My father is Jiajing

Chapter 433 King Jing's Wine
After getting Zhu Zaizhen's confirmation again, Zhu Zaizhen's eunuch companion crouched down like a thief and went to the back garden of the banquet. He quietly opened a hidden compartment and took out a mandarin duck pot that looked exactly the same as the wine pot used in the banquet outside.

The origin of the mandarin duck pot is very ancient, dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It is said to have been invented by a Chu person named Zheng Xiu.

There is a partition in the middle of the Yuanyang Lake wine jug, which can divide the space inside the jug into two, so that more than two kinds of wine and beverages can be contained in it.

However, due to this characteristic of the Mandarin Duck Pot, the appearance of the Mandarin Duck Pot in history and legends is usually accompanied by conspiracy.

Therefore, whether in history or folk legends, although the name of the Mandarin Duck Pot sounds nice, it is not an upright tool. It is often used by some treacherous people to poison or frame others, and has caused many unjust, false and wrong cases and historical regrets.

The mandarin duck pot in Zhu Zaizhen's eldest brother's hand is now going to be used in such an occasion. Zhu Zaizhen wants to use the mandarin duck pot to make his third brother truly fulfill his promise to protect the lineage of King Quan.

At this time, Zhu Zaigui knew nothing about all this. His earliest thought of helping Zhu Zaizhen continue the lineage of King Jing was to adopt a child from among his own children in the future to carry on the family line for Zhu Zaizhen, thus fulfilling his promise to Zhu Zaizhen.

At the same time, Zhu Zaigui also planned to abolish the ancestral system of ennobling princes as kings starting from his own children’s generation, so that future royal children would no longer be able to directly reap the benefits as before.

Zhu Zaizhen looked at his eunuch companion carrying a wine jug towards him, and his heart couldn't help but beat fast.

"Is everything done?"

Zhu Zaizhen asked his chief eunuch in a low voice.

His eunuch companion immediately whispered back, "Your Majesty, I have tried it and there is no problem."

After hearing this, Zhu Zaizhen took a deep breath and calmed down. He then whispered, "Stay by my side and follow my instructions."

His chief eunuch hummed heavily, and at this moment he had put his head on the belt and accompanied his master in his madness.

So even at this time, Zhu Zaizhen's eunuch companion still advised with trepidation: "Your Highness, let's forget about it. This matter is too risky."

But at this moment, Zhu Zaizhen had made up his mind, so how could he listen to what others said?
For Zhu Zaizhen, even if something went wrong, he would at most be severely reprimanded by Emperor Jiajing, and at worst be exiled to Fengyang and imprisoned behind high walls for two years. There would be no other losses.

But if it succeeds, and Prince Jing's palace has an heir, who would gossip about Prince Jing's incompetence?

Therefore, after a fierce ideological struggle, Zhu Zaizhen decided to take the risk and get the job done first.

If there is any accident in the future that leads to the complete destruction of him and his lineage of King Jing, it will be too late to say anything then.

Therefore, no matter how risky the matter was, Zhu Zaizhen was willing to take the risk.

Zhu Zaizhen quietly reminded his eunuch companion, "You are not allowed to mess with me, or this day next year will be the anniversary of your and your family's death!"

After hearing this, Zhu Zaizhen's great companion, Tai-tai, felt very sad.

A few days ago, he was also threatened by Prince Yu in this way. Unexpectedly, within a few days, the same words came from his master's mouth again.

I really don't know what sins I committed in my previous life to have such an audacious and unruly master.

Zhu Zaizhen was also extremely nervous. He tried hard to calm himself down and control his trembling hands, not letting himself reveal any flaws. After a long while, Zhu Zaizhen finally adjusted his state back to normal.

Zhu Zaizhen looked at Zhu Zaigui who was still helping him organize and host the banquet, and he couldn't help but become more determined.

He took a step forward and walked with his eunuch companion to the side of Zhu Zaigui's current position.

"Third brother, thank you for today. I brought a pot of wine to toast you."

Zhu Zaizhen came to Zhu Zaigui and said this to Zhu Zaigui.

Zhu Zaiqi turned around and looked at Zhu Zaizhen who was standing next to him. He smiled and said, "You are the protagonist today, and I am just a helper."

Zhu Zaizhen said, "If it weren't for Third Brother's constant help, my wedding wouldn't have gone so smoothly. Now that the guests are all having a great time, it's a good time for us brothers to chat and talk. So I want to say a few words from my heart to Third Brother."

Zhu Zaigui couldn't help but become serious when he heard Zhu Zaizhen's affectionate words.

Zhu Zaigui said, "You and I have never really talked to each other. Since this is your big day, I will talk to you properly."

Zhu Zaizhen hummed heavily, "Okay, please follow me to the back hall. I have asked someone to prepare a few side dishes that you usually like to eat. Let's eat and chat."

When Zhu Zaigui heard that he was going to the back hall to chat with Zhu Zaizhen alone, he didn't think about anything else.

Zhu Zaigui instructed the officials of the Ministry of Rites standing beside him, "I will go and talk to my fourth brother. You continue to entertain the guests here and make sure that all the guests have a great time."

After hearing Zhu Zaigui's words, the officials of the Ministry of Rites also responded, "Don't worry, my two princes. We will make sure that all the guests and friends will have a great time."

Zhu Zaizhen took Zhu Zaigui with him, and the two walked side by side. Zhu Zaizhen's eunuch companion also followed carefully behind them.

The three of them walked around the path in the front hall and arrived at the back garden of the palace. Zhu Zaizhen looked at Zhu Zaizhen's back garden and couldn't help but smile: "Brother Zhen, your garden is still the same as before? Do you want me to send a few gardeners from my palace to help you transform it?"

Zhu Zaizhen said: "Third brother, I am not the kind of person who cultivates sentiments. I usually don't pay much attention to these flowers and plants. This is actually quite good."

As they talked, they walked through the small garden and into the back hall.

The setting of Zhu Zaizhen's back hall is the same as Zhu Zaigui's small dining room in the back house of the palace, with not much difference.

It's just that Zhu Zaigui has done a lot of things in the palace over the years, so his palace's backyard has been completely turned upside down compared to its original appearance and it no longer looks the same as before.

So when Zhu Zaizhen saw the back hall now, Zhu Zaizhen couldn't help but smile and said, "I remember that there was a back hall like this in my house, but now it has been completely changed by me and it no longer looks the same. Now seeing your back hall, I can't help but think of the carefree days a few years ago."

Zhu Zaizhen listened to Zhu Zaigui's words and couldn't help but sigh: "Yes, it has been so many years. Second brother has been gone for eight years, and we have all grown up. Third brother, please take a seat."

Zhu Zaizhen asked Zhu Zaigui to sit down, and then he asked his eunuch companion to pour wine for Zhu Zaigui.

(End of this chapter)