After helping Old Zhu wash up, Zhu Xiong Ying covered Old Zhu with a blanket and then lay down to sleep as well.

Old Zhu squinted and said to Zhu Xiong Ying, "Ying'er, we're getting old. We think our time is almost up. Why don't we make preparations so you can ascend the throne? We'll abdicate and stay in Yingtian Prefecture, while you go to Beiping."

Zhu Xiong Ying was silent for a moment, but did not refuse. "Alright, I'll have someone make some preparations later."

Old Zhu suddenly opened his eyes, and as he turned to the side, he kicked Zhu Xiong Ying hard. "Others abdicate after three refusals. You, on the other hand, just agreed?! Are you in such a hurry to ascend the throne?"

Zhu Xiong Ying chuckled, showing no remorse. "Grandfather, we've known about this for a long time. In other places, I would be more modest. But in these matters, I have no intention of being modest. Ascending the throne is my responsibility."

Old Zhu didn't object. He knew his grandson had the ability. "That's true. Our Ying'er has the ability. You've been smart since you were little. Although you haven't been handling government affairs for long, you've been around us since you were very young and have seen many memorials. Your father and I haven't hidden anything from you, so you know about these things."

This is why Zhu Xiong Ying received a different education than others. Emperor Zhu and Emperor Xiao Zhu did indeed groom Zhu Xiong Ying as their successor from the very beginning. So while the other royal children studied at the Imperial Academy, Zhu Xiong Ying would occasionally attend classes, but he would spend most of his time reading memorials and listening to Emperor Zhu and Emperor Da Zhu discuss state affairs.

Old Zhu continued, "We figured that since it's a relocation of the capital, it won't be done well in a year or two. We'll stay here and hold things together, so you can settle down in Beiping. If your father were here, it would just be the two of us, grandfather and grandson, here."

Zhu Xiong Ying was silent for a moment, then said, "Yin'er is still young. Let him stay in Yingtian Prefecture for the next two years. Grandfather will take care of Yin'er then."

Old Zhu was very satisfied with this arrangement. "That's fine! By then, we won't have much to do, and we can enjoy our retirement with our grandchildren. We won't have to worry about government affairs anymore."

When Lao Zhu said these things, Zhu Xiong Ying didn't believe it at all, because that was not in Lao Zhu's character at all.

Zhu Xiong Ying thought for a moment and said to Old Zhu, "Grandfather, let's change the ancestral precepts. In the future, when the emperor reaches the age of seventy, he should abdicate and be helped off on his journey. I think that's a good idea."

Old Zhu sat up abruptly and said to Zhu Xiong Ying, "Ying'er, is it because we're almost seventy, or is that really what you're thinking?"

Zhu Xiong Ying became serious and spoke her thoughts, "Grandfather, let's put other things aside for now. Even someone like you, at your age, is finding it a bit difficult. Ordinary people at this age are already quite frail. But I'm not afraid. I think that as people get older, their minds sometimes aren't as sharp."

Old Zhu kicked Zhu Xiong Ying again and said, "I'm not senile yet!"

“But I’m afraid my descendants will become senile in the future. I’m thinking that when the time comes, I can abdicate and keep an eye on things from the side.” Zhu Xiong Ying spoke his mind without any concealment. “At that time, the succession of the throne will be much smoother.”

Old Zhu thought about it carefully, and then said, "That's true. Let's not even talk about whether we can live to seventy. When we get older, we are indeed more likely to become confused. If we are afraid of death then and follow the example of Emperor Wu of Han or Emperor Taizong of Tang, then there will be trouble. At seventy, we can just settle down and become the retired emperor. That's a viable option."

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and nodded, saying, "That's exactly what I'm afraid of. What if you can't bear to give up the throne and make a mistake? That would cause trouble. Our Ming Dynasty has always followed the proper rules of succession, establishing the eldest son of the legitimate wife. Let's further regulate it so that when he gets old, he can become the retired emperor."

Old Zhu thought about it carefully, then said, "Ying'er, in our hearts, it's nothing. If your father were still alive, we would have abdicated. We would be willing to give up the throne for you. It's just that we think our descendants might not be willing to give it up. Being an emperor emeritus is good, but nothing beats being the emperor!"

“You can hold onto the military power for now, but we’ll give you some administrative duties,” Zhu Xiong Ying said with a smile to Old Zhu. “Just like a few years ago, when my father was alive, what he did was exactly what an emperor should do. I’m doing the same thing, the only thing missing is sitting on the dragon throne.”

Old Zhu was both amused and annoyed. He patted Zhu Xiong Ying and said, "We didn't deprive you of your military power. We've seen what you've done. Come to think of it, this retired emperor is really something. Even if you don't give him military power, he can still abdicate and retain some authority."

Zhu Xiong Ying didn't hide anything and continued, "If we were to relinquish all power at once, people would probably have doubts. Keeping the military power is better for keeping an eye on things. Now that the heir apparent of our Great Ming is secure, let's be even more decisive and establish the rules thoroughly here."

Old Zhu looked at Zhu Xiong Ying and asked seriously, "Ying'er, we're almost seventy. It's alright if we retire. We have no regrets. We trust both your father and you. We'll be at ease if you succeed to the throne. Ying'er, if we change the ancestral rules, are you really willing to give the throne to Yin'er when you get old?"

“When my grandson ascends the throne, I will appoint him as the crown prince. We established this rule at the beginning of the dynasty so that our descendants can follow it in the future,” Zhu Xiong Ying said. However, he immediately added, “But this grandson has his own destiny. Who knows, maybe one of them will come who doesn’t follow the rules. We can only do what we can for now.”

Old Zhu laughed heartily. His "Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty" had indeed been revised too many times. It had been compiled even before Zhu Xiong Ying was born. Over the years, it had been revised many times, including things like the prohibition of conquering foreign countries and the treatment of princes.

Now things are really messed up; another rule needs to be added to the succession to the throne, and who knows, some descendants might start complaining about it in the future.

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