Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

Three days later, the Kunning Palace was bustling like a market in the early morning.

Several large boxes were piled up in the courtyard, all prepared by Empress Ma for Zhu Li: clothes, bedding, pots and pans, and even two jars of pickled vegetables that she had made herself.

"Mother, this is too much." Zhu Li scratched her head, looking at the things with worry.

"Not much, not much. You just moved in, and you're lacking everything. Although the Prince Wu's mansion has been tidied up, it's still empty inside, so we need to add some things." Empress Ma stuffed two more new cotton quilts into the box.

Chang smiled to herself, holding Zhu Xiong Ying's hand.

The little guy knew his second uncle was moving away, and he'd been pouting since morning. Right now, he's clinging to Zhu Li's leg and won't let go.

"Second Uncle won't leave..." He looked up, his eyes red.

Zhu Hui squatted down, patted his head and said, "Your second uncle lives on the next street. If you miss me, have Granny Zhang bring you here. It's less than the length of an incense stick's burn."

"Really?" Zhu Xiong Ying blinked.

"Really, I'll be a dog if I'm lying, pinky promise." Zhu Li said, extending her little finger.

The little guy then stopped crying and smiled, hooking his short finger around his own and saying, "Pinky promise, never to change for a hundred years!"

Just then, footsteps came from outside.

Zhu Biao walked in dressed in casual clothes, followed by two girls dressed as palace maids. One of them was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with an oval face and crescent-shaped eyes.

The other one looks smaller, has a round face, and naturally upturned corners of the mouth.

"Second brother, the girls have been brought to you, Qingmei and Qingzhu. They will be with you from now on and take care of your daily life," Zhu Biao said with a smile, pointing to the two women behind him.

The two palace maids knelt down in unison: "This servant greets Your Highness, Prince Wu."

Zhu Hui quickly waved his hand and said, "Get up, get up, don't kneel."

The two of them stood up and secretly glanced at him.

Upon seeing this, I breathed a sigh of relief. This new master looked honest and didn't seem like someone who would be difficult to serve.

"Both of them have served in the palace for many years, they know the rules, and they are clever."

As Zhu Biao spoke, he took out a booklet from his sleeve and said, "This is the roster of guards, a total of two hundred people, all of whom are top-notch soldiers selected from the Imperial Guard. Captains Zhang Han and Chen Nian are waiting outside right now."

Zhu Li took the booklet and flipped through it.

He has almost mastered the characters. After his memories of his past life were awakened, he seemed to have suddenly become adept at reading. Although he is not yet very proficient at writing, he can read without any problems.

The booklet was filled with names, with notes on the place of origin and cultivation level.

"Thank you, brother." He closed the booklet and said earnestly.

"We're family, no need for thanks. Mother, the carriages and horses are all ready, we can set off at any time." Zhu Biao patted his shoulder and then said to Empress Ma.

Empress Ma nodded, but her eyes were a little red.

She held Zhu Hui's hand and repeatedly instructed her, "When you get there, eat on time, wear warm clothes when it's cold, and send someone to tell your mother if anything happens..."

"Mother, I know." Zhu Li felt a warmth in her heart.

Just then, another commotion arose outside the courtyard gate.

A boy dressed in an indigo brocade robe rushed in. He was about sixteen years old, with delicate features and a smile on his face.

"Mother! Eldest brother, second brother!" he called out to them one by one, his voice clear and bright.

Zhu Hui paused for a moment, then looked at Zhu Biao.

"This is the sixth son, Zhu Su, formerly the King of Wu, now he has been enfeoffed as the King of Zhou," Zhu Biao introduced.

Zhu Su walked up to Zhu Hui, looked him over carefully, and suddenly grinned, "Second Brother, you're finally back! Mother used to talk about you all the time when we were little, I was so tired of hearing it!"

He spoke naturally, without a trace of dissatisfaction or jealousy in his eyes, only pure joy.

Zhu Hui smiled too: "Sixth Brother."

"Just call him Lao Liu, he's friendly. Come in and help!" Zhu Su waved his hand and then turned to shout outside.

A dozen or so eunuchs and palace maids rushed in and quickly began moving boxes.

"Sixth Brother, what's wrong with you...?" Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow.

"I'll help my second brother move! My place is close to the Wu Prince's Mansion, and I bet he knows the place well, so I can help him out," Zhu Su said matter-of-factly.

As he spoke, he leaned closer to Zhu Hui and lowered his voice: "Second brother, fifth brother originally wanted to come too, but he skipped school a few days ago and was grounded by father."

Zhu Hui nodded and said, "Okay, I understand."

Zhu Biao had already told him about this matter, and Zhu Di was also very curious about the Yongle Emperor.

However, it is said that he often skipped classes and was punished by his own father, so it seems that Emperor Yongle was not very well-behaved at this time.

"Second Brother, I heard you often go hunting. When will you take me hunting? I know there's a place outside the city..." Zhu Su's eyes lit up.

"Sixth Brother." Zhu Biao coughed lightly.

Zhu Su immediately stood up straight and chuckled, "Let's move first, let's move first."

Empress Ma looked at the people in the room and finally smiled and said, "Alright, alright, stop standing around. Those who need to move, move; those who need to leave, leave. Li'er, I'll see you to the palace gate."

……

When the motorcade emerged from the side gate of the palace, the sun was already high in the sky.

Twenty mounted guards led the way, followed by three large carts carrying boxes, and another twenty guards brought up the rear.

Zhu Li sat in the first carriage, with Qingmei and Qingzhu serving him.

With the carriage curtain open, he could see the street scene outside.

The streets of Yingtianfu were wide and flat, lined with shops on both sides, and bustling with pedestrians.

Compared to the tranquility of the mountain village, this place is so lively it's dazzling.

"Your Highness, the Wu Prince's residence is just ahead," Qingmei gently reminded him.

Zhu Hui looked up.

A magnificent mansion appeared on the street corner, with a vermilion gate and two imposing stone lions in front of it.

A brand-new plaque hangs above the gate, bearing three large gilded characters: Wu Wang Mansion.

The convoy stopped in front of the gate.

The guards quickly dispersed to maintain order, and Zhang Han and Chen Nian dismounted and hurried to the front of the carriage.

"Your Highness, we have arrived." The two men clasped their hands in greeting.

Zhu Hui jumped off the carriage and looked up at the gate of the mansion.

It's huge.

It was many times bigger than his little courtyard in the mountains.

"This old servant, Uncle Fu, welcomes Your Highness back to the mansion." An elderly man in his fifties, dressed in a gray long robe, with his hair neatly combed, came out from inside the gate.

This was a steward specially appointed by Empress Ma. He had been saved by Empress Ma and had served in the Huangzhuang estate outside the palace for more than 30 years. He was the most reliable and steady.

"Hello, Uncle Fu." Zhu Liu nodded.

Uncle Fu stepped aside and said, "Your Highness, please come in. Everything in the mansion has been prepared."

Zhu Li lifted his foot and walked inside.

Stepping over the threshold, you are greeted by a spacious courtyard paved with blue bricks, with osmanthus trees planted on both sides, which are in full bloom right now, filling the air with their fragrance.

Passing through the courtyard leads to the main hall, which is fully furnished with tables and chairs, and several calligraphy and paintings hang on the walls.

Further on were the east and west wing rooms, the study, the kitchen, the servants' quarters... Zhu Li followed Uncle Fu around for a while, and his legs were sore from walking.

"Am I the only one living in this mansion?" he couldn't help but ask.

"If Your Highness feels the space is too empty, you may add some more people," Uncle Fu said, bowing.

Zhu Hui shook his head and said, "No need, it's enough."

He was used to living in the mountains, and the house felt empty and cramped because it was too big.

Just then, Zhu Su rushed in from outside, beads of sweat on his forehead, and said, "Second Brother! Everything's been moved in, just tell me where to put it!"

"Just put it anywhere, as long as it's habitable," Zhu Li said.

Zhu Su grinned and said, "That won't do. It has to be set up properly. Uncle Fu, you take charge. My men will obey your orders."

Uncle Fu responded and left.