Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

Zhu Hui rode back to the palace, thinking about the girl's eyes the whole way.

It was shiny, like the deer he had seen in the mountains when he was a child.

Upon arriving at Kunning Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma were drinking tea, and Zhu Biao was also present.

"Father, Mother, Eldest Brother," Zhu Li called out as he entered the room.

"Why the rush? Is something the matter?" Zhu Yuanzhang put down his teacup.

Zhu Hui walked up to him and said earnestly, "Father, I've taken a fancy to a woman. Give her to me."

Zhu Yuanzhang spat out a mouthful of tea.

The memorial in Zhu Biao's hand fell to the ground.

Empress Ma's eyes widened. "Li'er, what did you say?"

"That one in the prisoner-of-war camp, named Guanyin Nu, Wang Baobao's sister, has big eyes, thick eyebrows, and speaks in a fierce tone."

Zhu Li gestured and said.

Zhu Yuanzhang wiped his mouth and exchanged a glance with Zhu Biao.

"Second brother, do you know who she is?" Zhu Biao picked up the memorial and asked softly.

"I know, Princess Beiyuan. Uncle Xu brought her back, but I like her," Zhu Li nodded.

The reason is simple and direct, leaving no room for argument.

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment and said, "What do you want her to do? Be a maid?"

"To be a daughter-in-law," Zhu Li said more directly.

The Kunning Palace was completely silent.

After a long pause, Empress Ma spoke first: "Li'er, marriage is not a trivial matter..."

Recently, she has been searching for a wife for Zhu Li, and has already taken a liking to the daughters of several families, such as Xu Miaoyun from the Xu family. She was originally intended to be reserved for the fifth son, but now...

"I'm not playing games. I just like her and want her to be my wife. If Father doesn't agree, I'll... I'll go to the prisoner-of-war camp to see her every day." Zhu Li said seriously, which was uncharacteristically.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed in exasperation: "You little brat, you're threatening us now?"

"This isn't a threat, it's the truth. If Father doesn't agree, I'll beg Mother and my elder brother until they do," Zhu Hui said earnestly.

Zhu Biao suddenly smiled: "Second brother, you go out first, I'll discuss it with Father and Mother."

Zhu Hui looked at this and that, said "Oh," and obediently withdrew from the hall.

The door closed.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his eldest son and asked, "Biao'er, what do you think?"

Zhu Biao picked up the teacup, gently blew on it to cool it, and said, "It's rare for my second brother to ask for anything. Since you like it, I'll give it to you."

"But that's Wang Baobao's sister..."

"That's precisely why we should give it to my second brother. Marrying the Princess of Beiyuan is both an appeasement and a deterrent. If Wang Baobao is sensible, he should know what to do."

"If you don't know what's good for you..." Zhu Biao smiled.

He didn't finish speaking, but Zhu Yuanzhang understood.

Empress Ma hesitated for a moment before saying, "But is that girl willing? After all, it's an enemy country..."

"Mother, sometimes things in this world are beyond her control, whether she wants them or not."

Zhu Biao's tone was gentle, but his words were cold.

"If my second brother likes her, that's her good fortune. If she's smart, she'll know that marrying into a Ming Dynasty prince's mansion is a hundred times better than being a prisoner in a prisoner camp."

Zhu Yuanzhang made the decision: "Then it's settled. Biao'er, go and make the arrangements. Get married as soon as possible."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go and draft the decree immediately." Zhu Biao stood up.

……

Zhu Hui waited outside the hall for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before the door opened and Zhu Biao came out.

"Big brother, how's it going?"

"Father has agreed. The eighth day of next month is an auspicious day. We'll get married on that day," Zhu Biao said, patting him on the shoulder.

Zhu Hui's eyes lit up and she said, "Really?"

"Really, but there's something I need to make clear." Zhu Biao looked at him, "That girl is definitely upset right now, so you need to be nice to her, take it slow, and don't scare her."

"I know, I'm good to her." Zhu Li nodded emphatically.

"Go ahead and tell Jiang Huan to bring her to your residence and settle her in the side courtyard first. Find two matrons to teach her manners."

"Why!"

Zhu Hui turned and ran, but after a few steps, she turned back and said, "Big brother, thank you!"

Zhu Biao waved with a smile.

After Zhu Hui ran far away, the smile on Zhu Biao's face slowly faded.

He turned and went back into the hall, saying to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Father, what about Wang Baobao..."

"You decide what to do. If that kid knows what's good for him, give him a sinecure to keep him on his toes."

"If you don't know what's good for you..." Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said.

He made a throat-slitting gesture.

Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Your subject understands."

……

In the prisoner-of-war camp, Guanyin Nu was still sitting on a haystack, lost in thought.

The curtain was lifted again, and this time Jiang Huan and several palace maids and nannies entered.

"Princess, please rise!" Jiang Huan cupped her hands in greeting.

Guanyin Nu looked at him warily and asked, "What are you doing?"

"By order of His Highness the Crown Prince, we are to escort the Princess to the Prince of Wu's residence. From this day forward, you will be the Princess Consort of Wu," Jiang Huan said, turning to the side.

Guanyin Nu suddenly stood up, her chains rattling, and said, "What did you say?!"

"His Highness Prince Wu has taken a liking to you. His Majesty has already bestowed the marriage upon you. The wedding will take place on the eighth day of next month. Please cooperate and do not make things difficult for your subordinates," Jiang Huan said calmly.

Guanyin Nu's face turned deathly pale, then flushed red as she cried out, "I won't marry! You Han people...you..."

"Princess, your brother Wang Baobao is still in prison. His life or death depends on your choice," Jiang Huan interrupted her.

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Guanyin Nu's head.

She stumbled and fell back onto the haystack.

The palace maid stepped forward and unlocked the chains on her hands and feet, while the nanny brought her clean clothes.

Guanyin Nu was like a puppet, completely at the mercy of others, her mind a blank.

After changing her clothes and washing up, she was helped into the carriage.

The carriage headed towards the Wu King's Palace.

As she passed Zhengyang Street, she lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and saw people on the street pointing and whispering about the convoy, and heard faint discussions.

"Is that Princess Beiyuan?"

"I heard that His Highness the Prince of Wu has taken a liking to her and wants to marry her as his principal wife..."

"Tsk tsk, this girl is lucky, going from a prisoner to a princess..."

"..."

Guanyin Nu lowered the carriage curtain and closed her eyes.

Good fortune...

she does not know.

……

The side courtyard of the Wu Prince's Mansion has been cleaned up; the furnishings are simple but clean.

Guanyin Nu was led into the house, while two old women stood guard outside the door.

"Princess, please rest. His Highness will arrive later." Jiang Huan said and then left.

Guanyin sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the unfamiliar room and the unfamiliar bed curtains, and suddenly felt like crying.

But she held back.

She is a princess of the Qi Prince's Mansion, an eagle of the grasslands, and she cannot cry.

As evening approached, footsteps could be heard outside the door.

The door opened, and Zhu Hui poked her head in.

He had changed back into his everyday clothes, a blue robe with the cuffs rolled up, and was carrying a tray in his hand.

"Dinner's ready." He came in and placed the tray on the table.

The tray contained a bowl of mutton soup, two flatbreads, and a dish of green vegetables.

Guanyin remained seated and did not move.

Zhu Li didn't urge him. He sat down at the table and picked up a pancake to eat.

After taking a couple of bites, he looked up and said, "If you're not going to eat, this mutton soup is made by the cook according to the northern Mongolian style, with lots of spices."

Guanyin remained unmoved.

Zhu Li sighed, put down the cake, walked to the bedside, squatted down, and looked up at her.

"I know you don't want to, but I love you and I want to marry you."

He spoke bluntly, and Guanyin Nu's face turned red again, this time from anger.

"What...what gives you the right?!"

"Because I like you! If I like you, I should marry you. What if someone else marries you?" Zhu Li said matter-of-factly.

The logic was so simple and straightforward that Guanyin's slave was speechless.

Zhu Hui stood up, scratched his head, and said, "You should eat first. You'll have the energy to be angry if you're full. I'll come see you again tomorrow."

After saying that, he really left, and even thoughtfully closed the door behind him.

Guanyin Nu stared at the door for a long time, then her stomach growled loudly.

She walked to the table and looked at the bowl of mutton soup. The soup was milky white and smelled wonderful; it was definitely made in her hometown.

She sat down, picked up the bowl, and took a sip.

It's very hot and smells delicious.

Tears suddenly fell and dripped into the soup.

She finished the whole bowl of soup and ate the bread while crying.

Only when you're full do you have the energy to think about the future.

……

The next day, Zhu Li indeed came again, this time bringing a plate of milk tofu.

"The cook can't make it, so I asked Uncle Xu to find a chef from the northern desert to make it. You can try it."

This time, Guanyin Nu didn't ignore him. She took the plate and said softly, "Thank you."

Zhu Hui grinned: "You can talk? I thought you were mute."

Guanyin Nu glared at him.

"Even glaring looks good," Zhu Li said honestly.

Guanyin Nu's face turned red again, but this time it wasn't entirely from anger.

And so, Zhu Li came every day, sometimes bringing food, sometimes bringing toys.

Once, she brought over a grasshopper woven from straw, saying it was woven by her younger sister, Daya.

"Da Ya heard that I'm getting married and insists on giving you a gift."

Guanyin Nu took the crooked grasshopper, and a soft spot in her heart softened.

Days passed by, and the eighth day of the lunar new year was getting closer and closer.

That evening, when Zhu Hui arrived, Guanyin Nu suddenly asked, "Why do you like me?"

Zhu Hui was fiddling with a nine-linked ring when he heard this. He looked up and said, "There's no reason why, I just like it."

"Just because of that?"

"Ah, what else? Do I need a reason to like something?" Zhu Li said, looking puzzled.

Guanyin Nu remained silent.

She looked at Zhu Hui's face in the candlelight.

This person is actually quite handsome, but his eyes are too naive, and he looks silly when he smiles.

But it was this naiveté that made her less afraid.

"My brother..." she whispered.

"Wang Baobao, my elder brother said he'll give him a sinecure and keep him in the capital. Don't worry, he's a man of his word," Zhu Hui said with a smile.

Guanyin nodded.

Zhu Li handed her the unraveled nine-linked rings, saying, "Here, you can play with them."

Guanyin Nu took it, but when her fingers touched his fingertips, she pulled back as if she had been burned.

Zhu Hui chuckled, got up, and left.

As the door closed, Guanyin Nu looked at the nine-linked rings in her hand and suddenly felt that marrying this person might not be so bad.

At least, his smile is quite warm.

Outside the window, a new moon hangs in the sky.

The winter night in Yingtian Prefecture remained quiet.

But some things have quietly changed.