Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

When we were still ten miles from the city gate, post stations, tea stalls and warehouses began to appear along the roadside, bustling with people.

Zhu Hui was dazzled by the sight and suddenly pointed into the distance, asking, "Brother, what's that?"

Zhu Biao looked in the direction he pointed and saw a three-story wooden building with upturned eaves and red lanterns hanging at the entrance. He could faintly hear the sounds of string and wind instruments.

"A restaurant is a place where you eat and listen to music," Zhu Biao explained simply.

"Can we go in and eat...?"

"...Yes, but not today. I'll take you another day."

Zhu Li noted it down.

Looking at Zhu Hui's curious expression, Zhu Biao couldn't help but think of his other younger brothers.

The third son, Zhu Shuang, after being enfeoffed as the Prince of Qin, busied himself with acquiring land and indulging in pleasure in Xi'an.

The fourth son, Zhu Gang, was embroiled in a major conflict with local officials in Taiyuan.

The fifth prince, Zhu Di, was steady and reliable, but his mind was too deep.

The sixth son, Zhu Su, was soft-hearted, while the seventh son, Zhu Zhen, was still young…

No one is like Li Di, with clear eyes, a simple mind, and asking the most basic questions.

The carriage suddenly slowed down.

A roadblock has been set up ahead, and a team of soldiers is inspecting passing vehicles and horses.

Zhu Biao's carriage didn't need to be checked. As soon as the Embroidered Uniform Guard's waist tag was flashed, the officers and soldiers immediately let him pass and even saluted in unison.

Zhu Li looked on with curiosity: "Brother, they seem really afraid of you?"

"It's not that I'm afraid of you, it's that I'm afraid of what this outfit represents," Zhu Biao said calmly.

"What is that...?"

"imperial power."

Zhu Li seemed to understand, but not quite.

The carriage passed through the roadblock and continued on its way.

After walking another five or six miles, the city wall was already in sight.

Zhu Hui tilted her head back, her neck aching.

That wall was incredibly high, even higher than the highest cliff at Wild Boar Ridge. You could see soldiers walking around on it, looking as small as ants.

The city gates were wide open, and a long queue formed to enter the city.

Zhu Biao's carriage used a special passage, passing directly through the gate.

Once inside the city, it was a completely different scene.

The streets were wide enough for eight horses to run side by side, and the shops on both sides were lined up one after another, with colorful signs and banners.

Pedestrians thronged shoulder to shoulder, some carrying loads, some pushing carts, some riding horses, and some riding in sedan chairs.

There was also a cacophony of noise, hawking, and the sounds of vehicles, all mingling together and buzzing into my ears.

Zhu Hui stared, mouth agape, completely mesmerized.

He thought that the mountain village was the whole world, and the county town was the only place of prosperity.

Now I understand what it means to be outmatched and to be surrounded by more powerful people.

"Brother... how many people are there?" he murmured.

"The permanent population is 800,000, and with the transient population, it exceeds one million," Zhu Biao said.

The carriage traveled through the city on roads reserved for officials, moving at a high speed.

Zhu Li leaned against the window, curiously watching everything happening around her on the weekend.

In my past life, everything in the film and television base was nothing like this.

Zhu Li saw the mountain of cloth shops.

I saw the grain shop that often appears in TV dramas, and I also saw a shop selling rouge.

He even saw... saw several women dressed in brightly colored clothes waving and smiling at him from the rooftop.

Zhu Li immediately perked up; this was a famous brothel.

"Don't look." At this moment, Zhu Biao directly turned his head back.

Zhu Hui gave an "oh," but her eyes were still glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.

The carriage turned a corner, and the noise suddenly subsided considerably.

The buildings on both sides became tall and solemn, with blue bricks and black tiles, and animal heads crouching on the eaves.

There were fewer pedestrians, and occasionally a person in official robes would hurry by.

"This is the outer perimeter of the imperial city, and all six ministries are located in this area," Zhu Biao explained.

Zhu Hui nodded, though she didn't really understand.

He then saw a taller city in the distance, with vermilion walls and golden eaves that reflected the setting sun.

"And there?" he pointed.

"The palace is where my parents live," Zhu Biao said.

Zhu Li's heart suddenly began to pound.

Coming.

The carriage stopped in front of the palace gate.

Zhu Biao got out of the car first, then reached out to help Zhu Hui.

When the palace guards saw the crown prince, they all knelt down and paid their respects.

Zhu Hui stood beside the carriage, looking at the two vermilion palace gates studded with copper nails, at the golden plaque on the gate tower, and at the pair of menacing stone lions in front of the gate.

He suddenly felt that the bundle containing cured meat and pickled vegetables on his back was a bit too hot to handle.

"Brother...I...I'm a little panicked," he said softly.

This is the Ming Dynasty, and I'm about to meet Zhu Yuanzhang, the ruthless killer. However, I am now his son, but this is the mythical Ming Dynasty, and many things have changed...

Zhu Biao grasped his hand.

Feeling his younger brother's trembling body, he tightened his grip and comforted him:

"What's the panic? This is your home, not a palace..."

Zhu Biao's voice was very gentle, making it impossible not to agree with him.

It's unclear whether Zhu Biao used Confucian principles.

Therefore, Zhu Hui unconsciously calmed down and then followed Crown Prince Zhu Biao toward the palace.

The guards kept their heads down, but their eyes were constantly glancing at the tall young man beside the crown prince.

He wore coarse cloth clothes, carried a bulging bundle on his back, and had a slightly timid look in his eyes, but his back was ramrod straight.

This is...

However, this was a matter concerning His Highness the Crown Prince, and they dared not say anything more.

The palace gates slowly opened.

Inside is a long passageway paved with bluestone, with towering palace walls on both sides, and you can only see a sliver of sky when you look up.

At the end of the passageway, another door can be vaguely seen, and the door is brightly lit.

Zhu Biao led Zhu Hui step by step into the building.

Footsteps echoed through the passageway.

Zhu Hui began to look around curiously. In his previous life, he didn't have time to visit the capital and see the palace. It would be good if he could see something bigger and more magnificent in this life.

When we reached the middle of the passageway, several people suddenly ran out of the door in front of us.

The group at the head was a middle-aged couple.

The man was dressed in bright yellow casual clothes. He had a square face, thick eyebrows, and piercing eyes. He was tall and strong, and there was a golden aura flowing around him, which made him look extremely majestic.

The woman was dressed in a dark blue palace gown, with a round face and kind eyebrows, but now her eyes were red as she looked at the two of them.

The two ran so fast that the eunuchs and palace maids behind them couldn't catch up.

Zhu Yuanzhang stopped three zhang away from Zhu Hui, looked him up and down, his lips moved but he didn't say anything.

Empress Ma rushed over and hugged Zhu Hui tightly, tears streaming down her face.

"Hibiki... my Hibiki..."

Zhu Hui stood frozen in place, still holding the bundle in her hand.

He smelled a faint, warm fragrance, like a cotton quilt that had been sun-dried.

He lowered his head, looked at the trembling shoulder in his arms, hesitated for a moment, and then gently patted it.

"Mother..." Zhu Li called out unconsciously.

Empress Ma immediately cried even harder.

Zhu Yuanzhang walked over and patted Zhu Hui's shoulder with such force that he swayed.

"Good lad!" Zhu Yuanzhang's voice boomed, but his eyes were red. "It's good that you're back!"

Zhu Hui looked at her mother, then at her father, and then at her smiling brother beside her.

He suddenly grinned and smiled sheepishly.

"Father, Mother, I'm back."

He paused for a moment, then took the bundle off his back and handed it over.

"This is the cured pork I dried, and some pickled vegetables my mom made. They smell so good, I brought them for you."

Zhu Yuanzhang took the bundle, weighed it in his hand, and found it to be quite heavy.

He opened it and took a look. Inside, there were neatly arranged dark red cured meats and several earthenware jars sealed with oil paper.

The ruthless and decisive Hongwu Emperor suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

He turned his face away, took a deep breath, and when he turned back, he was laughing heartily.

"Okay! This is what we'll have tonight! We want to try it; it's a dish our son has been making for twenty-two years!"

Empress Ma finally released Zhu Liang's handkerchief, wiping away her tears and smiling, "Silly child, what's missing in the palace..."

"We don't have this in the palace... Let's go home! We'll have your mother cook a pot of stewed cured pork and cabbage herself!" Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted her, carrying his bundle and putting his other arm around Zhu Li's shoulder.

The family walked toward the brightly lit palace.

The passageway was long, but this time, the footsteps were no longer lonely.

Zhu Biao followed behind, watching his parents lead his younger brother by the hand on each side, and the smile on his lips deepened.

He recalled that sentence in the secret report.

"My second brother is simple-minded and values ​​relationships."

Yes.

That's fine.

The palace gates slowly closed, shutting out the setting sun.

Inside is home.