“These past few days, Yin’er has been pestering us, insisting on taking us back to our hometown.” Old Zhu said to Xiao Zhu with a somewhat helpless look, “I know it must be you who instigated this, just because you feel more at ease when we’re not in Yingtian.”

Zhu Yunying was displeased and said, "Grandfather, I am your own grandson! It was I who urged you to go back with Yin'er. In Yingtian, no one is holding us back. Going back to our hometown to visit and offer incense to our great-grandparents is better than anything else."

It would be a lie to say that Old Zhu wasn't tempted. He had always been a filial son and maintained ancestral tablets in the imperial city of Yingtian Prefecture. Although he had returned a few years ago, Old Zhu understood that opportunities to go back were becoming increasingly rare.

Seeing Old Zhu's troubled expression, Little Zhu said earnestly, "Grandpa, your health is still good, so I think you should be fine. If anything happens, we'll rush over as fast as we can. Don't worry, Grandpa, if that moment comes, your grandson will definitely be by your side."

Old Zhu felt instantly at ease, and he was somewhat looking forward to returning to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors. However, he was well aware that his health was not what it used to be.

If there's anything left to worry about in this world, it's naturally his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This is what Old Zhu cared about most in his later years. If he couldn't see them for a day, he would feel uneasy and become furious.

"Shall we really go back?" Old Zhu said to Little Zhu with a hint of discussion, "We reckon we might not have much time left."

Zhu Yunying was silent for a moment, then said to his father, "If that's really the case, then Grandfather should go back even more. Offer incense at the tombs of our great-grandfather and great-grandmother, and have a good talk with them. Remember to put in a good word for us, because we didn't go back with them to govern our great Ming Dynasty."

"Yes!" Old Zhu agreed cheerfully, looking quite confident. "You haven't seen your great-grandfather and great-grandmother. They were both hardworking and simple people. They're reasonable and definitely won't blame you!"

Pulling little Zhu over from the side, Zhu Yunying said, "You have to keep an eye on your great-grandfather. If you feel uneasy, have someone send us a message immediately. As for those secret guards under your great-grandfather's command, you can get them for us."

Little Zhu immediately put on a mournful face and said, "Father, the secret guards don't recognize us, and Great-Grandfather won't give us secret guards either. They'll give us the Embroidered Uniform Guards instead, and they'll listen to us."

Old Zhu was both amused and annoyed. Pointing at Little Zhu, he said, "Once I breathe my last, the secret guards will be yours. We've already made arrangements for this. If you ask me, those secret guards aren't as useful as the Embroidered Uniform Guard or the Eastern Depot. They were somewhat useful during times of war and chaos, but they're pretty useless now."

Hearing what Zhu Yunying said, Zhu Yunying did not object, knowing that what Zhu Yunying said made a lot of sense.

The term "secret guards" sounds impressive at first glance, but in this day and age, these secret guards are not necessarily more useful than the Embroidered Uniform Guard or the Eastern Depot. Those people can only do more clandestine things and can be considered a life-saving force in the emperor's hands.

Zhu Yunying was very curious about the secret guards, actually because he wanted to unravel historical mysteries. For example, the mystery of Zhu Yunwen's whereabouts is a subject of much debate, with both official and unofficial histories arguing about it.

Old Zhu was somewhat expectant, but then he said, "My health is still good, I can manage. You stay in the capital and take care of the affairs of state. Spring is approaching, and the spring plowing cannot be neglected."

“This grandson naturally understands. Although our Great Ming Dynasty is not short of silver now, we also know that silver cannot be eaten.” Zhu Yunying said seriously, “Agriculture is the foundation.”

Old Zhu was naturally very satisfied with Zhu Yunying's answer. This grandson, whom he was extremely proud of, had always been sensible and knew his place.

Although his grandson was certainly capable of causing trouble, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. In the present Ming Dynasty, there was certainly the means to do so.

Moreover, although there were some things that his grandson was up to that he didn't like, and even some that he didn't understand, the results seemed good. The Ming Dynasty was becoming more and more prosperous, and that was enough.

He was already old and frail, and he had left his children and grandchildren a stable empire. Now that a capable grandson was governing it, Old Zhu was naturally at ease, and perhaps he could finally let go completely.

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