For many people, outings are a common occurrence and there's nothing particularly novel about them.

Let alone members of the royal family, even ordinary noble sons don't find outings particularly novel. These people don't have much financial pressure; their lives consist mainly of eating, drinking, and having fun, but they certainly don't need to worry about much.

In fact, some wealthy merchants and gentry were quite enthusiastic about outings. Even literary figures were clearly more enthusiastic about such refined pursuits and found them very enjoyable.

But the true princes and princesses were born into a life of luxury, hardly needing to worry about survival. Freedom, however, was a luxury for them.

Ordinary members of the imperial clan no longer need to worry, as the magnanimous Emperor Ying Shi has not imposed too many restrictions on them, or rather, has given them considerable freedom. Although members of the imperial clan are no longer allowed to command troops or wield power, they are not forbidden from "employment," nor are they confined to Yingtian Prefecture or Beiping Prefecture.

For members of the royal family, traveling was no longer a novelty; sightseeing was no longer a luxury.

However, some outings are not just simple outings; they also reflect one's status.

For example, many noble families attached great importance to this outing, even though some nobles were still fighting in Goryeo or guarding the territory of Ming. However, their families were basically left in Yingtian Prefecture.

Regardless, these noble families all had heads of households who would arrange such matters. Being able to accompany the Crown Prince on an outing was an unparalleled honor. Those who were qualified would be happy, while those who weren't might feel inwardly anxious and uneasy.

For example, one could inform one's children in advance of matters requiring attention. If they could perform well in front of the Crown Prince and catch his eye, that would be ideal. However, even if they couldn't perform exceptionally well, they shouldn't perform poorly either.

These are the things they truly care about, not so-called security issues, which are not worth worrying about at all.

Zhongshan was already famous during the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. Its peaks are connected and resemble a giant dragon. The mountains, water and city are integrated into one, and it was once known as "Zhongshan is like a coiled dragon, and Shicheng is like a crouching tiger." Moreover, it is very close to Yingtian Prefecture. If Yingtian Prefecture were not so big now, Zhongshan would have been included within Yingtian Prefecture.

Zhongshan Mountain is now extraordinary, as it is the site of the Xiaoling Mausoleum. Although Emperor Xiaokang was posthumously honored, he was still an emperor, and this is a true imperial mausoleum. Moreover, the mausoleum of Emperor Yingshi is also under construction.

Although there are not many remains of Sun Quan's tomb, there are still some. After all, it is an imperial mausoleum, which can attract many literati to come here to reminisce about the past and express their heroic sentiments.

The Xiaoling Guard, who protect the mausoleum, numbered five thousand. These were the people that Emperor Zhu trusted most, his true core group.

Moreover, since the Crown Prince was going on an outing, the Central Military Commission of the Ming Dynasty had dispatched a considerable number of people over the past few days. There were no bandits or rebels in the mountains, and even wild beasts had been driven away and disappeared in the past few days.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Eastern Depot, and even the Yingtian Prefecture all dispatched banners, yamen runners, and other personnel to conduct repeated inspections.

There is indeed no need to worry about safety. Many people take the Crown Prince's outing very seriously and dare not be negligent in the slightest.

Outside the imperial city, the Imperial Guards and other elite guards, all looking incredibly imposing, waited in their finest attire on horseback. Inside the city, however, a young boy in a four-clawed dragon robe seemed rather displeased, slowly making his way towards the Meridian Gate.

Zhu Ruyi trotted after him and said, "Brother, let's ride in the carriage. We can ride horses once we're out of the city."

"We're going to be Marshal Zhu in the future, so why can't we ride horses!" Little Zhu said unhappily. "Among our clan, we're the best riders. We should ride horses in Yingtian Prefecture. That's what a dashing young man in fine clothes and spirited horses looks like!"

Zhu Wenkun quickly followed up, saying, "Your Majesty, you are the Crown Prince! Your Majesty, you should remain the Crown Prince, and I will become the Grand Marshal."

Little Zhu angrily pushed Zhu Wenkun away and said, "You can't be the Grand Marshal, Father won't allow it, and we're not willing either. Go, go sit in your carriage, I'm too lazy to talk to you anymore."

Zhu Wenkun obediently boarded his carriage, which was just an ordinary prince's carriage. Little Zhu's carriage, of course, was the Crown Prince's carriage, which was different from that of ordinary princes and was also a grade higher than that of princes of the first rank.

Zhu Wenkun couldn't be envious; he was just a prince and hadn't been officially appointed yet. The rules of the Ming Dynasty were indeed becoming increasingly strict.

Amidst the watchful eyes of the crowd, the Crown Prince's carriage slowly drove out of the imperial city, with countless people watching anxiously. However, they could only watch; no one dared to approach, as government officials and the imperial guards provided escort and protection along the way.

At this time, carriages of noble sons and imperial relatives gradually began to appear. This group of people were the most dazzling presence in the Ming Dynasty; they were the so-called chosen ones of heaven.

Standing on the Meridian Gate city wall, Zhu Yunying smiled and said, "Grandfather, when we went to Beiping back then, did you also look at us like this?"

Old Zhu glanced at Zhu Yunying and looked at the carriages and horses in the distance. "Back then, we wished we could issue an imperial edict to summon you back. We just felt so confused. Others could have done the work of building the capital. Why did we have to send you?"

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