Feeling utterly ignored, Zhu Yunying composed himself and slowly turned to walk towards his Eastern Palace. Since neither his grandfather nor his son liked him, he'd go find his younger brothers; there, he could at least feel a sense of belonging.

Preparations at Chunhe Palace were almost complete; it was the perfect time for a hot pot feast in early spring. After a quick dip of beef and mutton, along with some fresh vegetables, Zhu Yunying found his appetite greatly whetted. Even though he wasn't a heavy drinker, he could still enjoy a small cup of wine, which created the perfect atmosphere.

Upon seeing Zhu Yunying approach, Zhu Zhaohui and the others quickly stood up.

Zhu Yunying smiled and waved his hand, appearing very easygoing. "It's just the four of us brothers, there's no need for formalities. Sit down, it's been a long time since we've had a meal and chatted together, so don't be shy."

Zhu Yunxuan and Zhu Yunxi couldn't help but be nervous. They were half-brothers, and they both knew that their eldest brother was said to have been extraordinary since childhood. When their "father" was alive, their eldest brother was the Crown Prince and had long since been "established as the Eastern Palace." Their grandfather had always only ever had eyes for their eldest brother.

And now, their eldest brother sits on the dragon throne, becoming the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Looking at Zhu Yunxuan and Zhu Yunxi, Zhu Yunying said, "Fifth Prince is too young, not old enough to be made a prince. When you turn ten, your eldest brother will make you a prince. As for Fourth Prince, we've been thinking about it, and I also chatted with your second brother a few days ago. Is the title of Prince of Song suitable?"

Zhu Yunxuan quickly stood up and said to Zhu Yunying, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty."

Zhu Yunying smiled with relief and said, "Alright, we talked about this before, so it's good that you know what's going on. In a few days, Grandfather will return to Fengyang to pay respects to our ancestors, and you and Fifth Brother will go with him. Eldest Brother can't leave, and your Third Brother is useless. You should talk to Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother to let them know that it's not that we don't want to go to pay respects to our ancestors."

Zhu Yunxuan and Zhu Yunxi, the two brothers, quickly accepted the order. They knew that their "third brother" was incompetent, but he was still the emperor's younger brother. Even though their "mother" had once been proud of educating her "third brother" well, Zhu Yunxuan and Zhu Yunxi both knew what kind of identity and role their third brother truly held.

Envy is out of the question; their third brother is a complete playboy, always breaking the law and disregarding etiquette. But the Emperor indulges him, and the Emperor spoils him. Everyone in Yingtian Prefecture knows that their third brother is even more esteemed than their uncles.

As for these younger brothers, their treatment was completely different from that of their third brother; their imperial brother simply didn't mistreat them.

Looking at Zhu Zhaohui, Zhu Yunying said, "You are old enough. We plan to confer a title of king upon you in a few days, together with the fourth prince. You will inherit the throne, but you must remember that the court is different now than before. After you return tomorrow, go to the Marquis of Wuding's residence."

Marquis Guo Ying of Wuding was Zhu Zhaohui's maternal great-uncle.

Zhu Zhaohui quickly stood up and said, "Grandmother once warned me that as the heir apparent of a prince, it is not advisable for me to get too close to nobles."

“You still have to go. If you are to inherit the title, you should tell them.” Zhu Yunying sighed and said, “You should look after the descendants of the former Marquis of Gongchang. After all, they are still your relatives.”

Guo Xing, the Marquis of Gongchang, was also a confidant of Zhu Yuanzhang, but he died in the seventeenth year of Hongwu's reign and was stripped of his title because of his involvement in the Hu Weiyong case. Guo Xing's descendants did not live in poverty, after all, their second uncle Guo Xing was still a marquis of the Ming Dynasty, and their aunt was still Consort Ning of the Ming Dynasty. However, they almost lost the opportunity to "advance".

Zhu Zhaohui naturally understood that this was his elder brother giving him an opportunity to curry favor and promote his maternal uncle's descendants.

Although he was just over ten years old, born into a royal and noble family, it was impossible for him to be completely without a bit of cunning. Fortunately, Zhu Zhaohui was the heir apparent of the Prince of Lu and an only son, so he could be somewhat carefree and a little naive.

He chatted briefly with his 'unruly' younger brothers, reminding them of some things they needed to be careful about. This was also a responsibility that Zhu Yunying, as the eldest brother, should bear, and Zhu Yunying considered himself a qualified eldest brother.

He needs to properly manage and educate the third generation of the Zhu family, and he needs to consider the well-being of these younger brothers.

Of course, Zhu Yunying also hoped that these younger brothers would live up to his expectations and be reliable when he needed them to do things. They shouldn't let him down.