Ming Dynasty: A hundred-year-old immortal cultivator, Zhu Yuanzhang’s biological father

The soldier named Lao Ma felt his body alternating between hot and cold since he set out from Jiaozhi. He always thought he had caught a cold, but the cold had lasted for too long. Not only had his condition not improved, but it had gotten worse.

"Okay... okay."

Lao Ma nodded, got off the official ship, found the officers and soldiers of Ningbo Guard, and after checking and obtaining the token, someone took Lao Ma to find a military doctor.

"It's strange, why are there several people in our team coughing these days? This cold is really contagious!"

Another soldier scratched his head and without giving it much thought, he continued to command the treasure ship fleet to pass through Ningbo Port and head towards the inland canal.

It was a sunny day, and Zhu Xiongying ran a lap and returned to the familiar morning stall.

The store doctor smiled and greeted Zhu Xiongying: "Hey! Soup dumplings, xiaolongbao and soy milk are all packed for you."

"what?"

Zhu Xiongying scratched his head and asked curiously: "Why?"

The shop doctor said: "The old man is here early in the morning, go back and take your breakfast to eat with your grandfather."

Zhu Xiongying suddenly realized, took out ten coins from his pocket and threw them to the store owner, then returned to his mansion with breakfast.

The old man sat on a stone bench with his legs crossed. When he saw Zhu Xiongying, he said with a smile, "We said you were coming back at this time."

Zhu Xiongying smiled and put the buns and soy milk on the table: "Let's have breakfast."

"it is good!"

Zhu Yuanzhang opened the yellow paper bag with a smile, picked up the hot bun with a chuckle, and was about to throw it into his mouth.

As if he remembered something, the old man stopped moving, then took a bite slowly.

Zhu Xiongying saw this and wanted to laugh, but he still said: "It's all for your own good. If you can change some bad habits, just change them. Now we are in the prosperous Ming Dynasty, not the remnant Yuan Dynasty where we had no food to eat."

"Besides, if you eat so hastily, wouldn't others think you are a starving ghost? That's not presentable, isn't it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled awkwardly and said, "Yes, yes, yes, you are right!"

Zhu Xiongying: "..."

However, although Zhu Yuanzhang spoke perfunctorily, he was actually very honest.

He imitated Zhu Xiongying, chewing the buns slowly and leisurely, and said with a smile: "Grandson, I have something to ask you."

"Oh."

Zhu Xiongying nodded: "You go ahead."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked: "Are you still in touch with the fifth daughter of the Xu family?"

Zhu Xiongying was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I saw you once in the prison of the Ministry of Justice, and we hardly had any contact since then. What happened?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Oh, so, do you still miss her?"

Zhu Xiongying was a little stunned, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang suspiciously, and asked: "What's wrong with you?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Answer me first."

Zhu Xiongying pursed his lips, lowered his head and took a sip of soy milk, and said casually: "What is there to think about? A real man should focus on his career. Besides, Miss Xu and I are just casual friends."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled even more, "That's good, then let's arrange a marriage for Miss Xu, Kong Ne's grandson, what do you think?"

Zhu Xiongying smiled and said, "Good news... huh?"

Zhu Xiongying stopped eating breakfast halfway through his words. His face changed slightly. He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and asked, "You...issued an order?"

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head: "Not yet, I have this intention."

Zhu Xiongying suddenly said in a stern voice: "No!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned. Seeing Zhu Xiongying's big reaction, he couldn't help but look at him again and asked, "Why?"

Zhu Xiongying said: "Miss Xu and the grandson of the Kong family have never met, how can they be married casually?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "It was the Emperor who granted the marriage. Why do they need to meet? In ancient times, marriage was a big deal. The matchmaker said it, and the parents made the decision! Why do we need the two children to get involved? Wasn't it just a matter of our saying something about you and the Zhao family's daughter? I didn't see you react so strongly at that time."

Zhu Xiongying retorted: "Yes! Marriage is a big deal, it's the matchmaker's words, and the parents have the final say, but Miss Xu's parents didn't make the decision either! We are different!"

Ah.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "The emperor is the father of the world and the father of the Xu family. Naturally, he has the power to decide this matter."

Zhu Xiongying continued to shake his head: "Nonsense! The Xu family has made great contributions to the founding of the country. If you want to grant the marriage, you should also ask whether the other party is willing."

"Who is this grandson of Kong Ne? Tell me about it."

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "I just passed the imperial examination this year."

Zhu Xiongying snorted, "He is just a Jinshi, and he just got in. Kong Ne is not a good person. A dragon gives birth to a dragon, a phoenix gives birth to a phoenix, and a mouse's son will dig holes. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked. How can the grandson of the Kong family be a good thing?"

"Besides, if you want to grant a marriage, you should first consider the character of the grandson of the Kong family, right?"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "He has good character."

"What about martial arts? Can it protect the safety of your future wife?" Zhu Xiongying continued.

Zhu Yuanzhang was amused. "He doesn't know martial arts. The Xu family is a family of military commanders. They will never let the fifth daughter of the Xu family suffer any loss."

Zhu Xiongying said anxiously: "It still doesn't work!"

"What?"

Zhu Xiongying said: "In short, it's not possible!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said sternly, "You just said that a real man should not be bound by women. A real man should do what he should do and should not do what he should not do."

"You are just a woman. Can you resist me?"

Zhu Xiongying said loudly: "What are you afraid of?!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's face was a little angry: "How dare you! This is the Ming Dynasty, you are a descendant of the Ming Dynasty! You are so bold to oppose the emperor for a girl?"

"Do you know my painstaking efforts? Do you know the purpose of my arranging the marriage for the fifth son of the Xu family? You don't understand anything! You are making up nonsense and using perverted theories!"

Zhu Xiongying looked at Zhu Yuanzhang solemnly, and said without giving in: "Yes! She is a girl! A little girl from the Xu family! You have so much power, what can you do?"

"Of course I don't know your purpose and considerations in granting Xu Miaojin a marriage, but what I do know is that since you are so capable, why would you sacrifice a girl's happiness to achieve your purpose and considerations?"

"You've always taught me that women shouldn't interfere with men, but I just can't understand why a man like me, who is so capable, needs to sacrifice a girl? Is he still a man?"

"you!"

Zhu Yuanzhang pointed at Zhu Xiongying with gritted teeth, his lips trembling, "What are you going to do? Are you going to kill me?"

Zhu Xiongying casually cupped his hands: "I dare not!"

"In my mind, Grandpa has always been an emperor with a broad vision and unique perspective, but today, Grandpa, you let me see a side of you that is unknown to the public."

"It turns out that the emperor also needs to sacrifice women to accomplish something, haha."

Zhu Xiongying had a mocking look on his face.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned pale and he became more and more angry: "You stinky boy! You bastard!"

"You are hypocritical! Are you attracted to the fifth daughter of the Xu family? You don't want her to get married, right?"

Zhu Xiongying paused and nodded: "Yes!"

"You are right, old man!"

"I'm attracted to the fifth daughter of the Xu family!"

"I have hurt Miss Xu once, no, twice, but she has never had any bad intentions towards me. When I was in prison, she helped me with all her might, even at the expense of the interests of the Xu family."

"Why shouldn't I be interested in such a good girl?"

"I just like Miss Xu, and I just want to marry her!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily: "You little bastard!"

Zhu Yuanzhang still looked a little angry: "So for the sake of the Xu family girl, you are not afraid to offend the emperor, and even scold our emperor and father?" "Loyalty to the emperor, patriotism... you have learned a lot!"

Zhu Xiongying snorted: "The premise is that you are worthy of my respect, but now, I am disappointed in you!"

"you!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's fingers trembled a little. "So what? What are you going to do? What ability do you have to change our decision?"

Zhu Xiongying said: "I don't have the ability! You are the emperor, you are high above me, what ability do I have? I am just a junior."

"Whoever you let Xu Miaojin marry, I will kill him. I am still capable of killing a few people!"

The words fell.

The courtyard fell into deathly silence.

Occasionally, one could see Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth twitching.

What Zhu Xiongying said just now even made Zhu Yuanzhang feel a little ashamed.

An emperor has fallen to the point of using a woman to achieve his goals. No matter what the goals are, it is shameful to have such a motive!

Zhu Yuanzhang pursed his lips, looked up at the angry Zhu Xiongying, and sighed: "You kid, your temper is still so violent, just like me!"

"He is stubborn, like a bull, and no one can say anything to him."

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, continued to finish the buns on the stone table, and finally drank the soy milk. Then he asked Zhu Xiongying: "If I really issued an order, would you really dare to use a knife?"

Seeing the old man's chilling expression, Zhu Xiongying was somewhat moved, but still said stubbornly: "Yes!"

"Old man, a real man has his share of things to do and things not to do. If I can't even protect a woman, then I feel like all the things I learned from you before are bullshit! They're all unrealistic!"

"There are some things I haven't told you, but what I can tell you is that Miss Xu has done a lot for me silently. This is friendship, and I can't just pretend nothing happened."

Taking a deep breath, Zhu Xiongying was silent for a moment and said, "Grandpa, let's not talk about this anymore."

"Let's talk about the previous incident. Didn't you ask me before that I would collect river boat taxes and city gate taxes to enrich the finances of local government offices and relieve the tax burden on the people, and asked me what reward I wanted?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, then looked up at Zhu Xiongying: "So, you are planning to let me give you the fifth daughter of the Xu family as a reward?"

Zhu Xiongying did not comment: "At least he is a random matchmaker!"

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted, put his hands behind his back and said, "I just have nothing to do, so I came to you to ask for trouble! Let's go!"

"Hey."

Zhu Xiongying quickly stopped the old man, "Grandpa, you haven't replied to me yet, why are you leaving? Things haven't been explained clearly yet!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "You have made it clear. You have shown your attitude. I am not deaf. How can I not understand you?"

"Let's go wipe your ass!"

"Oh! To be so desperate for a woman and grandfather, the Xu family's daughter is so lucky!"

Zhu Yuanzhang had some jealousy in his eyes, and waved to Zhu Xiongying with his back turned: "Don't send me off, let's go back by ourselves!"

There were few pedestrians on both sides of the Qinhuai River in the early morning.

Zhu Xiongying walked out of the mansion, looked at the old man's lonely back, and sighed for no reason.

There is no doubt that the old man cares about me, but he cannot and should not compromise on this matter.

Entering February, the weather is still a little chilly.

Zhu Xiongying was not wearing much, just a shirt under a layer of inner garment.

Zhu Xiongying gritted his teeth and continued his morning jog along the Qinhuai River.

When he ran to the vicinity of Wuyi Lane, he suddenly saw an acquaintance.

Xu Miaojin seemed to have seen Zhu Xiongying as well, so she waited for Zhu Xiongying to come over on Zhuangyuan Bridge.

Zhu Xiongying was a little stunned.

Seeing Xu Miaojin waiting for him in the distance, he thought for a moment, then slowed down his pace and walked up the low steps of Zhuangyuan Bridge step by step.

In the middle of the arch bridge, Xu Miaojin stood with her hands behind her back, looking at Zhu Huai quietly.

There is a bit of shyness, a bit of anticipation, and a bit of secret joy.

She was wearing a dress and looking towards the surface of Qinhuai River.

The river is full of clear water, sparkling in the morning light.

"Morning."

Zhu Xiongying came over and greeted Xu Miaojin.

This silly girl probably doesn't know that grandpa is planning to marry her off.

Zhu Xiongying didn't say anything on his own initiative.

Why should Xu Miaojin worry more?
What I did silently was not a big deal, so there was no need for Xu Miaojin to be grateful to me.

Besides, Zhu Xiongying had no idea whether the old man would give in in the end.

Xu Miaojin nodded gently: "Morning."

"What are you doing?"

Zhu Xiongying said, "Morning jog."

"Do you run every day?" Xu Miaojin asked curiously.

Zhu Xiongying nodded: "Well, exercise can help you think about things. By the way, what did you do so early in the morning?"

Xu Miaojin thought for a moment and replied, "I'm going to go to the Confucius Mansion."

"Kongne Mansion?" Zhu Xiongying asked curiously.

Xu Miaojin nodded: "Yes."

Zhu Xiongying frowned slightly, "You are not a person who likes to go out and wander around, why do you suddenly want to go to the Confucius Mansion?"

Xu Miaojin thought for a moment and said, "Our Xu family has opened some academies."

Zhu Xiongying was stunned and looked at her in surprise.

"The Fengyang Academy on Lantern Festival is run by your Xu family?" Xu Miaojin nodded.

Zhu Xiongying continued to ask: "Did you come up with that kind of marketing method?"

"Marketing?" Xu Miaojin didn't quite understand, but after thinking about it carefully, she understood what Zhu Xiongying meant, so she replied, "Yeah."

Zhu Xiongying stood on the arch bridge, looking at the Qinhuai River flowing quietly, and suddenly asked: "Go to the Kong family and find a great scholar to teach in the academy?"

Xu Miaojin was slightly surprised and nodded: "Yeah."

Zhu Xiongying uttered an "oh" and his face looked a little gloomy, and no one knew what he was thinking about.

He never thought that the academy was actually developed by the Xu family.

He glanced at Xu Miaojin again, and a deep admiration rose in his heart.

But soon, he suddenly remembered what the old man had said to him two days ago.

The fact that the old man knew the connection between the academy and the family meant that he had known it for a long time.

"what happened?"

Seeing Zhu Xiongying's uncertain expression, Xu Miaojin asked curiously.

Zhu Xiongying looked at Xu Miaojin steadily: "Why do you suddenly want to open a college? It seems that your Xu family has opened several colleges in this month."

(End of this chapter)