Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

In the backyard of the Wu King's Mansion in the early morning, Qingmei and Qingzhu were busy running around.

"Your Highness, how does this apricot-yellow cloak look?"

"That's too plain. The homecoming reception should be more festive. How about that light purple one?"

"..."

Guanyin sat in front of the dressing table, looking at the clothes spread out on the bed, feeling somewhat at a loss.

According to Han Chinese custom, a newlywed bride is expected to dress festively and elegantly on her third-day homecoming. However, she brought only grassland clothing, and the Han Chinese clothes were newly bestowed by Empress Ma, which she was not yet accustomed to wearing.

Zhu Hui pushed open the door and came in. She had already changed into a royal blue casual outfit, and her hair was unusually neatly combed and secured with a jade hairpin.

He saw the bed covered in clothes, scratched his head, and said, "It doesn't matter which one I wear, it's all the same!"

"It's different. If we go back to see my brother today, it can't be too simple," Guanyin Nu whispered.

"Then wear red, it's festive." Zhu Li casually picked up a pomegranate red embroidered gold-threaded long jacket from the bed.

Guanyin Nu hesitated, "Wouldn't it be too flashy..."

"It looks good, this is the one. Quickly put it on your princess, I'll go check if the homecoming gifts are ready." Zhu Li said, stuffing the clothes into Qingmei's hands.

After he finished speaking, he turned and left in a hurry.

Guanyin had no choice but to change into the red jacket as instructed, paired with a moon-white horse-face skirt, and style her hair into a dignified drooping bun, with a gold hairpin inserted.

Looking in the mirror, she was indeed radiant, though her eyes still held a touch of the spiritedness of a woman from the grasslands.

At the exact hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the carriage was ready.

The return visit gifts filled three carts, including fifty bolts of silk, twenty boxes of tea, ten chests of medicinal herbs, and a pair of white jade ruyi scepters specially added by Empress Ma.

Looking at the gift list, Zhu Hui muttered, "So many gifts, will your brother be able to fit them all in his yard?"

Guanyin Nu smiled and said, "It's just etiquette."

The first stop was not Wang Baobao's residence, but Qixia Mountain in the north of the city.

The carriage left the city and headed north along the official road. In the depths of winter, the vegetation was withered, but there was a high ground on Qixia Mountain with a wide view, from which one could see the distant, rolling mountains to the north.

"arrive."

Zhu Hui jumped off the carriage first and reached out to help Guanyin Nu.

The wind was strong on the highlands, making our clothes flutter loudly. Looking north from here, we could indeed see the faint outline of mountains on the horizon, and further north lay the grasslands.

Qingmei set up the incense table and offered three kinds of sacrificial animals.

Guanyin Nu knelt down and kowtowed three times towards the north.

"Abu, Mother, your daughter is married... to a prince of the Ming Dynasty. He treats me very well, as do my parents-in-law. My brother is also in Yingtian... You can rest assured now that you are in the Eternal Heaven."

She spoke softly in Mongolian, tears silently streaming down her face.

Zhu Li stood behind her. He couldn't understand Mongolian, but he could tell she was crying from the slight trembling of her shoulders.

He awkwardly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, squatted down, and handed it to him.

Guanyin Nu took it, wiped away her tears, and continued to speak in a low voice.

She spoke of her fear when she was captured, her despair in the prisoner-of-war camp, her surprise when she met Zhu Hui, and the red lanterns on her wedding day…

Zhu Hui squatted down beside him and listened. Although he couldn't understand what she was saying, he didn't interrupt.

After speaking for about fifteen minutes, Guanyin Nu finally stood up, her eyes red, but a smile appeared on her face.

"Are you done talking?" Zhu Hui asked.

"Um."

"Then kowtow to your parents and tell them that I will protect you from now on," Zhu Li said earnestly.

Guanyinnu glanced at him, then knelt down and kowtowed three more times.

After the worship ceremony, while tidying up the incense table, Zhu Hui suddenly remembered something and took a jar of wine from the carriage.

"What's this?" Guanyin Nu asked.

"This is imperial wine given by my father. He said that people on the grasslands also love to drink. Pour a cup for your parents." Zhu Li broke the clay seal, and the rich aroma of the wine wafted out.

He poured two glasses, one to be poured onto the northern land, and the other he drank himself.

"Father-in-law and mother-in-law, I am Zhu Zhi, your son-in-law. I've drunk the wine and married your wife. Don't worry!" he shouted to the north.

The sound echoed through the mountains.

Guanyin Nu looked at his honest and simple back and suddenly burst out laughing. As she laughed, tears fell again.

This time it's warm.

……

Wang Baobao's residence was located on the west side of the inner city. It was a three-courtyard house, not large but quiet and secluded.

There were Imperial Guards at the gate, and when they saw Zhu Hui's carriage arrive, they hurriedly bowed and opened the gate.

The yard was clean, but deserted.

After Wang Baobao surrendered, Zhu Yuanzhang gave him the honorary title of Marquis of Guiyi and bestowed upon him this residence, but restricted him from leaving the city, which was in effect house arrest.

Wang Baobao was already waiting in the main hall.

He was dressed in a Mongolian robe, his hair was braided, and he sat in the main seat with a stern expression.

When Guanyin Nu entered, her eyes flickered, but when she saw Zhu Hui behind her, her expression turned cold again.

"Brother." Guanyinnu stepped forward and bowed according to the etiquette of the grasslands.

Wang Baobao nodded, his gaze falling on Zhu Li behind her.

Zhu Hui scratched his head, unsure of what greeting to give, and finally clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Elder brother."

Wang Baobao's lips twitched. Who's your older brother...?

Guanyin Nu quickly smoothed things over: "Brother, today is the day of returning to the bride's parents' home, and His Highness has specially prepared gifts..."

"I see, three carts. The Ming Dynasty is wealthy and generous," Wang Baobao said calmly.

Those words were barbed.

Zhu Hui didn't notice and nodded seriously, saying, "There is quite a lot. My father told me to prepare more, saying you're lacking things here."

Wang Baobao choked.

The servants served tea, which was milk tea from the grasslands.

Zhu Hui took a sip, his eyes lit up, and he said, "This is delicious, even better than what's cooked in the palace."

"The cooking methods on the grasslands are different," Guanyinnu explained softly.

"Then I'll have the cook learn it later." Zhu Li took another big gulp.

Wang Baobao watched his sister interact with this simple-minded prince with a complicated expression.

He originally thought his sister had married out of necessity, but now it seems... that's not the case.

"Guanyin Nu, come here," Wang Baobao said in Mongolian.

Guanyinnu glanced at Zhu Hui and walked to her brother's side.

Wang Baobao lowered her voice and asked, "Is he good to you? Has he bullied you?"

"No, he... is very good. Although he can be a bit simple-minded at times, he has a kind heart, and my in-laws treat me well too," Guanyinnu replied in Mongolian.

"The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty..."

"My father asked me yesterday to frequently visit the palace to talk with my mother."

Wang Baobao fell silent.

He carefully examined his sister and saw that she had a rosy complexion and relaxed eyes, and did not look like she had been wronged.

"Brother, don't keep thinking about the past. The Northern Yuan is gone. The herders on the grasslands need to rest and recuperate. So many years of fighting, how many people have died..." Guanyin Nu said softly.

"What do you know!" Wang Baobao suddenly raised his voice.

Zhu Li, who was hanging a Mongolian bow in the research hall, looked up when he heard the noise and asked, "What's wrong?"