Chapter 117: Encounter

Hongwu Year Five, late July.

The weather remained scorching, but the hottest period had passed.

In Wu Wang Fu, Xiaohuanhuan was already over two months old, giggling, her eyes black and bright, just like Guanyin Nu.

Zhu Rong took a day off today, cradling his daughter and playing with her in the courtyard.

Guanyin Nu sat under the corridor stitching, occasionally looking up at the father and daughter, her eyes full of tenderness.

"Prince, the carriage is ready," Hu Bo reported as he entered.

"Alright, let's go now. Minmin, let's head to the Eastern Palace; elder brother said there's something," Zhu Rong carefully handed his daughter to the wet nurse and said to Guanyin Nu.

Guanyin Nu set down her needlework, rose, adjusted her clothing and said, "But what business does the Crown Princess have?"

"I don't know; elder brother only said to send us over, and we'll find out once we get there," Zhu Rong said with a simple smile.

The husband and wife, with their daughter, rode the carriage toward the Eastern Palace.

The carriage left Wu Wang Fu and moved slowly along the Street.

Yingtian Fu, after the recent purge, had a market that was a bit quieter than usual, yet still bustling.

Approaching Taiping Bridge, sounds of celebratory music and drums came from ahead.

"Whose wedding is this?" Guanyin Nu lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to look.

Ahead, a wedding procession appeared; the groom rode a white horse, clad in a bright red Wedding Dress, heading this way.

The groom, appearing about twenty, had a pale complexion, dark circles, his body tilted on the horse, looking as if wine and lust had hollowed him out.

"He's Feng An, nephew of General Feng Sheng," Zhu Rong said with a glance.

Guanyin Nu had also heard of him, Feng Sheng's nephew, a notorious playboy who spent his days in brothels and gambling houses, good for nothing in both literature and martial arts, with a terrible reputation.

"I don't even know which family's daughter is marrying such a man..." Guanyin Nu sighed.

Zhu Rong said nothing; he vaguely guessed.

The wedding procession drew nearer; the Eight-Person Palanquin followed the white horse, its curtains tightly shut.

At that moment, a gust of wind blew.

A corner of the palanquin's red curtain was blown open, and the Red Cap was lifted by the wind, revealing the bride's face.

A delicate face, streaked with tears and swollen eyes, was that of Lu Chan.

She seemed to notice the curtain opening, hurriedly lowered her head, but that moment of sorrow was seen clearly by Zhu Rong and Guanyin Nu.

"She's Lu Ben's daughter, Lu Chan..." Guanyin Nu whispered.

Zhu Rong nodded and lowered the carriage curtain.

The carriage stopped by the roadside, letting the wedding procession pass first.

The sounds of drums and gongs faded, and Zhu Rong said to the driver, "Let's go."

The carriage continued onward, a brief silence inside.

Guanyin Nu whispered, "Lu Chan is also pitiful, marrying such a husband..."

"She isn't pitiful; if she enters the Eastern Palace, the pitiable ones will be the elder sister-in-law and Xiong Ying," Zhu Rong said, shaking his head.

Guanyin Nu was startled, then understood.

If the Lu Clan truly became the Prince's Side Concubine, with her scheming and the Lu family's calculations, the Crown Princess Chang Wan and imperial grandson Zhu Xiongying would likely meet a bad end.

"Prince is right; I was being naive," Guanyin Nu whispered.

Zhu Rong grasped her hand and said, "Minmin, you don't know, some people appear pitiful but have black hearts; elder brother does this to protect the family."

Guanyin Nu nodded and leaned on his shoulder.

The carriage arrived at the Eastern Palace.

Zhu Biao was already waiting at the entrance; seeing them alight, he laughed, "Second brother, sister-in-law, you're here; Huan Huan has grown a bit more."

He took Xiaohuanhuan from the wet nurse's arms and teased, "Call me Uncle."

Xiaohuanhuan giggled, her little hand clutching Zhu Biao's finger.

"Elder brother, what brings us here?" Zhu Rong asked.

"We'll discuss inside," Zhu Biao said, carrying the child inward.

Entering the Eastern Palace's main hall, Crown Princess Chang Wan was also present.

She took Xiaohuanhuan, delighted beyond measure, and said with a beaming smile, "This child is truly handsome, like a sister-in-law."

"Elder sister-in-law has another?" Guanyin Nu exclaimed upon seeing Crown Princess Chang Wan's slightly rounded belly, delighted.

Chang Wan's face flushed red, and she nodded, "Just two months old."

Zhu Biao laughed, "Xiong Ying will have a younger brother or sister now."

The few took their seats, and palace maids served tea and snacks.

Zhu Biao then brought up the main matter, "Second brother, regarding the recent pacification, the Imperial Father said rewards should be granted; I've drafted a list, take a look."

He pulled a memorandum from his sleeve.

Zhu Rong took it, saying simply, "Elder brother, just handle it; I don't understand these things."

"You are the Longxiang Army Commander; you should understand," Zhu Biao insisted he read it.

Zhu Rong had no choice but to open it.

It listed the names and rewards of meritorious officers from the pacification—Zhang Wu, Chen Heng, Wang Gui and others were included, and the rewards were quite reasonable.

"All good, elder brother arranged well," Zhu Rong closed the memorandum.

Zhu Biao took it back and added, "There's another matter; Lu Chan got married today, you saw that, right?"

"Yes, I ran into her on the road," Zhu Rong nodded.

"Feng An is no good match, but the Lu family wants to attach themselves to the Eastern Palace, to enter it; they were suitable, so Imperial Father granted this marriage, and we need not say more," Zhu Biao said calmly.

"Lu Chan marrying Feng An is truly wonderful; that day, her father's demeanor in court was so... I still get angry when I think of it," Crown Princess Chang Wan interjected.

Zhu Biao patted her hand and said, "It's all over."

He looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Second brother, I called you here mainly to discuss the capital relocation."

"Capital relocation?" Zhu Yong was startled.

"Yes, Imperial Father mentioned it again a few days ago, saying that the palace city in Fengyang can now start construction. Though it's slow, we should begin building. I think that once the north is completely pacified, the capital relocation should be put on the schedule."

"I, the elder brother, have also urged, but because you, second brother, brought back Gold and Silver from Northern Yuan, along with the profits from salt and sugar, Imperial Father has firmly decided to start building the imperial palace in Fengyang."

Zhu Yong scratched his head; he also didn't know what to do, and finally could only ask, "How long will that take?"

"If fast, three to five years; if slow, seven to eight years. Although Northern Yuan has been destroyed, the Mongol tribes have not fully submitted, and the Nüzhen of Liaodong, as well as Goryeo, still need to be dealt with!" Zhu Biao sighed.

"Father has been at war for so long; he must be wanting to enjoy himself!" Zhu Yong chuckled.

"He's still enjoying himself! Lately Father has indeed been enjoying himself, scrambling every day to hug Xiong Ying, tease Xiong Ying, and those Memorandums have all been sent to the elder brother here."

Zhu Biao began venting about Zhu Yuanzhang to his closest younger brother.

"Elder brother, telling me won't help! I can't help you handle the Memorandums either," Zhu Yong said, scratching his head.

"Elder brother is only venting to you, not meaning for you to handle the Memorandums. By the way, later we'll eat in the Eastern Palace; your sister-in-law has already sent someone to prepare the dishes," Zhu Biao said with a laugh.

"Oh, oh! What meat..."

Upon hearing that, Zhu Yong's eyes instantly lit up as he said.