Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 355 - 209 Prince Ning_2

Chapter 355: Chapter 209 Prince Ning_2

Emperor Qianwen acceded to Zhu Xiangsheng’s wish, arranging for him to gain experience in the military, while also regarding him with more esteem than before. He felt that Zhu Xiangsheng was not afraid of hardships, was practical, and, lacking a prestigious background, would not hold overly ambitious desires. Such a person, once well cultivated, could indeed be an asset to the Crown Prince.

Crown Prince Zhu Xiangchang was pure and filial. His mother, Empress Yuan, died when he was three, and he was brought up personally by Emperor Qianwen. Despite trying many methods, perhaps due to his nature, the emperor failed to change the Crown Prince’s gentle and benevolent character.

If this eldest son could wholeheartedly assist the Crown Prince, then Emperor Qianwen would be much more at ease.

From then on, Emperor Qianwen treated Zhu Xiangsheng much better, even intentionally fostering a closer relationship between him and the Crown Prince, and at the age of twenty, conferred upon him the title of Prince Ning.

Zhu Xiangsheng was genuinely capable, adept at winning people’s hearts, and could endure hardships. Over ten years in the military, he established considerable prestige and had even led troops to fight on the frontier and pacified uprisings in Lingnan.

In the Great Qian Kingdom, only the founding emperor came from a military background, while none of the later generations of the Royal Family produced any real military officers (those who received honorary military posts were not counted). Zhu Xiangsheng was an exception.

When the Great Qian Kingdom went to war with Dajin Country, Duke Yueguo was appointed Marshal, and Prince Ning Zhu Xiangsheng was named the inspector general, leading an army of a hundred thousand to the front.

Half a year later, in a sudden decision to raise Crown Prince Zhu Xiangchang’s prestige and to toughen him up, Emperor Qianwen sent him to supervise the transportation of military provisions.

At that time, the war was at its most brutal. Upon receiving the news, Zhu Xiangsheng, fearing for the Crown Prince’s safety, hastened with his troops to meet him. On the night that the brothers joined forces, the provisions were burned, and the Crown Prince was shot dead with a secret arrow...

Enraged, the Emperor ordered a thorough investigation. Several officials, unable to endure torture, implicated Prince Ning, claiming he intentionally delayed their arrival, causing the large group to fail to reach the military camp by dawn. Some ministers thus impeached Prince Ning, arguing he must have made arrangements to deliver the letter to the enemy, allowing them to burn the supplies and take the opportunity to kill the Crown Prince.

Although the Emperor felt the evidence was far-fetched, he sadly couldn’t find any others. However, Zhu Xiangsheng’s failure to protect the Crown Prince was a fact, and the possibility of deliberate negligence couldn’t be excluded, especially considering the rumors... In a fit of rage, he exiled Prince Ning and Princess Ning to the harsh cold of the North. Their three daughters, however, remained in the Capital City, thanks to the intercession of the Empress Dowager.

A few years ago, guessing that the Emperor’s anger might have subsided, Prince Ning began writing letters, not only to the Emperor but also to the Empress Dowager. He defended himself and mentioned that he had developed "rheumatism" due to the extreme cold of the North, suffering severe pain every winter. As his illness worsened and his age increased, he felt increasingly guilt-ridden and fearful. He deeply regretted his inability to serve under his grandmother and father’s care, to fulfill his filial duties, often waking from sleep in tears...

The Emperor was aging and his heart had softened somewhat towards the next generation. Although he had eight sons, very few were truly promising. Apart from Crown Prince Zhu Xiangchang, only Prince Ning Zhu Xiangsheng, Third Prince Zhu Xiangping, and Fifth Prince Zhu Xiang’an were adequate. The others were either tyrannical or mediocre and unfit for significant responsibilities.

He was not only moved by his eldest son’s filial piety but also missed his combat prowess, and the conviction of his eldest son was not without its doubts.

His attitude softened, and with persuasion from some ministers, he recalled Prince Ning. However, he did not allow him to return to the Capital City nor did he meet him; instead, letting him reside in Nan County.

Eunuch Xia entered the main gate of the Prince Ning Mansion, where the Chief Secretary, Sir Fu Wei, hurried forward to greet him, bowing with a smile, "Eunuch Xia has arrived; this humble official has failed to welcome you from afar. Please, come inside and have a seat."

Eunuch Xia ignored Fu Wei, walking straight through the familiar path toward the inner house while saying, "Consort Guifei has sent me to pay respects to Prince Ning on her behalf."

Inside the main sleeping chamber of the central courtyard, Prince Ning was lying on the kang bed, his complexion ashen, his beard short, and his eyes half-open. Perhaps due to excessive worry and poor health, his wrinkles were distinctly visible, making him look like a man in his forties, completely unlike the handsome prince who, just a decade earlier, had galloped across battlefields.

Princess Ning was also standing by the kang with a pale and yellowish complexion, attending to him.

Upon entering the room, Eunuch Xia announced he was there to deliver a message from Consort Guifei. He also showed consideration for Prince Ning’s serious illness, advising him to listen while lying down. The gist of the message was that Consort Guifei was deeply concerned about Prince Ning and had continuously been consoling the Emperor to let go of his grudges. She urged Prince Ning to rest assuredly, to take care of his health without worry, for when the Empress Dowager celebrates her seventieth birthday, a general amnesty would occur, and he might then be allowed to return to the Capital City.