Chapter 328: Flesh and Blood

Inside the bedchamber of Kunning Palace, Zhu Youjian carefully held a baby boy in his arms, his eyes brimming with affection. He gently touched the sleeping infant's tender cheek with the tip of his nose, breathing in the milky fragrance emanating from the child. A warm feeling spread through his entire body, accompanied by a joy so intense it felt like it might burst, making it impossible to suppress the smile that spilled across his brows and eyes.

This was his child — the first child in the truest sense since he had come into this world. And the birth of this child instantly made Zhu Youjian, who had always felt somewhat out of place in this world, completely blend into it, as if he was meant to be Zhu Youjian, and what he was experiencing now was merely living his life anew.

During the ninth and tenth months of the tenth year of Chongzhen, Empress Zhou, Noble Consort Yuan, and Noble Consort Tian successively bore him two sons and a daughter. When word spread from the palace, whether court officials or common folk of the capital, most were genuinely overjoyed. In streets and alleys, at taverns and teahouses — wherever crowds gathered, people could be found discussing the matter.

It had been several years since news of an imperial prince or princess being born had come from the palace. These signs, linked together with the roving bandits beginning to sweep across the northern lands, the alternating disasters of great drought and great flood, and the masses of refugees fleeing to the capital, could not help but fill many people with deep worry and concern for the future of the Great Ming.

Many children bringing much blessing, and the spreading of branches and leaves, was the most common belief of people in this era. A household with many children meant the male head was hale and hearty, and each additional child gave people more hope and expectation for the future — and vice versa.

And as the roving bandits and rebels across the various regions were successively hunted down and exterminated by the imperial forces, and the government began making arrangements to settle the refugees who had fled from famine, the chaotic and volatile situation gradually stabilized. When peaceful life returned to people's daily routines, the joyful news from the palace served to soothe the people's hearts as well.

Of course, "the people's hearts" here referred specifically to the various strata residing in the capital, for their interests were tied most closely to the Emperor in every respect.

After receiving three successive rounds of congratulations from his court officials, Zhu Youjian waved his hand grandly and played the role of a money-scattering benefactor once again: every household within the capital would receive five hundred coppers, each almshouse would be granted white rice, pork, and vegetables by head count, and the garrison soldiers of the Capital Camps and the Yongwei Camp, the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, the officers and men of the Five Wards Troops and Horses Office, and the officials and clerks of all government offices would each receive five hundred coppers in reward money. This sum was to be paid from the privy purse, with the Ministry of War and the Shuntian Prefecture responsible for the specific distribution arrangements.

Over the following several days, the newly appointed Prefect of Shuntian, Chen Qiyu, personally arranged for all officials and clerks of the prefectural office to follow rented horse-drawn and ox-drawn carts, going door to door to distribute the money. All the common folk who received the reward money expressed heartfelt gratitude to such a generous and benevolent Son of Heaven.

For a time, the always peaceful and harmonious atmosphere of the capital became even more cheerful. Having gained an unexpected bit of small wealth, many households used this windfall to purchase various daily necessities, which also increased the sales volume of everyday goods in the market. The merchants in the city were sincerely delighted as well — they wished the Emperor would distribute reward money once a month.

"Your Majesty, you've been holding little Shuige'er for nearly half an hour now. Aren't you afraid of tiring yourself? You weren't nearly this attentive when Langge'er and the others were born! Why not hand Shuige'er to the wet nurse and rest a while yourself?"

By the time she finished speaking, Empress Zhou beside him could not help but raise a jade-like hand to cover her mouth and giggle softly, her gaze toward Zhu Youjian brimming with deep tenderness and contentment.

Ever since the prince with the childhood name Shuige'er had been born, her husband would rush back to the bedchamber of Kunning Palace as soon as he finished handling official matters. Whether Shuige'er was sound asleep or staring wide-eyed with curiosity at the world around him, he would invariably snatch the child from her hands or the wet nurse's without a word of explanation, and simply hold him like that — one moment affectionately touching the tip of his nose to Shuige'er's, the next extending a hand to gently caress the child's tender cheeks. But most of the time he would just hold Shuige'er, quietly gazing at the infant in his arms in a daze, the love radiating from his face and eyes enough to make Empress Zhou feel a strange pang of jealousy.

"Your Majesty, you really should visit Noble Consort Yuan and Noble Consort Tian more often as well. Both of them bore you children too — Your Majesty must not show favoritism. I am the mistress of the harem, and I cannot have others gossiping because of this!"

Seeing that Zhu Youjian seemed not to have heard her words and was still studying Shuige'er's sleeping face, Empress Zhou could not help raising her voice a little.

"Keep your voice down! Don't disturb Shuige'er's rest! An infant this age needs plenty of sleep — that's how his mind will grow sharp in the future!"

Zhu Youjian looked up at Empress Zhou and admonished her in a slightly displeased tone.

He stood up still holding Shuige'er, and the wet nurse Wang beside him hurried forward a few steps to take the child from Zhu Youjian's arms.

"Empress, you know well enough — Noble Consort Yuan and Noble Consort Tian only just gave birth a few days ago. Infants this young are best not exposed to outsiders. I only take a look outside their bedchambers and leave. Shuige'er has already passed his full month, so it does no harm for me to be close with him a while longer. Once the children of the other two palaces have passed their full month, I will certainly make frequent rounds to all three places, so no one will have cause for gossip. Empress, I must also instruct you on a few matters: when it comes to the imperial children, aside from their own kin, should anyone in the palace spread idle talk, send them all off to the Laundry Bureau! Should anyone harbor other intentions, have them beaten to death! Companion, you must keep a close watch within the palace!"

Wang Cheng'en, standing in a corner, acknowledged in a low voice. Empress Zhou also performed a curtsey with a grave expression, and the several female officials and palace maids in the hall all bowed to signify their obedience.

The original Zhu Youjian had always been kind to those within the palace, rarely concerning himself with harem affairs, and had never spoken such ruthless words. Today's behavior was most unusual.

"By the way, when Shuige'er's hundred-day banquet comes, have the Earl of household retainers bring my brothers-in-law and their families into the palace. Empress, it must have been quite some time since you've seen them — take this opportunity for a good reunion. Once Shuige'er has passed his first birthday, you may take him out of the palace to visit your family, and let Shuige'er see something of the world beyond the palace walls! The same goes for Noble Consort Yuan and Noble Consort Tian — Empress, just find a moment to inform them!"

In his excellent mood, Zhu Youjian appeared exceptionally magnanimous, and the resentment he harbored toward Zhou Kui's family lessened considerably. After all, they were Shuige'er's maternal grandfather and uncles. The events of his previous life could never happen again; for the sake of the gentle and virtuous Empress Zhou, one should forgive where forgiveness is possible. One could hardly punish the people of this world for mistakes committed in another.

Owing to her status and her resentment toward her father and brothers, Empress Zhou had not left the palace to visit her natal family for several years. But no matter how deep the resentment in her heart, this bond of blood kinship could not be severed. In idle moments, when Empress Zhou spoke with Noble Consort Yuan about childhood matters, her words were filled with beautiful memories. Speaking of the love and care her father and brothers had shown her before she entered the palace, all her resentment turned into longing for her family.

In those days, though the family had been poor, with everyone relying on the meager income Zhou Kui earned from setting up a fortune-telling stall on the street to make ends meet, the family together had been full of warmth and joy. Whenever her father's earnings for the day were a bit more than usual, he would be sure to buy some glutinous rice dumplings, fermented rice balls, and similar treats to bring home. Every time, her father and brothers would rather eat a few bites less themselves, insisting that she and her younger brother have more of the delicious food.

"Your servant thanks Your Majesty! Should the Earl of household retainers's household ever again presume too far in the future, your servant will absolutely not permit it!"

Empress Zhou, filled with gratitude, performed another curtsey toward Zhu Youjian.

"Why must the Empress be so formal? You and I are husband and wife — we should understand each other. In the past several years of continuous natural disasters and man-made calamities, the Empress suffered no less hardship at my side than I did. Now times have greatly improved, and they will only get better. Whether it be the Empress or anyone else in the palace, so long as they are close to the imperial family, they should enjoy what they deserve! Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things! This principle has never changed since ancient times!"