Chapter 188: Bestowed with a token

After the banquet!

All in all, Shen Shen Yuer had spent the banquet in a state of some trepidation.

After all, for a young woman like her to face the Emperor and Crown Prince who held the Great Ming in their hands and remain so composed was already extremely rare.

But Zhu Xi was completely carefree; perhaps it was because a child simply couldn't think about so many things, nor did he know what power was, let alone what an Emperor was.

So, he was actually enjoying himself quite a bit.

Zhu Biao even personally fed Zhu Xi a few mouthfuls of food.

"Alright."

"Today was good."

"We have gained a great-grandson, and the Crown Prince has gained a grandson."

Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang sat in the seat of honor and said with great delight.

"To receive such grace from the Emperor and the Crown Prince is the good fortune of my entire family." Shen Shen Yuer wore a smile and bowed respectfully in thanks.

Even more!

Before entering the Imperial Palace today, Shen Shen Yuer had never imagined that she would achieve such a result—her son being taken in as a foster grandson by the Crown Prince.

Seeing Shen Shen Yuer's gentle and dignified demeanor, Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang was even more satisfied. He then beckoned and said loudly, "Yun Qi, bring it up."

He responded to the call.

Yun Qi, who was serving on the side, immediately lifted a box and walked over.

"Your Majesty, what is this?"

Shen Shen Yuer asked, puzzled.

"Since Xi'er is already Our foster great-grandson, he naturally must enter the palace often in the future. We bestow upon you a token; holding this, you may enter the Imperial Palace without obstruction from now on."

"You may also enter the Eastern Palace."

"If you encounter any difficulties in Ying Tian in the future, or if anyone bullies you and your son, just come into the palace and tell Us and the Crown Prince; We will back you up." Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile, his eyes carrying a touch of sincerity.

Clearly.

This kind of grace was not something just anyone possessed.

"This subject's wife thanks Your Majesty for your immense grace, and thanks His Highness the Crown Prince for your immense grace."

Shen Shen Yuer immediately held the box containing the token, bowed, and offered her thanks.

Shen Shen Yuer would certainly not be foolish enough to refuse this token.

One must know.

Aside from the Ministers of the Six Ministries and the Grand Secretaries of the halls, those who could enter the Imperial Palace to face the Emperor directly had to have major matters, and then go through layers of reporting. But the function of this token was precisely this: no reporting was needed; one could enter the palace directly holding the token, and the Imperial Guard would not block them.

For the Zhu family, this was a supreme protective talisman.

"Alright."

"Take Xi'er back to rest."

"We also have to continue reviewing memorials." Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang smiled.

"Xi'er."

"Quickly pay respects to your Great-Grandfather and Grandfather, and take your leave."

Shen Shen Yuer immediately said to Zhu Xi beside her.

Zhu Xi was also very sensible; he immediately walked to the center of the hall and knelt directly to pay his respects and bid farewell to Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao.

"Paying respects to Great-Grandfather."

"Paying respects to Grandfather."

"Mother and I are going home now." Zhu Xi said in a childish and cute voice.

Seeing this.

Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao both wore kind smiles.

Subsequently.

Zhu Biao immediately said, "Xi'er, you must come to find Grandfather often in the future; Grandfather will prepare plenty of food for you then."

"Thank you, Grandfather." Upon hearing about food, Zhu Xi immediately beamed with joy and replied, looking incredibly cute.

"Yun Qi."

"Escort Shen Yuer and her son back." Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang said to Yun Qi again.

"This servant obeys the decree."

Yun Qi respectfully accepted the order and then began to lead Shen Shen Yuer and her son out of the Wenyuange hall.

After they left.

Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head and looked at Zhu Biao with a smile: "Biao'er is becoming increasingly imbued with the aura of an Emperor."

"By taking this little fellow in as a foster grandson, Zhu Ying will be completely your man from now on, and you will be able to use him with even more peace of mind."

"With such grace, what official would not be won over!"

However.

After hearing Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Zhu Biao shook his head instead, and turned to say very earnestly: "Father!"

"This time, taking Xi'er in as a foster grandson, I had no political schemes or calculations, nor was it to win him over with grace. When it comes down to it, it is because he is too similar to Zhu Xiongying. In his gestures, and that expression, it makes me unable to forget."

"Perhaps."

"That such a similar person exists in this world is also Heaven's eyes watching from the dark; letting me lose Zhu Xiongying, yet sending a Xi'er. For me, this can be considered a kind of solace."

"This little fellow, I like him very much, truly like him."

"With him, I really feel as if I have returned to when Zhu Xiongying was by my side; it is very intimate."

"This is also the fundamental reason why I took him in as a foster grandson."

Zhu Biao spoke slowly, but the sincerity in his words was absolutely devoid of any hypocrisy; it was entirely from the heart.

Hearing this!

Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang looked deeply at his son; he naturally empathized with everything his son had said.

"Biao'er."

"Just as you said, since this is Heaven's will, then cherish this bond."

"It is Father who thought too much."

"In any case."

"It is enough for you to act according to your nature; Father will always be your backing." Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang said very earnestly.

For Zhu Biao, who was the only person Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang truly regarded as family in this world, Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang could have infinite tolerance.

"Father."

"Thank you."

Zhu Biao turned his head and said with great gratitude.

"Silly boy."

"Between you and me, father and son, we don't need such formality." Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang said with a huff.

Subsequently.

Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Since you have already recognized a foster grandson, then use your name to have the Ministry of Rites draft a decree. A Crown Prince recognizing a foster grandson is a major event; it cannot be this simple. It must be announced by the Ministry of Rites according to protocol before a name can be bestowed."

"Son understands." Zhu Biao nodded immediately.

He would naturally handle this matter very quickly.

Zhu Fu!

"Young Lady, was everything alright in the Imperial Palace today?"

As soon as Shen Shen Yuer returned to the manor, Lin Fu immediately greeted her with concern, fearing that Shen Shen Yuer might have encountered something in the Imperial Palace.

"Uncle Lin, let's talk after we return to the manor."

Shen Shen Yuer said immediately.

Seeing this.

Lin Fu nodded, then directly picked up Zhu Xi and returned to the manor.

Once they reached the inner hall of the manor.

Lin Fu then looked at Shen Shen Yuer and asked, his expression unusually serious: "What is it? Could it be some major event?"

Under his gaze, Shen Shen Yuer was also incomparably serious, looking exactly like something major was about to happen.

"Uncle Lin."

"His Highness the Crown Prince wants to take Xi'er in as a foster grandson."

Shen Shen Yuer suppressed the indescribable excitement in her heart and said, looking at Lin Fu.

The words fell.

Lin Fu immediately widened his eyes, an indescribable shock emerging.

"His Highness the Crown Prince wants to take the Young Master in as a foster grandson?"

"No way?"

"This is a supreme honor."

"Is this true or false?"

"If it is true, then the Young Master will truly be extraordinary in the future. Becoming the Crown Prince's foster grandson is a supreme grace; perhaps the Young Master will even benefit from this." Lin Fu said with an excited face, also very moved.

Looking at Lin Fu's excited appearance, Shen Shen Yuer was not surprised, because when they were in the Wenyuange hall, if it weren't for the concern for protocol, perhaps Shen Shen Yuer would have been the same. After all, this news was too big, and for their Zhu family, it was also a supreme good thing.

"Uncle Lin."

"His Highness the Crown Prince has already confirmed taking Xi'er in as a foster grandson, and the Emperor has also nodded in agreement."

"And he also said he would bestow a generation name upon Xi'er, the 'Wen' generation. From now on, Xi'er will be called Zhu Zhu Wenxi." Shen Shen Yuer said with a serious face, very earnest and certain.

Regarding this.

The shock on Lin Fu's face did not diminish; an excited smile emerged: "Good, good, too good."

"I didn't expect that entering the palace this time would result in such a great opportunity."

"Being taken in as a foster grandson by the Crown Prince, our Zhu family will be extraordinary from now on."

"However."

"Why would the Crown Prince suddenly take the Young Master in as a foster grandson? Could it be that the Young Master is smart?"

"But there are many smart children in the world; there must be a reason for this."

"Could it be because of the Young Master?"

"Now that the Young Master is already the Marquis of Champions of Great Ming, with illustrious battle merits, the Crown Prince taking the Young Master in as a foster grandson can also make the Young Master have more belonging to the Crown Prince, so he can better serve the Crown Prince in the future."

"Thinking about it this way, perhaps this is the reason."

Thinking of the reason why Zhu Biao took in a foster grandson, Lin Fu thought over and over, and also thought of the reason for Zhu Ying. After all, besides this, he really couldn't think of anything else.

Winning over his own Young Master, besides bestowing grace, this kind of relationship-building was also feasible.

"No."

Shen Shen Yuer shook her head: "Perhaps there is this reason, but the most critical one might not be this."

Although Shen Shen Yuer didn't know too much, today in Wenyuange, Shen Shen Yuer saw many things. The expression of the current Emperor when he saw her son, and the expression of the Crown Prince with tears in his eyes—all of this was seen by her.

This was by no means an ordinary reason.

"It's not because of the Young Master, then why?" Lin Fu was then a bit puzzled.

"Perhaps it is because Xi'er looks like a certain old friend of the Emperor and the Crown Prince in the past. This old friend is someone they find hard to forget. I saw the Crown Prince cry after holding Xi'er today."

"For a dignified Crown Prince to be moved to this extent, one can imagine that he must be missing his old friend, and this old friend must definitely look somewhat similar to Xi'er." Shen Shen Yuer said very certainly.

When they were in the Wenyuange hall.

Shen Shen Yuer clearly saw Zhu Biao's appearance, and that sadness.

This absolutely could not be faked, and before a subject's wife like her, there was even less need.

"The Young Master looks similar to an old friend of the Emperor and the Crown Prince?"

"And can make such noble people so moved?"

Listening to what Shen Shen Yuer said, Lin Fu also wore a thoughtful expression.

But he thought for a long time and couldn't understand.

After all, he had just arrived from the north not long ago, and his status couldn't be considered very high; naturally, he couldn't know the secrets of the Imperial family.

However.

After Lin Fu pondered for a moment.

"Young Lady."

"This old servant feels."

"Perhaps we should investigate a bit, to avoid truly violating the taboos of the Emperor and the Crown Prince in the future." Lin Fu said in a deep voice.

"This matter will trouble you, Uncle Lin, to investigate. Although we have received Imperial grace now, I am truly afraid of affecting my husband."

"It is better to be cautious." Shen Shen Yuer also nodded immediately.

Regarding Lin Fu's suggestion, she naturally would not oppose anything.

"However."

"All in all."

"Today, the Young Master being taken in as a foster grandson by the current Crown Prince is a supreme good thing."

"The Young Master's path will be even smoother in the future."

"It's just that."

"The Crown Prince taking a foster grandson should also have an announcement from the Ministry of Rites, right?"

"After all, this matter is not small." Lin Fu said slowly, his face also carrying anticipation.

"There should be, right?"

"I don't understand these things either."

Shen Shen Yuer nodded, also carrying doubt and confusion.

But coming back to her senses.

Shen Shen Yuer immediately handed over the token brought out from the Imperial Palace: "This is the token bestowed by the Emperor. His old self said that if there is anything in the future, we can directly use this token to enter the Imperial Palace."

Lin Fu took one look, and a smile appeared on his face: "Young Lady, this token must be kept well. Facing the current Emperor directly is an honor that many officials cannot obtain; this token is too important."

"En."

Shen Shen Yuer nodded immediately: "That is for certain. In the future, I will keep this token in the room and keep it safe."

Ministry of Rites!

Lv Ben was currently dealing with many government affairs. Now that the Emperor had already issued a decree, the Ministry of Rites was fully preparing for the special imperial examination. This was something that could affect the entire Great Ming world. Once every three years, the Ministry of Rites naturally became very busy.

Inside the Ministry of Rites' main hall, one could see many officials moving books, as well as finalized discussion documents, categorizing, integrating, and issuing them to local government offices.

Lv Ben, as the Minister of Rites, was currently personally sitting in command here.

"My lord."

"For this special examination, is it still set for the autumn?" A Vice Minister of Rites asked respectfully.

"Naturally."

Lv Ben nodded, his old face carrying deep thought as he said: "The rules set in the past should continue to be used if they don't need to be overturned. Trial and error. This northern expedition has already achieved significant results and obtained quite a bit of territory. This special examination is of great significance; we only wait for the examination to select scholars so they can go to the northern frontier to take up posts and govern a region for Great Ming."

"So it is different from the past; we must seek completeness in stability."

Hearing this!

This Vice Minister nodded immediately: "This subordinate understands."

"Also."

"The special examination is about to begin; we must issue the notices to local government offices as soon as possible, and even to county towns and villages, they must be distributed in place."

"The special examination selects scholars regardless of background, only based on talent."

"This is what the Emperor wants."

"We must not have any mistakes."

"At the same time."

"We must also give the examinees more time to prepare."

"The Emperor is wise and cannot tolerate any sand in his eyes. Let the officials at all levels of the Ministry of Rites be cautious and wait; do not act recklessly." Lv Ben added with a serious face.

This special examination!

Was the home field of the Ministry of Rites.

It was even more related to Lv Ben's merits, so Lv Ben naturally treated it with incomparable caution.

After all.

Whether Lv Ben could continue to be deeply favored by the Emperor in the officialdom and the court was related to his daughter and his grandson.

The higher his status, the higher his daughter's status would be, and the same for his grandson.

"Please rest assured, Minister."

"This subordinate will definitely supervise strictly."

"There will absolutely be no mistakes." The Vice Minister guaranteed immediately.

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

And at this moment!

A eunuch walked slowly into the Ministry of Rites hall.

Upon seeing the person, Lv Ben immediately stood up and said with a smile: "Eunuch Wang, is it that the Emperor has another decree urging the special examination?"

This eunuch was the Chief Eunuch who conveyed Imperial decrees and issued decrees in the Wenyuange attendant hall, named Wang Wang Jinghong. Being able to serve as a close attendant to the Emperor, his status was naturally not low.

"Minister Lv."

"Obeying the decree of the Emperor and the Crown Prince, this Imperial decree is to have the Ministry of Rites draft the regulations as soon as possible and announce them."

Wang Wang Jinghong walked slowly, raised an Imperial decree with both hands, and handed it to Lv Ben.

"May I ask Eunuch Wang, is this Imperial decree not about the special examination?"

Looking at Wang Wang Jinghong's serious appearance, Lv Ben also realized that this Imperial decree was not simple, so he asked tentatively.

Wang Wang Jinghong smiled: "As for what the specific matter is, why doesn't Minister Lv open it and see for yourself?"

Seeing this.

Lv Ben did not hesitate and immediately opened the Imperial decree.

And after opening it.

Lv Ben's eyes widened suddenly.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 189 =====