Even so, it actually shows that there isn't much food available these days. And it's even less likely that we can eat vegetable oil and animal fat freely.
Many people say that people in ancient times could eat more than a dozen steamed buns in one meal, largely because they didn't have enough oil in their stomachs, so they couldn't hold their hunger for long.
Sang said happily to Zhu Yunwen, "Your Highness, this oil is a good thing. Not to mention that our Wu Prince's Mansion can open an oil mill, if we present these things to my brother, I think they can be of great help to him."
Zhu Yunwen was taken aback for a moment, but couldn't help but laugh and said, "That makes sense. Although all the people of our Great Ming Dynasty can't use this oil, the people of Yingtian Prefecture can eat it. This is a good thing. Send some back immediately so that people can try it."
Things presented to the emperor cannot be given casually; even as the emperor's younger brother, one must be mindful of certain matters.
Sang quickly reminded him, "Your Highness, the fleet also includes contributions from my uncle's family and my sister's family. We want to offer them grain and oil, and I reckon they're thinking the same thing."
Zhu Yunwen panicked and quickly stood up. "Then hurry up and have someone send some over first, and we'll go to the palace immediately. I am also the Prince of Wu of the Ming Dynasty, the younger brother of the Emperor. I'm not just someone who can eat, drink, and be merry; I can also serve the country and its people!"
The tasting can wait; there's no shortage of people in the palace to do it. Presenting the oil first, securing a title, and claiming credit are clearly more important to Zhu Yunwen.
Zhu Yunwen didn't care at all about the title of "wise prince." Speaking of wise princes, among scholars, Prince Xu, Zhu Yunwen, had a very good reputation; many people liked the refined and learned Prince Xu. But what did that matter? Prince Xu, Zhu Yunwen, had no presence in the Ming Dynasty court.
Even within the imperial clan, people didn't bother to pay much attention to the emperor's half-brother. The "wise prince" was just something some ignorant people spread rumors about; what kind of wise prince could someone who could compose poetry?
A truly wise ruler should do things for the country and its people, and share the emperor's burdens. Compiling poems is useless. Didn't you see how Emperor Ying Shi, who could compose a poem in seven steps, felt that poetry couldn't govern the country and was too lazy to even write poems?
Everyone knows that Emperor Yingshi was a talented poet. Many people even think that if Emperor Yingshi had seriously written poetry, he might have been able to rival Li Bai and Du Fu, or even the three Su brothers.
Let's get down to business and quickly present those precious vegetable oils to my elder brother. Then we can finally hold our heads high, be my brother's favorite younger brother, and have made great contributions to the country.
By then, not to mention the Emperor's praise, I reckon even the Emperor will bestow many rewards upon me!
Zhu Yunwen set off happily. The so-called playboy prince was going to prove himself. He was going to do some great things that would benefit the country and become the most virtuous prince in the Ming Dynasty!
"Father, we don't just talk to everyone," Little Zhu said boastfully. "Today, a scholar from the Imperial Academy told us to promote the Zhou rites, saying that the Zhou rites are the best way to govern the country, and even suggested that we promote Confucianism. We weren't happy about that. If the Zhou rites are so good, why didn't the previous dynasty follow them?"
Zhu Yunying nodded with a smile. He couldn't do anything about some students who had become foolish from studying too much. Those people were better at theoretical discussions, and many of their ideas on governing the country were practically impossible to implement and extremely detached from reality.
Little Zhu continued, "I remember what my great-grandfather and father said: the emperor doesn't care whether it's Confucianism or Legalism, as long as it can be used to govern the country. We can't blindly believe in one school of thought, otherwise they will surely become too powerful. Right now, Confucianism is the only prominent school of thought in our Ming Dynasty!"
Zhu Yunying nodded and said, "Since the Han Dynasty, Confucianism has been the dominant school of thought, especially during the Song Dynasty. What we can do now is to suppress them a little. Even so, look at the current civil service examinations, they are all Confucian scholars."
This can only mean that there was really no other way. Even if they were as domineering as Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yuanzhang, they could not suppress Confucianism with one blow.
If it were truly suppressed, it might not be a good thing. Although he didn't have much affection for Confucianism, Zhu Yunying also knew that Confucianism had certain benefits for the emperor's rule; otherwise, rulers throughout history wouldn't have continued to support Confucianism.
Little Zhu nodded obediently, as if she understood something, though perhaps not completely.
Just as Old Zhu and Little Zhu were still teaching Little Zhu, Wang Chengen tiptoed over and said, "Your Majesty the Retired Emperor, Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Wu requests an audience outside the palace."
Zhu Yunying paused, somewhat surprised. "Prince Wu? What is that boy doing here at this time?"
Wang Chengen revealed a fawning smile and said, "Your Majesty, how could this servant know such things? I only heard that the Prince of Wu sent a palace token, saying that he requests an audience."
Little Zhu immediately said happily, "Xuan! We also taught Wengeng a lesson today. He only knows how to slack off. We have to talk to Second Uncle. It's not good for Wengeng to always be lazy. He needs to be disciplined properly."
Zhu Yunying nodded and said, "Then let's announce it and have him come over as soon as possible."
Old Zhu was too lazy to say much. In the past, he would correct him from time to time. For example, Little Zhu's "second uncle" was Prince Xu, Zhu Yunwen, and Zhu Yunwen was the third son. This was the proper "third uncle".
Old Zhu is too lazy to say much now, mainly because Little Zhu seems unable to break this habit. Of course, calling someone Little Zhu is only used in private; as long as it's not used in court, there's naturally no problem.
Zhu Yunwen felt somewhat unlucky to have gotten off to a bad start. His elder brother wasn't in the Wuying Hall or the Eastern Palace, but rather in the Qianqing Palace. But now, there was no way he could slip away. After all, he couldn't simply run away when the emperor summoned him. Even though he was usually a scoundrel and a playboy, Zhu Yunwen understood these principles.
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