Daming: I am the Crown Prince

In the Qianqing Palace, the tall and burly old Zhu was standing in the porch with the plump and fair Zhu Wenyao, directing everything.

"Slow down!" Old Zhu said unhappily, "Put all the bottles and jars that the crown prince likes in proper order. If any of them fall, you'll be in trouble!"

The four eunuchs who were carrying the porcelain together hurriedly replied, "We dare not."

Old Zhu then waved his hand, "Are you following the Crown Princess?"

Zhu Wenyao immediately couldn't stay still, and said in a baby voice, "Mom."

"Yes, our Wen Yao is smart." Old Zhu was very happy and said to Zhu Wen Yao in a friendly manner, "Your father is the crown prince, and your mother is the crown prince's consort. After tomorrow, your father will be the emperor, and your mother will be the empress."

Zhu Wenyao was very happy to be praised, shaking his hands and spinning in circles. Although Zhu is usually strict and believes in "a good son is born under the stick" and "no beating, no success", this is not absolute.

As for Zhu Yunhuan, Old Zhu encouraged him most of the time. Of course, he would still criticize him when necessary to prevent the child from getting cocky. That child cannot stand praise.

But for Zhu Wenyao, Lao Zhu has always been very patient and particularly likes to "encourage education." Maybe he doesn't understand this term, but no matter what Zhu Wenyao does, Lao Zhu can always find a reason to praise him.

The relationship between the two generations is very close, and it can even be said that they are even older generations, so naturally, they are even more doting. Of course, it is not ruled out that Zhu Wenyao is white and fat and lovable, or that he is at an age where he is praised even when he poops.

The female official knelt quietly on the side. His Majesty was now coaxing the little prince, so naturally he could not be disturbed.

Old Zhu remembered the important matter and asked, "Is the Kunning Palace ready?"

The female official immediately replied, "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Grandson and His Royal Highness the Grand Consort have also given instructions before. Only ceremonial guards will be placed in Kunning Palace, and His Royal Highness the Grand Consort will sit in the palace and live in Qianqing Palace."

Lao Zhu said, "We know this. We are asking whether you have arranged the ceremonial guards."

The female official quickly replied, "Your Majesty, everything should be ready. There are still the red sleeve umbrella and the red brocade umbrella that have not been prepared. Your Majesty has previously instructed that they should be sent over tomorrow."

Old Zhu nodded in satisfaction. "Where are they? They didn't come to see such a big thing? Where is Zhang Fusheng who followed the Crown Prince? He didn't come to see?"

The female official quickly replied, "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will go to the Temple of Heaven and Earth and the Ancestral Temple to supervise, while Her Royal Highness the Crown Prince's Consort will be waiting in the Fengxian Hall. Your Royal Highness will arrange for the prayer and gilding in the Fengxian Hall today, and Her Royal Highness the Crown Prince's Consort is making the arrangements."

Old Zhu smiled, but still complained, "He will ascend the throne the day after tomorrow, and you are just going there now!"

As he said this, Old Zhu picked up Zhu Wenyao and said, "Let's go and see your useless father! Don't learn from your father. Before he was made the crown prince, he would go to Fengxian Temple to bother the ancestors and say bad things about us whenever he had nothing to do!"

Zhu Wenyao was just confused, his fat face full of curiosity, he didn't understand what was being said.

Although children are also sensitive and can sometimes distinguish good words from bad words, most of the time they still listen to the tone of voice.

As for the female officials, they were not nervous. His Majesty always complained about the Crown Prince, and this was known to everyone in the East Palace. But if anyone took it seriously, it would be a joke.

This is probably the elders of ordinary families complaining about the younger generation. He can say that his own children are not good, but that is just showing off. If someone really agrees with it, then he is stupid.

Zhu Wenyao pointed at the Qianqing Palace and said anxiously, "Grandfather, no!"

It was lively and bustling with people, and Zhu Wenyao was thinking about the crowds of people here. He hadn't seen enough of the new things, so naturally he didn't want to leave.

Old Zhu said cheerfully, "Your parents will move here soon, and we can come here often. You can see your parents, and we can come to see our grandson, what do you think?"

Although he still didn't understand, Zhu Wenyao responded in a baby voice, "Okay."

"Our Wen Yao is filial!" Old Zhu was even happier. "Don't be like your father. Before he got married, he would come to me for at least one meal of lunch and dinner. He would stay overnight with me when he had nothing to do. Now, I can't even see him!"

Zhu Wenyao laughed very happily, and his babyish laughter was very contagious. I don't know why, but he just loves to laugh.

Old Zhu also continued to complain cheerfully, "It is said that we should enjoy the company of our grandchildren. Grandchildren should be filial to us. Look at your father. We gave him the throne and arranged all his affairs for him. But when you miss him, you have to go find him yourself!"

The old and the young were talking and laughing, although most of the time Zhu Wenyao was unable to communicate effectively, or simply could not understand some of what Old Zhu meant.

But it doesn’t matter. Old Zhu doesn’t care and Zhu Wenyao won’t think too much about it. Just be happy and it’s indescribably harmonious and warm.

Seeing Old Zhu coming, Xu Miaojin hurried to greet him, "Granddaughter-in-law greets the emperor grandfather."

Old Zhu nodded in satisfaction, "You have improved a lot, and now you are now a good wife. You are the granddaughter-in-law of our eldest son, so you should take care of the family affairs. Who were you trying to show off to before? You were so timid and cowardly!"

Xu Miaojin quickly admitted her mistake, and she had no choice but to admit it, "My grandson knows I'm wrong."

In fact, Xu Miaojin also knew that her situation had always been very good. The Crown Prince and she were very affectionate, the Emperor loved her and was very tolerant of her, and no one in the palace dared to ask her to set rules, etc.

Especially after giving birth to Zhu Wenyao, her status in front of Old Zhu skyrocketed, and she became more confident when speaking.

But Xu Miaojin knew better that no matter how well she did, she was not the best in the eyes of the Emperor's grandfather. The best and most perfect person could only be the Crown Prince.

"Grandma!" Zhu Wenyao was unhappy. He held Old Zhu's face with his chubby little hands and was about to cry, "Mom!"

"You kid!" Old Zhu laughed. "I'm just being loud, not because I'm angry with your mother! You are a descendant of our Zhu family, so you should be filial!"

Filial piety is the most outstanding quality for Mr. Zhu. His eldest son is filial, his eldest grandson is also filial, so his beloved great-grandson is also filial.

This is all in line with their roots. The Zhu family are all filial. Old Zhu is very confident about this. This is the family education and family style.

After putting Zhu Wenyao on the ground, the little guy naturally ran to Xu Miaojin to hold him. Old Zhu was particularly concerned about some etiquette sometimes. He would not stay in the same room with Xu Miaojin until now, and he needed someone to "pass the hand" when holding the child.

Xu Miaojin hugged Zhu Wenyao and immediately said happily, "Grandfather, Wenyao must be about 23 kilograms now, right?"

In the Ming Dynasty, one catty was about 600 grams. If it was really 23 catties, it would be 27 catties after being released, which is obviously overweight.

Old Zhu complained, "No way, he's wearing so much and he's only 22, he's still a little weak. I'll show him his naked butt later, it's really worrying that he won't grow taller if he just eats."

There are indeed a lot of clothes. Although Zhu Wenyao wears the lightest and warmest ones, there is a kind of cold that great grandfather thinks you are cold. This child is wrapped tightly. Old Zhu looked at it carefully and said with a smile, "Not bad. As an emperor or queen, you should also be filial. Worship your ancestors more frequently, and they will bless you. Your mother's family is also a farmer, you should know this."

Although Zhu Yunhuan has not arrived yet, some things have not been delayed.

For example, Old Zhu brought Zhu Wenyao into the Fengxian Hall. Even though some of the child's kowtows were not quite standard, Old Zhu still watched happily. Seeing this lovely lucky doll, I believe the ancestors would also be happy.

"That's your grandfather, so pay your respects as well."

As soon as Old Zhu finished speaking, Zhu Wenyao lay down on the cushion with his forehead against it and arched it slightly, which was considered as bowing.

"Kowtow to your grandmother again. She gave birth to your uncle, your father, and your two aunts. Kowtow a few more times, and kowtow for your father as well."

Zhu Wenyao was picked up by Xu Miaojin and gently placed on the futon. Zhu Wenyao did not hesitate and continued to lie on the futon with his head pressed against the ground.

Looking at his grandson's wife and great-grandson, Old Zhu said, "Yun Hu is grown up now, and he will be the emperor in the future. Wen Yao is also good-looking, we will teach him for a few years. He Biao'er just needs to be filial to your mother, and we will take care of your children and grandchildren."

Xu Miaojin knelt obediently on the side. She naturally knew what her mother-in-law, whom she had never met, had experienced over the years.

Old Zhu looked at the tablets of Zhu Biao and Crown Princess Chang and said with a smile, "Okay, Yunhu, the day after tomorrow we will let the three of them offer you the tablets. Xingzong, our Biaoer is worthy of being Emperor Xingzong."

Hearing the light footsteps behind him, Lao Zhu looked back.

Zhu Yunhuan tiptoed and picked up his fat son, who had a silly smile on his face, and put him aside.

Old Zhu was very angry and quickly picked up Zhu Wenyao. There were many cushions, so how could he let the child lie on the ground directly?

Zhu Yunhuan then formally performed the ceremony of bowing five times and kowtowing three times, and said, "Your son Zhu Yunhuan, kowtows to your father."

Old Zhu smiled and said, "You take Miao Jin to draw the tablets for your grandmother, parents, and I'll take Wen Yao to draw the tablets for our ancestors."

Zhang Fusheng and others immediately knelt down to offer gold pens and gold lacquer, while Old Zhu burned incense and respectfully asked to take down the spirit tablet, "This is your eighth-generation ancestor, our great-great-grandfather. It was still the Southern Song Dynasty, and our ancestral home was in Zhujia Lane, Jurong."

Holding Zhu Wenyao's little hand, Old Zhu was drawing the tablet while telling Zhu Wenyao about the Zhu family's history and genealogy.

Zhu Wenyao didn’t understand, but he still looked very happy. This was a very interesting game for him.

So now he would laugh a few times in a baby voice, and look at Lao Zhu while laughing, which made Lao Zhu very happy. Drawing the spirit tablets for the ancestors was an extremely important thing for Lao Zhu.

Now bringing his great-grandson to draw tablets for the ancestors is naturally more meaningful to Old Zhu.

Zhang Fusheng and the others held their breath and acted very solemnly. They didn't dare to do this for others.

The emperor, along with his grandson and great-grandson, painted the tablets for the ancestors in the Fengxian Hall. This was a big deal. The most important affairs of the country were sacrifices and wars, and this was not just a simple sacrifice to heaven and earth.

For one’s own ancestors, this is even more important, and of course they need to be offered sacrifices in advance.

As for inside and outside the imperial city, many people are now very busy. After all, it is a big event because the Crown Prince has ascended the throne.

After working for more than an hour, I finally got the job done.

Old Zhu picked up Zhu Wenyao and said, "Go back. We will be busy tomorrow."

"I've been busy." Zhu Yunxun said with a smile, "Let's go to the West Palace later. I've almost moved everything out of Chunhe Palace. Now the only thing I can't take away is the bed."

Old Zhu smiled and said, "You can't take the bed with you. You'll have to sleep on the dragon bed in two days. You'll need five claws."

Zhu Wenyao was anxious, because Old Zhu always teased him. So the child subconsciously wanted to pull his clothes. He didn't know how to count, but as long as he mentioned five claws, he knew that he was wearing five claws, and his father didn't.

Old Zhu quickly held down Zhu Wenyao's little hand and said, "I know you are wearing five claws. It's already this time, and you are not afraid of the cold."

We talked and laughed with Old Zhu, and of course it was even better when Zhu Wenyao, the little funny guy, occasionally made some little jokes.

When they arrived at the West Palace, Concubine Guo Ning quickly stepped forward to take Zhu Wenyao and said, "Your Majesty, Wenyao should have returned long ago. The child is hungry."

Old Zhu, who was blamed, was not angry. "Then take him over. We are busy with business in Fengxian Hall today. Wen Yao is also sensible and filial, and he has not made any trouble."

Concubine Guo Ning immediately began to praise him, "That little prince is really filial. Our ancestors must like Wen Yao because he is well-behaved and sensible."

That's what Old Zhu thought. In his opinion, his grandson's performance was only acceptable, and that was what he should do. Zhu Wenyao's performance was perfect, the best, and no amount of praise was too much.

Zhu Yunhuan could only smile at this. In the past, he accepted Zhu's partiality with peace of mind. But now he felt a little touched. He seemed to have fallen out of favor, and Zhu favored Zhu Wenyao even more.

But there was no other way. He couldn't compete with his own son. Besides, he was still Lao Zhu's favorite grandson, and that was enough.

When Zhu Wenyao was carried away, Old Zhu asked, "Have you asked someone to keep an eye on the officials?"

"My uncles and my brothers are watching us." Zhu Yunhuan said directly, "Grandfather, don't worry. If any uncle has complaints in private, I will definitely know about it at the first time and come to complain then."

Old Zhu was somewhat helpless. "You, do you feel uncomfortable if you don't provoke me? Do you really think that you can act unruly in front of me now that you are going to be the emperor?"

"That's impossible." Zhu Yunhuan said with a smile, "Speaking of which, my uncles are all smart. I guess they will send their congratulatory messages the day after tomorrow when I ascend the throne. But they are all dawdling on the way and just won't come to Yingtianfu."

Old Zhu couldn't help laughing, "Sons take after their fathers, and you look like your father. Your brothers aren't much better, they're full of tricks."

Zhu Shangbing, Zhu Gaochi and others are now not far from Yingtian Prefecture. They have set off a long time ago and have guessed some of the thoughts of Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yunhuan.

But now, it is "hesitating to move forward", and the time must be controlled to an extremely precise degree. It is not good to be too early, that is impolite. It is not good to be too late, that is insincere.

Not only did they use human relationships to the utmost, but they also followed etiquette and rules without any fault. (End of this chapter)