Zhu Yunying indeed found it difficult to have a good impression of Zhu Yunwen.
The reason for this is indeed due to the strong negative impressions left from his past life, and also because Zhu Yunwen in this life has indeed done some laughable things. It would be very difficult for Zhu Yunying to truly get close to him.
Of course, there's no need to deliberately try to get close to him, nor is there any need to be overly demanding. After all, we still have to give face to the old Zhu and the first Zhu. Zhu Yunwen is indeed just an ordinary prince, and there's no need to treat him differently. In this way, it can probably be considered a show for the imperial family and for the world to see that the imperial family still maintains a facade of brotherly affection and respect.
Let's just consider Zhu Yunwen as a mascot. Of course, his role as a mascot isn't that important, because the real mascot is actually Zhu Yunwen. The fact that Emperor Yingshi's elder brother was like a father to him is better embodied in Zhu Yunwen.
Although Zhu Yunwen wasn't exactly terrified, he was still taken aback when the envoy arrived at Prince Xu's residence. He was somewhat confused and usually didn't dare express concern for court affairs, much less pay attention to court events.
However, some things cannot be kept secret, and they quickly spread. Especially since it involved renowned scholars like Huang Zicheng and Fang Xiaoru, as well as some of his friends in the Imperial Academy, Zhu Yunwen learned about these matters even if he was somewhat slow to realize it.
Seeing the worried look on Princess Ma's face, Zhu Yunwen could only say gently, "Your Majesty has always been kind and benevolent. You must know that I often associate with them. It's just a routine inquiry, nothing serious."
Lady Ma also came from a prestigious family; she was the daughter of Ma Quan, the former Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and was the princess consort chosen by Zhu Yunwen by the First Emperor and Lady Lü after careful consideration. Although she came from an official family, Lady Ma was still quite knowledgeable and well-educated, conforming to what some people considered the 'Three Obediences and Four Virtues'.
He was indeed a little worried, but Zhu Yunwen didn't lose his composure and entered the palace with relative calm. There was no need to worry about assassins lurking in the palace; if his elder brother really wanted to deal with him, he wouldn't need such methods. If he had truly committed some offense, it wouldn't have been as simple as an imperial edict summoning him to the palace.
In fact, even years ago, Zhu Yunwen had come to terms with reality, let alone now that his elder brother held absolute power. Although they were both imperial grandsons, he and his brother were completely different. It was only in his youth, when he was naive, that he had some thoughts about this. As he grew up and gained more understanding, he became increasingly aware of the insurmountable gap between himself and his brother.
Maintaining the demeanor of a prince, Zhu Yunwen couldn't help but feel worried when he saw the civil officials kneeling outside the Meridian Gate. The officials, noticing that Prince Xu had indeed been summoned to the palace, were all terrified and looked as if they had lost their parents.
Undoubtedly, things have developed in the worst possible direction. Scholars may not recover from this incident for a long time. This matter was extremely taboo; some scholars are truly bookworms, completely lacking in political sensitivity!
Whether it's Fang Xiaoru, Huang Zicheng, or even their former students and officials, as well as that Prince Xu just now, they are all the same.
Their affinity for Confucianism and their desire to promote the teachings of the sages are certainly understandable. However, even if they wish to enlighten the world, they cannot clash with the emperor, especially not with such a domineering emperor!
Some people are still too idealistic and bookish. Some may genuinely believe that decades of studying classical texts makes them learned and capable of saving the world. As for whether they have considered that some of their political ideas are out of touch with reality or overly idealistic, they obviously don't care. They simply confidently believe they are talented.
Upon arriving at the Wuying Hall, Zhu Yunwen behaved very respectfully, saying, "Your subject, Zhu Yunwen, pays respects to Your Majesty the Emperor."
Zhu Yunying didn't speak, simply letting Zhu Yunwen kneel. This foolish younger brother needed a good talking-to, otherwise the kid might get sold out without even realizing it. Not only was he so naive, but most importantly, he couldn't distinguish right from wrong.
Zhu Yunwen, who had initially tried to remain calm, gradually began to tense up, and beads of sweat began to appear on his forehead. Previously, even out of court etiquette, his elder brother would usually tell him to rise after kowtowing. But this time was different; his brother did not tell him to rise.
The act of bowing has also been constantly evolving. Leaving aside the kneeling postures and etiquette of the past, even during the Song Dynasty more than a hundred years ago, ministers did not usually kneel before the emperor, and even commoners were not required to kneel immediately upon seeing the emperor.
Constantly kneeling and bowing would only invite contempt and be seen as excessive flattery; some scholar-officials of that era seemed to still possess a certain 'pride'. At least they were very sensitive to these kinds of etiquette and treatment.
Even during the Southern Song Dynasty, many people felt that kneeling was a northern etiquette, and that the Han people in the north had lost their backbone after experiencing the rule of the Khitan, Jurchen, and even the Mongols.
However, by the Yuan Dynasty, everyone seemed to have gotten used to it. When presenting matters to the emperor, one had to kneel down to speak. Everyone seemed to have taken it for granted, considering such etiquette to be natural and a sign of respect for imperial authority.
Although Zhu Yuanzhang abolished many customs of other ethnic groups when he restored Han Chinese legitimacy, he had no intention of restoring the kneeling and bowing customs of the Song Dynasty or even earlier. Expecting the emperor and his ministers to bow to each other was simply impossible.
Imperial power has been elevated to an unprecedented level, and ministers can now only speak while kneeling before the emperor. Of course, future dynasties might go even further, and it's not impossible that they might introduce practices like the three kneelings and nine kowtows.
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