Emperor Hongwu acted swiftly and decisively. While his grandson, Zhu Xiong Ying, remained confined to the Eastern Palace, Emperor Hongwu vigorously promoted many government policies in the court, which could essentially be considered national policies.

When Yan Zhenzhi, the Minister of Works, reported that the construction of Beiping City was basically completed and the imperial city of Beiping was almost finished, Emperor Zhu was even more satisfied.

Even though many civil and military nobles were still trying to resist, the opposition was silenced immediately after several of them were killed. Everyone understood that the man before them had risen from humble beginnings to the throne, and decisiveness, ruthlessness, and cunning were his defining characteristics.

Those who are smarter will cooperate by officially moving the capital two years later; the imperial court should even begin formal preparations for the relocation now.

From then on, Yingtian Prefecture would serve as a secondary capital of the Ming Dynasty, and the Six Ministries would remain there. The Ming Dynasty implemented a dual-capital system, similar to many dynasties in history. However, everyone understood that the center of power was about to change, and the emperor's residence would become the true capital.

There had been much discussion about this before. When Zhu Xiong Ying went to Beiping Prefecture to build the imperial city, many people noticed something was amiss. However, everyone also felt that it might be another case like Fengyang, where the construction of the imperial city was halted abruptly after only being halfway completed.

But this time was different; there was no room for negotiation. The next capital of the Ming Dynasty would be Beiping. As for the advantages and disadvantages, they had been discussed many times before, and Zhu Yuanzhang felt there was no need to continue the discussion.

At Zhu Xiong Ying's behest, Minister of Rites Ren Hengtai submitted a memorial arguing that funerary sacrifice was against the natural order. Since the Ming Dynasty was expelling the Manchus, many outdated customs should be abolished at this time. The practice of funerary sacrifice was also abolished, and Zhu Xiong Ying issued an edict forbidding it.

Even the royal family would no longer be forced to commit suicide by burial. As for those who had already been forced to commit suicide, there was nothing that could be done. The court would not reclaim the official positions or rewards of the families of the princesses who had been forced to commit suicide; in fact, the court would no longer encourage suicide by burial, nor would it grant any rewards.

This prompted many to sing praises, especially scholars, most of whom were still quite opposed to the practice of human sacrifice. Of course, some nobles and powerful families frowned, as human sacrifice was originally considered their "dignity."

Zhu Xiong Ying was still marveling at how decisively Zhu Yuanzhang had handled many matters during his confinement in the Eastern Palace. Especially the grand undertaking of relocating the capital, which Zhu Yuanzhang essentially accomplished single-handedly. Even any resistance was forcefully suppressed by Zhu Yuanzhang, preventing it from causing any real trouble.

One has to admire the extent of Zhu's control over the court, something Zhu Xiong Ying could never match.

Xu Miaoqing glanced at Zhu Xiong Ying's expression and asked cautiously, "Husband, are you going to court tomorrow?"

"I think so, the lockdown is over." Zhu Xiong Ying laughed, also a little expectant. "I've had a comfortable time, but I'm not someone who can stay still. Being idle all the time just makes me feel uncomfortable and uneasy."

Xu Miaoqing nodded, and then said, "The people from the Imperial Wardrobe came today and took the measurements of your concubines and others."

Zhu Xiong Ying paused for a moment, then said calmly, "Oh, I guess it's almost autumn, so I'm sewing some clothes."

Wang Chengen arrived and said to Zhu Xiong Ying, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has issued an imperial edict, ordering you to go to the Qianqing Palace to meet with the Emperor."

Zhu Xiong Ying wasn't surprised, and neither was Xu Miao Qing. Even if that mischievous Zhu Wen Yin were in the Qianqing Palace now, Zhu Xiong Ying would still visit it from time to time.

This time, Xu Miaoqing did not go with them. Zhu Xiong Ying knew that when it came to Old Zhu's instructions, one should listen carefully to the underlying meaning.

Upon arriving at the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Xiong Ying was stunned. He saw the chubby Zhu Wen Yin dressed in a black robe and a red skirt. The robe was decorated with five symbols: dragon, mountain, pheasant, fire, and ancestral vessel. The skirt was embroidered with four symbols: algae, rice grains, axe, and embroidered dragon, for a total of nine symbols.

This little guy is now wearing a nine-tassel crown, which is basically considered overstepping his bounds.

In fact, over the years, Zhu Yuanzhang revised the Imperial Ancestral Instructions many times, especially regarding clothing.

The emperor, of course, wears a twelve-tassel crown and twelve-symbol robes. The crown prince wears a nine-tassel crown and nine-symbol robes; princes wear an eight-tassel crown and seven-symbol robes; and princes of the second rank and the heirs of princes of the first rank wear a seven-tassel crown and five-symbol robes.

Old Zhu was in a good mood and said to Zhu Xiong Ying, "Ying'er, put on your new clothes and let us see them."

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at Old Zhu, her feelings somewhat complicated. "Grandfather, isn't it a bit too early?"

"Not early at all," Old Zhu said cheerfully to Zhu Xiong Ying. "There are only the three of us in the palace today, so don't make us help you get dressed. Hurry up and change into your ceremonial robes so we can have a good look at you."

A black top paired with a red bottom is what is known as "black robe and crimson skirt". The top is decorated with six symbols: sun, moon, stars, mountains, dragon, and pheasant. The bottom is embroidered with six symbols: algae, fire, rice grains, sacrificial vessels, axe, and axe.

The sun, moon, and dragon are on the shoulders; stars and mountains are on the back; and fire, pheasants, and ancestral vessels are on the sleeves.

In fact, the arrangement and distribution of the twelve articles varied from dynasty to dynasty, but they were basically similar.

The crown has twelve tassels at the front and back, measuring two feet four inches in length and two feet two inches in width. It is black on the outside and red on the inside, round in the front and square in the back. It is adorned with twelve jade beads of five colors, in alternating red, white, blue, yellow, and black.

Old Zhu looked at his grandson with pride and satisfaction, "If your father were here, he would have seen our Ying'er ascend the throne."

Zhu Xiong Ying didn't know what to say; perhaps this was the void in Old Zhu's heart. Perhaps for Old Zhu, the greatest regret was not seeing his eldest son, whom he was proud of and satisfied with, ascend the throne.

Seeing that Zhu Xiong Ying remained silent, Old Zhu was quite frank, "My body can't keep up anymore, and I can't deny that I'm getting old. When we were younger, we didn't know what it meant to be tired. But now it's different. I can't sleep or eat. When I close my eyes, I see your great-grandmother, your father, and those old brothers."

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