Confidence, that's how confident Lao Zhu was, and he genuinely believed he could handle these things.

Seeing Zhu Xiong Ying take off his armor, Old Zhu said with a smile, "We were just talking to Old Tang about how brave and valiant our Ying'er is. Now look at her, we underestimated her. Our Ying'er is even more robust than those strong men."

Zhu Xiong Ying immediately became smug and said with no small amount of boasting, "Grandfather, no matter how busy I am, I still practice for half an hour or an hour every day. When we were in Yingtian Prefecture, I asked you and Father to practice as well, but you both said you were too busy. I guess when I wasn't around, the second and third sons were too lazy to practice either."

Old Zhu smiled without saying a word. He and Da Zhu were really busy and didn't think that exercising was anything important.

Zhu Yunwen was corrupted by some pedantic Confucian scholars. Of the six arts of a gentleman—rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics—he only learned calligraphy. It wasn't art or moral cultivation; it was just the Four Books and Five Classics.

Zhu Yunwen, that foolish boy, was of a nature that Old Zhu knew all too well. Having such a good elder brother, he didn't study, spending his days eating, drinking, and having fun, utterly incompetent. Some time ago, he was allowed to leave the palace, and immediately the Imperial Guards reported that the foolish boy had gone to brothels and was indulging in pleasure...

"Grandfather, you are in good health, but you are getting old." Zhu Xiong Ying said earnestly, "Father, you always say you are in good health, but you don't pay attention to your health. This won't do. I'm worried that when I'm not in Yingtian Prefecture, Xi'er and Yue'er won't be able to take care of your meals."

Old Zhu glared at him, feigning anger, and said, "So, you've planted your spies all over the capital?!"

“Xi’er and Yue’er wrote down my family information, and my grandson has been keeping an eye on Shuangquan’s side as well.” Zhu Xiong Ying was not afraid at all and continued to persuade, “My grandson not only has spies in the capital, but also places them in front of Grandfather.”

Old Zhu didn't care, but said with a hint of helplessness, "We can just eat and drink whatever we want, we're not going to starve! Instead of watching us eat and drink, why don't you take a look at Lao San, that rascal, I really don't know what to say about him!"

Mentioning Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Xiong Ying sighed helplessly, "Although it's the responsibility of my grandfather and father, this brat is really causing trouble. I'll take him to Beiping later..."

Old Zhu said with certainty, "No, Yuntong must be with your father. You are in Beiping now, and we are in Tianjin. If your father and I are no longer here, there will be trouble. We are not afraid of those troublesome things, it doesn't hurt to leave room for maneuver."

Well, that's just Old Zhu's personality; sometimes he just likes to do a lot of preparation.

Old Zhu was in a good mood and said, "You'll soon have a younger brother or sister, because Lady Lü is pregnant."

Zhu Xiong Ying laughed, not at all surprised, "Father is a devoted man, and I figured it was about time. I had expected it."

Old Zhu glared at Zhu Xiong Ying; this silly boy was just pretending not to understand. But both sons were his flesh and blood. Old Zhu might not care about Lady Lü's life or death, but he cared about his precious son's feelings. Since Biao'er now doted on Lady Lü, Old Zhu couldn't do much.

There's nothing we can do; after all, Biao'er is our own son!