Chapter 188: Granted the Token! The Champion Marquis

After the banquet!

Overall, Shen Yuer also spent the banquet with a touch of nervousness.

After all, a young woman facing the Emperor and Crown Prince of Great Ming who could remain so composed was already exceedingly rare.

But Zhu Xi was completely at ease, perhaps because children simply don’t think that deeply, don’t understand power, and have no idea what an Emperor is.

So he thoroughly enjoyed himself.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao even fed Zhu Xi a few bites himself.

“Enough.”

“Today went well.”

“We’ve gained a great-grandson, and the Crown Prince has gained a grandson.”

Zhu Yuanzhang, seated in the main seat, spoke with great delight.

“To receive such grace from His Majesty and the Crown Prince is the utmost fortune for my entire family,” Shen Yuer said with a smile, bowing respectfully in thanks.

Even more so!

Before entering the imperial palace today, Shen Yuer had never imagined achieving such a result—her son being adopted as an adopted grandson by the Crown Prince.

Watching Shen Yuer’s graceful and dignified demeanor, Zhu Yuanzhang was even more satisfied, then gestured and called out loudly: “Yunqi, bring it.”

The eunuch responded.

Yunqi immediately stepped forward, carrying a box in his arms.

“Your Majesty, what is this?”

Shen Yuer asked, puzzled.

“Since Xi’er is now our adopted great-grandson, he will naturally visit the palace often. I grant you this token—carry it, and you may enter the palace freely at any time.”

“You may enter the Eastern Palace as well.”

“Should you ever face difficulties in Yingtian, or if anyone dares to mistreat you and your son, come straight to the palace and tell me or the Crown Prince—I will stand by you.” Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile, his eyes serious.

Clearly.

Such grace was not granted to just anyone.

“Your servant thanks Your Majesty’s boundless grace, and thanks the Crown Prince’s boundless grace.”

Shen Yuer immediately clasped the box containing the token, bowed deeply, and expressed her gratitude.

She would never foolishly refuse this token.

Know that

Aside from the Six Ministries’ Ministers and Grand Secretaries, only those with urgent matters could enter the palace to face the Emperor—and even then, they had to go through layers of reporting. But this token changed everything: no reporting needed, just present the token, and the palace guards would not stop you.

For the Zhu family, this was a divine shield of immense power.

“Enough.”

“Take Xi’er home and rest.”

“I must return to reviewing memorials.” Zhu Yuanzhang smiled.

“Xi’er.”

“Come, bow to your Great-Grandfather and Grandfather, and take your leave.”

Shen Yuer immediately told Zhu Xi beside her.

Zhu Xi, being very well-behaved, walked straight to the center of the hall, knelt down, and bowed respectfully to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao.

“I pay my respects to Great-Grandfather.”

“I pay my respects to Grandfather.”

“Mother and I are going home now,” Zhu Xi said in his childish, adorable voice.

Seeing this,

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao both wore tender smiles.

Then,

Zhu Biao immediately said: “Xi’er, you must come visit Grandfather often—Grandfather will prepare plenty of food for you.”

“Thank you, Grandfather!” Zhu Xi’s face lit up at the mention of food, his reply utterly adorable.

“Yunqi.”

“Escort Yuer and her son home.” Zhu Yuanzhang told Yunqi again.

“Your servant obeys the imperial command.”

Yunqi bowed respectfully and then led Shen Yuer and her son out of the Wenyuange Hall.

After they left,

Zhu Yuanzhang turned to Zhu Biao and smiled: “Biao’er, you’re growing ever more regal.”

“By adopting this little one as your adopted grandson, Zhu Ying is now fully yours—you can trust him completely.”

“What minister wouldn’t be won over by such grace?”

Yet,

Upon hearing Zhu Yuanzhang’s words, Zhu Biao shook his head and said with deep seriousness: “Father!”

“In adopting Xi’er as my adopted grandson, I had no scheming, no political calculation—I did it simply because he resembles Xiongying so deeply. His gestures, his expressions—they haunt me.”

Perhaps,

The heavens, in their mysterious design, have granted me this: they took Xiongying from me, yet sent me Xi’er. For me, this is a kind of solace.”

“I truly like this little one—I like him very much.”

“When I’m with him, I truly feel as if Xiongying is beside me again—it feels so warm.”

“This is the true reason I adopted him.”

Zhu Biao spoke slowly, but every word was utterly sincere, without a trace of falsehood.

Hearing this,

Zhu Yuanzhang looked deeply at his son—he understood every word, as if feeling them himself.

“Biao’er.”

“As you say, this is Heaven’s will—cherish this bond.”

“I thought too much.”

“In any case,”

“Act as your heart guides you—I will always be your support.” Zhu Yuanzhang said with solemn seriousness.

For Zhu Biao, the only person Zhu Yuanzhang truly regarded as family in this world, Zhu Yuanzhang could offer boundless tolerance.

“Father.”

“Thank you.”

Zhu Biao turned to him, deeply grateful.

“Foolish boy.”

“Between father and son, there’s no need for such formalities.” Zhu Yuanzhang grumbled.

Then,

Zhu Yuanzhang said: “Since you’ve adopted a grandson, issue an edict in your name to the Ministry of Rites. A Crown Prince adopting an adopted grandson is no small matter—it cannot be handled lightly. The Ministry of Rites must formally announce it before a courtesy name may be granted.”

“I understand,” Zhu Biao immediately nodded.

He would handle this matter swiftly.

Zhu Mansion!

“Young Lady, was everything fine at the palace today?”

As soon as Shen Yuer returned to the mansion, Lin Fu hurried forward with concern, fearing she had suffered some misfortune at court.

“Lin Bo, let’s speak once we’re inside.”

Shen Yuer said at once.

Seeing this,

Lin Fu nodded, then picked up Zhu Xi and carried him into the mansion.

When they reached the inner hall,

Lin Fu turned to Shen Yuer, his expression unusually grave: “What happened? Is something serious?”

Under his gaze, Shen Yuer was equally grave, as if a great event were about to unfold.

“Lin Bo.”

“The Crown Prince intends to adopt Xi’er as his adopted grandson.”

Shen Yuer suppressed her overwhelming excitement and looked at Lin Fu.

As soon as the words left her lips,

Lin Fu’s eyes widened in stunned disbelief.

“The Crown Prince wants to adopt Young Master as his adopted grandson?”

“No way?”

“That’s an unprecedented honor!”

“Is this real?”

“If true, Young Master’s future will be extraordinary—becoming the Crown Prince’s adopted grandson is a divine favor; even Young Master himself may benefit greatly.” Lin Fu exclaimed, his voice trembling with emotion.

Seeing Lin Fu’s excitement, Shen Yuer was not surprised—had she not been bound by propriety in the Wenyuange Hall, she might have reacted the same way. This news was too monumental, a blessing of immense magnitude for the Zhu family.

“Lin Bo.”

"The Crown Prince has already decided to adopt Xi’er as his adopted grandson, and His Majesty has also approved it."

"He also said he would grant Xi’er the character 'Wen' in the naming line—so from now on, Xi’er will be called Zhu Wenxi," said Shen Yuer, her expression solemn, serious, and certain.

To this.

Lin Fu’s shock did not fade; instead, a delighted smile spread across his face: "Good, good, this is wonderful."

"I never expected that entering the palace today would bring us such a great fortune."

"With the Crown Prince adopting Xi’er as his adopted grandson, our Zhu family will surely rise to great heights."

"But."

"Why would the Crown Prince suddenly adopt the young master as his adopted grandson? Is it because the young master is clever?"

"Yet there are many clever children in the world—there must be some deeper reason."

"Could it be because of the young master?"

"Now that the young master is already the Great Ming’s Champion Marquis, with outstanding military achievements, the Crown Prince adopting Xi’er as his adopted grandson may strengthen the young master’s loyalty to him, ensuring he serves the Crown Prince even more faithfully in the future."

"If one thinks this way, perhaps this is indeed the reason."

Thinking of why Zhu Biao had adopted an adopted grandson, Lin Fu pondered deeply and eventually arrived at the reason tied to Zhu Ying—after all, he could think of no other explanation.

To win over his young master, besides bestowing grace, such a bond of kinship could also work.

"No."

Shen Yuer shook her head: "Perhaps this is part of it, but the most crucial reason may not be this."

Though Shen Yuer did not know much, she had seen much inside the Wenyuan Pavilion today—she had seen the Emperor’s expression toward his son, and the Crown Prince’s tear-filled eyes—all of it had been etched into her memory.

This was no ordinary circumstance.

"If not because of the young master, then why?" Lin Fu now looked puzzled.

"Perhaps Xi’er resembles someone from the Emperor’s and Crown Prince’s past—a person they could never forget. Today, I saw the Crown Prince weep after holding Xi’er."

"For the Crown Prince, heir to the throne, to be so moved—clearly, he carries deep affection for this person, and this person must have looked very much like Xi’er," Shen Yuer said with absolute certainty.

In the Wenyuan Pavilion hall,

Shen Yuer had clearly seen Zhu Biao’s expression, and his sorrow.

It could not be faked—and there was no reason to fake it before a subject’s wife.

"Could the young master resemble someone the Emperor and Crown Prince once knew?"

"Someone so profound that it moved these two noble men so deeply?"

Hearing Shen Yuer’s words, Lin Fu’s face darkened with thought.

But after long consideration, he still could not understand.

After all, he had only recently arrived from the north, and his status was not high—he could not possibly know imperial secrets.

Yet.

After a moment’s reflection,

"Madam."

"Old servant believes,"

"We should investigate further, lest we inadvertently offend the Emperor or the Crown Prince," Lin Fu said solemnly.

"Please, Master Lin, investigate this matter. Though we have received imperial favor, I truly fear it may affect my husband."

"We must proceed with caution," Shen Yuer immediately nodded.

She naturally had no objection to Lin Fu’s suggestion.

"But."

"Overall,"

"Today, the young master being adopted by the Crown Prince is an extraordinary blessing."

"From now on, the young master’s path will be smoother."

"Yet."

"When the Crown Prince adopts an adopted grandson, shouldn’t the Ministry of Rites issue an official proclamation?"

"After all, this is no small matter," Lin Fu said slowly, his face filled with anticipation.

"Shouldn’t they?"

"I don’t know much about these things."

Shen Yuer nodded, also looking puzzled.

But then she came to her senses.

Shen Yuer immediately handed over the imperial token she had brought from the palace: "This is the token granted by His Majesty. He said that from now on, if there is any matter, we may use this token to enter the palace directly."

Lin Fu looked at it and smiled: "Madam, you must keep this token well. To be granted direct access to the Emperor—this is a honor even many ministers never receive. This token is of immense importance."

"Yes."

Shen Yuer nodded firmly: "Of course. I will keep this token in my chamber and guard it carefully."

……

Ministry of Rites!

Lu Ben was handling numerous affairs. The Emperor had issued an edict: the Ministry of Rites must fully prepare for the special imperial examination. This would influence the entire Great Ming for years to come—held every three years, the Ministry was now extremely busy.

In the Ministry’s main hall, many officials were moving stacks of books, compiling approved documents, organizing records, and dispatching them to local governments.

As Minister of Rites, Lu Ben was personally overseeing operations here.

"My lord."

"For this special examination, will it still be held in autumn?" asked a Vice Minister respectfully.

"Naturally."

Lu Ben nodded, his aged face thoughtful: "The established rules should be preserved unless absolutely necessary to change. Too many trials lead to too many errors. This northern campaign has already achieved great victories and gained substantial territory. This special examination is of great significance—those selected will be sent to the northern frontier to govern for the Great Ming."

"Therefore, unlike before, we must proceed with caution and ensure completeness."

Upon hearing this,

the Vice Minister immediately nodded: "Your servant understands."

"Also,"

"As the examination approaches, notices must be swiftly dispatched to all local governments, down to counties, towns, and villages."

"The special examination selects talent regardless of birth—only merit matters."

"This is what His Majesty desires."

"We must not fail in this."

"At the same time,"

"Candidates must be given ample time to prepare."

"His Majesty is wise and tolerates no deceit. All officials in the Ministry of Rites must treat this with utmost seriousness and avoid any carelessness," Lu Ben added sternly.

This special examination!

Was the Ministry of Rites’ domain.

It also concerned Lu Ben’s own merit—so he treated it with utmost caution.

After all,

whether Lu Ben could continue to enjoy the Emperor’s favor in court depended on his daughter, and on his grandson.

The higher his status, the higher his daughter’s, and his grandson’s.

"Please, Minister, rest assured."

"Your servant will enforce strict oversight."

"We will not fail," the Vice Minister immediately pledged.

Lu Ben nodded, said no more, and waved his hand.

At that moment,

a eunuch walked slowly into the Ministry of Rites hall.

Seeing him, Lu Ben immediately rose, smiling: "Eunuch Wang, has His Majesty sent another edict regarding the examination?"

This eunuch was the chief attendant in the Wenyuan Pavilion, responsible for delivering and issuing imperial edicts—his name was Wang Jinghong. As a close servant of the Emperor, his status was certainly high.

"Minister Lu."

"By the decree of His Majesty and the Crown Prince, the Ministry of Rites must draft formal regulations and announce them immediately."

Wang Jinghong stepped forward, holding an imperial edict aloft with both hands and offering it to Lu Ben.

"May I ask, Eunuch Wang—is this edict not about the examination?"

Seeing Wang Jinghong’s serious expression, Lu Ben realized this edict was no ordinary matter, and cautiously probed.

Wang Jinghong smiled: "Why don’t you open it yourself, Minister Lu?"

At this,

Lu Ben did not hesitate—he immediately unrolled the edict.

And as he did,

Lu Ben’s eyes widened sharply.

……

(End of Chapter)