Chen Muyue suspected that she had heard it wrong.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince actually agreed to let me return to Annan to visit my relatives?

Is this true?

Is this really possible?

After being stunned for a long while, Chen Muyue trembled and asked Zhu Ying, "Your Highness, you...just said that you wanted me to go back to Annan to visit my relatives?"

Zhu Ying smiled, looked at Chen Muyue with eyes wide open and said, "Didn't you miss Annan just now? Why don't you want to go back when I told you to?"

Chen Muyue waved her hands and said quickly: "No, no, no, I just... just... didn't expect it to..."

Zhu Ying smiled and said, "It's just a matter of going back to take a look. It's no big deal. This palace is not a cage to imprison you."

"Annan is not that far away if we take the sea route. We can go straight down by ship and arrive there. It will be very convenient and fast."

"It only takes two months to go back and forth, and I don't have to worry about it day and night here."

"You have been in the capital for more than a year. You should go back and take a look."

"I will send 10,000 soldiers to accompany you and protect your safety."

Zhu Ying was not joking with Chen Muyue, he really wanted her to go to Annan.

The current situation in Annan, including the surrounding Champa, is now very unclear.

A rash military action would undoubtedly cause great chaos.

But if Chen Muyue returns to Annan to visit his relatives and sends 10,000 soldiers with him, the concept is completely different.

Firstly, it can be enough to intimidate some disobedient forces in Annan. Secondly, when arriving by sea, one must first go to Champa and then pass through Champa to reach Annan.

So from the perspective of arrangements, there is an explanation for the Ming Dynasty's garrison troops stationed at the border in Annan.

There is no need to worry about Chen Muyue's safety.

These ten thousand soldiers were not ordinary soldiers. Among them, at least five thousand were armored soldiers, and there were two thousand cavalrymen accompanying them.

And at least 8,000 soldiers will carry the latest models of muskets.

As long as it was not about conquering cities, Champa was invincible in field battles.

The sea vessels were also accompanied by warships, and the Ming navy was directly dispatched to escort them back and forth.

For the small countries in Southeast Asia, with such military strength, it is not impossible for the country to be destroyed if things go wrong, which is enough to give a strong deterrent.

It seems that Chen Muyue is just returning to Annan to visit her relatives, and it seems that such an arrangement is a bit exaggerated, but in fact it is laying the groundwork for the upcoming Maritime Silk Road.

We must make the many small countries in Southeast Asia realize how powerful the current Ming Dynasty is.

To put it simply, it is to show off our military power and enhance our national prestige.

Of course Chen Muyue did not think about these deeper thoughts, but was completely immersed in the joy of being able to go home. She looked so affectionate at this moment, as if she wanted to eat Zhu Ying alive.

After saying this, Chen Muyue's heart was completely moved by Zhu Ying.

If Chen Muyue had no choice but to come to Ming Dynasty because of Annan before, now she is still wholeheartedly devoted to Zhu Ying.

If it was night instead of broad daylight, he would have pounced directly on Zhu Ying.

After some excited words, Zhu Ying asked Chen Muyue to go back and make preparations. After a few days, everything was arranged and he asked the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to choose an auspicious day for departure.

After Chen Muyue left, Guo Zhong, who had been quietly standing by, finally couldn't help but say, "Young Master, it's a bit against etiquette for Concubine Yue to return to her parents' home before she's pregnant."

There are many rules in the palace. Generally speaking, even concubines are not allowed to leave the palace unless it is a special holiday, let alone go back to their parents' home.

What's more, for concubines like Chen Muyue who were sent as tribute from other small countries, there is basically no possibility for them to return in this lifetime.

Besides, although Chen Muyue has already gotten married, she has not yet given birth to a child for Zhu Ying.

It’s not that Zhu Ying couldn’t make Chen Muyue pregnant, but she had to pay attention to this aspect.

This is also to protect Ye Yueqing's status as the main wife and for the stability of the Ming Dynasty.

If a concubine gave birth to a boy first, it would be easy for someone with ulterior motives to cause trouble.

According to the palace rules, even if Chen Muyue could visit her parents, she had to have a child first.

But the situation is different now, so after thinking it over again and again, Zhu Ying felt that letting Chen Muyue go back to visit her parents was the best arrangement for the current situation.

After hearing Guo Zhong's question, he asked, "It's not in accordance with etiquette. Who set this etiquette? Was it grandpa?"

Just one sentence made Guo Zhong kneel down on the ground and kowtow, saying: "This old slave has a bad mouth, this old slave has a bad mouth."

As he spoke, he slapped himself in the mouth.

When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince mentioned His Majesty, Guo Zhong knew that he shouldn't say this.

If any conflict arises between His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Your Majesty as a result of this, it will be his fault.

Zhu Ying waved his hand and said, "No need to do that. From now on, there are some things that you shouldn't ask, so don't ask."

It’s not that I mean to punish Guo Zhong, but the key point here cannot be told to others, you just need to know it in your heart.

Guo Zhong didn't dare to say anything more.

Zhu Ying then thought for a moment and ordered:

"Regarding the matter of Concubine Yue's visit to her parents, go inform the Imperial Gazette Department and write this as the front-page headline in the Imperial Gazette, even in the latest issue, and publish it as soon as possible."

"This news must be passed to Southeast Asia within half a month."

"By the way, also send a message to the navy of the capital to inform the Imperial Report Office of the sailing route to Champa. The first overseas stop of the Ming Dynasty must be Champa."

After hearing this, Guo Zhong understood that he had really spoken too much. It was obvious that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had a more profound plan here.

He immediately hurried to pass on the order.

When Chen Muyue returned, she naturally would not tell anyone that she was going back to Annan. She only told Xiaoqing, the maid who came with her.

Xiaoqing was naturally very happy and excited when she heard the news.

But I also control my temper.

The rules in the palace were nothing to Zhu Ying, he could do whatever he wanted.

As for other people, it is naturally very strict.

If this causes others to become jealous and you are unable to go back, then that would be a disaster.

However, on just the third day, after the news was published in the capital's gazette, not only the palace but the entire capital knew about it.

Every time the Imperial Gazette was published, every concubine in the palace, or the eunuch or maid in charge, would naturally get a copy.

There were not many entertainment activities these days, and reading the imperial gazette had become a very common pastime in the capital, the Ming Dynasty, and even in the surrounding areas of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Ying's original intention was naturally to have his own arrangements and ideas.

However, unexpectedly, such an action made everyone think that Zhu Ying doted on Yue Fei very much.

Eight large ships, 20,000 naval forces, and 10,000 elite soldiers escorted Concubine Yue back to Annan to visit her relatives. Only His Royal Highness the Crown Prince could pull off such a grand undertaking.

Zhu Ying was already very famous and legendary, which made everyone very curious about Zhu Ying, the Crown Prince.

Any news related to Zhu Ying, as long as it was published in the official gazette, would definitely be sold out in the entire capital's official gazette.

If it weren't for Daming, Zhu Ying would have been labeled a romantic hero.

Among them, many novelists had bursts of inspiration and came up with a series of behind-the-scenes stories.

However, since it involves His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, this kind of writing is strictly prohibited. One can only write it secretly. If one dares to print it, one will be arrested and charged with disrespect.

"Princess Yue is so lucky to be loved by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Isn't it? Who else can have such a favor? This is not about going back to somewhere, this is Annan. For Concubine Yue, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince dispatched 20,000 naval forces and 10,000 elite soldiers. It sounds like there are not many people, but they were all drawn from the Beijing barracks."

"To be able to be the concubine of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, this Yue Fei, is really enviable."

For a time, discussions about Concubine Yue and Zhu Ying were endless in the harem, and it was obvious that the situation was getting more and more intense.

In the end, it was only after Concubine Ning stepped forward to warn him that he began to restrain himself.

However, this has been published in the Beijing Gazette, and there is no intention to really ban it.

Regarding the troop deployment, Zhu Ying had already told the old man about the situation on the same day, and of course, he had obtained Zhu Yuanzhang's consent.

Although Zhu Ying could be said to have already taken control of the military power, and even the Crown Prince's edict was, to a certain extent, almost as effective as an imperial decree, there was still no shortage of necessary rules and regulations on Zhu Ying's part.

As long as it involves military power, I will explain it to the old man in advance and obtain his consent.

This is not to say that there is fear, but rather a kind of respect for Zhu Yuanzhang.

In fact, even if Zhu Ying gave the order without authorization, Zhu Yuanzhang would not say anything, let alone say that he had any bad thoughts.

First of all, the grandfather and grandson are together almost every day, with the Qianqing Palace in front and the Kunning Palace in the back.

Apart from anything else, having breakfast and holding court together every day is something that they must do together.

With such a close relationship, who would go to His Majesty and report His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? That would be courting death.

Besides, everyone in this palace knows that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the apple of His Majesty's eye and the treasure in his palm.

Your Majesty is already approaching his seventies, while His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has just come of age. The future of the Ming Dynasty for the next few decades will be under the control of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Anyone who is held in resentment by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will have a hard time living a good life for the rest of his life, or may even die.

It is also based on such factors that Zhu Ying is now becoming more and more unrestrained.

It is easier than becoming emperor yourself, and even has more power.

Because people always fear the unknown.

We are more afraid of things that have not yet happened, but when we actually experience them, we are not so worried anymore.

It is not an exaggeration to describe Zhu Ying as someone who does whatever he wants.

…

Annan.

When Zhu Ying's letter was delivered to his eldest disciple Liu Sheng, this old man, who was already in his seventies, was so excited that his beard was about to stand up.

After hearing the news, Li Xiucai put down everything he was doing and rushed towards Liu Sheng's mansion.

"Well, did His Highness mention me in the letter?"

Li Xiucai's tone was full of anticipation and desire.

After arriving in Annan, Li Xiucai soon got the official position he wanted.

Naturally, Zhu Ying had already approved this official position a long time ago, but Liu Sheng did not show it to him until he arrived at the place.

After all, Li Xiucai was a scholar, and after arriving in Annan, he took on the responsibility of education.

In this regard, Li Xiucai was already a veteran when he was in the Western Region Heroes City, so he was of course very familiar with the rules here.

In Annan, there was Zhao Xiucai, the military strategist who was once sent by Zhu Ying.

At the beginning, it was Zhao Xiucai who asked Zhao Fei, the commander of the troops of the Qun Ying Chamber of Commerce, Li Laosi and others to intercept Annan Princess Chen Muyue, including pretending to be Annan envoys, and even wanted the host to pretend to be the prince.

Zhao Xiucai is not only talented in strategy, but also truly ruthless and merciless, and has no scruples.

Since Liu Sheng brought 50,000 elite troops to station in Annan, Zhao Xiucai, Zhao Fei, and Li Laosi, who had already been lurking under Annan's command in the early years, have truly ushered in wealth and glory.

It can also be standing in the open.

Zhu Ying certainly would not treat these meritorious officials unfairly. When Liu Sheng arrived, he brought Zhu Ying's orders and appointments. Almost everyone received generous rewards and official appointments.

Liu Sheng looked at the familiar handwriting and recognized it clearly. These words were written by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince himself.

Especially some of the homophones and simplified characters, which are the unique habits of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Even though Li Xiucai had come close to him, Liu Sheng was just staring at the handwriting on the paper without any reaction, and he didn't even notice Li Xiucai's arrival.

Just when Li Xiucai was about to speak to pull Liu Sheng out of his immersion, he saw Liu Sheng's expression and his mouth suddenly froze.

As Li Xiucai, who once lived together with Zhu Ying in Qunying City and later traveled through mountains and rivers together to escort high-yield crops to the capital, how could he not know that Liu Sheng actually treated Zhu Ying as his own grandson in his heart.

He also knew very well that Liu Sheng came to Annan not for the title of King of Annan, but was thinking more about incorporating Annan into the territory of the Ming Dynasty for Zhu Ying.

In terms of status, Liu Sheng was Zhu Ying's eldest disciple, and they had a master-disciple relationship.

But in Liu Sheng's heart, after spending so much time with Zhu Ying, he treated Zhu Ying as his own relative and grandson.

This is a very strange and contradictory feeling.

But it has always existed in Liu Sheng's heart. If you have not experienced these things, it is difficult to understand Liu Sheng's mentality.

Li Xiucai had been with Liu Sheng for so long that he naturally noticed something.

Li Xiucai also had some experience in observing people's words and expressions and guessing their thoughts, otherwise he would not have been able to survive in the Western Regions, a place where all kinds of people mixed together.

It took Liu Sheng a long time to come back to his senses from the handwriting.

In every stroke, Liu Sheng seemed to see Zhu Ying telling him the story in person.

That's why I'm so immersed in it.

At first, Liu Sheng didn't realize that there was someone beside him. His face showed excitement, joy, loneliness and longing.

He knew that Zhu Ying was living a good life in Ming Dynasty, where his grandfather took good care of him.

Compared with the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, how humble Liu Sheng was.

Some thoughts can only exist in the heart.