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Superstition is something that always involves believing what you want to believe and doubting what you don't.

Prince Zhou was already superstitious, and when Pan Yun displayed her abilities and said things that perfectly resonated with him, his belief, which was initially only six parts, became nine parts after some thought.

Prince Zhou was convinced that Zhu Zijin was his son, just one who had been born into the second son's family for some unknown reason. He anxiously said, "Go invite the Princess Consort, I need to tell her about this."

The attendant smiled and agreed, then went to fetch the Princess Consort.

Upon hearing what Prince Zhou told her, the Princess Zhou's face showed surprise, and she smoothly replied, "Is that so?"

She clutched her handkerchief and said, "Now that you mention it, Your Highness, I remember having a dream when Zijin was born. It turns out he was supposed to be our child..."

Prince Zhou: "Yes, yes, I remember too. You had many dreams back then and would often wake up startled at night."

But did she really have many dreams?

At that time, Prince Zhou's least favorite son had given birth to his eldest grandson, while his most beloved eldest son had no news at all. The Princess Zhou was under immense pressure and dreamt almost every night.

As for whether they were prenatal dreams, wasn't it up to her to say?

With the Princess Zhou's affirmation, Prince Zhou became even more certain that Zhu Zijin was his destined child, and that any talk of incompatibility was complete nonsense.

The Princess Zhou seized the opportunity to ask, "The Emperor dislikes Zhu Youxian. Will anyone in court object to Zijin being registered under our name?"

"I'll write to my other brothers and nephews and have them urge the Imperial Clan Court," Prince Zhou said. "This is my family matter, and if anyone is to manage it, it's the Imperial Clan Court. They all have sons to provide them filial piety, so why shouldn't I have my son?"

Of course, Prince Zhou couldn't personally write these letters anymore; he wasn't steady enough to hold a pen. So, he found a scribe from the mansion to do it.

He wrote over twenty letters to his close brothers, cousins, and nephews, and sent them all out.

The Zhu family, apart from him, were all very fertile.

The scribe's eyes blurred from writing, and he ended up staying overnight in the main courtyard. He continued writing the next day until he finished.

Once done, Prince Zhou had the attendant sort them out before sending them off.

Zhu Youjue had already learned the contents of his elder brother's letters and was consumed by anguish. "In just half a day, why is he suddenly so insistent on registering the name?"

Before, he had only asked Zhao Yuansong to handle the Imperial Clan Court, which offered a lot of room for maneuver.

If they could handle it, he naturally could too.

It was incredibly difficult to achieve something, but very easy to sabotage it.

As long as he could stall, and no progress was made before his elder brother's death, Zhu Zijin would be nameless and powerless. He wouldn't be able to get him onto the Imperial Genealogy, not even as an adopted son.

With Zhu Youxian as his biological father, he had plenty of ways to prevent him from becoming the Heir.

That's why he wouldn't do something as foolish as ambushing Zhao Yuansong.

That would be like handing Prince Zhou a handle to grasp.

As long as he didn't make any fundamental mistakes, and as long as Zhu Zijin wasn't officially registered, the succession from elder brother to younger brother would most likely fall to him.

But what if Prince Zhou could persuade those imperial clan princes to intercede...

The Imperial Clan Court was an institution that managed the imperial clan. Eight out of ten people there were surnamed Zhu, meaning they were essentially managing their own affairs.

However, the Imperial Clan Court didn't handle much these days; most matters were transferred to the Ministry of Rites. Perhaps he could start there...

Prince Zhou was also discussing the Ministry of Rites with Zhu Zijin. "Since Emperor Taizong, the affairs of the Imperial Clan Court have largely been handed over to the Ministry of Rites. However, matters like registering names on the Imperial Genealogy are still within the purview of the Imperial Clan Court. I've asked many members of the imperial clan to put in a good word for you. Make a note of the list later; if they help, remember to repay them in the future."

Zhu Zijin acknowledged this.

Prince Zhou said, "Tomorrow, I'll have the stewards of the estates summoned so you can meet them."

Zhu Zijin looked at Prince Zhou in surprise. He had been back for half a year, and this was the first time Prince Zhou had mentioned family affairs. Before this, he had only had two concerns: taking care of Prince Zhou's diet and daily life, and finding his son.

Prince Zhou looked at him gently and said, "Qie'er has been found. You should also focus your energy on other family matters. The Prince's Mansion will rely on you to support it in the future."

Zhu Zijin's eyes reddened as he agreed.

He glanced at the time and said, "Father, I'll help you get ready for bed."

Prince Zhou waved his hand, refusing, "Let the servants handle these things."

Zhu Zijin remained silent, then went out to fetch warm water and sent the servants away. He wrung out a cloth himself and meticulously bathed Prince Zhou.

He knew Prince Zhou disliked servants bathing him. Even if the servants didn't show it on their faces, their movements were sometimes heavy, sometimes light, and they clearly felt disgusted.

Not only Prince Zhou, but Zhu Zijin also knew they disliked serving Prince Zhou.

With a heart full of gratitude, Zhu Zijin took care of Prince Zhou, changed the water twice, helped him into clean inner garments and trousers, and then helped him lie down. He felt the quilt to confirm it was neither too cold nor too hot before withdrawing.

Under the dim lamplight, Prince Zhou sighed softly. That's right, Zijin was naturally meant to be his son.

The second son was the one who clashed with him, the one who was incompatible.

Pan Yun and the other two temporarily stayed at Prince Zhou's Mansion. They visited Prince Zhou daily and played with Zhu Tongqie, and time quickly passed.

Pan Yun spent most of her days cultivating. Every time she visited Prince Zhou, she would receive some rewards.

She was happiest when she received actual money. She didn't mind receiving jade pendants or gemstones either. What she hated most was receiving items with royal markings.

They were valuable, but unfortunately, they couldn't be easily converted into cash.

It wasn't impossible, just difficult. Such items could probably be sold in the black market, and she wouldn't be held accountable.

Pan Yun tidied everything up, counted the money, and planned to find time to send some to her father.

Xuan Miao seemed to guess her intention and said, "If you want to send something, do it after you leave Prince Zhou's Mansion."

Pan Yun understood after a moment of thought, "You're afraid someone is watching me, and they'll find my father from me, then suspect my identity, and then expose the matter of the Imperial Guards?"

Xuan Miao: "There are plenty of people in this world who want to please Wang Zhen. Your father offended him, and even if he forgot about it, someone would constantly mention it to him and keep suppressing your father.

Wasn't it because of this that they searched the Pan family before, and you accidentally killed an Imperial Guard?"

"And now, the power struggle in Prince Zhou's Mansion is fierce. We sent Zhu Tongqie back, snatching the meat from someone's mouth. How can they not hate us?" Xuan Miao said, "We are inside Prince Zhou's Mansion now. Once we leave, let alone being watched, our lives might be in danger."

Everything fears flaws, fears association.

She is capable, Pan Yun decided to listen to her.

During this time, she had already seen clearly that although Xuan Miao spoke little and wouldn't speak when she didn't have to, her calculations were precise and her foresight was far superior to that foolish and honest Tao Ji.

And she had lived in seclusion in the inner courtyards since childhood, her understanding of the outside world only coming from her father and brother. In reality, there were significant discrepancies, so she decided to listen to Xuan Miao.

Prince Zhou, who the imperial physician had declared was ready to prepare for his funeral, lasted another two months under Tao Ji's care. Even Zhu Youjue couldn't help but return to Xiangfu County first.

But few people knew that the two months were nearing the limit of Prince Zhou's body.

Tao Ji had a serious talk with Prince Zhou. In the end, he used acupuncture to make him fall into a deep sleep, preserving his bodily functions, and waiting for definite news from the capital before waking him.

Zhao Yuansong rushed around the capital with Prince Zhou's memorial to the throne and letters. However, not only was it difficult to get Zhu Zijin enfeoffed as Heir Apparent, but it was even difficult to get him registered.

This was because from the Emperor down to the officials of the Ministry of Rites, they all remembered how desperately his father, Zhu Youxian, had fought to seize the title of Prince Zhou back then.

The Emperor detested him, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court did not want to cause trouble.

Now, if they followed Prince Zhou's dying wish and Zhu Youxian reappeared to be disgusting again, and the Emperor blamed them, Prince Zhou would be dead and gone, but what would happen to them?

Therefore, no one was willing to take the risk.

It wasn't until other imperial princes and county princes wrote letters pleading on his behalf that the Imperial Clan Court relented, but there were still some who opposed it.

Thus, the matter was continuously delayed.

Zhao Yuansong knew that to have the Heir Apparent enfeoffed, they must first restore the registered name of the adopted son, so that it would be legitimate.

He took out the Prince's last letter, gritted his teeth, and requested an audience with the Emperor, delivering the letter to him personally.

The young Emperor was annoyed whenever he saw the Chief Clerk of Prince Zhou's Mansion, and his expression soured.

Prince Zhou had said he was dying long ago, but he hadn't died for so many years.

Zhao Yuansong knelt on the ground and wept, "Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from Kaifeng Prefecture. The Prince has fallen unconscious, and the imperial physician says it will be within these few days. This is the Prince's last letter submitted."

The young Emperor looked at the Imperial Guard beside him, who quietly withdrew.

A young eunuch took the letter from Zhao Yuansong and presented it to the Emperor. As the Emperor opened the letter, he said sympathetically, "Prince Zhou has fallen unconscious again?"

A moment later, the Imperial Guard returned and whispered a report in the Emperor's ear.

The Emperor was startled and became more serious. Frowning, he opened the letter.

It was a letter written by Prince Zhou, with Pan Yun as the scribe. He had already written one before, and the handwriting on this second letter was even more hurried and shaky.

The Emperor felt a pang in his heart as he read it and asked, "The Princess Consort has no children. Does Prince Zhou love the Princess Consort very much?"

Zhao Yuansong replied, "Yes." He vaguely grasped something and quickly began to speak about how Prince Zhou and the Princess Consort loved each other and supported each other.

The Emperor: "Since Prince Zhou and the Princess Consort are so deeply devoted, why is the Princess Consort unwilling to be martyred with Prince Zhou?"

Zhao Yuansong trembled all over and lowered his head tightly, "The Princess Consort is naturally willing, but Prince Zhou could not bear it. Furthermore, the adopted son is still young and needs the Princess Consort's help. Therefore, the Prince did not want the Princess Consort to be martyred."

The Emperor was moved by this. He thought of himself, of his father's love for his mother, and of his mother's affection for him. The fifteen-year-old young Emperor finally spoke, "Since this is Prince Zhou's dying wish, then let it be done according to his wishes."

Zhao Yuansong was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly, "Thank Your Majesty for your grace, thank Your Majesty for your grace."

With the Emperor's decree, the Ministry of Rites began to act. The feuding factions within the Imperial Clan Court also stopped arguing. Everyone watched as Zhu Zijin's name was re-registered under Zhu Youdun and Consort Gong.

With the official document from the Imperial Clan Court, Zhao Yuansong took the opportunity during the next court session to propose the matter of establishing the Heir Apparent of Prince Zhou.

The Emperor had been annoyed by them for the past two months. Since Zhu Zijin had already been re-registered, it was only natural for the son to succeed the father. With the Emperor's approval, the court agreed.

The Ministry of Rites took the opportunity to propose issuing an edict simultaneously to exempt Consort Gong and others from being buried alive.

Someone from the Imperial Clan Court immediately objected, "It's as if Prince Zhou is already dead. He's not dead yet, so why are you talking about burial?"

"Exactly, martyrdom sacrifice is an ancestral rule left by our ancestors, how can it be changed just like that?"

The Emperor frowned, "This is Prince Zhou's dying wish. It only changes his family, and does not involve other families. As long as he is willing, it is fine."