Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 77 The Crown Prince has arrived, please take a seat.

"Second brother, I think we need to join forces, otherwise the favor we've earned from our mother will vanish again."

"I also think it's very necessary."

In an instant, the two formed an alliance once again, reaching a complete consensus: if Xiao Si doesn't die, the brothers won't be able to sleep at night, and their minds won't be clear.

At this moment, the atmosphere in Kunning Palace had finally calmed down, and the factions among them had reached a certain degree of balance.

It was at this moment.

Footsteps sounded, followed by Zhu Biao's voice coming slowly from outside the palace: "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Biao stepped into Kunning Palace and came to the dining table.

While others might not know, Ma Wenxiang was well aware that this Crown Prince was one of the people who knew her identity.

So he quickly got up, not daring to act as he had with Zhu Di, Zhu Shuang, and Zhu Gang, and hurriedly went forward to help him up.

He is just a commoner, and he really cannot afford to bear this responsibility.

When the day comes, that will be a matter of losing your head.

"So it's the Crown Prince. On this special day, Your Highness, please take a seat."

As Ma Wenxiang spoke, he also reserved the seat she had just taken for the other person.

Zhu Biao refused, but was simply pulled to a seat next to him.

Upon arriving here, he discovered that Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang, who had previously shown him some respect, were now completely still, as if they had suddenly forgotten about him, their elder brother and the crown prince.

"Brother Crown Prince, please sit here."

Zhu Di stood up voluntarily.

"You two."

Ma Wenxiang glared at them angrily, and Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang reluctantly rose to greet him, saying, "Your subject greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The two shouted in unison, and then glared fiercely at Zhu Di beside them.

I thought that although we were scheming against each other and vying for Mother's favor, we would be united against the Crown Prince.

Now we've misjudged them.

Zhu Di was both amused and exasperated by this.

From a young age, apart from his father and mother, he had always followed Zhu Biao. He respected and admired his elder brother from the bottom of his heart. Although he sometimes had other thoughts, he was not as extreme as the other two.

"What brings the Crown Prince here today?"

After Zhu Biao settled down, Ma Wenxiang looked at him nervously, his heart pounding with anxiety. The casualness they had shown in the Kunning Palace was a far cry from their previous interactions.

Once Ma Wenxiang's mindset changed, everything naturally became very different.

Seeing their mother's increasingly distant attitude, Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, and the others breathed a small sigh of relief, hummed and smirked, and then suddenly became smug.

Ma Wenxiang was momentarily confused, not understanding what these two were up to this time.

Zhu Biao smiled slightly and then recounted the affairs within the inner palace, as if he were merely there to perform routine duties.

But what happens next?

His conversation with Ma Wenxiang was far too formal, lacking the usual mother-son affection. Instead, it felt like a distant relationship between ruler and subject, just like the situation in the Fengtian Hall and Wuying Hall.

Ma Wenxiang nodded, and every now and then he would stand up and stand next to Zhu Biao. Although he seemed close, there was more of a sense of unfamiliarity between them.

"Then Mother, please have your meal first. If anyone comes looking for you again tomorrow..."

"it is good."

Ma Wenxiang was stunned for a moment, then quickly agreed.

He couldn't have been happier to see the Crown Prince leave.

"Your Majesty, I will see His Highness the Crown Prince off."

Zhu Di cupped his hands and said.

The moment after Zhu Biao left, Ma Wenxiang returned to his original state.

Those who knew his identity were naturally trembling with fear; while those who did not know his identity naturally had a different attitude.

"Of course I have to see them off; we're all family after all."

You two go and see them off too.

Ma Wenxiang gave Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang instructions without any hesitation.

Although Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang were unwilling, Ma Wenxiang had just become estranged from Zhu Biao.

The two of them saw it all.

At this moment, I couldn't be more proud of myself.

Crown Prince, fortunes change, and I never imagined you'd be the one suffering a setback now.

They were all actually quite pleased with themselves, so they immediately agreed.

In a short while, the princes had left Kunning Palace.

No wonder.

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang were just putting on a show. After doing what Ma Wenxiang had instructed, they turned around and left as fast as they could.

Seeing this, Zhu Di could only smile wryly and explain, "Elder Brother Crown Prince, Second Brother and Third Brother are still somewhat childish. Please don't take it to heart."

"It's not that I'm really angry with my elder brother, the Crown Prince."

Zhu Di cupped his hands in greeting. At this moment, he still thought of his own flesh and blood and followed Zhu Biao's usual manner, showing brotherly affection and respect.

Zhu Biao smiled faintly and waved his hand, indicating that he didn't care about the matter.

But at this moment, his brows were furrowed and his face was solemn. He sighed slightly, as if he too had something on his mind. Under Zhu Di's puzzled gaze, he slowly left.

Zhu Di thought to himself: "My elder brother, the Crown Prince, is the most honorable Crown Prince. Could there be something that even my elder brother, the Crown Prince, cannot solve?"

That shouldn't be the case.

But Zhu Di was not one to dwell on trivial matters. Since he couldn't solve the problem or get any answers from the questions, he naturally put the matter out of his mind.

He turned around and looked in the direction of Kunning Palace again, and the smile on his face reappeared.

……

"Why were you different from your usual self when you treated His Highness the Crown Prince?"

As soon as the princes left, Ma Wenxiang began to swagger around and openly have his breakfast.

I heard this out of the blue.

He gave a bitter smile, knowing he had his own reasons for his predicament.

"My dear sister, that's His Highness the Crown Prince. Before he knew my identity, I could barely keep up. Now that he's a member of the Imperial Family, what about you and me?"

But I am just a commoner, how can I be treated the same as before?

"Ignorance is no excuse, and the Crown Prince is benevolent, and His Majesty is magnanimous; they can certainly convince themselves. But can they still do so now?"

Su Qing'er was speechless. If she were in Ma Wenxiang's position, she probably wouldn't have made a better choice either.

Sun Miaoran also chimed in, "Your Majesty need not worry too much about His Highness the Crown Prince. Ultimately, it is the other princes you should be concerned about. What you did just now was quite appropriate. However, in the future, you should show more care and concern for His Highness the Crown Prince. It would be a good thing after all."

"I see."

Ma Wenxiang rested his chin on his hand, his eyes slightly twitching as he began to seriously ponder these thoughts.

Gradually, he actually came up with some ideas, and with a slight smile, he had a great plan.

For some reason, Sun Miaoran and Su Qing'er exchanged a glance and suddenly felt a bad feeling.

However, after a long while, I wanted to offer some advice, but I just didn't know where to begin.

They made this suggestion themselves, so we can't go back on our word.