Zhu Yuanzhang, who commanded the wind and rain, lived a long and arduous life.

"Wait, this one looks somewhat familiar."

Have you heard of this recently?

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't recall it for a moment.

These days, Zhu Yuanzhang has been busy executing corrupt officials and comforting disaster-stricken people. He has too many things to deal with, so it's normal that he can't remember them all.

He nodded and said to Chen Hong, "Yunwen is a thoughtful child."

"Wait a minute, how much is this smokeless coal per pound? Twenty coins?"

"Charcoal costs fifty coins a pound! Such good stuff is being sold so cheaply?"

Chen Hong nodded and said, "Your Majesty, yes, that's why they sold out as soon as they came out of the market. I just don't know when they'll be available again."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were somewhat bright.

What if the imperial court bought such a cheap and useful item?

So, can the people's problems be solved?

Goodness!

Zhu Yuanzhang's brows gradually relaxed: "You pass on our message to Mao Xiang, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and tell him to investigate as soon as possible who is selling them."

"Also, give us a few dozen kilograms, we need them."

Chen Hong nodded calmly and said, "As you command."

Your Majesty... sigh!

The imperial grandson Zhu Yunwen has been so good to you, yet you turn around and give this thing away to someone else?

Moreover, after His Highness Yunwen sent it, you enjoyed it but didn't praise His Highness Yunwen at all.

This is truly disheartening!

But Chen Hong didn't consider that since Zhu Yunwen had bribed him to find out Zhu Yuanzhang's preferences, needs, and urgent requirements, was his filial piety still genuine?

…….….….….….

Kunning Palace.

Perhaps it was the discovery of the wonderful uses and low price of anthracite, or perhaps it was to see Empress Ma, but Zhu Yuanzhang seemed exceptionally happy.

He shouted from a distance, "Hey girl, we're here! And we've brought some nice things to show you!"

Inside, a voice of complaint immediately came from inside.

"Chongba, it's so late. If you're not sleeping, someone else will be. Stop making such a racket."

After the reprimands, Empress Ma slowly walked out.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly: "Hahaha, sister, we're not afraid!"

“This entire palace belongs to us, what are we afraid of? But we agree that we can’t be too loud, we’ll be more careful in the future.”

Zhu Yuanzhang made a promise.

But Empress Ma ignored it.

This Chongba always verbally agrees but then acts foolishly afterwards, still talking like a loudspeaker.

They're all so old, yet they're never serious.

"Zhongba, what's that behind you?"

Empress Ma's gaze was drawn to the smokeless coal behind Zhu Yuanzhang.

I came back from Chongba a few days ago, but I didn't bring this thing with me.

"This."

Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at the smokeless coal carried by the palace servant and laughed, "Good stuff, you'll see in a moment."

"Go, put it in the hall for us! Use it however you like, you've already seen it, light it for us too."

The latter half of the speech is Zhu Yuanzhang giving instructions to the palace staff.

The palace servants obeyed the order and quickly walked into the hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma, on the other hand, traveled together unhurriedly.

This is usually the time when the couple chats.

"Chongba, something's not right with Father today."

Empress Ma spoke first.

Zhu Yuanzhang's heart skipped a beat. Judging from the tone, could it be that his father had encountered some trouble?

His heart tightened, and he asked, "What's wrong with Dad?"

Empress Ma laughed when she saw his expression: "Look at you, you're even worried about your father?"

"You, you're already doing a good job of not worrying your father. He doesn't need you to worry. He was able to pull Xiong Ying back from the brink of death, why would he need you to worry about him?"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly realized and burst into laughter: "Hahaha, that's right! Sister, we... we get confused when we care, we get confused when we care!"

"Then tell me, what happened to Dad today?"

Upon hearing this, Empress Ma said seriously, "I didn't go to Father's place today. Xiong Ying came back and told me that Father has taken on a new apprentice named Chen Yuntian."

“Xiongying said that the way her father looked at that child was not simple; it was like he was looking at a family member.”

What?

Relatives?!

Zhu Yuanzhang was dumbfounded.

Besides his own Zhu family, who else could Dad consider as family?

"Could it be that U.A. made a mistake?"

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but say.

Empress Ma sighed, "Probably not, Xiong Ying has a sharp eye."

"Chongba, you said..."

At this point, Empress Ma paused.

It seems difficult to talk about.

For a long time,

With unwavering resolve, she leaned close to Zhu Yuanzhang's ear and whispered, "Do you think it could be Father's child?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes widened.

Empress Ma quickly explained, "Father, we haven't seen him for over fifty years. Some people change a lot even after just a few years, but it's been a full fifty years for Father."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately shook his head: "No, impossible!"

Are you so sure?

"That's right! We know Dad, that couldn't be Dad's child!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were resolute.

He had witnessed how his father and mother interacted; their eyes were only on each other.

Moreover, according to my mother, she gave up everything to follow my father back then, and my father always remembered that. Every time my mother suffered, he thought it was his fault and felt sorry for himself.

Such a father, such a mother.

Why would Dad be looking for someone outside?

now.

Seeing the determination in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, Empress Ma stopped guessing and asked, "Then tell me, what's the situation with this child?"

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment and then asked, "Sister, what did you just say his surname was?"

"Chen, Chen Yuntian."

“Chen….Chen…”

Zhu Yuanzhang murmured, then his pupils contracted slightly.

"Hey girl, I have a thought that I'm not entirely sure about."

"You say it and I listen."

"This child, do you think... could he be a member of my family? We believe in the Chen family! And this child also has the surname Chen!"

"This...this is possible!"

Empress Ma also woke up with a start, thought for a moment, and said, "However, this is still just our wild guesses."

"I'll go see my father tomorrow and check on things."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Agreed!"

During their casual conversation, the two of them ended up inside the hall.

moment.

Empress Ma felt a warm atmosphere; it was the smokeless coal that had begun to warm the entire room.

"Hey girl, is it warm?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at her and said happily, "This is the first treasure we discovered, and you are the first to use it. We will bring it to Biao'er and Xiong Ying tomorrow."

The words fell,

He thought his sister would be surprised, but... she just looked at him speechlessly.

this….

What's going on?

It's not what we expected.

Girl, aren't you surprised? We're waiting to see, and we love to see it too!

Zhu Yuanzhang was confused.

He thought for a moment and tentatively asked, "You... have used it?"

Empress Ma rolled her eyes: "Of course, Xiong Ying brought it to me as soon as he came back today. He originally wanted to bring it to you too, but I stopped him."

“I told him, let me surprise you, and you also wanted to surprise me.”

Zhu Yuanzhang: …..

Isn't this a true case of two-way travel?

Empress Ma sighed: "Chongba, who sent it to you? Xiong Ying?"

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head: "No, it was Yunwen who sent it to us. We'll use it tonight and then give it to you... Hmm? Wait a minute!"

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to remember something, and his eyes widened.

“Girl, I remember now! Xiong Ying mentioned this smokeless coal to us yesterday, but it was just a verbal mention.”

"At the time, we thought what he said was too idealistic, so we didn't take it to heart."

Zhu Yuanzhang finally understood.

Why did Chen Hong mention smokeless coal in the palace just now, and why did he feel a strange sense of familiarity with it? It turns out that his eldest grandson had mentioned it to him yesterday!

only,

He thought the brat was just bragging to him, and he just let it go in one ear and out the other.

But unexpectedly,

This is actually real!

"No way? That brat made this smokeless coal?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was somewhat bewildered.

Empress Ma was confused: "Xiong Ying is making smokeless coal? Chongba, have you lost your mind from handling state affairs? That child has never even been to the fields, how would he know how to work with coal?"

She directly criticized Zhu Yuanzhang, saying he was muddle-headed. Only Empress Ma could say such things, and only she could say them, and Zhu Yuanzhang thought she was right.

"Girl, hey, she might really be out of her mind."

"We actually thought that brat Xiong Ying could make coal? Oh, how embarrassing! How could that be possible! If anyone's going to make coal, it'll be our dad's team."

"No way, I have to ask that brat tomorrow about this coal... Girl, let me tell you, it's not only cheap but also harmless, which is very, very important!"

"Who knows, most of the common people in our Great Ming Dynasty will rely on it to get through the winter."

Zhu Yuanzhang kept this in mind.

I plan to go and ask Zhu Xiong Ying first thing tomorrow morning.

“This is indeed important. I’ll remind you first thing tomorrow morning.”

“One person might forget, but if two people forget, it’s unacceptable. It means we’ve both been eliminated, and your position should be given to Biao’er. As for us, we should learn from Dad and enjoy our time with our children and grandchildren.”

Empress Ma joked with a smile.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "Sister, that won't do. Biao'er hasn't grown up yet, we're worried about him."

“If we make a wrong decision in this position, it could affect the lives of millions of people in the Ming Dynasty. We’ll let Biao’er take charge when he’s ready.”

Empress Ma smiled and said, "I know, but let's not talk about it. Go inside and lie down. I'll get you some water to wash your face."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Agreed!"

Zhu Yuanzhang went inside and sat down, drinking tea and warming himself by the smokeless coal. In a word, he felt comfortable!

After Empress Ma finished fetching water, he started chatting with her about this and that.

Zhu Yuanzhang was a chatterbox; he would talk about everything that happened that day, and Empress Ma listened attentively, occasionally offering her own opinions.

The couple had a very pleasant chat.

Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang only became a chatterbox when Empress Ma was present.

In front of his ministers, he was a fearsome, cold-faced monarch, and some even considered him a tyrant.

Despite his imposing and heroic appearance, he was both a strict father and a stern grandfather.

.

….…….….….….

The next day.

Early this morning, the first snow of the year fell in Yingtian Prefecture.

However, it stopped raining after a short while.

now,

Inside the East Palace, a eunuch was sweeping snow in the courtyard.

Zhu Xiong Ying got up early and sat in the main hall, gazing at the snow scene in the courtyard.

Before long, some eunuchs and palace maids returned carrying many pieces of transparent cloth.

These are all things he needs.

Yesterday at Tianyun Temple, he did some farm work with his master, and his master said that the kind of farm work they did would allow vegetables to grow even in winter.