Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 57 The Changes of Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang

Sun Miaoran dared not deceive the emperor, so she had no choice but to answer honestly. After bowing again, she recounted all the events that had occurred in the palace recently.

She was just a lowly female official, and telling the truth was her duty, and the only thing she could do at that moment.

If she dares to conceal anything, even her own mother will not be able to protect her in the future.

"Biao'er, do you think there's anything wrong with this?"

After listening to everything, Zhu Yuanzhang did not make a judgment immediately, but instead discussed it with Zhu Biao in front of him.

Zhu Biao's sigh echoed throughout the vast Wuying Hall, before gradually fading away: "Mother has indeed changed quite a bit... I beg Your Majesty to see for yourself, Her Majesty is still the same Her Majesty."

"Her heart was always set on His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Her Majesty has been somewhat different lately, but everything she has done is for the sake of the country, for His Majesty, and for the many princes."

As the father and son were discussing, there was only one person left in the Wuying Hall.

Sun Miaoran suddenly spoke up, her tone full of pleading and desperate desire: "Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Her Majesty is perfectly normal. Please investigate thoroughly."

"Your servant is quite loyal."

Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile.

When Zhu Biao looked at Sun Miaoran, his eyes had softened considerably, so he stepped forward to comfort her, saying, "Don't worry, it's just that Father and I are a little concerned. How could it possibly harm Mother?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Sun Miaoran responded, but at this moment she was still very uneasy.

However, she also knew that what happened next was something she could do but be powerless to change, even if she risked her life.

"I'll leave this matter to you, Biao'er."

After pondering for a long time, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke.

Zhu Biao ignored it completely, letting it go in one ear and out the other.

"Biao'er, don't you want to know what exactly happened to your mother?"

Zhu Yuanzhang patiently led him forward, a kind smile on his face.

Zhu Biao shook his head: "It's enough for me to know that my mother is indeed my mother. As for the reasons, I'm not interested."

Seeing his attitude, Sun Miaoran suddenly felt a little dazed.

Was her reaction just now a bit too extreme?

Seeing that his son had not fallen victim to the trap, Zhu Yuanzhang had no choice but to decide to take matters into his own hands after thinking for a long time.

He gritted his teeth.

Thinking about the consequences of the girl getting angry, he still decided to go all out and see what was going on.

"Let's do it, let's do it. We really don't believe a girl would kill us, do we? We've only meant well for her. Biao'er, don't you think?"

After Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, he silently added this sentence.

Zhu Biao ignored him completely, as if his intelligence was innate, which was truly frustrating.

With no other option, Zhu Yuanzhang had to take a gamble.

But the thought of the potential consequences of his sister getting angry still made him feel a little uneasy.

It wasn't that he was afraid the girl would hit him, but rather that he was afraid she would just look at him with those resentful eyes without saying anything.

Zhu Yuanzhang felt extremely uncomfortable whenever a girl looked at him like that; and if the girl then stopped eating and drinking because of it...

His crimes, Zhu Yuanzhang's crimes, were far more numerous.

……

In the eastern suburbs of Beijing, Ma Wenxiang was leading Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang in doing hard labor.

You only get to eat if you work.

These two little rascals are both incredibly strong.

Zhu Gang was working with great enthusiasm; at that moment, as long as he had food to eat, he was truly content.

In no time at all, the firewood was chopped, the floor was mopped, and the house was cleaned spotless. It was as if they felt a strong sense of belonging to this home and were even happier living in a palace than in the palace itself.

This scene left Ma Wenxiang dumbfounded: Could it be that all the princes in the palace are all capable workers?

Zhu Shuang, standing next to him, was not much worse, and was even slightly better.

Although he looked unwilling and had a long face, as if someone owed him millions, he was very quick and efficient.

He took his bow and arrows and went into the nearby mountains. He shot two rabbits, three pheasants, and a roe deer.

Then came the work of disemboweling and cleaning the intestines.

He actually did it quite well, leaving Ma Wenxiang stunned.

You should know that even he himself didn't know how to do this job.

When did you learn it?

Ma Wenxiang couldn't help but ask a question.

Zhu Shuang gave him a strange look: "Mother, didn't you and Father take us out for training last year, and you had me learn with Xiao San?"

I learned the work of a butcher, while the mistress learned how to clean.

"And the year before last, and the year before that..."

Zhu Shuang started calculating on his fingers.

But what they called "training" back then was just learning a skill, not living the life of an ordinary person like they do now.

Although she had left the palace before, she was always accompanied by a group of guards, as well as palace eunuchs, maids, and other servants, so she was essentially different from them.

Even after leaving the palace.

They were still princes, instead of becoming farm boys from an unknown village in the eastern suburbs.

After several days of suffering, their bad temper and arrogance were greatly reduced, and most of them were worn away.

Seeing this, Ma Wenxiang felt quite accomplished.

He suddenly felt like it today, so he handed over the management of this little house to the two of them. He just didn't expect that the two of them would give him such a big surprise.

It can only be said that Zhu Yuanzhang was very attentive to the training of the royal family members. Each one of them was truly capable in both literature and martial arts. Ma Wenxiang couldn't help but give them a thumbs up.

"The steward did a good job today; we can head back to the palace now."

Ma Wenxiang suddenly spoke up.

Immediately, the two brothers, Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang, stopped in their tracks: one stopped tidying up the firewood, and the other, having finished cleaning his intestines, froze in mid-air on the porcelain plate beside him, both of them as if stunned.

"Are you planning to return to the palace already?"

Zhu Shuang asked.

Zhu Gang was even more reluctant to leave at this moment. In fact, he had come to like this kind of life and thought it was pretty good.

Although there weren't many people to wait on me, I ate well and slept soundly every day, which was quite enjoyable.

It's nothing more than putting in some physical effort, but you get a full stomach, and you're protected from the wind and rain, keeping you warm and comfortable.

It was much more interesting than the constraints and messy rules of the palace.

Moreover, he could play with the village children from time to time, catching fish and shrimp, climbing mountains and trees, which was much more enjoyable than life in the palace.