Chapter 237: Silence Within

……

April 20, afternoon.

Yingtian Prefecture, Longjiang Dock.

The dock was already packed with people.

At the front stood Zhu Biao, wearing a moon‑white ordinary robe, with a smile on his face.

Behind him were Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, Zhu Di, Zhu Su and several other younger brothers, each craning their necks to look at the river.

Further back were the Civil and Military Officials, arranged by rank.

The outermost were the common folk who came on their own, a sea of people.

"Why hasn't it arrived yet?" Zhu Shuang muttered.

"Why the hurry? Second brother said it would arrive today, so it will definitely arrive," Zhu Biao said.

Zhu Gang said, "Eldest brother, how many battles have Second Prince fought in the past six months?"

Zhu Biao thought for a moment and said, "The battle reports say: at Manzhe Bo Yi there was one battle, second brother single‑handedly hammered down over three hundred men; at Java there was one battle, a single man hammered down over five hundred men.

Siam one battle, a single man hammered down…"

"Enough, enough, stop counting. Anyway, Second Prince is Second Prince; wherever he goes he's invincible," Zhu Di interrupted.

Zhu Su whispered, "Fifth brother, do you think Second Prince will bring us gifts?"

Zhu Di glared at him, "All you think about are gifts. Second Prince's return is the best gift."

Just then, on the distant river, the outlines of several large ships appeared.

Smoke stacks billowed black smoke, the sails filled with wind, and they broke the waves.

"Here they come!" Zhu Gang jumped up.

The dock instantly boiled with activity.

The commoners cheered joyfully, waving their colorful flags.

The officials tidied their attire, preparing to pay their respects.

Zhu Biao took a few steps forward and stood at the very front of the dock.

The steamboat slowly approached and lowered its launch.

A tall figure stepped down from the ship.

Zhu Yong wore a plain blue long robe, without armor, and carried no hammer.

He walked steadily, step by step, onto the dock's stone slabs.

Zhu Biao hurried forward to meet him.

The two brothers faced each other and stood still.

"Eldest brother." Zhu Yong gave a simple smile.

Zhu Biao's eyes reddened slightly, and he hugged him, saying, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, Zhu Di, Zhu Su and the others also gathered around, chattering.

"Second Prince, you're finally back!"

"Second Prince, was South Sea fun?"

"Second Prince, how many battles have you fought?"

"Second Prince, any gifts?"

"...."

Zhu Yong patted each of them on the shoulder in turn, saying simply, "Yes, all of them, I'll give them to you later."

Zhu Biao released him, surveyed him from head to toe, and said, "You've become thinner, even darker; Mother would feel sorry seeing this."

"It's fine, my skin's thick," Zhu Yong said happily.

The two brothers walked side by side forward, with several younger brothers following behind.

The officials knelt and performed the salute, saying, "Respectfully welcome Prince Wu's triumphant return!"

Zhu Yong waved his hand and said, "Everyone, stand up! Thank you all for your hard work."

The crowd's cheers rose wave after wave.

"Prince Wu is mighty!"

"Great Ming, ten thousand victories!"

"Prince Wu, may you live ten thousand years!"

Zhu Yong waved at them and smiled simply.

That smile was exactly the same as when he first emerged from the Fengyang mountain village six years ago.

……

Shen Hour, Kunning Palace.

Empress Ma stood at the palace gate, looking up expectantly.

Guanyin Nu stood beside her, holding six‑year‑old Huanhuan in her hand.

Huanhuan wore a pink little jacket, with two small braids, eyes sparkling.

Two‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old Zhu Qiong Jiong was held by the wet nurse, looking around curiously.

"Here she comes!" the palace maid shouted excitedly.

In the distance, Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong walked side by side, with several princes following behind.

Empress Ma's eyes welled up, and she hurried forward to meet them.

Zhu Yong saw his mother and quickened his pace.

"Mother." He knelt and kowtowed to Empress Ma.

Empress Ma hugged him tightly, her tears pattering down: "My son, you're finally back, so thin, so dark, how many hardships you've endured out there…"

Zhu Yong clumsily patted his mother's back and said: "Mother, I didn't suffer any hardship; the South Sea is fine, there's fish and meat, I'm well fed."

Empress Ma scolded, "Nonsense, it's so far away, what could be good there?"

Guanyin Nu led Huanhuan over, whispering, "The prince has returned."

Zhu Yong looked up, saw his wife, and with a simple smile said, "Guanyin Nu, I'm back."

Guanyin Nu's eyes were slightly red, and she nodded.

Huanhuan hurriedly leapt up, calling, "Father..."

Zhu Yong was startled, then quickly embraced him, smiling softly, "Father is back..."

"Father, Huanhuan missed you to death, why did you take so long to come back..." Huanhuan clutched his father's clothing, calling.

"Father also misses Huanhuan..."

At that moment, Zhu Qiongjiong, struggling in the wet nurse's arms, reached toward Zhu Yong, shouting, "Father! Father!"

Zhu Yong took the sons, one in each hand, holding both children.

Zhu Qiongjiong reached out to grab Zhu Yong's nose, gripping hard.

Zhu Yong didn't dodge, allowing him to grab.

Huanhuan, seeing this, quickly called, "Little brother, don't grab Father's nose, what if you break it?"

Zhu Qiongjiong ignored him and kept grabbing.

Empress Ma watched the scene, wiped her tears, and laughed, "Alright, alright, everyone go inside! Mother had old hen soup stewed, Yong Er, eat more."

The family entered Kunning Palace.

Inside, warmth spread, laughter and chatter continued.

Outside the window, the sunset dyed the entire palace golden.

……

Late night, Eastern Palace.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong sat in the study, tea set before them.

"Second brother, over at the South Sea, how long do you think it will settle?" Zhu Biao asked.

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "Three years. Within three years, we'll relocate the people, establish military garrisons, plant crops, finish the port, get the prefectures running normally, then it'll be about right."

Zhu Biao nodded, "Three years, the eldest brother can wait. Imperial Father can also wait."

He took a sip of tea and continued, "The Ministry of Works, according to your plan, was to install it on that… whatever train you mentioned, but it stalled; the craftsmen say they lack a direction."

The firing guns also malfunctioned, a few exploded, killing over ten men; go check tomorrow and see if you can help.

Zhu Yong nodded, "Alright, I'll go see. But elder brother, I really don't understand these things; I only sometimes think of a few methods."

Zhu Biao laughed, "That's enough. The craftsmen said your 'simple methods' sometimes are more useful than what they think for a year."

Zhu Yong scratched his head and gave a simple smile.

Zhu Biao looked at him, then suddenly said, "Second brother, do you know what the eldest brother is most grateful to you for?"

"What?"

"You never contend; you command the Longxiang Army, have the South Sea's achievements, and the support of all the generals. If you wanted to contend, the eldest brother might not be able to beat you."

"Yet you never contend, never speak, never desire." Zhu Biao said softly.

Zhu Yong remained silent for a moment, then said, "Eldest brother, I don't want to contend; I only think of our family being well—father and mother well, you and your wife well, the children well. I fight wars for this, I go to sea for this, and besides, Eldest brother, you don't have my carefree…"

(Continuation of the previous line) "... and besides, Eldest brother, you don't have my carefree…"

Zhu Biao's eyes warmed, he patted his shoulder and said, "Alright, the eldest brother knows. In this life, the luckiest thing for the eldest brother is to have a brother like you."

The two brothers exchanged a glance; everything was understood without words.

Outside, Moonlight was like water.

The bell of Fengtian Hall rang from afar.

In the twelfth year of Hongwu, the twentieth day of the fourth month.

Prince Wu Zhu Yong returned in triumph.