Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

The two brothers had just approached Kunning Palace.

The aroma of the filling wafted out.

As Zhu Hui followed Zhu Biao through the palace gate, he heard lively conversations inside.

Empress Ma, wearing an apron, was directing the palace maids to roll out dumpling wrappers and make dumplings, while her sons gathered around the table, imitating her with great enthusiasm.

"Mom, is this dough round enough...?"

Among the young men, a man in his early twenties, dressed in a brocade robe, was holding up a crookedly shaped sheet of dough.

"Shuang'er, what you call a pancake is not a crust," Empress Ma said with a laugh.

Another young man nearby chimed in, "Third Brother, don't waste the food. Give it to me, I'll make a tiger."

"Gang'er, the one you sculpted is called a sick cat..."

Zhu Li stood at the doorway watching.

These two should be the third prince, Zhu Shuang, the Prince of Qin, and the fourth prince, Zhu Gang, the Prince of Jin.

Both of them had the square faces typical of the Zhu family, but Zhu Shuang had a more assertive look, while Zhu Gang exuded an impatient and restless air.

"Second son is here, come quickly and help your mother mix the filling." Empress Ma, with her sharp eyes, smiled and beckoned.

Zhu Li walked over and took the wooden basin and chopsticks.

The bowl contained finely chopped pork and cabbage, along with minced scallions and ginger, and smelled wonderful.

He skillfully stirred the mixture with chopsticks, his movements much more efficient than his two younger brothers beside him.

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang stopped what they were doing and stared at him intently.

"You are... Second Brother..." Zhu Shuang looked him up and down, his eyes scrutinizing him.

Zhu Gang didn't speak, but he pursed his lips, the meaning of which was very clear: what skills could someone who came back from the mountains possibly have?

Zhu Biao said calmly from the side, "Third brother, fourth brother, call him second brother."

Upon hearing this, the two trembled and reluctantly called out, "Second Brother."

Zhu Li hummed in agreement and continued mixing the filling.

He was strong, and in a few strokes he stirred the filling until it was even and translucent, with the oil and vegetable juice fully blended together.

Empress Ma praised, "Li'er is so efficient, unlike some people who can roll out eight faces from a single dough sheet."

Zhu Shuang lowered his head sheepishly.

Zhu Yuanzhang came out from the inner room, changed into casual clothes, and said with a smile, "It's good to have dumplings today, we're in for a treat."

Behind him followed a little boy, about four years old, with a chubby face and a lively appearance; this was none other than the eldest grandson of the emperor, Zhu Xiong Ying.

The little guy's eyes lit up as soon as he saw Zhu Hui, and he ran over to hug his leg, saying, "Second Uncle! Hug!"

Zhu Li bent down and picked him up, and the little guy hugged his neck and giggled.

Zhu Xiong Ying liked this second uncle very much.

The last time we met, my second uncle lifted him up above his head with one hand and spun him around, even higher than my dad could lift him. It was really exciting.

Zhu Shuang watched this scene, his eyes flickering slightly.

Zhu Gang snorted and muttered under his breath, "Sycophant."

The voice wasn't loud, but everyone present was a practitioner; who couldn't hear it?

Zhu Yuanzhang's smile faded slightly.

Zhu Biao glanced at Zhu Gang but didn't say anything.

Empress Ma smoothed things over, saying, "Alright, alright, everyone wash your hands and get ready to make dumplings. Whoever makes the most will get an extra plate later."

Zhu Li put Xiong Ying down and went to wash her hands.

When he returned, he saw Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang whispering together, glancing at him every now and then.

He pretended not to see it.

The dumpling-making was in full swing.

Zhu Li was skillful; the dumplings she made were all plump and had upturned edges, and they were arranged neatly.

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang's wrappers were crooked and uneven, some were leaking filling, and some were flat and collapsed.

Zhu Xiong Ying clapped her hands from the side: "Second Uncle's wrapping is the best!"

Zhu Shuang looked a little embarrassed.

The dumplings went into the pot, plump and white, tumbling in the boiling water.

Empress Ma personally prepared the dipping sauce: minced garlic, vinegar, and sesame oil, the aroma of which made one's stomach rumble.

During meals, the family sits around a large round table.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat in the main seat, with Empress Ma on his left and Zhu Biao on his right.

Zhu Hui sat next to Zhu Biao, opposite Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang, and next to them were Zhu Di and Zhu Su. The two of them were very quiet. Zhu Di occasionally served his younger brother some food, while Zhu Su focused on studying the combination of medicinal herbs in the dumplings.

Zhu Di wouldn't normally be so quiet, but he was recently punished by Zhu Yuanzhang and doesn't dare to be too high-profile.

Chang Shi sat with Xiong Ying on the other side of Zhu Biao, gently wiping the child's mouth.

The dumplings were indeed delicious.

Zhu Hui ate them one after another, his mouth glistening with oil.

He had a big appetite in the mountains, and his foster mother always said he was a reincarnation of a starving ghost. Now, he was not restrained in the palace and ate to his heart's content.

Zhu Yuanzhang was pleased and repeatedly said, "Eat more, eat more."

Zhu Shuang suddenly spoke up: "Second Brother, do you often eat dumplings in the mountains too?"

Zhu Li shook his head: "Flour is precious in the mountains; we only eat it during the New Year."

"What do you usually eat?"

"Corn cakes, wild vegetable porridge, and meat when we hunt."

Zhu Gang chimed in, "I've heard that Second Brother is an exceptional hunter, capable of felling half a mountain?"

Those words were barbed.

There was a moment of silence on the table.

Zhu Yuanzhang put down his chopsticks and remained silent.

Zhu Biao slowly wiped his mouth and looked up at Zhu Gang.

Empress Ma frowned and said, "Gang'er, how can you speak like that?"

Zhu Gang, with his neck stiff, said, "My son is just curious about how strong my second brother really is. The rumors about him are all over the place."

Zhu Shuang laughed along, "Yes, Second Brother, how about... we have a friendly spar after dinner, so the younger brothers can see what we're made of?"

Chang looked at Zhu Biao with concern.

Zhu Xiong Ying waved her little hands excitedly and said, "Second Uncle is fighting! Second Uncle is the strongest!"

Zhu Li swallowed the dumpling in his mouth, looked at Zhu Shuang, and then at Zhu Gang.

"You want to fight me?"

"It's just a friendly spar. My brothers have been practicing martial arts for many years and would like to learn from the masters Mother has been talking about," Zhu Shuang said with a smile.

Zhu Gang added, "Second Brother wouldn't dare, would he?"

Provocation tactic.

It's clumsy, but it works.

Zhu Hui put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "I'm strong, I'm afraid I'll hurt you."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang's expressions changed.

Zhu Shuang sneered, "Second brother is joking. Although our younger brothers are not good for anything, they have fought on the battlefield and are not so delicate."

Zhu Gang stood up abruptly and said, "Let's go to the training ground!"

Zhu Yuanzhang finally spoke, saying, "Go, but stop here."

He looked at Zhu Biao: "Boss, keep an eye on things."

Zhu Biao nodded: "Your subject understands."

Behind Kunning Palace is a small training ground, which is used by the guards for martial arts practice.

The group moved to this spot.

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang took off their outer robes, revealing their tight-fitting clothes underneath.

Both of them were martial arts practitioners, with Zhu Shuang practicing the domineering "Qin King's Formation-Breaking Technique".

Zhu Gang, on the other hand, followed the powerful and fierce approach of the "Jin Yang Saber Technique," and was considered a formidable master even in the vassal states.

Zhu Hui was still wearing his usual clothes, standing loosely.

Holding Chang Shi in her arms, Zhu Xiong Ying excitedly kicked her legs and shouted, "Go, Second Uncle!"

Zhu Shuang cupped his hands and said, "Second Brother, please give me your guidance."

Zhu Gang then got into a fighting stance and said impatiently, "Let's get started."

Zhu Biao stood on the sidelines and said calmly, "It's just a friendly spar; no one should be killed."

Zhu Hui nodded: "Understood."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhu Shuang moved.

Zhu Shuang pounced like a tiger, unleashing a punch that carried the sound of clashing swords and galloping horses, clearly embodying the killing intent of a battlefield.

This punch is enough to shatter stone tablets and split rocks. If an ordinary martial artist were to be hit by it, broken tendons and bones would be the least of their worries.

At the same time, Zhu Gang attacked from the side, his palm transforming into a blade-like strike, aiming for Zhu Hui's waist and ribs with ruthlessness and cunning.

The two brothers worked together seamlessly, one facing forward and the other side, blocking their escape route.

Chang cried out in surprise and covered Xiong Ying's eyes.