Ming Dynasty: At the beginning, the house was ransacked and the ancestral temple was burned down.

Chapter 97 Backwards Compatibility! The helplessness of the princes and princesses!
  Zhu Changluo looked helpless and aggrieved, clasped his fingers and replied carefully:

"It's just riding a big horse...it's nothing...my father is worried about state affairs...it's better not to disturb my father with such a trivial matter..."

As the apple of the eye of King Zhu Yili of Lu, Zhu Xuanyao, who is only seven years old, really doesn't understand why Zhu Changluo, his cousin, is so cowardly as he is the eldest son of the emperor. She simply hates the fact that iron cannot be made into steel:

"Brother, my father said that good people will be bullied! If you stay like this, you will be bullied for the rest of your life!"

Zhu Changluo, who is sensitive and has low self-esteem, was actually very unhappy at being scolded by his cousin, who was several years younger than him and whose status was far inferior to his own.

But Zhu Changluo seems to have become accustomed to not arguing, because his biological mother, Concubine Gong, Wang, has always said to him:
  "Brother, your father doesn't like us. Even if we are wronged, don't be angry. Remember to endure the calm for a while and take a step back to open up the world."

Zhu Changluo was only ten years old. He didn't know if this was correct. He only knew that his father did not like him and his mother.

So, it should be right to listen to his mother and endure it, right?

Suddenly, Zhu Changxun's crying, Zhu Xuanyao's accusations, and Zhu Changluo's worry, grievance and entanglement all fell in the eyes of Zhu Xuanyu, the eldest sister.

Zhu Xuanyu actually wanted to speak for his younger brother Zhu Changluo. After all, anyone with a discerning eye could see that Zhu Changxun was looking for trouble to bully others.

However, Zhu Xuanyu remained silent, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

It's not that Zhu Xuanyu doesn't want to help, but that she has no way to help because her biological mother, Queen Wang Xi, has been saying to her:
  "My lord, although you are the eldest daughter of the emperor, you have to remember one thing. You must not offend your third brother Chang Xun!

He is very likely to be the emperor in the future. Whether you can be stable for the rest of your life will probably depend on your third brother. "

Recalling the teachings of his mother, Sister Wang Xi, Zhu Xuanyu recalled a rumor that had been circulating in the palace recently.

The content of the rumors was that her emperor father was going to depose her mother as queen, and then make Concubine Zheng the queen.

Zhu Xuanyu didn't know whether the rumors were true or not. She only knew that her mother's health had been getting worse and worse in the past few months. The imperial doctor also said that her mother might not die soon...

Zhu Xuanyu was very scared. She was afraid that the queen mother would be deposed as rumored, and she was even more afraid that the queen mother's body would not be able to hold up and something would happen.

Zhu Xuanyu was too afraid and had even more worries. Even though she was the eldest sister, when faced with her younger brother's unreasonable troubles, all she could do was remain silent.

After all, this unreasonable brother may very well be the emperor who can control her life and death in the future!
  The scene became more and more chaotic. In the midst of this chaos, Queen Wang Xijie and others came outside the palace gate.

"What's the matter?"

Sister Wang Xi looked at the messy scene in front of her and hurriedly asked someone to help Zhu Changxun who was lying on the ground first.

Zhu Changxun, who was still lying on the ground and rolling around, saw the queen's aunt coming. Not only did he stop acting, he even got up in a hurry.

While saluting his aunt-in-law in a decent manner, Zhu Changxun also called Sister Wang Xi "Mother Queen" in a very obedient manner.

These were all taught to Zhu Changxun by Zheng Mengjing. Zhu Changxun remembered that his biological mother told him many, many times that he must be very respectful when treating the queen, his aunt.

Because his father Zhu Yijun also treated his aunt, Empress Dowager Rensheng Chen, with such respect.

So his father Zhu Yijun became emperor and continued to be so.

Zhu Changxun saluted so proactively and obediently, but Zhu Changluo, who was standing aside and shrinking, was neither so generous nor so polite.

Mother and son are connected. Concubine Gong knew at a glance that her son had been wronged. Although she was timid and cowardly, as a mother, she was very angry when she saw her son being wronged.

But what about anger? She was a concubine who was not favored by the emperor, and she gave birth to a son who was not favored by the emperor.

Is it possible that she can still blame Zhu Changxun, the son of her beloved concubine Zheng Mengjing?

Of course not.

The anger at this time can only be downwardly compatible, so Concubine Wang Gong can only spread her anger on the slaves who are more humble than herself.

"Brother, where are the people who serve you?" Concubine Wang Gong anxiously patted Zhu Changluo's clothes that were not dirty, and said with great distress: "Look how dirty you are, all the slaves who serve you are gone. Where is it!"

After hearing this, everyone turned their eyes from the red-faced Zhu Changxun to the timid Zhu Changluo. However, after just one glance, many people looked away with disgust.

As a queen, Sister Wang Xi naturally had to express her position at this time. She coughed and walked to Zhu Changluo. After looking around seriously, she asked with seeming concern:
  "Chang Luo, what's wrong? Did you fall somewhere? Where are the slaves serving you?"

"Reply to my mother." Zhu Changluo lowered his head and did not dare to look directly at the other party. He replied with uneasy eyes: "Everyone who serves me is...all killed by the emperor's brother..."

Before Zhu Changluo could finish speaking, Sister Wang Xi immediately turned to look at her daughter Zhu Xuanyu, frowned and asked: "Xuan'er, what's going on here?"

Zhu Xuanyao was also stunned for a moment, but quickly came to his senses. Although she was only eleven years old, she knew very well that her mother's sudden change of 'target' was actually to 'escape' something.

"When I return to my mother, I blame Erchen, the eldest sister, for not taking good care of my younger brother. I ask my mother to punish him."

After Zhu Xuanyu finished speaking, he knelt down to apologize, but he never mentioned where the palace attendants who served Zhu Changluo had gone.

On the side, the first concubine Li and the second concubine Zhao of King Lu Zhu Yili looked at each other silently. Their eyes were so subtle that everything seemed to be unspoken.

Concubine Gong and Wang were also discouraged when they saw this, and she also knew one thing in her heart: although the queen was closer to her on weekdays, in the final analysis, the queen still preferred the emperor's beloved third son Zhu Changxun, and The eldest son Zhu Changluo who was not born to her...

For a moment, almost everyone present understood that the reason why Queen Wang Xi suddenly attacked her own daughter Zhu Xuanyu was to prevent Zhu Changluo from continuing to talk.

In fact, it doesn't matter whether you say it or not, it's very obvious.

The left is just that the naughty boy Zhu Changxun just found some random things to send away the palace servants who were serving Zhu Changluo in order to cause trouble for his eldest brother Zhu Changluo.

Almost all adults understand this obvious truth, but it is not necessarily true for children.

Not everyone can be like Zhu Xuanyu, who is cautious, sensible and well-rounded at a young age.

Especially Zhu Xuanyao, who grew up in the hands of her parents. Not only was she spoiled and had a bad temper, she also couldn't stand her cousin Zhu Changluo's cowardice and her cousin Zhu Changxun's unreasonableness!
  It's not because Zhu Xuanyao has the so-called 'sense of justice' in her heart, she just simply can't stand that someone is more arrogant than her.

"Auntie Huang." Zhu Xuanyao jumped out, opened his mouth and revealed what happened, saying:
  "Chang Xun bullied the elder brother! Not only did he send all the slaves around the elder brother to the fish pond in the Royal Garden to catch fish for him! He also forced the elder brother to be a big horse for him to ride!"

Zhu Xuanyao's mouth was so fast that the little girl spit out the truth in a twitter. Her mother-in-law, Princess Lu, Li Shi, couldn't stop her even if she wanted to.

The atmosphere became awkward. Princess Lu, Princess Li, hurriedly pulled her loud-mouthed daughter over, smiled apologetically and said a few perfunctory words, then turned around and left quickly with her daughter and second concubine, Mrs. Zhao.

However, as soon as she turned around, Princess Lu saw a familiar and pretty figure who was soaked all over.

"princess……"

Wang Youfu didn't expect that she would be able to see Princess Lu who had given her hope again in her lifetime.

Just when Wang Youfu thought she had seen the 'light' again, Princess Lu, who had never hesitated to hold her hand and speak softly to her, turned out to be as if she didn't even know her!
  The other party not only turned away his eyes in a hurry, but even hurriedly left as if warding off evil spirits!
  Wang Youfu's 'light' was so dim, although she never expected Princess Lu to take her away from this 'place of right and wrong'.

What she wanted was actually just a greeting from the other party.

Princess Lu, Princess Li, took her daughter Zhu Xuanyao and her second concubine Zhao away in such a hurry.

Queen Wang Xi also hurriedly used her physical discomfort as an excuse to leave with her daughter Zhu Xuanyu.

As Wang Youfu and other slaves "returned one after another", the scene gradually became weird.

Without the constraint of the queen as a 'mother', the naughty boy Zhu Changxun once again let go of his nature. He walked directly to Wang Youfu, the most 'conspicuous' person in the crowd, and said with a malicious smile:
  "Hey, why are you here my royal brother? I just said why can't I see you, you bitch who dares to disobey me!"

After saying that, Zhu Changxun did not forget to look back at Zhu Changluo and said: "Brother Emperor, why are you so pitiful? Even your slaves want to use what I have left?"

For a moment, the atmosphere solidified. As the only elder present, Concubine Wang Gong could only hug her son tightly at this moment and did not dare to rebuke the six-year-old concubine Zhu Changxun.

But it could be seen from Concubine Wang Gong's trembling body that she was holding back her anger. At the same time, so did her son Zhu Changluo.

Seeing the mother and son cowering like quails and saying nothing, Zhu Changxun felt bored.

Before leaving, Zhu Changxun wanted to take Wang Youfu back to continue to serve him. After all, this little palace maid was so pretty.

But the eunuch Cui Wensheng who was following him threatened him, saying that Wang Youfu had "evil evil spirits" and was unclean. He also said that his mother, Concubine Zheng, didn't like this little bitch.

In desperation, Zhu Changxun had to give up and left reluctantly.

"What the hell is wrong with you little hoof! You're covered in water and half-clothed. Who are you trying to seduce by pretending to be so pitiful!"

Not long after Zhu Changxun left, Concubine Wang Gong suddenly became furious and loudly reprimanded Wang Youfu!

Even Zhu Changluo, who was initially timid and afraid, finally dared to throw himself into Concubine Wang Gong's arms and cry loudly:

"Ugh, concubine, I don't want her to serve me! She is the one my third brother doesn't want! I hate her! Drive her away quickly!"

"Brother, don't cry, I'll drive this little hooves away right now!" Concubine Wang Gong comforted her son, and when she turned around and was about to give the order to drive Wang Youfu away, the nanny beside her said something to her.

"My dear Concubine Gong, this little girl was sent here by Concubine Zheng. If Concubine Zheng finds out about driving her away, I'm afraid it won't be easy to explain, right?"

Mammy's words seemed to have blocked Concubine Wang Gong's mouth, so that Concubine Wang Gong did not dare to speak any more and did not dare to give any orders.

Even Zhu Changluo, who was crying, seemed to have realized something. He looked at Wang Youfu with avoidance and disgust in his eyes: "You...are you the spy sent by Empress Zheng?"

Wang Youfu was completely stunned. She didn't understand how a slave like herself who was being tossed around by others and whose life was like a piece of grass could become an informer.

Wang Youfu was about to explain something, but before she could say anything, she received a solid slap in the face!

"Snapped!"

It was Concubine Wang Gong who slapped her, as if just to vent her anger. After Concubine Wang Gong slapped her, she said nothing more.

Zhu Changluo on the side seemed to be inspired by something. He actually imitated his mother's behavior and rushed up to slap Wang Youfu!

At this moment, 'downward compatibility' can be said to be fully demonstrated.

Concubine Wang Gong seemed to have forgotten that she was once just a humble palace maid beside Queen Mother Li.

Zhu Changluo also seemed to have forgotten that even though he was the elder brother, he could only be as humble as a slave in front of his younger brother Zhu Changxun.

For a moment, both mother and son focused on Wang Youfu, who was dripping wet.

Because Wang Youfu was sent here by Concubine Zheng, and because she was born so conspicuously, and her white color was too ostentatious.

If beauty is not proportional to status, it will be a disaster.

Wang Youfu originally thought that if she left His Royal Highness the Third Prince and came to serve the disgraced eldest son, her life would at least be calmer and more stable.

It was only at this moment that the coldness on her body and the heat on her face made Wang Youfu truly react. She just jumped from one devil pit into another…

……

On the other side, Princess Lu's concubine Li, who left in a hurry, and Prince Lu's second concubine Zhao, finally slowed down a little after leaving Xizhimen.

"Oh, it's such a pity." Princess Lu suddenly said this inexplicably.

"It is indeed a pity." Zhao, the taciturn second concubine of Prince Lu, also agreed.

Both of them were talking about pity, but no one explained what this 'pity' actually was.

"Sister, it's not necessarily true." The second concubine Zhao suddenly came close to the other party's ear and whispered:
  "Although that girl is not favored by the emperor, she may stay with the emperor's eldest son, but she may not be useless."

Princess Li shook her head and whispered back: "What's the use of the eldest son of the emperor? Look at how stupid he is. It's a waste of time for such a rare stupid beauty. Alas, she might as well stay with the third son of the emperor."

"You can't say that." The second concubine Zhao said mysteriously: "The case of the demon book is very confusing now. It is not certain who will take the throne of the crown prince in the future."

"You mean, the emperor's eldest son also has...?" Princess Li looked surprised at first, and then said discouraged: "I don't think it's possible."

The second concubine, Zhao, smiled calmly and said meaningfully: "Sister, no one can tell what will happen until the coffin is covered."

"That's true." Princess Li nodded, thoughtfully.

On the side, Zhu Xuanyao, who was only seven years old, could not understand the 'riddle' between the two adults. She asked directly: "Mother, Empress Zhao, what are you talking about?"

Princess Lu did not answer her daughter's question, but instead started talking, "Yao'er, I have told you so many times, stop being angry with His Highness the Third Prince, why don't you listen!"

Zhu Xuanyao curled his lips and said unconvinced: "I just can't stand his look! Everyone is afraid of him, but I am not afraid of him! I don't believe that Uncle Huang will be cruel to me because of this matter!"

Princess Li was both angry and helpless: "Yao'er, you are becoming more and more disobedient. It's all your father's fault for spoiling you! I don't know who will grow up in the future with your bad temper." I dare to marry you!"

Zhu Xuanyao looked arrogant and said nonchalantly: "Humph! The worst thing is not to get married!"

Princess Li was anxious: "There is no girl in the family who is not married!"

Zhu Xuanyao still pouted and said unconvinced: "Who said I must marry? Can't I just marry a man and go home?"

Princess Li was also frightened by her daughter's "tiger and wolf words": "Yao'er, how can you say such things at such a young age! You..."

Seeing that the mother and daughter were about to have a dispute, the second concubine Zhao hurriedly came out to talk to Xini and said:
  "Okay sister, our Yao'er is still young. It's normal for a little girl to be lively. She will naturally become quieter when she grows up.

Besides, our Yao'er is naturally beautiful and smart, and the prince and the emperor are in charge. Are you afraid that you won't be able to find a good son-in-law? "

"You, just pamper her!" Princess Li pretended to be angry and left, but in fact she was happier than anyone else when her daughter was praised.

The second concubine, Mrs. Zhao, felt as if she was a mirror, and hurriedly hugged Zhu Xuanyao. The elder sister and the younger sister followed behind Mr. Li, "apologising" softly.

……

It is the fifth day of September in the nineteenth year of Wanli.

It has only been a few days since the Third Law Division heard the demon book case for the first time.

However, in just a few days, the "wind direction" regarding the "Demon Book Case" has completely changed from what it was at the beginning!
  At the beginning, all the clues in the demon book case pointed to Shen Shixing, the former chief minister of the cabinet, and Zhang Chonghui, the grandson of the "criminal minister" Zhang Juzheng.

But now, the blame for the demon book case has all turned to the emperor's favorite concubine Zheng Guifei and his uncle Zheng Guotai.

The ministers in the DPRK seemed to have forgotten that there were two other people, Shen Shixing and Zhang Chonghui, and they all focused on impeaching the brother and sister Zheng Guifei and Zheng Guotai.

Although the blame was shifted to the Zheng brothers and sisters, Shen Shixing and Zhang Chonghui committed a taboo due to their 'private meeting'.

Therefore, these two people were imprisoned together in the imperial prison of Fusi, Beizhen.

However, the two 'inmates', who are more than 40 years apart in age, don't seem to get along well in prison...

(End of this chapter)