Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

Zhu Li felt a warm glow inside, even though it felt a bit like she was bullying the honest Lao Liu.

Zhu Li hugged her little nephew tightly; the little guy was smacking his lips in his sleep.

"Li'er, tell your mother, how have you been these past years?" Empress Ma asked curiously, placing a piece of cured meat on his plate.

Zhu Hui thought for a moment and said, "It's good. My parents treat me well, I have food to eat every day, and I have cotton-padded coats to wear in winter. It's just that... it's cold in the mountains, and sometimes there isn't enough firewood, so we have to share a quilt."

He spoke casually, but Empress Ma's heart ached as she listened.

Zhu Yuanzhang said in a muffled voice, "It's our fault for not protecting you."

"Father, it's not your fault. My adoptive father said that in those chaotic times, it was a blessing to be alive," Zhu Li said earnestly.

He paused, then added, "And I'm quite comfortable in the mountains. I can hunt, climb trees, and... I can even help the villagers with chores."

Empress Ma wiped her eyes and said, "Your adoptive parents were good people."

"Yes, they are good people. Daya is well-behaved, but she's naughty. She loves to follow me all over the mountain, and she always gets scolded by her mother." Zhu Li nodded.

This book was first published on 2020s.com, providing you with a reading experience free of errors and disordered chapters.

At this point, he suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, Dad, there are monsters in the mountains..."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said, "Did I hurt you..."

"No, I'm strong, I can cut down anyone I see. But the other day I ran into a big one, it looked like a monkey and a human at the same time, it was dark and had really sharp claws," Zhu Li said casually.

Zhu Biao interjected, "The mountain demon is recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas; it eats people and is considered malevolent."

"Yes, that's the name. I chopped it up with one axe." Zhu Hui nodded in reply.

He said this in a casual tone, as if he were saying, "I ate three steamed buns today."

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma exchanged a glance.

They already knew their son was extraordinary, but hearing him speak so casually still shocked them.

"Li'er, can your father take a look at that axe?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked tentatively.

Zhu Li looked at her sleeping nephew in her arms and replied with some difficulty, "Xiong Ying is here now, don't scare him."

"Then another day," Zhu Yuanzhang readily agreed.

The meal took half an hour to finish.

The pot of cured pork was almost empty, and the rice was all gone.

Zhu Yuan ate five bowls by himself and drank three bowls of soup at the end.

Empress Ma was pleased to see this, but also a little worried, she said, "Eat slowly, don't overeat."

"I'm not full. I can usually eat this much. Working in the mountains is tiring," Zhu Liang said, patting her stomach.

Madam Chang, who had been sitting quietly, spoke softly, "It's a blessing that my second brother has a good appetite."

Zhu Huichong chuckled and said, "Sister-in-law, my brother said your pastries are delicious too."

Madam Chang was taken aback and asked, "How did you know, Second Brother...?"

"My elder brother said on the way that the osmanthus cake my sister-in-law made was even more fragrant than the one from the imperial kitchen," Zhu Li honestly confessed.

Zhu Biao coughed lightly.

Chang blushed slightly and smiled.

As darkness fell completely, the palace lanterns were lit one by one.

Zhu Xiong Ying stirred in Zhu Hui's arms, rubbing her eyes as she woke up.

When the little guy saw that he was still in his second uncle's arms, he didn't cry, but instead giggled.

"Second Uncle," he called out in a childish voice.

"Yes!" Zhu Li responded loudly.

As Empress Ma watched this scene, the void in her heart that had remained empty for twenty-two years was finally filled.

She got up to clear the dishes, and Zhu Biao and Madam Chang offered to help, but she stopped them, saying, "You two keep Li'er company, I'll do it."

Zhu Yuanzhang also stood up and said, "We'll help you."

The elderly couple carried bowls and plates into the kitchen.

Only Zhu Hui, Zhu Biao, and Chang Shi remained in the courtyard, along with Zhu Xiong Ying, who was perched on Zhu Hui's shoulder playing with his hair.

"Second brother, you can stay in the side hall of Kunning Palace for the next few days. Mother wants to see you more. You can move in after the Wu Prince's Mansion is ready."

Zhu Biao said gently.

"I'll listen to you, brother." Zhu Liu nodded.

"There's no rush to learn to read. I'll teach you slowly. But you're learning quite quickly. You've memorized all the words I taught you on the way," Zhu Biao added.

Zhu Hui was a little embarrassed: "I...I secretly learned a little bit before."

That's the truth.

Although he was a simpleton in his previous life, he had at least read a few books and could recognize common characters.

I just have to keep up the act for the rest of my life and not give myself away.

"It's good that you love learning. Tomorrow I'll take you to the library. There are lots of books there, you can read whatever you want," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

"I want to see...a story about monsters." Zhu Li's eyes lit up.

"The Classic of Mountains and Seas, the Records of Searching for Spirits, and the Lost Records all have them," Zhu Biao readily agreed.

Listening from the side, Madam Chang suddenly asked softly, "Second brother, are there really many monsters in the mountains?"

Zhu Hui thought for a moment and said, "Not that many, maybe two or three times a year. The big ones are like mandrills, and the small ones are weasels and fox spirits. They can bewitch people, but I can make them behave after hitting them with my axe."

He spoke casually, but Chang was astonished.

While demons and monsters are not uncommon in this world, this is, after all, Yingtian Prefecture, the imperial palace, and the Chang family has rarely seen them.

Zhu Biao thought that Madam Chang was worried about her second brother and the people, so he took her hand and said, "With my second brother here, those things in the mountains will not dare to cause trouble in the future."

Just then, Zhu Yuanzhang's booming voice came from the kitchen: "Sister! Don't throw away this cured meat broth; we'll use it to cook noodles tomorrow morning!"

"I know, I'll keep it!" Empress Ma's voice was tinged with laughter.

Zhu Xiong Ying got tired of playing and fell asleep on Zhu Hui's shoulder.

Madam Chang took the child and said softly, "Second brother, Xiong Ying is especially clingy to you today."

"I have the smell of the mountains on me, and he was curious," Zhu Hui said with a smile.

"It's the taste of family." Zhu Biao patted him on the shoulder.

Late at night.

Zhu Hui was arranged to stay in the east side hall of Kunning Palace. The bedding was all new and had been aired out until it was fluffy and soft.

He lay on the unfamiliar bed, looking at the carved ceiling, unable to fall asleep.

So much happened today.

He recognized his parents, met his brother, sister-in-law, and nephew, ate his mother's cooking, and learned that his adoptive parents were on their way to Beijing.

It all felt like a dream.

Zhu Hui turned over and closed her eyes.

He suddenly felt that although the palace was large and unfamiliar, it also seemed... quite warm.

Outside the window, a bright moon hangs on the eaves.

The millions of lights in Yingtian Prefecture flickered in the night.

On the official road a hundred miles away, three horse-drawn carriages were traveling day and night.

Zheng Dazhu sat on the carriage shaft, looking at the dark official road ahead, his hand tightly gripping his pipe.

Inside the carriage, Madam Zheng held the sleeping Zheng Daya in her arms, her eyes gazing in the direction of the capital.

"His father, Li'er...is he really a prince?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince said it himself, so it can't be wrong."

"Wouldn't it be embarrassing for him if we went?"

"His Highness said that Li'er is sentimental, and he will be happy if we go."

Madam Zheng stopped talking and simply hugged her daughter even tighter.

The carriage rolled along the official road, raising a fine cloud of dust.

Ahead, the outline of Yingtian City was faintly visible in the night, like a sleeping giant beast.

Inside the giant beast's heart, the lamps of Kunning Palace were still lit.