Ming Dynasty: Zhu Biao's younger brother, the most rebellious son in history

At this moment, the friendship between mother and son was fully displayed before everyone.

It was a rare opportunity for Zhu Yuanzhang to enjoy pure family affection without any calculations mixed in.

In fact, he himself felt that such a life was a bit tiring, but what could he do? People in high positions always had to be more careful.

Zhu Di was following behind them with his heart beating fast. After all, he was not Empress Ma's biological son. How would Empress Ma feel if he suddenly appeared at this time of family reunion?

Zhu Gang continued speaking because he was standing at the back.

"Old Five, what are you doing? Mother has already prepared everything, why are you still standing there at night? Come in with us."

Empress Ma and Zhu Chong were walking in front. They only saw Zhu Di when they heard this, but he did not follow.

Empress Ma immediately turned around and walked up to Zhu Di.

"Old Five, what are you doing standing here like an idiot?"

"Mother, my second brother went back to his own residence and didn't come over. I..."

Ma Xiuying saw Zhu Di's hesitation and knew that he must have regarded her as an outsider.

For Ma Xiuying, no matter whether it was Zhu Di or any other waste in the future, the children they had would belong to the Ming Dynasty, and the princes would be the sons of Zhu Yuanzhang, that is, his own sons.

"Zhu Di, I know what you want to say. Don't think too much. Since everything has been arranged for the evening, what else is missing? Come in with me first. I have good news to tell you later."

Zhu Di, looking at Ma Xiuying's kind face, felt much more relaxed and was not as nervous as before.

"Mother, you said you had good news to tell me?"

"Yes, this is indeed good news. The emperor has known about it for a long time. I guess he didn't tell you. I was thinking of telling you during dinner, but seeing how you are, I might as well tell you now."

"Mother, please speak."

"Your mother, Concubine Xi, is pregnant again. The imperial physician from the Imperial Hospital just checked her pulse and said that she is more than two months pregnant."

When Zhu Di heard Ma Xiuying say this news with a smile on her face, he felt the character of Empress Ma. He did not feel angry, jealous, or even furious because the concubine in the harem was pregnant.

"Mother, are you serious?"

"You silly child, can this skill deceive you?
Just relax, your mother has been thinking about you very much over the past year or so. She comes to me every now and then to inquire about your news.

Fortunately, you are all back. Did the emperor say when you can go to see Concubine Xi? "

"My father is very considerate. He said that after I meet my mother, he can arrange for me to meet her."

"It's getting late now. How about this, you come in and have a meal with them, then go back and have a good sleep, take a shower and change clothes, and then go see Concubine Yu tomorrow when you have time.

He is pregnant now and is not feeling well. He goes to bed early every night. I guess he has rested by now. You should not disturb him.

Although he misses you very much, you have to take him into consideration. He is pregnant now, and you guys will have a brother again. This is something worth celebrating, and the emperor hasn't told you yet."

Zhu Chong heard what Empress Ma said beside him. However, as he was a very good talker and was also good at observing people's expressions, he immediately congratulated Zhu Yuanzhang after hearing what he said.

"Congratulations, father, you are about to have a son."

Zhu Gang and Zhu Di then knelt on the ground and said.

"Congratulations, Father."

When Zhu Yuanzhang saw that his concubine was pregnant, he was naturally happy. This was a good sign for the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.

Only if the royal bloodline can flourish more, the Ming Dynasty will have endless descendants.

"Queen, I didn't intend to tell them so soon, but your news came quickly."

“Since there is good news, we must tell them quickly.

Moreover, I noticed that Lao Wu seemed a little reserved, probably because he was thinking about his mother.

I have to tell him the good news, and also let him be mentally prepared when he sees his mother tomorrow, so as not to scare Concubine Xi."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said.

"The Queen is indeed very thoughtful. I have never thought about this matter. Fortunately, you told me in advance, so as not to alarm Concubine Yu tomorrow."

Zhu Di was very happy at this moment. He knew that he was so isolated and helpless because he had no brothers. Fortunately, his brother Zhu Kai did not despise him and always kept him by his side.

Assuming that his mother could really give birth to another prince, he would have a brother with the same parents as him. The relationship would be completely different, and he would not be as isolated and helpless as he is now.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked them all to get up, and then they went to the palace next door.

Looking at the table full of delicacies, even Zhu Yuanzhang felt a little hungry.

"Queen, you usually don't want to prepare so many delicacies, but today when these brats come back, you can be considered to have prepared all the good things for them."

"Of course, they have suffered a lot in the border area, so it is normal for them to be rewarded well after returning."

When Zhu Gang saw the table full of delicious food, he began to miss Zhu Kai.

"We don't know when we will be able to finish eating all the delicious food on this table. It's a pity that my second brother has already returned to his mansion. I'm afraid we won't be able to enjoy this feast."

Zhu Biao smiled and said.

"I was wondering why you guys are so concerned about Zhu Kai. Don't worry, how could he not have a good meal?

The Queen Mother is not a partial person. She has already sent some dishes to Zhu Kai's residence. I think the two of them have already finished eating and rested. Only you guys are still hungry."

"It seems that the Queen Mother is more thoughtful. By the time we considered this matter, it was already too late. I am really ashamed."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction and smiled with relief.

"It's good that you brothers can always live in harmony like this. I am very pleased that you can still think of your brother at the critical moment."

When Zhu Chong saw his younger brother being praised by his father, he felt like he was at a disadvantage.

I should have thought about saying this first, and I lost another opportunity to show off in front of the emperor.

But it doesn't matter. There are still plenty of opportunities to show off in the next few days. He can always let his father see his son's hard work and unique talents, and thus impress Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at everyone standing by and felt embarrassed to take a seat. As an emperor and a father, he had to take a seat first.

So Zhu Yuanzhang lifted up his robe, and the eunuch behind him pulled the stool outward, and then Zhu Yuanzhang sat down.

"Don't be so reserved, all of you. Tonight there is no emperor or subject, only father and son. It's a rare reunion dinner for us, so sit down and don't be so formal." When Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang heard what Zhu Yuanzhang said, they first walked forward to help Empress Ma sit down, and then they each found their own seats.

Zhu Di watched them act and then followed suit.

"Empress, you spent several hours cooking this bowl of chicken soup."

"Mother, you have worked so hard. You have wasted so much time on us. It's really..."

"Alright, alright, didn't the Emperor just say that?

Today, there are only fathers and sons, but no rulers and subjects. Why do you have to say these things? Even the son of an ordinary family should have a good meal when he returns from a long journey."

Although Ma Xiuying has transformed from an ordinary woman into the empress of the Ming Dynasty over the years, she has not changed and remains simple and frugal.

He knew that it was so hard for the Ming Dynasty and Zhu Yuanzhang to reach where they are today.

As Zhu Yuanzhang's virtuous wife, she must of course assist him to the best of her ability.

She tried to save as much as possible on expenses in the harem, and Empress Ma was used to being frugal. She did not like extravagance and waste, which was in sharp contrast to other women in the harem.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Queen Ma, smiled and said half-jokingly.

"Xiuying, you don't have to be so frugal anymore."

“You have told me this many times, and I always give the same answer.

The Ming Dynasty has just stabilized, and there are too many places where money is needed. As the saying goes, if you don't manage a household, you don't know how expensive firewood, rice, oil and salt are. Now we have to manage the whole world.

Of course, we should save as much as we can, and the extra money can be used to help poor people.

What's more, there are natural disasters and man-made disasters now, and you never know when something special will happen. At that time, the court will need a large amount of silver for disaster relief.

I do remember something Zhu Kai said that left a particularly deep impression on me.

It is said that money should be spent wisely. This kid is right. Even if the Ming Dynasty is rich, we cannot be extravagant and wasteful. "

Zhu Yuanzhang originally wanted to talk about Zhu Kai, but he didn't expect that he would be scolded by Empress Ma as soon as he opened his mouth.

Zhu Chong also nodded and flattered him.

“What the Queen Mother said is true.

Over the past year or so, we followed my second brother to the Mongolian tribe and indeed discovered this matter.

My second brother said that all the major issues in the world can be solved with money. He also said that money makes the world go round. As long as the problem can be solved with money, it is not a problem.

I used to think that he was a little bit materialistic, but now I think what my second brother said is true.

Especially, after the analysis and teachings from our mother, we also know that as princes we cannot squander money."

Zhu Di thought to himself that this guy was really two-faced.

Zhu Chong is usually ostentatious and shallow. He loves gold, silver, treasures and airs. If Zhu Kai had not taught him for such a long time, who knows what he would become.

Now that Queen Ma had said these words, he quickly proved that he was not the extravagant and wasteful person that Queen Ma said.

Zhu Di suddenly felt that this guy was two-faced.

He has no title yet. If he gets a title one day, he can go to any place to be a fiefdom.

I'm afraid that the local civilians will suffer. He is a man who exploits the people at all costs. As long as he can enjoy himself, he doesn't care about anything else.

Zhu Gang couldn't stand it anymore and felt that his third brother was too hypocritical.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at these people who were silent, and he couldn't help but speak in confusion.

"What's going on? You guys are suddenly quiet again. Why do you all run away when the Queen mentions money?"

"Father, that's not what we meant. In fact, I just wanted to tell Mother that she doesn't need to worry about these things. As long as my second brother is here, he seems to be able to turn stone into gold."

Queen Ma asked with a frown.

"When did Zhu Kai develop the ability to turn stone into gold?
You guys tell me what you mean. The more you talk, the more outrageous it becomes. The second brother usually likes to brag, but now you say that he has matured.

Well...it's true that he has matured, but he has passed on his bad habits to you guys.

He can turn stone into gold, and he is not afraid of being laughed at by the people in the court. If the second brother has this ability, it would be terrible. It would be a ghost."

Ma Xiuying definitely doesn't believe these things.

However, what Zhu Chong wanted to say was not Zhu Kai’s real ability to turn stone into gold, but that he now had a super ability to make money.

During the more than one year in Liao, all the civilians there became wealthy.

He conducted all kinds of transactions that he had never heard of before. They were simply unbelievable, and every transaction order was unique in the world.

If he doesn't make money, who can?

It's just that his ability to express himself in words was limited, and he couldn't explain all these things clearly in front of Queen Ma, which led to some misunderstandings from the Queen.

Zhu Chong was so anxious that he gritted his teeth but couldn't explain himself.

Zhu Yuanzhang knew his sons very well. He knew that although Zhu Di was not good at speaking, he could tell the whole story.

So Zhu Yuanzhang could only look back at Zhu Di and say.

"Old Fifth, Old Third couldn't explain the whole story at the critical moment. You are relatively clear-headed. Tell the Queen about Zhu Kai's matter."

Zhu Di didn't have time to think about so many things now. He just wanted tomorrow to come quickly so that he could see his mother.

But even so, his reaction was very quick. When he heard Zhu Yuanzhang asking him, he quickly put down his chopsticks, stood up and spoke.

"Reporting to the Emperor, my Third Brother is the smartest and most eloquent person. If he can't explain it clearly, I, who am tongue-tied, will be even less able to explain it."

Zhu Biao saw that Zhu Di really didn't seem to want to show anything in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, so he hurried to rescue him.

"Father, Old Five just came back from the border and hasn't had a good rest yet, yet you keep asking him to do this and that.

I'd better tell my mother that Zhu Kai seems to be focusing on making money. He only wants to make more money to fill the national treasury." (End of this chapter)