Within the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the air was filled with the sound of weeping. Yet, these were not tears of sorrow, but of joy. Empress Zhou held Zhu Cijiong in her arms, sobbing, while Noble Consort Yuan clutched Zhu Cizhao.
After some time, they finally composed themselves and dried their eyes. At a sign from Emperor Chongzhen, the eunuchs of the Directorate of Palace Delicacies began to serve the meal. As this was a private family dinner, they did not sit separately but gathered around a table, eating and chatting. Empress Zhou and Noble Consort Yuan kept their eyes on their respective sons, questioning them incessantly. Zhu Cijiong and Zhu Cizhao answered while casting cautious glances at Emperor Chongzhen, fearful of saying the wrong thing and incurring his displeasure.
As the meal neared its end, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly spoke: "You two have lived in Nanjing for a long time. I trust your studies and martial arts training haven't been neglected?"
Chapter 783