Old Zhu looked rather weak, and he could only move slightly when Zhu Yunying was supporting him.

Zhu Su, along with Princess Ningguo and Princess Anqing, entered the imperial bedchamber, looking quite flustered. In their memory, their father had always been dignified and full of energy. But now, they saw an old man who could barely sit up.

Seeing his son and daughter, Old Zhu gazed at them with a hint of longing. Perhaps this was the last time he would see his children; for Old Zhu, who valued family ties so much, his children were the ones he couldn't bear to leave behind.

"Don't cry, we're not dead yet." Old Zhu was no longer serious, but just said with a smile, "Wait until we die before you cry, you'll have your time to cry."

Princess Ningguo wiped away her tears and said, "Father, please don't say unlucky things. Father will surely live to be a hundred years old."

Looking at his own daughter, Old Zhu said, "We don't want to live to be a hundred years old. These days we keep seeing your mother and your elder brother. There are many times when we don't want to wake up, but we just can't let go of the emperor and the crown prince."

Even now, Old Zhu is still so biased. But everyone seems unconcerned, mainly because it's become commonplace. If people still can't accept this, it just means they lack the capacity to accept it.

As they were talking, Xu Miaoqing arrived in a hurry with Xiao Xiaozhu, who looked like she had just finished crying.

Quickly blocking the little Zhu who was rushing towards him, Zhu Yunying said softly, "Don't offend your great-grandfather, be gentle."

The frail old Zhu smiled at little Zhu, his voice incredibly gentle, "Yin'er, we should go now. Listen to your father from now on, study hard, and become a good emperor."

Little Zhu was too young to control himself at this moment, crying out, "Great-grandfather, we don't want you to die, you have to live."

"Listen to me, everyone has to die when they get old." Old Zhu said gently to Little Zhu, "We should have died long ago, there's no point in living. These past few years I just couldn't let go of you and your father, now that we have no more worries, that's enough. Let us die, only death will bring us peace."

Zhu Yunying helped the old Zhu up and said to the little Zhu, "Don't make a fuss. Your great-grandfather dotes on you so much. Don't make him worry."

Old Zhu tried hard to raise his hand, but Zhu Yunying quickly grabbed it.

Looking at Zhu Yunying's face, Old Zhu smiled and said, "You've been intelligent and sensible since you were little, so we're at ease. If we leave, it will be hard on you."

"Grandpa, we're not suffering." Zhu Yunying forced a smile and said, "We still have the Empress, our children, and our brothers and sisters. We're not suffering at all, so please don't worry about us."

Old Zhu smiled with relief. "Ying'er, we know you've suffered too. You lost your mother when you were young, and your grandmother passed away early. Your father is gone, and we'll be going with him. Don't be lonely. You have people with you now."

Zhu Yunying smiled and said to Old Master Zhu, "Grandpa also said that we are not alone. When Grandpa saw Grandmother and our parents, he told them that we are doing well. Now that Grandpa has gone over there, he doesn't need to come back to see us. You all just need to be well over there."

Zhu Yunying's voice was also a little choked up as he said softly to his father, "We know that it's all been my grandfather's fault for holding on these past few years. He couldn't bear to leave us and Yin'er behind. Now you can rest assured that I can be a good emperor, and Yin'er has grown up. I hope you can govern the country well over there, and then we'll come to find you."

Old Zhu seemed a little anxious and quickly said, "Don't come looking for us too early, go later."

Zhu Yunying smiled and said, "Alright, let's try to go a little later. We don't want it to be too late, about thirty years from now will be enough. We'll probably suffer if we get too old and can't move around. Don't worry, Grandfather, let's have a family meal together when that time comes."

Old Zhu gently touched Zhu Yunying's hand, "Your uncle is useless, so take care of him. They are not as sensible as you."

Zhu Yunying said confidently, "Grandpa, don't worry, we will definitely take care of our uncles and will not mistreat them."

Old Zhu smiled and nodded, saying, "We want to drink."

Zhu Yunying quickly picked up his wine cup, but Old Zhu only opened his mouth and didn't actually drink much wine.

Looking at the entrance to the palace, Old Zhu suddenly smiled, "Father, Mother, you've come."

Everyone was shocked, and they could no longer suppress their grief.

Old Zhu was completely oblivious, his smile widening even more. "Little sister, you've come to pick us up? Biao'er, Biao'er."

Suddenly, Old Zhu loosened his slightly raised hand and tilted his head to rest on Zhu Yunying's shoulder.

"Father! Father!"

"Great-grandfather! Great-grandfather, don't leave!"

The palace was filled with weeping, and Wang Chengen, Shuangquan, and the others had all knelt down, realizing what had happened.

Supporting Old Zhu's body, Zhu Yunying couldn't hold back his tears. Perhaps he had prepared himself mentally, but when this moment arrived, he still couldn't bear it and couldn't help but feel heartbroken.

The Hongwu Emperor passed away peacefully, surrounded by his children and grandchildren.

The Hongwu Emperor is no more. This supreme ruler, who suffered hardship from childhood and was born into humble circumstances, has gone to another world to be with his family whom he could never let go of.

He founded the Ming Dynasty, expelled the barbarians, and restored China. He was the first emperor in history to successfully launch a northward expedition from south to north, recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun. Through recuperation and restoration, he brought peace to the land, transforming the chaotic end of the Yuan Dynasty from a time of widespread suffering to one of prosperity...

The achievements of the Hongwu Emperor need no further explanation; too many people are aware of his remarkable accomplishments.

He lived three years longer than historical records suggest that the companionship of Zhu Yunying and Zhu Wenyin provided Emperor Hongwu with some comfort and hope in his later years, allowing him to live an extra three years.

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