If Zheng He performs well, he might have the opportunity to achieve remarkable feats, perhaps even greater ones. That would be ideal, and it was also one of Zhu Yunying's hopes.
However, Zhu Yunying didn't care if Zheng He failed to seize the opportunity; he might be able to discover and cultivate other navigators. In Zhu Yunying's view, talent was indeed rare, but the Ming Dynasty had never lacked talent; what many people lacked was simply the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. It all depended on whether they could seize it.
It can be said that the opportunity has been given to Zheng He; now it's up to him to see how he performs.
After Zheng He left, Zhu Yunying continued to review some memorials before heading towards the Qianqing Palace. He wanted to discuss some matters with his father, although it seemed to be more of a one-sided notification.
Upon arriving at the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yunying was immediately at a loss for words, saying, "Shouldn't you be studying and improving yourself in the Great Hall at this hour? Why are you eating and drinking here with your great-grandfather?"
Little Zhu, munching on a roasted duck leg, said with a grin, "Dad, it's not that we insisted on coming, it's just that our little prince caused trouble again today, and we're here to plead for him!"
Zhu Xi, the twenty-fifth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, is also the youngest son still alive. He is only thirteen years old and was recently granted the title of Prince Yin.
This was a young man with a penchant for martial arts. He often carried a slingshot and a sword, riding his horse through the countryside, frequently attacking civilians who couldn't escape him. Although he was young, this Ming prince, who hadn't even grown his hair yet, loved nothing more than to be completely naked in the palace, making everyone else look naked as well.
If we're talking about absurdity, this one was definitely a rising star among the Ming Dynasty's imperial family, known for his debauchery, and a real headache for Emperor Zhu. Even Zhu Yunying himself didn't know how to deal with such a peculiar individual.
After all, this was Zhu Yunying's nominal 'youngest son,' making him Zhu Yunying's uncle, a position of great importance.
Seeing that Old Zhu remained silent, Zhu Yunying could understand why. It seemed that Old Zhu was indeed quite heartbroken and depressed. He had many good-for-nothing sons, but this youngest son had definitely reached a new level of debauchery.
He's only thirteen. If he grows any older, he might become the most dissolute of all of Zhu's sons. If that happens, he might cause trouble for Zhu Yunying or young Zhu.
After all, taking action against one's uncles and great-uncles requires considerable courage; otherwise, it could easily earn one a bad reputation for mistreating members of the imperial clan. But if left unchecked, who knows what new levels of debauchery these dissolute members of the imperial clan might reach, or how many laws they might break!
Little Zhu continued with a grin, "Our young prince said he saw a woman of considerable beauty on the street. He was afraid his great-grandfather would blame him, so he didn't forcibly take her. However, the wicked servants in the manor followed her and acted like scoundrels at the woman's doorstep."
Zhu Yunying immediately said, "Issue the decree: the wicked servant of Prince Yin's residence shall be executed."
Little Zhu immediately said with a grin, "They've already been beheaded. The great-grandfathers of the ringleaders were all executed. The young prince has also been imprisoned and is not allowed to leave the manor for three months."
Zhu Yunying had no choice. He knew that it was his uncle who had committed the outrageous act and was the ringleader. But Zhu Yunying couldn't just execute him directly; that would be too unreasonable. So, he could only execute the wicked servant who aided and abetted the evildoer.
This kind of tactic wasn't just familiar to Zhu Yunying; rulers throughout history have basically followed the same pattern, so everyone is used to it.
Looking at little Zhu who was still gnawing on roast duck, Zhu Yunying said irritably, "Since you're here to plead for your little prince, why are you still eating here?! Tell me yourself, how much fat is in your face? Your belly is probably bigger than ours!"
Xiao Zhu isn't obese, but to be honest, she's a little chubby, that's a fact.
As soon as Zhu Yunying finished speaking, Old Zhu became unhappy, "You do nothing but stare at our Yin'er all day long! It's good that Yin'er looks a bit more prosperous now, it would be better if he were a skinny monkey like you!"
Zhu Yunying was both amused and exasperated. He looked down at his grandfather and said, "Grandpa, when did we become skinny? We're in great shape, like a strong and healthy man. It's just that Yin'er can't control his appetite. I'm afraid he'll get fat if he keeps eating like this."
"That's a sign of good fortune, and he looks dignified!" Old Zhu said bluntly. "Our Yin'er was so chubby and cute when he was little. If you hadn't made him work hard every day, our Yin'er would have become chubby for nothing."
In Old Zhu's aesthetic sense, chubby grandchildren and great-grandchildren are the cutest, and that's what Old Zhu considers a sign of good fortune.
Needless to say, Little Zhu was well-nourished and chubby when he was little, so his father loved him dearly and couldn't bear to let him go. But over the years, Little Zhu has been working on his strength, often training on the training field, so he looks quite robust.
Old Zhu still adored his great-grandson; he was the best, always meeting Old Zhu's aesthetic standards. However, Old Zhu absolutely forbade Zhu Yunying from asking Little Zhu to "lose weight" or eat less.
Being plump is a sign of good fortune, so it should be encouraged. Being able to eat is a blessing, and the Crown Prince's food must never be skimped on.
Little Zhu, feeling smug, took a big bite of duck meat and even smacked his lips, deliberately trying to annoy Zhu Yunying.
With Old Zhu as his powerful backer, Little Zhu naturally feels confident. Especially since Little Zhu knows what he can and cannot do; he's quite clever.
Old Zhu looked at Little Zhu with undisguised doting eyes, "You've become so skinny that you have no imperial majesty, yet you're still causing trouble for our Yin'er! If you ask me, if it weren't for our pampering, with your demeanor, we wouldn't have passed the throne to you."
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