If not abolished

These days, Zhu Zhanji has slowly accepted and adapted to the fact that he has returned to the summer of the seventh year of Yongle in his new life.

Every day at 1 a.m., Zhu Zhanji would get up and go from Rouyi Hall to Qianqing Palace to pay his respects to the Emperor.

When Zhu Zhanji first arrived at the Qianqing Palace today, he saw Wang Jinghong standing outside the door and couldn't help but feel puzzled.

"Why is Wang Daban outside the palace? Hasn't the emperor gotten up yet?" Zhu Zhanji walked forward and asked.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, please wait a minute. Yesterday, His Majesty stayed in the Chunhe Hall until three o'clock in the morning before returning to the Qianqing Palace. He probably won't go to the West Corner Gate to attend government meetings today." Wang Jinghong guessed.

The memory was a little distant, and Zhu Zhanji just remembered that today was the anniversary of the death of the Royal Grandmother. Almost twenty-five years had passed since the last life. Thinking of the Royal Grandmother, Zhu Zhanji couldn't help but think of what Jingci said to him at the end of the last life. The Royal Grandfather and the Royal Grandmother had a deep affection for each other when they were young. This time, will Shanxiang still be there waiting for me?

Thinking that next year her grandmother, the Lady of Pengcheng, would recommend Sun Jiruo to her mother and grandfather the Emperor as the Crown Prince's Consort, she had to make plans early, otherwise, everything would repeat the same mistake as last time.

Just when Zhu Zhanji was still thinking about how to avoid this matter, the voice of the emperor's grandfather came from the hall. Zhu Zhanji and Wang Jinghong went in together.

"Grandfather/Your Majesty." Zhu Zhanji and Wang Jinghong said at the same time.

"Agui is here."

"Grandson is here to pay his respects to the Emperor." Zhu Zhanji said as he knelt down.

"Get up. Go back and tell your father that I will not go to the West Corner Gate to hold court today. Let the ministers go directly to the East Palace to discuss matters."

"Yes. Grandpa Huang, please take care of yourself."

"Go."

"Grandson, please leave."

After Zhu Zhanji returned to Rouyi Palace, he told his father about Zhu Di's instructions and then returned to his small study.

Sitting at the desk, Zhu Zhanji thought about the problem he had thought about in the Qianqing Palace that morning. It was now the seventh year of Yongle, Shanxiang was only eight years old, and she should be in Jining now. Is there any way to let her have the opportunity to come to the capital? Wait, Hu Shanggong, Shanxiang's elder sister was a female official during the Hongwu period, and now she should be a Shanggong. If you find Hu Shanggong, you can see if there is any way to let Shanxiang come to the capital.

Zhu Zhanji spent the whole morning in his study. It was not until lunch time that he looked up at the sky. The sunlight had already moved from the east wing to the center of the courtyard.

The personal eunuch Wu Cheng came forward and asked the crown prince if he wanted to serve the meal. Zhu Zhanji raised his hands and pressed his temples on both sides and said, "Send it."

When Wu Cheng turned around to prepare, Zhu Zhanji stopped him and asked casually, "Have father and mother used it?"

"I heard that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has just finished discussing matters with the ministers, so the meal should not have been served yet." Wu Cheng replied.

After listening to this, Zhu Zhanji stood up and walked out, saying, "Then I will go and have dinner with my father and mother."

By the time Wu Cheng reacted, Zhu Zhanji had already walked out, so he quickly followed him.

Zhu Zhanji came to the front hall and greeted the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.

The Crown Princess had just changed the Crown Prince into his daily clothes. She even joked, "Why did Agui come here today? It's really rare."

It's no wonder the Crown Princess said so. Her son had been loved by his grandfather since he was young. Most of the time, he was personally raised by the current emperor. He rarely had the opportunity to see his parents, and it was rare for them to eat at the same table. So although the Crown Princess was a little joking, she was also happy.

"If you want me to have dinner with you, mother, I can do so anytime. Why tease me?"

"Please sit down." The prince said as he sat down.

The palace servants quickly placed another set of bowls and chopsticks on the left side of the table, and Zhu Zhanji sat down immediately.

Because they were still in mourning for Empress Xu, the dishes they ate were relatively light.

After finishing his meal, Zhu Zhanji was called by the Crown Prince to the study room to ask about his studies. When he came out, he saw the Crown Princess sitting there waiting for him.

"Come and sit down." The Crown Princess waved to him. "Remember to go to Chunhe Hall to burn incense today."

"My son, please save it."

"I heard from the servants around you that you had nightmares a while ago. Bring back some calming incense later. I will personally make you a pillow made of acacia flowers, and you will sleep more peacefully."

"Thank you mother."

"I see that both father and mother have lost some weight. Although they are in mourning period, we can ask the Food Bureau to prepare some exquisite and delicious food. Mother can use more and must not let herself suffer any loss." Zhu Zhanji said with concern.

The Crown Princess smiled and said, "Agui has really grown up and knows how to care for his father and mother. Don't worry, it's just summer and the weather is hot, so you don't use as much. It's normal to lose some weight."

"Then I will take my leave first." After saying this, Zhu Zhanji bowed to the Crown Princess and walked out.

After Zhu Zhanji came out of the main hall, he did not return to the back hall, but walked out of the Rouyi Hall.

Wu Cheng asked doubtfully, "Where is the Crown Prince going? Does he need a sedan chair?"

"No, just walk around. You don't have to follow me, I'll walk alone."

"This……"

"What's this? Could something happen to me in the palace?"

Wu Cheng was speechless and could only stand there and watch Zhu Zhanji walk away. He could only think in the messy wind that the prince's temper was getting weirder and weirder.

Zhu Zhanji walked until he arrived at the Shanggong Bureau. When the palace servants in the Shanggong Bureau saw the Crown Prince coming from outside, they knelt on the ground from outside to inside.

When Zhu Zhanji walked in, the two palace maids from the Palace Bureau, who had just been informed that the Crown Prince was visiting, saw Zhu Zhanji coming in and hurriedly saluted him.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, please forgive us for being late in welcoming you."

"It's okay. I just came here suddenly to take a look. There's nothing to do. You can all go about your own business. The two palace ladies can stay." Zhu Zhanji said after sitting at the top.

"I wonder if the Crown Prince has any instructions." asked Hu Shanggong.

"Today, the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess are having a meal. As they are still in mourning for the Royal Grandmother, the food they eat is relatively light, so I thought I would come to see the Food Bureau. I don't have any instructions."

The two palace ladies didn't understand what was going on. After a while, Palace Lady Hu replied, "The Food Bureau is managed by me. If the Crown Prince wants to see it, I will take him there."

Zhu Zhanji was waiting for this sentence. After hearing this, he stood up and said, "Then please ask Hu Shanggong to lead the way."

"Please come this way, Grandson." Hu Shanwei didn't know what the Grandson wanted to do, so he could only take Zhu Zhanji to the Food Bureau.

After coming out, Zhu Zhanji used the excuse of being a little hot to sit down in the pavilion next to him to rest. After sitting down, Hu Shanwei didn't know what the prince was up to, so he could only stand there without saying anything.

Zhu Zhanji didn't know how to start the conversation. It would be wrong to ask where the girl's sister was. He was a man from outside, asking about the women's affairs... After a while, he seemed to have thought of something. He asked, "Does Concubine Hu have any brothers?"

Hu Shanwei was stunned for a moment when he heard this question, but after a moment, he replied, "I am the eldest daughter in the family, and I have two younger brothers."

"Oh, can it be in the capital?" Zhu Zhanji asked again.

"My two younger brothers just arrived in the capital a few years ago, and the rest of the family is still in the north."

"In a few years, His Majesty will select personal guards for this grandson, so I am asking this. Will Concubine Hu find it strange?"

"So that's how it is. If my brother has the honor to become your highness's personal guard, it will be a great honor. Thank you, Your Highness." Hu Shanwei said with a smile.

"Take this prince to the food bureau to have a look."

"Yes."

After coming out of the Shanggong Bureau, Zhu Zhanji's steps became much lighter.

After returning to Rouyi Palace, Wu Cheng felt that the Crown Prince seemed to be in a good mood, although he didn't know the reason.

Zhu Zhanji was practicing calligraphy while thinking that although today's events were a bit risky, it was worth it after all because he got to know Shanxiang's situation.

The most urgent task now is how to get Shanxiang's family to the capital as soon as possible. This matter needs to be planned carefully.

Jining Prefecture, Hu Mansion.

Hu Shanxiang, who was missed by Zhu Zhanji, was now talking to her sisters in her own small courtyard.

"Third sister, what kind of person do you think our second brother-in-law is?" The fourth daughter of the Hu family asked her third sister curiously.

Hu Shanxiang was playing with her little sister with a rattle, then she looked up at her fourth sister who was asking her a question and replied, "I haven't seen it either, but since it was chosen by my father for my second sister, it must be good."

"My second sister is getting married. Will I still be able to see her often in the future?" Miss Hu Wu said in a crying voice.

"Of course, your sister has married far away. If she did, it would be in Jining. When we are free, we can ask your second sister to send an invitation and let us go to your brother-in-law's house to play, so that we can have more people to go out." Miss Hu said to her with a smile.

The Hu family had seven daughters. Mrs. Hu gave birth to the eldest daughter Hu Shanwei, the eldest son Hu An, the second son Hu Xuan, the third daughter Hu Shanxiang, and the seventh daughter Hu Shanyi.

Aunt Liu gave birth to the second daughter, Hu Shanji, and the fifth daughter, Hu Shanhui.

Aunt Qin gave birth to the fourth daughter, Hu Shanxi, and the sixth daughter, Hu Shanzhi.

Hu Shanxiang's father, Hu Rong, was originally a centurion of the Jinyiwei. In the early years of Yongle, he was dismissed from office and sent back to his hometown. He then moved his family to Jining, and Hu Shanxiang was born on the way back to Jining. Hu Shanwei, the eldest daughter of the Hu family, was a female official during the Hongwu period. She was not implicated by her father's dismissal and is now a female official of the fourth rank. A few months ago, Hu Rong asked his eldest son and second son to go to the capital to seek refuge with his eldest daughter Hu Shanwei.

The second daughter of the Hu family, Hu Shanji, is fourteen this year. Hu Rong and Mrs. Hu have chosen a husband for her, a scholar from Jining. This young man just passed the imperial examination last year and will probably take the imperial examination next spring. Hu Rong was afraid that there would be too many people competing for him, so he decided on him early and even sponsored his future son-in-law to take the exam.

The wedding date is set for next spring after the exam, so the second girl is now preparing for her wedding and can no longer leave the house. Hu Shanxiang thought about it and felt miserable.

"Our second brother-in-law's family has been farmers for generations, and his father is only the head of Jining Prefecture. I don't know if he can pass the imperial examination next spring." said the fourth girl.

"Don't say that. Father and mother will definitely say something nice about you. You should choose the best and the most capable. I think this future sister-in-law has good character." Hu Shanxiang said, "It's getting late. Sisters, please go back."

After saying this, Hu Shanxiang carried the seventh girl to the main courtyard. Others knew that she was unhappy.