Chapter 27: The Sons of Empress Ma

At dawn, the sky just beginning to brighten, Zhu Yong woke up. (He will be referred to as Zhu Yong from now on)

He opened his eyes, stared at the delicate canopy above his head, and was stunned for a while before recalling where he was.

This was neither a barracks nor a mountain‑village hut in Fengyang.

It was the palace, a side hall of Kunning Palace.

All that happened yesterday flashed through his mind: the Blood Kinship Test, the ennobling of Prince Wu, Empress Ma holding him and crying, and Zhu Yuanzhang patting his shoulder and saying, "It's good that you're back."

Zhu Yong sat up and rubbed the corners of his forehead.

He had a very long dream.

In the dream there were many strange things.

Running steel boxes, iron birds that could fly, and dense strings of characters and images.

The strangest part was a voice telling him that he had a system that allowed a check‑in once a year, and that the pills, hammers, and Divine Strength all came from it.

"What is the system?" Zhu Yong muttered to himself.

As soon as the words left his mouth, a screen of light suddenly appeared before his eyes, bearing several lines of text.

Host: Zhu Yong / Shiniu

Age: 14

Check‑in rewards: Divine Strength / Hongwu First Year, drum‑beating golden hammer and World‑Crushing Hammer Technique / Hongwu First Year, Nine‑Turn Resurrection Pill ×9 / Hongwu Second Year, 1 used

Next available check‑in: Hongwu Third Year

Zhu Yong blinked, and the light screen remained.

He reached out to touch it, but his hand passed through.

"Is this really something given by the gods?" he scratched his head.

The dream also told him that he was reborn and knew some things about the future.

But what exactly he knew was vague.

For example, he knew the era he lived in was called the Ming Dynasty, and the founding emperor was Zhu Yuanzhang, his father.

He knew that his elder brother Zhu Biao was originally fated to die early, but now would not, because he had pills.

He also knew the names and rough fates of several younger brothers: Lao San Zhu Shuang was reckless, the fourth brother Zhu Gang was violent, and Fifth Prince Zhu Di would become emperor…

"The fifth brother becomes emperor?" Zhu Yong frowned.

The dream became vague here.

But he didn't think much about it.

A simpleton has simple blessings; things he can't understand, he just doesn't think about.

Anyway, his elder brother was fine, his parents were fine, and he himself had returned.

As for that system, it gives some good stuff each year, which is fine.

Zhu Yong rolled over and got out of bed, moving briskly.

A palace maid hearing the movement hurried in to attend.

"Prince Wu, I will serve you to change clothes," the maid said.

Zhu Yong waved his hand and said, "I'll do it myself…"

He was used to doing things himself, not to being attended to.

He put on a brand‑new everyday robe, its fabric soft and embroidered with subtle patterns.

Zhu Yong felt it was less comfortable than military uniform, but said nothing.

As he stepped out of the side hall, Empress Ma was already waiting in the main hall.

"Yong Er, did you sleep well?" she asked, stepping forward and carefully gauging her son's complexion.

"Fine," Zhu Yong nodded.

Empress Ma smiled, "That's good. Come, have the morning meal first."

The morning meal was lavish: porridge, pastries, and side dishes laid out on a table.

Zhu Yong ate quickly, but no longer devoured the food as he had yesterday.

The awakened memory gave him some common sense, making him aware that dining in the palace required some decorum.

Empress Ma was a bit surprised, but more pleased; her son was learning fast.

While they were eating, a clamor came from outside.

"Let us in! We want to see Second Prince!"

"Third brother, keep your voice down…"

"What's there to fear? The elder brother isn't here."

Empress Ma frowned and said to the maid, "Go see who's making noise outside."

Before the words finished, the hall doors were pushed open.

Three youths rushed in.

The leader was a chubby boy of eleven or twelve, dressed in brocade, with an arrogant face.

Behind him followed two slightly younger ones, one lanky and thin, the other sturdy.

"Imperial Mother, I heard Second Prince has returned. Where is he?" the chubby boy shouted.

Empress Ma's expression darkened as she said, "Zhu Shuang, who taught you such lack of manners?"

This chubby boy was the Third Prince, Zhu Shuang.

He craned his neck a bit, but still stuck out his neck and said, "Your son just wants to see Second Prince…"

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong also looked up at him.

Their eyes met, and Zhu Shuang was stunned.

"This... is this the Second Prince?" he widened his eyes.

Zhu Yong looked almost identical to Zhu Biao, but darker and more robust, with a battlefield's killing aura in his brows and eyes.

The two youths behind Zhu Shuang also crowded over to watch.

The lanky one was the Fourth Prince Zhu Gang, the sturdy one was the Fifth Prince Zhu Di.

"He really looks like big brother..." Zhu Gang murmured.

Zhu Di, however, stared at Zhu Yong's hands—large, calloused, with prominent knuckles, clearly accustomed to gripping weapons.

"Second Prince, I heard you can smash open Kaiping City Gate with three hammer blows?" Zhu Di suddenly asked, his eyes shining.

Zhu Yong nodded, "Hmm."

"One hammer to blast open Helin City Gate?"

"Hmm."

"Cut Yesu before the formation?"

"Hmm."

Zhu Di said excitedly, "How did you cut him, with a hammer? How many strikes?"

Empress Ma could no longer listen, "Zhu Di! That was battlefield slaughter, what's there to ask!"

Zhu Di only then realized his rudeness, hurriedly bowed and said, "Imperial Mother, forgive me, I was merely curious…"

Zhu Shuang pursed his lips and said, "What's so impressive? It's just great strength."

Zhu Yong gave him a glance, saying nothing.

But that glance tightened Zhu Shuang's heart.

The gaze was too calm, as calm as a deep pool, yet it radiated an indescribable pressure.

Zhu Shuang suddenly recalled the battlefield rumors: a single charge that struck over a hundred men, leaving no living soul under the hammer…

He swallowed, daring not to provoke further.

Empress Ma sighed, "You three, have you done today's lessons?"

Zhu Shuang's eyes flickered as he said, "Imperial Mother, I heard the Second Prince has returned and came especially to visit; the lessons… we'll do the lessons this afternoon."

"Go now," Empress Ma said unambiguously.

"Imperial Mother~" Zhu Shuang still tried to act cute.

"Go…" Empress Ma set her face stern.

Zhu Shuang could only bow reluctantly, leading Zhu Gang and Zhu Di to withdraw.

At the doorway, Zhu Di turned back to glance at Zhu Yong, his eyes full of admiration.

Empress Ma shook her head, saying, "These kids, Yong Er, you must take good care of them from now on."

Zhu Yong: "..."

The younger brothers looked quite lively.

After the morning meal, Empress Ma took Zhu Yong for a walk in the Kunning Palace garden.

"Your Imperial Father has ordered the Ministry of Works to build Wu Wang Fu just outside East Hua Gate, close to the palace; you may enter the palace at any time,"

Empress Ma added, "But before that, you should stay here first, so Mother can see you more often."

"Hmm," Zhu Yong replied.

"Your friends in the army, Bo Ren and Lan Yu and the others, if you wish to see them you may summon them into the palace at any time; your Imperial Father said, although you have been made a king, you need not be restrained—do whatever you wish."

Empress Ma spoke again beside him, having noticed her son's discomfort.

Zhu Yong's eyes lit up, "May I leave the palace?"

"Of course, but you must bring guards; your status is now different," Empress Ma smiled.

Zhu Yong nodded.

He truly wanted to go find Chang Yuchun and the others; after all, here he only knows a few like Chang Yuchun.

Just then, Zhu Biao arrived.

"Imperial Mother, second younger brother," he said with a smile, walking into the garden.

"Zhu Biao, are you not busy today?" Empress Ma asked.

"The morning court is over; I have some matters to discuss with the second younger brother," Zhu Biao said.

Empress Ma, knowing the two brothers wished to talk, said, "Then you chat; I'll go see how the midday meal is being prepared."

After she left, only the two brothers remained in the garden.

Zhu Biao examined Zhu Yong closely, then laughed, "Second younger brother, you look a bit different today."

Zhu Yong felt something stir inside.

His older brother was indeed perceptive.

"I had a dream and figured some things out," he said naively.

Zhu Biao nodded, without probing, and said, "I heard Lao San, Fourth Prince, and Fifth Prince have been here?"

"Hmm."

"Did I make it difficult for you?"

"No."

"That's good. These kids are very cheeky, especially Lao San and Fourth Prince, relying on their youth, they often cause trouble."

Zhu Yong recalled Zhu Shuang's arrogant demeanor and asked, "Father doesn't intervene?"

"He does, but Father is busy; I usually manage them, but now that you've returned, you can help me manage them together," Zhu Biao said.

"How should we manage?"

Mom just said to have him take charge, and now elder brother says the same; how is he supposed to manage...

"He should be beaten, he should be scolded; you are the Second Prince, disciplining your younger brother is a matter of principle," Zhu Biao said warmly.

Zhu Yong nodded.

He understands this; elders in the village also discipline juniors in the same way.

"By the way, your hammer is still in Wu Ying Hall; father said you could go practice there occasionally, so you don't become rusty," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

"Can we go now?" Zhu Yong asked.

"We can, I'll go with you."