Zhu Xiong Ying was speechless for a moment, then asked with some concern, "When Fourth Uncle's children come to the palace to pay their respects, how should they address the Crown Princess? Logically speaking, the Crown Princess should be their aunt."

“There is a distinction between ruler and subject,” Zhu Biao said irritably. “I have discussed with your grandfather that your fourth uncle’s three sons will be born to his concubine.”

Zhu Xiong Ying was speechless. History really is a little girl who can be dressed up however one pleases.

After Zhu Di successfully usurped the throne, he erased all of Emperor Jianwen's history, directly abolished the Jianwen reign title, and continued to use the Hongwu reign title.

Now things are really messed up; all three sons of Zhu Di's legal wife have now been born out of wedlock.

There was no way around it. Although there would certainly be people in the court who would voice their opinions, especially some pedantic scholars who would clamor, once Emperor Zhu had made up his mind, no one could easily change it. Especially when it concerned the position of the Crown Prince and his future faction, Emperor Zhu didn't care about such things.

His parents starved to death, he became a novice monk, and he was once a vagrant beggar who rose to power through rebellion. Old Zhu was not from an aristocratic family. As long as it wasn't something particularly glaring or contrary to etiquette, Old Zhu would turn a blind eye, as long as it didn't affect his plans.

Zhu Xiong Ying continued drinking, then said, "After we go back, it'll be time to discuss my marriage?"

Zhu Biao nodded, saying matter-of-factly, "It's time to arrange your marriage. You haven't taken in any maids or servants in all these years, and your grandfather has said so countless times. Ying'er, can you tell your father, but your health..."

Zhu Xiong Ying was speechless and completely stunned.

I have always been chaste, but I was suspected of being 'impotent'?

Seeing Zhu Xiong Ying's embarrassed expression, Zhu Biao continued, "Your imperial grandfather also asked around and said that there is nothing wrong with your health. If you are worried about having children, don't worry. Before the Crown Prince's wife has children, no one else can conceive."

Zhu Xiong Ying was extremely embarrassed and quickly said, "Father, Emperor! It's just that I feel too young to think about such things. Please rest assured, Crown Princess..."

In the eyes of the court officials, Zhu Biao was a refined and cultured crown prince. But at this moment, he gritted his teeth and slapped Zhu Xiong Ying on the back of the head, saying, "It's your twisted logic again! Passing on the family line is a major matter. You bear the weight of the nation's fate. How can you be careless about your offspring?"

Zhu Biao knew what Zhu Xiong Ying was thinking, of course. Old Zhu and Zhu Biao had been quite anxious these past two years because their son, Xiao Zhu, just wouldn't go for cabbages, even though they had specially found many fresh and tender ones.

He's almost fifteen, and in this day and age, there are already men his age who are fathers. If all else fails, those from slightly better-off families have countless concubines. As for the princes and grandsons of the emperor, who knows how many women they've had in their rooms.

But this little Zhu at home keeps complaining about his weak kidneys. He won't marry off his two younger sisters, and he won't allow them to get married early either, saying that it's dangerous for them to have children at such a young age.

"Xu's daughter is thirteen this year, and you know her too," Zhu Biao said irritably. "They're going to propose at the beginning of the year, but they won't get married next year; they'll get married the year after."

Zhu Xiong Ying breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll be sixteen in two years (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning). When I get married then, I won't be able to get married properly, so what can you do about it!"

However, Xu Miaoqing, the second daughter of the Xu family, cannot be considered a stunning beauty. She looks pretty and gentle, which is fine.

Marry a virtuous wife, and take a beautiful concubine.

After conquering Korea, fill the harem with a whole Goryeo girl group. After conquering Japan, see if Japanese women are really that 'domestic'. The Western Regions will have to be considered sooner or later; with Dilraba and Gulnazar already involved, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it...

Good heavens, I haven't even started my own marriage yet, and I'm already thinking about building a harem!

It's not that I'm overthinking it; the key point is that according to Zhu Yuanzhang's rules, the court officials couldn't interfere with matters like selecting concubines. However, some foreign states loved to offer beautiful women to their suzerain state.

Xiao Zhu needs to restrain himself and not go around picking up cabbages!