Chapter 250: A Visit

The twelfth year of Hongwu, the eighteenth day of the ninth month.

Wu Wang Fu.

Autumn sunlight streams through the window lattice into the back courtyard, warm and cozy.

Zhu Yong sits in the pavilion, holding a tea cup, watching the two tiny figures running about in the courtyard.

Zhu Huanhuan wears a goose‑yellow dress, with two little braids, brandishing a small wooden sword as she chases her brother.

Zhu Qiong Jiong darts on his short legs, giggling as he runs and looks back.

"Stop! Don't run!" Zhu Huanhuan shouts.

"Won't stop! Sister can't catch me!" Zhu Qiong Jiong replies in a baby‑like voice.

Zhu Yong watches and laughs heartily.

That kid, at three years old can run this fast; his strength will surely be great in the future.

Guanyin Nu steps out of the main hall, carrying a plate of snacks, and places it on the stone table in the pavilion.

"Don't just watch, have something to eat," she says.

Zhu Yong picks up a piece of cake, takes a bite, and asks with a smile, "Did the daughter‑in‑law make it?"

"Hmm, it's newly learned osmanthus cake," Guanyin Nu sits beside him, watching the two children in the courtyard, a smile curling her lips.

"Huanhuan this girl, dancing with knives and guns all day, doesn't look like a lady," Guanyin Nu says softly.

Zhu Yong laughs, "She looks like her mother."

Guanyin Nu gives him a glare, "I wasn't this wild back then."

"Not wild? Who, when you first arrived, rode horses and shot arrows all day, even the Imperial Mother said you were full of heroic spirit," Zhu Yong says.

Guanyin Nu's face reddens slightly, and she falls silent.

In the courtyard, Zhu Huanhuan finally catches up to her brother, scoops him up, and the two little ones tumble together, their laughter echoing through the whole back courtyard.

Guanyin Nu watches, her heart full of happiness.

Having been married so many years, from Northern Yuan Princess to Great Ming Wu King Consort, from initial anxiety to present steadiness, every step taken has been because of the man by her side.

Though simple‑minded, he's reliable.

"By the way, someone from the Eastern Palace said this past few days Xiong Ying has been unwell; Sister Wan is a bit worried," Guanyin Nu suddenly remembers and says.

Zhu Yong furrows his brows and asks, "Is Xiong Ying ill?"

"They say he got caught in the rain a few days ago, has a slight cough; the Imperial Physician prescribed medicine, should be fine," Guanyin Nu says.

Zhu Yong nods, but notes it in his mind.

Zhu Xiongying is the eldest legitimate son of the elder brother, and Zhu Yong has watched him grow up since childhood; he's no different from a biological son.

The child's physique isn't especially robust; the Imperial Physician must keep a close eye on him.

Just then, Hu Bo rushes in from outside.

"Prince, Consort, Prime Minister Hu Wei Yong is here to visit," he bows and says.

Zhu Yong raises an eyebrow.

Hu Wei Yong...

He has been in the spotlight at court lately, but also tangled in troubles.

In the past month or so, Father and elder brother have successively eliminated several of his followers, and discussions about him in the court have grown.

Now he comes to see me for what? I haven't spoken much with Hu Wei Yong; why does he come to me.

"Let him in, daughter‑in‑law, you first take the children inside," Zhu Yong says, then looks at Guanyin Nu.

Guanyin Nu nods, gets up and calls the two children back to the house.

Zhu Huanhuan is still a bit reluctant, but after a glare from Guanyin Nu, she obediently leads her brother away.

Soon, Hu Bo leads a man into the back courtyard.

Hu Wei Yong is about fifty, of medium build, dressed in a purple official robe, with a scholarly appearance, yet his eyes gleam with shrewdness.

He steps before the pavilion, bows and says, "I, the humble official Hu Wei Yong, have seen Prince Wu."

"Prime Minister Hu, no need for formalities, sit," Zhu Yong gestures to the stone bench opposite.

Hu Wei Yong sits, sizing up the world‑shaking Prince Wu.

At twenty‑five, he is tall and broad‑shouldered, with a thick back, a simple‑hearted face, and eyes as clear as a child's.

If one didn't know his battle record—three hammer blows breaking the plain, one hammer smashing Helin, solo charges slashing down foes swiftly, leading armies to subdue Northern Yuan, Nüzhen, Goryeo, Wa Country, South Sea... anyone would think he's just an ordinary simple‑minded man.

Great Ming's vast current territories are thanks to this Prince Wu.

"Prime Minister Hu, why do you have time to come to my residence today?" Zhu Yong asks innocently.

Hu Wei Yong smiles, "Your Highness says it well; I should have seized the chance to pay my respects long ago, but you are often away on campaigns, rarely in the capital, and I never found the opportunity.

Today I heard you were recuperating at home, so I came to disturb you."

"Oh," Zhu Yong nods, picks up a piece of cake and starts eating.

Hu Wei Yong sees his demeanor and smiles inwardly.

Sure enough, he's a simple fellow, easy to handle.

He clears his throat and says, "Your Highness, this campaign against the rebellion has earned unprecedented merit; the entire court, civil and military, all admire you. The last time you attacked South Sea, I heard the islands are vast and rich; your recent expeditions have indeed expanded Great Ming's borders."

Zhu Yong chews the cake, vaguely replying, "It's okay, just hot and full of mosquitoes."

Hu Wei Yong smiles, "Your Highness has worked hard, but regarding the court's rewards for your merits..."

He stops midway on purpose, watching Zhu Yong's reaction.

Zhu Yong looks up at him and asks, "What's wrong with the rewards? I don't lack those."

"Your Highness certainly doesn't lack them, but have you ever thought that, given your merits, being granted only the title Prince Wu is rather unfair?" Hu Wei Yong lowers his voice.

Zhu Yong blinks and says, "Unfair? I'm my father's son; Prince Wu is fine."

Hu Weiyong sneered inwardly.

Sure enough, he's simple and doesn't get the hint.

He continued, "Prince, I dare to say, although the Crown Prince is benevolent, he is nevertheless weak; when he inherits Great Unity, will he be able to keep those arrogant soldiers and fierce generals in check."

"And you, Prince, your war achievements are glorious, your prestige shakes the world, if…"

"If what?" Zhu Yong asked.

Hu Weiyong leaned in a bit, his voice even lower: "If the Prince is interested, I am willing to serve the Prince; many ministers in the court hold the Prince in great esteem. As long as the Prince nods, in the future…"

Zhu Yong looked at him, his eyes still clear, but a cold laugh rose in his heart.

Hu Weiyong, oh Hu Weiyong, you think your death isn't fast enough.

Trying to win me over to deal with my elder brother?

My elder brother treats me as his life; my father entrusted the whole Ming Empire to him; only a diseased mind would contend with him?

But, since you want to act, I'll act with you.

Zhu Yong said naively, "Prime Minister Hu, I don't understand what you're saying; I only know that whatever my father tells me to do, I do; my elder brother treats me well, so I treat him well."

Hu Weiyong was startled, quickly said, "Prince, I am not asking you to be unkind to the Crown Prince; it's just… you must think of yourself. Over the years you've risked life and death, carved out such a vast territory, and in the future those merits will all belong to the Crown Prince."

Are you content with that?

Zhu Yong scratched his head and said, "I'm content. My elder brother is the Crown Prince; when he becomes Emperor, I'll be a prince, that's great, I can still go to war everywhere, very free."

Hu Weiyong choked.

Is this person truly simple or just pretending?

He gritted his teeth, deciding to be even more blunt.