Chapter 198: Each Generation Stronger Than the Last

The ninth year of Hongwu, the tenth day of the eighth month.

Yingtian Prefecture had several consecutive rains, and the heat had largely subsided.

In the rear courtyard of Wu Wang Fu, the osmanthus blossoms were in bloom, golden and bright covering the branches, and their fragrance drifted throughout the courtyard.

Zhu Yong sat under the corridor, with a large wooden basin in front of him, piled with freshly picked osmanthus.

He was clumsily spreading the osmanthus into a sieve, intending to dry them to make osmanthus cake for Guanyin Nu.

"Dad, you did it wrong."

Four‑year‑old Zhu Huanhuan squatted beside him, her chubby little hand pointing at the sieve, and said, "Mother said the osmanthus should be spread thinly; piled like this it will spoil."

Zhu Yong lowered his head to look at what he had spread; indeed it was as thick as a layer of quilt.

"Then how should I spread it?" he asked innocently.

Zhu Huanhuan sighed, her expression exactly like Guanyin Nu's, and, like a little adult, said, "Dad, you stand up, I'll do it."

Zhu Yong honestly stepped aside and squatted to the side, watching his daughter busily.

Zhu Huanhuan's small hands were nimble; she lifted the osmanthus and gently shook them apart, laying them layer by layer evenly and thinly, looking far better than Zhu Yong's work.

"Huan Huan is really impressive," Zhu Yong praised.

"That's because Mother taught me," Zhu Huanhuan said without turning her head.

Guanyin Nu, her belly five months pregnant, walked out of the house, saw the father and daughter squatting under the corridor handling osmanthus, and couldn't help laughing.

"Prince, you let her do it alone while you just watch?"

Zhu Yong chuckled, "I can't; the more I try the messier it gets. Huan Huan can, you let her."

Guanyin Nu shook her head and sat down beside them.

Xiao Zhu brought over sour plum soup and poured a bowl for her.

"Prince, someone from the Eastern Palace came to say that Crown Prince will come over for dinner tonight," Xiao Zhu said.

"Big brother is coming, good, have the kitchen prepare extra dishes," Zhu Yong said.

As soon as the words finished, a burst of laughter came from the courtyard gate.

"Second Uncle! Second Uncle!"

Zhu Xiongying trotted in on his short little legs, followed by Zhu Biao and Chang Wan.

Zhu Xiongying, now four and a half years old, ran like the wind and plunged straight into Zhu Yong's arms.

"Second Uncle, I brought something for you!" he pulled a paper parcel from his arms and handed it over like a treasured offering.

Zhu Yong opened it and saw a piece of osmanthus cake, already flattened and stained with oil from the paper wrapper.

"Mother gave this to me this morning; I couldn't bear to eat it, so I'm giving it to Second Uncle," Zhu Xiongying said, looking up with his little face, waiting for praise.

Zhu Yong chuckled, scooped him up and said, "Xiong Ying, you're really good; Second Uncle happens to be hungry."

He ate the flattened osmanthus cake in three or two bites, not minding the paper sticking to it.

Zhu Biao walked over, looked at the courtyard full of osmanthus, and laughed, "Second brother, are you opening an osmanthus shop?"

"I wanted to make osmanthus cake for Guanyin Nu; if it goes wrong, Huan Huan will handle it," Zhu Yong said honestly.

Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Huanhuan squatting by the sieve; the little girl was concentrating on spreading the osmanthus, not even lifting her head.

"Huan Huan is stronger than you," Zhu Biao patted his younger brother's shoulder.

"Hmm, I know."

Chang Wan walked over to Guanyin Nu's side and sat down; the two women whispered, glancing here now and then, laughing together.

Zhu Xiongying wriggled out of Zhu Yong's arms and ran to find Zhu Huanhuan.

"Huan Huan sister, I'll help you."

"Can you?"

"I can, I've seen the palace maids do it!"

The two children squatted together handling the osmanthus, chattering nonstop.

Zhu Yong and Zhu Biao sat under the corridor, watching the scene.

"Peaceful days are truly wonderful," Zhu Yong suddenly said.

Zhu Biao nodded, "Indeed, after these years of eastern campaigns and western expeditions, we can finally rest."

He paused, then added, "Second brother, I heard you've been going to Longxiang Army every day lately?"

"Hmm, training soldiers; those kids have become lazy, need some training," Zhu Yong said.

"How's the training going?"

"It's okay; Zhang Wu and Chen Heng can lead the troops now, so I don't have to watch them every day. I just go to check and stretch my muscles,"

Zhu Biao laughed, "Your pair of hammers, even a slight move is over a thousand jin, who could endure that?"

Zhu Yong scratched his head and chuckled.

In the evening, the kitchen set out a table of dishes.

Zhu Biao's family and Zhu Yong's family sat together around the table, eating like an ordinary household.

Zhu Xiongying and Zhu Huanhuan sat together, the two little ones scrambling for the osmanthus cake.

"This is mine!"

"I made it!"

"I brought it!"

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong exchanged a glance, and let them make a fuss.

Chang Wan picked vegetables for Guanyin Nu and asked softly, "Have these past few months been peaceful?"

"Very well, this child is more obedient than Huan Huan was back then, not causing much trouble," Guanyin Nu patted her belly.

"Then that's good; if anything comes up, send someone to the Eastern Palace to inform us."

Thank you, sister‑in‑law.

We ate until nightfall before dispersing.

When Zhu Biao was about to leave, he pulled Zhu Yong aside: "Second Prince, lately keep an eye on the Longxiang Army side; the Flintlock Guns in the armory, a new batch sent by the Ministry of Works, you inventory them, don't let anything go wrong."

Elder brother, rest assured, I'll go tomorrow.

Zhu Biao nodded and boarded the carriage with his wife and children.

Zhu Yong stood at the mansion gate, watching the carriage disappear into the night.

Guanyin Nu came over and said softly, "Prince, has the Crown Prince left?"

"Hmm, he's gone." Zhu Yong turned, steadied her, "Let's go back inside; it's cool outside."

"Alright."

……

The fifteenth of the eighth month, Mid‑Autumn Festival.

A Family Banquet was set up in the palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma sat at the Main Seat, with, in order below them, the Crown Prince's family, Prince Wu's family, and the various imperial princes and princesses.

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang sat together, both summoned back from their fiefs by Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma.

The two muttered something incomprehensible, but after Zhu Yuanzhang glared at them, they fell silent at once.

Zhu Di, also returned from Beiping, sat to Zhu Yong's left, occasionally glancing at the Second Prince, his eyes full of admiration.

Zhu Su sat beside Zhu Di, his thoughts unknown, probably again pondering matters of herbs.

Zhu Yuanzhang lifted his wine cup and laughed, "It's Mid‑Autumn today; let the family gather, no restraints, eat well and drink well."

Everyone raised their cups.

The banquet began, with song and dance for entertainment.

Zhu Xiongying and Zhu Huanhuan huddled together again, the two little ones perched at the table edge, secretly sharing a piece of mooncake.

Chang Wan and Guanyin Nu sat together, speaking in low voices.

Empress Ma watched the scene, her face full of smiles.

"Girl, look at those little ones," Zhu Yuanzhang nudged her.

Empress Ma followed his gaze; Zhu Xiongying was handing a mooncake to Zhu Huanhuan, who broke it in half and gave it back to him.

"Just like Biao'er and Yong Er, they're close," Empress Ma said softly.

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "Our two sons, each stronger than the last; this life has been worth it, and in the future! Grandsons will also surpass us; Great Ming will stand atop the world."

Empress Ma clasped his hand.

When the banquet dispersed, it was already Hai Hour.

Zhu Yong supported Guanyin Nu as they slowly walked out, Zhu Huanhuan perched on Zhu Yong's shoulder and fell asleep.

Zhu Biao held Zhu Xiongying and stayed beside him, while Chang Wan held Zhu Wenwen's hand.

"Second Prince, take care on the road," Zhu Biao said.

"Hmm, elder brother as well." Zhu Yong nodded in reply.

The two brothers parted at the palace gate, each returning to their own residence.

The moon was large and round, bathing Yingtian Fu in silver‑white light.