"Our grandson can eat anything, but he just loves these dishes!" Old Zhu said with a hint of complaint, looking at the food on the table. "We grew up in hardship, so as long as we're full, that's enough for us. Our grandson, on the other hand, has never experienced hardship!"
Lady Zhang said cautiously, "Your Majesty the Retired Emperor, Your Majesty is steadfast and self-disciplined, knowing the hardships Your Majesty endured in establishing this empire..."
"That's true. That's one of the good things about our grandson. He's not arrogant or extravagant at all. Biao'er was the same way before. It's all thanks to the Empress's good upbringing." Old Zhu stroked his beard and said proudly, "We're afraid they'll suffer, so we want to give them the best. They're all filial and considerate. They're all good children."
A naughty child appeared, and Little Zhu ran over, "Great-grandfather, my great-aunt and I will eat the big duck leg!"
Old Zhu was both amused and annoyed. He said to Little Zhu, "We just told you about Kong Rong sharing pears, and you've already forgotten?! When your father was this age, duck legs were always given to your aunt. If your aunt didn't eat them, then your great-grandmother and great-grandfather would!"
Little Zhu had another idea and said, "Great-grandfather, I don't eat meat, I only eat skin!"
Old Zhu scooped up the little rascal and laughed, "Let's have someone carve this duck, you can have the skin all you want!"
Consort Zhang was filled with envy; she could be considered an unexpected recipient of the Emperor's favor. Besides her youth, it was also because her daughter was the youngest daughter of the Retired Emperor, and she had become good friends with the Crown Prince, frequently running around the palace. Even Old Zhu, who usually didn't pay much attention to his daughter, now showed more care for his youngest.
Zhu Yunying arrived, and before he even reached the palace gate, he was already calling out, "Grandpa Emperor, is dinner ready yet? Your grandson is starving!"
Zhu Yunxuan was terrified. He rarely saw his grandfather, and even when he did, his legs would go weak. But his elder brother was acting like this. Not to mention in front of his grandfather, even some families that follow the rules wouldn't behave like this.
Little Zhu rushed out and ran happily towards Zhu Yunying, "Dad!"
He changed his address again, calling me "father" one minute and "Emperor" the next; this kid does whatever he pleases. Zhu Yunying, looking at his aunt who was only now walking steadily, could only follow the rules, calling her "Empress."
Zhu Yunxuan became even more respectful and quickly greeted the emperor, saying, "Nephew Zhu Yunxuan greets Imperial Aunt."
"Fourth Uncle, what about me?" Little Zhu protested, turning to Zhu Yunxuan, "Fourth Uncle, me!"
Zhu Yunxuan quickly greeted him, still maintaining proper decorum, "Your subject greets Your Highness the Crown Prince, may Your Highness live a long life!"
Old Zhu, standing at the entrance of the hall, nodded with a smile, then his face turned stern. "What's the point of reasoning at a time like this?! It's just a regular family dinner. If we're going to be so formal, do we even want to eat?"
Zhu Yunxuan was inwardly bitter. If he didn't observe proper etiquette, he would be reprimanded without even leaving the palace. But even observing etiquette now would result in a scolding. It seemed that only his eldest brother could please their grandfather no matter what he did. The grandfather could see many shortcomings in everything anyone else did.
Zhu Yunying smiled and nodded to Consort Zhang, then said to Old Zhu, "Fourth Prince has become quite accomplished. I plan to have him escort Grandfather Ye Yin'er back to his hometown. Zan Yi will take him along; it's time for him to gain some experience."
Old Zhu had put a lot of thought into his eldest brother's bloodline. Zhu Wenzheng had gone astray, partly because Old Zhu needed to consider his legitimate son. But Zhu Shouqian, that scoundrel, was utterly infuriating. If it weren't for his elder brother's sake, he would have been killed countless times already!
Old Zhu found it strange, glanced at Zhu Yunxuan, and then asked, "Why did you suddenly think of Zanyi?"
"Zanyi should also be enfeoffed now, he should go to Guilin." Zhu Yunying laughed and explained, "The fourth prince and Zanyi are both good, and he is thinking of going to fight against the Baiyi and make meritorious achievements."
Old Zhu looked at Zhu Yunxuan again, this time somewhat noncommittal, "That's good then. Wenzheng's military skills are indeed impressive. If our nephew hasn't gone astray, he should be a pillar of our Zhu family."
As if remembering something, Old Zhu joked, "Many of your uncles haven't been officially appointed yet; they're all nominally granted titles. But you, on the other hand, are quite enthusiastic about your cousin and are even thinking about his affairs."
"After all, he is my great-grandfather's bloodline. This is my grandfather's responsibility, and also my responsibility." Zhu Yunying said bluntly without any politeness. "My grandfather is so good to my eldest uncle and so tolerant of my cousin. Isn't that all because of my great-grandfather?"
That's indeed the case. Old Zhu made an exception for Zhu Wenzheng and repeatedly showed leniency towards Zhu Shouqian, mainly because of Zhu Xinglong.
Old Zhu sighed and said, "We have three older brothers and two older sisters. Only our eldest brother has children. Our second brother also had children, but unfortunately he passed away too early. We now have many descendants, but when I think about our eldest brother, he still has some bloodline left."
Zhu Yunying looked at Zhu Yunxuan and said, "Aren't you going to pour wine for your imperial grandfather?"
As Zhu Yunxuan hurriedly poured the wine, Zhu Yunying said, "There's no need to worry about my little aunt. My cousin from Jiujiang is quite capable, and the title of Duke of Cao can be inherited. As for my eldest aunt, I plan to have Yunwen go there."
Old Zhu snorted coldly; he was actually a petty person. Although Old Zhu valued family ties extremely, there were exceptions.
The "eldest aunt" that Zhu Yunying mentioned was Zhu's eldest sister, the Princess of Taiyuan. Although she was the eldest sister, she didn't take good care of her maternal family. Especially after Zhu started his rebellion, his eldest sister and brother-in-law, fearing being implicated, refused to accept Zhu, who was fleeing and seeking help.
Old Zhu harbored resentment because of this. After he succeeded, he never mentioned his eldest sister for a long time, treating his second sister as his elder sister and treating his second sister's husband's family, who had provided him with much financial assistance, with great kindness. Until the third year of Hongwu, when Cao Guogong Li Wenzhong returned to his hometown to pay respects to his mother, he found the coffins of his aunt and uncle, which were already dilapidated.
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