Chapter 399: All Thanks to Mother and Eldest Brother

Empress Ma held Zhu Shuang's hand, asking all sorts of questions.

Whether he ate well there, lived well there, and if anyone attended to him.

Zhu Shuang answered each question, only saying the good things.

Zhu QiongJiong slipped in at some point, crouching at the hall entrance, poking his head inside.

Zhu Yong turned and glared at him; he tucked his neck back but didn't leave, continuing to crouch.

Zhu Shuang saw him, his eyes brightening as he said, "Is this QiongJiong? You've grown so big?"

Zhu QiongJiong stood up, bowing properly, "Third Uncle."

Zhu Shuang walked over, sizing him up, patted his shoulder and said, "Good lad, stronger than your father was back then; I heard you've slain a hundred or two hundred enemies on the battlefield?"

Zhu QiongJiong grinned, "Third Uncle, how did you know?"

"Your father wrote about it, Second Prince; this child is even fiercer than you were back then," Zhu Shuang turned his head toward Zhu Yong and said.

Zhu Yong said nothing.

At noon, a banquet was set in Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the Main Seat, with Empress Ma beside him.

Zhu Biao sat on the left, Zhu Yong on the right.

Zhu Shuang sat at Zhu Biao's foot, and several younger ones took seats in order.

Zhu XiongYing, Zhu Wenwen, Zhu QiongJiong, Zhu Huanhuan, Zhu Gaochi, and a few even younger ones filled a whole table.

Zhu Yuanzhang lifted his wine cup and said, "Here, let's toast to Shuang'er with a cup; five years away, Australia's run is good, your mother and I are pleased."

Zhu Shuang stood, raised both hands with his cup, and said, "Imperial Father, your son offers a toast."

He drank it in one gulp.

Empress Ma, beside him, said, "Drink slowly, don't rush."

Zhu Shuang set down his cup, laughing, "Mother, it's fine; over in Australia I also often drink, their grape wine is better than Persia's."

Zhu Gang, interjecting nearby, said, "Third brother, you're already drinking grape wine? I'm in the East Sea, can only drink sake, as bland as water."

Zhu Shuang glanced at him and said, "Fourth brother, isn't the East Sea known for producing sake?"

"Bland, tasteless…" Zhu Gang pursed his lips.

Zhu Di, laughing beside them, said, "Third brother, don't listen to fourth brother. He's in the East Sea, drinks sake daily, yet I've never seen him drink less."

The hall erupted in uproarious laughter.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his sons, a smile at the corner of his mouth.

After laughing, he set down his cup, looked at Zhu Shuang and asked, "Shuang'er, how long will you stay this time?"

Zhu Shuang replied, "Returning, Imperial Father, I'll stay a month; there are still matters in Australia, can't be away too long."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "Alright. During this month, spend more time with your mother."

Empress Ma's eyes reddened again, but she did not cry.

She held Zhu Shuang's hand, softly saying, "Shuang'er, what about your third sister-in-law and the children? Why didn't you bring them back?"

Zhu Shuang said, "Mother, Lady Deng is pregnant, won't board a ship; once the child is born, I'll bring them back for you to see."

Empress Ma nodded, "Good, good. Let her nurture the fetus well, don't trouble her."

The banquet dispersed, already in the afternoon.

Zhu Yong and Zhu Shuang walked side by side along the palace corridor.

"Second Prince, you've slimmed," Zhu Shuang said, looking at his brother, suddenly.

Zhu Yong glanced at him and said, "You too, Australia's tough, right?"

Zhu Shuang fell silent for a moment, nodded, and said, "Hardship, Second Prince, after you left, the first two years nothing went right: the mines yielded no ore, the natives caused trouble, immigrants suffered from the climate, a large area fell ill."

"I couldn't sleep each day, my hair fell out in clumps."

He paused, then continued, "Later it gradually improved; the mines produced ore, the natives were tamed, the immigrants adapted."

"Second Prince, I've remembered all the words you told me back then!"

Zhu Yong said nothing, patted his shoulder.

"Second Prince, how's your Tie Mu Er estate?" Zhu Shuang asked.

"It's fine; that place is vast, larger than Australia, with many people—Persians, Turks, Arabs, all sorts, not easy to govern."

"But after a few years of war, they've all become obedient," Zhu Yong said calmly.

Zhu Shuang nodded and said, "Second Prince, you've never lost a battle."

Zhu Yong smiled, said nothing.

At the palace gate, Zhu Shuang stopped and said, "Second Prince, tomorrow I'll visit Guanyin Nu's sister-in-law; she's pregnant, I can't go to the residence, please bring her into the palace so I can pay my respects."

Zhu Yong nodded, "Alright, I'll bring her tomorrow."

The two brothers part ways at the palace gate.

Zhu Yong rode his horse back, with Zhu QiongJiong following behind.

"Father, Third Uncle has changed a lot," Zhu QiongJiong urged his horse forward.

Zhu Yong glanced at his son and said, "Where has he changed?"

"Can't say, just… he's different from before; previously third uncle was frivolous, his speech unsteady, now he's steady and reliable."

Zhu Yong nodded.

That kid has grown up.

Returning to Wu Wang Fu, the sky was already near dark.

Zhu Huanhuan was supporting Guanyin Nu on a walk in the courtyard; seeing Zhu Yong return, Guanyin Nu laughed, "Prince, Shuang'er back?"

"Back, changed a lot," Zhu Yong sat down on the corridor.

Guanyin Nu walked over, sat beside him and said, "What have you become?"

"You've become steady, not the restless, flustered person you used to be; over in Australia, you're being managed well."

Zhu Yong paused, then continued, "Tomorrow I'll take you into the palace; he'll pay his respects to you."

Guanyin Nu nodded.

Zhu Huanhuan carried a bowl of soup over and handed it to Zhu Yong, "Father, have a bowl of soup."

Zhu Yong took it, took a sip—it was chicken soup, very fresh.

He glanced at his daughter; at seventeen she was a tall, graceful young lady.

During this period, while staying at Yingtian Prefecture with the Empress Dowager, his temperament grew even steadier.

"Huan Huan, tomorrow you'll enter the palace with your mother; your third uncle has returned, you should go meet him."

Zhu Huanhuan replied with a single word.

At night, Zhu Yong sat in the study, a map spread out before him.

It was the complete map of Tie Mu Er's domain, from Samarkand to Constantinople, every city and every river marked clearly.

He leaned back in his chair, eyes closed.

In his mind he pictured Zhu Shuang's appearance on the throne today. That boy had truly changed.

The door opened, Guanyin Nu entered, carrying a bowl of soup.

"Prince, it's late night; have a bowl of soup to warm your body."

Zhu Yong opened his eyes, took the bowl, and took a sip.

"Prince, Shuang'er has returned; you must be pleased, aren't you?" Guanyin Nu sat opposite him.

Zhu Yong nodded and replied, "I'm pleased; it's been five years since we last met, and that boy is now quite accomplished."

Guanyin Nu looked at him and softly said, "Prince, the younger brothers are all fine; I've never heard of any royal siblings being this close…"

Zhu Yong fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, "It's all thanks to the Imperial Mother and elder brother's good teaching…"

Guanyin Nu grasped his hand and said nothing further.

Outside the window, Moonlight was like water.

In the distance, the faint clanging of a night watchman's gong could be heard.