Parallel Ming Dynasty: The more he compared, the more devastated Zhu Yuanzhang became.

The two were completely bewildered by the unfamiliar terms and stood there for a long time, unable to react.

Seeing the confusion on their faces, Zhu Duo slowly and carefully explained these concepts again in the simplest and most understandable language.

The two listened with increasing fascination, occasionally raising their own questions, such as why this was being done and why this situation had occurred.

Zhu Duo was very patient and answered their questions one by one.

After about fifteen minutes, the two people in the video finally understood completely, and their faces showed expressions of sudden realization.

However, the officials and princes watching the video in the main hall all looked completely bewildered and confused.

"What kind of divine knowledge is this?"

"Can a ten-year-old understand these things?"

The chat room was already in an uproar.

{Former World Merchant: What kind of discipline is this? There are so many intricacies involved in doing business!}

New World Merchant: When we do business, we always feel that doing business is just a few trivial things, nothing more than navigating relationships, dealing with this person, and building connections with that person.

Purchasing, transshipment, and shipping—it's just three steps, isn't it? But after hearing what Prince Zhu Duo said today, I suddenly realized how ignorant and shallow I was, like a frog in a well.

{New World Ministry of Revenue official: What Prince Zhu Duo said is not just about business principles. What he said concerns the flow of funds throughout the dynasty and how to maintain the smooth operation of the dynasty's monetary system.}

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a fundamental national policy!

{New World Central Secretariat: This absolutely qualifies as national policy! Without this theoretical support, the national economy probably wouldn't last two or three decades before completely collapsing! Once public anger is stirred up, it might even trigger large-scale popular uprisings and riots!}

Zhu Yuanzhang was somewhat bewildered. These unfamiliar technical terms left even the emperor himself completely confused, and he couldn't process them for a long time.

But no matter what, one thing has become a consensus: the idea that reserves and the gold standard were both uttered by a child who was only a teenager!

Moreover, Zhu Duo could not possibly be merely Liu Bowen's mouthpiece; otherwise, how could he have answered all the questions posed by Yu Ting and Ding Yan, two senior officials of the Ministry of Revenue, so fluently and perfectly?

"Old Liu, let me ask you, are these really not plans you've already devised?"

Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at Liu Bowen and couldn't help but ask again.

But in response to Zhu Yuanzhang, Liu Bowen still slowly shook his head.

"Your Majesty, these were indeed all ideas that Prince Zhu Duo came up with himself. When I first heard these insights from the young prince, I was just as shocked as you are now."

"But such a profound and complex question, in our great Ming Dynasty, with so many learned scholars in the Ministry of Revenue, not a single person could think of it."

Instead, a mere child found a way to break the deadlock. No one would believe it unless they saw it with their own eyes!

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed heavily, looking at Zhu Duo with a solemn expression. "Zhu Duo, I ask you, as the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty, with utmost seriousness: was this so-called reserve fund and principal system taught to you by someone else, or did you truly figure it all out yourself?"

"Your Majesty, it was indeed my own idea."

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but press on, "So how did you figure these things out?"

As the sage once said: "In books, you will find beautiful women and houses of gold."

"Which book contains these principles you're talking about? Show them to me!"

Zhu Duo gently shook his head. "No book has ever written about these things. It's just that learning without thinking is futile, and thinking without learning is dangerous."

Only by using learning to aid thinking can we understand our true nature; only by using thinking to guide learning can we comprehend the laws of the universe. Learning and thinking complement each other, enabling us to integrate knowledge and truly grasp the fundamental principles of the world.

After hearing Zhu Duo's words, Zhu Yuanzhang fell into a long silence.

Learning aids thinking, allowing us to understand our true nature; thinking aids learning, allowing us to understand the natural order. Only by combining learning and thinking, and integrating them into a coherent whole, can we grasp the Great Way.

In other words, Zhu Duo drew upon the wisdom of his predecessors from the classics of ancient sages, combined with his own independent thinking, and finally summarized these groundbreaking theories.

Those who truly understand the principles of learning and thinking, and put them into practice, can almost be called saints.

Zhu Duo not only thoroughly grasped the true meaning of learning and thinking, but he was also able to apply and extend it flexibly. What's even more incredible is that he had already done this at such a young age.

"This old minister is ashamed of his own inferiority and cannot even come close to his level."

Standing to the side, Liu Bowen sighed softly, looked at Zhu Duo with deep eyes, and said to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me. Whether a person can become a teacher for others has never been about their age, but about the depth of their thoughts and understanding."

In this respect, I often feel that I am far inferior to Prince Zhu Duo.

"If we are talking about the knowledge of governing the world and benefiting the people, Zhu Duo is far superior to me. I am willing to bow my head and serve as a humble servant, and I am willing to take Prince Zhu Duo as my teacher."

Upon hearing Liu Bowen's words, all the princes present, including Zhu Yuanzhang himself, couldn't help but change their expressions drastically.

In terms of academic achievement, Liu Bowen actually believed that Zhu Duo had surpassed him? Did he overstate Zhu Duo's status?

"Teacher, you are too modest."

Zhu Duo suddenly spoke up, "I only have some limited opinions in certain specific areas. Your words are really too kind to me."

Zhu Duo knew that if it came down to his mastery of Confucian classics, he was indeed far inferior to Liu Bowen. However, he was a time traveler from later generations, which gave him an innate advantage in his way of thinking. Moreover, most of the knowledge he possessed was the crystallization of the wisdom of countless people in later generations.

He's not capable of being Liu Bowen's teacher, nor is he worthy of that title.

Seeing the two men deferring to each other, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a strange smile in his heart.

This was not a mocking laugh, but a genuine, heartfelt smile of immense satisfaction.

The more talented Zhu Duo was, the more beneficial he was to the Ming Dynasty, and naturally, the happier he, as the emperor's grandfather, was.

After all, Zhu Duo was his own flesh and blood, and to receive such high praise from Liu Bowen, he, as the emperor's grandfather, was extremely proud!

In comparison, Zhu Yunwen appeared even more mediocre and incompetent.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced sideways at Zhu Yunwen, who was sitting next to him, fidgeting and looking like he was sitting on pins and needles, and suddenly felt an indescribable annoyance.

What was I thinking when I chose him as my successor?

If I had discovered Zhu Duo's talent earlier and nurtured him as a future emperor, I could now confidently pass the throne to him.

Unfortunately, his days were numbered, and he no longer had enough time to nurture Zhu Duo and ensure that he could steadily take over the empire from him.

Ultimately, however, they are all descendants of the Zhu family. If Zhu Duo could stay and wholeheartedly assist Yunwen, it would be a win-win solution.

Zhu Yuanzhang was making his own plans in his heart.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Duo and said loudly, "Duo'er, you have such extraordinary talent, why have you always kept it hidden and never shown it? If you had shown your talent earlier, we would have groomed you as the crown prince long ago."

Zhu Yuanzhang's blunt words made Zhu Yunwen tremble violently.

From Zhu Yuanzhang's tone, anyone could tell how much he loved Zhu Duo; he even changed his address to the affectionate "Duo'er".

The princes exchanged glances, all keenly aware of the Emperor's dramatic change in attitude toward Zhu Duo. Their hearts began to pound with apprehension. Could something really be going to happen at today's abdication ceremony?

Previously, Zhu Yuanzhang doted on Zhu Yunwen, but today, he makes no attempt to hide his preference for Zhu Duo.

If Zhu Yuanzhang were in better health, he would have immediately issued an edict to change the crown prince.

Without much thought, Zhu Duo blurted out, "The tallest tree in the forest will surely be felled by the wind."

"My birth mother was a concubine and passed away early. In addition, my father favored Yunwen above all else, so how could I dare to easily show off my talents?"

"Moreover, after your father passed away, you also showed a special fondness for Zhu Yunwen."

"I have no one to rely on, and the only person I can depend on is myself. So I'm always afraid that one night I might fall asleep and never wake up again."

Therefore, I can only proceed cautiously, as if walking on thin ice, preferring to remain silent rather than daring to make the slightest rash move.

"After all, the imperial family is the most ruthless of all!"

Zhu Duo was weaving a flawless lie in his mind.

From as far back as he can remember, he has been deliberately hiding his differences from others.

After all, if a child of a few years old could be well-versed in the Four Books, Five Classics, and Six Arts, and could express more profound insights than learned scholars, he would probably have been regarded as possessed by evil spirits or possessed by demons long ago.

Therefore, he could only try to hide his talent and slowly reveal it little by little, never letting himself appear too shocking.

Moreover, if Zhu Yuanzhang really took a liking to him, he would definitely be rigorously trained as the future emperor.

How did Zhu Biao die?

He was worked to death; his illness was caused by overwork.

Zhu Yuanzhang himself was a well-known workaholic, and he was eager for his son to become a dragon among men, wanting to cultivate an emperor who was even more brilliant and powerful than himself. Such strict requirements were a hundred times more torturous than enrolling a child in a dozen tutoring classes.

Therefore, under such heavy pressure, Zhu Biao, as the crown prince, finally couldn't take it anymore and died young from overwork.

If you were to become emperor according to Zhu Yuanzhang's standards, it would be pure torture!

Therefore, from childhood to adulthood, Zhu Duo has always deliberately hidden himself and prevented others from discovering his special qualities.

however--

Zhu Duo's heartfelt words moved Zhu Yuanzhang to tears.

Zhu Yuanzhang was heartbroken and immediately reached out to take Zhu Duo's hand, wanting to pull him to his side.

"Duo'er, you've suffered so much. You've lived such a miserable life all these years."

However, Zhu Duo remained indifferent in the face of Zhu Yuanzhang's sudden concern, seemingly deliberately keeping his distance and building an invisible barrier between them.

The more distant Zhu Duo became, the more Zhu Yuanzhang felt heartbroken.

He felt that Zhu Duo wasn't truly cold-hearted; it was just that his years of caution had instilled in him a habit of being wary of everyone.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not press the matter further, but looking at Zhu Duo's cold and distant eyes, his guilt grew even stronger.

What he valued most in his life was blood ties and family affection. The reason he enfeoffed all his sons as kings was that he hoped every descendant of the Zhu family could live a life free from worries about food and clothing and enjoy peace and prosperity.

But in this seemingly bustling and prosperous palace, there was a child who hid in a corner where no one paid attention, licking his wounds alone.

The thought of Zhu Duo suffering injustice with nowhere to turn,

The thought that Zhu Duo had never received the slightest care or love from childhood to adulthood...

The thought of Zhu Duo growing up alone in the deep palace, filled with wariness towards everyone's kindness, made me realize...

Zhu Yuanzhang felt as if he were being pricked by needles, and his guilt was beyond measure.

I can't believe I've never paid attention to this poor grandson before.

Therefore, the more indifferent Zhu Duo was and the more he kept his distance from his relatives and elders, the more Zhu Yuanzhang felt that he owed him far too much.

Prince Zhu Shuang of Qin suddenly stood up, his eyes slightly red. "Father, I request to raise your son in place of my elder brother. From now on, I am willing to be Zhu Duo's father and take good care of him in place of my elder brother."

Prince Zhu of Jin also stood up. "Father, let Duo'er come back to Taiyuan with me. We elders have owed Duo'er so much. Let me, as his uncle, make it up to him slowly in the future."

Prince Yan, Zhu Di, immediately stood up and expressed the same wish.

Standing to the side, Zhu Yunwen felt incredibly awkward.

Logically, he should be the protagonist of this grand ceremony today, but Zhu Duo's sudden appearance has stolen everyone's attention.

He is also Zhu Duo's elder brother, so he can't very well step forward and say he wants to adopt Zhu Duo as well.

Moreover, his relationship with Zhu Duo was already somewhat delicate and discordant.

Moreover, what Zhu Duo just said was clearly a veiled reference to him.

The saying "A tree that stands out in the forest will surely be felled by the wind"—isn't that "wind" referring to Zhu Yunwen?

However, Zhu Duo showed no intention of accepting the olive branches extended to him by his uncles. Instead, he said something that instantly silenced the entire room.

"Thank you all for your insincere kindness, uncles."

That one short sentence instantly brought the atmosphere in the room to a freezing point.

Insincere or hypocritical?

I should thank you again?

These words were truly ruthless, showing absolutely no mercy.

The words are laced with sarcasm and aggression.

But ironically, everything Zhu Duo said was true.

They weren't genuinely concerned about Zhu Duo when they said those things.

It was only because he saw the change in Zhu Yuanzhang's attitude towards Zhu Duo and recognized Zhu Duo's unlimited potential that he wanted to improve his relationship with Zhu Duo.

At the very least, it would earn him some favor with his father and allow him to demonstrate his brotherly affection and respect.

But to their utter surprise, Zhu Duo was so ruthless, exposing their intentions on the spot.

Zhu Duo continued, "I have already undergone the coming-of-age ceremony. I have endured all the hardships of my childhood, and now I am a grown man. How could my life be any more difficult than before?"

"I'm way past the age where I need someone to take care of me."

Zhu Yuanzhang's lips moved slightly, as if a thousand words were stuck in his throat. His eyes were filled with undisguised heartache. He opened his mouth several times, but in the end, he didn't say a single word.

Two breaths later, Zhu Yuanzhang managed to calm his turbulent emotions and solemnly said, word by word, "By my decree, Zhu Duo is hereby conferred the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households, and is awarded one hundred taels of gold, one hundred bolts of fine silk, one hundred personal guards, and to be in charge of all affairs of Tiannan Palace."

Zhu Yuanzhang knew that all he could do right now was to use these material things to make up for the years he had wronged Zhu Duo.

Faced with such an incredibly generous reward, Zhu Duo simply said, "Thank you for your great favor," without a trace of emotion on his face or in his tone.

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed softly to himself. He knew that the knot in Zhu Duo's heart was too deep to be easily untied overnight.

That's understandable—

At the age when Zhu Duo most longed for family affection and needed to be cared for, not a single person in the entire Zhu family extended a helping hand to him.

It's perfectly normal for Zhu Duo to be so cold and distant towards them now.

Zhu Yuanzhang thought to himself, "There's still a long time ahead, I'll make it up to Duo'er slowly."