Inside the room, Zhu Di came in with the imperial physician.

"Your humble servant pays respect to Her Majesty the Concubine."

"Please get up quickly, Imperial Physician. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting outside for so long. Thank you, Imperial Physician. Why isn't the Chief Medical Officer of the Imperial Hospital here to diagnose your pulse today?"

"Reporting to the Concubine, it is like this. Today, the Emperor said that after the court session, he would have the judge of the Imperial Hospital go to see Marquis Deqing in person. His legs are not in good condition and he needs to be examined. I am the only one who can diagnose his pulse.

I have come here in a hurry so as not to delay Her Majesty's family dinner in the evening. If Her Majesty does not trust my medical skills, she can wait for the director of the Imperial Hospital to come in person.

Your Majesty, be careful. I have read your pulse case and will not give you anything casually. You have always been treated by the director of the Imperial Hospital. I will not prescribe medicine for others."

Concubine Xi didn't care about these things, he said with a smile.

"Imperial Physician, what are you saying? There is nothing wrong with my body. I have checked my pulse and it is normal. What could possibly happen? It is just a formality. Don't worry about it."

"Well, since the queen said it's okay, then I'm relieved."

Although Xu Miaoyun rarely stayed in the palace, he knew some of the rules there.

He understood that seeing a concubine and taking a pulse were very private matters, and he shouldn't just stand there and watch. Concubine Yi was concerned about Zhu Kai's face and didn't want to ask Xu Miaoyun to leave directly.

It would be better for him to take the initiative and go out directly.

"Your Majesty, please be quiet while taking my pulse. Although it is a safe pulse, we cannot be careless. After all, your Majesty is pregnant with a prince. I will go out first and not disturb the imperial physician."

When Concubine Yi heard this, she didn't quite understand these rules at first.

"It's okay to get it, Princess Sai, you're welcome."

Zhu Di also knew that it was better to avoid suspicion at this time, which was also for the good of his second brother.

"Sister-in-law, my brother is still waiting outside. Since you have already visited mother, why don't you just go back? The emperor has left the court, and we have to go to the queen soon. It would be inappropriate to see you not here.

It is unreasonable that my second sister-in-law has not seen my father since she came back. You should go back first. I will stay here with my mother and we will go over later."

At a young age, Zhu Di knew all about these things in the palace. He understood what it felt like to be surrounded by intrigues in the harem, and he didn't want any conflicts between his mother and the queen.

The Empress's methods of managing the harem were very clever. She was kind to the harem and lenient to everyone. Everyone in the harem under Empress Ma's management praised her.

Xu Miaoyun saluted Concubine Xi.

"Okay, what Fifth Brother said makes sense. I haven't seen my father since I entered the palace. I think I should go back first. Take care, Concubine Xi. I'll take my leave now."

"Yes, go ahead. Thank you and King Sai for coming to see me. Zhu Di, please send Princess Sai out quickly."

"Mother, please stay. Second sister-in-law is not an outsider and won't mind these things. It's just right for me to send them out first so that the imperial physician can feel the pulse with peace of mind."

Afterwards, Zhu Di sent Xu Miaoyun out.

"Second sister-in-law, mother is very grateful for your care for me over the past year. He is from the Mongolian tribe and is not good at speaking. He can't express many things clearly, so I will speak for him.

However, I'll put my marriage on hold for now."

Zhu Di knew in his heart that Zhu Gang was also Zhu Yuanzhang's son, and moreover, the biological son of Empress Ma. Zhu Yuanzhang didn't care about him at all. If he had any unnecessary thoughts at this time, it would arouse the emperor's suspicion.

While the two of them were talking, Zhu Kai walked in from outside.

"Why did you come out?"

"Your Highness, the imperial physician has already gone in. We must be quiet while taking your pulse. Besides, we have been making a lot of noise in the room for quite a while. Concubine Xi also needs some quiet time."

Zhu Kai understood immediately. It turned out that Xu Miaoyun came out to avoid suspicion. It seems that as a girl who grew up among royal nobles, she would understand some things more clearly.

When Zhu Di saw Zhu Kai, he quickly explained.

"Second brother, please don't misunderstand. It's not that mother wants to drive Second Sister-in-law out, but..."

Zhu Kai waved his hand and said.

"Fifth brother, you don't need to explain so much. I can understand Concubine Xi's feelings, and he is not a stingy person. He would not do this on purpose."

"Brother, I'm glad you understand me. I'm really grateful that you can't understand my feelings. But we don't need to be so particular about these things between brothers. Good brothers, in our hearts, don't need to explain too much."

Xu Miaoyun was finally relieved when he saw that there was no rift between the two brothers.

"Fifth brother, please go in quickly. You finally have the chance, so spend more time with your mother. The two of us will go back first. The emperor has just returned, so we should go see our father first."

When Zhu Di heard this, he immediately understood. Xu Miaoyun was Xu Da's daughter after all. Whether for public or private reasons, he had to meet Zhu Yuanzhang first.

You are a nuisance if you keep wasting your time here.

"If that's the case, then you should go back first. Besides, doesn't my second brother have to prepare a family dinner tonight? My second brother wants to show off his skills to everyone, so you should hurry up and get busy.

Mother shouldn't need too much help. She'll be fine after the imperial physician examines her. It shouldn't be a problem for me to stay here with her alone."

Zhu Kai nodded, and at this time he felt more sympathetic towards Zhu Di.

After exchanging greetings, the few people separated immediately. Zhu Kai took Xu Miaoyun and prepared to return to their own place.

At this time, there were only two of them left. Zhu Kai turned around, smiled and said to Xu Miaoyun.

"Why did you come out?"

"Although I don't live in the palace, I know the rules here. When concubines in the harem are pregnant and seeing doctors, it's all secret. Unless there are special circumstances, they can't be accompanied by other people."

"You actually know these rules?"

"Don't forget, I also came to the palace when I was a child, and before I got married, my mother and father also told me some rules of the palace."

Zhu Kai thought to himself that he had never expected that since the Ming Dynasty, medical treatment has been considered a personal privacy. It is not easy for someone like Xu Miaoyun to take the initiative to respect other people's privacy. "In fact, this approach is very correct. Everyone has their own privacy. Even if he has nothing to hide, he still has to consider this aspect. You did the right thing. I like you."

Although Xu Miaoyun didn't understand what Zhu Kai was saying, he knew that Zhu Kai was at least saying good things.

"Your Majesty, I would like to ask you what does a like mean?"

"It doesn't mean anything, I just want to compliment you."

"My Lord, you've been praising me so much lately that I feel embarrassed."

"By the way, what did Concubine Xi say to you just now in the room?"

"We didn't say much, just chatting casually, but the relationship between us is still quite awkward. He now wants to bring Zhu Di and Xu Miaojin together, but I don't think the emperor and my father would agree."

"But this matter is not something that anyone can decide. It still depends on the emperor's decision. Zhu Di just mentioned this matter to me. He doesn't want to raise this matter at this time and arouse the emperor's suspicion."

Zhu Kai nodded and said.

"Zhu Di is a relatively careful child. I don't know what he is worried about, but I think he and Xu Miaojin can still have a good talk about the matter."

"That's right. If I have to choose one among these brothers, I would rather choose Zhu Di. After all, this child has always been by our side and we have watched him grow up."

What Xu Miaoyun said were all sincere, and he admired Zhu Di from the bottom of his heart.

When Zhu Kai thought of this, he felt that Xu Miaoyun was a woman with her own thoughts and able to make independent judgments on everything. Perhaps it was because she had been with him for a long time that she had been subtly influenced by him.

He conveyed some ideas of modern new women, which led to her idea that she would never become a vassal or puppet of men in feudal society.

"By the way, Your Majesty, didn't you say you were going to prepare the ingredients for tonight's dinner? Are you going directly to the Imperial Kitchen or are you coming back with us to Kunning Palace to find the Queen?"

“My father should have come out by now, and the events of the previous dynasty have come to an end.

In fact, I should go directly to the imperial kitchen. The ingredients are already prepared there. If I leave them for a while longer, they might not be fresh anymore. But I'm worried that you'll be a little nervous facing your father alone, so why don't I go with you?"

Xu Miaoyun held Zhu Kai's hand and smiled.

"Your Highness, what are you talking about? I have been married to you for such a long time, and this is not the first time I have seen the emperor. Besides, I have grown up with you since I was a child, and I am quite familiar with my father. I am not that afraid.

Don't worry, I will face my father alone, there will be no problem, you should go and do your own thing, don't waste your time because of me, I don't want to be a drag on you."

Zhu Kai nodded and smiled with relief. With a woman like Xu Miaoyun by his side, what else did he have to worry about?

"Okay, if that's the case, then I won't say anything. I'll go directly to the imperial kitchen, and then you can go to the queen mother."

"Yes, but Your Majesty, have you thought about what kind of dinner tonight would be relatively new and something they have never seen before?"

Zhu Kai had already thought it through in his mind. After all, there were so many things they had never eaten in the entire Ming Dynasty. If he showed off a little bit of his skills, he would be able to surprise them.

Afterwards, Xu Miaoyun and Zhu Kai separated at the fork in the road, and Xu Miaoyun turned back to look for the Queen.

Zhu Kai went straight to the imperial kitchen. He finally felt a little relieved along the way. Today he also met Zhu Di's biological mother, Concubine Yi.

It seems that he is still very grateful to me. In this way, I can bring myself closer to them, but after this matter is over.

Zhu Kai did not plan to return to the border area, because he wanted to go to Qi and Lu to have his own new goals, but he had too many goals and there was absolutely no way to achieve them in a short period of time. He had to get support from others.

While Zhu Kai was thinking, he saw the eunuchs around him busying around, each of them was sweating profusely.

"Meet the King of Sai."

"What are you guys rushing for?"

"Reporting to the prince, the emperor just came out of court and will probably go to the queen's place soon. We need to prepare some things in advance for tonight's family dinner. The servants are going to go to the prince formally. He said he wants to prepare it himself."

"I see. Where is Father now? And my eldest brother?"

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is accompanying Marquis Deqing in the side hall next door, seeing a patient."

"Liao Yongzhong hasn't left yet, so what's wrong with him? He was born a military general and is as strong as an ox. What disease could he have?"

"I don't know about this. I heard that it was arranged by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Emperor. We are not very clear about it. If Your Highness is interested, you can go and take a look."

Zhu Kai suddenly remembered that a few days ago he had encountered the Jinyiwei commander-in-chief Mao Xiang secretly investigating Liao Yongzhong. He also had some doubts about these things.

It seems that Zhu Yuanzhang wants to kill him, but why does he keep him here for treatment? I just heard the imperial physician say something.

When Zhu Kai was wondering, he thought it would be better to go to the imperial kitchen first to tell them how to prepare the ingredients, and then go to the prince to see his brothers. It would always be easier for two of them to deal with him alone.

"You guys go and do your work first. I need to go to the imperial kitchen and then go find His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Kai then rushed to the imperial kitchen and watched them preparing in a hurry, everyone was in a panic.

They didn't even notice Zhu Kai coming in from outside.

One of the young eunuchs saw Zhu Kai coming in from outside in a hurry, and quickly knelt down and said.

"Your Majesty, I was so blind that I didn't see you come in and didn't have time to greet you. This is really rude."

Zhu Kai was very sympathetic to these low-level slaves. He never cared about these etiquette issues because he thought they were all rubbish.

It would be great if he could get rid of all the dross by himself.

"Every one of you is so busy, it's normal that you didn't see the king coming in. There's no need to panic. The king never cares about these etiquette issues. You should understand that."

"The prince is kindhearted and doesn't bother with us about these things. We are really lucky.

By the way, Your Majesty, we have almost prepared all the ingredients you asked us to prepare, but we really can’t figure out how to eat these fruits and beef together.” (End of this chapter)