The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 1 I know, Grandpa Emperor, you're a kept man!
"My dear grandson, do you know how your imperial grandfather rose from humble beginnings to drive out the tyrannical Yuan dynasty and ascend to the throne?"

"Grandson knows, Grandpa, you're living off Grandma!"

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"My dear grandson, don't you know who's in charge of the Ming Dynasty?"

"I know! The Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty has the final say, but if the Empress Dowager speaks, can the Emperor disregard it?"

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"By the way, Grandfather! I heard from my father that you were not a commoner back then. You were begging with a broken bowl."

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Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Zhu Yuanzhang, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, had veins bulging on his forehead and almost wanted to summon the crown prince to enforce family discipline right then and there!

When people get old, it's only natural to want to brag to their grandchildren about their glorious past and win a few admiring glances.

But
It's unbelievable that the mighty Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was undermined by his own son!

"Xiongying, what your father said isn't entirely right. Your imperial grandfather's story is one of heroes rising from humble beginnings."

"Yes, our Zhu family is poor."

On Zhu Yuanzhang's lap, a child who had just turned ten nodded repeatedly in response.

Throughout the entire Ming Dynasty, he was the only one qualified to sit on Zhu Yuanzhang's lap.

Because the child was Zhu Xiong Ying, the eldest son of Zhu Biao, the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, and now the universally recognized imperial grandson!

Zhu Yuanzhang set naming rules for his descendants, which required that their names contain the radicals of the elements 'wood, fire, earth, metal, and water' according to their generation, symbolizing the continuous prosperity of the Zhu family and the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Xiong Ying was an exception, which shows how much Emperor Hongwu favored him.

"Grandfather, I know you are wise and powerful, otherwise you wouldn't have given birth to my father, and my father wouldn't have given birth to me!"

"I, Zhu Xiong Ying, am intelligent, and my imperial grandfather, who inherited the Zhu family bloodline, is naturally intelligent as well!"

Zhu Xiong Ying spoke up confidently.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's eye twitched!
Good lad, how come this grandfather and grandson have reversed the Heavenly Spirits?
"Cough cough!"

"Xiongying, the Emperor summoned you to the Hall of Supreme Harmony today because he has something important to tell you."

"Tomorrow, you will go to the palace with your father, understand?"

"Grandpa Emperor has a big gift for you!"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and began to coax his grandson.

Debating with this eldest grandson, who has been known as a child prodigy since entering the main hall, would probably be exhausting, so I simply changed the subject.

"Then why did you make me come over in the middle of the night?"

"I have to get up early for court tomorrow, can't you even let me get some rest?"

Zhu Xiong Ying's eyes widened, and she immediately retorted with a question.

This question left Zhu Yuanzhang speechless.

He could indeed have his son Zhu Biao relay the message that Zhu Xiong Ying should attend court tomorrow, but the old man always wanted to find an opportunity to talk to his grandson a little more.

"Alright, Grandpa, go to bed early. Your grandson will go to bed too!"

Zhu Xiong Ying jumped off Zhu Yuanzhang's lap and walked directly out of the hall.

Even the Crown Prince didn't utter a single word of 'taking his leave.' The reason was simple: previously, when Zhu Biao reprimanded Zhu Xiong Ying for his lack of manners and failure to observe Confucian etiquette, Zhu Xiong Ying addressed Zhu Yuanzhang as 'Your Majesty the Emperor' and Empress Ma as 'Your Majesty the Empress,' which infuriated the two elders!

The dignified Crown Prince, nearing thirty, was double-beaten by the Emperor and Empress of the Ming Dynasty—how utterly miserable!
Watching Zhu Xiong Ying's departing figure, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were filled with the warmth of family affection.

In his eyes, the Zhu family was actually quite small.

Myself, my sister, Biao'er, Xiong Ying!

The other sons were princes, the other grandsons were imperial grandsons, only they were family!
"Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived."

After Zhu Xiong Ying left, the chief eunuch Wang Jing Hong entered the hall and quietly reported.

"The girl's here!"

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately stood up, his face beaming with joy!
He was scolded by Empress Ma yesterday for beating up a prince in the main hall, which delayed his court session by a quarter of an hour. Now that he's here tonight, it means he doesn't have to sleep here tonight.

"Quickly, open the door!"

The three consecutive use of the word "fast" clearly demonstrates Zhu Yuanzhang's deep love for his first wife.

Ultimately, this founder of the Ming Dynasty was, at heart, a peasant; his greatest happiness was having a wife, children, and a warm bed.

Wang Jinghong, being an old man from Fengyang, naturally understood his emperor's thoughts and hurriedly went to open the door.

"Chongba? I heard from Yu'er that you were busy with political affairs tonight, and you even had a quick dinner before returning to the main hall."

A gentle and tender voice called out, and Zhu Yuanzhang looked up at the figure entering, his eyes filled with tenderness.

Back then, he was just a stable boy. Empress Ma was Guo Zixing's adopted daughter, and he chose to "marry down." Their love, which began in humble circumstances, lasted through thick and thin and was stronger than gold and stone!
"Hey girl, aren't we getting ready to take Biao'er on a tour?"

“This vast Ming Dynasty needs a regent! That’s why I summoned Xiong Ying and said a few words to him.”

Empress Ma, carrying a tray of side dishes, put down the tray, glared at her husband with annoyance, and then served him rice: "Xiong Ying is still so young, and you're letting him oversee the country! Chongba, what are you thinking?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's originally gentle demeanor gradually turned stern: "Now that our Great Ming Dynasty has been newly established, as long as I am here, the civil and military officials below will not be able to reveal what they are thinking or plotting."

"This time, we're taking Biao'er on a tour, ostensibly to see how the people in various places are recovering and to check on the matter of moving the capital. But in reality, it's to have Xiong Ying oversee the country and gradually uncover the thoughts of these ministers!"

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang took the rice that Empress Ma served him, ate several mouthfuls in a row, and said while holding the bowl and chopsticks, "Besides, the world we conquered, the Ming Dynasty, is all the wealth of our Zhu family. It will be passed down to Biao'er in the future, and Biao'er will pass it down to Xiong Ying in the future."

"Isn't it better to let U.A. get familiar with politics now than to let him mess around with his uncles at the Grand Hall?"

Upon hearing this, Empress Ma glanced at her husband, somewhat helpless.

She felt somewhat heartbroken to have Xiong Ying oversee the country.

This child is so young, yet he has to get up early for court and face those old foxes and fierce generals in the court.

Just then, Zhu Yuanzhang reached out to grab Empress Ma's hand: "Besides, sister, aren't you still in Yingtian Prefecture? If they dare to rebel, we'll bury them all in the ground, even if we're outside!"

Unexpectedly,

The next instant, a slap landed on the back of Zhu Yuanzhang's hand.

"Zhongba! Eat your food properly!"

"Anyway, if Xiong Ying is bullied in the court, either you or Biao'er must come back!"

Regardless of the flirting within the main hall, Zhu Xiong Ying sat in his small palanquin, his brows slightly furrowed.

What is the purpose of attending court tomorrow?

Just then, a mechanical voice rang in Zhu Xiong Ying's mind:
[Ding! Dragon energy of the Ming Dynasty detected. Congratulations, host, system activated!]

(End of this chapter)