Old Zhu leaned back on the couch, chatting with Da Zhu. Da Zhu, while chatting, was mostly reviewing memorials.

It was a brand new day. When the Crown Prince led his army back victorious from the northern desert, the civil and military officials in the court were all extremely excited. The praise and celebration were not only for Zhu Xiong Ying, but also to congratulate the Ming Dynasty on its eternal rule.

Old Zhu smiled happily; his son and grandson were both so successful!

Zhu Xiong Ying was unaware of all this; he was still researching muskets. Modern muskets were essentially just bronze or iron tubes, quite different from a real gun, which was something Zhu Xiong Ying wasn't entirely satisfied with.

Especially on this expedition, these muskets were basically only used to fire one shot at a time, which was definitely not acceptable for Zhu Xiong Ying. He didn't have the mind to talk about replacing cold weapons with firearms right now, but firearms should play a greater role in the war, and the research and advancement of firearms should be more significant.

"Damn liberal arts students, damn marketing!" Zhu Xiong Ying cursed under her breath. "Why didn't I study physics or chemistry? Now I can't build anything. Missiles are out of the question, I can't even make gunpowder, let alone glass or soap. I guess I'll have trouble making white sugar too. I'm a disgrace to time travelers!"

Calling him a "disgrace to time travelers" might be an exaggeration, but Zhu Xiong Ying felt that he had given the research institute a lot of manpower and resources, and it was time to see some output. Even though Zhu Xiong Ying understood that scientific research or technological improvement was not something that could be achieved overnight, he couldn't help but worry because he hadn't seen any useful improvements yet.

Is it because these people have been given such a good working environment that they have forgotten the spirit of hard work? Or is it because these constant preferential treatments have made them lose their ambition and become complacent, sitting here doing nothing?

It's not that Zhu Xiong Ying is overthinking things now; the main problem is that these achievements are really hard to talk about—they're practically nothing!

Seeing Zhu Xiong Ying's cold face made the officials and craftsmen nervous. Perhaps because the Crown Prince usually treated them well, they all felt that their current life was good, and they couldn't help but feel secretly pleased and valued.

However, now that they've been given attention, if they consistently fail to produce results, they might lose their value in the eyes of the Crown Prince. The possibility of being stripped of their former status is high, and they might even be exiled or demoted.

Zhu Xiong Ying remained almost entirely silent with a cold expression, and he didn't say anything harsh. However, his attitude and expression were enough to terrify many people, leaving his subordinates no room for idle speculation.

Thinking things through isn't a bad thing; it's better than just holding a position without doing anything. Zhu Xiong Ying has given them an opportunity; whether they can seize it depends on their performance.

Heroes come from all walks of life; even the son of an old farmer like Zhu Xiong Ying could sit on the dragon throne. Zhu Xiong Ying didn't believe in nobility or aristocratic families either. He believed that ability was the key to advancement, and contributions to the development of the Ming Dynasty were the criteria for reward. This was Zhu Xiong Ying's attitude—simple and direct.

Back at Fulong Palace, Zhu Xiong Ying remembered something: "On the occasion of my mother's death, no meat is allowed in the palace for three days."

In fact, Zhu Xiong Ying didn't need to say anything; Wang Cheng En had already given the order. Having served Zhu Xiong Ying for so many years, Wang Cheng En naturally knew that the birthdays and death anniversaries of the Empress and the Crown Princess, as well as the Grandson of the Crown Prince, were to be honored with sacrifices.

A few days ago, Wang Chengen cautiously told the Crown Prince's wife that His Highness had said that for three days, no meat or fish and no dancing or music were allowed, but according to the Crown Prince's standards, it should actually be seven days. The Crown Prince has always been like this, lenient with others and strict with himself.

Zhu Xiong Ying felt that it was necessary to consider things more comprehensively, even if it meant sleeping in separate rooms. He was used to this; many people were watching his every move, recording, reporting, or gossiping about him, both openly and secretly.

For example, in Yingtian Prefecture, although many civil officials disliked Zhu Xiong Ying's close association with nobles and his fondness for martial arts, they never dared to say that Zhu Xiong Ying was unfilial. In their eyes, the Crown Prince was the epitome of filial piety.

Such a reputation might seem useless at first glance, but Zhu Xiong Ying knew very well that in such times, reputation was extremely important. Especially for the foundation of the nation, this reputation could be considered one of his political assets, so he naturally wouldn't be careless about it.