"drive!"

Zhu Ying turned around, glanced at the city wall of the capital, then raised his whip, led three thousand imperial cavalry, and galloped away, heading straight to the south of the Yangtze River.

For this inspection, Zhu Ying did not plan to take a carriage, but to inspect on horseback personally.

The carriage was moving too slowly.

At the city gate, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his eldest grandson's leaving back, revealing a deep reluctance.

Even tears were flowing from the corners of my eyes.

Deep down, Zhu Yuanzhang really didn't want his eldest grandson to leave him.

But he was also very clear that as the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, he could not be confined to the capital.

The former boss would also inspect the area every few years.

Only in this way can we eliminate some stubborn problems at the grassroots level and eradicate deep-rooted ills. We cannot always pin everything on the shoulders of officials.

Some decrees were issued from the capital, but by the time they reached the local areas, no one knew what they looked like.

As the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, these are things that he must inevitably experience.

Even if the county magistrate did not regularly inspect the local area, his power would be undermined, let alone the emperor who controlled such a vast territory.

Only by walking around frequently can the lower-level officials, common people, landlords, and even the garrisons feel the royal majesty, so that they will be wary and will not easily cross the line in certain things.

"Your Majesty, please take care of yourself."

Liu He was beside him. He took out a handkerchief and presented it respectfully with both hands.

After Zhu Yuanzhang took it, he wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.

When I looked up, I could already see my eldest grandson's figure, with only dust rising in the distance.

"Hey, my eldest grandson is gone now. I don't know how long it will take for him to come back. I miss him so much in my heart, Jiang Li."

"I am here."

"Notify the Royal Guards that all news regarding our eldest grandson must be reported every three days. No matter when, it must be delivered to us immediately."

"I obey your order."

After looking for a while, Zhu Yuanzhang turned and left.

However, without his eldest grandson's palace, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a little lonely.

Just as he was about to go down the city wall, Zhu Yuanzhang saw a familiar figure.

"Concubine Ning, why are you here and when did you come?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked in some surprise.

Concubine Ning walked over slowly, bowed, and then replied, "Your Majesty, I knew that the Crown Prince was leaving today, so I got up early and followed your Majesty."

Hearing these words, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a warm feeling in his heart.

If we talk about a confidant, it has to be Concubine Ning.

When I was young, I followed the elder sister and she always stayed by my side.

Holding Concubine Ning's hand, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly discovered that Concubine Ning's temples were already as white as frost.

Looking closely at the wrinkles around Concubine Ning's eyes, Zhu Yuanzhang laughed out loud: "Concubine Ning, you are getting old too."

Hearing this, Concubine Ning's eyes suddenly became moist.

I held His Majesty's rough big hand tightly and felt the warmth inside.

It was not until this time that Zhu Yuanzhang realized that he seemed to have neglected Concubine Ning for many years.

The former Concubine Ning was also very beautiful.

Ever since the ridiculous incident involving Prince Luhuang Zhu Tan, Zhu Yuanzhang actually still had some anger towards Concubine Ning in his heart.

They believed that this was because Concubine Ning did not discipline her well.

Although she was put in charge of the harem, he rarely went to see her.

Looking back on it now, I feel a little guilty.

Mr. Guo was very kind to him. His two sons fought for him in battles across the world. One died of exhaustion and illness, and the other, although still alive, was covered with scars and hidden injuries.

"Thank you for your hard work over the years."

Zhu Yuanzhang said with emotion.

Feeling His Majesty's sincerity, Concubine Ning really wanted to cry out all the grievances she had suffered over the years.

After the ridiculous death of her only son, Concubine Ning almost suffered a mental breakdown.

Later, I was ignored by His Majesty, and I became even more depressed.

If it weren't for her second brother, as the commander of the imperial guards, who was able to accompany her in the palace all the time, she didn't know what she would become.

But now Concubine Ning has become much stronger, and at her age, she doesn't care too much about many things.

As long as His Majesty still has her in his heart, that is enough.

"Your Highness, it's windy here, let's go back early." Concubine Ning said softly.

It was as if I had returned to the days when I was with His Majesty when he was young.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head and looked outside: "Yes, the wind is strong. I am old, and I can't stand even this little wind."

"I really want to live a few more years so that I can see how prosperous our Ming Dynasty is."

After saying this, Zhu Yuanzhang, supported by Concubine Ning, slowly walked down the city wall.

In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang's physical condition is still very strong, and his energy and spirit are also sufficient.

But the departure of his eldest grandson today made him feel empty inside all of a sudden.

That's why he looks so old.

…

In front of Kunning Palace,

Ye Yueqing stood at the door for a long time.

"Your Majesty, you have been standing for nearly an hour. You should go back and rest early." Guo Zhong served respectfully and said attentively.

When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was leaving in the morning, Ye Yueqing sent him to the door and stayed there the whole time.

After all, her identity is different now. According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty court, she cannot leave the palace and show her face in public at will.

Many people envy the beauty of the palace, but who knows that once you enter the palace, it would be difficult to leave at will.

This has been the rule for thousands of years, and even Ye Yueqing has no choice but to abide by it.

"It's okay, I just wanted to take a closer look. I always feel a bit bored staying in Kunning Palace." Ye Yueqing said casually after coming back to his senses.

When Guo Zhong heard this, he smiled and said, "My queen, why don't you go to the back garden and take a walk and admire the flowers? That should make you feel more relaxed."

"Over in the back garden, there are other ladies in the palace who are often there, maybe we can chat and relax."

After hearing Guo Zhong's suggestion, Ye Yueqing was silent for a moment and then nodded.

The back door of Kunning Palace leads directly to the back garden.

As soon as she walked onto the main road, Ye Yueqing suddenly felt her stomach churning: "Ugh..."

Guo Zhong immediately became anxious, and hurried over to half-kneel down, asking Ye Yueqing to help him: "My lady, what happened to you?"

Ye Yueqing held Guo Zhong's shoulders: "I don't know either... Ugh..."

Seeing this, Guo Zhong was so anxious that he shouted to the eunuch behind him: "What are you still standing there for? Go and call the imperial physician over."

The young eunuch behind immediately responded and ran out.

Ye Yueqing dry-retched for a while, but nothing came out. She just felt as if her abdomen was twisting and churning. She felt very uncomfortable and most of her strength was gone.

Guo Zhong hurriedly supported him and went to the bedroom to rest first.

I felt a little anxious, wondering if the wind was too strong and the queen had caught a cold.

Or maybe there was something wrong with the food and the queen was poisoned.

Thinking about the fact that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had just gone out today and the Queen had already met with such a disaster, if His Majesty knew what was going on here, he would be so angry that he would probably chop off his head.

Thinking of this, Guo Zhong felt a chill on his neck, as if he was about to be beheaded.

The main reason is that this incident came so suddenly and was too strange.

Thinking carefully about the meals we had today, they were all prepared according to strict standards and the young eunuchs had tasted them first.

Until now, there hasn't been any problem.

During this period, Ye Yueqing retched several times, but after lying down to rest for a while, her face began to turn rosy, as if nothing had happened.

Seeing the Empress like this, a light flashed in Guo Zhong's mind and he suddenly thought of a possibility.

Suddenly, the fear dissipated a lot, and there was even some faint excitement.

"Empress, are you feeling better?" Guo Zhong brought the water cup and asked softly after the Empress finished drinking.

Ye Yueqing nodded: "Much better."

Listening to the Empress's vigorous answer, Guo Zhong felt more and more that his guess was very likely.

But now, we can only wait for the imperial physician to come and take my pulse before we can know the result.

At this moment, Guo Zhong felt that time was passing very slowly. He turned his head from time to time and saw that there was no sound in the yard. He cursed in his heart: These guys are usually very efficient, but why are they so useless at this critical moment?

It felt like the days were passing by like years, and finally, I heard a series of hurried footsteps.

Guo Zhong didn't care too much and quickly stood up and urged: "Hurry up, hurry up."

The imperial physician had white hair and moved very quickly. The young eunuch behind him followed closely, carrying a medicine box on his back.

However, behind the two of them, there were more than a dozen guards following closely.

Seeing the appearance of the guards, Guo Zhong couldn't help but become nervous again.

This means that it won't be long before His Majesty knows about this and will come here immediately.

Seeing the imperial physician walk to the bedside and start taking the patient's pulse without saying a word, Guo Zhong's heart began to lift.

At this moment, Guo Zhong had never felt so tormented as he did now.

I just felt that every breath began to become extremely slow.

What does it mean that the emperor is not anxious, but the eunuch is? Guo Zhong’s performance is the most true portrayal of this.

Finally, the imperial physician withdrew his hand.

Guo Zhong asked hurriedly, "Old Doctor Liu, what's going on with the Empress?"

Doctor Liu smiled calmly and said, "Don't worry, Eunuch Guo. It's a happy event, a great happy event. The queen is pregnant."

Hearing this, Guo Zhong almost jumped up.

Pregnant?

Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's Consort, are you pregnant already?

She quickly calculated in her mind, and sure enough, more than a month had passed since the Crown Prince's wedding. According to the usual calculations, she was really pregnant.

When Ye Yueqing heard the news, she straightened up and asked, "Am I really pregnant?"

Doctor Liu stroked his beard and smiled, "Don't worry, Madam. I have been a doctor for fifty years, and I have felt so many pulses that I can't even remember them all. I can tell your pulse with just one touch."

"To be sure, I have diagnosed it three times, and it is absolutely correct."

Hearing the affirmative answer from Old Doctor Liu, Ye Yueqing finally breathed a sigh of relief, and then couldn't help but smile.

Guo Zhong took a few small steps over, tiptoeing carefully for fear of disturbing the dragon fetus in the Crown Princess's belly.

"Oh, my lady, please don't scare me, be gentle and lie down properly."

"If I disturb the dragon's energy, even ten lives of this old servant will not be enough."

Seeing the empress sitting up straight all of a sudden, Guo Zhong quickly began to persuade her.

When the old doctor Liu saw this, he said, "Eunuch Guo, there is no need to be so anxious. The queen has just become pregnant. A few movements will actually help the baby to grow."

At this moment, Guo Zhong was like an ant on a hot pan, anxious and fearful that the Crown Princess might have the slightest accident.

After hearing what the old doctor Liu said, he felt a little relieved, but he dared not relax his eyes, for fear that if he was not careful, the Crown Princess would make a drastic move.

At this time, a voice came from outside: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Then, Zhu Yuanzhang strode over, looked at the scene here, and said, "We heard that something went wrong with the Crown Princess. What happened?"

When everyone saw His Majesty, they naturally knelt down.

Upon hearing this, Doctor Liu hurriedly replied, "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Majesty. The Crown Princess is pregnant."

Zhu Yuanzhang paused: "What, really? We have a great-grandson?"

Doctor Liu quickly confirmed again: "I dare not deceive you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is indeed pregnant."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly: "Great, great, our eldest grandson is really capable. In just over a month, he has already given us a great-grandson."

"Good grandson, our good grandson."

After saying that, he looked at Ye Yueqing and said, "Yueqing, you should rest well in the palace during this period of time. We will let Concubine Ning come to accompany you."

"Other matters are the Chamber of Commerce's affairs. You don't need to worry about them now. Put them aside for now. The top priority is to give birth to our great-grandson safely and healthily."

Upon hearing this, Ye Yueqing felt a little helpless that she could no longer ask about the Chamber of Commerce's affairs, but in the face of His Majesty's concern, she was still ready to stand up and salute.

"No, don't move. Just lie still here and we'll call Concubine Ning over right away."

"She has given birth to a child before, so she is very familiar with it. She will know what to do when the time comes."

Zhu Yuanzhang quickly stopped Ye Yueqing from saluting and said.

Then he said to Jiang Li, "Go and inform Concubine Ning that the Crown Prince's Concubine is pregnant. Ask her to come over quickly and help take care of her."

Jiang Li clasped his fists and bowed: "I obey your order."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Ye Yueqing's still rosy complexion and said with some regret, "If I had known that today would be such a day, I would not have let my eldest grandson die so early. I should have stayed a few more days to accompany you."

"Who would have thought it would be such a coincidence. We have only been on the journey for a few hours and you, Yueqing, are pregnant."

"Then all we can do is send someone to inform our eldest grandson of the good news."

"I'm sure that when the eldest grandson finds out, he will surely be eager to come back."

Hearing this, Ye Yueqing said, "Your Majesty, can you not inform His Highness?"

Zhu Yuanzhang paused and asked, "How can you not inform your eldest grandson about such a great event?"

Ye Yueqing bowed her head and explained, "Your Highness the Crown Prince has just set out to inspect the local area and consolidate the Ming Dynasty."

"Although my daughter-in-law is pregnant, there are many people in the palace taking care of her, so I think she will be safe."

"It takes ten months to be pregnant. If Your Highness returns during such a long period of time, it will naturally delay state affairs."

"So I thought, don't rush to notify His Highness, wait a few months, His Highness will have finished his inspection, and then come back. It won't take long for me to give birth."

"This way, state affairs will not be delayed."

After hearing Ye Yueqing's explanation, Zhu Yuanzhang sighed in his heart.

She is indeed a good woman like my eldest sister. My eldest grandson is as blessed as we are.

"Okay, I promise you, I won't tell Da Sun yet."

"Wait for him to come back and give our eldest grandson a surprise."