Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

Guanyin Nu stood in the courtyard, watching the prince's figure disappear outside the moon gate, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

This man was very kind to her, so kind that it made her feel uneasy.

Just as I was lost in thought, Zhu Li rushed out of the kitchen carrying a clay pot. The lid banged loudly, and steam billowed out.

"Honey, the soup is ready! Come and have a taste!"

He placed the casserole on the stone table, lifted the lid, and a rich aroma wafted out. The chicken soup was golden, with snow lotus petals floating in the broth, along with medicinal herbs such as goji berries, red dates, and angelica.

"The cook said it's been simmering for two hours, and the snow lotus has dissolved into the soup. Drink it quickly!" Zhu Li ladled out a bowl and handed it to her.

Guanyin Nu took the bowl, looked at the crystal-clear soup inside, and her eyes suddenly felt a little hot.

When she was on the grassland, her brother would cook mare's milk wine for her when she fell ill, but that was the clumsy care of a grassland man.

This was the first time she had ever tasted a soup so carefully simmered like this.

"What's wrong? Is it hot?" Zhu Li asked anxiously.

"No..." Guanyin Nu shook her head, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and put it in her mouth.

The soup was very flavorful, with the unique sweetness of snow lotus and a slight bitterness from the medicinal herbs.

One bite warmed my stomach and even my heart.

"Is it good?" Zhu Li looked at her expectantly.

"It's delicious." Guanyinnu nodded and took another sip.

Zhu Hui grinned, ladled out a bowl for herself, and gulped it down: "Mmm! It's really delicious! I'll stew it again tomorrow!"

"No... the thousand-year-old snow lotus is too precious, one meal is enough," Guanyin Nu quickly said.

"What's so precious about it! It's only precious if you eat it; it's a waste if you just leave it to mold," Zhu Hui said nonchalantly. "There are still more on Kunlun Mountain! I'll go pick some more another day."

Guanyin was helpless.

Her husband seems unable to distinguish between "precious" and "ordinary".

In his eyes, anything that nourishes his wife's body, no matter how precious, should be used.

"Oh, right, my older brother just arrived," she said.

"Oh, what did you say?"

"They said there would be a palace banquet in three days, which all the nobles who had surrendered from the Northern Yuan would attend, and my brother would go too."

Zhu Hui's eyes lit up and he said, "That's great! Then you should dress up nicely so my brother can see that my wife is being well taken care of."

Guanyin Nu blushed again: "What are you saying..."

"I'm telling the truth!" Zhu Li said earnestly.

"Shh...you can't say things like that." Guanyin Nu quickly covered his mouth.

This is so embarrassing!

Zhu Hui, her mouth covered, blinked and mumbled, "That's how it is..."

Guanyin Nu loosened her grip, feeling both annoyed and amused.

The two of them sat in the courtyard, each taking a bowl, and finished off the whole pot of snow lotus chicken soup.

As night falls, the stars begin to shine.

Zhu Hui patted his round belly, let out a burp, and said, "I'm full."

Guanyin Nu was also quite full, so she leaned back in her chair and looked at the starry sky.

The starry sky in Yingtian is different from that on the grassland.

The starry sky hangs low over the grassland, as if you could reach out and pluck the stars.

The starry sky here is high and clear.

"What are you thinking about?" Zhu Li asked.

"I miss the grasslands. At this time of year, it's time to sing and dance around the campfire," Guanyin Nu said softly.

After thinking for a moment, Zhu Hui said, "Then...should I have the kitchen light a fire?"

Guanyin Nu chuckled: "No need, it's fine here too."

With him around, anywhere is fine.

Zhu Hui looked at her and smiled foolishly, then smiled back.

The two of them chuckled like idiots for a while, and then Zhu Li suddenly said, "Wife, when the war is over, I'll take you back to the grasslands to see the world."

Guanyin Nu turned to look at him and said, "Really?"

"Really, I promise you. Although I am Han Chinese, you are the daughter of the grasslands, and that is where your roots are," Zhu Li said earnestly.

Guanyin Nu felt a lump in her throat and quickly lowered her head.

This simple-minded husband sometimes says things that strike right into the softest part of a person's heart.

"Alright, it's time to rest. We still have to learn etiquette tomorrow!" Zhu Li stood up and reached out to her.

Guanyin Nu handed him her hand.

His hands were large and warm, with calluses on his palms from years of holding an axe; they were rough but steady.

The two walked into the house hand in hand.

As she reached the door, Guanyin Nu suddenly whispered, "Thank you, my husband."

Zhu Liang was taken aback, scratched his head, and said, "What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for the snow lotus soup, thank you... for everything." Guanyin Nu looked at him, her eyes sparkling in the night.

Zhu Yuan grinned: "Silly wife, we're family, no need to thank me!"

He pushed open the door, and the room was warm with candlelight.

Outside the window, the night watchman walked by, striking his clapper.

"The weather is dry, be careful with fire..."

The sound gradually faded into the distance.

At this moment, Zhu Biao was still awake in the study of the Eastern Palace.

A list was laid out in front of him, just delivered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Among the surrendered nobles of the Northern Yuan, seventeen people were secretly conspiring to cause trouble at the palace banquet three days later, demanding the release of Wang Baobao and the return of some grassland pastures.

Zhu Biao looked at the list, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating his gentle profile.

After a long while, he picked up his pen, circled three names on the list, and said to Jiang Huan, who was standing beside him, "Go and investigate these three families. Investigate them carefully. If they have blood on the grasslands or are colluding with the remnant Yuan forces... deal with them before the palace banquet."

His voice was gentle, but his words were as cold as ice.

"Yes, what should we do?" Jiang Huan asked, bowing.

Zhu Biao put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and said, "Colluding with the remnants of the Yuan dynasty and plotting rebellion, according to the Great Ming Code... execute their entire family!"

He paused for a moment, then added, "However, with the palace banquet approaching, it wouldn't look good to kill too many people. How about this, you take control of the people first, and we'll deal with it after the banquet."

"Understood, then... what about Wang Baobao?" Jiang Huan nodded, then hesitated for a moment before asking.

"His...his sister is now my brother's wife, and his nephew will be surnamed Zhu in the future. He knows what to do," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

Jiang Huan understood.

Wang Baobao wouldn't cause trouble, nor would he dare to.

His sister's happiness and his nephew's future both depend on the Ming Dynasty.

"Go down." Zhu Biao waved his hand.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan quickly withdrew.

Zhu Biao was the only one left in the study.

He stood up, walked to the window, looked at the faint lights in the direction of the Wu Prince's Mansion, and murmured to himself, "Second brother, all I can do is let you and your wife live a peaceful life."

"Big brother will handle those dirty tricks."

The moonlight outside the window is clear and bright.

The palace banquet at Fengtian Hall will be held in three days.

It's time to clear things up.