Chapter 179: Returning to the Village Again

Shi Laosan's grave is on the hillside behind the village, still as simple as before.

Empress Ma stood before the grave and performed the solemn bow once more.

Zhu Biao hurried forward as well, then bowed respectfully.

Zhu Yong knelt before the grave, kowtowed three times and said, "Father, I've come to see you again; this time I didn't bring Mother, and my elder brother also came to see you."

Guanyin Nu, holding Zhu Huanhuan, knelt and said, "Father, the daughter‑in‑law with her granddaughter has come to see you again."

Zhu Huanhuan stared blankly at the tombstone, her voice childish, "Grandpa."

Empress Ma said to Zhu Biao, "Biao‑er, Shi Laosan was grateful for raising Yong Er; this grave is too simple and should be repaired. Last time it was Mother's oversight."

Zhu Biao nodded, "Your son has already arranged it; tomorrow we'll have people repair the grave, erect a stone tablet, and build a memorial hall."

As expected of Crown Prince Zhu Biao, his considerations were orderly; he had probably inquired before leaving.

"Very well…"

Empress Ma then nodded.

After the rites were finished, the party returned to the village.

Empress Ma instructed Chen Heng to distribute the gifts he brought to the villagers—cloth, grain, and salt‑sugar.

The villagers expressed boundless gratitude.

At noon they ate a meal at the old village chief's house.

The dishes were simple, but they were the villagers' heartfelt offerings.

After the meal, Empress Ma said to Zhu Biao, "Biao‑er, we're thinking—Fengyang Village is where Yong Er grew up, and also Shi Laosan's hometown.

When you return, inform the Ministry of Works, allocate some silver to repair the village roads, clear the irrigation channels, and build a school so the children can study."

Zhu Biao replied, "Your son has noted it."

The old village chief, upon hearing this, was so moved he tried to kneel again, but Empress Ma steadied him.

"Elder, this is proper; you raised Yong Er, and the Zhu Family cannot forget the kindness," Empress Ma said gently.

They stayed in the village until afternoon, then the party prepared to return to the city.

When they were about to leave, the whole village came out to see them off.

Zhu Yong looked at the familiar village and familiar villagers, feeling warmth in his heart.

It is the place where he grew up, his roots.

Back at the palace, night had already fallen.

Zhu Biao summoned Chen Heng and ordered, "Shi Laosan's tomb must be properly repaired; the tablet should be made of blue stone, the memorial hall three rooms, allocate fifty mu of sacrificial fields, and appoint two households to guard it for generations of rites."

"Yes, Prince," Chen Heng replied.

Zhu Yong listened nearby, moved in his heart.

The elder brother is always so considerate in his actions.

On the tenth day of the fourth month, Shi Laosan's tomb began construction.

Zhu Biao personally supervised the work, and Zhu Yong often helped at the site.

The villagers voluntarily came to help, and the site was bustling with activity.

Empress Ma and Guanyin Nu, with Zhu Huanhuan, toured Fengyang City.

They visited the families of the laborers killed by Zhou Dexing, delivered condolence silver, and comforted the relatives.

They also went to the city's orphanage, visited the orphans, and donated five hundred taels of silver.

The people of Fengyang were grateful to Empress Ma, all saying she was a living bodhisattva.

On the fifteenth day of the fourth month, Shi Laosan's tomb was completed.

A blue‑stone tablet, three memorial rooms, fifty mu of sacrificial fields, and two households as tomb guardians.

The tombstone bore the inscription 'Great Ming Wu King's righteous father Shi Gong Lao San's Tomb', signed 'Devoted son Zhu Yong respectfully erected'.

Zhu Biao also invited monks and Taoist priests, performed three days of rites to transcend the departed spirits.

After everything was settled, on April 18, the party prepared to return to the capital.

Before departing, Empress Ma called the old village chief and gave him a silver note.

"Elder, this thousand taels of silver is for the village—to repair roads, fix canals, build a school; the remainder will be distributed to the villagers to improve their lives."

The old village chief, trembling, took the silver note and, with tears streaming, said, "Your Majesty's great kindness, I, a humble subject, thank you on behalf of the whole village!"

Empress Ma smiled, "It is you who should thank us for raising Yong Er."

She then said to Zhu Yong, "Yong Er, from now on you must often return to pay respects to your father and see the villagers."

"I know, Mother," Zhu Yong nodded.

The carriage left Fengyang City, heading toward Yingtian.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong rode horses alongside the carriage.

"Elder brother, will Father be angry about the Fengyang matter this time?" Zhu Yong asked.

"He'll certainly be angry, but more so he'll be fearful; Zhou Dexing is his fellow townsman, a person he trusted, yet he did such a thing and even colluded with the White Lotus Sect to assassinate Mother." Zhu Biao said.

"Father is probably now thinking how many such people remain in the court."

"Then what do we do?"

"Investigate. The Brocade Guard was established precisely to investigate such matters; from now on, there will be dedicated officials to look into these cases. But second brother, rest assured, after this incident the Zhu Family will be even more cautious and there will be no next time," Zhu Biao said calmly.

Zhu Yong nodded.

The two brothers walked silently for a while.

Zhu Biao suddenly said, "Second brother, sometimes I'm quite envious of you."

"Envy what about me?" Zhu Yong asked, puzzled.

"I envy that you live simply—if you like something, you like it; if you don't, you don't. You don't have to be like me, calculating this and that all day," Zhu Biao sighed.

Zhu Yong said naively, "Big brother is the Crown Prince, he must handle state affairs; I am a Prince, I only fight wars, each to his own duty."

Zhu Biao laughed, "Well said, each fulfills his duty."

He looked toward the distance, his gaze firm.

He is the Crown Prince, the heir of Great Ming, to protect the country and his family.

The second brother is the Wu King, Great Ming's sharpest blade, to expand territories and clear obstacles for him.

Brothers united in heart, their strength can cut through metal.

The convoy traveled for two days and returned to Yingtian.

Zhu Yuanzhang personally met them at the city gate.

Seeing Empress Ma and the sons return safely, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Girl, are you alright!" he asked, holding Empress Ma's hand.

"Nothing's wrong; with Yong Er here, what could happen." Empress Ma laughed.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Yong, patted his shoulder and said, "Good son, this time we owe it to you."

Zhu Yong chuckled, "Father, it was my duty."

Back at the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang listened to Zhu Biao's detailed report.

When he heard that Zhou Dexing colluded with the White Lotus Sect to assassinate Empress Ma, he erupted in fury and smashed his tea cup on the spot.

"Scoundrel! We have not been harsh to him, yet he dares this!" Although it was not the first time he knew, hearing the detailed report still made Zhu Yuanzhang extremely angry.

Zhu Biao urged, "Father, calm down; the person is already dead, the matter is settled."

Zhu Yuanzhang gasped heavily, and only after a while did he calm down.

He looked at Zhu Biao and said, "Biao, you handled it well; the Fengyang affair ends here, and matters of Xindu need not be mentioned further."

"Yes, Father." Zhu Biao replied.

Zhu Yuanzhang again looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Yong Er, you have achieved great merit; what reward do you desire?"

Zhu Yong scratched his head, "Father, I don't want much, just… just that I may spend more time with Huan Huan in the future."

Zhu Yuanzhang was startled, then laughed loudly, "Fine! Granted! When there are no more wars, you may stay in Yingtian and keep your daughter company."

"Thank you, Father!" Zhu Yong said happily.

That evening, the palace held a banquet to welcome Empress Ma and her party back.

Chang Yuchun, Xu Da, Lan Yu and other generals all arrived.

During the banquet, Chang Yuchun patted Zhu Yong's shoulder and said, "Well done, youngster; smashing that White Lotus Sect branch was splendid, just to show them the Prince's might!"

Lan Yu also said, "Those heretical cult monsters should all be slaughtered!"

Xu Da, more composed, said, "The Wu King this time not only quelled the rebellion but also pacified the people; his work was thorough."

Zhu Yong laughed naively while drinking.

After the banquet dispersed, Zhu Yong and Guanyin Nu returned to Wu Wang Fu.

Zhu Huanhuan was already asleep, carried by the wet nurse to the room.

Outside the window, moonlight was like water.

The spring of the eighth year of Hongwu passed just like that.

The Fengyang turmoil has settled, but Great Ming's campaign has only just begun.