Chapter 450: Having Your Second Brother Here…

"Mother, my second brother's campaign is almost over; he should be able to return next year," Zhu Biao returned the letter to his mother.

The Empress Ma said nothing, refolded the letter, and slipped it back into her sleeve.

"Zhu Biao, you say that Qiong Jiong, that child, is only twelve yet already on the battlefield killing enemies; doesn't your second brother feel any compassion?"

"The compassion is there, but he is the second brother's son; he will have to go to war sooner or later, and it's better to go early than late."

Chang Wan, standing nearby, let out a soft sigh and said, "That child has been away for almost a year; I don't even know if he's lost weight. In his last letter he claimed he'd grown an inch."

The Empress Ma's eyes reddened slightly as she said, "Huan Huan is the same; she's grown up and should be getting married."

When Zhu Huanhuan's marriage was mentioned, Zhu Biao's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Imperial Mother, what are your thoughts on Huan Huan's matter?" Zhu Biao asked.

The Empress Ma thought for a moment, then looked up at her son: "Zhu Biao, what do you think?"

Zhu Biao pondered briefly and said softly, "Huan Huan is the second brother's eldest daughter; with him away, we must decide for her, but we cannot act on our own accord.

Wait until the second brother returns and let him decide himself."

"Your second brother's temperament—he's fine at war but not at choosing a son‑in‑law," the Empress Ma shook her head, her tone tinged with helplessness.

Chang Wan whispered from beside her, "Imperial Mother, actually several noble families have inquired discreetly. Over at the Wei Duke's residence, the eldest son of Xu Huizuo is seventeen this year, and his literary and martial talents are both commendable."

Over at the Cao Duke's residence, although Li Jinglong is said to be a bit younger than Huan Huan, the two families are close and well acquainted.

The Empress Ma listened, nodding occasionally, yet gave no definitive answer.

"I've met that Xu family boy; he's indeed fine, but Huan Huan's temperament is like her father's—seeming simple‑hearted yet with her own ideas. If we decide for her here and she disagrees, wouldn't that be pointless?" she paused, then added.

Zhu Biao nodded, "Imperial Mother is right; we'll discuss it when the second brother returns."

"That's all we can do. Your second brother is fighting out there, and we back here can't even decide his daughter's marriage; if word got out, people would laugh," the Empress Ma sighed.

Zhu Biao said nothing.

He knew his mother wasn't truly complaining; she was missing his second brother.

Two years ago the second brother returned from Tie Mu Er's manor, lived in Yingtian Prefecture for half a year, and his mother prepared delicious meals for him in ever‑changing ways each day. After the second brother left, his mother kept nagging daily.

Chang Wan sensed the Empress Ma's thoughts and whispered, "Imperial Mother, the second brother has won battles there and is a Great Ming war hero. Once the campaign ends, Imperial Father will surely grant him honors, and then he will naturally return."

The Empress Ma nodded and fell silent.

"Empress, Crown Prince, the meal has been passed," a palace maid announced as she emerged from the hall.

Zhu Biao rose, helped the Empress Ma walk back into the hall. Chang Wan followed, reaching up to smooth the stray strands by her sideburns.

The dining hall of Kunning Palace was modest—a round table set with a few light dishes.

The Empress Ma sat at the table, gazed at the spread, and suddenly asked, "Zhu Biao, do you think your second brother can get used to eating over in Europe? The people there don't even bathe; can their food be clean?"

Zhu Biao sat beside her and laughed, "Imperial Mother, the second brother has a chef with him; he won't go hungry."

"Even with a chef, they can't replicate Great Ming's flavor."

The Empress Ma shook her head, picked up a piece of tofu with her chopsticks, popped it into her mouth, chewed twice, and said, "Did your Sixth Prince send the medicines you brought back from the apothecary to your second brother? Europe is heavy with miasma; don't let him fall ill."

"Sent them. The Sixth Prince himself prepared them—anti‑miasma, wound‑healing, all were sent," Zhu Biao replied point by point.

The Empress Ma nodded and continued eating. After two bites, she set her chopsticks down again.

"Zhu Biao, whatever your second brother lacks over there, have someone prepare it, and bring it along the next time you send a letter."

"Imperial Mother, you need not worry; the second brother lacks nothing over there," Chang Wan laughed from beside her.

The Empress Ma sighed, "That child has never been easy on us since childhood. Back when he was hunting wild boars on Fengyang Mountain, he'd be out all day, return bruised all over, yet never complain of pain."

Zhu Biao listened to his mother ramble about the second brother's childhood, a faint smile curling his lips.

The second brother was just fourteen when he formally pledged allegiance, but his eyes shone terrifyingly bright.

More than twenty years have passed, and those eyes remain just as bright.

"Crown Prince, Imperial Father requests your presence," a eunuch entered from the hall, bowing.

Zhu Biao rose and said to the Empress Ma, "Imperial Mother, I will go to Imperial Father first; please take care of things here."

The Empress Ma waved her hand, "Go, go. You all are busy; I'm the only idle one."

Zhu Biao smiled lightly and turned to leave.

Chang Wan stayed in Kunning Palace with the Empress Ma; the hall fell quiet, only the faint clink of chopsticks and dishes could be heard.

In Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang stood before the massive World Map.

The map was presented by Zhu Yong in the Hongwu Third Year and has hung here for over twenty years.

The paper had yellowed, its edges slightly torn, yet the lines remained clear.

From Yingtian Prefecture westward, the map stretches to Europe, then to Constantinople, further west to Frank, England, and across the sea to America.

Now, most of those places have raised Great Ming's banners.

"Imperial Father…" Zhu Biao entered, stopping at the doorway.

Zhu Yuanzhang turned, looking at his eldest son.

He wore a moon‑white formal robe, standing there with a straight posture.

"Zhu Biao, come here," Zhu Yuanzhang gestured.

Zhu Biao walked over, stood beside his father, and together they examined the map.

"Your second brother has won another battle; Portugal, Castile, Aragon, France have all been taken. In Europe, only Germany and Italy remain untouched," Zhu Yuanzhang said, pointing to the location of France on the map.

Zhu Biao nodded, "The second brother wrote that the Holy Roman Empire is gathering forces there; it looks like a war is imminent."

Zhu Yuanzhang hummed, "If they fight, they fight; with your second brother on our side, who are we afraid of?"

Having said that, Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth curved into a smile.

He sat behind the imperial desk, picked up the folded paper on the table, leafed through it, and set it down again.

"Zhu Biao, when will the scholars and Taoists you sent reach Europe?"

Zhu Biao sat on the chair beside him and replied, "Even at best it will take two months; the seas are stormy and the journey is slow."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, pondering for a moment, "The religion Europeans follow is far more domineering than our Buddhism and Taoism; the Pope is in Rome, and even the king must obey him. Such a religion cannot be kept."

Have your second brother clean the church thoroughly; when the Confucian scholars and Taoist priests arrive, open the hall for instruction.

Zhu Biao answered.

"Also, does your second brother have enough Grain and Fodder over there?" Zhu Yuanzhang paused, then asked again.

"Enough. The food collected from Portugal and Castile will last half a year, and with the supplies shipped from Great Ming, it can sustain a year without problem."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, silent for a moment.

"Zhu Biao, when do you think Yong Er's campaign will end?"

Zhu Biao thought for a moment, then said softly, "Second brother says, if it's fast, two years; if it's slow, three years."

"Three years." Zhu Yuanzhang repeated, his tone showing no change.

Three years—he can wait that long.

His second brother is thirty‑three this year, the prime age for fighting.