Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 45 I, Zhu Shuang, am the emperor's son; I will not die.

"Under the whole world, apart from the Crown Prince, Mother, and Father, who dares to hit us? Don't be afraid, Third Brother, we are princes, the Emperor's sons, and we can do whatever we want."

Zhu Shuang said loudly.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gang's eyes revealed a deep sense of envy.

If only he could be as fearless as his second brother, that would be so great; he looks so impressive.

"Second brother, do you really have to wear such ugly clothes? And they're so tight."

Zhu Gang tugged at his eunuch robes, which were very tight, with another layer of cloth underneath, the several garments wrapped together.

He felt like he couldn't breathe.

"Hold on a little longer, it'll be fine once we get out of the palace."

Zhu Shuang's small eyes darted around, filled with barely suppressed excitement.

From childhood to adulthood, they rarely left the palace, and each time they only had the opportunity to go out when they were with their father or mother.

And now.

He's going to have a big "runaway" from home.

Gradually, the two got closer and closer to the palace gate.

Looking at the last gate that was so close at hand, a thought involuntarily popped into Zhu Shuang's little head.

"From the time I, Zhu Shuang, was old enough to understand, everyone around me told me that I was the master and they were the servants, because I was the emperor's son. So what they couldn't do, I could do; what they would die for, I could do without harm."

"I, Zhu Shuang, am a prince, of the highest imperial lineage, whose nobility is beyond measure."

"..."

"The time has come; the palace gates are wide open!"

At the command of the general at the Meridian Gate, Zhu Gang and Zhu Shuang followed the eunuchs and palace maids who were going out to buy supplies and run errands, and left the palace with the flow of people.

"Your Majesty."

Watching this scene unfold beside Ma Xiuying, Sun Miaoran couldn't help but speak up, "The two young princes are still quite young. What if something goes wrong outside the palace?"

"Your Majesty, why don't you allow me to bring the two young princes back and discipline them more strictly in the future? I believe that with their temperaments, they will surely be able to turn back from their wrongdoings and correct their mistakes. That would be the greatest virtue."

"Really?"

Ma Xiuying asked softly.

Sun Miaoran opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything more; Su Qing'er, standing to the side, didn't dare to comment on the topic either.

At this moment, the real answer had already surfaced in everyone's minds.

Zhu Gang is fine, though.

Only the Second Prince Zhu Shuang was infamous throughout the palace.

The whipping of the palace maids was just a trivial matter; it would have been fine if he had only acted recklessly, but he had also corrupted the Third Prince.

If he's like this when he's young, what will he be like when he's older?

If they were just children of ordinary families, they might only be able to do bad things in the village and neighborhood, and others would just turn a blind eye.

However, both of them were royal offspring and would soon be granted titles and enfeoffed as princes.

With such a temperament, even under the strict discipline of Zhu Yuanzhang, Ma Xiuying, and Zhu Biao in the palace, they had already become like this; but in their fiefdom, far from the emperor, they were left unsupervised.

Surrounded by sycophants, one will inevitably face endless troubles in the future.

This is something that's right before our eyes, and we can't delay any longer.

"Miaoran, Qing'er, do you know?"

"I have truly done my best. This time, we must use drastic measures to address the seriousness of the situation; perhaps there is still a chance for them to return to the right path. It is easy for the two of them to leave the palace, but it will be difficult for them to return."

Ma Xiuying's eyes flashed with reluctance, but she ultimately suppressed her maternal tenderness, saying, "If these two children don't suffer today, it will be the people of the Ming Dynasty who suffer in the future."

Even Ma Xiuying, as a mother, dared not think further about what would happen next.

The dragon gave birth to nine sons, each of which is different.

Empress Ma Xiuying was a virtuous empress who raised many royal children who were both literate and skilled in martial arts. However, human strength has its limits, and the timing of events is also unpredictable. Even she was not omnipotent.

Therefore, it is only natural that one's offspring may vary in quality.

And the historical records' assessment of the two young princes, Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang, is indeed exactly as Ma Xiuying had guessed.

The future King of Qin, Zhu Shuang, had the most important fiefdom, but his behavior was the most violent and licentious.

They abused palace servants, treated human life with contempt, and abused private punishments within the palace.

He cut out the tongues of palace maids, buried them alive, tied people to trees to starve them to death, burned them to death, or dismembered them and fed them to dogs. He also engaged in extravagant construction projects and forcibly conscripted people to build luxurious pavilions.

They plundered the gold, silver and jewels of soldiers and civilians, and beat them wantonly if they were slightly dissatisfied.

Finally, in the 28th year of the Hongwu reign, he was poisoned to death by three old women because of his numerous evil deeds.

When this news reached the capital, Zhu Yuanzhang expressed his disappointment and anger in his eulogy, declaring that the man "deserved to die."

Although this was a scandal within the imperial family during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, it could not overshadow the achievements of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor.

Prince Zhu Gang of Jin was cruel and domineering. On his way to his fief, he whipped his followers for trivial matters and often killed them to control them, which made people fearful.

Although he was not as wicked as Zhu Shuang, nor as wise as Zhu Di and Zhu Zhen, he was still slightly better than Zhu Shuang.

Although brutal, it was not devoid of humanity or disregard for family ties.

……

Ten days.

Before we knew it, it was the last day of the trip.

Outside Kunning Palace, a foreign official arrived. He was broad-shouldered and burly, with bright, piercing eyes.

He approached Ma Xiuying, immediately bowed, and respectfully said, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."

"Mao Xiang, tell me how those two are doing right now?"

Ma Xiuying has been preoccupied with worries these past few days, and her spirits have gradually become more low.

How can a mother enjoy her old age in peace?

Mao Xiang naturally reported the truth without daring to lie in the slightest: "Your Majesty, the two young princes did not take much money with them when they left the palace, and coupled with their extravagant lifestyle, they are now homeless on the streets."

"Even if there is some money left, it probably won't last long."

After saying this, Mao Xiang lowered his head and did not offer any further opinions.

Apart from the palace maids and eunuchs who served them, not many people in the palace knew about the "disappearance" of the two young princes, Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang.

Mao Xiang was one of them.

Even when the two young princes were wandering around the capital, they were secretly accompanied and protected by his personal guards.

Although Ma Xiuying's actions were intended to toughen up the two of them, she couldn't just stand by and watch them get into real trouble or danger.

After Mao Xiang left, Ma Xiuying stared blankly at what was in front of her, stunned for a long time.

"We've run out of money..."

"The real danger and the real test are yet to come."

……

After finishing another calligraphy practice book, I've already mastered more than 70% of the technique.

At his desk, Ma Wenxiang continued to practice calligraphy by candlelight.

That night he copied dozens of sheets of paper, exploring various calligraphic styles.

Although each school of calligraphy has its own unique characteristics, they also share commonalities, and what he truly needs to depict is this shared literary style.

The writing implements on the desk were not the top-quality stationery items that had been sent by various families before.

Ma Xiulin collected all those items and treasured them as family heirlooms.