Lan Yu was already exceptionally talented, even becoming one of the pillars of the Ming Dynasty's military. If Chang Mao were to also be exceptional, Zhu Yunying would have a real headache. Maintaining balance is indeed very important for the emperor.
Even though Xu Huizu now appears to be the head of the Xu faction, everyone understands that Xu Huizu's current prestige is only temporary. In a few years, when the crown prince grows up, Xu Huizu will certainly be safe and his status will only increase.
However, it was clearly impossible for him to go out and lead troops again.
It wasn't that Zhu Yunying was overthinking things; he was well aware of Xu Huizu's caution and loyalty. However, it's clear that as an emperor, being suspicious is only natural. Most importantly, Zhu Yunying probably didn't want to leave any potential problems for his descendants.
Using military merit to balance the power of civil officials was what Zhu Yunying wanted to do. However, the unchecked growth of military merit was not in Zhu Yunying's interest. In particular, Chang Mao and Xu Huizu needed to become the banner of military merit, but they also needed to be subject to some checks and balances to make them appear powerful, and that was enough.
With his younger siblings present, Zhu Yunying didn't hide anything. "When you leave the palace this time, especially the second brother, remember to ask for favors. You were the one who brought up the matter of the Prince, so those cousins will definitely ask for your help."
Zhu Yunwen was overjoyed. Such a good thing was only because his elder brother was looking out for him, and he naturally had no reason to refuse it.
From Zhu Yunwen's beaming face, it was clear that he was aware of his smugness and happiness. Zhu Yunwen was definitely going to have his moment of glory; there was absolutely no doubt about it.
Zhu Yunying was too lazy to say anything. Indeed, these were things that Zhu Yunying had deliberately done, and this was something that Zhu Yunying took for granted.
Zhu Yue didn't bother to say anything. There were some things the second prince could do, but she, as a princess, clearly couldn't get involved. She didn't want to be Princess Guantao; it certainly wasn't her ambition. The Ming Dynasty didn't need princesses with power.
Even though she had been taken care of by her elder brother all these years and was indeed quite favored, Zhu Yue was also very clear that she needed to be mindful of her boundaries. These were not just things her elder brother overthought; it had been the same since her grandfather's time.
To be honest, in his younger years, the Emperor doted on his two aunts, but their status was merely that of noble ladies. At most, their husbands could do some things in the court, while the aunts were absolutely not allowed to participate in court affairs.
This is the truth, something that all the members of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family were aware of; it was an ancestral rule established from the very beginning.
It wasn't just these princesses; whether they were Zhu Yuanzhang's legitimate daughters or Zhu Yunying's younger sister, none of them were allowed to participate in court affairs.
Zhu Yunying was in a good mood and said to Zhu Yue, "After you leave the palace, go and visit the Empress Dowager. The matter of the Goryeo kingship is about to be settled, so you should all be aware of it. The Empress Dowager and the others should also know about it."
Zhu Yunying has always been like this, 'distinguishing between close and distant relatives'. The imperial aunts he mentioned are naturally Zhu's two legitimate daughters, Zhu Yunying's two aunts, and these are things he should do.
The matter of going to Goryeo to confer a title upon a king was indeed something that should be done, much like conferring the title of a prince. Although everyone knew that this was definitely the emperor's idea, and that it was a matter of great national importance, ordinary people certainly couldn't participate, not even members of the royal family.
However, based on the principle of maximizing benefits, Zhu Yunying will definitely need to make some effort to reap all the advantages.
This is absolutely not greed; this is simply Zhu Yunying's principle of conduct, and he doesn't feel there's anything wrong with what he's doing.
With his younger siblings being quite sensible, Joo Yoon-young naturally felt more at ease. Although his siblings were generally of average talent, they were unwavering in their support of Joo Yoon-young's words.
He gave Zhu Yunying a few instructions, including a slight reprimand to the little rascal Zhu Yunhong, which made Zhu Yunying feel much more at ease.
He didn't need to worry about damaging his reputation, although Zhu Yunying himself was indeed somewhat indifferent to fame. However, it was certain that Zhu Yunying wasn't completely indifferent to reputation, and he naturally needed to give Zhu Yunying a warning.
Now I can rest assured. As long as Zhu Yunwen is given a little nudge, he will know what he should and shouldn't do.
Now that these matters have been explained, it's time to start preparing for the family banquet. After all, Zhu Yunying is the emperor, and he now lives deep within the palace, making it quite difficult for him to leave.
The atmosphere at the family dinner was quite pleasant, which was probably one of Zhu Yunying's advantages. Over the years, he had always treated his younger siblings very well, so they were close to him and had nothing to fear or be afraid of him.
After his younger siblings left, Zhu Yunying said with a smile, "The second son is a worry. We're afraid of rumors about us spreading outside. Emperor Huizong of Song was fond of the Flower and Stone Tribute, which caused a lot of resentment. He was a devout follower of Taoism, and many people were swindling people. If the emperor likes extravagance, there will inevitably be countless officials who can flatter him, which is not a good thing."
Xu Miaoqing nodded immediately. She understood these principles and was indeed aware of these matters.
As Empress, Xu Miaoqing's position was secure, and she wielded considerable power. Her deep affection for the Emperor further solidified and elevated her status. And let's not forget the young Crown Prince Zhu Wenyin, who was personally cared for by the Hongwu Emperor.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
