Father can be an enemy country

Chapter 1367 A Scale Between Heaven and Earth
Jiangdongmen Pier.

The prince's entire family, as well as Wang Runer and her son, had been looking forward to it for a long time.

"Father!" As soon as he saw Zhu Zhen coming down the gangway, the five-year-old Meng Yan rushed up excitedly like a calf seeing a red cloth.

"Haha, Meng Xuan. Oh, slow down..." Zhu Zhen hurriedly hugged his running son to prevent him from falling into the river.

Then she held him in her arms and kissed him hard. "Do you miss your father?"

"I miss you every day." Zhu Mengxuan said in a baby voice, "Mother misses you even more, and even secretly sheds tears."

"Meng Xuan, stop talking nonsense." Wang Run'er blushed. The whole family couldn't help but laugh.

"Uncle Six!" Zhu Xiongying also hurried over. After not seeing him for a year, the eldest grandson had grown taller and looked like an adult. He was too embarrassed to jump on the sixth uncle like he did when he was a child.

But the joy on his face was just like that of his childhood.

Zhu Zhen held his son in one hand and his nephew in the other, and walked forward to pay his respects to his elder brother and his wife.

"Sixth brother, you've worked hard..." The prince looked at Zhu Zhen's rough skin and his body that had obviously lost three sizes thinner, and his eyes turned red with heartache.

"Haha, big brother. You've said this several times." Zhu Zhen laughed and joked, "You say this every time we meet."

"Yes, it's hard every time, but this time is the hardest." Zhu Biao squeezed Zhu Zhen's shoulders tightly, and asked about the health of the fifth and eleventh and twelfth brothers.

"The third brother served as Lan Yu's military supervisor and returned with the main force. He felt bored on the road and insisted on asking the second brother to go with him." Although Zhu Biao already knew that the second and third brothers did not return together, Zhu Zhen still reported it.

"Yes, the arrangement is very appropriate." Zhu Biao nodded and said, "I have always been worried that Lan Yu would get carried away, and I even wrote a letter to remind him to 'not be arrogant even if he wins', but I still feel more at ease to let the third brother look after him."

"Yes." Zhu Zhen reminded his eldest brother, "He has become a little too proud of himself, but he has been restrained because of the incident involving Fourth Brother. You still have to warn him when you get back, don't let him hurt himself or others."

"I see." Zhu Biao knew that when Lao Liu said this, it must be that Lan Yu had gotten into trouble again. But now was not the time to talk about this, so he asked in a low voice, "Where's Lao Si?"

"In the prison car." Zhu Zhen replied.

"Where's the prison van?"

"He's on the boat." Zhu Zhen said softly, "Wait until there are fewer people around before letting him get off?"

"Alas, you'd better come down now." The prince sighed and whispered, "The emperor is very angry that you took the sea route. He said that you were playing tricks on him. If you don't behave yourself after entering the capital, I don't know what the emperor will do to the fourth brother."

"Today is New Year's Day." Zhu Zhen frowned.

"It's not like every day is New Year's Day..." The prince sighed and said, "You know my father's temper."

Then he lowered his voice and said, "Don't worry, Lao Si will be fine."

"Well, I'll listen to you, big brother." Zhu Zhen then said, "Lift down the prisoner car."

So the soldiers at the dock shook the winch and slowly lifted the prison van ashore.

The fourth child was in the first prisoner car. "Slow down, slow down, be careful!" The prince watched the prisoner car swaying slightly in the air nervously, his heart in his throat.

He didn't breathe a sigh of relief until the prisoner car landed steadily, and hurried forward to see Lao Si. He saw Lao Si locked in a cage, thin and haggard, unkempt, with a dirty and messy robe, looking extremely miserable.

The prince burst into tears on the spot, holding the fourth brother's hand and sobbing, "Silly boy, you really treat yourself badly."

"Don't be sad, big brother. I deserve the punishment." Zhu Di also said with red eyes: "I did all this voluntarily. Otherwise, what is the military law?"

"Alas..." The prince felt even more distressed for the fourth son, and couldn't help but give him a reassurance, saying, "Don't worry, the emperor has basically calmed down. If you behave better, you can get away with the amnesty."

"Yes, yes. Thank you for your trouble again, big brother." Zhu Di said gratefully, "I really don't know how to repay you, big brother."

"No need. After all, I am your elder brother." The prince held his hand tightly and comforted Ping An and Zhang Yu.

Eleven and Twelve were all stunned, thinking that Fourth Brother’s acting skills were really superb.

He was obviously dissatisfied and full of resentment all the way, but as soon as he arrived in Beijing, he immediately turned into a good boy who sincerely repented... He really couldn't help but accept it.

~~
When the princes returned to the palace, they saw that the streets were already crowded with people, all of whom were citizens of the capital who had heard the news and rushed to welcome the emperor.

Ever since they learned that the Heavenly Soldiers had completely wiped out the Northern Yuan Dynasty, the people of the capital have been looking forward to the day when the army returns triumphantly. Although only a few of the princes are returning today, they will definitely welcome them as long as the Sixth and Fourth are here.

Although we only got the news this morning and couldn't prepare properly in such a hurry, today was New Year's Eve and every household had fireworks and firecrackers, so the people took out their firecrackers in advance and set off firecrackers wherever the team went. They kept setting off firecrackers along the way to welcome the triumphant return of the princes.

In this atmosphere, naturally no one would laugh at the people sitting in the prison car. Many people who knew Zhu Di's identity bowed to him in respect. Seeing that he was like a beggar, they stuffed pressed duck, cured chicken, smoked fish and other foods prepared for the New Year into his prison car, expressing their support for him in this simple way.

Zhu Di was so moved that his nose was sore and tears were streaming down his face. He was actually prepared to be laughed at, humiliated, and even pelted with rotten eggs.

But he never expected to receive such a warm welcome from the people of Beijing.

With Zhu Di's intelligence, he immediately figured out what was going on. He stared blankly at the prince's carriage in front of him, his eyes blurred with tears again.

~~
On the jade carriage, Zhu Zhen looked at the grand occasion outside and said to the prince with a smile, "Thank you for your concern, big brother."

"I don't understand what you are talking about." Zhu Biao stroked his neatly trimmed beard and smiled, "This is all spontaneous by the people."

"Oh, it's spontaneous." Zhu Zhen nodded and smiled, "This is what the people want. Father should be pleased."

"That's true." Zhu Biao nodded and said, "But whether the emperor will see it that way depends on your ability."

"I know, it's to make the old man happy." Zhu Zhen smiled and said, "Just wait and see."

~~
When the imperial carriage reached the outside of Xihua Gate, a eunuch delivered an imperial decree, ordering that Prince Di of Yan be handed over to the Dazongzheng Temple for detention, and that Zhang Yu of Ping'an be handed over to the Jinyiwei for detention. He also ordered that Prince Zhen of Chuhaidian, Prince Su of Zhou, Prince Chun of Shu, and Prince Bai of Xiang be brought before the emperor.

Watching Lao Si and the others being taken away, Zhu Zhen sighed softly: "It's New Year's Day..."

"Let's go. It's getting late. Everyone is waiting." The prince patted him on the shoulder and led his brothers into the Forbidden City.

(End of this chapter)