Zhu Gaoxu stood on the pedestal decorated with white marble, raised his head and took a deep breath of the fresh air outside.

At this moment, a group of people in the distance, under the surveillance of the armor soldiers, slowly walked towards this side. Zhu Gaoxu squinted his eyes and watched for a moment, and saw clearly the two people in front of the group of eunuchs and palace maids: one was the queen Zhang, and the other was the emperor's eldest son!

Zhu Gaoxu's hand rested on the white railing, waiting silently.

After a while, the men walked up the stone steps to the base of the gate. The palace slaves and maids were still standing on the stone steps below, and the Zhang family walked up to the pedestal with the eldest prince.

And Zhu Gaoxu's burly and tall body, dressed in iron armor, was still standing there, and he looked a little arrogant at this time.

Although the Han Dynasty did not recognize the throne of Emperor Hongxi, the situation has changed abruptly; But the Zhang family is still Zhu Gaoxu's sister-in-law in name, similar to the existence of elders. So she didn't take the lead in curtsimming, but just smiled reluctantly: "Gao Xu is a good martial artist, raising 20,000 guards, and in less than two years, he swept the world and led the army to the Jingshi Palace!" As a sister-in-law, she is admired, frightened and scared at this time. It's all a family, and Gao Xu has to leave some affection for his subordinates. ”

Her smile was forced, almost like a smiling flesh. Although the words were relatively gentle, nice and light, Zhu Gaoxu saw the hatred, resentment and despair hidden in the depths of her eyes; And there was a little flattery on her face.

But this is also human nature, you are the queen facing today's fate, who can put it down lightly?

Although Zhang did not salute solemnly, he immediately pulled the eldest prince beside him and said softly: "Don't hurry up and salute the imperial uncle!" ”

The eldest prince buried his head, looked angry, and looked up at Zhu Gaoxu with a hostile gaze. He finally stepped forward with great reluctance, clasped his fists and bowed: "Meet the second emperor." ”

The prince should be eleven years old this year, and he has grown into a half-sized child. Zhu Gaoxu knew that a boy of this age had already understood a lot of things, but he had no experience, and he would be more rebellious.

Zhang hurriedly said: "The child is not sensible, Gao Xu should not be like him." ”

"It's easy to say, it's easy to say, no courtesy." Zhu Gaoxu also smiled, looking very generous and tolerant!

But of course he had no tolerance in his heart! Child? No, no, no! Whether it is a child, a nephew or a relative, these are not the primary identities; Zhu Gaoxu can understand the key, the most important identity of the eldest prince and others...... Political figures.

As long as the family and country are in the center of the royal power, who is not a relative? Is it because of family affection that everyone can live in harmony and happiness? Nowadays, it is not the same as deceitful and unscrupulous, with millions of armies fighting and dying on the land!

The eldest prince killed Zhu Gaoxu's entire family, slandered Zhu Gaoxu, and ruined his reputation and never recovered; Zhu Gaoxu shuddered when he thought of this, he couldn't sleep, and it became a nightmare for many years!

But if you think about it calmly, neither the Zhang family nor the eldest prince can be considered wrong. The victor is like that, he will often cut down the threat to the root to prevent future troubles, and enter the eighteen layers of hell and never turn over; Slandering an imperial uncle and slaughtering countless families of party henchmen must be unavoidable. This is what everyone has done since ancient times, and the rules are like this, this is the best option!

Otherwise, would it be left to give those who sympathize with political opponents and those who are unwilling to speak up to justice? Of course not! The political enemy must be ruined and have no chance; Let those who have ill intentions be ashamed to have a relationship with people who are morally corrupt and unreasonable, and have nothing to rely on.

Perhaps because Zhu Gaoxu has now become the winner, his mentality has gradually become open-minded, and as soon as the threat is lifted, he finds that he is not too ruthless Zhang's mother and son. After all, when people get to that position, they have to do those things...... Of course, Zhu Gaoxu also intends to deal with them rationally and calmly.

Since they are with each other, there is nothing wrong with each other; So Zhu Gaoxu thinks, what is wrong with him?

At this moment, there was a sound of grinding iron pieces on the steps, and Chen Dazhu, a sturdy man wearing heavy armor, walked quickly onto the pedestal.

Chen Dazhui ignored the remaining queen, he walked straight to Zhu Gaoxu's side, bowed his head, covered his mouth and Zhu Gaoxu's ears with his palm, and whispered: "The second son of the puppet emperor (Zhan Kai), Zhang Guifei and the third prince are all in the palace!" Our brothers found them and sent people to guard them in the harem. ”

When Zhu Gaoxu heard this, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "I know." ”

Chen Dazhui took two steps back, hugged his fists and said, "The last general will retire." ”

Zhang glanced sideways slightly, and glanced at Chen Dazhui with a complicated gaze, as if he was guessing what Chen Dazhui said just now. But she shouldn't have heard it, Chen Dazhui whispered very little just now.

Zhu Gaoxu sighed, and said in a "heart-to-heart" tone: "Sister-in-law, I used to have nightmares, and the dreams were all the same......"

Zhang asked, "What kind of dream did Gao Xu have?" ”

Zhu Gaoxu pondered for a moment and said: "I dreamed that my strength was cut clean, trapped in a city that was ventilated on all sides and had no danger to defend, although I had grievances, I was helpless, I just wanted to survive the rest of my life in peace. ”

He changed his words, and suddenly said coldly: "Unexpectedly, my nephew became the emperor, and suddenly sent someone to tell me: Your imperial uncle has rebelled!" I didn't accept it, so I went to theorize, but I was burned alive by my nephew, my wife and concubines and children were all dead, and my brothers, relatives and civil and military who had a little friendship were also killed! Horrible ......"

Zhang's face was embarrassed, but he echoed with good words: "Gao Xu's dream is indeed terrifying. ”

Zhu Gaoxu sighed: "Yes! But now I have finally let go of those worries and fears. Sister-in-law, you can't blame me, I'm just forced to be helpless. ”

Zhang seemed to realize something, his eyes were immediately soaked with tears, and he choked up: "Gao Xu, your eldest brother knows that he is wrong, and we all know that he is wrong. Your eldest brother has also been punished, not only has he lost his throne, but he can only watch his wife and children beg you in humiliation here, and nothing can be done! Gao Xu, think about the love of our family when the first emperor and mother were still alive. Let go of hatred, you don't have to do things too much. ”

"Am I doing a great job?" Zhu Gaoxu asked coldly.

Zhang Shi hurriedly said: "I don't mean to blame Gao Xu, I'm just begging you now." ”

Zhu Gaoxu pondered for a moment. He felt that he was still very sincere in front of his eldest brother; But in front of Zhang's mother and son, there is no need to be so honest. Because her submission at this time is not necessarily sincere.

Zhu Gaoxu said kindly: "Sister-in-law, don't be afraid. The nightmare I spoke of will never be again; In this way, we can get along well! My sister-in-law and the others are all members of the royal family, and their status is noble, and I, Zhu Gaoxu, will never let you be insulted. ”

Zhang asked, "Can Gao Xu remember the love of the family and show mercy to his subordinates?" ”

"Absolutely!" Zhu Gaoxu is serious.

He didn't want to continue to talk to the Zhang family, so he said to Pei Youzhen, a military general and civil official outside the imperial gate: "The first emperor died strangely, I think the eldest brother's throne is illegal, and I have never recognized him as the emperor; So he can't live in Qianqing Palace, and my sister-in-law can't live in Kunning Palace.

However, it is a fact that the title of crown prince of the eldest brother was ordained by my father, the emperor, the first emperor. Therefore, I think that the eldest brother's family can continue to live in Chunhe Palace.

You go and make arrangements to escort the crown prince, the crown princess, the concubine Zhang, and the three princes to live in the Chunhe Palace. Do not dishonor or disgrace them. ”

The generals clasped their fists and said: "The last general will wait for the order!" ”

Pei Youzhen bowed his hand and said: "The prince's decision is justified and convincing. The prince is wise and martial, and the lower officials are so admired! ”

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand, completely ignoring Zhang's mother and son, and striding straight to the steps. The brick square outside the imperial gate was full of soldiers and horses, which added a sense of turmoil to the palace. But after Zhu Gaoxu led his troops into the palace, there was no armed fight in the palace at all, and there was no bloodshed; The outcome of the battle of the million-strong army outside the capital has been settled, and the people in the palace have long understood that resistance is meaningless.

When he descended the steps, he stepped on his stirrup and got on his horse, and then turned his head to look at the countless palace eaves to the north. The most important emperor's family in the palace will be controlled and detained in the Chunhe Palace, and the remaining concubines and concubines will not be able to leave the palace, so they will stay in it and ignore it for the time being.

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head, shouted "driving", lightly clamped the horse's belly with his legs, and then slapped the horse and ran south. A large group of cavalry soldiers also got on their horses and followed Zhu Gaoxu in the direction of the noon gate, and the sound of horses' hooves on the brick floor resounded in the palace again.

Zhu Gaoxu has not yet ascended the throne and is the emperor, so he has no name to live in this palace, and there is no need to give people the excuse of adultery and chaos when victory comes. The Ming Dynasty is still the Zhu family, and of course he will not deliberately humiliate the royal family.

A group of people went out of the noon gate and walked out of the palace. However, in front of it is a wide corridor with red walls on both sides, and people still have to have the end gate and the Chengtian gate to have a place to station.

When he led the army to attack the Beijing division and moved to the palace when he ascended the throne and proclaimed the emperor, where should he live...... after the "Battle of Jingyan", Zhu Di has set an example, so that Zhu Gaoxu has experience to follow: live in the government office on the thousand-step corridor.

In this way, it can not only control the central institutions of the Ming Dynasty nearby, but also isolate the communication between the minister and the "puppet emperor" near the palace. It was only fitting that he planned for the pre-enthronement here.

The eldest brother Zhu Gaochi is right, the most urgent and important thing for Zhu Gaochu at the moment is to find a way to ascend the throne and become the emperor first! With a reputation, you can gradually control the situation in the world and have rules to follow; In order to make the brothers of the Sin Warrior Army and the civil and military nobles of the Jingshi all feel at ease, because people are most afraid of what they have not been able to determine.

And everything else, you can slow down a little, and wait until you become the emperor to think about it in the long run!