With the official sacrificial ceremony concluded, a new year began, marking the arrival of the twelfth year of the Hongwu reign!

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Zhu Yuanzhang was in a good mood resting in the palace. Looking at the princes, young and old, as well as the concubines, he was in a very good mood.

Zhu Xiong Ying was running around with Zhu Xi, who could speak fairly fluently, while Zhu Yue, who couldn't walk steadily, could only watch anxiously. As for Zhu Yun Teng, he was busy nursing.

On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, Zhu Xiong Ying got up early and changed into his court robes.

The Crown Prince's entourage was already waiting at the Meridian Gate, with five pairs of dragon flags fluttering in the wind. One Big Dipper flag and one banner were in front, and one leopard tail flag was behind, each accompanied by three armored soldiers...

Outside the Kaiping Prince's Mansion, Lady Lan, the wife of the Kaiping Prince, and her three sons, dressed in court attire, were already waiting respectfully.

When the grand procession of the Crown Prince appeared, Lady Chang's eyes lit up, and the three brothers, Chang Mao, Chang Sheng, and Chang Sen, were also very excited. They had actually seen the Crown Prince's grandson before, but only a few times. Especially since the Crown Princess had only passed away less than two months prior, they were also quite anxious.

"Your Majesty, my entire family respectfully welcomes Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Your subject Changmao (Changsheng, Changsen) respectfully welcomes His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Zhu Xiong Ying hurriedly got off the carriage, and the Empress's personal maid, Yu'er, quickly followed.

Looking at Madam Chang, Zhu Xiong Ying began to weep, "Grandmother, your grandson has come to apologize..."

Lady Chang also began to shed tears, and quickly said, "Your Highness, I dare not."

Yu'er quickly whispered, "Grandson, Her Majesty the Empress has instructed us to go into the manor."

Zhu Xiong Ying realized what was happening, and so did Chang Shi.

Chang Mao quickly stood up and said to Zhu Xiong Ying, "Your Highness, please."

The main seat in the main hall was naturally Zhu Xiong Ying's place, even though he was only five years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning) and needed his maternal grandmother, Madam Chang, to hold him before he could sit down. But it didn't matter; the main seat was his.

"Uncle, the Emperor has bestowed upon us a royal horse," Zhu Xiong Ying said to Chang Mao. "Uncle..."

Seeing Zhu Xiong Ying start crying again, the Chang family members hurriedly tried to comfort her, but in a flurry of activity.

Inside the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma had already heard the report. They knew all along that the grandson had started crying as soon as he saw Lady Chang, and that he had started crying again after only a few words in the main hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said, "Although Ying'er is precocious and sensible, she is still just a child. When our parents passed away, we were already fifteen. Ying'er lost her mother at such a young age, this..."

"Ying'er still has her father, grandfather, and grandmother. She can cry a little when she goes to her uncle's house." Empress Ma said with a worried look on her face. "It's good that she cried. I'm just afraid that the child will worry us and keep everything to herself."

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to remember something and sighed again, "Our eldest grandson is just too soft-hearted."

Empress Ma rolled her eyes at Zhu Yuanzhang and said irritably, "So, according to you, is it good that Ying'er is spoiled? Ying'er is considerate of the people in the palace and doesn't punish them for trivial matters. Is that a bad thing?! If you ask me, Ying'er will definitely be a good emperor who cares for the common people in the future, better than you!"

"It's good that he's better than us. I also want Biao'er to be better than us!" Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his voice and whispered, "I'm the founding emperor, the emperor on horseback. Bearing some infamy is nothing. Sister, I've made a plan. In a few days, I'll take action to get rid of Hu Weiyong! That traitor is the head of all officials, yet he dares not report to us about matters of life and death, demotion and impeachment! This Left Chancellor should be killed too!"

Empress Ma rolled her eyes at Zhu Yuanzhang, annoyed, and asked, "Can you tell me about matters of the court?"

Zhu Yuanzhang ignored the teasing and continued, "We've abolished the position of prime minister, and we won't allow future generations to appoint one. Then we'll see how these officials fight against the emperor!"

Looking at her smug husband, Empress Ma advised, "Chongba, I don't care if you want to depose the prime minister. But I must advise you not to kill too many people, and not to implicate too many others."

Zhu Yuanzhang slammed his fist on the table, "Don't meddle in matters of state; we know what we're doing!"

Empress Ma and Zhu Yuanzhang had a quarrel, and as a result, Zhu Yuanzhang went to visit the other concubines in a huff. He couldn't stay in Kunning Palace any longer; the Empress just wouldn't listen to him. If only she could coax him someday!

Zhu Xiong Ying cried at the Chang family's house before being sent back to the palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang has also returned. We're not here to see the Empress; our eldest grandson is sad today, so we need to comfort him.

While eating, Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Ying'er, after the New Year, we're thinking of inviting some renowned scholars to take turns lecturing you. I've thought about it, and there are some talented young men at the Imperial Academy who can accompany you in your studies. That old scoundrel Song Lian isn't coming, but his son Song Shen is quite learned."

Empress Ma coughed twice, and Zhu Yuanzhang immediately realized that we must now respect our teachers.

Zhu Yuanzhang continued, “We recently had someone keep an eye out for Ru Chang from Zaojiang, Hengshan. He has a photographic memory for Tang and Song poems, could recite a thousand poems at the age of six, and was already well-versed in the Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean by the age of ten. Now he has been selected as a tribute student to enter the Imperial Academy, and we will have him accompany you in your studies.”

Zhu Xiong Ying listened patiently, but suddenly asked, "Grandfather, why has no one taught me military strategy, archery, or horsemanship?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Yes, yes! We've been thinking about it for a while, but our grandson is so clever, we have to choose carefully!"

Empress Ma was too lazy to pay attention to Zhu Yuanzhang. Originally, she was worried that her grandson would be too tired and thought he could start practicing archery and horsemanship when he was older. But now, how did it become that she was still choosing him?

Zhu Yuanzhang, in high spirits, said to Zhu Xiong Ying, "Ying'er, we rose from humble beginnings to rule the country, and our military skills are quite impressive. But remember this: you are the grandson of the emperor, and later the crown prince and emperor. Our grandson cannot be just a military man, nor can he merely command troops. Our grandson must be able to recognize and appoint capable people, and must keep those arrogant and unruly soldiers in check!"

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