Zhu Yunying was quite proud of his crab-eating tools. This grandfather and grandson of the Zhu family had a significant influence on various aspects of Chinese culinary culture, popularizing many dishes.

For example, the tea-drinking method familiar to later generations was quite troublesome for ordinary people if it weren't for Zhu Yunying's efforts. His "improved" tea-drinking methods are similar to the tea culture of later generations. The crab-eating tools that Zhu Yunying is now developing can be considered a step towards popularizing the so-called "refined" way of eating crabs.

Zhu Yunying didn't say much more. Since he had nothing else to do, he decided to go to the Qianqing Palace. Eating crabs was one thing, but spending time with his grandfather and son was also something Zhu Yunying should do.

Little Zhu was very happy. Seeing Zhu Yunying coming over, he immediately shouted, "Dad, Mom just came over too, and our chubby little brother is here too."

"Oh, that's rare." Zhu Yunying couldn't help but laugh and said, "Kun'er didn't sleep today?"

"He's really making a fuss, even more so than our Yin'er." Old Zhu, holding Zhu Wenkun, was in a good mood and said with a smile, "This child is growing so fast, it's getting a bit tiring for us to hold him now. These little arms and legs are all so chubby."

Zhu Yunying wasn't surprised at all. She smiled and leaned over to take a look. "This child eats and sleeps even better than Yin'er did when he was little. If you ask me, we should keep an eye on him. Otherwise, we might have to save a Yun-hu for Yin'er."

Little Zhu got even more excited and immediately said, "That's great! Our little brother is going to be mischievous, and we're the older brother! It wouldn't be good if he were like Wen Jin. We like a mischievous little brother; it's good when he's being mischievous so we can discipline him."

Old Zhu chuckled and said, "He's still your son after all; he's trying to learn everything from you."

"Your birthday is coming up soon, and we were thinking of having a family meal together," Old Zhu said with a smile. "If it were really your birthday, the court would be too busy to hold a family banquet."

Zhu Yunying did not object to this, because it was basically the truth. Even if the emperor's birthday was not a major birthday celebration or something like that, and it didn't seem to be celebrated by everyone, the scale of the celebration would certainly not be small.

At that time, all civil and military officials and envoys from various countries will come, and the emperor's birthday will also be part of the political process.

Little Zhu touched Zhu Wenkun's face and said, "Dad, you just like eating crabs. What's so good about crabs? There's hardly any meat on them. If you ask us, it's best to eat meat, beef or mutton, or even fish if all else fails."

Little Zhu disliked eating pork, and for this crown prince who couldn't live without meat, pork was a taboo. So much so that Zhu Yunying worried that it wasn't impossible for the boy to abstain from pork like the 'Grand General Zhu Shou, Commander-in-Chief of the Army'.

After all, everyone knows that '豕' (shǐ) means pig, and everyone understands the common term for pig. The Zhu family, specifically Zhu Yunying, doesn't have any taboos about it, nor does Zhu Yunying himself. However, whether other descendants of the Zhu family would have such taboos is a bit hard to say.

Although Xu Miaoqing wasn't holding the child at this time, she couldn't sit still. When she was in the Qianqing Palace, Xu Miaoqing needed to act like a virtuous granddaughter-in-law.

Although there were maids and eunuchs to help, Xu Miaoqing was responsible for handling many things, which made her appear more 'qualified' as empress.

This is a matter of decorum; for ordinary daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law, it would be an impossible task to impress Old Zhu. But over the years, Xu Miaoqing has had her share of opportunities to shine, and she has personally organized almost every family banquet.

Little Zhu ran up to Xu Miaoqing and said, "Mom, you should talk to Dad. Crabs are considered cooling in nature, so we shouldn't eat too many crabs."

Before Xu Miaoqing could speak, Old Zhu said with great satisfaction, "Listen to this, even our Yin'er knows these principles, how can you, the emperor, not know them? If you ask us, crabs not only have little meat, but they are also cold in nature and not good. The elderly and women and children should not eat too many, and it's only you who has eaten them. Of this whole family, only you can cause trouble."

Zhu Yunying didn't care and lazily lay back in the chair. "To be honest, all these crabs of ours were transported from Gucheng, probably more than a hundred miles away. We won't eat the crabs from Zijin Lake, we'll only eat the crabs from Gucheng Lake."

Little Zhu was even more smug, speaking up for Zhu Yunying, "Even if our father eats crabs, mangoes and lychees still have to be transported thousands of miles away. Our father is the emperor, so this is nothing. If the emperor didn't want anything, that wouldn't be good either. As long as we don't live extravagantly, it's fine to eat well."

Zhu Yunying basically agreed with the younger Zhu's statement, and he did not think that the emperor needed to be frugal and simple.

As long as it's not particularly luxurious, there's naturally no problem. Zhu Yunying has no intention of compromising himself or anything like that.

Xu Miaoqing smiled as she set out the dishes and said, "Grandpa, Your Majesty, it's time to eat. Let me hold Kun'er, Grandpa, so you can rest a bit. Kun'er is almost sixteen pounds now, and my arms get sore from carrying him."

He's not exactly a completely chubby baby boy, but Zhu Wenkun's plump little body is definitely getting quite a bit of weight. Plus, he's starting to kick his legs and stretch his arms a lot now, making him increasingly lively and also quite boisterous.

Zhu Yunying smiled and said, "Don't make a fuss, the wet nurse can hold him. This child is fine, he's not shy with strangers now. Unlike Yin'er, who was ungrateful when he was little, crying and fussing whenever we wanted to hold him."

Xu Miaoqing didn't say much. She not only wanted her to be virtuous, but also to be obedient and docile. That was the best granddaughter-in-law in Old Zhu's eyes.

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