Daming: I am the Crown Prince

Zhu Su brought some surprises to everyone. He was determined to become a medical scientist and botanist in the Ming Dynasty.

Old Zhu was naturally happy because his dandy "youngest son" did a very good job. Whether it was curing illnesses and saving lives, or providing more food for the people in years of famine, it was an absolute good thing.

Zhu Yunhu was also very happy, naturally because his fifth uncle wanted to bring some correct scientific research methods to the Ming Dynasty, which was something that absolutely needed support.

After eating and drinking his fill and having a good reunion with his fifth uncle, Zhu Yunhuan still had to get busy with other things.

After returning to the East Palace, Zhu Yunhuan saw his second sister Zhu Youwei. Even though they were half-sisters, she was still his elder sister, and especially in this situation, he naturally needed to take good care of his elder sister, especially since Zhu Youwei's background was not good enough and she was born out of wedlock.

"Second sister, I have prepared a lot of dowry." Zhu Yunhuan took the initiative to speak, "Since you are here, it would be great. I will have someone send it over later."

Zhu Youwei said quickly, "The Crown Prince is too polite. The court has already provided a lot of supplies."

"What belongs to the court belongs to the court, and what my brother gave me is what my brother gave me." Zhu Yunhuan said with a smile, "People outside say that my mother's family has someone to rely on, and this is also the confidence of a married woman."

Zhu Youling immediately said, "That's the truth. If the girl's family doesn't help, won't she be bullied by her husband's family?"

Zhu Youwei said quickly, "How can this be possible? I am a proper princess after all."

"It doesn't matter. I have to marry my sister off anyway." Zhu Yunhuan said, "Speaking of which, my second sister has been the least of my worries in the past two years. As her younger brother, I have never taken her into consideration."

Zhu Youwei said quickly, "The Crown Prince is busy with the affairs of the court. Besides, the people around me are also serving me diligently. There is no need for Your Highness to worry too much."

"Isn't this just being polite? You even said something like Crown Prince or Your Highness, but you didn't even call me by my name." Zhu Yunxun said amiably, "My sisters are getting married, so naturally, as their younger brother, I have to see them off as well."

Zhu Youwei was both happy and afraid, "Yunhuan, just let the fourth and fifth sons send the bride off."

"The fourth and fifth brothers?" Zhu Yunhuan said with disdain, "The fourth and fifth brothers will naturally go to see off the bride. How can they not go to see off my sister when she gets married? I also thought that if my three brothers-in-law come out to see off the bride, my brother-in-law should be more polite, right?"

In fact, everyone understands that Zhu Youwei is a princess, and under normal circumstances, no one dares to treat her badly.

However, she was not Zhu Biao's legitimate daughter, and her presence was seriously lacking among Zhu Biao's children.

Princess, her status as a princess is definitely not as good as Zhu Yourong and Zhu Youling.

Zhu Yunxun asked, "Second sister lives in the Princess's Mansion?"

Zhu Youling helped to say, "Of course we should live in the Princess's Mansion. My brother-in-law's family is not well-off, so it's better not to have the whole family live in one place. The eldest and second aunts also said so, otherwise it will definitely be difficult."

Zhu Youwei immediately said, "You Ling, your words are too serious. Can you really embarrass me and make me follow the rules?"

Zhu Youling said unconvincedly, "My eldest and second aunts both say that you are soft-hearted, and I think so too. If I really live in the mansion, won't I have to take care of my brother-in-law's parents, brothers and sisters?"

Zhu Yunhuan also knew that his sister was soft-hearted, and provoking her was basically like provoking cotton. Although she would not be as cautious as ordinary women in her husband's family, there were also women from the royal family who were bullied.

"What the eldest and youngest aunts said makes sense. It's comfortable to live in the Princess's Mansion. If you can help your brother-in-law's family, then help them. If you can't help, then just live your own life." Zhu Yunhuan said bluntly, "In the end, as long as our family is happy, that's all."

After Zhu Yunhuan finished speaking, he went to the study and came back after a while with some things.

"Some things are not easy to give now, let's talk about it in a few years." Zhu Yunhuan said directly, "My eldest aunt and my younger aunt gave me a lot of things in the past. It's not good for a grown man like me to keep these things, so I'll give some dowry to my second sister to keep at the bottom of the box."

Zhu Youling and Zhu Youwei were both smiling with their heads down. Zhu Yunhuan, the crown prince, always liked to "go to great lengths". Everyone knew that Princess Anqing had lived in the Eastern Palace for more than a year. When she got married, she wanted to empty the Eastern Palace. How could there be anything left?

In the final analysis, it was just Zhu Yunhuan looking for a reason to give some dowry and confidence to his half-sister.

In fact, Zhu Youwei also understood that when she got married, she would definitely be married with the ceremony of a princess. There was nothing to say about it.

But whether the Crown Prince would add some dowry or send a wedding gift was related to her face and status. If she didn't show up, no one would complain, but if she did, her status would naturally soar, even if she only showed up for a short time.

Zhu Yunhuan looked at Zhang Fusheng and said, "Call the fourth and fifth brothers over as well. They also need to learn some rules."

Zhu Yunwen came with Zhu Yunxi, one was eleven years old and the other was six years old.

Seeing Zhu Yunxi's plump whiteness, Zhu Yunxun was very happy, "Old Five looks festive, can he be the Prince of Fu in the future?"

Zhu Yunxi, who already understood a little bit of the situation, said, "It's up to the Crown Prince to arrange."

"I'm just kidding!" Zhu Yunhuan said, "Prince Fu, this is not easy to calculate. You still need a proper fiefdom."

Prince Fu, it’s not that Zhu Yunhuan thought of the historical Prince Fu Zhu Changxun out of mischievousness, nor is it any "Fulu wine".

As for the titles of the princes of the Ming Dynasty, they are basically related to place names. If Zhu Yunxi was given the title of Prince of Fu, many people would think that Zhu Yunxun was bullying his brother by giving him an unclear title.

Zhu Yunhuan looked at Zhu Yunhuan and asked, "Is there any place you want to go?"

Zhu Yunwen was not much better, still a little afraid of Zhu Yunwen, "Just follow my brother's orders."

"You are not good at studying, and you don't have the temperament to endure hardship." Zhu Yunxun couldn't help but said with a headache, "I heard that you fell asleep in the main class a few days ago. This is my brother. I used to be like that too."

Zhu Youling joked, "If that's the case, your father's reputation will be ruined by you. If one or two of you are like this, it will be terrible. I also heard that the fifth child likes to eat meat and play the most. He will make a fuss when he hears about reading."

Zhu Yunwen couldn't help but look at him and asked, "But what did your mother say? You just study hard and do what you like. Don't think about hiding your shortcomings or desecrating yourself. Yunwen and I may quarrel, but we are brothers after all, and I won't implicate you."

Zhu Yunhuan didn't dare to think so. When his second brother and third brother were fighting, he was ignorant and said harsh words. Now, his mother often teaches him to be cautious, for fear of being hated by the crown prince. Zhu Yunhuan also continued, "Study hard, don't let people think that I always hate you. This incident is just because she thinks about things all day long."

Zhu Yunhuan and others did not dare to reply, because neither Zhu Yunhuan's identity nor the identity of Crown Princess Lu was something they could discuss.

"My sisters have taught us nothing but reading, poetry, calligraphy and painting, and nothing else." Zhu Yunhuan said unhappily, "My brothers, you all either only know how to read, or you just eat and drink like a playboy like I did before. If this continues, I will teach you, the fourth and fifth brothers!"

Zhu Youling spoke up first, "Little brother, it shouldn't be that serious. After all, she is the biological mother of the fourth and fifth children. How can she harm them?"

Zhu Yunwen also said quickly, "Brother, you are busy with state affairs. It's fine if I don't make any progress, but how can I let you down? When I go back, I will work hard and not let you worry anymore."

"My second sister is getting married, you two should come with me to see her off." Zhu Yunhuan said, "I can only see her off to the palace gate, you two should see her off to the princess's residence, and come back after you have performed the ceremony."

Zhu Yunwen immediately said, "This is my duty, brother, don't worry."

Zhu Youwei also said happily, "Thank you very much, Yunxun."

Zhu Yunhuan smiled. Now he was in charge of many family affairs. It was unavoidable. Zhu Biao was gone, and the old Zhu was too lazy to take care of his grandchildren except Zhu Yunhuan. It was even more impossible for Lu Shi to intervene in some matters.

So there was no other way, and Zhu Yunhuan had to do the hard work. Fortunately, many things basically had rules, so this meant that Zhu Yunhuan only needed to make decisions on some major matters and show a little bit of performance on some small details.

Zhu Youwei's wedding was considered to be a grand occasion, and many people also knew that the Crown Prince personally sent his half-sister to the palace gate. This also made many people think that the Crown Prince was not bad to his other brothers and sisters except his two sisters.

While this happy event was still going on, Jiang Li came in a panic, "Your Highness, Duke Xin passed away last night."

Zhu Yunhuan sighed. Although he had anticipated these things, he still felt a little disappointed.

"Go and tell His Majesty. I'm afraid he will be the most upset." Zhu Yunhuan said halfway before changing his words, "I'll go and ask the Five Military Commandery and the Ministry of Rites to prepare. They need to know about this."

After Zhu Yunhuan finished speaking, he walked towards Wuying Palace and said, "Grandfather, Duke Xin passed away last night."

The brush in Lao Zhu's hand stopped moving, and after a moment he spoke, "I know, I said a few days ago that my old brother couldn't hold on any longer. We are mentally prepared, mentally prepared."

The childhood friend who grew up with him is gone. The real brother who conquered the world together is gone. There is no one in this world who can let Lao Zhu speak his mind and not put on airs.

Even Zhu Yunhuan can't do that. He is just the grandson that Zhu Yuanzhang loves so much. There are some things he can't say.

Old Zhu said, "Call off court for three days, posthumously confer the title of King of Dong'ou, and give him the posthumous title of Xiangwu. That's it, this is the only way we can do it."

Tang He's treatment was indeed impeccable. Whether during his lifetime or after his death, Lao Zhu always took special care of Tang He.

Zhu Yunhuan said, "Then I will send an envoy to offer condolences and ask all uncles to send officials to offer condolences. After all, Duke Xin is not an ordinary nobleman, he is also our relative and elder."

Zhu Yuanzhang had absolutely no objection to this statement. Among the relatives he personally selected, apart from the royal family, there were also the families of Xu Da, Li Wenzhong, Mu Ying, Tang He and Guo Ying.

Even Prince Kaiping Chang Yuchun does not count, and only barely counts because of Zhu Yunhuan.

Zhu Yunhuan asked, "It is proper for him to be worshipped in the Temple of Meritorious Officials and be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Should his mausoleum be in the original place of Caoshan?"

Old Zhu said, "Before he retired, he told us that he wanted to be buried in his hometown, not far from his parents and close to his aunt. Let's help him, my brother has a hard life."

Tang He lost both his parents when he was young, and was fostered in his aunt's home. So this time his tomb is not in his real hometown, but between his parents who gave birth to him and his aunt who raised him.

Zhu Yunhuan did not object and said, "I think I should go there. What do you think, grandfather?"

Old Zhu said directly, "If you don't go, you didn't have much contact with him, but he did hug your elder brother. Let your younger brother go there, and if you are willing, you can write the memorial yourself. Then send an official to go there, and that will be enough."

Zhu Yunhuan did not force it. With his current position, he did not need to win over the hearts of the people in the matter of offering sacrifices to Tang He. Especially in terms of the nobles in Huaixi, he had already controlled them long ago.

Lao Zhu continued, "Okay, now we know about this matter, you can go and do other things."

Seeing Zhu Yunhuan's worried look, Old Zhu forced a smile and said, "What haven't we experienced in this life? We lost our parents, brothers, nephews, wives, sons and grandchildren, and we survived. If we lose our brothers, they are gone. We have lost many brothers over the years. Have we ever been unable to bear it?"

After listening to what Old Zhu said, Zhu Yunhuan felt even more uncomfortable.

Even Guo Ying was more of a confidant than a brother in front of Zhu.

Old Zhu pointed at the door and yelled, "Get lost, I want to be alone for a while."

Zhu Yunhuan stopped talking nonsense. It was right to care about Old Zhu. But sometimes it was necessary to give Old Zhu some space. It was not a bad thing to let him be alone.

After leaving Wuying Hall, Zhu Yunhuan went straight to Wenhua Hall. Tang He had passed away, so naturally there were many things to be arranged after his death. The death of such a heavyweight noble was not a trivial matter in itself. Even though he had been away from the court for many years, his influence was really not small.

Many people were mentally prepared for Tang He's death. After all, he had suffered a stroke a few years ago and was previously reported to be critically ill. To be frank, Tang He's death was also expected by many people.

Being able to die at the age of seventy while sick at home is definitely a natural death, and there are no regrets in any aspect.

Happy things, unhappy things, surprises or accidents, always happen from time to time, which is also very normal. Even the emperor and the crown prince cannot avoid these things.

We can only look forward and continue to do what we should do. These are some of Zhu Yunhuan’s thoughts.

He has a lot of things to do, and he has no time to be sad here. (End of this chapter)