My father, Zhu Di, was granted a second life by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Chapter 56 The letter has been sent

In previous New Years, Zhu Gaoxi was too young and didn't pay much attention. It turns out that at this time, the 30th of the lunar year is called "Suichu" and the first day of the lunar new year is called "Zhengdan".

Asking for red envelopes during Chinese New Year is a privilege reserved for children. Although Zhu Gaoxi is mentally mature, his physical age is what it is. Only a fool would refuse money offered for free.

"Grandpa, Happy New Year! Give me the money quickly!" Zhu Gaoxi stretched out his two fat hands in front of the old emperor.

Whether the old emperor offered gold or silver, he accepted it with all his might.

"Money is just an external thing, little brother. It's not good for you to be so greedy for money."

Just as the old emperor was fumbling in his pocket for gold leaves, the crown prince walked in with several attendants and began to criticize him without any politeness.

"Brother, you are mistaken. A gentleman loves money, but he acquires it in a proper way. I was just trying to make Grandpa happy for good luck," Zhu Gaoxi explained.

Upon hearing this, the old emperor couldn't help but chuckle. To ask for money with such confidence, only his eldest grandson could be so calm and thick-skinned.

"You were clearly robbing me just now," Ouyang Hao chimed in.

"Yes, I saw it too," the twenty-third prince, Zhu Jing, echoed.

He was born in the nineteenth year of the Hongwu reign and will be ten years old this year.

"Yes, and me too," said the 24th prince, Zhu Dong, who was two years younger than Zhu Jing and was losing his baby teeth, so his speech was a little lisp.

"And me, Father. I saw Gao Xi asking you for money. He's being naughty," said the twenty-fifth prince, Zhu Yu. Although he was the same age as Zhu Dong, he was spoiled by his mother, Consort Ge, and his voice was quite childish.

Although they ganged up on Zhu Gaoxi, the youngest son, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't bring himself to lose his temper. When he saw his three young sons, his heart melted, and he no longer cared about standing up for Zhu Gaoxi.

Fortunately, Zhu Gaoxi was mentally strong, and ordinary harsh words could not hurt him at all.

"So you don't want the gold leaf?" The old emperor waved the gleaming yellow leaf in front of them.

"think……"

Just as Zhu was about to reach for it, Ouyang Hao stopped her with a cough.

A small hand hovered in mid-air, caught in a dilemma.

"If you want it, we'll give it to you, one piece for each of you."

As soon as the old emperor finished speaking, the three gold leaves in his hand were snatched away, and the three people shouted in unison, "Thank you, Father Emperor."

"Ouyang Hao, Yunwen, you two each take one," Zhu Yuanzhang said, taking out two more gold leaves. "These were originally prepared for you. If you don't come, we'll feel restless."

Ouyang Hao had long been eager to have it, while Zhu Yunwen didn't want it at first, but not wanting to disappoint the old emperor, he hesitated for a moment before taking it.

Only Zhu Gaoxi's hands were empty.

He stood quietly in place, waiting, his heart at peace.

"Gao Xi, how many do you want?" the old emperor beckoned to Zhu Gao Xi.

Zhu Gaoxi walked up to the old emperor, raised his small face, and said with utmost sincerity, "I want my grandfather to stay with me forever."

"You brat!" The old emperor's eyes instantly welled up with tears. He took out the last gold leaf and said, "Here you go. This is all Grandpa has left."

"Thank you, Grandpa," Zhu Gaoxi said with a beaming smile, taking the bag with obvious delight. Seeing Zhu Yunwen looking at him with disdain, he didn't want to confront him directly, so he made an excuse to go find Zhu Ying and went outside, calling Sanbao back to the vegetable garden.

Halfway there, Sanbao suddenly remembered something and asked, "Your Highness, has Xie Jin's letter been given to His Majesty?"

Having been entrusted with a task, one should be loyal to it; Sanbao felt it necessary to remind him of this.

"No, let's wait until tonight."

Zhu Gaoxi had long forgotten about this matter. The three brothers, Zhu Jing, Zhu Dong, and Zhu Wei, had clearly been won over by Zhu Yunwen and his mother. He didn't want to risk trouble, so he forced his way into their circle.

Empress Lü was always adept at winning over the hearts of the vulnerable in the harem. The birth mothers of Zhu Jing, Zhu Dong, and Zhu Xuan, Consort Li Xian, Consort Liu Hui, and Consort Ge Li, were originally ordinary palace maids. They were promoted to the rank of consort in batches after giving birth to a son, just as Zhu Jing, Zhu Dong, and Zhu Xuan were promoted to the rank of king in batches.

In the imperial harem, there were quite a few concubines whose circumstances were similar to those of these three.

Before becoming a proper concubine, one inevitably encounters some difficulties in life. If Lady Lü extends an olive branch as the Crown Princess at this time, how could she not attract a large number of supporters?

This mother and son are truly masters of the art of wielding power.

However, if one only knows how to manipulate power but has no ideals or beliefs, one will eventually go astray.

All they care about is their own power, and they strive to maintain their dominant position.

As he drifted further and further away from Zhu Yunwen, with no possibility of bridging the gap, Zhu Gaoxi couldn't help but feel melancholy.

To avoid the people of the Eastern Palace, Zhu Gaoxi went to the Qianqing Palace very late, and Sanbao helped him carry Xie Jin's letter.

"Grandpa, here's your letter, written by Xie Jin," Zhu Gaoxi said, handing over the letter.

The old emperor was reading a memorial and gestured for Zhu Gaoxi to put it on the table first.

"Why is it sealed?" the old emperor asked casually.

"It was like this when I brought it back. Maybe I wanted to tell you some private matters," Zhu Gaoxi said calmly.

What private business does Xie Jin have with us?

Although the old emperor was puzzled, he remained silent and continued reading the memorials.

Zhu Gaoxi lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) feeling bored. He missed his family even more during the holidays and suddenly longed for his adoptive father and mother.

Those two are really something else. They didn't even send their son a letter during the New Year, as if they had completely forgotten they had a son in the capital.

The more I thought about it, the sadder I became, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.

During the festival, Zhu Gaoxi only had two playmates, Zhu Ying and Zhu Yuntong.

These two were too dull, and Zhu Gaoxi always had to come up with creative ways to entertain them.

For example, in football—no, at this time it was called Cuju—Zhu Gaoxi had a brilliant idea: each person kicks one, saving the trouble of scrambling.

These two were really honest, patiently correcting each other, "That's not how you play Cuju."

Nonsense, with my small frame, do you think I could beat you guys if we really tried to steal it?

Zhu Gaoxi was having a great time playing by himself.

The imperial son-in-law, Wang Ning, went to the palace to see the old emperor. Seeing Zhu Gaoxi playing so enthusiastically, he walked over and asked with childlike innocence, "Would you like me to join you?"

Wang Ning was the husband of Princess Huaiqing.

Princess Huaiqing was Zhu Yuanzhang's sixth daughter. Her birth mother was the beloved Consort Sun. Her older sister, Princess Lin'an, married Li Qi, the son of Li Shanchang, the Duke of Han.

It is said that after Consort Sun passed away, the old emperor insisted that Crown Prince Zhu Biao wear mourning clothes.

Zhu Biao initially refused to comply, so the old emperor picked up his weapon and beat him.

Zhu Biao shouted, "I'll take a light beating, but I'll run away if I get a heavy one," and took off running.

The old emperor, not to be outdone, pursued relentlessly.

This scene is absolutely hilarious.

Zhu Gaoxi picked up the football and directly refused Wang Ning, saying, "Uncle, I still want to play by myself."

Wang Ning tried to get closer to her, but was thwarted. Undeterred, he relentlessly tempted her, saying, "There are many fun things to do at the princess's residence. Would you like to go and take a look? If all three of you go, the princess will surely be pleased."

To be honest, Zhu Gaoxi had been looking forward to leaving the palace for a long time.

He turned to his two friends and asked, "Shall we go?"

"Go, why not?" Zhu Ying answered without hesitation.

Since he started visiting the Qianqing Palace more often, Zhu Ying has become much bolder and more daring.

"I should tell my grandfather first," Zhu Yunwen said, worried about being punished.

Zhu Gaoxi concluded his speech and said to Wang Ning, "We need to ask Grandpa. How about this, in a little while, Uncle will ask for us. If Grandpa agrees, then we'll go."

"It's a deal," Wang Ning said, reaching out his hand.

Zhu Gaoxi slapped it hard with his fat hand, "It's a deal."