Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

At 3:45 AM, it was still dark.

In the east wing of the Wu Prince's Mansion, Zhu Hui was fast asleep, perhaps having a sweet dream, a smile still on his lips.

Just then...

"Knock knock knock..."

"Your Highness, it's time to get up. You have to attend court today," Qingmei's voice rang out from outside the door.

Zhu Li turned over and covered her head with the blanket.

"Knock knock knock..."

"Your Highness, it will be too late if we don't get up now. His Highness the Crown Prince instructed that we must not be late for the first court session." This time it was Qingzhu, and her voice sounded somewhat anxious.

Zhu Hui sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes, and said, "Court...why so early..."

"The court will begin at the exact hour of Mao (5-7 AM). Your Highness must arrive at Fengtian Gate two quarters of an hour in advance." Qingmei pushed open the door and came in, holding court robes in her hands.

The court robe in Qingmei's hand was a crimson royal robe, with dragon patterns embroidered on the front and back, a jade belt around the waist, and a black gauze winged crown.

Zhu Li looked at the outfit and his mind immediately cleared up.

"You should wear this..."

"Yes, Your Highness, this servant will assist you in changing your clothes." Qingmei stepped forward.

A moment later, Zhu Hui, dressed neatly, stood in front of the bronze mirror, looking at himself from left to right, feeling somewhat awkward.

"It feels a bit like a theatrical performance..." Zhu Li muttered.

"Your Highness, please be careful with your words. This is the royal attire of a prince." Qingzhu smiled and handed him a hot towel to wipe his face.

Footsteps sounded outside, and Uncle Fu said from outside the door, "Your Highness, the carriages and horses are ready."

Zhu Li sighed and resignedly walked out.

……

The carriage drove towards the imperial city through the morning mist.

The streets were deserted, with only the distant sound of the night watchman striking his clapper echoing through the air.

Zhu Li lifted the carriage curtain and looked out; Yingtian Prefecture was still asleep.

"Your Highness, we've reached the Meridian Gate," the coachman whispered.

The carriage stopped, and Zhu Li jumped off.

Before him stood towering city walls, and a few people had already gathered under the gate, standing in twos and threes, talking in hushed tones. Many people turned to look at him as he arrived.

Some were curious, some were scrutinizing, and some were dismissive.

Zhu Li didn't recognize these people, so he simply stood there in a daze.

"Is it His Highness the King of Wu?" A gentle voice came from the side.

Zhu Hui turned his head and saw a civil official in his fifties, wearing a scarlet robe, with a thin face, three long wisps of beard, and clear eyes.

"Yes, I am." He nodded.

The civil official cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "This old minister, Li Shanchang, greets Your Highness."

Li Shanchang... Zhu Hui thought for a moment and remembered him: the Left Chancellor of the Secretariat, one of the founding heroes.

"Good sir/madam Li," he replied, mimicking the greeting.

"Your Highness, this is your first time attending court. There is no need to be nervous. Just follow the Crown Prince."

Li Shanchang smiled warmly, paused, and then said, "Your Highness, today's court meeting concerns military affairs in the northern frontier. Just listen and let it be."

Zhu Li nodded, but muttered to himself.

Regarding military affairs in the northern frontier, my elder brother mentioned that General Xu seems to be located in the north.

Just then, someone else walked over.

This was a middle-aged man dressed as a military officer. He had regular features, a square face, and clear eyebrows and eyes, and looked incredibly heroic.

"This humble general, Li Wenzhong, greets Your Highness, the Prince of Wu." The middle-aged man clasped his hands in greeting, his voice booming.

Li Wenzhong, father of the Great Ming War God, Duke of Cao, and nephew of Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Hui quickly said, "Hello, cousin."

More people came over to pay their respects.

Mu Ying, Zhu Yuanzhang's adopted son, was the Marquis of Xiping, who was stationed in Yunnan. This time, he was returning to the capital to report on his duties.

He looked to be in his early thirties, with dark skin and sharp, eagle-like eyes, exuding a murderous aura honed on the battlefield.

Hu Weiyong, the Right Chancellor of the Secretariat, stood side by side with Li Shanchang, smiling amiably and speaking with perfect tact.

There was also Liu Bowen, the Earl of Chengyi, who stood at the edge of the crowd, dressed in a simple Taoist robe, holding a whisk in his hand.

Liu Bowen glanced at Zhu Hui from afar, his gaze lingering for a moment. When he saw Zhu Hui looking at him, he nodded slightly.

Zhu Hui nodded in agreement. He could tell at a glance that this old man was no ordinary person; could he be Old Silver Coin?

Just then, at the beginning of the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), a bell rang out from within the imperial city.

The palace gates slowly opened, and officials lined up according to their rank, filing in one after another.

Zhu Hui stood in the row of princes, with Zhu Biao in front of him. However, Zhu Biao was probably with his father and was not present. Behind him were several younger brothers who had not yet been enfeoffed.

Zhu Su quietly tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Second Brother, don't say anything out of line later, just listen."

"Understood," Zhu Hui replied softly.

The procession passed through a series of palace gates and finally arrived at the square in front of the Fengtian Hall.

As dawn broke, the morning light shone from the east, gilding the majestic palace with golden edges.

Zhu Hui looked up.

The Fengtian Hall stands atop a white marble platform, its double-eaved hip roof gleaming in the morning light.

Nine steps lead up to the hall, flanked by bronze tortoises and cranes, while wisps of incense smoke drift out from inside.

The officials stood still in the square, completely silent.

suddenly...

"hold head high..."

A dragon's roar came from the heavens, making people's eardrums go numb.

Zhu Li suddenly looked up.

Above the Hall of Supreme Harmony, clouds surged and radiated golden light. A hundred-zhang-long, five-clawed golden dragon emerged from the clouds, its whiskers fluttering, its scales gleaming, and its eyes like torches, looking down upon the officials below.

The dragon's body coiled around the roof of the palace, its claws pressing lightly against the eaves, an invisible pressure enveloping the entire square.

Zhu Li's eyes widened.

Although he knew this was the mythical Ming Dynasty, he was still shocked to see the golden dragon of destiny with his own eyes.

This is much more impressive than those monsters in the mountains.

Zhu Su whispered beside him, "Second Brother, this is the Golden Dragon of our Great Ming Dynasty's destiny. It only appears during the Grand Court Assembly."

Zhu Hui nodded, but thought to himself: This one is so big, how much must it have eaten...

Just as he was lost in thought, three cracks of the whip rang out from inside the hall.

"His Majesty has arrived..." the eunuch's high-pitched voice trailed off.

All the officials knelt down in unison, shouting, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Zhu Hui knelt down as well, stealing glances at the palace gate.

Zhu Yuanzhang walked out of the hall, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and a crown with twelve strings of white jade beads hanging in front of him, covering most of his face.

But you could feel his commanding presence from a great distance.

Zhu Biao followed closely behind, dressed in the apricot-yellow Crown Prince's court robes, his expression solemn.

To Zhu Li's surprise, the two people did not walk out, but walked on air!

Golden clouds rose from beneath Zhu Yuanzhang's feet, carrying him slowly down the steps.

Beneath Zhu Biao's feet was azure literary energy that condensed into the shape of a lotus platform, blooming with each step.

The father and son walked down from the palace gate and came to the throne in the center of the square.

A golden dragon hovered overhead, its roar echoing overhead.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat down, and Zhu Biao stood beside him.

"Rise." Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

All the officials rose and stood with their hands at their sides.

Zhu Hui stood up and realized that his position was very close to the throne, just behind and to the side of Zhu Biao.

This was clearly arranged on purpose.

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze swept over the officials, lingering on Zhu Hui for a moment, the corners of his mouth seemingly curving slightly before his imposing demeanor returned.

"Today's court meeting prioritizes military affairs in the northern frontier. Xu Da has sent an urgent message: Wang Baobao of the Northern Yuan has gathered his remaining troops and, together with the demon tribes of the grasslands, has repeatedly invaded the border."

"What are your thoughts, gentlemen?" he asked, getting straight to the point.