Old Zhu was effectively controlled by his eldest and youngest grandsons. Despite his heroic and domineering nature, there were a few people who could keep him in check. His youngest grandson, Zhu Yunwen, was actually nothing special, but Old Zhu had no choice but to appease his eldest grandson and great-grandson.
Little Zhu continued riding his pony with great enthusiasm, dreaming of becoming a great general, sweeping across the world like his great-grandfather.
Old Zhu stood to the side with a smile and said, "You've also led troops before, so tell Yin'er something too. Don't just talk about how we fought when we were young, talk about yourself too."
“I’m no good at it. My role as a commander is just going through the motions.” Zhu Yunying chuckled, looking at little Zhu and saying, “This child should be like his grandfather, a true hero. I’m still far from that!”
Old Zhu was incredibly proud. He knew, of course, that his eldest grandson had always wanted to be emperor, and that his grandson was very cunning even at a young age. But Old Zhu never doubted his grandson's affection for him, nor his admiration for him.
Although he was secretly pleased most of the time, as a typical old-fashioned feudal man, Old Zhu sometimes couldn't stand his eldest grandson's overly expressive nature.
For example, his eldest grandson never hides his admiration for him, and sometimes he even hugs or cuddles him. This makes Old Zhu feel happy, but he is still a little embarrassed on the surface.
Zhu Yunying didn't care about such things and said to his father, "Today, Yu Xin said in court that he wanted to reform the opening-up policy. I think this is a big deal and we need to discuss it carefully."
"Oh." Old Zhu's eyes were still fixed on his great-grandson. He said casually, "You can handle this matter as you see fit. You can come and let us know when you've discussed it. You're the emperor now, and you've been ruling for quite some years. We know you can handle this."
Zhu Yunying didn't mince words and said with a smile, "That's what I think too, and I also believe I can accomplish this. But I still have to say what needs to be said, and Grandfather should know about these things."
Zhu Yunying was indeed quite confident, which stemmed from his confidence in his own abilities. It was also because there was no internal strife in the Ming court at present, so Zhu Yunying did not need to worry about factional struggles or other such matters that would cause internal friction, nor did he need to be tied down by those messy things.
It's time to roll up your sleeves and get things done. The current state of the court and the Ming Dynasty certainly presents a good opportunity for Zhu Yunying to take action.
Little Zhu was overjoyed with his new toy. He probably didn't know it was a gift from his aunt, nor did he know that his cousin in Yunnan was eagerly waiting for his reward.
The little guy sat happily on the horse's back, with Shuangquan and Wang Chengen following carefully on either side. As for Old Zhu, he had no airs at all, leading the way with the reins, just like an old man taking his great-grandson for a stroll in his own home.
As for the other princes and princesses who felt envious, they could only feel envious; they did not receive such treatment.
Little Zhu, who was following behind with his hands behind his back, joked, "Yin'er's treatment is so enviable. We can't even have it if we want it. Before, it was the Emperor leading the ox, but now it's leading the horse."
Old Zhu laughed heartily. A while ago, he took his great-grandson back to his hometown, revisiting familiar places with him, leading an ox along – a trip that Old Zhu considered very satisfying and a source of pride. And now, strolling around the palace with a little pony, this was just as pleasant.
"Great-grandfather, we want to take a bath!" Little Zhu shouted from his horse. "If we don't take a bath, Dad won't hold us!"
Old Zhu turned around and glared at Little Zhu, saying irritably, "All this empty talk. We didn't do this when we were traveling the world, and we were fine..."
“Times have changed. Our Crown Prince doesn’t need to travel the world!” Zhu Yunying quickly said, adding that there were still some things to be mindful of. “We work so hard just so that our descendants can live a better life.”
Old Zhu fell silent, because he believed that what his grandson said made some sense.
There's no need for empty formalities. Old Zhu has never objected to wanting his descendants to live a better life. He couldn't afford to be particular before, but now he can certainly be more particular.
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