That was the only thing related to Zhu Ying's background in the Ming Dynasty.

Judging from the quality of the cloth, they can be considered a wealthy family.

After Zhu Ying finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang became a little excited when he heard these words.

"What kind of cloth is it? Let us see it quickly." Zhu Yuanzhang said hurriedly.

"Not yet. I left the cloth strip in the Western Regions. But a few days ago, I arranged for someone to bring it here. Then the old man will help me take a look."

Zhu Ying said that he didn't care too much about his background. He brought it here just for convenience.

After finishing speaking, Zhu Ying added with a smile: "When the time comes, I have prepared a surprise for the old man."

The surprise that Zhu Ying mentioned was naturally sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn.

Even if the production is reduced, it is still very important for the Ming Dynasty today, as it can save a large number of victims.

"Tell us what that piece of cloth looks like. Is it a piece of clothing that can be worn on the body?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked impatiently after hearing this.

Zhu Ying nodded: "When my father fished me out of the river, my clothes were torn. He left me the piece with the embroidered words."

"The cloth strips are probably made of Shu brocade, with words embroidered in gold thread."

After hesitating for a moment, Zhu Ying said, "Old man, you need to be more careful. I must have been drowned in the river. I once asked someone to inquire in the capital."

"However, in the fifteenth year of Hongwu, especially in the summer, too many ministers were beheaded in the court. Perhaps I was drowned in the river because of that incident."

After gaining a certain amount of power in the Western Regions, the desert and the grassland.

Zhu Ying sent people to the capital to inquire about his life experience.

But in the fifteenth year of Hongwu, especially during the summer period.

At about the same time that Zhu Ying was drowned, Empress Ma became seriously ill and later passed away.

His Majesty was furious. A large number of court officials were beheaded, and countless ministers' families were broken up. Too many of them were even executed.

Too many people of Zhu Ying's age have died for various reasons.

After receiving the news, Zhu Ying guessed that he might be the child of a minister.

In ancient times, it was not uncommon for people to drown their children in order to avoid tragic consequences.

So from then on, Zhu Ying gave up the idea of ​​finding out his life experience.

If I were the descendant of a criminal, or even the kind that was to be executed along with all nine generations of my clan, wouldn't I be stubborn enough to dive into the arrest warrant?

"Just one word?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked again.

His eldest grandson Zhu Xiongying was raised by Empress Ma, and all his underwear was tailored by Empress Ma herself.

Zhu Yuanzhang clearly remembered that when his eldest grandson was buried, his underwear had his name embroidered by his eldest sister on it: Zhu Xiongying.

Zhu Ying explained: "Not really. The clothes were torn at the time, and there wasn't much left of the word Ying. I could only vaguely make out that it was a word Ying, but as for how many words there were, I don't know."

It is a very common phenomenon to embroider words, flowers, and poetry patterns on underwear.

Especially women, they like it the most.

For example, many women’s bellybands are embroidered with mandarin ducks, poems, etc. by the women themselves.

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang suppressed his excitement. He had a hunch that this piece of cloth was the ironclad evidence of his eldest grandson's identity.

As long as the identity of the eldest grandson was correct, Zhu Yuanzhang could bring him back to the palace.

When the time comes, let’s see if you, a little bastard, still dare to be lazy with us.

"Okay, it's getting late today, and there are still a lot of things waiting for us in the palace. I'll leave first and come to see you another day." Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and said.

As Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, Zhu Ying also stood up to see him off.

When he got downstairs, Zhu Ying was surprised to find that the Minister of War, Ru Rong, was still waiting downstairs.

"Okay, don't send me off. Let's go back with Minister Ru."

Zhu Yuanzhang gave some instructions and left.

Zhu Ying looked at the old man's back, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

What is Ru Heng’s identity? He is the Minister of Six Ministries. Although he is of the second rank, there is no such thing as a prime minister in the Ming Dynasty now.

He was considered a top minister and a pillar of the court.

The old man was only a Grand Secretary, and the Grand Secretary of the Palace today had not yet developed into the cabinet after Yongle.

Apart from assisting Your Majesty, giving advice and reviewing memorials, I have no other power at all.

Even memorials reviewed by the Grand Secretaries of the Palace had to be reviewed by the six ministers of the six ministries. If there were no other problems, they would be reviewed by His Majesty before they were approved.

He is just a secretary to His Majesty. Although his official position is only the fifth rank, his status is respected.

But to have a minister of one of the six ministries waiting was a bit unusual.

The old man's name is Zhu Guorui.

This name seemed quite ordinary to Zhu Ying, but the fact that the old man's surname was Zhu and he held such an important position as Grand Secretary showed that he had a very close relationship with Zhu Yuanzhang.

Having known the old man for such a long time, Zhu Ying could also feel his majesty.

And judging by his physique, he must have been a good fighter when he was young.

How could there be no records of such a person in the Ming Dynasty?

Although Zhu Ying had never studied Ming history in his previous life, he should have had the slightest impression of such a person.

pseudonym?

Zhu Ying frowned slightly and instructed Zhang Bo beside him: "Send a visiting card to the eldest prince of Yanwang Mansion. I will go to visit him tomorrow."

After moving out of Prince Yan's Mansion, one cannot just enter the gate of Prince Yan's Mansion. Under normal circumstances, visiting cards will be sent in advance. This is etiquette.

Zhu Gaochi often went in and out of the palace, so he must be familiar with the Grand Secretaries. By asking him, we can probably find out the old man's identity.

After leaving the teahouse, Zhu Ying walked towards the courtyard on the streets of the capital, followed by Zhang Bo.

Today's capital is the most prosperous area in the entire Ming Dynasty, and even in the world.

The Qinhuai River is now much wider than it was in later generations. Both sides of the Qinhuai River are densely populated, with tall buildings and grain ships.

There was a constant stream of people coming and going on the streets, including officials on horseback, hawkers hawking their wares, families riding in sedan chairs, tourists asking for directions, old men begging, monks carrying baskets on their backs, etc. There was everyone, young or old, male or female, official, businessmen, and gentry.

The wealthy nobles in the sedan chair were arrogant and conceited, the dandies in the restaurant were reveling wildly, the street vendors were hawking their goods, and the disabled old man at the side of the alley was quietly waiting for charity from others.

Zhu Ying took out a few copper coins, put them in the disabled old man's broken bowl, and left with a cry of thanks.

Begging in the capital is more civilized than in other places.

Outside the capital, if Zhu Ying met other beggars, he would not dare to give alms.

Once you give alms, it won't be long before you are surrounded by a group of beggars.

"Grandpa, I want to eat candied haws."

"Okay, dear grandson, grandpa will buy it for you."

Not far away, a conversation between a grandfather and grandson caught Zhu Ying's attention.

After listening to this, Zhu Ying suddenly thought of the old man.

Zhu Ying always felt a little guilty towards the old man. At such an old age, he always put all his thoughts on her, which put a lot of pressure on Zhu Ying.

He was afraid that the old man would get too deeply involved.

Thinking of the old man's majesty just now, and even the Minister of War had to accompany him, Zhu Ying couldn't help feeling a little regretful.

It seems that the old man has everything he needs now, except for family affection.

"I don't know how many people there are in the old man's family. He always comes out alone like this, without any children to accompany him."

Zhu Ying sighed slightly.

This old man, who is more powerful than the six ministers, can be regarded as a high-ranking official.

At this age, the old man should be enjoying the happiness of family, but he always looks lonely and helpless, which is really a pity.

I can't pretend to be his eldest grandson, and I don't know if the old man has Alzheimer's disease.

He was pulled out of the water, and his eldest grandson was clearly buried in...

suddenly,

Zhu Ying froze.

He recalled carefully and remembered that the old man once said that his eldest grandson was buried near Zhongshan.

Zhongshan, that’s where the Xiaoling Mausoleum is located.