It seems that Zhu Yuanzhang has truly made up his mind; he is preparing to abdicate and become the retired emperor.

Once these princes come to court, barring any unforeseen circumstances, they will be forced by Zhu Xiong Ying's strong pressure to acknowledge his throne, and the distinction between ruler and subject will be firmly established.

By then, even the greater good will be gone!

As for the ancestral precepts, there's no need to worry; they can be adapted flexibly. After all, when the princes came to court, Zhu Yuanzhang was still the emperor. These princes came not only to pay homage to the emperor but also to pay respects to their father, which is perfectly reasonable.

And if they happened to 'casually' attend the enthronement ceremony, that would be an unexpected turn of events, something the princes couldn't have imagined. As for their complicated feelings, they could only bow their heads and accept it; these princes dared not bare their teeth in front of their father, the emperor.

Looking at Mei Yin, Zhu Xiong Ying asked, "How many people still know about these things?"

"Your Majesty does not know." Mei Yin did not lie; he truly did not know. "Your Majesty merely instructed me to handle several matters. I am simply loyal to the Emperor's command and dare not speculate on His Majesty's intentions."

Mei Yin's statement was half true and half false. Although he couldn't be sure what the emperor was thinking or what decisions he would make, some of the tasks the emperor had entrusted to him recently had given Mei Yin some uneasy thoughts.

It wasn't about worrying about the emperor making an example of someone, much less about a purge. As the emperor's favorite son-in-law, Mei Yin was undoubtedly Zhu's confidant. And what Mei Yin was doing now looked exactly like Zhu the Emperor making his final arrangements.

However, Mei Yin had no objection to these matters, as he recognized Zhu Xiong Ying's position. He would simply do his best to assist the Crown Prince. Furthermore, considering the relationship between his wife, Princess Ningguo, and Zhu Xiong Ying, Mei Yin believed that even if Zhu Xiong Ying ascended the throne, he would still be highly valued and maintain his prominent status.

Without asking any further questions, after Mei Yin left the Wenhua Hall, Zhu Xiong Ying began reviewing memorials and summoning officials from time to time.

These administrative affairs were handled quite well by Zhu Xiong Ying, and it seemed that there were indeed not many unexpected situations. Most things were progressing smoothly, or there were some procedures in place, so it was just a matter of following the procedures.

There was no question of being unaccustomed to the situation; the title of regent was likely just a figure of speech for Zhu Xiong Ying. Whether it was the former crown prince Zhu Biao or the current imperial grandson Zhu Xiong Ying, they could be considered "executive vice emperors," frequently doing things that only the emperor was qualified to do.

After finishing a day's official business, Zhu Xiong Ying remembered something. "Tomorrow, let Yun Xuan enter the palace, and let Yun Xi come along too, so that I can test him."

Wang Chengen naturally remembered this matter. No task assigned by the Crown Prince was insignificant, and he would certainly handle it well. Moreover, this matter was indeed not difficult at all; forgetting it would be an unforgivable offense.

Now that many things have begun to be prepared in an orderly manner, and that comprehensive preparations have begun for many things, Zhu Xiong Ying naturally needs to be even busier at this time.

Zhu Xiong Ying believed that he could do some things himself, and that he could consider things more thoroughly. He couldn't expect his grandfather to handle everything.

Upon returning to the East Palace, Zhu Xiong Ying looked at Xu Miao Qing and said, "Let's have dinner at Grandfather's place. I reckon Yin'er is out there causing trouble again."

Xu Miaoqing did miss her son. Since her grandfather, the Emperor, did not attend court, little Zhu would not be sent back to the Eastern Palace. In fact, Xu Miaoqing had not seen her son all day and was still very worried about him.

Spend more time with your grandfather. Zhu Xiong Ying knows his grandfather is suffering and values ​​family above all else. Spending more time with him at this time is not a bad thing.

It's not just Lao Zhu who would like and cherish this kind of life; Zhu Xiong Ying believes he would also cherish it very much.

Looking back, Zhu Xiong Ying knew that this kind of life might not last much longer. The future was uncertain, so she decided to cherish the present and the people around her.