The carriage carrying Zhu Gaochi soon returned to his own mansion near the palace.

Now that Zhu Di's three princes are adults, I don't know if Zhu Di has left a hand or helped to grow, in short, the princes live outside the palace by themselves, um. Living in the Imperial Prison is also counted as living outside the Imperial Palace.

The carriage had stopped smoothly, but Zhu Gaochi, who was full of worries, leaned on the cushions of the mahogany carriage tiredly and sighed heavily.

"Hey"

It doesn't matter if you come out in one breath, Zhu Gaochi's heart suddenly felt a little stinging like electricity.

At this time, Zhu Gaochi looked at himself with thick dark circles reflected in the bronze mirror in the carriage, and smiled bitterly.

He is like an iron-eating beast under Chi You's seat in ancient mythology.

Of course, Zhu Gaochi knows why his heart feels uncomfortable, it is nothing more than poor sleep, coupled with frequent anxiety and stress, which cannot be relieved.

After sitting down for a long time, Zhu Gaochi rubbed his heart again, feeling that it was not so uncomfortable, and then slowly walked out of the carriage.

"Your Highness. What's wrong with you? The two personal eunuchs who were standing next to him hurriedly greeted him and supported Zhu Gaochi's somewhat shaky body.

These two personal eunuchs, that is, the two who helped Zhu Gaochi do the twisting scale experiment.

One is called Haitao, and the other is called Hou Tai.

At this time, the sky was already dark, and there was a circle of top noble mansions around, and every house was lit with large lanterns, which was already quite a festive atmosphere for the New Year.

"It's mid-to-late November."

Zhu Gaochi looked at this festive atmosphere and said silently.

Now it is only a little more than a month before the first year of the official change of Yongle.

In other words, Jiang Xinghuo was released from prison, and there were only two classes left.

And what Zhu Gaochi cares about most at this time is Jiang Xinghuo's departure.

After all, Jiang Xinghuo's existence is too rebellious, and even for the battle for the establishment of the reserve, it can be said that which side to stand on, the probability of winning will be greatly increased.

But from the perspective of human feelings, Zhu Gaochi himself is completely incomparable with Zhu Gaochu.

After all, Zhu Gaochu stays by Jiang Xinghuo's side every day, Mr. Jiang is longer than Mr. Jiang, and although Zhu Gaochi has basically listened to all of Jiang Xinghuo's classes, his contact with Jiang Xinghuo, strictly speaking, is even inferior to Zhu Di.

Anyway, when Jiang Xinghuo passively escaped from prison, on Li Jinglong's painting boat, Zhu Di still met Jiang Xinghuo face-to-face as "Captain Yan Poyu".

I even got some spoilers about the future of Daming, and went to Hangzhou West Lake to meet Yu Qian. As for Wang Zhen, as of now, he has not been found, and it is estimated that he has not been born yet.

Just when Zhu Gaochi was pondering, a small person at the door, wearing a small padded jacket, crossed the threshold under the care of the old eunuch and walked towards him.

"Father!"

Zhu Zhanji's immature voice sounded, with a bit of excitement and cheerfulness.

After hearing this, Zhu Gaochi immediately came back to his senses, his eyes shifted to his son's body, and a pleased smile appeared in his eyes.

I have to say that Zhu Zhanji is a very cute child, his facial features are like those painted by a painter, and his skin is crystal clear, like a white porcelain doll.

And he is very aura, although he is only a five or six-year-old child, he already knows how to read words and emotions and figure out other people's emotions.

This also makes his mind more mature, far more than his peers, which makes people feel very unusual.

In fact, in the history of Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, it was precisely by virtue of this innate talent that Zhu Zhanji was loved by Zhu Di and became the grandson early, legally cutting off the possibility of Zhu Gaoxu's succession.

Zhu Gaochi did not squat, but restrained his smile and said, "What about your mother?" How did you get out on your own? ”

At this time, Zhu Zhanji was standing outside the threshold, a few steps away from him.

Zhu Zhanji is still a child after all, the expression on his face changed slightly when he heard this, and he seemed to be a little lost, he lowered his head and said, "Father."

He paused, looked up at Zhu Gaochi again, and explained seriously in a crisp voice: "Today's weather is good, and the mother wants the child to finish his homework and go to the garden to relax, but the child can't stay in the garden, because the child wants to see his father, and he wants to see his father as soon as possible." ”

Zhu Gaochi nodded, and said softly: "My father knows, I know that your mother is still angry with my father, it's okay, my son doesn't have to blame himself." ”

This means that recently, the younger brother of Zhu Gaochi's wife, that is, Zhu Zhanji's uncle, is seeking an official, and Zhu Gaochi's refusal to allow it has made the husband and wife a little angry and affected the children.

Zhu Zhanji sniffed lightly, his eyelashes curled, and tears flashed in his eyes.

"Father...... Uncle, he didn't have bad intentions. ”

"Well, for the Father."

"The child may have said the wrong thing just now, please forgive my father."

Zhu Gaochi said: "You are a smart child, why do you need to be like this? This is between the Father and your uncle. ”

Zhu Zhanji finally smiled.

His eye circles were red, but the pear vortex at the corner of his mouth was becoming more and more obvious, like when Zhu Gaochi was young.

Zhu Zhanji took a few steps forward, stretched out a fleshy finger, wiped away the tears swirling in his eyes, and continued to look out.

Zhu Zhanji asked, "Father, can we go back?" ”

Zhu Gaochi nodded and said, "Of course you can." ”

"Hmm."

Xiao Zhu Zhanji answered, took a step, and jumped in.

Zhu Gaochi then followed.

After entering the study, Zhu Zhanji walked to the chair next to the desk, raised his head and said to Zhu Gaochi: "Father, I'll make you tea." ”

"Don't be busy, let them sit on their father's lap and rest for a while." Zhu Gaochi said.

"Hmm."

Zhu Zhanji responded obediently again.

Zhu Gaochi sat down on a chair, Zhu Zhanji sat on his lap, Zhu Gaochi looked at his son, his eyes gradually softened, but in an instant, he was a little gloomy.

This is Zhu Gaochi who remembered Jiang Xinghuo's imminent release from prison.

As for Zhu Gaochi, strictly speaking, Zhu Gaochi and Jiang Xinghuo did not have any intersection at this time, and they had not even seen each other.

For Jiang Xinghuo, he didn't know Zhu Gaochi at all.

Of course, if you just don't know, don't know, don't understand, these Zhu Gaochi believe that with his always good to others, it can be solved, and you will know the root cause after more interactions.

But the problem is that Zhu Gaochi also realized that the estrangement between him and Jiang Xinghuo was not caused by the two not knowing each other.

It's the position under Zhu Gaochi's ass!

Because Zhu Gaochu has won the support of most of the generals and nobles in the army, if Zhu Gaochi wants to compete with his second brother, or even defeat Zhu Gaochu in the battle for the establishment of the prince, he must also have his own solid foundation.

This Zhu Gaochi's basic plate is the civil service system.

In the civil official system, it includes not only the former administrative and civilian officials of the Yan Army left by Zhu Gaochi in the north, but also the old ministers of Jianwen who Zhu Gaochi newly collected and moved closer to him.

For example, Xie Jin, Yang Rong, and Yang Shiqi were actually all after the Yan army invaded Nanjing, because Zhu Gaochi was responsible for handling government affairs for Zhu Di, so they gradually came into contact with them, and then slowly incorporated their own entrainment.

These people, as the top young talents among the scholars at this time, are also destined to be the future political elite of the Ming Empire, and they have their own considerations and interests to get closer to Zhu Gaochi.

This kind of interest appeal is that Zhu Gaochi wants to replace the role of Emperor Jianwen in a certain sense, become an agent of the Jiangnan gentry class, and safeguard their interests.

Because the representative forces of the Jiangnan gentry class in the court, that is, the former ministers of Jianwen who are from Jiangnan, know very well that Zhu Di himself and the second prince Zhu Gaoxu are difficult to exert the influence of the Jiangnan gentry class, because Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu are basically the military aristocracy represented by the large and medium landlords in the north, and the Yan army, which is mainly composed of border troops and free people in the north.

Only Zhu Gaochi's basic plate is weaker, and at the same time, his compatibility with them is stronger, so the Jiangnan gentry class will choose Zhu Gaochi as the target object of cooperation and assistance.

Zhu Gaochi, who lacks his own strength, actually does not have a very good choice, Zhu Gaochi wants to compete for the throne, he must get more supporters, so Zhu Gaochi and the Jiangnan gentry class hit it off.

This also means that even if Zhu Gaochi wants to be friends with Jiang Xinghuo more than enemies in his heart, now that he has made his choice, this possibility has become very small.

"Father, are you worried about Mr. Jiang's imminent release from prison?"

Zhu Zhanji suddenly raised his small face and spoke, but Zhu Gaochi was startled.

Zhu Gaochi touched his cheek and said with a wry smile: "Is it so obvious to be a father?" ”

Zhu Zhanji nodded seriously.

And Zhu Gaochi didn't know how to tell his son about it.

After all, this is not a personal decision, but involves the throne, faction, and lineage. It is a choice that involves countless people.

Zhu Gaochi's personal likes and dislikes cannot play a decisive role in the face of this choice.

And Zhu Gaochi clearly realized that as long as Jiang Xinghuo was released from prison, according to Jiang Xinghuo's character and ideals, it was inevitable to work against the Jiangnan gentry class.

But this also means that it is almost impossible for Zhu Gaochi to stand on the same position as Jiang Xinghuo.

Because if it is said that the previous measures such as the apportionment of labor into the mu can also be explained as Zhu Di forcing Zhu Gaochi to do it, and Zhu Gaochi can foresee that if Jiang Xinghuo stands on the same position as Jiang Xinghuo after he is released from prison, he will not be able to explain it to his supporters.

And if he loses the support of the gentry class in Jiangnan and only relies on the support of the northern administrative system that he ruled and owned during the Battle of Jingyan, Zhu Gaochi can be said to have announced his exit in the dispute for the establishment of the prince in advance.

This is where Zhu Gaochi's concerns lie.

And just when Zhu Gaochi was hesitating, Zhu Zhanji suddenly said: "Father, if Mr. Jiang is released from prison, you might as well send me to Mr. Jiang." ”

"What did you say?!"

Zhu Gao looked at his son in a daze.

"I want to worship Mr. Jiang as a teacher!" Zhu Zhanji said seriously: "Father, Mr. Jiang is a peerless figure who has been rare for hundreds of years, and it is far better for children to follow Mr. Jiang than to follow ordinary Confucianism." ”

"In addition, the child is young, and the second uncle will not and dare not do anything to the child." Zhu Zhanji hesitated for a moment, but still said, "It is impossible for you to follow Mr. Jiang to study, but having a child by Mr. Jiang's side is much better than that you have no intersection with Mr. Jiang." ”

Zhu Zhanji's words were not thorough, but Zhu Gaochi understood what he meant.

"Let Father think again."

Zhu Gaochi was silent for a moment, and then said: "When Mr. Jiang is released from prison, your imperial grandfather will definitely arrange for your father and your second uncle, or draw lots or draw lots. ”

"When this result is out, my father will decide whether to send you to Mr. Jiang to study, what do you think?" Zhu Gaochi, as the father and parent of this era, rarely consulted his son's opinion.

"The child will not give up!"