Zhu Xiong Ying appears to be generous, but that may not actually be the case.

Granting official titles to his two younger cousins, such as second-rank or first-rank officials, is actually not a big deal. Some imperial sons-in-law and relatives of the emperor may seem to hold high-ranking positions, but they have no real power.

No one is perfect, and Zhu Xiong Ying didn't think he could be truly selfless. It's normal for him to want to take care of his loved ones.

After a pleasant lunch at the princess's residence, I only had a brief chat with my two uncles-in-law. Most of the time, I spent time playing with my two younger cousins.

Seeing Zhu Xiong Ying's rather mischievous antics that made his little cousin cry, his two imperial aunts were speechless. However, at this moment, they seemed to also see a childlike side in their nephew, even though he was no longer a 'child'.

Seeing that it was almost time, Zhu Xiong Ying had another stop to go. Amidst the reluctance of his two aunts and the respectful farewell of his two uncles, the rich young master Zhu Xiong Ying reappeared, taking his two younger sisters and his orphaned younger brother to his maternal grandmother's house.

The main gate of the Kaiping Prince's Mansion opened. Although Zhu Xiong Ying would come to the Kaiping Prince's Mansion on the second day of the Lunar New Year and on his birth mother's birthday every year, the Chang family never dared to be disrespectful.

Moreover, this time is different; the Crown Prince has brought along the children of the former Crown Princess, making it all the more significant. Furthermore, the fact that Lan Yu, who has returned to Yingtian Prefecture, was specifically summoned makes it even more extraordinary.

"Uncle!" Zhu Xiong Ying greeted him with a smile, then turned around, "Don't you kids know how to greet people properly?"

"Uncle!"

"Third Uncle!"

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded in satisfaction. His younger siblings were generally obedient. When they misbehaved, he, as the older brother, naturally had to resort to physical punishment, which was the simplest and most direct method of discipline.

Lady Lan was relatively happy, even though her husband had died young and her daughter had also passed away at a young age. But seeing her daughter's two sons and two daughters healthy, and seeing her daughter's eldest son become the Crown Prince, she felt that she had done right by the ancestors of the Chang family.

Sitting in the main seat, Zhu Xiong Ying looked at the rugged-looking Lan Yu and said, "Marquis Yongchang, my grandfather and father are very satisfied with the pacification of Yunnan and Guizhou this time."

"Your Highness flatters me. I will certainly do my duty." Lan Yu stood up, looking respectful. "With the help of our Great Ming army, the villains will naturally surrender at the mere sight of us. Those who try to stop us are not worth mentioning."

Lan Yu was a close confidant of Crown Prince Zhu Biao. With Chang Mao and others unable to take up the mantle of the Prince of Kaiping's faction, Lan Yu could be considered the future military leader of the Crown Prince's party. In fact, Lan Yu and Zhu Biao were indeed close, almost completely open with each other.

He has talent, but this Lan Yu seems to be getting more and more arrogant.

After the deaths of Chang Yuchun and Xu Da, he seemed to see himself as a pillar of the future. In particular, the death of Li Wenzhong, a member of the middle generation, made Lan Yu feel that he had become the military representative of the princeling faction.

This guy needs to be disciplined, otherwise he'll definitely fail. He's talented, a military genius, but his sharp edges are too much, which isn't a good thing for Zhu Xiong Ying.

Looking at Chang Mao, Zhu Xiong Ying asked, "Uncle, is there any inconvenience under the Duke of Song's command?"

Duke Feng Sheng of Song is now considered the top military figure. Especially after the deaths of Xu Da and Li Wenzhong, he has become the most powerful military figure in the court, which is also why Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang previously heavily promoted Fu Youde.

Chang Mao, being very straightforward, said directly, "There are indeed inconveniences. I am his son-in-law. Although we are both dukes, we cannot compare with him."

Zhu Xiong Ying remained calm and composed. To put it bluntly, Chang Mao was a dog son of a tiger father. He lacked both cunning and talent. If it weren't for Chang Yu Chun's contributions and the Crown Princess's influence, Chang Mao might have been punished long ago.

He was an alcoholic, irritable, and impulsive man. Because of his relationship with Feng Sheng as son-in-law, Chang Mao was largely unrestrained in the military camp, to the point of being somewhat reckless. Moreover, considering himself to be Chang Yuchun's eldest son and the Crown Princess's brother, he was even more domineering.

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and said, "In a few days, I'll find a job for you, Uncle. The north is bitterly cold, so you should go back to the capital."

Lan Yu immediately stood up, somewhat anxiously, "Crown Prince, the remnants of the Yuan dynasty are harassing the borders, and it seems that war will break out again in a few years. If Duke Zheng returns to the capital now, he may miss the opportunity to make a name for himself."

“Grand Uncle, we’re all family, so I’ll be frank,” Zhu Xiong Ying said. “My eldest uncle is no longer fit to lead troops outside, and neither are my second and third uncles. Grand Uncle, you can focus on assisting Father, while my uncles can stay in the capital and take care of Grandmother.”

Chang Mao panicked and quickly stood up. "Your Highness, have I done something wrong?"

Lan was so angry she jumped up and down, "How could I have given birth to such a fool!"

The Crown Prince's position is now secure, and the Chang family already has Lan Yu as their trusted advisor. To send another member of the Chang family to achieve merit now is surely an attempt to increase the power of the maternal relatives!

Even if they wanted to assist the Crown Prince, now wouldn't be the time. Right now, all the Chang family needs is for Lan Yu to step in.

Lan Yu seemed to realize this as well, and said, "That's true. It's not suitable for the Duke of Zheng to lead troops in the field right now. It's good that he's back, so he can take care of my sister."

"Originally, I was also going to the north to broaden my horizons, but with the passing of the Prince of Qiyang, that plan has been put on hold," Zhu Xiong Ying said with a smile. "Uncles, don't worry, your nephew will most likely still go out to gain experience, and you will have to accompany him."

Chang Mao and the others were taken aback. They naturally understood that Li Wenzhong had passed away. But according to the Crown Prince, if Prince Qiyang, Li Wenzhong, had not died, would the Crown Prince also have gone north to fight the remnants of the Yuan dynasty?

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