SWDnovel Chapter 6 Princess
Chapter 6 Princess
Zhu Jiheng quickly gathered his thoughts and said to Lin Chen, "Let's land at the northern tip of Luzon first and scout out the situation there. There are many Chinese in Luzon, so perhaps we can try to seize Luzon from the Franks and use it as a base for our anti-Qing and restoration efforts."
"To seize Luzon?" Lin Chen pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's a good plan. I'll set the course right away."
Zhu Jiheng nodded slightly. He was also a little tired after experiencing so much throughout the day. He waved Lin Chen away and turned to walk into his own room in the cabin.
Upon entering the room, Princess Zheng was still whispering with Consort Chen. Zhu Jiheng's youngest son, Zhu Zhenzhao, was being held in Consort Chen's arms and was fast asleep. The other three children were placed in another room.
Upon seeing Zhu Jiheng enter, the two women quickly stood up and bowed. Zhu Jiheng waved his hand, indicating that they should sit down, and then sat wearily in a chair.
The room fell into an awkward silence.
Zhu Jiheng had very complicated feelings about his two wives whom he had taken for granted, and he was unsure how to deal with them.
Lady Zheng, the daughter of Zhu Chenggong, the Emperor of the Imperial Surname, still possessed a heroic spirit between her brows. She was intelligent and resilient, and was his nominal principal wife, as well as the person who knew the original owner of the body best.
Concubine Chen, gentle and even somewhat timid, still looked shaken, her eyes filled with dependence and unease as she gazed at Zhu Jiheng.
It was Madam Zheng who broke the silence first. She gently got up, poured Zhu Jiheng a glass of water, and said softly, "My lord, you've had a long day. Have some water."
Zhu Jiheng took the water glass, his fingertips touching Zheng's slightly cool fingers, as if he could feel the concern she was conveying. He looked up at Zheng, and the worry in her eyes was clearly visible. Zhu Jiheng then looked at Chen and the sleeping baby in her arms, and after a moment of contemplation, he made a decision.
"Please sit down," Zhu Jiheng said, putting down his water cup and glancing at his two wives and concubines. "There are some things I think I should tell you."
Zheng obediently sat back down in her original position, while Chen subconsciously hugged the child in her arms tighter and looked at him nervously.
"I know you have countless questions in your hearts." Zhu Jiheng slowly opened his mouth, revealing the prepared statement he had already prepared: "Regarding those soldiers who suddenly appeared, and this Western barbarian warship, these forces were actually arranged by my father before his death, secretly cultivated in order to prevent the situation today from happening."
Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng's spirited eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a clear look of confusion and doubt flashed in her eyes. She placed her hands on her lap and asked in bewilderment:
"I have served my lord for many years and know the situation of the Prince's mansion well. Since my brother cut off the support for the imperial family, my lord has had to cultivate the countryside to make a living, and the mansion's expenses are even more strained. How... how did the money and provisions come from to raise such a fine army and purchase such warships? Moreover, I have never heard the Dowager Consort mention such a secret matter before her death, or my lord have uttered a single word about it..."
Unlike the inquisitive Zheng, Chen seemed more concerned about whether this statement could bring them safety. Upon hearing that it was arranged by the Regent Prince Lu, she loosened her grip on the child slightly, and the fear in her eyes subsided.
Zhu Jiheng had anticipated that Zheng would question him. As the person who knew the original owner of the body best, she was not someone he could easily deal with.
He took a deep breath, a deliberately feigned bitterness appearing on his face, and said, "What my beloved consort says is absolutely right. Everyone knows that the Prince's Mansion is in dire straits. However, we are members of the Zhu Ming imperial family, bound by blood, and the national and familial grievances have not yet been avenged. As a member of the imperial family and having served as regent, how could my father not think about what will happen after his death? This is precisely where my father's foresight lies, and it is also a secret that the Prince's Mansion must never reveal to outsiders."
After he finished speaking, his eyes feigned a deep and solemn expression, and he solemnly said, "Before my father passed away, he knew that the great empire was about to collapse and that Taiwan alone could hardly withstand the Jurchens. Therefore, he spared no effort to secretly send his trusted confidants across the ocean to recruit soldiers and purchase Western warships. His purpose was to leave a way out for us, and for the last remaining bloodline of the Ming Dynasty, at the final moment when the country was on the verge of collapse and the imperial family was suffering, and to leave a glimmer of hope for restoration!"
"This matter is of utmost importance; the slightest misstep could lead to utter destruction. My father strictly ordered it to be kept secret before his death, and only after I was born and could remember things did his confidant deliver his last letter to me. Unfortunately, my father squandered his entire fortune on this, and in his later years, no one offered him support. He died of worry!"
After saying this, he sighed and revealed a sad expression.
Upon hearing this, and seeing the sorrow on Zhu Jiheng's face, Zheng was moved and was about to offer some words of comfort when Zhu Jiheng suddenly straightened his expression and said solemnly:
"Now, the legacy of our father has manifested, proving that Heaven has not forsaken our Great Ming! Though Dongning has fallen, and the Central Plains have been lost, we are still here! Our soldiers are still here! Our warships are still here! Luzon is home to many Chinese who have suffered endless oppression from the Western barbarians; it is precisely here that we can establish ourselves and gather our strength!"
"In the past, when the emperor heard of the Franks' massacre of the Chinese, he was enraged and wanted to raise an army to attack Luzon, but it came to nothing. Now, I wish to carry on the emperor's legacy and attack Luzon. Based on this, I will accumulate strength and one day lead a powerful army to cross the sea and launch a northern expedition to drive out the Tartars and restore the Ming Dynasty's land!"
Although Zheng was a woman, she was deeply influenced by Lord Guoxing and understood the greater good. She was also moved by Zhu Jiheng's impassioned declaration.
Although her doubts hadn't completely dissipated, she chose to believe her husband. Taking a deep breath, she solemnly said, "Since my lord has such a resolve, I... would gladly die for him! I am willing to follow him and face the national crisis together!"
Although Chen was timid, she nodded vigorously to show her willingness.
Seeing this, Zhu Jiheng smiled with satisfaction. He reached out and grasped the hands of the two women, and said in a deep voice, "Good! The road ahead is fraught with danger, but with you by my side and soldiers ready to serve, we will surely be able to carve out a new world for the Ming Dynasty in this land of Southeast Asia."
After saying that, he gently patted their hands and said in a gentle voice, "Get some rest and make sure you're well-rested. The journey to Luzon is long, and we don't know how many challenges we'll face."
The two exchanged a glance, and Chen, understanding the situation, withdrew with the child, leaving Zheng to rise and walk to Zhu Jiheng's side, undressing him and softly saying, "Let me serve you, my lord, as you rest."
Zhu Jiheng didn't stand on ceremony, nodded, and leisurely slept in the same bed with Zheng.
……
After leaving the patrol range of the Fujian Navy, the Hope was like a fish in the sea, free from all restraints. It sailed south and mostly encountered merchant ships flying the flag of the Dutch East India Company. Even when it encountered pirates, they would keep their distance from the number of cannons equipped on the sixth-class ship and dare not come up to provoke them.
During this time, Zhu Jiheng did not waste any time. He took out a flintlock pistol and practiced shooting. He also had his adjutant teach him close combat skills. After all, he was going to become an emperor on horseback, and he couldn't do without some martial arts skills.