Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

As dawn broke, a thin mist still shrouded the courtyard of Kunning Palace.

Zhu Li was fast asleep.

Suddenly, Zhu Hui jolted awake.

It wasn't a nightmare, but I was woken up by a commotion; I could hear shouts coming from outside.

"Second Uncle..."

Outside the window, little Zhu Xiong Ying was calling him! In her childish voice, she said, "Second Uncle, Second Uncle, wake up!"

He rubbed his eyes, sat up, put on his coat, and pushed open the door.

In the courtyard, little Zhu Xiong Ying was standing on tiptoe, clinging to the windowsill. When she saw him come out, her eyes lit up, and she ran forward with her little arms outstretched, calling out, "Hug!"

Zhu Hui chuckled, walked over, and picked up the little guy, saying, "So early, where are your parents?"

"Father went to the morning court, and Mother is cooking." Zhu Xiong Ying put her arm around his neck, leaned in and sniffed him, saying, "Second Uncle smells."

"Second Uncle didn't take a bath yesterday," Zhu Li confessed honestly.

"No, it smells nice and refreshing, I like it." Zhu Xiong Ying rested her head on his shoulder.

At this moment, Empress Ma poked her head out from the kitchen, still holding a spatula, and said, "Xiong Ying, are you here to bother Second Uncle again?"

"I didn't make a fuss. I just woke up my second uncle to have breakfast," Zhu Xiong Ying said matter-of-factly.

Empress Ma laughed and scolded, "You little rascal, Li'er, go wash your face, breakfast will be ready soon."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Li quickly carried his nephew to the well to fetch water.

The well water was icy cold in the early morning. He casually wiped his face and then wiped Zhu Xiong Ying's little hands.

The little guy giggled, splashing water droplets everywhere.

"Xiongying, you can't be so rude..." At this moment, Madam Chang, holding her bowl and chopsticks, saw the little guy's actions and said with a stern face.

"I'm sorry, Second Uncle..."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiong Ying immediately apologized to Zhu Hui.

"It's alright..." Zhu Li smiled and patted the little guy's head.

Breakfast was very simple: white porridge, pickled vegetables, and noodles cooked in the leftover broth from last night's cured meat.

The four people were eating at the stone table when footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.

A woman in her early twenties walked in carrying a little boy who was a little over one year old.

The woman was dressed in a light pink palace dress, with a beautiful face and a deliberately docile expression in her eyes.

The little boy was thin and small, with two big eyes looking around timidly.

"Your Majesty, I, Lady Lü, have brought Yunwen to pay my respects to Your Majesty." The woman bowed gracefully, her voice so gentle it could melt water.

Empress Ma put down her chopsticks, her smile fading slightly, and said, "Get up. Have you had breakfast yet...?"

"I've already used it."

Lady Lü quickly stood up, her gaze sweeping lightly over Zhu Hui before she lowered her eyes and said, "This must be my second brother! I heard yesterday that you had returned to the palace, and I should have come to pay my respects earlier, but I was afraid of disturbing your rest."

She spoke politely, but Zhu Li felt something was off.

Zhu Hui put down his bowl, first glanced at Zhu Yunwen, who had only been on the throne for four years, and then scratched his head and said, "Hello, sister-in-law."

Only then did Lady Lü raise her eyes to look at him carefully.

Upon seeing this, I breathed a sigh of relief.

He was tall, but his eyes were simple and honest. He wore coarse cloth clothes and ate his meal from a large bowl, looking every bit like a country bumpkin.

Apart from his face, which does resemble Zhu Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang somewhat, he has absolutely no princely bearing.

This country bumpkin posed no threat to Yunwen whatsoever.

Zhu Li ignored Lady Lü and continued eating his noodles.

At Empress Ma's signal, Lady Lü sat on a stone bench nearby, embraced her son, and said softly, "Mother, my second brother has suffered in the common people all these years. Now that he has returned, he must be well nourished."

"I have some excellent tonics; I'll send them to my second brother later."

"No need, Li'er is in good health and doesn't need those things," Empress Ma said calmly.

"Yes, Xiong Ying looks really good today. It seems she likes Second Uncle." Madam Lü replied obediently, then looked at Zhu Xiong Ying and said.

Zhu Xiong Ying was playing with Zhu Hui's sleeve when she heard this, so she looked up and said, "Second Uncle is so much fun!"

Lu's smile remained unchanged, but her mind was racing.

This foolish second prince seems to get along well with his eldest grandson.

But it's all for the best. No matter how much she's favored, she can't threaten her son's future.

We need to be careful that he doesn't get too close to Zhu Xiong Ying, in case something happens in the future...

As she was thinking, Zhu Hui suddenly looked up at Zhu Yunwen in her arms and asked, "How old is this child?"

"Second brother, Yunwen is one and a half years old," Madam Lü replied hastily.

"You're a little thin, you need to eat more," Zhu Li said earnestly.

Madam Lü's lips twitched slightly, and she forced a smile, saying, "Yunwen is in poor health, so I dare not let him eat too much."

"If you're weak, you need to eat more. I was weak when I was a child, but I was able to eat a lot, which is why I have the body I have now." After saying that, Zhu Li buried her head in her noodles again.

A smile appeared in Empress Ma's eyes.

Lady Lü was momentarily speechless.

The atmosphere was a little awkward.

Fortunately, Zhu Biao returned from the court assembly not long after.

He was dressed in an apricot-yellow casual suit, carrying several booklets in his hand. When he entered the courtyard and saw Madam Lü, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly before relaxing.

"Your Majesty, I greet you." Lady Lü quickly rose and bowed.

"Hmm! Mother, the porridge looks delicious today." Zhu Biao responded, walked straight to the stone table, and sat down next to Empress Ma.

Upon seeing this, Madam Chang quickly served Zhu Biao a bowl of porridge.

"Eat more if it smells good." Empress Ma glanced at her eldest son.

Zhu Biao took the porridge handed to him by Madam Chang, then looked at Madam Lü and said, "Have you come to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager?"

"Yes, and bring Yunwen to meet my second brother as well," Madam Lü replied, bowing her head.

"Go back now that you've seen him! Yunwen is young, don't stay outside for too long." Zhu Biao's tone was gentle, but the meaning behind his words was clear.

Lady Lü bit her lip, bowed, and took her leave.

She carried Zhu Yunwen outside, and looked back at the courtyard gate.

In the courtyard, Zhu Biao was serving food to Zhu Hui when Empress Ma said something with a smile. Zhu Xiong Ying, lying on Zhu Hui's lap, giggled.

A harmonious family.

She hugged her son tightly, then turned and left.

After everyone left, Zhu Biao put down his chopsticks and said to Zhu Hui, "Second brother, just listen to what Lady Lü said and don't take it to heart."

Zhu Hui blinked: "Brother, she said she's going to send me some tonics."

"Do you want it?" Zhu Biao asked.

"No, what would I do with that stuff? I'm perfectly healthy! You should have the supplements!" Zhu Li shook her head and said.

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Then I won't accept it."

Empress Ma said softly, "Biao'er, what about the Lü family..."

"Don't worry, Mother, I know what I'm doing." Zhu Biao interrupted her, his tone still gentle, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

Chang listened silently without offering any opinion.

Zhu Hui didn't notice any of this; he was busy feeding Zhu Xiong Ying porridge.

The little guy wouldn't eat properly, so he used chopsticks to dip a little food in the sauce and coaxed him into eating: "Ah...open your mouth, the big tiger is coming!"

Zhu Xiong Ying obediently opened her mouth, and after finishing, she smacked her lips and said, "Second Uncle, more!"

Breakfast was a lively and enjoyable affair.

After the meal, Empress Ma and Lady Chang cleared away the dishes together. Zhu Biao said to Zhu Hui, "Second brother, I said yesterday I'd take you to the library. Shall we go now?"

"Okay! Xiong Ying, are you going or not..." Zhu Li stood up and looked at Zhu Xiong Ying before asking.

"Go!" The little guy immediately hugged his leg.

Zhu Biao said helplessly, "Take him with you! It's not far anyway."

The three of them left Kunning Palace and walked east along the palace road.