the imperial capital were all grateful for the kindness of Empress Ma.

Upon learning of the death of such a virtuous queen, countless people in Yingtian spontaneously came to the square outside the imperial city, holding lanterns and mourning the passing of the virtuous queen from afar. For several days, the lights at the foot of the imperial city were as bright as day, and the whole city was in mourning, with endless crying.

Even the good news of Goryeo being annexed by the Ming Dynasty seemed much less impressive at this time.

Before her death, Empress Ma specifically asked not to hold a grand ceremony to waste the people's energy. Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang was heartbroken, but he also understood her intention and did not force the people to wear mourning. However, even so, many people voluntarily wore mourning for Empress Ma. Countless relatives and relatives who had received the Empress' kindness heard the news and rushed to see the virtuous Empress off for the last time.

Of the five Zhu brothers, Zhu Biao was too busy with state affairs to observe mourning all day, while the other four sons and grandson Zhu Xiongying stood by Empress Ma's coffin every day to remember their loving mother. The Hongwu Emperor seemed to have lost his soul in an instant, and was sad and angry every day, scaring all the eunuchs and guards in the palace.

I also recall more of the good times when the Queen was alive.

The coffin was kept like this for more than a month. According to Empress Ma's last wish, Zhu and his brothers carried the coffin out of the city and buried it in Xiaoling Mausoleum outside the city. On the day of leaving the city, the streets of Yingtian Prefecture, which was usually very prosperous, were deserted. Everyone looked sad and the city was filled with cries.

Even the official road outside the city was filled with people kneeling and weeping to see the virtuous queen off.

This scene greatly shocked Zhu Su, who originally only wanted to be a carefree and leisurely king. He couldn't help but wonder: If I die, will there be so many people who will send me off with all their hearts out of gratitude for my kindness?

Judging from the current situation... I'm afraid it's not possible yet.

"If life could reach this point, there would be nothing else to ask for." Zhu Su murmured.

If I can accomplish one or two more achievements for China because of me, perhaps when I die, there will be people who will be grateful to me like this?
Thinking of this, thinking that the gentle woman who always called him gently and protected him had passed away, Zhu Su burst into tears again.

White banners were flying, and the crowds were crying. Amid the music that seemed a little sad, the procession, which was seen off by the people lining the streets, slowly moved towards the Xiaoling Mausoleum.

(End of this chapter)