To be honest, Zhu Yunying might have been a bit harsh, but he didn't think it was a big problem. As long as he wasn't ungrateful, that was fine. If an emperor was both harsh and ungrateful, then his reputation would be half ruined.

Although Zhu Yunying often didn't really care about his reputation, no one wants to be remembered in history with only infamy and a dark past that is constantly being mentioned. That would obviously not be a good thing.

Zhu Yunying was wary of both trusted ministers like Ru Chang and powerful relatives like Xu Huizu.

It wasn't necessarily because he feared they would rebel, nor did he believe they had the ability to do so. Rather, it was more due to the emperor's position and his desire to maintain a balance in the court; these were the fundamental reasons why Zhu Yunying appeared suspicious.

The lineage of the Prince of Zhongshan's family is unlikely to split up, or even if it appears to split up, it's only superficial.

As the head of the family and the eldest brother, Xu Huizu would not allow his younger brothers to even think about dividing the family property. At least not at this stage. The Zhongshan Prince's lineage must uphold brotherly love and respect in order to demonstrate the family education of the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion.

These are clearly not just the family traditions and virtues of the Prince of Zhongshan's mansion; in fact, the division of the family was inevitable sooner or later. However, it shouldn't be now. At least before the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the Xu family must not cause any trouble and absolutely cannot give others any ammunition against them.

When Xu Zengshou returned home from his official business, he was immediately summoned to the main hall by Xu Huizu for questioning. Xu Zengshou obviously had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

As the head of the family and the eldest brother, Xu Huizu's demeanor was impeccable, and he certainly commanded respect from his younger siblings. This was quite normal, given that he was the eldest brother; in this era, the eldest brother acting as a father figure was considered a matter of course by many, and Xu Huizu had indeed consistently disciplined his younger siblings.

Xu Zengshou was very honest. "Big brother."

"Have a seat." Xu Huizu nodded indifferently and said, "How did things go at the drill ground today?"

Xu Zengshou immediately perked up and couldn't help but complain, "Qin'er is still a bit spoiled. If it weren't for His Highness the Crown Prince protecting him, we would definitely have taught Qin'er a lesson. We are from a military family, how can we be afraid of being hurt!"

Xu Huizu said with some displeasure and worry, "Your sister-in-law comes from a humble family and has spoiled Qin'er a bit. These years we have been busy with official duties and often leave the capital, so you and your second brother should take care of things at home and discipline him when necessary."

This was naturally Xu Huizu's true feeling; he genuinely believed his eldest son was becoming somewhat spoiled. This was not a good thing, at least not for the Xu family.

Xu Zengshou complained, "Of course we know what's going on. It's just that Qin'er is on good terms with the Crown Prince now, and the two brothers are close. If we say a few words, the Crown Prince will turn around and scold us. We can only put up with it. The Crown Prince still respects you. As his fourth uncle, you only have some face in front of him."

Xu Huizu was displeased and slammed his teacup down. "Watch your words!"

Xu Zengshou was slightly embarrassed, but he still said, "Speaking of which, it's the Empress who dotes on Qin'er. Today, there was a martial arts demonstration at the training ground. The families of several military meritorious families should have returned early, but they were all kept behind by the Empress for a banquet. We can't say anything, and we can't afford to offend any of them."

They couldn't afford to offend him. They could scold their nephew Xu Qin if he misbehaved. In fact, many times Xu Qin was the one who suffered undeserved misfortune, the one who was made an example of.

Because of the others—not to mention the Crown Prince, there's the eldest son of the Founding Duke, the grandson of the Duke of Liang, and the Emperor's nephews and nieces. Professor Xu Zengshou dared not, and indeed had no way to, manage any of them.

Xu Huizu understood all this and could only say, "Just be mindful of your limits and don't go too far."

Xu Zengshou looked around and lowered his voice, saying, "Today, His Highness the Second Prince also took the Crown Prince to the training ground. It seems that the imperial army will soon return in triumph, and they want His Highness the Second Prince to experience some battles and boost his courage. If you ask me, His Highness the Second Prince lacks courage."

Xu Huizu glared at his youngest brother, but unusually, he didn't say anything more.

In truth, everyone knew that among the Emperor's children, the Xu family was most concerned about the Crown Prince. His Majesty currently had three sons and one daughter, meaning the second prince was not born to the Empress. Even knowing the Crown Prince's position was secure, the Xu family would naturally keep a close eye on the second prince.

Xu Zengshou added, "The Crown Prince is wearing that armor again today; it's frightening to even look at him."

Xu Huizu said calmly, "Don't be afraid, it was bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus. His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus is especially lenient towards those close to him."

Indeed, if a military officer used prohibited items, he would certainly be dismissed from his post and stripped of his title. Emperor Hongwu showed no mercy whatsoever. If you don't believe me, just look at the fate of Liao Yongzhong and others; even trusted confidants cannot overstep their bounds.

However, even if his own children secretly built a royal bed, Emperor Hongwu would only lift it high and then gently lower it. Prince Qin Min, Zhu Shuang, is well-versed in this, a prime example of someone without much fear.

However, back then, Cao Guogong Li Zhen took exceptional care of his brother-in-law, Zhu Yuanzhang. He exempted Li Zhen from regular court audiences, allowed him to pay homage without naming him, and even permitted him to wear a dragon robe with a five-clawed golden dragon. To make it easier for Li Zhen to see his brother-in-law, Zhu Yuanzhang also bestowed upon him a house in the inner city of the imperial city. In earlier years, Zhu Yuanzhang even frequently took his children to "visit relatives."

The First Emperor (Zhu Da) probably never wore a five-clawed dragon robe, but the current emperor, when he was still the Crown Prince, wore several sets of armor with five-clawed dragons, which was clearly somewhat presumptuous. However, since it was a gift from the emperor, it wasn't a big problem, and the Hongwu Emperor didn't mind.

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