Chapter 292: Family

November 5th.

The outline of land finally appeared on the sea surface.

"Land! Land!" the lookout on the mast shouted.

The whole ship boiled.

Zhu Yong stood at the bow, squinting at the thickening black line in the distance.

Great Ming.

Finally back.

An hour later, the fleet approached the coastline.

It was not Yingtian Prefecture, but Quanzhou Port in Fujian.

According to the plan, they would first dock here, replenish fresh water and food, rest for two days, then head north along the coast.

On the dock, people had already spotted the massive fleet.

Some ran to report to the authorities, some stood on the shore pointing and gesturing, and children chased after the ships.

"Prince Wu" slowly came to shore, and the gangplank was lowered.

Zhu Yong was the first to step down, his feet on the solid ground.

He had been away for a full year and finally returned.

The Quanzhou Governor arrived with officials, and upon seeing Zhu Yong, immediately knelt to pay his respects.

"I, your subordinate, have the honor of seeing Prince Wu!"

Zhu Yong waved his hand and said, "Rise, no need for formalities."

The Governor rose, speaking cautiously, "Prince, I have already had accommodations prepared, you…"

"No need for trouble, I'll stay on the ship for two days, replenish some supplies and then leave," Zhu Yong interrupted him.

The Governor quickly responded.

Zhu Yong looked at Zhang Wu and said, "Send someone to Yingtian Prefecture to report that I have returned, arriving in mid‑November."

"Understood."

November 9th.

After the rest, the fleet set sail again.

Heading north along the coast, the journey was smooth and favorable.

On November 15th, the fleet entered the mouth of the Yangtze River.

Familiar river surface, familiar scenery.

The farmlands, villages, and towns on both banks passed before his eyes one by one.

Zhu Yong stood at the bow, watching it all, and a vague, complex feeling rose in his heart.

A year has passed.

He left in September and returned in November.

During that year, he trekked tens of thousands of miles, discovered countless mines, captured tens of thousands of natives, and gradually incorporated parts of Australia into Great Ming's territory.

Now, finally back.

"Prince, look!" Xiao Zhu suddenly pointed ahead.

Zhu Yong looked in the direction she indicated.

In the distance, the Yangtze River dock was packed with a sea of people.

War Flags fluttered, and Drum and Music sounded together.

At the front stood Zhu Yuanzhang in a bright yellow dragon robe, beside him Empress Ma, then Zhu Biao, Chang Wan, and a group of younger brothers and sisters.

Zhu Yong was stunned.

Father came to receive...

The steam engine slowed gradually, and the ship gently docked.

Before the gangplank was fully steadied, Zhu Yong already leapt down in big strides.

"Father! Mother!" he strode over.

Zhu Yuanzhang came forward, grabbed him in a hug, and patted his back vigorously.

"Good lad... you're back, our good son is back!"

Empress Ma, standing beside him, was already in tears, holding his hand and looking him over from head to toe.

"You've gotten thinner, darker, Yong Er, you suffered over there..."

Zhu Yong chuckled innocently, "Mother, I'm fine, eating well and sleeping well, just missing you."

Empress Ma laughed through her tears.

Zhu Biao walked over, looked at him, his eyes also a bit red.

"Second brother, you're back."

Zhu Yong looked at him, suddenly stepped forward and gave him a strong hug.

"Elder brother, I'm back."

Zhu Biao patted his back, saying nothing.

Chang Wan stood behind with the children, and Zhu Huanhuan could no longer hold back and ran over.

"Father!"

Zhu Yong bent down, lifted his daughter; ten‑year‑old Huan Huan was already grown, yet he held her as if she were a kitten.

"Huan Huan, you've grown taller."

Zhu Huanhuan hugged his neck, and tears pattered down.

"Father, I miss you so much…"

Zhu Yong patted her head and said softly, "Father misses you too."

Zhu Qiong Jiong also ran over, tilted his head back, and shouted, "Father! I've grown taller too; I can now eat three bowls of rice!"

Zhu Yong looked at him and smiled.

The boy, five years old, full of vigor, his eyes shone like stars.

He squatted down and lifted his sons, one in each hand.

"Good, good, you've all grown taller; Father will take a good look at you later."

Zhu Xiongying walked over and performed a proper bow.

"Second Uncle."

Zhu Yong looked at him; the ten‑year‑old imperial grandson already had the bearing of a little adult.

"Xiong Ying, your father has taught you well."

Zhu Xiongying grinned, showing a set of white teeth.

"Second Uncle, have you brought the kangaroos back?"

Zhu Yong chuckled, "I have; I'll show you later."

Zhu Wenwen also ran over, tugged his sleeve, looked up at Zhu Yong with anticipation and said, "Second Uncle, I want to see too."

Zhu Yong patted her head and said, "Alright, everyone can see."

Behind them, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma watched the scene and smiled at each other.

"Let's go, return first, we'll talk later," Zhu Yuanzhang said, waving his hand grandly.

The party marched grandly toward the Imperial City.

……

Inside Qianqing Palace, warmth suffused the air.

A large round table was set, and the family sat around it.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the Main Seat, Empress Ma sat to his right, Zhu Biao sat on the left, and Zhu Yong sat beside Zhu Biao.

The women and children took seats on both sides, lively and noisy.

The palace maids brought out dishes, filling the table to the brim.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his wine cup, looked at Zhu Yong, and his eyes were slightly red.

"Yong Er, this cup is to you; Father offers it. The Australia matter—Shuang Er has all written back—your work is good, beautifully done!"

Zhu Yong stood up, naively saying, "Father, I just did as you said."

"Sit down, sit down; in front of Father, no need for those empty courtesies."

He paused, then continued, "That piece of Australia, Shuang Er says it's larger than we imagined, with countless copper and iron ores. How many years have you earned Great Ming with this trip?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "If we mine at full capacity, it'll last a few hundred years."

A few hundred years.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhu Yuanzhang inhaled deeply, lifted his wine cup, and drained it in one gulp.

"Good! Good! Good!"

He said "good" three times in a row.

Empress Ma held Zhu Yong's hand and whispered, "Yong Er, is it bitter over there?"

Zhu Yong shook his head and said, "Mother, it's not bitter; I just miss home."

Empress Ma's eyes reddened again.

Zhu Biao laughed beside her, "Mother, Second Brother has returned; you should be happy."

Empress Ma nodded, but still couldn't help wiping away her tears.

Zhu Huanhuan ran over, tugged Zhu Yong's sleeve and said, "Father, after the meal can you take us to see the kangaroos?"

Zhu Yong lifted her, smiling, "Sure, I'll take you after a while."

Zhu Qiong Jiong also crowded over, "Father, I want to go too!"

Zhu Wenwen shouted from behind, "Me too, me too!"

Zhu Yong looked at the children and smiled.

"Alright, everyone go."

……

After the meal, the group arrived at a specially built animal enclosure.

The kangaroos had been placed in a spacious pen, twenty‑something in number, big and small, lazily basking in the sun.

Zhu Xiongying, with his younger brother and sisters, perched on the rail, eyes wide and round.

"Father, they jump so high!"

"Second Uncle, that little one is so cute, even cuter than the one Uncle Zhang Wu brought back last time…"

"Mother, what do they eat?"

Chatter filled the air, exceptionally lively.

Zhu Yong stood aside, watching the children's excitement, a smile tugging at his mouth.

Guanyin Nu walked to his side and whispered, "Prince."

Zhu Yong turned his head to look at her.

A year apart, his wife was still as beautiful, wearing a Mongol‑style long robe, adorned with a red‑gold ornament, dignified and graceful.

"This year, you've worked hard," Zhu Yong said.

Guanyin Nu shook her head and said, "It's not hard; I just miss the Prince."

Zhu Yong grasped her hand, saying nothing.

The setting sun in the west dyed the whole animal pen golden.

Children's laughter drifted in the wind.

In the distance, the roof of Qianqing Palace glittered in the sunset.

Winter of the fifteenth year of Hongwu had just begun.

And the one who had been away for a year finally returned.