Chapter 1324: Crown Prince, You Choose — We Are Very Open-Minded!

"Lucky Boy!"

Zhu Cilang called out Zhu Hexing's nickname — he was the one who had given all his sons their nicknames! Zhu Hehao was called "Tycoon Boy," and Zhu Hexing was called "Lucky Boy." Truly the Great Ming's best dad!

"Which young lady has caught your eye? Just tell Us! We are very open-minded — after all, you're the one marrying a wife, so you may choose! But you must choose carefully! Don't pick wrong!"

As he spoke, Zhu Cilang pointed at Ding Yuying, who sat across from the father and son — this was the sole candidate for Crown Princess! Crown Prince, hurry up and choose. You may choose anyone you like. We are very open-minded!

Zhu Hexing thought to himself: Father, how am I supposed to choose? With only Ding Yuying here, can I pick anyone else?

Zhu Hexing was clearly not too willing to pick Ding Yuying. The ones he fancied most were Zheng Min and Luo Xiaohe — both were rather petite (relatively speaking), giving off a delicate, clinging-vine charm, and they were also more demure, unlike Ding Yuying, who was so "flighty." The moment the girl saw him, she kept casting flirtatious glances at him nonstop (actually, Ding Yuying wasn't casting flirtatious glances — her eyes were just naturally a bit alluring, and really quite lovely), unlike a proper young lady.

"Hurry up and choose!" Zhu Cilang's voice had already deepened. "Once you've chosen, your brothers still have to choose!"

That sounded a bit off!

Zhu Hexing thought to himself: I have over a dozen brothers. Apart from the eldest, Zhu Hehao, who is always eyeing the Crown Prince's position, there's also my full brother Zhu He'ao! He is already thirteen this year. This time a wife will be chosen for him too.

And he's still young, with no ideas of his own — isn't he whatever Father says he is? And my imperial father the Emperor often does things that catch people off guard. Who knows whether he might first settle on a Crown Princess, and then use the Crown Princess to go after the Crown Prince?

The moment he thought that the throne of Crown Prince might be unstable, "Lucky Crown Prince" immediately knew how he should choose.

He looked at Ding Yuying again and found that she really did have flavor — the more he looked, the more flavor she had. She had the figure, she had the face, and her fondness for casting flirtatious glances was fine too — full of charm and allure.

"Imperial Father," Zhu Hexing asked, "may your son truly choose anyone?"

"Of course!" Zhu Cilang smiled and pointed at Ding Yuying. "This one is yours to choose!"

What an open-minded father! Feudal arranged marriage and all that — absolutely nonexistent!

"Then your son shall choose..." Zhu Hexing feigned deep thought while sizing up Ding Yuying from the corner of his eye. He found the woman gazing at him with tender affection, just short of kneeling down to propose!

"Then I'll choose her!" Zhu Hexing pointed at Ding Yuying. "Imperial Father, do you think she's suitable?"

"Heh heh," Zhu Cilang laughed. "Lucky Boy has good taste. But this matter still requires your Imperial Mother's opinion. Go ask her what she thinks right now."

"Your son understands. Your son will go at once. Your son takes his leave." Zhu Hexing hurriedly rose, bowed to Zhu Cilang, then turned and left, heading to the Kunning Hall to report to Wu Sanmei.

Once he left, only Zhu Cilang, Ding Yuying, and a few older palace maids remained in the classroom.

Zhu Cilang waved a hand at the palace maids, dismissing them all, leaving Ding Yuying alone — to be honest, this was a bit strange. The Emperor, her father-in-law, alone with his daughter-in-law... was this still the Great Ming? Nothing was going to happen, was it?

Just as Ding Yuying was finding it odd, Zhu Cilang spoke: "Yuying, the reason We chose you as Crown Princess is that you truly are a talent worth shaping! But being Our Crown Princess is not easy. If you fail to do it well, We will not depose you, because the position of Crown Princess must not be shaken! But We will kill you, and then bury you with full honors!"

This was, in fact, one of the reasons Zhu Cilang had chosen Ding Yuying!

Women like Zheng Min, Luo Xiaohe, and Wu Ahuan — even if they couldn't be taught properly, Zhu Cilang couldn't kill them, couldn't even depose them. But Ding Yuying could be killed!

Hearing this, Ding Yuying immediately knelt before Emperor Zhu and gritted her teeth. "This humble woman will certainly strive to do her utmost! If this humble woman truly proves beyond instruction, Your Majesty need only say the word, and this humble woman will end her own life."

"Good!" Zhu Cilang nodded. "Now that is Our good daughter-in-law! Yuying, remember this: your life can only be taken by Us. But We are also the person who most hopes you can become a good Empress, and even a good Empress Dowager!"

Ding Yuying nodded heavily: "This humble woman understands, Your Majesty."

"Why still 'Your Majesty'?" Zhu Cilang interrupted. "Call Us Imperial Father!"

Ding Yuying nodded: "Imperial Father, your daughter-in-law understands! Your daughter-in-law will never disappoint Imperial Father!"

Zhu Cilang's face broke into a smile: "The reason We chose you as Crown Princess is that, among all the women who passed the second examination, you are the easiest to teach, and you have no ties to any meritorious or powerful clans. In the future, when you choose a Crown Princess or Crown Grandson's Consort for your son, you had best choose one like yourself."

Emperor Zhu would not be choosing a wife for his grandson — that was Ding Yuying's responsibility, if she truly could bear her responsibility.

He turned serious again. "Because starting with you, the Empresses of the Great Ming will assist the sovereign in governance and participate in state affairs. The sovereign power of the Great Ming will have a share that belongs to you!"

Monarchic power, by principle, cannot be shared. But the fundamental national condition of the Ming was too many child emperors and adolescent-fantasy emperors. The current Zhu Hexing looked like another warrior emperor, and in the future he might well lead armies on campaign often. Without someone backing him up at home, it simply wouldn't work!

Furthermore, Zhu Cilang had always harbored doubts about Wu Sanmei's and Zhu Hexing's financial acumen. He was not at ease entrusting the Royal Trading Company to the two of them — never mind that the Royal Trading Company was thriving now; if it were to collapse, it would collapse fast.

So he also hoped to train Ding Yuying into the chairwoman of the Royal Trading Company!

Ding Yuying was somewhat awed and uneasy. She said in a small voice: "Imperial Father, your daughter-in-law knows nothing..."

"Not knowing is no problem — you can learn!" Zhu Cilang said. "The reason We established the Jinling Women's University was precisely to educate you and the other princess consorts and wives of meritorious nobles. Moreover, We will personally instruct you. You needn't worry."

Ding Yuying said: "Your daughter-in-law will certainly study hard."

Zhu Cilang smiled and nodded. "But you can't only focus on studying these things. You must also learn how to please the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince doesn't seem to like you very much! You must work harder!"

Emperor Zhu glanced at Ding Yuying. This girl really did have substance. As long as she was willing to work hard, the Crown Prince would surely come to like her.

He then smiled again: "The Crown Prince is a robust youth, full of vigor, and there are no young palace maids in the palace. With your looks, winning the Crown Prince's favor should not be difficult. We will have Kou Baimen of the Music Bureau come teach you. Study well with her, and you will surely win his favor. We give you five years to enjoy the Crown Prince's favor exclusively — you must bear an imperial grandson as soon as possible!"

Zhu Cilang had spent so much effort cultivating a Crown Princess precisely because he hoped she could firmly seize the Crown Prince's heart. That way her position would be secure, the Crown Prince would gain a worthy helpmate, and the future imperial grandson would gain a good mother.

Ding Yuying's small face flushed bright red from Zhu Cilang's words, and her voice dropped to the level of a mosquito's buzz: "Your daughter-in-law will certainly, certainly strive to do her utmost."

Zhu Cilang nodded. "We have chosen you, and there will be no shortage of troublesome matters ahead. The Zheng, Shen, and Wu families must be placated. After you and the Crown Prince are married and you enter the Jinling Women's University, you will also have to get along with the daughters of those families. It won't be easy, but you must find a way to get along well with them. Be cautious and prudent, don't let anyone trap you, and have the bearing of a future mother of the nation — the capacity to tolerate others."

"Also, your father is a small merchant, isn't he?"

"Your daughter-in-law's father is both farmer and merchant. I also have one elder brother and one younger sister." Ding Yuying said, "My brother is named Fuchun, eighteen this year. He follows Father in business. My sister, Yuru, is only eleven."

Zhu Cilang said: "A small family — not bad!" He thought for a moment. "Your father should stop doing business. Commerce makes one easy to swindle and harm. You come from common stock, so your position will not be easy to consolidate — there will always be people wanting to replace you. Your father's family should also not remain in your hometown. Have them all go to Yingtian Prefecture. We will give them some properties and let them collect rent. As for your brother and sister, let them focus on their studies first!"

(End of Chapter)