Chapter 293: Empress Ma Falls Ill

The fifteenth year of Hongwu, the twelfth day of the eleventh month.

Wu Prince's Residence.

Just as dawn was breaking, Zhu Yong awoke.

He wasn't woken by noise; it was a habit cultivated over the years—no matter how exhausted the previous day was, he would naturally open his eyes at the appointed hour.

He lay there, watching the dust on the headboard, listening to the faint rooster crowing from outside.

He had been back for three days.

Three days ago at the pier, his parents came with the whole family to fetch him; recalling that scene still warms his heart.

Guanyin Nu slept beside him, breathing shallow and even, still asleep.

He turned his head for a glance, and a faint smile involuntarily tugged at the corner of his mouth.

It had been over a decade.

Back then he was a hungry, simple boy, driven out of the mountain village as a plague spirit by the whole village.

Now, he is the Wu Prince of Great Ming, the pioneer of Australia, the discoverer of countless mines, and the "master" of tens of thousands of indigenous people.

The sleeping woman beside him is Wang Baobao's sister, the Northern Yuan Princess captured back then, now the mother of his child, and one of the people he is closest to in this life.

There is also Huan Huan, ten years old, graceful and delicate, her eyebrows and eyes like her mother's, temperament the same, quiet and sensible.

There is also Jiong Jiong, five, fierce as a tiger, his strength frightening, who, two days ago, came back and grabbed his leg so tightly he almost tripped him.

The boy inherited his Divine Strength.

In the future, he will also be able to lift a thousand eight hundred jin.

He gently turned over, facing outward, and closed his eyes.

He pretended to keep sleeping; it's rare to have a chance to lie down longer.

…

At Chen Hour, the main courtyard became lively.

Zhu Huanhuan, dressed in a goose‑yellow jacket and skirt, performed a proper salute to her parents.

The little girl already felt shy; her face flushed pink as she saluted.

Zhu Qiong Jiong paid no heed, leapt over and clambered onto Zhu Yong.

"Father! Father! Will you take me to see the steam car today as well? Yesterday wasn't enough!"

Zhu Yong lifted him with one hand, placed him on his shoulder, and laughed, "See, after the meal we'll go see it."

Steam car.

That contraption was made a few years ago, with a wooden body, steel parts, burning coal and smoking, capable of running on flat ground.

During the past year and a bit he had gone to Australia; the car sat at home with no one able to drive it, and even if the little rascal wanted to sit, he couldn't. Now that Zhu Yong had returned, the little rascal was delighted.

Zhu Qiong Jiong was so thrilled he danced with his hands and feet, nearly falling off Zhu Yong's shoulder.

Guanyin Nu watched beside them, smiling and shaking her head.

"This child is just like his father."

Zhu Huanhuan pursed her lips in a smile and whispered, "Mother, the younger brother is more mischievous than Father."

Zhu Yong heard it, turned his head and glared at her.

Zhu Huanhuan stuck out her tongue and hid behind her mother.

…

After breakfast, Zhu Yong took his son and daughter to the back yard.

The steam car was still parked in the shed, untouched for over a year, covered with a layer of dust.

Chen Heng had already brought people to push the car out and was inspecting its components.

"Prince, the boiler is fine, the wheels are fine; fill it with water and it can run," Chen Heng said, wiping the oil from his hands as he approached to report.

Zhu Yong nodded, telling his children, "Climb up, Father will take you for a ride."

Zhu Huanhuan watched the smoking behemoth, feeling a bit scared.

Zhu Qiong Jiong climbed up himself, sat in the seat, his little face flushed with excitement.

"Father! Go fast! Go fast!"

Zhu Yong leapt onto the driver's seat and pulled the control lever.

The steam engine roared, and the wheels turned slowly.

The car drove out of the courtyard gate onto the cement road, accelerating as it went.

Zhu Huanhuan was nervous at first, but later relaxed, leaning against the window to watch the scenery outside.

Zhu Qiong Jiong kept shouting, "Faster! Even faster!"

Zhu Yong looked at the two children, feeling warmth in his heart.

Days like this are truly wonderful.

…

The car ran for a Chen Hour, circled around outside the city, and finally stopped by a field.

The wheat in the field had already been harvested, leaving only a stubble.

A few farmers working in the distance saw the car, stopped their tasks, and stared toward it from afar.

Zhu Huanhuan pointed at the distant farmers and said, "Father, they're looking at us."

Zhu Yong hummed in acknowledgement, saying nothing.

He knew what the farmers were looking at.

The steam car—this thing in these days is rarer than a future Ferrari.

Zhu Qiong Jiong jumped off the car, ran to the field ridge, picked up a stalk of wheat and fiddled with it in his hand.

Father, what is this?

Wheat straw, the residue after the wheat has been harvested.

Can it be eaten?

No, it can only be burned.

Zhu Qiong Jiong let out an "oh", threw the wheat straw away, and ran to glance at a distant cow.

Zhu Yong followed, stood on the ridge, watching the distant villages and fields.

It was the fifteenth year of Hongwu.

Great Ming's territory had more than doubled since he first arrived through the portal.

To the north, Northern Yuan was gone; the tribes on the Grassland either submitted or moved farther north.

To the east, Wa Country had become the Eastern Japan Office, and the gold and silver sent each year filled the treasury.

To the west, the nations of the Western Regions bowed in allegiance, and the trade routes were unobstructed.

To the south, the islands of the South Sea were all under control; Brother Mu Ying was stationed there, steady as Mount Tai.

There was also Australia, the continent he had personally opened up; Shuang Er was there, leading tens of thousands in gradual development.

Copper, iron, and coal mines continuously shipped back.

Kangaroos, rhea, and parrots arrived ship after ship.

Those dark‑skinned natives were also shipped in batches, sent to the various mines and construction sites to work.

Everything was fine.

It was so good that he sometimes felt it was unreal.

……

In the Shen Hour of the afternoon, he returned to the residence.

Zhu Yong had just entered the main hall when he saw Hu Bo rush in, his complexion off.

"Prince, someone has arrived from the palace."

Zhu Yong felt a sudden thump in his chest.

"What is it?"

Hu Bo lowered his voice and said, "Empress Ma... has fallen ill."

Zhu Yong's mind rang with a thundering sound.

Empress Ma, his mother.

Historically, Empress Ma had passed away in the fifteenth year of Hongwu.

He had been avoiding thinking about it ever since he returned.

But it still came.

"Prepare the horse! Enter the palace immediately!"

……

Zhu Yong sprinted, the sound of horse hooves pounding the stone road reverberated like thunder.

The guards at Wu Men saw it was Prince Wu, dared not block him, and let him pass.

He dismounted, and hurried toward Kunning Palace.

Along the way he met a few eunuchs and court ladies; seeing him, they hurried aside, their faces showing panic.

He arrived at Kunning Palace.

Outside the hall doors, a crowd had already gathered.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood with his hands behind his back in the corridor, his expression dreadfully grim.

Zhu Biao stood beside him, his brows tightly knit.

Chang Wan stood a short distance away with several children, each too scared to speak.

Seeing Zhu Yong, Zhu Yuanzhang lifted his head.

"Yong Er has arrived."

Zhu Yong rushed a few steps forward, unable to bow, and asked directly, "Father, how is Mother?"

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head, his voice hoarse, and said, "The imperial physicians say... it's not good."

Zhu Yong's heart sank.

He took a deep breath and said, "Father, I'll go in and take a look."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

Zhu Yong pushed open the hall doors and stepped inside.

The hall was filled with a strong medicinal scent that stung the throat.

Several imperial physicians knelt at the bedside, each with a pallid complexion.

Empress Ma lay on the bed, her face pale and her breathing weak.

Seeing Zhu Yong enter, she opened her eyes and forced out a faint smile.

"Yong Er has arrived."

Zhu Yong walked over, knelt at the bedside, and grasped her hand.

"Mother, I'm here."

Empress Ma's hand was cold, so cold it made the heart uneasy.

She looked at Zhu Yong and said softly, "It's nothing, just tired. Rest a bit and you'll be fine."

Zhu Yong said nothing, merely holding her hand tightly.

The imperial physician beside them whispered, "Prince Wu, Empress Ma's condition is from overwork, and… earlier… she was overly joyous, causing qi and blood to assault the heart…"

Zhu Yong lifted his head, his gaze cold enough to frighten.

"Can it cure?"

The imperial physician shivered, trembling, "We... we will do our best..."

Zhu Yong did not ask further.

He turned his head, looking at Empress Ma.

Empress Ma also looked at him, her eyes filled with tenderness and reluctance.

"Yong Er, you just returned, rest well; mother is fine."

Zhu Yong inhaled deeply, released his grip, and stood up.

"Mother, you wait, I'll be right back."

He turned and strode out of the hall's doorway.

Outside, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were still standing under the corridor.

Zhu Yong walked up to them and whispered, "Father, elder brother, I have medicine."

Zhu Yuanzhang was startled, then seemed to recall something.

"Yong Er, you mean…"

"Yes, it's from the White-bearded Old Man, there are eight left, they can save a life," Zhu Yong said.

Zhu Biao's eyes brightened, but then sank again.

"Second brother, this medicine... mother's illness... really works?"

"It works; General Chang's case, and your case, elder brother, both worked," Zhu Yong nodded and replied.

Zhu Yuanzhang inhaled deeply and patted his shoulder.

"Go quickly."

Zhu Yong turned and ran.