Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

Yingtian Prefecture, the residence of the Duke of Wei.

"Be careful, be careful."

"Slow down, install that one too."

"Help me lift this up and move it over there. Be careful over there."

"........."

When news of Xu Da's impending expedition reached the Duke of Wei's residence, a tense atmosphere enveloped the entire mansion.

Even for noble families, every time they went to the battlefield, it was like a life-or-death separation, and they wished they could bring everything that could save their lives.

"Big girl."

"Come here for a moment."

Xu Da looked at Xu Miaoyun, who was directing the servants outside the hall, and waved to her.

"father."

Xu Miaoyun immediately noticed that Xu Da's expression was off. She bit her lip and followed him into the study.

"Today His Majesty and the Empress summoned me to the palace for a banquet."

"The topic of your marriage came up."

Looking at his beautiful young daughter, Xu Da sighed.

"The palace wants to arrange a marriage between our family and us?"

Xu Miaoyun immediately realized the key to it.

"Um."

Xu Da nodded.

"Has the Empress taken a liking to me?"

"Um."

"It is the Prince of Yan."

Xu Miaoyun's mind raced through the ages and titles of the various princes, but she ultimately focused on Zhu Di.

It would have been better if this matter hadn't been brought up, because once it was, Xu Da was furious. He slammed his hand on the armrest and shouted angrily, "Family banquet? Family banquet my ass!"

"I knew it was no good as soon as the roast goose was served."

"Sure enough, he hit you. He's after you."

"Return to family, family, good."

"If he's willing to let the Prince of Yan become our son-in-law, I'll consider him family."

"Otherwise, there's no point in discussing it!"

"father."

Xu Miaoyun, poised and graceful, spoke in a melodious voice that echoed in the study: "Is Father about to go to war?"

Xu Da was slightly taken aback, then slammed his hand heavily on the armrest, indignantly saying, "That doesn't mean I should use my own daughter as a guarantor."

"Hmph, just a few words and you've taken my daughter."

"There's no such thing as a free lunch."

"Putting everything else aside, if you marry him, I can't... I can't keep going to this son-in-law's house to freeload, can I?"

"father!"

Xu Miaoyun tried to appease Xu Da.

Xu Da shut her down with one sentence: "You don't need to get involved in this matter."

"The Crown Prince is bringing this brat over tomorrow. Watch how I deal with him."

"Yes."

Xu Miaoyun smiled helplessly and agreed.

The news quickly spread throughout the entire Duke of Wei's mansion, and everyone inside and outside the mansion knew about the marriage alliance.

"Tap tap!"

A young boy and girl ran into the Duke's mansion's accounting room, startling Xu Miaoyun, who was checking the account books.

"Big sister."

"Zengshou, Miaojin, what brings you here?"

Xu Miaoyun was somewhat surprised to see the two little ones arrive.

"Big sister, are you getting married?"

Xu Miaojin blurted it out.

"What, where did you hide it again?"

Xu Miaoyun looked at Xu Miaojin with a smile in her eyes, her expression gentle and graceful.

"No."

Xu Miaojin quickly retorted, "Big sister, I wasn't eavesdropping."

"I've been reading in the study all day, and somehow I fell asleep under the desk."

"Okay, whatever you say."

Xu Miaoyun smiled serenely, a hint of doting in her smile.

The tension on Xu Miaojin's face gradually dissipated, and she revealed a bright smile: "Big sister, I've heard big brother mention His Highness Prince Yan."

"What's wrong?"

Xu Miaoyun glanced at her while flipping through the household account books.

He said that among the princes in the palace, the Prince of Yan was the most useless.

"They can't do anything but mess around."

Xu Miaojin's innocent words caught Xu Miaoyun's attention, and she couldn't help but put down the account book in her hand.

"Brother, that's because he's prejudiced against His Highness the Prince of Yan."

"His Highness the Prince of Yan is skilled in archery and horsemanship, and once killed a tiger with a single arrow."

"We, the sons of noble families, all admire him."

Xu Zengshou interrupted midway, speaking up for Zhu Di.

"Zengshou, who are the people who usually associate with the Prince of Yan?"

Xu Miaoyun stared at Xu Zengshou with her beautiful eyes, hoping to get more information about Zhu Di from him.

"There is Li Jinglong, son of the Duke of Cao; Chang Sen, third son of the Duke of Zheng; Feng Liang, second son of the Duke of Song; and Fu Zheng, second son of the Marquis of Yingchuan."

Xu Zengshou counted on his fingers the friends he had gone hunting and picnicking with.

"Three sons of dukes, and one second son of a marquis."

A strange light flashed in Xu Miaoyun's beautiful eyes.

In the third year of the Hongwu reign, His Majesty conferred titles upon 6 dukes, 28 marquises, and 2 earls. If Xu Zengshou is included, the playmates of Prince Yan, Zhu Di, now include 4 dukes.

Marquis Fu Youde of Yingchuan was known for his bravery in the army, second only to Chang Yuchun.

Li Jinglong, son of the Duke of Cao, is well-versed in military strategy and highly regarded by His Majesty. He has long been regarded as the next Duke of Cao.

These people came together and all submitted to Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, as their leader. There's a lot more to this than meets the eye.

"He's still a spineless coward."

Xu Miaojin pouted, completely disregarding Zhu Di.

"Silly girl, messing around and being useless are not the same thing."

Xu Miaoyun gently stroked Xu Miaojin's head, pondering to herself: 'Just what kind of person is the Prince of Yan?'

................

As night fell, the inner garden of the imperial palace—the East Palace—was bathed in darkness.

"Your father and mother have put a lot of effort into arranging this marriage for you."

"You can't just do things according to your own preferences like you usually do."

Crown Prince Zhu Biao stood with his hands behind his back in front, while Zhu Di lagged behind by half a body length.

Even Zhu Di, who had lived two lives, was somewhat intimidated by this executive vice emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

As the saying goes, the eldest brother is like a father. From childhood, all of them, including the brothers and sisters, grew up under Zhu Biao's guidance, studying and practicing martial arts.

Zhu Biao's status in their hearts had surpassed that of Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma.

This was one of the most stable crown princes in history. If he had made Zhu Yuanzhang abdicate, Zhu Yuanzhang would probably have been overjoyed to become the retired emperor.

Despite his kind and gentle nature, Zhu Biao handled three of the four major cases in the early Ming Dynasty, demonstrating his ruthless methods.

"Big brother, I understand."

Zhu Di obediently replied.

"Fourth Uncle! Fourth Uncle! Fourth Uncle!"

The innocent voice of a child came from not far away, and the eunuchs led two small figures to appear in front of Zhu Biao and Zhu Di.

One of the chubby-faced little boys pushed away the eunuch's hand and rushed towards Zhu Di.

"Oh, what brings you here?"

Zhu Di scooped up Zhu Xiong Ying with both hands and held him in his arms.

"Giggle!"

Zhu Xiong Ying was overjoyed and leaned close to Zhu Di's ear, whispering, "Fourth Uncle, are you getting married?"

"Nothing can be kept secret in this palace."

Zhu Di gave Zhu Biao a lifeless look.

"Yunwen".

Zhu Biao beckoned to Zhu Yunwen, then looked at Zhu Xiong Ying in Zhu Di's arms: "Xiong Ying, get down."

"oh."

Zhu Xiong Ying got down from Zhu Di's arms with some fear.

"Yunwen".

"Why are you here?"

Zhu Biao inquired about Zhu Yunwen, who was standing in front of him.

"I've met my father and my fourth uncle."

Zhu Yunwen bowed respectfully to Zhu Biao and Zhu Di in turn.

"Um."

Zhu Di looked at his "good nephew" with a strange expression. He was only a few years old, but he already had the mannerisms of a pedantic Confucian scholar.