Zhu Yunying could guess what Old Zhu was thinking, and he didn't think there was anything wrong with helping Old Zhu with some things.

Old Zhu only occasionally felt a little nostalgic for Li Shanchang. But he never regretted his actions towards Li Shanchang. Despite Li Shanchang being a petty and power-hungry man, he was a different story.

Old Zhu was even more cunning and vengeful in this regard, and his emphasis on power was far greater. With Old Zhu, only his eldest son and grandson could inherit power; no one else could even give him a second thought.

Zhu Yunying didn't think there was anything wrong with how Li Shanchang was treated; at least for now, it seemed like a decent ending. It was at least a relatively perfect ending for Li Shanchang, much better than having his entire family executed. At least his children and grandchildren had some protection.

According to the Ming Dynasty's garrison system, Li Shanchang's grandsons could effectively have a job indefinitely. At most, their rank would be lowered if their abilities were insufficient. Moreover, considering the special status of Li Shanchang's grandsons, not only would Zhu Yunying show them some respect, but Zhu Yunying's own children and grandchildren would also do so.

Although they couldn't compare to the top nobles, they were still far better off than ordinary people. At least they had no worries about food and clothing, and didn't need to worry too much about their future. They were relatively secure.

After talking with Zhu Yunying for a long time, Zhu Yunying stayed in the Qianqing Palace to sleep. As for Little Zhu, he really had no intention of coming back.

When Wang Chengen carefully woke Zhu Yunying, he naturally needed to get up decisively. There was no room for lingering in bed; Zhu Yunying was a diligent emperor, and unless he was on leave or ill, he would certainly get up promptly.

He was also a man with a strong desire for power. Some people think that being a carefree prince, indulging in eating, drinking, and having fun, is great. But Zhu Yunying always enjoyed his status and his job, and he relished having such great power.

Just as the palace maids were helping Zhu Yunying get dressed, the old Zhu slowly sat up.

Looking back at Old Zhu, Zhu Yunying said with a smile, "Did we disturb Grandfather?"

Old Zhu shook his head. "We're getting old, so we don't need much sleep. I remember when we took you to court as a child, it was the same."

Zhu Yunying chuckled and said, "That's true. Back then, we couldn't tell the difference between court robes and everyday clothes. We were just focused on going to court, and we would stand for hours on end without getting tired at all."

Old Zhu was even happier and said, "He's our grandson after all; he loves these things to the core. Yin'er is the same way. Other children don't like morning court sessions. He just loves those things. He'll stay up all night, or even just stand there without saying a word."

Zhu Yunying nodded seriously. It wasn't just little Zhu who liked those things; Zhu Yunying liked them too. So, if you really want to talk about it, there really is a bit of a genetic element to it—the desire for power is irresistible.

Since Zhu Yunying was already awake, he decided to have breakfast before going to court. In fact, Zhu Yunying's breakfast could be considered a late-night snack. Getting up in the early morning was indeed a bit too early, but he certainly couldn't go on without eating something to fill his stomach.

In fact, Zhu Yunying understood Zhu's thoughts. The older Zhu got, the more he feared loneliness. Furthermore, although Zhu always valued his children, he always cared most about the eldest son's lineage.

Old Zhu wouldn't feel disturbed by having his grandson dine there; in fact, he'd be happy. Even if he didn't eat, seeing his grandson enjoy his meal made him happy too. Old Zhu was also very happy when his grandson occasionally stayed overnight at the Qianqing Palace; he never considered sending him away.

"Bring the Crown Prince over," Zhu Yunying instructed, then said to Wang Chengen, "It's a bit cold now, let's use a sedan chair."

Actually, I just want Xiao Zhu to come over quickly, even though it's autumn now and it's not particularly cold.

"The birthday of the late Empress Dowager is just around the corner. It's been almost twenty years since she passed away." Zhu Yunying sat on the dragon bed and said, "Over the years, I, as her grandson, haven't been very filial. I haven't visited her many times."

Old Zhu looked at Zhu Yunying with a smile and said, "Your grandmother certainly won't blame you. She raised you and knows your character. You're busy with important court affairs, so how could you usually leave the palace? You haven't been able to pay your respects much over the years. It's enough for you to pay your respects at the Fengxian Hall. Yunhuo can go to the mausoleum, so it won't be a problem."

Zhu Yunying sighed and said, "With the relocation of the capital imminent, I'm afraid that once we go to Beiping, it will be difficult to see our Grandfather and Grandmother again. Our parents are also here, so it will be extremely difficult for us to come back."

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Old Zhu also fell silent. He knew he would definitely be buried in Xiaoling Mausoleum, but he also knew that his grandson would eventually move the capital to Beiping. Once the capital was moved, it would be very unlikely that he would ever see his grandson again.

Perhaps the family reunion will only happen after Zhu Yunying passes away and is buried in Zhongshan.

Old Zhu even understood that if he weren't still alive, the relocation of the capital to Beiping would have already begun in full swing. After all, the construction of the capital in Beiping had been underway for ten years, and a lot of preliminary preparations had been carried out, making the timing quite suitable.

The reason why the relocation of the capital has not been fully implemented is simply because he is still alive, and because no one wants to see the coffin of the Hongwu Emperor transported all the way back to Beiping.

Old Zhu patted Zhu Yunying's head and said, "You'll suffer then, but we have our own selfish reasons. We're sure we can find the mausoleum in Beiping. We just wanted to make sure our family is complete once you're back."

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