Old Zhu also attaches great importance to these matters and is looking forward to them.
Holding his adorable, chubby great-grandson, Old Zhu said with a smile, "Yin'er, your Third Prince is coming soon, let's go see him. Since Yin'er was born, he hasn't recognized all his family members yet, that's not good."
“That’s why I often say that Yin’er should go out for a walk,” Zhu Xiong Ying said with a smile. “But Grandfather, isn’t Yin’er’s attire a bit inappropriate?”
Old Zhu glanced at Zhu Xiong Ying and said, "We're getting old and can't stand up anymore. You take the jade tablet and we'll go pick up your third uncle. We haven't seen him for a long time."
Zhu Xiong Ying looked down at her clothes, which were just her everyday attire. But this 'Great Jade Tablet' was no ordinary item.
This is a jade hand tablet, long and narrow with a sharp point, somewhat resembling a sword blade. This object was the emperor's 'certificate,' a ritual object, a proof of his status.
Now, by having Little Zhu hold the jade tablet and Little Zhu wear the crown prince's robes, Old Zhu is about to give his children and grandchildren a good talking-to.
According to the imperial ancestral precepts, when a prince enters the court, he must first wear court robes to pay homage to the emperor.
Prince Zhu Gang of Jin arrived at Fengxian Hall with his six sons, excluding his eldest son Zhu Jixi. Along the way, he heard a lot of news, including some not-so-good news. However, seeing his father, the Emperor, sitting on the dragon throne with a radiant expression, Zhu Gang felt much more at ease.
In fact, many civil and military officials felt much more at ease after seeing the emperor reappear.
"Your third son, Zhu Gang, and the Prince of Jin, pay their respects to Your Majesty the Emperor!"
"Seventh grandson Zhu Jiye pays respects to His Majesty the Yellow Ancestor!"
Old Zhu was in a good mood and looked at his children and grandchildren, saying, "Alright, everyone rise. Let's go to the Wuying Hall, we'll go too."
This is standard procedure, and many people won't find it surprising. Even though His Majesty the Emperor only made a brief appearance, it reassured many. As for what will happen next, let's continue to patiently observe.
After watching his father leave, Prince Zhu Gang of Jin immediately led his sons toward the Wuying Hall.
Outside the Wuying Hall, Zhu Xiong Ying, dressed in ordinary clothes, stood holding a large jade tablet. Standing beside him was Zhu Wen Yin, dressed in the crown prince's robes, which stunned Prince Jin, Zhu Gang.
Although the Crown Prince was dressed in casual clothes, those were still the everyday clothes of the heir apparent, but the large jade tablet in his hand was unusual. Zhu Wenyin, on the other hand, was wearing the imperial robes, which were extremely formal and were the attire of the Crown Prince.
Compared to his somewhat bewildered and shocked sons, Prince Zhu Gang of Jin strode forward and said, "Your subject, Prince Zhu Gang of Jin, pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!"
With a smile on his face, Zhu Xiong Ying quickly stepped forward, "Third Uncle, there's no need for such formalities!"
Prince Zhu Gang of Jin immediately straightened up, turned around and glared at his sons, "Why haven't you paid your respects yet?!"
Zhu Jiye took the lead and immediately knelt down, saying, "Your subject Zhu Jiye (Zhu Jihuang, Zhu Jixuan) and others greet Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Zhu Xiong Ying immediately helped her cousins up, saying, "This is not right. We are all family, why be so formal!"
After saying this, Zhu Xiong Ying turned to Zhu Wen Yin and said, "Yin'er, why don't you greet your Third Prince and your uncles?"
Little Zhu was a little nervous; so many people were strangers to him, and he felt somewhat surprised and shy.
Just then, a voice came from behind, "Just see the Third Prince, forget about the other princes!"
Zhu Gang immediately felt a pang of jealousy. It was obvious that his father, the emperor, had been watching from not far away. If he had been somewhat impolite, he might have been confined to the capital or sent back to his hometown of Fengyang for a scolding.
Zhu Gang was no fool. Although he had committed many illegal acts in Taiyuan, he had always been very intelligent; "wise and ruthless" was the best description of him. He knew very well that the scene just now was deliberately arranged by his father, the emperor, to test his attitude.
He's my own son! How could you treat him like this?!
Whether Zhu Gang felt uncomfortable or not, Old Zhu wasn't particularly concerned. What he cared about was clearly defining the distinction between ruler and subject, especially regarding his third son, who was his eldest living son and whose status as the Prince of Jin was naturally special.
The discipline naturally began with this son!
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