He glanced at his elder brother and took a bite of the dried flower cake. Seeing that his elder brother still hadn't responded, Zhu Yunwen became anxious, "Brother, I don't even have a decent cloak anymore! Go check on my horse, it's gotten thin from not getting good fodder. I only have one horse in my household, why don't you get me one?"
Zhu Yunying continued to feign deafness and muteness. Having a younger brother who couldn't be a spoiled brat and a sister-in-law who couldn't manage a household was quite distressing for Zhu Yunying, the eldest brother. The output of the imperial estates and the lands granted to him couldn't even support Zhu Yunying, a prince. He squandered it all on idleness, eating, drinking, and having fun. Of course, this guy was also a miser, and he would complain about being poor whenever he had the chance.
Zhu Yue arrived carrying her son, and little Zhu immediately ran over, affectionately calling him "Auntie." The main reason was to play with her little cousin; he didn't have many playmates in the palace, or rather, almost no playmates of similar age—his little aunt was practically his only companion.
In terms of seniority, little Zhu's seniority is pitifully low. Of course, as the Crown Prince, Zhu Yunying has many elders in the palace, including a whole bunch of uncles and aunts. If he were to leave the palace and go to Yingtian Prefecture, he might encounter a member of the imperial clan who would be an elder.
Chang Lan was happy because her daughter's two sons and two daughters were all doing well.
The eldest son, Zhu Yunying, is now the Crown Prince and will be the Emperor in a few days. The second son, Zhu Yunwen, is a notorious playboy, but he has always been well taken care of. The eldest granddaughter is currently in Yunnan and has given birth to the heir to the Marquis of Xiping, who will soon become the heir to the Duke.
The second daughter also had a son, and it's estimated that as soon as Zhu Yunying ascends the throne, Zhu Yue's son will become the heir to the Duke of Chengguo.
Although Chang Lan was also saddened that her daughter wouldn't be able to witness this scene, she believed that if her daughter were alive, she would be very gratified to see it. This wasn't just because her children were successful, but also because these children, despite being of noble birth, had always had a very good relationship.
The older brothers have their partners, and the older sisters have their own roles. Although the youngest child may seem a bit spoiled, with the care of his older brothers and sisters, everyone feels it's only natural to love this child who lost his mother at a young age.
“Uncle, I’ve heard that you can’t put pressure on the Xu family.” Zhu Yunwen was very straightforward. He did have some political wisdom, though it was very limited. “The second and third sons of the Xu family can’t command troops, so I take them out to eat, drink, and have fun. But the eldest son of the Xu family is different. My elder brother will give him an important position, and my elder brother will also be in charge of troops.”
Chang Mao immediately looked at Xu Miaoqing, and then explained to Zhu Yunying, "I didn't give any warnings, I just said that Yin'er is about to become the crown prince, and it's not a good thing for relatives of the empress to control the army, it's somewhat taboo."
Although Xu Miaoqing was not happy at first hearing this, she suddenly realized that it made sense.
Her father was the most powerful nobleman in the Ming Dynasty, and her elder brother also became a Grand Commander due to his father's influence. This military command was, in theory, for Zhu Wenyin's own good, providing him with a powerful ally for the future. However, it was also somewhat taboo, as interference in politics by the empress's relatives was a concern for many rulers.
Zhu Yunying laughed and looked at Chang Mao, saying, "Uncle, you're overthinking it. The Duke of Wei is indeed very useful. The nation still has some major battles to fight, and the secondary capital should be stabilized as well."
Chang Mao volunteered and stood up, saying, "Then how about this? I request permission to guard Yingtian Prefecture. Once the Crown Prince's military campaign is over, I will be transferred back to Beiping. Since the Duke of Wei is of great use, let him go to Beiping as well. Your Highness is also short of people."
Zhu Yunying looked at Xu Miaoqing and asked, "Miaoqing, what do you think?"
Xu Miaoqing remained calm and composed, showing great understanding of the situation, and said, "It is up to Your Highness to decide."
"Very well, it's good that the Duke of Wei is going to Beiping. He can help me control the Five Military Commands." Zhu Yunying laughed and said, "Making merits and establishing achievements is naturally good. For military officers, there is no shortage of opportunities to fight. Once I have adjusted the court and moved the capital, it will be time to use troops. At that time, who knows, there might be two kings in one family."
Xu Miaoqing's heart stirred. Her father was posthumously granted the title of Prince. If her eldest brother could also achieve great merit, coupled with Zhu Wenyin's existence, perhaps they could truly have two Princes in one family, and perhaps the Xu family could truly become the most powerful noble family in the Ming Dynasty!
Chang Mao also had his eye on it. His father was Chang Yuchun, the Prince of Kaiping, and his nephew was about to ascend to the throne. However, Chang Mao felt that fighting a war was a bit difficult, and it would be quite challenging for him to be posthumously granted the title of prince. If he could achieve more merits, he might be able to snatch the title of the Xu family's foremost noble!
Or, how about we give it a try?
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