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

Chapter 18 We are husband and wife, we'll face anything together!

After watching Zhang Yan leave, Zhu Gaochi rested for a while before getting up.

Now he needs to add another task to his schedule: reading medical books, and he needs to read more and for longer periods of time so as not to attract attention.

Fortunately, he had enjoyed reading in his previous life, so reading medical books now didn't make him uncomfortable.

Upon reaching the door, Zhang Yan turned back.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Zhang Yan's hurried steps, Zhu Gaochi looked puzzled.

Zhang Yan hesitated for a moment before saying, "Mother sent someone to summon me to the palace, probably for matters concerning the inner palace. Mother only told me about this today."

Go to your study first. The old man has brought you a lot of medical books; your study is almost overflowing.

I don't know what you talked about with the old man, but since it's been delivered, take a good look at it. I'm going to change my clothes and go to the palace to see my mother.

Zhang Yan hesitated because Xu Miaoyun hadn't seemed to be in such a hurry when she brought it up today.

She had no idea what Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Di had discussed, or what Zhu Di had sent over so many medical books. She also didn't know what he had talked about with Xu Miaoyun. Now that Xu Miaoyun was telling her about this, she felt completely uncertain.

Upon hearing this and seeing Zhang Yan's expression, Zhu Gaochi immediately understood the reason.

He then recounted the conversation he had with Zhu Di and Xu Miaoyun.

"Don't worry too much. Just bear with the hardship for now. Once I've cured Mother, then..."

What's wrong? Is something the matter? Don't cry anymore, how can you go to the palace to see your mother with your face all wet?"

Zhu Gaochi panicked when he saw Zhang Yan's eyes suddenly redden and tears almost welling up.

At this moment, he truly didn't know why; none of the books he had read back then mentioned it.

Zhu Gaochi reached out to wipe Zhang Yan's face, but Zhang Yan became even more heartbroken.

"Hey Zhu, how could you be so stupid? Why did you tell Grandpa and Mom about this?"

The entire Imperial Medical Academy and many renowned folk doctors are helpless with Mother's illness. How can you cure her?

I also want to cure my mother's illness, but this is not something that can be done by just talking about it or reading medical books.

Now that you've said it, what will you say to Grandpa if you can't cure Mother?

Why did you suddenly act so recklessly? Why did you suddenly lose your mind? If the old man investigates, you won't be able to protect your position as the heir apparent, and our whole family will be in danger.

I'm fine, but the child is still so young; he'll inevitably suffer the same fate.

"Such an important matter, how could you... how could you..."

As Zhang Yan spoke, she kept pounding Zhu Gaochi's chest in her arms.

Zhu Gaochi wanted to save Xu Miaoyun, which she understood, and she wanted to save her too, but it wasn't that simple.

She couldn't even imagine what would happen to them if Zhu Gaochi didn't recover in the end.

Just when everyone thought things were looking up, Zhu Gaochi made a huge mess of things.

For a moment, Zhang Yan didn't know what to do or how to face the reality that was about to happen.

Zhu Gaochi held Zhang Yan tightly, letting her hit him.

Now he understands where the problem lies; it was indeed his oversight.

He knew he had three candies that could save people, but Zhang Yan didn't. Considering the actual situation, from Zhang Yan's perspective, what he was doing was indeed digging a hole to bury himself.

No, it wasn't just burying himself, it was burying the entire Eastern Palace.

He has now single-handedly dragged Zhang Yan and Zhu Zhanji into this mess.

After a moment, once Zhang Yan had calmed down a bit, Zhu Gaochi said softly, "Don't worry, if I said that, I must be confident."

"Trust me, I will definitely be able to cure Mother, and then all doubts will disappear."

Zhang Yan looked up at Zhu Gaochi, and after a moment, she wiped away her tears.

"I believe you! I'll go change my clothes first; getting into the palace is the priority."

Zhang Yan adjusted quickly; she had indeed been somewhat resentful of Zhu Gaochi earlier because she was at a loss.

But she also knew that since it was a fact, she had to face it.

Now, all she has to do is help Xu Miaoyun with everything so that Xu Miaoyun and Zhu Di can have a better impression of her. That way, even if Zhu Gaochi fails to save Xu Miaoyun, she can at least plead with Zhu Di for her life.

She and Zhu Gaochi are one, and now all she can do is to do her best to help Zhu Gaochi get through this difficult time.

Then Zhang Yan continued, "Go to the study and remember to read carefully. Grandpa and Mother are definitely watching your attitude."

Regardless of the final outcome, we must show our attitude; hopefully, the old man won't say anything then.

Zhang Yan's words directly revealed the core of what Zhu Di and Xu Miaoyun truly hoped for.

In fact, neither Zhu Di nor Xu Miaoyun took Zhu Gaochi's words seriously; they simply felt that this filial piety was rare and precious.

Zhu Di wanted to gauge Zhu Gaochi's attitude before deciding on the position of Crown Prince.

If Zhu Gaochi's attitude is acceptable, he will not hesitate any longer.

Xu Miaoyun wanted to see if her son truly had that intention, and not just talked the talk.

Even if Zhu Gaochi ultimately fails to take a stand, and even if he disappoints Xu Miaoyun, Xu Miaoyun will not persuade Zhu Di to remove Zhu Gaochi from his position as crown prince. Instead, she will defend Zhu Gaochi's position as crown prince to the death, just as she is doing now.

She would only feel disappointed inside.

Zhang Yan was also aware of this. She believed that Zhu Di and Xu Miaoyun certainly didn't have any real expectations for Zhu Gaochi. Zhu Di even sent Zhu Gaochi a medical book, and Xu Miaoyun didn't say anything. That was the only possibility.

After Zhang Yan finished speaking, she was about to leave when she suddenly turned around and came up to Zhu Gaochi, kissing him.

"No matter how things turn out in the end, we are husband and wife, and we will face it together."

After saying that, Zhang Yan left with a blush on her face.

But Zhang Yan didn't go straight back to her own room; instead, she walked towards Zhu Zhanji.

Now that we need to overcome this difficulty so that we can plead with Zhu Di in the future, Zhu Zhanji is equally crucial.

Zhang Yan made up her mind. She hadn't disciplined Zhu Zhanji much before, but from this moment on, she had to strictly control him.

He was favored by Zhu Di. If Zhu Zhanji were even more outstanding, the chances of success would be even greater.

Zhu Gaochi touched his face, watched Zhang Yan leave, and slowly smiled.

"That silly girl."

Zhu Gaochi was very pleased. In fact, if Zhang Yan wanted to protect herself, she could rely entirely on Zhu Zhanji.

Zhu Yuanzhang had already set a precedent by directly passing the throne to his eldest grandson, and Zhu Zhanji was basically favored by Zhu Di. Even if he failed in the end, nothing would happen to Zhu Zhanji.

But Zhang Yan didn't make a fuss. Her words, "We'll shoulder this together as husband and wife," deeply moved Zhu Gaochi.

Husbands and wives are supposed to be like birds in the same forest, flying away separately when disaster strikes, but here, things have completely changed.

What man could resist a woman like that?

After adjusting his mindset, Zhu Gaochi walked towards his study.

As for the matter of Tangdou, Zhu Gaochi still did not tell Zhang Yan.

This is something he truly finds difficult to explain.

Claims that they obtained something from a dream, from a deity, or from an old man with white hair or a Taoist priest, etc., cannot fool these people.

For people like Zhu Di and Xu Miaoyun, no amount of superstition or belief could scare them.

Especially with this candy that can cure all diseases, if he really gets Zhu Di and Xu Miaoyun to believe it, and if it leaks out even slightly, he feels that he will be in even greater danger.

Some things are better left unsaid.

Upon entering the study, Zhu Gaochi looked at the piles of books, and seeing that they were all medical books, he immediately felt a headache coming on.

"Is this guy trying to work me to death?"

Zhu Gaochi was speechless. Although he did need to read medical books, he didn't just read this kind of thing.

With so many medical books, when will he ever finish reading them?

Zhu Gaochi was having a headache. It seemed he had successfully dug his own grave.