Zhu Yunying sighed and said, "Grandfather's achievements naturally do not need an imperial seal to prove them. However, Grandfather has always been thinking about the Imperial Seal. If we can help Grandfather find the Imperial Seal, then it will fulfill all of Grandfather's wishes."

Xu Miaoqing asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, is the Imperial Seal really in the hands of those Tartars?"

The Imperial Seal of the State is said to have been carved from the He Shi Bi jade by Li Si, the prime minister of the Qin Dynasty, on the orders of the First Emperor. It served as proof of legitimacy for successive emperors.

Throughout history, those vying for the imperial throne fought fiercely for it, causing the Imperial Seal to change hands repeatedly. However, it would appear and disappear intermittently, eventually vanishing without a trace, a truly lamentable situation.

The last time the Imperial Seal of the State appeared was in the first year of the Jingkang era of the Song Dynasty. The Jin army captured Bianliang (Kaifeng), and Emperors Huizong and Qinzong were taken captive. The Imperial Seal of the State was looted by the Jin Dynasty and disappeared after that. It is said that the Imperial Seal of the State appeared in Dadu (Beijing) during the Yuan Dynasty and was sold on the street. It was purchased by the powerful Mongol prime minister Bayan.

It is said that Bayan had all the imperial seals confiscated from various countries by the Mongol Yuan dynasty ground down and distributed to princes and ministers to be made into personal seals. Many people also believe that the Imperial Seal of the State was very likely destroyed at this time.

The Imperial Seal of the State was simply too special. Even if Bayan had indeed ground down many seals from previous dynasties, he couldn't possibly be unaware of the Imperial Seal's importance. Most of the seals he ground down were likely so-called "Emperor's Treasures"—those that were "self-made."

In fact, after Zhu Yuanzhang established the country, he also launched a northern expedition. He sent Xu Da into the northern desert to relentlessly pursue and attack the fleeing remnants of the Yuan dynasty. One of his main objectives was to seize the Imperial Seal of the State.

Zhu Yunying sighed and said wistfully, "Who knows? The seals that the Jurchens seized may not be the real Imperial Seal of the State."

Xu Miaoqing had read some books, and she knew that the succession of the Imperial Seal of the State had always been relatively clear.

However, during the Later Tang Dynasty, the last emperor, Li Congke, and his entire clan, along with Empress Dowager Cao, committed suicide by burning themselves in the Xuanwu Tower. Along with them disappeared the Imperial Seal of the State, whose provenance was previously clearly documented; the Imperial Seal of the State had vanished once during that period.

During the Song Dynasty, a farmer discovered the Imperial Seal of the State while plowing his field. Although thirteen scholars, based on records from previous dynasties, conducted extensive research and concluded that it was the Imperial Seal of the State made by the First Emperor, many people questioned its authenticity.

If the Imperial Seal of the State could be found, Zhu Yunying would naturally be overjoyed. Although the Ming Dynasty did not need an imperial seal to prove its legitimacy, finding this national treasure of extraordinary significance would be ideal.

The Imperial Seal of the State and the legendary Nine Tripods are symbols of supreme power, national unity, and prosperity; they are the true supreme artifacts of China!

If he could find such a treasure in his own hands, Zhu Yunying felt that he could be proud of it.

Zhu Yunying chatted with Xu Miaoqing for a long time, mainly about the Imperial Seal. He was quite strict in enforcing the rule that the empress dowager should not interfere in politics. Although some of their conversations seemed to relate to court affairs, they were merely minor details.

Little Zhu came back and immediately rushed over, "Dad, Mom, we're hungry."

"Hungry?" Zhu Yunying asked, somewhat puzzled, but then ordered, "Serve the meal. Prepare some snacks for the Crown Prince to tide him over."

Little Zhu might not actually be hungry. Others might be hungry, but they certainly wouldn't let Little Zhu go hungry. If nothing unexpected happens, it's probably just that the kid is greedy.

Even so, Joo Yoon-young couldn't bear to let his precious son go hungry, so he made some snacks for little Joo to tide him over.

Wang Chengen was naturally in a hurry to serve the meal; he had to act quickly. The Crown Prince being hungry was a very serious matter. If this news reached the Emperor Emeritus, many people would probably be in trouble.

"Yin'er, your uncle has won a great victory." Zhu Yunying said with a smile, holding little Zhu. "If the army returns victorious in a few days, shall we take you to welcome the invincible army of our Great Ming?"

Little Zhu leaned against Zhu Yunying's chest and said lazily, "Father, Great-Grandfather wants me to fight wars, but the world is too big for you to fight!"

Zhu Yunying was delighted, full of vigor and anticipation. "Your great-grandfather laid the foundation for the Ming Dynasty. Let's work even harder. When you ascend the throne, let's continue to conquer the world and leave a vast empire for future generations! Our Ming Dynasty will surely endure forever!"