Chapter 1619: No More Nonsense — Never Coming Back!

At this time, in the old Eastern Palace where Crown Prince Zhu Hexing resided, three people were likewise sleepless through the night. The ones who could not sleep were the Fortunate Crown Prince Zhu Hexing and his two wives, Crown Princess Ding Yuying and Crown Prince's Side Consort Ding Yuru.

Zhu Hexing, who had been Crown Prince for over fifty years, did not keep a flock of beauties; he had only two wives, Ding Yuying and Ding Yuru, and they were full sisters. The relationship between Ding Yuying and Ding Yuru, who was six years her junior, was extremely harmonious. The two sisters never competed for his favor and had always been of one heart.

In fact, Ding Yuru had not originally wanted to enter the palace as a lesser consort to Zhu Hexing — her elder sister was already the Crown Princess with great power in her hands, so why would she fear not finding a husband to her liking? But Ding Yuying did not want a woman from another family to become her own "reserve," so she spared no effort in persuading her sister to enroll in Jinling Women's University and become a lesser consort to her husband, Zhu Hexing.

And Zhu Hexing did not fail his sister-in-law, always doting on her greatly. Moreover, after taking Ding Yuru as his side consort, he took no third consort. For thirty years, Zhu Hexing had lived a life of one husband and two wives. Nor did he take turns spending the night with his two wives... whenever both wives were at his side, he shared one great quilt with them both — truly a picture of deep affection.

Unlike all previous crown princesses and crown prince's side consorts of the Great Ming, the sisters Ding Yuying and Ding Yuru were both "top scholars" selected through examinations, and they had received an extremely fine education, being thoroughly versed in finance and law, and also conversant in politics, military affairs, and diplomacy. Among them, Ding Yuying had been personally cultivated by Zhu Cilang as a "reserve Empress Dowager," and her ability to govern the state far surpassed that of the Fortunate Crown Prince!

And Ding Yuru was the reserve whom Ding Yuying herself had cultivated — the level of medicine in this age was what it was, and because Ding Yuying and the Fortunate Crown Prince were so deeply in love, she had been pregnant rather often, and childbirth meant hovering at the gates of hell! Ding Yuying had to cultivate a reliable reserve for herself, lest some misfortune befall her and the position of Crown Princess fall into unreliable hands, thereby affecting Zhu Yiyou's standing... and her own younger sister Ding Yuru naturally became Ding Yuying's first choice.

The husband and his two wives had lived together day and night for so many years, loving and affectionate, yet at the same time walking on thin ice, hoping only that Zhu Hexing's prospects could advance one step further... Of course, this hope could only be kept in their hearts; on the surface they dared not show it.

Serving one's lord is like serving a tiger!

Although in these fifty-odd years Zhu Cilang had never shown any intention of deposing the Crown Prince... still, who did not know that Zhu Cilang was not entirely satisfied with Zhu Hexing? Otherwise Ding Yuying would never have been brought into the matter at all!

This Fortunate Crown Prince's position had, in truth, only become secure after he married Ding Yuying.

Originally, Zhu Hexing, Ding Yuying, and Ding Yuru had not worried about anything. They simply had to wait patiently... Zhu Hexing's health looked quite good, and he should be able to wait it out.

But in the last twenty years, the situation in Zhu Cilang's rear palace had become one in which Wu Ake's favor outshone all six palaces! Moreover, Wu Ake had borne Zhu Cilang three sons and three daughters in succession, and among them the twenty-second prince, Zhu Heke, born of Wu Ake, was greatly beloved by Zhu Cilang and had also shown himself to be exceptionally outstanding — accomplished in both civil and military arts, brimming with talent. He very much resembled Zhu Hehao and Zhu Hengli in their younger days.

At the same time, Wu Sanmei's health was deteriorating day by day... Wu Ake was, after all, an Imperial Noble Consort!

Once Wu Sanmei passed away, Wu Ake would inevitably become Empress, and then all the sons she had borne Zhu Cilang would become legitimate sons.

Although Wu Ake had always been a supporter of Zhu Hexing, that was built on the foundation that her own sons had no chance at the throne... Who knew what strange notions an old man might develop in his dotage?

Recently, Zhu Hengli's daughter Maria Theresa had come to Yingtian and was greatly liked by Zhu Cilang. Moreover, with Hengli thriving in Europe, Zhu Cilang could not stop praising this "clever son" of his, which also gave Zhu Hehao, Ding Yuying, and Ding Yuru a slight sense of crisis.

And the abdication date that Zhu Cilang had promised was delayed again and again, plunging the husband and his two wives into deep unease!

"Yuying, Yuru," Zhu Hexing said with a deeply furrowed brow to the two women sleeping beside him, "what do you think Father still feels uneasy about with me?"

Ding Yuying smiled bitterly: "Your Highness, when has Father ever felt at ease about you? Now he is not even entirely at ease about me..."

Ding Yuru shook her head: "Sister, don't say that. Father is still quite at ease about you, and about me as well... But what kind of great sovereign is he? And what a glorious foundation has he built? Now that it is to be handed over to us, it is hardly strange that he hesitates for a time."

"How much of it can he hand over?" Zhu Hehao also gave a bitter laugh. "Grandfather only departed at ninety, and Father is just past seventy..."

Ding Yuying frowned slightly. "Your Highness is right... Yuru, you are close with the Imperial Noble Consort. Go and ask her sometime — what exactly is Father worried about?"

"Ask her?" Zhu Hexing was somewhat worried. "Will she be willing to say? What if she tells Father about it..."

Ding Yuru laughed: "Crown Prince, you worry too much. Ake has no such intentions... at least not now. If I go and ask her to clarify the reason, then we can make an effort in line with the old man's wishes. As long as the old man is willing to give you the throne, then you need not worry about the duck that has reached your mouth flying away."

Zhu Hexing nodded gently. "We must indeed make careful inquiries. We must get a clear sense of what Father is thinking!"

"Father, these are the memorials for your perusal today."

"Imperial Father, here is also a proposal from the Navy Ministry's Directorate of Shipbuilding. Your son has read it carefully and believes it is worth trying... I also request your perusal."

Within the Yanshan Palace, Zhu Cilang, who was slowly eating his lunch, was at the same time listening to his son and daughter-in-law report on affairs of state — he was now advanced in years, his energy far less than before, and so he no longer kept as tight a grip on court affairs as in the past. He did not even attend the midday court every day, but held court once every three or four days. On ordinary days when he did not hold court, he listened to reports from Zhu Hexing and Ding Yuying.

To be honest, whether he abdicated or not made little real difference now... If he truly stepped down, at most it would change from holding court once every three or four days to once every seven or ten days.

He was, after all, a "sage sovereign" of more than fifty years — which minister below dared not obey him?

But for Zhu Hexing, there was still a difference. At least once he sat on the imperial throne, it would be far less likely that anyone could drag him off it.

"The Navy Ministry's Directorate of Shipbuilding?" Zhu Cilang laughed. "What new ship do they want to build now?"

"Imperial Father," Zhu Hexing shook his head, "it is not that they want to build a new ship... Last year we only just approved a ten-year shipbuilding program. How could a new shipbuilding proposal be sent up so quickly?"

"True," Zhu Cilang nodded. "It would not be that quick... Then what are they memorializing about?"

"They want to carry out research and development on steam-powered battleships."

"What?" Zhu Cilang felt his eyes light up. "What does the Academy of Natural Philosophy say?"

The Great Ming had long had an Academy of Natural Philosophy — over the past forty or fifty years so many great scholars of natural philosophy had emerged that Emperor Zhu needed somewhere to place this group of natural philosophy scholars, so in the twenty-eighth year of Hongxing he had decreed the establishment of the Academy of Natural Philosophy.

"Imperial Father," Zhu Hexing said with a smile, "the people of the Academy of Natural Philosophy say that Savery's steam water-raising engine of England is extremely ingenious... Although its practical value is limited, there is great room for improvement. If we can carry out improvements along the lines of steam-driven power, perhaps we truly can build a steam paddle-wheel ship!"

"Is that so?" Zhu Cilang looked at his son. "What do you think?"

Zhu Hexing said: "Imperial Father, your son believes it is feasible... If the steam engine can drive a water wheel, then it can also be used to bore cannon barrels and to drive other machinery, which would greatly save manpower. Moreover, human and animal power are ultimately limited and cannot compare to the power of steam!"

"Hahaha!" Zhu Cilang burst out laughing. "Lucky boy, you even understand natural philosophy!"

"Imperial Father," Zhu Hexing said, "your son, Yuying, and Yuru have all studied natural philosophy. Yuru in particular is especially skilled in mathematics and natural philosophy, and she even attended the Imperial University!"

It turned out that Ding Yuru, like her elder sister, was a thoroughgoing top scholar, and her learning was even greater — she had also studied at the Imperial University!

Zhu Cilang smiled. "We had almost forgotten Yuru's learning... Good, good! The three of you are all excellent. We are now at ease! Where is the Hanlin Academician? Draft the edict of inner abdication — We wish to retire and enjoy Our remaining years!"