Empress Ma had a headache, and then said, "Go find your grandfather and see if he will allow you to go see your uncle."

Seeing Zhu Xiong Ying run away in a flash, Empress Ma smiled and said, "Zhu'er, you must remember this. If you have children in the future, you can ask Ying'er to take care of them, just don't be unreasonable."

"Mother, I know," Zhu Zhu replied lazily, but also with great confidence. "I watched Ying'er grow up, and she is very kind to me. Even if I don't ask, Ying'er will take care of my children. If I do ask, she will do it no matter how difficult it is for her."

Empress Ma laughed, somewhat teasingly, "Aren't you afraid that Ying'er will change once she sits in that position?"

Zhu Zhu felt even more confident. Royal offspring were not simple. "Ying'er is the same as Father and Brother. It's hard to say how she treats others, but she is close to her own family. She is willing to suffer hardships and losses. Besides, I watched Ying'er grow up. She has always been like this since she was a child. Father and Mother taught her by example, and Brother also taught her from time to time. I am not afraid."

Empress Ma smiled but didn't say anything, though she was also a little worried.

Her son has this kind of personality, and so does her grandson. They both take good care of their brothers and sisters. These two silly children would rather suffer themselves than let their younger siblings be wronged.

Having the demeanor and magnanimity of an elder brother is a good thing, but sometimes it can become a bad thing.

Inside the Fengtian Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were reviewing memorials. The father and son worked together seamlessly to manage the affairs of the nation.

A young eunuch tiptoed into the hall and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived."

Zhu Biao put down his brush and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang. "Father, Ying'er must have something to ask of you, otherwise why would she disappear?"

Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes at his son and said irritably, "What kind of father are you?"

He then waved his hand and said, "Let the Crown Prince in. Don't stop him from coming in again. It's windy outside."

Zhu Xiong Ying crawled over the threshold using both hands and feet, and then smoothly lay down on the ground.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao exchanged a glance, the father and son finding it somewhat amusing: Only this foolish boy actually thought this trick would work!

"Grandfather, summon Duke Cao to the palace and have him take Sun Chen to the Imperial Academy!" Zhu Xiong Ying said solemnly. "The Imperial Academy has many renowned scholars and talented young people. Sun Chen considers himself a young talent and should learn from them."

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "A Confucian scholar? When did you become a Confucian scholar?"

"Your subject has read quite a few of the Four Books and Five Classics, so I suppose I'm half a Confucian scholar." Zhu Xiong Ying shamelessly admitted his belief. "Your subject has recently made some progress in his studies and should go and discuss it with the talented students of the Imperial Academy."

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled and patted the dragon throne. "Don't talk nonsense. We've known about your little schemes for a long time. Come and see, the newly appointed scholars are here. Go to the Imperial Academy; your uncle-in-law isn't there."

Zhu Biao chimed in, "Father, I don't know who Ying'er learned it from, but when she needs something, she's all serious. This child has learned to be thick-skinned and ruthless, yet she still pretends to be kind and benevolent."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his eldest son and asked, "Who did our eldest grandson learn from?"

He learned your thick-skinned and ruthless ways, and your outwardly benevolent and refined princely demeanor, but inwardly he is a ruthless and decisive emperor.

They're better off than us; we're black inside and out!