Daming: I am the Crown Prince

There have been various noises in Yingtian Prefecture recently, but they will not affect many people or things.

Chang Lan was holding Zhu Wenyao, smiling happily. But Chang Jizu, who was standing next to her, looked unhappy. He was naturally not happy that his grandmother was holding another child.

"Jizu, come here." Zhu Yunxun said with a smile, "Why, you can't stand seeing your grandmother take care of other children."

Chang Jizu said in a baby voice, almost crying, "Cousin, you don't like me anymore."

The old Zhu next to him was smiling happily. Sometimes children would compete for favor. For example, Zhu Wenyao now couldn't stand seeing the old Zhu holding other children.

Even if Old Zhu pretended to hug Zhu Yunhuan, Zhu Wenyao would cry.

"Grandma still likes you, and your cousin likes you too." Zhu Yunhuan smiled and hugged Chang Jizu, "Our Jizu is so good, it's a joy to see him."

Zhu Yuanzhang recognized this point. He always liked chubby children. Even Zhu Yunhuan, Zhu Yuanzhang often felt that he was not good, that is, "thin". If Zhu Yunhuan looked like Zhu Gaochi, that would be his dream grandson.

No matter the age, in the eyes of the elders, a grandson is still a grandson no matter how old he is.

Chang Lan held Zhu Wenyao in her arms and said to Old Zhu with a smile, "Your Majesty, the Emperor's great-grandson is truly blessed."

Old Zhu was very happy. The thing he was most proud of had changed. He became raising his great-grandson to be plump, lively and active.

Chang Lan continued, "Your Highness the Emperor's Great-grandson is very strong. Ordinary children are not so strong."

"Hi!" Old Zhu immediately felt a little troubled. "This child is too noisy. I usually have to carry him around when I go around."

Chang Lan could understand very well, "Jizu was the same before, he just couldn't stay in the house and liked to walk around. It's still the same now. I'm so old, and I still have to take him out of the house."

Old Zhu said with envy, "You are so lucky. I thought that if Wen Yao was older, it would be good to take him out of the palace for a walk."

"Your Majesty is truly blessed." Chang Lan said with envy, "Jizu is only this young, there is a generation gap between us."

Old Zhu was very happy. Although he had children relatively late, his children and grandchildren were very successful, so now he has a great-grandson. If you think about it this way, he is indeed blessed.

Old Zhu joked, "Yun Hun is also very lucky. Your family also contributed money and effort on this trip. I heard that you got a lot of good things from overseas. You should take them back if you need to."

Chang Lan said sincerely, "Your Majesty, the wealth and splendor of the Zhongshan Palace over the years is all due to the grace of Your Majesty and Your Highness. It would be inappropriate if I could no longer help Your Highness."

"That's different. It's what he deserves." Old Zhu said with emotion, "We have been thinking about Old Chang all these years. If only he could live a few more years, at least he could watch us confer titles on the kings."

Chang Yuchun was also a regret. After all, he was not personally conferred the title of Duke. This was a regret for Zhu Yuanzhang.

Old Zhu continued, "Even our daughter-in-law, let me say something unpleasant. If she hadn't worked so hard to give birth to Yunhuan, your Kaiping Palace's wealth would have been cut short."

Chang Lan naturally felt bad when talking about her daughter. But as the head of a large family, she could understand Old Zhu's feelings.

Some things are just like this, the feelings of a small family naturally need to be considered, but the rise and fall of a large family is also a responsibility.

Chang Yuchun laid the foundation for the wealth and prosperity of the Kaiping Palace, and Princess Chang completely continued the wealth and prosperity of the Kaiping Palace. Chang Lan was naturally more aware of this.

"Our daughter-in-law should be the empress. If she couldn't have one during her lifetime, she should be posthumously named." Old Zhu said, "Next year, our son will be Emperor Xiaokang, and our daughter-in-law will be Empress Xiaokang."

Chang Lan was naturally a little excited. Although there were always rumors outside, there was no certainty whether the Crown Prince could ascend the throne.

But now it’s different. The emperor’s words are final and he has directly determined the time when Zhu Yunhuan will ascend the throne.

Zhu Yunhuan sat beside him and teased Chang Jizu, "Jizu, kowtow to your cousin first, and I will give you an official title later."

Chang Jizu spoke in a childish voice, and was also very proud, "I am not an official, I am a duke!"

Old Zhu started to laugh and asked, "Ji Zu, what kind of duke are you? Your father is a duke now, how did you become a duke?"

"My great uncle said that I am the Duke of Liang." Chang Jizu said seriously, "He also told me yesterday that if he dies tomorrow, I will be the Duke."

Old Zhu was also amused, and said to Chang Lan, "Your brother has liked to talk nonsense since he was young. It was Old Chang who taught him that. After all these years, he still hasn't improved and likes to talk nonsense."

Chang Lan also said in annoyance, "At his age, he still can't drink. Once he drinks, he will always do some stupid things. Now I don't dare to let him drink outside, just make trouble behind closed doors."

Everyone knows what kind of person Lan Yu is. When he drinks, he becomes lawless. He is truly the boss above all else and second only to the earth. Lan Yu is the third.

Old Zhu looked at Chang Lan and said earnestly, "There are fewer and fewer old people who followed us in Hezhou. You have to stay alive. At least you have to watch Yun Hu become the emperor, watch him govern and create a prosperous era."

Chang Yuchun defected to Zhu Yuanzhang when he conquered Hezhou and gained his first real piece of territory. This was where Zhu Yuanzhang started his career.

Chang Lan smiled and said, "I will hold on. I should go see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. When the time comes, I can tell Old Chang and my daughter. They believe what their family says."

Old Zhu smiled and nodded, "That's right, you should enjoy yourself now and see what our grandson is capable of!"

Old Zhu is still narrow-minded. His daughters-in-law are all from the Zhu family and have little to do with the Chang family. So this matter must be made clear. This is the emperor of the Zhu family!
Zhu Wenyao is not obedient anymore. He is not shy about strangers now. It doesn’t matter if someone wants to hug him. If someone likes him, he is willing to let them hug him for a while, but only for a while.

Chang Jizu became obedient too. When he saw that his grandmother was not holding Zhu Wenyao, he immediately ran over and climbed onto her lap to sit. Only then did he feel happy.

The children's little thoughts are obvious, but Mr. Zhu and Chang Lan both benefit from it very much. Isn't that the purpose of raising children? So they don't feel annoyed but happy.

"I have to say first, I got a lot of things overseas this time." Zhu Yunhuan also took the initiative to speak, "I didn't expect to get so much before, so some things can't be sent over, otherwise it will be a disaster instead of a blessing." Old Zhu frowned and scolded in a pretentious manner, "Why are you so stingy? The nobles have helped you, how can you forget them after you have gained benefits? Reward and punish clearly, this is the way to rule your subordinates."

"If you get too much, it will be a disaster. It has to last for a long time." Zhu Yunhuan said to Old Zhu, "If you really get too much, the nobles will definitely be happy, but you can't tell if they will become wild."

Chang Lan also said quickly, "Your Majesty, I am being too bold. I also think that Your Highness should just give a little reward, but it would be inappropriate to give too much."

Chang Lan continued to add, "We are nobles, and we are all appreciated by His Majesty and His Highness. We should do our work, not for the purpose of reward! Just do things well, and it is not the way of a minister to always focus on rewards."

This was also Chang Lan's real thoughts, because the rewards received by the Kaiping Palace were too many now, and sometimes she would worry that the rewards were too much.

It is true that other noble families were not as good as the Kaiping Palace, but they were definitely not treated harshly by the emperor, and the rewards they received were actually not small.

In this case, if the reward is a little less, it actually won’t be a big problem.

"That's right. If the rewards are really too much, the nobles will be even more extravagant." Zhu Yunhuan couldn't help but complain, "I will first make my cousin a cavalry captain, and bring him to the palace to study in a few years."

Old Zhu laughed and said, "Cavalry Captain? That's stingy. If we were to ask, it should be at least a Senior Cavalry Captain."

Shangqi Duwei was a rank of the fourth rank. However, this was a meritorious official position, and now such positions were being awarded to the descendants of meritorious officials. The children of meritorious officials or some civil officials and important officials were given many positions.

Chang Lan said quickly, "Your Majesty, I think this is too early. Jizu is still young. If Your Highness is to confer the title, Wuqiwei will suffice."

Wuqiwei, this is also the sixth rank.

Old Zhu smiled and said, "We like this child, so let him be promoted to Cavalry Commandant. When he is ten years old, he should be canonized as the founding duke's son and given the third-rank rank of Light Carriage Commandant. When Wen Yao is older, Ji Zu should be promoted to Junior Guardian."

Zhu Yunhuan nodded repeatedly, approvingly, "Shao Bao, Tai Bao, I still think I can only find someone from the Kaiping King's side, and I feel at ease."

When the great meritorious officials were conferred titles, Chang Yuchun was the first Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. After his death, he was posthumously conferred the titles of Prince of Kaiping and Grand Tutor.

Chang Sheng is now also the Grand Tutor. It is true that Lan Yu also dreams of becoming the Prince's Tutor, but if he can become the Grand Tutor, he will be very happy and willing to accept it.

The Third Master of the Eastern Palace and the Third Young Master of the Eastern Palace, even though it seems to be a promotion, for many people, it is a symbol of status.

"Jizu's child will be of great use in the future. He is better than Xu Qin." Old Zhu didn't care that Xu Miaojin was right next to him, and said, "I think when Jizu grows up, he will live a comfortable and wealthy life."

Chang Lan smiled and nodded. She didn't want her grandson to be too capable, as long as he wasn't a jerk. In the final analysis, the lineage of the King of Kaiping was already rich enough, and there was no need for him to be capable anymore.

Just eat, drink, have fun, pass on the family tradition, and have many children. The first and second generations conquered and defended the world, and the third generation could enjoy wealth and honor. The lineage of King Kaiping did not need to struggle.

There doesn't seem to be any big problem with this. Sometimes, when the descendants of a family are very outstanding, it is not necessarily a good thing.

After all, the Kaiping King's lineage is of noble status, but that cannot change their nature as ministers, and it would be bad if every generation was capable.

The only bad thing now is that Chang Mao, Chang Sheng and others almost lost their family business. Fortunately, with Zhu Yunhuan, the special and noble status of the Kaiping Palace can continue.

Zhu Yourong and Zhu Youling also returned to the palace, and Old Zhu couldn't help but nag. Even if he didn't like these two granddaughters very much, they were still his granddaughters after all, and they were Yunhuan's sisters.

There has been no news so far. She got married a year earlier than Yunhuan, so it’s time for her to have children now.

Apart from anything else, now that I have a child, he can become Wen Yao's playmate in the future. If the age difference is really big, I can't let Wen Yao take care of his cousins!
Zhu Yourong and Zhu Youling lowered their heads and dared not reply, nor did they dare to complain about the emperor's grandfather's partiality. It was common to see serious partiality towards grandchildren, so these things were also very normal and not surprising.

"Big sister, second sister, I have thought about it carefully, and I will give you some good things this time." Zhu Yunhuan spoke again, "Jewelry is better, and keep the gold and silver. They will be useful to the court."

Zhu Yourong smiled and said, "I don't lack those things either. Just keep them and give them to others as rewards in the future."

Old Zhu was very satisfied. Although his granddaughter was not smart and could not help much, she was sensible and always protected Yunhu. This was how a good child should behave.

"We got a lot of good things this time, so naturally we don't have to think too much." Zhu Yunhuan joked, "But I'm afraid there won't be so many rewards in the future."

These are all true. The imperial court must take the lion's share of maritime trade. The royal family or nobles can only get a small portion of the benefits, and those benefits should be used for the Ming Dynasty.

He would be generous when he should be, and would protect others when he should, but that does not mean Zhu Yunhuan would put the cart before the horse.

A lot of benefits have already been given to the royal family and nobles. Continuing to give them more benefits may not be a good thing. It is natural to be restrained when it is time to be restrained.

Zhu Yunhuan was aware of this. "I've thought about this too. The things that the court can use should be returned to the court first. The things that show wealth and nobility can be taken by the royal family and nobles. It's not a big deal."

Zhu Youling was a little curious, "Yunxun, now the rumors are spreading outside, saying that there are mountains of gold and silver being moved back, how can there be so much!"

Old Zhu glared at Zhu Youling, "Can't you tell the truth from the false? Don't follow the outsiders to stir up trouble. If someone asks you about something, just shut up. Isn't that the truth?"

Zhu Yunhuan quickly tried to smooth things over and said, "Grandfather, how could my second sister not understand? She just thought it was interesting. Now that there are rumors of something weird outside, I don't think it's a bad thing. It shows that I have some ability!"

Old Zhu actually agreed with this. Although some of the rumors were outrageous, as long as they praised his grandson, Old Zhu thought they were pleasant to hear.

However, some things do need to be controlled a little bit. If they are spread too far, the situation may get out of control, which would not be good.

If a good thing turns into a bad thing, I won’t be able to cry.

Such a thing must never happen! (End of this chapter)