There's really no need to worry too much about Zhu Di's affairs. The real focus now is on how to bestow a name upon the country when Zhu Di presents his official letter. This is also something Zhu Yunying should consider, because he is the emperor, the ruler of the suzerain state.
As for Zhu Di, although he founded the country, he was only a 'king' and could not truly claim the title of 'king' or 'queen'.
Whether other members of the imperial clan had any ideas was something Zhu Yunying didn't know, nor did he need to consider. He still needed to handle state affairs; being extremely busy was no exaggeration. This was mainly because the imperial power in the Ming Dynasty was highly centralized, and Zhu Yunying had to deal with matters large and small, so of course he was very busy.
The cabinet is a matter that Zhu Yunying needs to consider carefully. He needs to share the burden while also preventing the cabinet from becoming too powerful.
During this time, Zhu Yunying also paid close attention to one thing: his maternal grandmother's coffin was about to be transported back. This was a matter that Zhu Yunying naturally needed to take very seriously, and it was also something that all the officials in the court were concerned about.
It wasn't just because Changlan was the current emperor's maternal grandmother, but also because she was the Princess Consort of Kaiping, a status that was extraordinary enough.
However, Zhu Yunying refused. Chang Lanshi's funeral was naturally a grand affair, but respecting her wishes, there was no plan to transport her body to Yingtian Mansion for temporary rest. Therefore, it was virtually impossible for the civil and military officials of the court to pay their respects.
Zhu Yunying took this matter very seriously. After receiving the report, he went to see his grandfather, saying, "Grandfather, you should go to court the day after tomorrow."
Old Zhu immediately realized what was happening and asked, "Your maternal grandmother's coffin has returned?"
"She's just outside the city. We'll go to Zhongshan the next day." Zhu Yunying didn't hide anything and said directly, "It's only right that your grandson goes to see her off on her final journey. It's my way of showing filial piety."
Old Zhu naturally agreed, reminding him, "Then you have to be early. According to the customs of our hometown, the funeral must be held at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM). Don't be late."
The hour of Mao (5:00-7:00 AM) is considered early in one sense and late in another. After all, by this time, the ministers who are qualified to attend court have already been standing in the court for quite some time, and they have no chance to 'stay in bed' or do anything like that.
Old Zhu was still a little worried and asked, "How do you plan to take her tomorrow?"
"Of course it's the grandson sending off the grandmother, what else could it be?" Zhu Yunying said matter-of-factly. "Being a grandson makes some things inconvenient. My grandmother has always understood us over the years, so it's our duty to be filial."
Old Zhu naturally understood; his grandson was the emperor, which meant his grandson couldn't kneel before others. In fact, if his grandson were to personally attend Chang Lan's funeral, it would be somewhat of a transgression of the rules.
Fortunately, Old Zhu and Little Zhu have always been rule-breakers. They have big rules, but these rules are for others to follow. As for the grandfather and grandson, of course they don't need to follow any of the rules they set for others.
Old Zhu was like that, and so was Young Zhu. If the civil officials wanted to offer suggestions, let them.
Old Zhu remembered something and said, "We thought that since you are her grandson, it would be right for you to see her off. You know Guo Ziyi, right? Why don't you go and see her off?"
In fact, during the Ming Dynasty, or rather, after being influenced by Yuan drama, many stories already had some basic outlines.
Zhu Yunying was naturally aware that Guo Ziyi was offering birthday greetings. Although he hadn't seen the play yet, he knew that Guo Ziyi, a great contributor to suppressing the An Lushan Rebellion, served under four generations of the Tang Dynasty and twice held the position of prime minister.
On his seventieth birthday, his seven sons and eight sons-in-law, dressed in official robes, knelt before him. Among them was his sixth son, Guo Nuan, who, because he was a princess, did not come to offer his birthday greetings. Guo Nuan slapped him, which is the story of "Drunkenly Beating the Golden Branch".
Zhu Yunying thought about it and agreed, "That's true. Grandmother may seem to have kept her distance from us all these years, but she still cares about us the most. We should wear our imperial robes and go with the Empress and the Crown Prince to see her off. That way, Grandmother can definitely talk to our mother about it."
Old Zhu nodded with a smile and said, "Your mother didn't see you become emperor. She knew, so your father knew, and your maternal grandmother naturally knew too. Our Ying'er not only became emperor, but she was a good emperor!"
"By the way, when did you find out you were going to be emperor?" Old Zhu was in a fairly good mood, but he was also curious. "Our grandson is too scheming."
"My grandson will know when he's old enough to understand, he's very, very young." Zhu Yunying laughed, and said proudly, "Who am I? I am the eldest son of the Crown Prince, the eldest grandson of Zhu Chongba!"
Old Zhu was so angry that he jumped up and down, grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, "You have no respect for elders! You don't dare to mention your father's name, but you dare to mention ours! Well, you were already urging us to abdicate when you were just over ten years old, you must have had that in mind."
Zhu Yunying laughed smugly, "That won't do, we need to be even smaller. We've been unusual since birth. Not to mention how much we cry and fuss. Even when we're a little unhappy, the maids and eunuchs below go to great lengths to cheer us up. It's only because my grandmother is so generous that she didn't spoil us."
Old Zhu was listening with a smile, but suddenly felt something was wrong. "You may leave now. We have to go to court for you tomorrow, so you should get some rest."
Zhu Yunying wanted to continue chatting with Old Master Zhu, and he persisted relentlessly, "Grandpa Emperor..."
"You've become disobedient now that you're emperor?!" Old Zhu sat up abruptly and shouted, "Get out!"
Zhu Yunying slunk away. He had originally planned to briefly mention the education of little Zhu, but he couldn't fool old Zhu at all. The topic was brought up as soon as it started.
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