Chapter 202

And Zhu Wenxi, hearing Zhu Biao's beckoning, felt no fear at all; he ran over quickly and sat directly on Zhu Biao's lap.

This intimacy, this favor.

Made hatred surge in the hearts of both Lady Lv and Zhu Yunwen when they saw it.

For them.

This kind of honor was something they had never received; although they were Zhu Biao's sons, among so many sons, only the late Zhu Xiongying had ever received such honor.

Ever since Zhu Xiongying died, Zhu Biao had never been close to any of his offspring. Everyone originally thought Zhu Biao was overcome with grief, but now it seemed that, in reality, Zhu Biao no longer had the heart he once had for his sons.

"Crown Prince."

"Yunwen is also your son; why can't you treat him like this?"

"Could it be that only that dead base-born brat could make you give your true heart?"

Lady Lv was all smiles on the surface, but in her heart, unwillingness and dissatisfaction surged.

This kind of thing.

She longed immensely for it to fall upon her own son.

But this time, it seemed to be an extravagant hope.

"Yuer."

"Today is our imperial family's banquet; don't be too constrained."

"It is also a good opportunity to get to know many of the members of our imperial clan," Zhu Biao said to Shen Yuer with a smile.

"Yes."

Shen Yuer nodded with a smile.

Although he said there was no need to be constrained.

But in this situation, it would be strange not to be constrained.

If it weren't for Zhu Biao's personal summons, making it impossible not to come, Shen Yuer really would not want to attend such an occasion.

Time gradually passed.

Soon.

More and more imperial princes and princesses arrived, all bowing respectfully to Zhu Yuanzhang.

But everyone was extremely constrained.

Even more so than Shen Yuer.

One could imagine that within this imperial palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was naturally awe-inspiring; not everyone could gain his closeness, even his own children.

This family banquet came quickly and ended just as quickly.

However.

Shen Yuer and her son naturally left an impression on many imperial princes and princesses; after all, she sat beside Zhu Biao, which was a symbol of status, higher than Lady Lv's status, and Zhu Wenxi even sat on Zhu Biao's lap, which naturally attracted even more attention.

Following the end of the imperial family banquet.

Shen Yuer and her son returned to their residence.

Inside the Wenyuan Pavilion hall.

Once again, only Zhu Yuanzhang and his son remained.

"Biao'er."

"Nowadays, this imperial family banquet is becoming less and less interesting," Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, appearing very disappointed.

The family banquet he looked forward to in his heart was one that was unconstrained and completely relaxed, but the current banquet was not like that at all.

Every prince and princess was full of constraint, full of respect for Zhu Yuanzhang, and even fear.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not show anything on the surface regarding this feeling, but in reality, he felt a sense of emptiness in his heart.

After all, the older a person gets, the more they crave that kind of family affection.

"Father, your majesty is like the heavens; how could the younger brothers and sisters not be respectful?"

"After all, our family is the imperial clan, not commoners."

Zhu Biao said with a smile, naturally seeing things very clearly.

In the entire Great Ming Empire, the only ones Zhu Yuanzhang could treat with sincerity were Zhu Biao, and even the late Empress Ma and Zhu Xiongying; apart from them, there was no one else.

"That may be so."

"But the older We get, the more chaotic Our heart becomes," Zhu Yuanzhang sighed.

"Father."

"You can live for a hundred years; you cannot say you are old," Zhu Biao immediately said with a glare.

At this moment!

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to come to his senses, looked at Zhu Biao, and then said earnestly: "Have you not paid close attention to Yun Tong all these years?"

"The internal affairs of the Donggong have always been managed by Lady Lv, and many of Yun Tong's affairs are also handled by her; however, the education and tutors for an imperial descendant are things I have personally inquired about," Zhu Biao replied immediately.

"You."

Hearing Zhu Biao's words, Zhu Yuanzhang also shook his head helplessly: "We know that back then, Our daughter-in-law died in difficult labor because of Yun Tong's birth, and you have always harbored resentment toward him in your heart, even ignoring him; this will not do."

"Father."

"I have never been able to get past that hurdle."

"Seeing him, I think of Sister Chang, and I think of Sister Chang dying in my arms," Zhu Biao said with a bitter expression.

Perhaps.

He really could not get past this hurdle.

"When We asked Yun Tong if he was doing well, that Lady Lv seemed to be threatening Yun Tong."

"This woman, she seems not so simple," Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly.

Sitting in this main seat, everything in the hall was seen by Zhu Yuanzhang; Lady Lv's deliberate action earlier was naturally child's play before Zhu Yuanzhang.

"I saw it just now, too."

"However, I have seen her treating Yun Tong quite well all along; there should be no need to deliberately target Yun Tong, right?" Zhu Biao asked with some seriousness.

"We have said, We do not interfere with anything in the Donggong."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is also not in the Donggong, so We do not know the situation in the Donggong."

"You had best go and investigate it yourself," Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly.

Within the Great Ming world, if one were to say the Embroidered Uniform Guard was all-pervasive, only the Donggong was without them; after all, in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, his son was to take over the Great Ming empire in the future. The Embroidered Uniform Guard could monitor everyone in the world, but they would never monitor Zhu Biao.

"I will investigate this matter," Zhu Biao nodded, also becoming serious.

"Also, the Donggong currently has no primary consort; We also know you have always been thinking of the Chang clan and have not appointed another primary consort."

"We still insist on appointing the legitimate and the eldest."

"If you want to cultivate Yun Tong, you must do it early; if you do not want to."

"For Us, it would be better if you appointed a primary consort early and gave birth to another legitimate son."

"Although you are still young, since ancient times, imperial power has often hinged on the successor, so We still hope you will treat this as a priority," Zhu Yuanzhang said earnestly.

Clearly.

In the eyes of the current Zhu Yuanzhang, he did not value Lady Lv or the Zhu Yunwen she gave birth to very much.

After all, Zhu Biao was still young and strong; he only considered Zhu Biao as the successor and did not consider anything after Zhu Biao at all.

This matter.

Zhu Yuanzhang clearly would not make the decision.

"This matter."

"I will consider it," Zhu Biao thought for a moment and nodded.

"As for Lady Lv, all in all, how do you view her?" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asked.

"To be honest."

"Lady Lv is very pleasing to me, and she has always managed the Donggong in an orderly fashion."

"But Father, you once established the ancestral teachings: a wife is a wife, and a concubine is a concubine."

"If I were to elevate her to the position of primary wife, this would set a bad precedent for the brothers who have been enfeoffed; the precedent of favoring a concubine over a wife would be set. Although Sister Chang has passed, she is still the primary wife."

"Moreover, if I were to truly elevate her, it might also cause much discussion and instability in the imperial court," Zhu Biao said with some deliberation.

Upon hearing this!

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled in agreement: "It is good that you can understand this point."

"There is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate; you must never go too far."

"As for Lady Lv, you can favor her, but you must not let her have thoughts she should not have."

"Although that child Yunwen looks smarter than Yun Tong, as far as We can see, Our descendants will not be so incompetent."

"You can find the deeper meaning yourself."

"We will not interfere with you."

"Anyway, you are still young," Zhu Yuanzhang said earnestly.

Although he did not state it explicitly.

The implication Zhu Yuanzhang conveyed was very clear.

Regarding Zhu Yuntong, let Zhu Biao teach him personally; if he is truly unfit for use, then let Zhu Biao choose another primary consort to enter the Donggong, and one day give birth to a legitimate son who can be cultivated as a successor. Anyway, Zhu Biao is still young and can completely continue to have children.

Zhu Biao nodded: "I have noted everything Father said."

"Enough."

"It is already night; you should go back and rest first," Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile.

"Father."

"Today is a family reunion banquet; do not overwork yourself. I am here for everything," Zhu Biao also said to Zhu Yuanzhang with great concern.

Hearing this concern.

Zhu Yuanzhang's old face was filled with gratification; the father-son affection was fully expressed.

"You just take good care of your own health; Our health is very good," Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile.

"I take my leave."

Zhu Biao nodded with a smile and turned to leave the Donggong.

Following this.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne, wearing a look of contemplation.

"Xiongying."

"Yun Tong."

Zhu Yuanzhang muttered to himself, his eyes revealing an indescribable look of remembrance.

It was long difficult to calm down.

However.

Thinking of Lady Lv's actions in the Wenyuan Pavilion hall today.

Zhu Yuanzhang's brow furrowed slightly again.

"And that Lady Lv."

"Biao'er's favor for her has made her covet a position that does not belong to her son."

"I hope Biao'er can handle this matter properly."

"The distinction between legitimate and illegitimate cannot change."

"The ancestral teachings We established cannot be destroyed," Zhu Yuanzhang thought to himself again.

Clearly.

At this point in time, Zhu Yuanzhang did not value Zhu Yunwen too much, nor did he truly focus on cultivating him. In his heart, Zhu Yuntong was the first to be cultivated; after all, he was the legitimate son. If Zhu Yuntong were truly incompetent, Zhu Yuanzhang still hoped in his heart that Zhu Biao could marry another primary consort and give birth to a legitimate son.

After all, elevating a concubine to the position of primary wife.

This did not conform to the rules.

However.

In history.

Zhu Yuanzhang had to consider Zhu Biao's successor, because Zhu Biao died before him, and perhaps after many examinations, Zhu Yuntong was indeed unfit for use, which is why Zhu Yuanzhang set his mind on Zhu Yunwen, cultivating him personally, and even personally issuing an edict to elevate Lady Lv's status.

Violating the ancestral teachings and rules he had set himself.

Clearly.

In Zhu Yuanzhang's heart, he ultimately did not want to pass the position to his other sons; even if it meant skipping a generation, he wanted to pass the position to Zhu Biao's son.

Such father-son affection, one can imagine.

Inside the Donggong!

"What did you say?"

"There is actually someone in this world who looks so similar?"

"Looks exactly like Zhu Xiongying?"

In Lady Lv's inner palace, Lv Ben's old face was filled with shock; clearly, he was startled by Lady Lv's words.

"Father."

"How would your daughter dare to speak recklessly about such matters?"

"If I hadn't seen that base-born brat buried with my own eyes back then, I would have really thought he had returned."

"There is actually someone in this world who looks so similar."

"Exactly the same appearance, and he looks just as hateful."

"This is actually the son of that Champion Marquis," Lady Lv said with a twisted expression; one can imagine how great her hatred for Zhu Xiongying was.

"Zhu Xiongying is already dead; he was buried in the Xiao Mausoleum under the gaze of countless people; this cannot be fake."

"And the smallpox back then could not be cured."

"He is dead through and through."

"As for this similarity in appearance, it is actually just a coincidence."

"After all."

"The world is vast and full of wonders; there are not a few people who look exactly the same."

"So you don't need to worry about anything."

Lv Ben said in a deep voice, comforting his daughter.

"Although your daughter knows this is the case."

"But looking at that face, I wish I could tear him to pieces," Lady Lv said through gritted teeth.

"Do not think recklessly."

"In the future, what we must do is prioritize Yunwen, and prioritize your status."

"Everything else is irrelevant."

"That Champion Marquis, although he has not returned to Ying Tian, his prestige has already resounded throughout the world; the name of the Champion Marquis is known to all."

"As long as we can successfully win him over, there is nothing to fear from Huaixi."

"So we must focus our efforts here," Lv Ben reminded her again.

"Your daughter naturally understands."

Lady Lv nodded, but then a look of worry appeared on her pretty face: "Today, your daughter tried to converse with the Champion Marquis's wife and even said that Yunwen had long admired the Champion Marquis and wanted to learn martial arts from him, but after saying this, the Emperor and the Crown Prince immediately rebuked me."

"Father... did I do something wrong?"

Just as Lady Lv said these words.

Lv Ben's expression changed suddenly.

"Foolish, you are foolish."

Lv Ben's old face turned red with anxiety; clearly, he was completely alarmed by what Lady Lv had done.

"Father, did I... did I really do something wrong?"

Seeing Lv Ben like this, Lady Lv felt a bit panicked in her heart, and the expression on her face became uneasy.

"The Emperor hates nothing more than imperial princes and grandsons forming cliques for private gain."

"He hates even more for court officials to form factions."

"Huaixi is an example."

"Although Huaixi is still being heavily relied upon, their unity makes the Emperor wary and worried."

"That is why the Champion Marquis appeared, to suppress Huaixi and ensure that the military nobles of our Great Ming are not just from Huaixi."

"You actually invited the Champion Marquis to teach Yunwen martial arts directly in front of the Emperor and the Crown Prince; this is expressing an intention to win over the Champion Marquis, intending to compete for something."

"Daughter."

"You were truly too foolish this time."

"What kind of person is the Emperor?"

"He is the eternal emperor who created the Great Ming from nothing, from a humble beginning."

"What matter, what thought could possibly be hidden from him?"

"You have truly made a blunder this time."

Lv Ben said with a flushed face, and there was an indescribable look of fear.

Having been in the imperial court for so many years, he knew that Emperor too well.

Cold and ruthless.

Absolute control over imperial power.

Except for Crown Prince Zhu Biao, everyone else is an outsider.

(End of chapter)