Chapter 131

"Dragon Gate Formation."

Seeing what this First Rank treasure chest opened.

Zhu Ying's voice carried a bit of surprise and emotion.

"A battle formation from the Sui and Tang periods?"

"This formation had long been lost; I didn't expect to be able to open it from a treasure chest. In the future, when facing the enemy, this military formation will certainly be able to play a major role." Zhu Ying laughed.

Looking at the things opened from these three treasure chests, Zhu Ying was very satisfied.

Today was indeed an auspicious day!

The value of the items opened from these three treasure chests far exceeded what seven or eight ordinary treasure chests would produce.

"Now, I just need to cultivate well, recuperate, and train troops."

Zhu Ying pondered to himself: "Quietly wait for the Emperor to continue using troops against Northern Yuan."

Time flew by, and two days passed.

Inside the Zhu Fu, in the main hall!

Outside the main hall, the spacious courtyard ground was paved with regular bluestone, which cast a faint cold light under the sunlight.

Throughout the palace, except for a few servants responsible for guarding the gate, the seven hundred personal guards under Zhu Ying's command were gathered here neatly, either sitting in the main hall or scattered throughout the courtyard.

The servants in the residence walked in a hurry, their hands steadily holding wine pots and trays filled with food and dishes, moving among the crowd, a busy scene.

"Brothers."

Zhu Ying stood before the main hall, his voice resonant: "Today is the night of the passing year. Because of our duties, everyone could not return home."

"But at this moment, this Zhu Fu is the home of all you brothers."

"I, here, toast all you brothers with a bowl!"

Having said that, Zhu Ying raised the wine bowl in his hand high, his face brimming with a sincere smile.

"To the General!"

All the personal guards shouted in unison, raising the wine bowls in their hands, their movements uniform.

"Haha." Zhu Ying laughed heartily: "The night of the passing year of our Huaxia, today we are about to cross into the New Year."

"Brothers, do not be restrained; drink to your heart's content, there is plenty of wine and meat!"

After saying this, Zhu Ying laughed and sat down steadily.

For a time, the entire Zhu Fu was extraordinarily lively.

Laughter and the sound of clinking glasses intertwined; the whole residence celebrated this end-of-year moment together, and the coldness of this winter was dispelled a bit.

This warm and lively atmosphere was especially special for Zhu Ying, Lin Fu, and Shen Yuer.

In this Daning Prefecture, far away from their homeland, they truly felt the peace and warmth of home at this moment.

As time passed slowly, the last moment of the night of the passing year arrived quietly, and the time for the New Year was about to come.

In various parts of Daning City, many wealthy families had long since purchased brilliant fireworks.

When this moment arrived precisely!

"Boom, boom, boom!"

One after another, fireworks shot toward the sky in the dark night like arrows leaving the bow, whistling.

They bloomed suddenly in the high sky, and the colorful fireworks instantly illuminated the dark night sky, decorating the sky like a dream.

This was also a kind of enjoyment belonging to this era.

"Yuer." Zhu Ying raised his head, the halo of the fireworks reflecting on his face; he gently held Shen Yuer, his voice gentle: "From now on, this will be our true home."

Shen Yuer looked up slightly, her gaze full of tenderness, and said softly: "I will always be by my husband's side."

The two stood leaning against each other, their figures drawn very long under the reflection of the fireworks, exceptionally warm.

Ying Tian Prefecture, the capital of the Great Ming, Ying Tian.

Inside the Wenyuan Pavilion!

Zhu Yuanzhang sat in the main seat wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, while Zhu Biao sat in the side seat on the left wearing gorgeous clothes.

Below, many Imperial Princes who had not yet been enfeoffed wore brocade clothes, and the unmarried Princesses wore pearl hairpins, all gathered in the main hall.

"Subject son pays respects to Father Emperor."

"Subject younger brother pays respects to Elder Brother."

As the banquet began, more than a dozen Imperial Princes and Princesses in the hall stood up one after another, knelt down neatly, their movements skillful and respectful, and bowed deeply to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao.

Their voices were crisp and neat, echoing in the main hall.

"Haha."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out because of this smile: "Today is a family banquet, no need for formalities, all rise."

"Thank you, Father Emperor!"

The Imperial Princes and Princesses in the hall shouted in unison, their voices full of vigor, and then slowly stood up and took their seats.

"My younger brothers and sisters."

Zhu Biao stood up, wearing a gentle smile, his eyes sweeping over every Imperial Prince and Princess, his gaze full of the kindness of an elder brother: "Today is the night of the passing year, and we are about to officially enter the twenty-first year of Hongwu of our Great Ming, which is also the twenty-first year since the founding of the Great Ming. Today's family banquet is to share family happiness with Father Emperor; everyone need not be restrained."

"Subject younger brother (Subject younger sister) thanks Elder Brother!"

Everyone bowed again, respectfully saluting Zhu Biao.

"Alright." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, with a bit of a smile on his face, and waved his hand: "The time has come, let the banquet begin."

Following this, Yun Qi, who was serving beside him, shouted in a sharp and clear voice: "Begin the banquet!"

At the command, dozens of palace maids wearing uniform palace attire walked in one after another with light and neat steps.

They held various exquisite palace delicacies in their hands, and the aroma of the dishes instantly permeated the entire main hall.

At the same time, there were palace maids holding fine wine carefully brewed in the palace.

"Light the salute cannons!" Yun Qi shouted loudly toward the outside of the hall again.

Immediately after, salute cannons sounded one after another, the sound deafening.

At the same time, brilliant fireworks exploded above the Ying Tian Imperial Palace, and the colorful light illuminated the glazed tiles of the Imperial Palace exceptionally brilliantly.

The Great Ming Empire, the world of the Han people, was immersed in celebration at this moment.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the hall calmly.

The Imperial Princes had reached the age, and there were not a few who had already started families, but only Zhu Biao was alone beside him.

After all, according to ritual, concubines and maids were not allowed to enter the family banquet.

Even if the Lv clan was full of longing, her status was ultimately difficult to rectify.

The current Zhu Yuanzhang would not rashly disregard the rituals and rectify the status of the Lv clan.

Because once this happened, the imperial court would certainly trigger a huge uproar; the Huaixi Group would not agree, and many scholars who adhered to the rituals would not agree even more.

Furthermore, this matter was originally Zhu Biao's family affair, and as a father, it was not convenient for him to intervene too much.

But in the original historical trajectory, the reason why Zhu Yuanzhang rectified the status of the Lv clan was entirely because Zhu Biao died of illness.

And then he was determined to establish Zhu Biao's descendants as the Crown Prince, so he had no choice but to do this "absurd thing" of elevating a concubine to a wife.

"Biao'er." Zhu Yuanzhang said with a gentle expression, asking softly: "Why didn't you bring Yun Tong and the three sisters and brothers over?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes carried a bit of kindness and concern.

In front of Zhu Biao, the current Zhu Yuanzhang did not pay too much attention to Zhu Yunwen; what he was thinking of in his heart were still his few legitimate grandchildren.

After all, today's family banquet was a time for the whole family to reunite; although Zhu Yuanzhang's heart ached because of the changes in his grandchildren, he still could not hide his longing for them at this moment.

"Father." Zhu Biao replied with a smile: "Yun Tong and the others didn't want to enter the palace, feeling that it was more comfortable in the Donggong without so many restraints."

"So they are already enjoying the family banquet in the Donggong at this moment. After the family banquet in the palace ends, son will go back to visit them."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, a trace of reminiscence flashing in his gaze.

He turned his head slowly, looked left and right, and then let his gaze fall on the empty seat beside Zhu Biao.

Once upon a time, it was also this main hall.

At that time, laughter continued in the main hall, and every corner was filled with warmth, making Zhu Yuanzhang truly feel the warmth of home.

His thoughts drifted far away, and the scenes of the past emerged before Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes like a tide.

It was also this main hall, also at the time of the evening meal on the night of the passing year.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat steadily in this current position, and he was not alone beside him.

A woman wearing gorgeous palace attire, dignified and noble, with a kind and benevolent face, was sitting quietly beside him; this person was Empress Ma.

On the left, Zhu Biao sat on one side, and beside him sat a stunning young woman wearing exquisite palace attire; this was Crown Princess Chang.

A few-year-old boy with a tiger-headed brain was sitting obediently between Zhu Biao and Chang; he was the legitimate eldest grandson of the Great Ming, Zhu Xiongying.

At that time, the banquet had not yet begun, but Zhu Xiongying could no longer hold back, reaching out to grab the food on the table and eating it.

"Xiongying, the banquet hasn't started yet." Zhu Biao frowned slightly, his face straight, and reprimanded his son who had already started eating in a low voice.

However.

Zhu Xiongying was not afraid at all; he turned around, like a flexible little monkey, and ran toward his grandmother Empress Ma.

"Grandmother." Zhu Xiongying threw himself into Empress Ma's arms, hugging her tightly, his voice carrying a bit of coquetry: "My father is scolding me again."

Empress Ma looked at Zhu Xiongying in her arms with full doting, turned her head, glared at Zhu Biao, and said: "What are you shouting about? My grandson is hungry, what's wrong with eating something? Today is a family banquet, don't keep talking about those rules and regulations."

Having said that, she lowered her head, her eyes as gentle as water, picked up an exquisite pastry, handed it to Zhu Xiongying, and said softly: "Xiongying, it's okay, eat if you want, eat to your heart's content, don't learn from your father, who keeps a straight face all day long."

"Mm, mm, mm." Zhu Xiongying nodded obediently, hugging Empress Ma tightly, and said, "Grandmother, my father just relies on being my father to bully me, only Grandmother is the best."

"What?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked with feigned dissatisfaction upon hearing this, his eyes fixed tightly on Zhu Xiongying, his eyes full of anticipation: "Is your grandfather not good to you?"

Zhu Xiongying tilted his head, his eyes rolling around, pretending to be thinking seriously.

A moment later, he said with a bit of a little adult's commentary: "Better than my father, not as good as Grandmother."

"Hahaha." Zhu Yuanzhang looked up and laughed, his laughter hearty and resonant, his face full of joy and kindness: "You stinky brat."

The look in his eyes when he looked at Zhu Xiongying was as if he were the most precious treasure in the world.

"Father Emperor, Mother Empress." Zhu Biao shook his head helplessly, smiling bitterly: "Don't spoil this stinky brat anymore."

"This brat, he doesn't learn anything good, and he takes his uncles to cause trouble all day long, which makes me so angry."

Upon hearing this, several Imperial Princes in the hall who usually played well with Zhu Xiongying subconsciously shrank their necks.

Some of them were older than Zhu Xiongying, and some were slightly younger, and at this moment they all looked like children who had done something wrong.

"Biao'er, I have to talk to you about this."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked proud, his tone full of praise and doting for Zhu Xiongying: "Although our Xiongying is a bit mischievous, he is so intelligent!"

"He has completed all his courses excellently, and he is proficient in archery and horse riding; every teacher praises him endlessly, all praising our eldest grandson as a genius."

Zhu Xiongying was his legitimate eldest grandson, and he was clever, with outstanding literary and martial arts; how could Zhu Yuanzhang not be satisfied, how could he not dote on him.

"Father Emperor." Zhu Biao sighed helplessly, "You this..."

For the partiality and doting of his parents toward his son, he really had no way.

And Zhu Xiongying smiled proudly, turned to look at the uncles in the hall who usually played well with him, waved his little hand, and said: "Fourth Uncle, do you want a piece of pastry? Twelfth Uncle, Seventeenth Uncle, tomorrow is a rest day, let's go horse riding together."

But these uncles just looked helpless, lowered their heads, and didn't dare to answer at all.

Zhu Di, Zhu Bo, and Zhu Quan were suffering in their hearts, thinking to themselves: "My ancestors, Father Emperor is here, do you think we are all the same as you? Father Emperor is very strict with us, who dares to touch the bad luck."

"Grandmother." Zhu Xiongying looked at Empress Ma obediently again, opening his eyes wide: "Shall we go set off fireworks together later? After setting them off! Tonight I want to sleep with Grandmother."

"I say Xiongying." Zhu Yuanzhang deliberately glared, pretending to be angry: "If your grandmother sleeps with you, what about me? She is my wife."

"This is my Grandmother." Zhu Xiongying hugged Empress Ma tightly, looking proud, as if he were declaring sovereignty.

"I don't care, sleep by yourself today." Zhu Yuanzhang deliberately acted like a rascal, "The night of the passing year, I must spend it with my wife."

Empress Ma's cheeks flushed slightly upon hearing this; she glared at Zhu Yuanzhang, reached out and pinched him hard, and scolded in a low voice: "Zhu Zhongba, the children are all here, pay attention."

"Ouch." Zhu Yuanzhang felt the pain and muttered in a low voice: "You wife, there are so many children here, give me some face."

Looking at his appearance, it was a perfect image of being henpecked.

The Zhu family, starting from Zhu Yuanzhang, were all people who valued emotions.

"Hehe." Zhu Xiongying laughed proudly, his eyes squinting into a line.

Zhu Biao and his wife on the side lowered their heads, unable to help covering their mouths and stealing smiles.

And the other Imperial Princes and Princesses in the main hall could only hold back their laughter, not daring to make the slightest sound.

These scenes of the past emerged one after another in Zhu Yuanzhang's mind like a revolving lantern.

Regaining his composure, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the main hall before him. The delicacies were still laid out on the tables, and the Imperial Princes and Princesses were all seated, but everything had changed.

These current Imperial Princes and Princesses were all trembling in front of him, fearing him like a fierce tiger, not daring to speak at will.

It was called a family banquet on the night of the passing year, but this atmosphere did not have half the warmth and joy that a real family banquet should have.

"Sigh." At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang had thousands of words in his heart, which finally turned into a heavy sigh.

The current Imperial Palace, the current family banquet, had completely lost the rich taste of family affection of the past.

Perhaps Zhu Biao had the same deep feeling about this. The beauty he once possessed had disappeared, and being in the same place, this contrast between the past and the present was particularly strong.

This formal family banquet ended quickly.

Many Imperial Princes and Princesses dispersed one after another; for them, this family banquet might not be what they truly longed for in their hearts.

"Biao'er." Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao who was the only one left in the hall, and asked with a gentle expression: "Are you not going back yet?"

"Father." Zhu Biao smiled, his eyes carrying a trace of nostalgia: "After the family banquet ends, shouldn't we go to pay respects to Mother? It's like this every year."

"Yes." Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, his face full of sorrow: "Pay respects to your mother, and also Xiongying."

Having said that, he turned slowly, walking with heavy steps toward the former Kunninggong.

Zhu Biao followed silently behind, without making a sound, and the figures of the father and son were drawn very long on the dim palace path.

Outside Kunninggong!

Zhu Yuanzhang stood quietly outside the palace, his expression complex and indistinguishable.

"Every time I come to this place, I am both longing and afraid." Zhu Yuanzhang spoke slowly, his voice low and hoarse: "Many times, I have stood at this palace gate, but I didn't dare to go in."

"Father." Zhu Biao stepped forward and comforted him softly: "Everything is already in the past."

However, there was also an irrepressible sorrow in his eyes.

(End of chapter)