For Lao Zhu, returning to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors was something that would make him extremely excited.

Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Chu, once said, "To not return home in glory is like wearing fine clothes at night." Even after becoming the King of Wu and then the Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang did return to his hometown and pay respects at the tombs of his parents, elder brother, and sister-in-law. However, for Zhu Yuanzhang, returning to pay respects to his parents was simply something he should do.

Especially for Old Zhu, this was a real chance to "hold his head high." Although Marquis Yi Hui, Liu Jizu, was gone, his eldest son, Liu Ying, was still alive. His "godmother," Granny Wang, was gone, but Wang Wen was still alive.

These two were both of Old Zhu's generation and the children of his benefactors, which was incredibly exciting for Old Zhu.

Returning to his hometown would allow them to see his great-grandson, but unfortunately, his most promising son was no longer with him, and his grandson, who had become emperor, could not return home for the time being. Fortunately, both his former son and his current grandson had returned to their hometown before, and the elders and folks there all knew his children and grandchildren.

Zhu Yunying wasn't particularly worried, but he still had to say, "Grandpa Emperor is very particular about rules in the palace, but he doesn't follow those rules in front of us. Back in our hometown, Grandpa Emperor doesn't put on any airs at all."

Xu Miaoqing nodded naturally, knowing these principles. "Your Majesty, I know. Not to mention my grandfather, even when my father was alive, when we went back to our hometown to visit relatives, we didn't care about status, only about kinship and hometown ties."

That's not entirely wrong, probably because sometimes putting on airs can be quite prestigious. But sometimes, putting on airs just doesn't make any sense.

Who is Zhu Yuanzhang? He was the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, born in Guzhuang Village, Taiping Township, Zhongli County, Haozhou. Zhu Yuanzhang never hid his background and didn't mind others knowing that he was poor in his childhood, had herded cattle for landlords, and didn't even own a piece of land when his parents died. He was only able to be sent to Huangjue Temple as a novice monk with the help of his godmother.

Returning home triumphantly and proudly to show off his descendants was of utmost importance to Old Zhu.

Little Zhu had no idea he was about to become someone to brag about. He happily hugged his little sister and said, "Dad, my sister is the most fun."

"Remember to take good care of your younger sister when you go back to your hometown." Zhu Yunying smiled and said to little Zhu, "Our Yin'er is a little man. This time, you must protect your mother and take good care of your younger sister."

Little Zhu immediately got excited, probably because kids are naturally the type who like to 'do chores'. Giving them tasks and jobs can definitely boost their enthusiasm.

Looking at Xu Miaoqing, Zhu Yunying continued, "When you return to your hometown, your grandfather is still your elder. Even I, when my father was alive, had to be humble when I returned to my hometown. You are of noble birth, so even if the villagers in your hometown seem uncouth, you must not be impatient with them."

Xu Miaoqing nodded immediately, knowing this principle. "Your Majesty, please rest assured, after all, my hometown is also there."

Zhu Yunying remembered and said to Xu Miaoqing, "If you meet Wang Wen, remember to call him Uncle. After all, he is the son of the Emperor's godmother. The Emperor made him change his surname to Wang Da Niang's. If you meet Liu Ying, call him Uncle as well."

Xu Miaoqing understood all this. Although her father had never talked about these things before, her mother had often discussed the emperor and empress. However, it was best to keep many things to oneself; speaking them aloud would obviously cause trouble, and Xu Miaoqing did not intend to appear too shrewd in such matters.

Old Zhu is going back to his hometown, which is of course an extremely important matter. However, Zhu Yunying is also very clear that she doesn't seem to need to pay too much attention to this matter. Mainly, Zhu Yunying knows that Old Zhu can definitely handle these things.

Old Zhu is aware of these matters and can handle them himself. Clearly, Zhu Yunying, as his grandson, cannot arrange things for his father. All Zhu Yunying can do is instruct Xu Miaoqing; he trusts she can manage these matters well and knows what's going on.

Zhu Yunying also has other things to do now. For example, he is currently concerned about the follow-up arrangements for the Duke of Yansheng, including the upcoming war in the north. These are obviously top priorities for Zhu Yunying and cannot be taken lightly.

Whether it's the Eastern Depot or the Embroidered Uniform Guard, these are Zhu Yunying's eyes and ears, which allows him to pay closer attention to certain matters. For example, the current situation concerning the lineage of the Duke Yansheng has indeed caused considerable discussion and made many people feel uneasy.

His Majesty the Emperor has revealed his true intentions, and he seems completely unconcerned about the imperial examinations. Whether the scholars in the south or the north are making a fuss, they are all 'minor figures'; the Duke Yansheng is the one who truly matters.

Attending court was Zhu Yunying's job, which involved handling state affairs and engaging in power struggles with certain individuals.

"Your Majesty has a memorial to present!" A minister from the Hanlin Academy, his voice choked with emotion, cried out as he held up the memorial, "The Emperor Emeritus has already acknowledged the former Yuan dynasty's foundation, and the direct descendants of the Duke Yansheng have relinquished their titles. This is a matter of course, reasonable and lawful!"

At this moment, Guo Ying immediately stood up and angrily rebuked, "These barbaric bastards from the Yuan Dynasty, what right do they have to talk about etiquette and law! They are direct descendants of Confucius, why should they need the confirmation of these barbaric bastards?!"

Many people seemed to have realized that Guo Ying, the former confidant of Zhu Yuanzhang and the maternal uncle of the Prince of Lu, appeared to be on the side of impeaching Kong Ne, the Duke of Yansheng.

Those unaware might think Guo Ying is protecting the Prince of Lu's heir, but those in the know don't need to overthink it. Many understand that Guo Ying is merely a pawn, and it's quite possible that the Prince of Lu's heir is also a pawn.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!