"Empress," Emperor Chongzhen replied with a faint smile to Empress Zhou’s inquiry, "this is a matter of great national importance. My actions naturally have their reasons."
"But I miss the Crown Prince! I beg Your Majesty to grant my wish!" Empress Zhou knelt, bowing her head and pleading.
Seeing the Empress’s humble begging, Emperor Chongzhen felt a pang of discomfort. If he put himself in her shoes, Empress Zhou’s situation was truly difficult. She had once had a greedy father, and just as that situation had improved, her father had fallen ill and was bedridden. Though she had children, none were by her side: the Crown Prince, Princess Kunxing, and Princess Zhaoren were in Nanjing, and Prince Ding was in Liaodong. The only child nearby, Prince Yong, Zhu Cizhao, was not even her own biological son (he was born to Consort Tian).
Chapter 1100