Daming: I am the Crown Prince

The ninth day of the eleventh month of the lunar calendar was the birthday of Crown Prince Zhu Yunhuan, so it was naturally very lively and grand.

Zhu Yuanzhang led Zhu Yunhuan to the Jinshen Hall early in the morning, and asked the palace servants to come and pay their respects. He did not ask some civil and military officials to come and pay their respects, otherwise they would be treated like the emperor.

It's just a palace maid paying homage, so it's not a big deal, and it's not considered an act of presumption, and the crown prince has to give her some face.

As for the morning court session, there was nothing special about it. There was no such thing as asking all officials to wear court robes to congratulate and pay their respects.

After the morning court session ended, a large number of civil and military officials were waiting to go to the Wenhua Hall.

They could not pay respects in the Jinshen Hall or the Fengtian Hall, but that did not mean that these civil and military officials would not even pay respects. The crown prince was also the emperor, and all the civil and military officials were very clear about this.

Yu Xin, Qi Tai and other six ministers and the "Nine Ministers" and Xu Huizu and other senior generals of the Five Military Governor's Office were all waiting to go to the Wenhua Palace.

Zhu Yunhuan had a serious look on his face and accepted the officials' congratulations with a solemn expression.

After accepting the congratulations, Zhu Yunhuan said, "Duke Wei, Duke Kai, Duke Cao, the three of you will go to the East Palace in a while."

Lan Yu immediately looked at him eagerly and said, "Your Highness, look at me!"

Zhu Yunhuan seemed to notice Lan Yu and said helplessly, "You can't do it today. There's a layer of separation. Didn't you see that Marquis Wuding and Marquis Changxing can't go to the East Palace today? Forget it."

Lan Yu immediately said with a shameless face, "Your Highness is right, I understand."

Guo Ying and Geng Bingwen did not feel unbalanced. It was just not possible because there was a layer of relationship between them, because it was said that the Crown Prince's birthday banquet today was just a family banquet, and only his direct relatives were allowed to attend.

Geng Bingwen was better off, as his eldest son Geng Xuan was able to go, so that was obviously enough.

When the civil officials arrived, Zhu Yunhuan looked at the civil and military officials and said, "Xu Guan, you have done a good job and relieved the court of its worries. How about this? Today, I am also happy and will allow you to restore your surname."

Xu Guan immediately knelt down and kowtowed excitedly. His father was married into the Xu family of Yicheng. But for so many years, he has always wanted to restore his father's surname.

In fact, Huang Guan also knew that the reason why he was recognized by the Crown Prince was not only because of his ability and loyalty. It was probably because of the Qin Wang incident. Under the instruction of the Crown Prince, he investigated all the affairs of the Qin Wang Mansion. Many people thought it was the credit of Jinyiwei and Dongchang, and ignored the existence of Huang Guan.

Now is the time to reward him. Huang Guan not only got the permission of the royal family to restore his original surname, but was also promoted to the right vice minister of the Ministry of Rites, which is a third-rank official position.

Officials who are loyal, capable, and able to get their assignments done well naturally need to be promoted.

Huang Guan is only 32 years old now, and has only been in the officialdom for four years. This promotion speed can be said to be very fast.

But even if he was envious, he had no reason to be jealous. Not only was he the top scholar in the imperial examination, but he was also the confidant of the crown prince. It would be strange if such a person was promoted slowly. Many people even thought that it would not take long before he became the Shangshu.

Although Zhu Yunhuan did not plan to hold a grand ceremony, there would still be a series of activities. Only after meeting with these officials could he pack up and return to the Eastern Palace.

The Eastern Palace is naturally bustling now. Among the brothers and sisters, only Zhu Yunwen is not here.

As for the aunts who should come back, all of them will come back, and at this time no one will ask about whether they are legitimate or illegitimate relatives or distant relatives.

Princess Anqing handed the baby in her arms to Zhu Yunhuan and said, "Look at your sister. Is she pretty?"

The little cousin was very disrespectful and turned away, lying in her mother's arms, not wanting this cousin, the Crown Prince, to come and report at all.

Princess Anqing was both angry and amused. "This girl is so ungrateful. This is such a good opportunity. She could have been decent if she had just let her cousin hug her!"

"What you said is wrong, aunt. I am your sister, so it's respectable whether I hold her or not." Zhu Yunhuan said while teasing the chubby little girl, "Aunt, my sister is not like you!"

"Why doesn't it look like me?" Princess Anqing said anxiously, "Look at its eyes, aren't they the same as mine? And the nose, they were carved from the same mold, how could they not look alike?"

Zhu Youling also said, "I said before that they didn't look alike, but my aunt insisted that they did. If I say that one person was wrong, it would be fine, but could everyone be wrong?"

Princess Ningguo chimed in, "They still look alike. The child is too young to be noticeable now. But the mold is here, and they still look like your aunt. It will become more obvious as she grows up."

Zhu Yunxun looked at Xu Miaojin and asked, "Is my sister really the same as my aunt?"

Xu Miaojin was also unsure and said, "I just think the chin is not similar, but I can't tell the rest."

"She's a little fat, but it will be fine in two years." Princess Anqing said proudly while holding her daughter, who smelled like milk. "You won't understand even if I tell you this. You'll understand once you have a child."

Zhu Yunhuan just chuckled. He really was not an expert in parenting. He had basically never raised a child in his two lifetimes, so naturally, don't expect him to have any say in this matter.

Chang Lan also naturally joined the topic and said, "Yes, she does. Her face shape is exactly the same as the princess's. The girl is also blessed. Her eyes are like her father's, but they look bigger."

Princess Anqing was even happier and said hurriedly, "Old Madam is indeed very discerning. These young people have never raised a child before."

The emperor's daughter is naturally a princess, but the daughter of a princess has no real status. Because she does not have the surname Zhu, she naturally does not have any more treatment.

Just like the daughters of a prince can be princesses, his grandchildren can be county princesses, and even his great-granddaughters can be princesses of a county, county, or township, but the children of a princess do not have such treatment.

No one had any objection to this. A daughter who is married off is like water spilled. There is no reason why a girl with a different surname should be considered a member of the Ming royal family. At most, she is just an in-law.

It’s not that Old Zhu and Zhu Yunhuan were strict with the women of the Zhu family, but that this has always been the rule.

Zhu Yunhuan looked at Chang Lan and said with a smile, "Grandma, it's almost time. If my cousin wasn't a little older, I would really like to marry her to Jizu."

Chang Lan said quickly, "Your Highness is very kind, but I'm afraid it's not appropriate, right?"

"So it's just a thought. My sister shouldn't be bothered by anyone in the future. Let her choose the one she likes." Zhu Yunhuan said with a smile, "As for Jizu, it won't work. I, as her brother, will have to arrange the marriage for her in the future."

Princess Anqing immediately smiled happily. Zhu Yunhuan mentioned it briefly while boating on the lake, but no one thought about it seriously at that time.

But the situation is different now. In front of so many close relatives, Zhu Yunhuan's attitude is obviously different.

Let's not talk about other things, just talking about the children of all the princesses, Zhu Yunhuan may have been particularly fond of this precious daughter of Princess Anqing, and gave her different treatment. Even Mei Shunchang from Princess Ningguo's family was just a cousin who was more valued and used, but was far from being so doted on.

It is obvious that Princess Anqing lived in the Eastern Palace for more than a year in the past two years, and she probably helped the Crown Prince a lot, so Zhu Yunhuan took special care of this biological aunt. Naturally, he also liked this little cousin who couldn't even speak.

Zhu Yunhuan then looked at Xu Huizu and Xu Qin who was eating preserved fruit, "Xu Qin can't do that either, his marriage has to be decided by me.

Xu Li immediately smiled, her son must be the prince of Duke Wei. However, whether he can be reused or not depends not only on his family background, but also on whether his aunt is willing to help.

Suddenly, a voice came out, "You decide this marriage, you manage that marriage, but you don't pay more attention to our daughter. Zhu Yunhuan, come over and call someone!"

Old Zhu was holding a little girl in his arms, and a young woman was following behind him.

The little girl is not even one year old yet, chubby and very cute. She is Zhu's youngest daughter, Princess Baoqing.

Zhu Yunhuan could only step forward and cooperate with Old Zhu, "Nephew Zhu Yunhuan greets the Imperial Aunt."

Old Zhu happily held Princess Baoqing's hand and said, "Nephew, please don't be polite. Please leave."

Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang, then looking at Princess Baoqing, and Princess Baoqing's biological mother, Concubine Zhang, who followed Zhu Yuanzhang cautiously, Zhu Yunhuan was unable to complain.

Eighteen-year-old bride and eighty-year-old man, with pale hair and red makeup.

A pair of mandarin ducks sleep together in a quilt, a pear tree overshadows a crabapple tree
Fortunately, Zhu Yunhuan held back. If he had really used this joke, Old Zhu might have immediately cleared out the family, making Zhu Yunhuan's birthday unhappy.

When Old Zhu arrived, the others naturally saluted. But no one was surprised. Given the emperor's preference for the crown prince, it would be strange if he didn't come.

Old Zhu handed Princess Baoqing to Concubine Zhang and said, "Okay, let's come and take a look. You should be in charge of the marriages of Xu Qin and Chang Jizu in the future. Why don't you care about Shunchang and the others?"

"I really don't want to care about Shunchang." Zhu Yunhuan looked at Princess Ningguo and said, "I have my uncle and aunt, so I don't need to worry about them. Besides, if he really has a girl he likes, can I break them up?"

Old Zhu laughed and scolded angrily, "Do you really think that everyone is a dandy like you? Shunchang has no family education and went to someone else's mansion to look at the girl he likes?"

Everyone else was lowering their heads and trying to hold back their laughter, but Zhu Yunhuan seemed a little embarrassed.

Free love is really rare in this era, especially for wealthy families, don't even expect such things.

Not to mention someone of Mei Shunchang's status, even those middle and high-level officers and soldiers who came to visit him would basically not be able to see the women of the host family.

It is basically impossible to be attracted to each other. It is all arranged by parents and matchmakers, which is what everyone thinks is the most normal way.

Old Zhu did not want to embarrass Zhu Yunxun any more and asked, "Where are the gifts? No one sent you a gift for your birthday?"

Grandson, this is the treatment only a grandson can have. No matter how busy he is, Old Zhu will come to personally participate in Zhu Yunhuan's birthday banquet and help Zhu Yunhuan check the gifts.

Zhu Youling stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, most of the gifts have been put into storage. I hope you will review the gift list."

Old Zhu took the gift list and looked through it carefully. He cared about whether the gifts were valuable or not and whether they were carefully prepared. It was his grandson's birthday, so other people should prepare gifts carefully, and relatives should do the same!

Zhu Yunhuan didn't want to say anything, and the others were observing Zhu's expression carefully with a little nervousness, fearing that some of the gifts they sent would not satisfy the emperor.

Old Zhu pointed at the gift list and asked, "What's the matter with this agate necklace?"

Zhu Yunhuan stepped forward and said, "It's because I said something last time. I guess I said it in the Kaiping Palace last time. Eleventh Aunt and Uncle heard it, so they prepared it now."

Old Zhu immediately showed a satisfied smile, "Although this gift is a little small, it is thoughtful, good."

Princess Nankang and Hu Guan immediately breathed a sigh of relief, as they almost caused an accident while delivering the gift.

Princess Nankang, as the eleventh daughter of Zhu, was not very favored. As for Hu Guan, his father was Hu Hai, Marquis of Dongchuan, who died of illness a few years ago.

The eldest brother Hu Bin was promoted to the commander of the Dragon and Tiger Guards during the campaign in Yunnan. The second brother was now under the command of Lan Yu, Duke of Liang, and Hu Guan was the third son of Hu Hai and married to a princess.

The title of Marquis of Dongchuan is not passed on now. Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yunhuan are consciously reducing the number of nobles.

Old Zhu suddenly became happy and said, "This knife is good. Bring it over and let us have a look."

Fu Zhong, who entered the palace with his son, was immediately relieved. He had been unwelcome since his wife's death. The Duke of Ying racked his brains to come up with a gift for the Crown Prince.

"Father, I have prepared a lot of things." Princess Anqing stepped forward and said, "They are all prepared for Yunhuan's wedding. Don't you want to take a look?"

Old Zhu was even happier. "That's how it should be. Don't just think about what Yunxun likes. He is the crown prince and shoulders the responsibility of the country. His legitimate son should be the emperor of the Ming Dynasty in the future. This is the real thing!"

Zhu Yunhuan was already quite numb, so there was nothing strange about him saying such things. What would be surprising was that he didn't say it.

Xu Huizu, Xu Lishi and Xu Miaojin were naturally happy and looking forward to hearing this.

If Xu Miaojin could give birth to a son in the next two years, given Old Zhu's current preference for Zhu Yunhuan, he would definitely hug him more.

When that time really comes, even if Xu Miaojin falls out of favor in the future, her son's position will be stable, and unless he makes a fatal mistake, he will be able to inherit the throne.

This is something that is beyond doubt. In many cases, the ideas of this founding emperor are more feudal than those of some old farmers, especially when it comes to "family property", which is clearly divided.

Although he was the crown prince, Zhu Yunhuan’s birthday did not need to be celebrated by everyone, because a grand event would soon take place.

Compared to the grandson's wedding, the present birthday is naturally not worth mentioning. Many people even think that the grandson's birthday is not a big celebration, just to prepare for the wedding.

Perhaps for many people, the most important event in the 28th year of Hongwu is the wedding of the Crown Prince. If nothing unexpected happens, this will also be a major event that will affect the future of the Ming Dynasty! (End of this chapter)