Daming: I am the Crown Prince

Chapter 98 Repayment from the Spring
After three days of fasting, Zhu Yunhuan began to formally worship his ancestors.

The Ming Mausoleum and the Xiaoling Mausoleum have the same specifications, and even the number of stone statues and the exquisite carvings are the best among all the emperors' mausoleums. In terms of scale, it even exceeds the Xiaoling Mausoleum.

Zhu Yunhuan was dressed in sacrificial robes, which naturally made him look extremely solemn.

In front of the imperial mausoleum, a tall stone tablet was erected. The height of the imperial mausoleum tablet is nearly seven meters. Six large dragons are carved in relief around the top of the tablet. The carving is exquisite. In the lower middle part, the seal script "The Monument of the Imperial Mausoleum of the Great Ming Dynasty" is written, and below it are clouds.

"The filial emperor Yuanzhang respectfully states that in the summer of the eleventh year of Hongwu, Wu Liang, the Marquis of Jiangyin, was ordered to supervise the construction of a new imperial hall."

The full text is 1105 words long and easy to understand. In the inscription, he describes his difficult life, military career and the whole process of unifying the country, and explains the principle of prosperity.

He made no secret of the fact that he was born a commoner from Huaixi, that his father and brother died of starvation, and that he couldn't even afford a coffin. He also made no secret of the fact that he had become a monk and wandered around begging for three years.

Some officials and scholars had written epitaphs before, but Zhu felt that embellished writings might not be a warning to future generations. So he changed the bad habit of embellishing and exaggerating the achievements of the emperors in the past dynasties and flattering the emperors. He wrote the truth, describing his family background and military career.

I, Zhu Yuanzhang, was born in Huaixi, and my ancestors were farmers. My father and brother starved to death, and I wandered around and joined the Red Turban Army, and that’s how I won the world!
My ancestor is not Zhu Xi of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, and I am not destined to be born. I am just a poor family who risked my life to get this country!

Zhu Yunhuan looked at the imperial tomb stele, and all the civil and military officials naturally knelt quietly behind him.

After a long time, Zhu Yunhuan stood up and walked towards the mausoleum.

In fact, in a place like the imperial mausoleum, there is a sacrificial hall, which is the main hall. But Zhu Yunhuan did not plan to go to the sacrificial hall. Since he came to worship his ancestors, he could not just go through the motions.

Looking at the mausoleum and the tombstones of Emperor Injo Chun and Empress Injo Chun, Zhu Yunhuan announced in a loud voice, "Your Majesty, I, Zhu Yunhuan, kowtow to His Majesty the Great-Grandfather Emperor!"

Princess Anqing and a group of civil and military officials behind him also knelt down.

After bowing five times and kowtowing three times, Zhu Yunhuan suddenly burst into tears. Although many people didn't know why he was crying, no one dared to ask, and even some civil and military officials were crying secretly.

After crying bitterly, Zhu Yunhuan said to Princess Anqing and Princess Ningguo, "Aunt, little aunt, you go to the temple to offer sacrifices."

Princess Anqing quickly said, "Yunxun, this is inappropriate."

"Nothing is inappropriate." Zhu Yunhuan sat on the futon and said, "I'll talk to my great-grandfather and great-grandmother. As for my great-uncle, I still have to report to him about the matter."

Now Princess Anqing and Princess Ningguo had nothing to say and could only take the civil and military officials to the sacrificial temple.

"My grandfather became the emperor, and now our Ming Dynasty is becoming more prosperous and powerful. I am not praising him for his achievements. Not only did he establish his rule over the world, but he also recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and Yunnan and Guizhou. These are all things that will benefit future generations."

Zhu Yunhuan was muttering while adding soil to the mausoleum mound.

"Although some people complain about his cruelty now, I think it is just a matter of time for him to use harsh punishments. He must be more lenient in the future. If he doesn't use harsh punishments to correct the situation, it will be difficult for us, his descendants, to govern the country in the future."

"Great-grandfather, great-grandfather, you have to take care of my parents when you see them. They are both filial and probably can't stand hardships. If there is really a housekeeping matter, my grandmother is very capable, so you can just enjoy the good life."

"Our family is very powerful now. It goes without saying that my grandfather is the emperor. My second uncle, third uncle, and fourth uncle are all outstanding generals. My fifth uncle is now determined to become a botanist and medical scientist. My sixth uncle is in Jingchu, not only is he guarding the area, but he also plans to open up more fertile land. And my eleventh uncle is guarding and developing Shu."

"The children of our Zhu family are all capable, so you don't have to worry about us."

"Great-grandfather, you should tell your great uncle when the time comes. My great uncle made mistakes in his early years, and Brother Tiezhu didn't learn his lesson either. The title of Prince of Jingjiang should still be left to Zanyi, and we can't let the incense of my great uncle be cut off."

After talking a lot, Zhu Yunhuan didn't look like the crown prince at all. He just looked like a junior who was offering sacrifices to his ancestors.

There are definitely some things that are not in line with the rules, because according to some of the court's systems, things like ancestor worship must be done in a very rigid manner. Every step and every word has a template.

But this Crown Prince was not like that. He was no different from an ordinary kid, and everyone else could only stare at him.

After kowtowed to Zhu Wusui, Zhu Yunhuan turned and walked towards the tomb of the Ming Dynasty King of Nanchang, and kowtowed properly.

Some civil and military officials watched from a distance with their hearts pounding. In theory, it seemed fine. But if they wanted to find fault, the Prince of Nanchang was only the emperor's elder brother, and the crown prince did not need to kowtow.

"Great uncle, you saw what Brother Tiezhu said and beat him hard. He is really useless."

"Grandfather has always remembered your kindness, so we will teach Zanyi well now and let him be a wise king. Please don't blame grandfather for being harsh on cousin. I will move cousin back in a few years, okay?"

When the disaster struck, Lao Zhu's parents starved to death, along with his older brother Zhu Xinglong.

God has mercy on us. At that time, the Zhu family said that there were four brothers, but the third brother had died long ago. The second brother was weak, and the fourth brother was young. But the one who starved to death was the eldest brother, Zhu Xinglong.

It’s because the old in the Zhu family look old, and the young look young too.

Zhu Xinglong would rather starve himself than not take care of his wife, children and younger brother, so his frail and sickly second brother is still alive, his growing youngest brother is still alive, but he passed away in his prime.

Old Zhu has always attached great importance to family affection over the years, not because he lacked family affection when he was a child. It is simply because although his family was extremely poor when he was a child, they were extremely harmonious. With such an example, he naturally attaches importance to family affection. Princess Anqing looked for a long time before coming over, "Yunhuan, it's almost done."

Zhu Yunhuan raised his head and smiled, "Yeah, I see."

Then Zhu Yunxun said, "Aunt, bring some wine. Great uncle has never drunk any good wine in his life. I will drink a couple of glasses with him."

Princess Anqing quickly advised, "Yun Hun, you didn't drink alcohol before."

"It's okay." Zhu Yunxun said with a smile, "I should drink today, so I'll have two cups."

If Zhu Yunhuan got stubborn, Princess Anqing would be helpless, and even Old Zhu might be helpless. So now Zhu Yunhuan wanted to drink, and Princess Anqing could only ask someone to send some wine over.

Zhu Yunhuan indeed only drank two cups, one to toast Zhu Wusi and one to toast Zhu Xinglong.

After the grand ancestor worship ceremony, Zhu Yunhuan looked at Liu Da and asked, "Where is the tomb of Xianyi Huihou?"

Liu Da quickly knelt down and said, "Your Highness, it's thirty miles to the left of the imperial mausoleum."

"Take me there." Zhu Yunxun said with a smile, "It is said that a drop of water should be repaid with a spring. The descendants of the Zhu family will never forget the great kindness of Marquis Yihui!"

Liu Da quickly knelt down and said in panic, "Your Highness, this is my duty as a subject and father!"

"It's not duty, it's kindness!" Zhu Yunhuan quickly helped Liu Da up and said, "My Zhu family has been farming for your uncle for generations, but he still didn't give us half an inch of land to bury our ancestors? It was only because of the kindness of Xianyi Huihou that my ancestors can rest in peace."

Liu Da never thought that his father's momentary soft-heartedness would result in continuous blessings for his descendants in later generations.

As for Liu Da's great uncle, it was Liu De, who was the one who herded cattle when Zhu was a child and who, along with Tang He and others, had been thinking about Miss Liu. It is estimated that Liu De's descendants would scold him now, otherwise how could the Marquis of Yihui be lost!

Liu Da continued, "Your Highness, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin have also been there before."

"That's what my Zhu family should do, and so should I." Zhu Yunxun said with a smile, "Marquis Yihui, please don't embarrass me."

Liu Da then happily led Zhu Yunhuan and others to set off. The most honorable mausoleum in Fengyang was naturally the imperial mausoleum. However, from time to time, there would be princes and princes who would come to burn incense, so only Yihui Hou Liu Jizu was left.

Kneeling and bowing is definitely not an option, but burning incense is definitely fine for Zhu Yunhuan.

After taking a closer look, Zhu Yunhuan said, "The great kindness and virtue of Xianyi Huihou, the descendants of the Zhu family will never forget. How about this, the Imperial Mausoleum Office immediately builds a stele, and I will personally write the inscription after returning to Beijing to honor the great kindness of Xianyi Huihou and benefit the hometown."

Liu Da was filled with gratitude. The kindness left by his old father was so great that the descendants of the Liu family would truly enjoy continuous blessings.

"Uncle." After paying homage to Liu Jizu, Zhu Yunhuan held Wang Wen's arm affectionately and said, "Take me to see my great-grandmother."

Wang Wen immediately said, "Your Highness, how dare I cling to the royal family!"

Zhu Yunhuan said sternly, "How can it be considered as clinging to the royal family? My grandfather has already said that my great-grandmother is my godmother. Can I still let her not recognize me as her great-grandson?"

Wang Wen said anxiously, "Your Highness, my family has received too much kindness!"

"That's right. If it weren't for my great-grandmother and great-uncle's kindness, my grandfather would have had no way to make a living." Zhu Yunhuan said with a smile, "Don't worry about my uncle making fun of me. I'm still thinking about strengthening the relationship. If my uncle has a legitimate daughter, how about I bring her into the palace when she comes of age?"

At this moment, Zhu Yunhuan seemed like a political creature. Whether he was paying homage to Liu Jizu, Marquis Yihui, thinking about engraving a monument and writing a biography, or now thinking about taking Wang Wen's legitimate daughter as his concubine, it was actually an attitude.

All of this was done for the landlords to see, not only to make them think about benefiting their hometown and their descendants, but also to show that the Zhu family was grateful and repaying kindness, which was a model for the world.

Wang Wen immediately knelt down to thank him. He didn't dare to think about being the Crown Prince's Consort. But if his daughter fought hard and gave birth to a prince in the future, she would also be a prince!

Princess Anqing and Princess Ningguo looked at each other, and they both understood each other tacitly.

My nephew is quite capable, and he is becoming more and more familiar with methods such as winning people's hearts.

Although there were some political factors, Zhu Yunhuan did believe that some things should be done.

He has always believed that it is only natural to repay a drop of kindness with a spring.

Whether it was Liu Jizu or Wang Ganniang, what they did at the beginning was indeed a great favor to the Zhu family. So even if they are gone, it is right for their descendants to benefit from it.

As the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, you must remember these favors.

(End of this chapter)