Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

The young man stepped back, straightened his robes, and then slowly bowed to Zheng Datou.

This level of politeness made Zheng Datou feel extremely uncomfortable.

He had seen scholars bow and merchants clasp their hands in the county market, but the man's gesture exuded an indescribable air of nobility, as if he had stepped down from a theatrical stage.

"The Crown Prince Zhu Biao of the Ming Dynasty greets my second brother." The young man raised his head, his eyes glistening with tears, but a smile appeared on his lips.

His smile carried a hint of mockery.

The scene immediately fell silent.

Zheng Datou blinked, forgetting to put the axe back in his hand.

He turned to look at Zheng Daya, who was equally stunned behind him, then turned back to stare at the young man in front of him who claimed to be the Crown Prince. After a long while, he finally managed to utter a sentence:

"What...what did you call me?"

Zhu Biao took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice steady as he said, "Second brother, you are my long-lost younger brother, the prince of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Hui."

He took two steps forward, wanting to reach out and touch Zheng Datou's shoulder, but fearing it would be impolite, he left his hand hanging in mid-air and said, "The jade pendant around your neck is my twin jade pendant."

Our mother... was Empress Ma. She commissioned a master craftsman to carve a pair, one for you and one for me.

Zheng Datou subconsciously looked down at the jade pendant in his hand, then looked up at the one in Zhu Biao's hand.

They are exactly the same.

But he still couldn't wrap his head around it.

"Wait a minute, you said you're the crown prince... so isn't that the emperor's son?" He scratched his head, feeling like he was starting to get a brain.

"Yes." Zhu Biao nodded.

"You say I'm your brother... then am I also the emperor's son?"

"Yes."

"Then my dad... Zheng Dazhu, that's my dad!" Zheng Datou pointed in the direction of the village.

A hint of pain flashed in Zhu Biao's eyes as he said, "That was your adoptive father. Twenty-two years ago, when my mother gave birth to us, an assassination attempt suddenly occurred, and you were taken away and have been missing ever since."

Father and Mother have been searching for you for twenty-two years.

He paused, his voice trembling slightly, and said, "You have... a red birthmark on your back, shaped like a flame?"

Zheng Datou's hand trembled, and he almost dropped the axe.

No one knew about this except for their adoptive parents and sister.

"How...how did you know?" He stared wide-eyed.

Zhu Biao smiled, a smile that held relief, elation, and unspeakable bitterness. "Because you had it when you were born. The midwife remembered, because I had it too. We are twins."

The atmosphere fell silent.

Villagers peered out from afar, only to be stopped at the village entrance by Zhu Biao's entourage.

The setting sun slanted down on the two of them, casting long shadows that almost met on the ground.

Zheng Da's mind was in a mess.

emperor...

The Crown Prince...

younger brother....

Zheng Datou lived for twenty-two years, and his biggest worries were what to eat for the next meal, whether the crops in the fields would be enough for next year's food, and whether his sister's straw sandals needed to be replaced.

Now suddenly someone tells him that he is a prince and that his biological father is the Hongwu Emperor who sits on the throne.

This is even more outrageous than encountering that talking fox in the mountains last year.

"Brother..." Zheng Daya tugged at his clothes.

Before Zheng Datou could answer, a follower behind Zhu Biao suddenly stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, this matter is of great importance and requires caution. Although this person possesses a jade pendant, he may not necessarily be..."

Before he could finish speaking...

Zhu Biao suddenly turned around.

His eyes, which had been gentle and warm just moments before, instantly turned as cold as ice in the dead of winter.

He didn't speak, but just stared at the attendant, his gaze sweeping over the sword at the man's waist and then over the man's face.

Upon seeing this, the attendant turned pale and knelt down with a thud, saying, "It was my fault for speaking out of turn..."

"Go and collect your twenty strokes of the cane. They will be carried out immediately upon your return to the capital." Zhu Biao's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

"yes…"

Watching this scene, Zheng Datou couldn't help but feel that this so-called big brother's mood changed faster than the weather in the mountains.

When Zhu Biao turned around, his eyes regained their gentleness.

He looked at Zheng Datou and said softly, "Second brother, I know this is sudden. If you don't believe me, I can immediately send a message to Yingtian and ask Father to send people from the Imperial Observatory. You have the blood of the Zhu family flowing in your veins, and the dragon's aura cannot be faked."

As he spoke, he took out a palm-sized golden token from his pocket, with the character "令" (command) engraved on it and five golden dragons coiled around it.

The moment the token appeared, the tattoo on Zheng Datou's left arm suddenly became hot.

It wasn't an illusion; it was really hot, like someone was pressing hot coals onto my skin.

He groaned and covered his left arm with his right hand.

Zhu Biao's eyes narrowed: "Second brother, what's wrong?"

"My arm...it's burning." Zheng Datou grimaced.

Zhu Biao immediately put away the token, and the burning sensation disappeared instantly.

He looked thoughtfully at Zheng Datou's arm, then suddenly said, "May I take a look?"

Zheng Datou hesitated for a moment, then rolled up his sleeves.

Dark red tattoos were revealed, and a long-handled axe was attached to a round shield. The lines were ancient and ferocious, exuding an ancient and malevolent aura.

The tattoo seemed to flow slowly in the sunset, as if it were alive.

Zhu Biao gasped.

Several of his attendants behind him also saw it, and one of them exclaimed, "This is... Xing Tian's battle markings!"

"Shut up." Zhu Biao said without turning his head.

He stared at the tattoo for a long time, then suddenly laughed, his eyes reddening as he said, "Good, good... no wonder you could split half a mountain in one axe."

"Xingtian wields his axe and shield, his fierce will unwavering; second brother, you have received a great opportunity."

Zheng Datou didn't understand anything about Xing Tian; he only cared about one thing: "This tattoo has been there since I was a child, and it's from the axe and shield. You'd say this is... a stroke of luck?"

"This is an incredible opportunity. We'll discuss it in detail when we return to the capital. For now..." Zhu Biao said solemnly.

He looked at Zheng Datou with expectant yet cautious eyes and said, "Second brother, would you like to come home with me? Father and Mother... have been waiting for too long."

Zheng Datou didn't say anything.

He turned to look in the direction of his home, where smoke was rising from several earthen houses.

My foster mother must have already started a fire to cook; the aroma of cured meat seems to waft over.

His adoptive father was probably weaving bamboo baskets in the yard, waiting for him to carry the wild boar back.

He then looked at Zheng Daya beside him.

The little girl gripped his clothes tightly, her eyes wide open, looking at him and then at Zhu Biao, her face full of confusion.

Finally, he looked at Zhu Biao.

The young man, who claimed to be his brother, was dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, riding a tall horse, and followed by a capable retinue.

He spoke softly and gently, but his gaze was so intense it seemed to melt you.

That was a look Zheng Datou had never seen in his twenty-two years of life.

It wasn't the villagers' honest smiles when they looked at him, nor the envy when Uncle Chen praised his strength, nor the dependence when Zheng Daya acted coquettishly.

There was guilt, ecstasy, the preciousness of something lost and found, and... something Zheng Datou couldn't quite put his finger on, as if he wanted to present him with the best things in the world.

"I..." Zheng Datou opened his mouth.

Zhu Biao held his breath.

"I have to tell my parents. They raised me for twenty-two years, and I can't just leave like this," Zheng Datou finally said.

Zhu Biao breathed a sigh of relief, his smile as bright as the morning sun: "Of course. I'll go with you."

He turned and ordered his attendants, "Wait here and do not disturb the people."

"Your Highness, are you safe...?"

"With my second brother around, who in this world can harm me?" Zhu Biao looked at Zheng Datou, his eyes gleaming with pride.

Zheng Datou scratched his head but didn't reply.

This person is really not polite.

The two walked side by side toward the village.

Zheng Daya trotted along beside him, occasionally stealing glances at Zhu Biao. When she was discovered, she quickly hid behind her brother.