Ming Dynasty: What's wrong with being a leisurely crown prince?

Chapter 16 Zhu Zhanji: Father, save me!

Zhu Gaochi returned to the East Palace and before he could even catch his breath, a maid came up to him.

"Your Highness, the Emperor has sent over a large number of medical books, which are currently inside the room."

"I understand. You may leave."

Zhu Gaochi frowned as he watched the maid leave.

He remembered that he had asked Zhang Yan to transfer all the maids around him away, so why were they still by his side?

He remembered the maid from earlier very clearly.

As for the medical books that Zhu Di sent, Zhu Gaochi didn't think much of it. After all, he had said he wanted to read medical books, so this saved him the trouble of going to the Imperial Hospital.

As they continued walking inside, they suddenly heard a scream.

"Mother, I know I was wrong... I was wrong..."

Zhu Gaochi confirmed that he had not misheard, quickened his pace, and soon arrived in the courtyard, where he found Zhu Zhanji being chased by Zhang Yan with a bamboo stick.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaochi beamed with joy.

As for those things, it's alright to wait a while.

As for why Zhu Zhanji was beaten, he didn't want to know for the time being; he just wanted to watch the show.

"Mom, it hurts, it hurts so much!"

At this moment, Zhu Zhanji was in so much pain that he was grimacing, standing in the corner, looking so helpless.

In Zhu Zhanji's eyes, he had only accidentally broken a porcelain vase containing flowers, but now he had been beaten by Zhang Yan and was full of grievances.

Zhu Zhanji was filled with fear, especially when he saw the gleaming bamboo strip in Zhang Yan's hand.

He hadn't taken the bamboo stick seriously before, but when it actually touched him, he realized he was completely wrong.

This thing seemed to ignore his defenses, taking the hit with all its might, and almost killed him in pain.

After being hit, Zhu Zhanji regretted it and thought the matter was over. However, Zhang Yan refused and angrily wanted to hit him again, so he had to run away.

Zhu Zhanji wanted to run away, but Zhang Yan said, "If you dare to run out, I'll break your legs." Seeing Zhang Yan's anger, Zhu Zhanji didn't dare to run outside at all.

"Mom, I was wrong, I was really wrong. I'll pay for the vase, I'll pay for it, okay...?"

Zhu Zhanji was on the verge of collapse as he watched Zhang Yan get closer and closer.

Zhang Yan looked at Zhu Zhanji's weak and pitiful appearance, but she felt no pity whatsoever.

Because the vase that Zhu Zhanji broke contained the bouquet of flowers that Zhu Gaochi had given her.

She even asked the flower grower how to care for the flower, and then chose the prettiest porcelain vase.

That porcelain vase was something she usually wouldn't take out, since the Eastern Palace had always been relatively poor and didn't have many valuable items.

She carefully placed it on a shelf, putting away all the other items on the shelf and protecting it with utmost care.

This was the first time Zhu Gaochi had given her flowers, and it was in front of Xu Miaoyun. Whenever she looked at the flowers, all she could think of was Zhu Gaochi's face at that time, which made her feel exceptionally happy and joyful.

As it turned out, she had only gone downstairs to handle some matters when she heard Zhu Zhanji smash the porcelain vase, and Zhang Yan immediately couldn't stand it anymore.

It was just a porcelain vase, no matter how exquisite, with a few flowers; there was no need to attack Zhu Zhanji like that.

But that bouquet of flowers held a different meaning in Zhang Yan's eyes, one that could not be measured by monetary value.

This is why she had to teach Zhu Zhanji a lesson.

Zhang Yan was panting heavily, pointing at Zhu Zhanji with the branch in her right hand, her left hand on her waist, her face full of anger.

"You know you were wrong. It was an accident. I've told you so many times to get up early in the morning and change your clothes after you get up."

Look at you, still wearing the same clothes. Are you still not fully awake?

"You broke more than just that one porcelain vase. I see you still don't know the truth. Today, your mother must teach you a lesson."

Zhang Yan didn't bring up the matter of the flowers, after all, she didn't want to tell Zhu Zhanji about those things.

She was exhausted just now, and she wouldn't be done until she taught this somewhat frivolous Zhu Zhanji a good lesson.

In fact, her purpose in teaching Zhu Zhanji a lesson was not just because he broke the porcelain vase with flowers, but because Zhu Zhanji, as the heir of the Crown Prince's residence, behaved in this way.

Because of Zhu Di's favor, she used to turn a blind eye to things.

But the Crown Prince's residence was already in turmoil, and Zhu Gaochi didn't need Zhu Zhanji's help. But her son was in this state, and she really couldn't bear it anymore.

Zhu Zhanji watched as Zhang Yan continued to approach, her eyes even filled with tears as she leaned back.

But there was no way forward, so he had to keep hugging the corner of the wall. Zhu Zhanji was really on the verge of collapse.

He felt wronged this time. He had just finished reading the book and writing about its effects, and only came to take a look. Who knew he would run into that shelf in his haste?

Zhu Zhanji felt utterly helpless, his attempts to awaken his mother's love had failed, and at this moment, he felt only fear.

His eyes inadvertently caught sight of Zhu Gaochi, who was hiding far away watching the show, and his entire being was filled with the will to survive.

"Father! Save me! Please come and persuade Mother..."

As soon as Zhu Zhanji uttered his tragic voice, Zhang Yan followed his gaze and saw Zhu Gaochi craning his neck to look in their direction with a smile on his face.

Seeing this, Zhang Yan became even angrier.

"Hey, you surnamed Zhu, come out here right now!"

The smile on Zhu Gaochi's face gradually disappeared, and he glared fiercely at Zhu Zhanji.

He was watching him closely, but this person betrayed him as well.

He could feel how angry Zhang Yan was from a distance. Coming out at this moment was just asking for trouble.

Since Zhang Yan had already discovered it, Zhu Gaochi had no choice but to step forward.

After tidying up his clothes, he acted as if nothing had happened and walked quickly toward Zhang Yan with a surprised expression.

"Hey, what are you two doing?"

"Kid, what have you done to make your mother angry again?"

You too, you're not young anymore, why don't you think about your mother? You're always causing trouble, you deserve a beating.

Zhu Gaochi first asked Zhang Yan with a nervous expression, and then, without saying a word, directly shifted all the blame to Zhu Zhanji.

After yelling at Zhu Zhanji, Zhu Gaochi looked at Zhang Yan with a smile.

"Honey, come and do it. This kid is so infuriating. Calm down first."

Although Zhang Yan's face still showed anger when she saw Zhu Gaochi, she was secretly delighted.

She pretended to be reluctant to sit down, but then became a little nervous.

"I want to take good care of the bouquet of flowers you gave me after I come back."

"It's all your son's fault! He broke that vase, and so many petals fell off the bouquet. I'm so angry!"

As Zhang Yan spoke, she began to feel aggrieved, and her eyes started to redden.

She's actually not that old now, just over twenty. She finally received a unique gift from Zhu Gaochi, but before she could even properly appreciate and savor it, Zhu Zhanji ruined it.

It was Zhu Zhanji; if it were anyone else, she would have had them dealt with directly long ago.

Zhang Yan felt both sorry for Zhu Gaochi and extremely remorseful.

I blame myself for not putting it away properly, and I'm afraid Zhu Gaochi will overthink it.

Zhu Gaochi saw that Zhang Yan's eyes were red and immediately hugged her.

"Hey, it's just a bunch of flowers. I'll pick some more for you later. Don't make yourself angry."

Besides, I'm right here beside you. Looking at flowers is nothing compared to looking at me, don't you think?

Zhu Gaochi felt Zhang Yan's hand start to pinch him again, and immediately showed a pained expression.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Yan, with her head held high, immediately pushed Zhu Gaochi away.

"You're all talk and no action; I didn't use any force at all."

"It breaks my heart to see you in pain."

Zhu Gaochi shamelessly began to shower Zhang Yan with sweet nothings, making her blush deeply.

In fact, he had read about many of these things in books, and now that he was actually using them, Zhu Gaochi felt they were quite good.

After a long while, Zhang Yan's expression relaxed, and she handed the bamboo strip in her hand to Zhu Gaochi.

"Give him a good beating. He's always so unruly and unkempt. What kind of behavior is that?"

"Okay, I'll beat him up!"

Zhu Gaochi excitedly took the bamboo strip; he had never used this thing to stir-fry meat before.

Zhu Zhanji's face was already showing a smile, thinking that with Zhu Gaochi's intervention, the matter would be over.

He was still immersed in joy and had great admiration for Zhu Gaochi, but when he saw Zhu Gaochi take the bamboo strip, listened to Zhang Yan's words, and watched Zhu Gaochi walk towards him, he panicked even more.

"Dad, I really didn't mean to. I finished reading all my books and doing all my homework. Dad... please don't! I'm your own son..."

"Kid, if you upset your mother, even her own son deserves a beating."

"Your mother always tells you what to do, but you don't listen and you're always getting handsy. Tell me, don't you deserve to be beaten?"

Zhu Gaochi didn't listen at all. As soon as he finished speaking, he didn't give Zhu Zhanji any time to react and went straight up with the bamboo stick.

Immediately, Zhu Zhanji's screams rang out.

After Zhu Gaochi approached Zhu Zhanji, he whispered, "Kid, why don't you run away quickly, get out of here."

Zhu Gaochi was impressed by this man; he didn't know how to run away and just stood there taking the beating, which made Zhu Gaochi lose all interest in him.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhanji wept bitterly and looked at Zhu Gaochi with gratitude.

"Dad, you still love me the most. I'm running away now..."

"You brat, trying to run away? I'll give you a good beating..."

The father and son immediately began to chase each other.

Zhu Zhanji smiled because he realized that his father was more reliable and could control his crazy mother. He felt even more grateful and respectful towards Zhu Gaochi.

Zhu Gaochi laughed, because he finally experienced the joy of stir-frying someone else's flesh with bamboo strips, and it was truly satisfying.

Zhang Yan smiled too, watching the father and son chase each other, her face full of happiness.