Furthermore, tung oil is water-repellent, making it one of the best materials for making waterproof items such as oilcloth and oilcloth. Palace buildings also required soaking in tung oil for better preservation.

Zhu Yunwen was at a loss for words, because he didn't actually know much about palm oil.

Zhu Yunying realized that although palm oil is not a staple vegetable oil for many Chinese people, and many are even unfamiliar with it, it is actually very common and widely used in the production of ice cream, biscuits, cakes, snacks, and convenience foods. It is also inexpensive and suitable for frying.

"It seems we need to punish the Embroidered Uniform Guard. We had those foreigners collect information on the customs and culture of the Southeast Asian countries, but they're probably only focused on the mines and the imperial court," Zhu Yunying said irritably. "The people of Southeast Asia have plenty of oil; can't they see that?"

Palm oil has a very long history, dating back four to five thousand years. It will remain the most produced vegetable oil, naturally implying its immense value.

Old Zhu looked at Zhu Yunying and asked, "Do you believe what Yunying said? We believe that the fruit on this tree can be pressed for oil, but we don't believe that the oil pressed from this fruit can be eaten."

It's no wonder Old Zhu was skeptical; some things did indeed shatter his understanding. When it came to pressing oil from the fruit of trees, Old Zhu's first thought was tung oil. But while that stuff could be somewhat useful if properly mixed, it really couldn't be consumed in large quantities. That stuff simply couldn't solve the problem of food and oil shortages for the people of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yunying replied matter-of-factly, "Of course we believe it! Japan has silver mountains, and our spies say Annam has even more copper mines than our Ming Dynasty. If they said those places also had trees with fruit that could be pressed for oil, we'd believe it too!"

Zhu Yunwen suddenly felt more confident and said, "Grandpa Emperor, I would never dare to joke about such an important matter. If anyone dares to deceive us, we will certainly punish them severely. Grandpa Emperor, there must be some fruit that can be used to extract oil."

Little Zhu suddenly jumped out and said, "Second Uncle, our eldest aunt and youngest aunt also contributed to the fleet. Do they know about this?"

Zhu Yunwen was speechless for a moment, then muttered, "I'm afraid they don't know yet, but I reckon they'll find out soon."

Old Zhu and Young Zhu were both capable people, and they naturally understood Zhu Yunwen's meaning. Unsurprisingly, the fleet brought back oil. The steward of the Wu Prince's residence was clever; he came to inform them in advance, which could also be seen as him seeking credit. As a result, Zhu Yunwen immediately rushed to the palace to claim credit, even though he knew very little about oil.

You have to be the first to claim credit; only by being the first to do so can you reap the greatest rewards, and that's only right.

Old Zhu thought for a moment and quickly said, "If it's really such a good thing as oil, Xi'er and Yue'er should be rewarded, but they're married now. If we're really going to reward them, Yun Teng is the smartest one; he's the one who got it done."

Zhu Yuanzhang's double standards were always present and very obvious. He treated his legitimate sons and illegitimate sons differently, and he also applied different standards to his sons and daughters. On many occasions, Zhu Yuanzhang did not hide his feudal and outdated mentality.

This time it seems to be the same. Zhu Xi and Zhu Yue are married, so they belong to other families. Therefore, if they really make great contributions, they can get some benefits. But the biggest benefits will definitely be reserved for Zhu Yunwen, simply because Zhu Yunwen is the Prince of Wu of the Ming Dynasty, a true 'family member'.

Zhu Yunying smiled and nodded, saying, "We are aware of these matters, so we won't try to take the credit."

Zhu Yunying doesn't really need such credit now. When the maritime ban was lifted in the early years, neither the old Zhu nor the eldest Zhu said much. But finding silver mountains in Japan and bringing back a lot of jewelry from Southeast Asia, then it needs to be publicized extensively.

All of this was thanks to the Crown Prince Zhu Yunying. If it weren't for Zhu Yunying, who would have thought that endless treasures could be found in those despised, remote overseas lands? What does this show? It shows that Heaven blesses the Ming Dynasty, and that Crown Prince Zhu Yunying is the chosen one.

Previously, it was necessary to consider increasing Zhu Yunying's prestige, but now Zhu Yunying has no need for that at all. He has already taken control of the court and possesses considerable prestige. Therefore, solving the problem of grain and oil is at most icing on the cake.

Old Zhu understood this principle, and Zhu Yunying naturally understood it as well. If there were any good vegetable oils available, Zhu Yunying would be allowed to shine in the process. Even if it seemed that Zhu Yunying was merely reaping the benefits without contributing anything, Old Zhu and Young Zhu were happy to ensure that Zhu Yunying received the greatest possible advantage in this matter.

There's not much to say about Zhu Yunwen's identity. Such a significant matter benefiting the country and its people wouldn't pose any threat to Zhu Yunying. He remained merely the favored younger brother of Emperor Ying Shi, nothing more.

At most, many people will say that the late Emperor Xiaokang was remarkable, and that the two legitimate sons born to the late Empress were very successful.

Zhu Yunwen was all smiles, probably because he could also see the benefits. As for whether the grain and oil from Southeast Asia were actually usable, there wasn't much to worry about.

If it's produced in large quantities and is truly practical, that would be ideal. But if it can't be widely distributed, that's fine too; it's just an auspicious sign that can be used for praise and celebration. There's nothing surprising about that, and many people are used to it.

The sight of rice with two ears of grain is an auspicious sign, and the discovery of some grain and oil is naturally also an auspicious sign. So why can't His Highness Prince Wu celebrate it?

Having finished his business, Zhu Yunwen, who had come to the palace to deliver the good news, naturally left voluntarily and obediently, as it was inappropriate for him to stay in the palace overnight.

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