"Grandmother, tell your grandson about the past," Zhu Xiong Ying said slowly as she sat down on the stool, addressing Empress Ma, who was busy with needlework.
Empress Ma glanced at her grandson and asked with a smile, "What do you want to know today? Do you want to hear about your imperial grandfather's southern campaigns to pacify the south, or his conquest of the world?"
Zhu Xiong Ying shook her head and then said, "Grandmother, where exactly is Xin Feng Li? I looked at the map yesterday, but I couldn't find it!"
Empress Ma immediately became interested, as Xinfengli was her hometown. Although she had told her grandson many times, she would always talk about it again and again whenever he brought it up.
After having lunch with Empress Ma, Zhu Xiong Ying went off to study again. He wasn't going to study with Song Lian, but he was still a renowned scholar.
Zhu Xiong Ying, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped and said with a stern face, "If anyone dares to tell the Empress Dowager what I did today, don't blame me for punishing you!"
Yu'er's expression froze for a moment, then she said softly, "Grandson, Your Majesty..."
"I don't want Grandmother to be disappointed. I know, and you all know, but you mustn't tell Grandmother!" Zhu Xiong's tone was resolute as he directly ordered, "Whoever is from the Imperial Guard Commandery, come here immediately!"
A guard hurried over. Although the Crown Prince was young and they wouldn't actually carry out his orders immediately, it didn't stop them from obeying. At most, they would turn around and immediately report to the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
Upon hearing the report, Mao Xiang immediately hurried to the Fengtian Hall.
Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were taken aback. This Mao Xiang was of great importance. Could it be that he had come here for something important?
"Your Majesty, Your Highness." Mao Xiang knelt down as soon as he entered the hall. "The Crown Prince has just assigned us tasks, but since they concern Her Majesty the Empress and the Crown Prince, I dare not make the decision."
Zhu Yuanzhang was taken aback, then asked seriously, "Grandson? What is the Grandson's decree?"
"The Crown Prince has decreed that we, your humble servants, must go to Xinfeng Village in Guide Prefecture." Mao Xiang pressed his forehead to the ground, looking extremely cautious.
Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were taken aback, but then they realized that it was the Empress's hometown.
Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment and then said to Zhu Biao, "Biao'er, why is the Grandson doing this?"
"Summon him over and question him," Zhu Biao said sternly to the eunuch beside him. "Summon all those around the Crown Prince, and go immediately!"
Zhu Xiong Ying, who was still in class, received the imperial edict and immediately went to the Fengtian Hall.
Do you think it's easy for me to be a child? How hard did I have to work to perform all these things in order to please the Empress and the Emperor?
"Grandson, why are you going to Xinfengli to look for someone?" Zhu Yuanzhang said sternly, "Do you know that your grandmother once decreed that you are not allowed to seek out her relatives for titles and honors!"
Zhu Xiong Ying was not afraid at all. He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Even if I disobey the imperial decree, I will still go to find him! Grandmother is always happy when she talks about our hometown, and she sheds tears and feels sad when she talks about my great-grandfather! If I disobey the imperial decree today, I may be scolded by Grandmother, but Grandmother will be happy! As long as Grandmother is happy, that's all that matters!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was taken aback, then said sternly, "You're only concerned with the beginning and not the end. With such a grand display, your imperial grandmother must know! Do you really think that only you care about your imperial grandmother, and your imperial grandfather doesn't care about her? We've looked for her, but we couldn't find her!"
Zhu Biao paused for a moment, then said, "Ying'er, I have also sent people to search for the Empress Dowager's relatives, but we have not been able to find them."
"That's because the Empress Dowager knew you were going to search for someone!" Zhu Xiong Ying said proudly. "I asked her many times, and the Empress Dowager explained in great detail. I know where to find the Empress Dowager's family."
Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao exchanged a glance. In order to prevent the empress's relatives from interfering in politics, the empress was indeed unwilling to bestow titles and rewards upon her family. Therefore, there were some things that only the empress might know.
Could this little thing in front of me really have extracted important information from the Empress?
Just as the three generations of the family were discussing things, a eunuch announced, "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately began reviewing the memorials, while Zhu Biao hurriedly picked up a brush and also began reviewing them.
I'm doomed!
Empress Ma, dressed in court attire, was extremely solemn and formal. She glanced at her husband, who was pretending to look through the memorials, her son, who was occasionally sneaking peeks, and her grandson, who was grabbing the memorials to cover his face without thinking. She felt an indescribable joy and happiness.
"The Emperor and the Crown Prince favor the families of the Empress Dowager in bestowing titles and stipends, which is against the law. Are you aware of this?"
Zhu Yuanzhang quickly stood up and said, "I know, I know, sister, don't be angry!"
"Ying'er, at this hour, you should be in school!" Looking at her chubby grandson who was still pretending to read memorials, Empress Ma was both annoyed and amused. "Tell me, why are you here?"
Zhu Xiong Ying immediately realized what was happening and said with utmost honesty, "Grandmother, Grandfather has issued an imperial edict, and your grandson is obeying the decree..."
Zhu Yuanzhang refused to agree, insisting that his grandson take the blame. "Sister, don't listen to his nonsense. He's just tired from studying, and we feel sorry for our grandson, so we'll allow him half a day off."
Um?
There are those who harm their grandfathers, and there are those who harm their grandsons!
Zhu Biao looked heartbroken and distressed. "Mother, your son..."
"Your grandson is so considerate." Empress Ma picked up Zhu Xiong Ying and then said, "But grandson, remember this: your grandfather is the Emperor of Ming, and your father is the Crown Prince of Ming! You are my grandson, and also the grandson of Zhu Ming! No matter how considerate you are, you must be ruthless when necessary! Remember the laws of the country!"
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