Ming Dynasty: Pick up attributes from the battlefield to create the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 293 Zhu Ying: Am I Zhu Xiong Ying?
As soon as Yun Qi finished speaking...

Lü Ben was the first to step forward and loudly proclaimed, "Your Majesty!"

"After three years of preparation, all candidates from various prefectures and regions have now completed their examinations. There are now 85 candidates who will participate in the imperial examinations appointed by the Emperor."

"Please make the decision, Your Majesty."

Lü Ben's voice resounded throughout the court.

Eighty-five people.

Looking at the entire Ming Dynasty, this was truly rare.

It can be said to be one in ten thousand.

The fact that these students were able to stand out among all the students in the country is proof of their knowledge and ability.

Having reached this imperial examination, their future path had already been decided; they could become officials.

Not only those who stood out, but also those who took the prefectural exam a few days before could also have the opportunity to become officials. However, without taking the palace exam, their future achievements would be weaker than those who participated in the palace exam.

"The imperial examination system of this era."

"The exam also tests essays, specifically the eight-legged essay."

"Ultimately, it's about selecting smart people to be officials. As for how to handle government affairs in the future, that's something we'll have to learn on the spot."

“Such examinations will naturally not produce scientists, nor will they produce any true craftsmen.”

"If I were to establish a nation in the future, there would be an imperial examination, but it must be a comprehensive examination, not just this one."

Hearing that eighty-five people had passed the examination and would participate in the palace examination, Zhu Zheng secretly thought to himself.

Whether in the imperial court or elsewhere, this experience will be crucial for the future establishment of the nation.

"Eighty-five people."

"This time it's not bad."

"There were more than twenty more students participating in the palace examination than three years ago."

"very good."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled with satisfaction upon hearing this number.

"Now that our Great Ming Dynasty is strong and prosperous, with a growing population, the number of people with wisdom is also increasing."

"This is due to His Majesty's great fortune," Lü Ben replied respectfully.

"Prince."

"When do you think the imperial examination should be held?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked Zhu Biao with a smile.

"Go back to Father."

"Your subject thinks it should be set for tomorrow. Since the students from all over have already arrived, we can't keep them waiting any longer," Zhu Biao replied with a smile.

"As the Crown Prince says."

"Preach my will."

"The palace examination will be held tomorrow."

"All the students of the Three Palaces, the ministers of the Six Ministries, and all the dukes shall enter the Fengtian Hall to observe the students' palace examination," Zhu Yuanzhang immediately decreed.

"I accept the decree."

Lu Ben respectfully accepted the order and withdrew.

"Let's start playing, Your Majesty."

"The prefects of various prefectures in the northern frontier have sent back messages."

"The administrative centers of each prefecture have been redefined. Compared to before, the territory of our Great Ming is now larger, and there are no other impacts," Chen Jing stepped forward and respectfully reported.

"Your Majesty..."

During court discussions, it was customary to continuously present memorials.

However, almost all of them were reports from civil officials. After all, military officials were not involved in wars and were mostly just there to listen in on court. They rarely had anything to report, except for things like military reforms, training, and inspecting the army.

As the court debate drew to a close.

Few of the courtiers dared to speak out anymore.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced around the court and then smiled: "Do any of you have anything else to report?"

The words fell.

No one in the imperial court was speaking anymore.

As is customary, this is the time to announce the end of the court session.

"It seems that you gentlemen have run out of things to report."

"In that case, let's take this opportunity to talk about something."

"It is a matter of great importance concerning the future of our Great Ming Dynasty, and even more so, the fate of our imperial family," Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly.

As soon as these words fell.

Lan Yu, who was still a little sleepy, and Chang Mao and the others immediately raised their heads in astonishment and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang on the high seat.

Standing in the row of civil officials, Lü Ben felt a shiver run down his spine, his expression also filled with a sense of horror.

As someone in the know.

Naturally, the first thing that came to mind was the matter of the eldest grandson of the emperor, Zhu Xiong Ying; nothing else came to mind.

"Is the Emperor going to announce Xiong Ying's identity today?" Lan Yu and Chang Mao exchanged a glance, both filled with anticipation.

If that's really the case, then it's a huge deal, and an even bigger boon for them!

They have been waiting for this day for a long time.

"Do you gentlemen still remember when we lost two of our closest relatives in the fifteenth year of Hongwu's reign?" Zhu Yuanzhang spoke slowly, his voice filled with sorrow.

The words fell.

The officials in the court understood immediately and thought of what happened back then.

Even historical records show that in the fifteenth year of the Hongwu reign, smallpox broke out in Yingtian City, starting in the imperial palace. Fortunately, it was brought under control and did not spread, thus protecting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Yingtian.

but.

Zhu Xiong Ying, the eldest grandson of the Ming Emperor, contracted smallpox and was heavily armed.

Empress Ma, who took care of her grandson closely, eventually contracted smallpox herself.

finally.

Both grandfather and grandson died of smallpox.

After the grandfather and grandson were buried, the court officials dared not offend Zhu Yuanzhang in the slightest, fearing that they might incur his wrath if they were not careful. Therefore, many matters were reported to Zhu Biao.

About it.

This naturally left a deep impression on many court officials.

However, some court officials looked puzzled.

After all, no one dared to speak ill of what happened back then, as it would be a capital offense to offend the current emperor.

But today.

The current emperor actually mentioned the fifteenth year of Hongwu's reign, a year he would most like to recall.

"What does Your Majesty mean? Why did you suddenly bring this up?"

"Could something be related to this?"

"Something's wrong."

"You must not say a word this time, or you will surely suffer a great disaster."

"Just watch, don't say a word..."

Many court officials secretly wondered what the current emperor meant.

For a while.

The entire Fengtian Hall fell silent. No one dared to speak; only the sound of breathing could be heard, but even that was not loud enough.

After glancing at them, Zhu Yuanzhang naturally understood what his court officials were thinking.

"What is Old Zhu trying to say?"

"I vaguely remember that the fifteenth year of the Hongwu reign was the year Empress Ma and Zhu Xiong Ying passed away, right?"

Even among the military officials, Zhu Ying, who had been waiting for the court to adjourn, was now extremely curious and puzzled.

What is Lao Zhu trying to do?
I don't understand it at all!

This time!

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke again: "Back then, we lost our wife and our grandson. We will never forget that year."

"But, fortunately, God protected us."

"Our grandson is still alive."

The words fell.

The court was shocked.

Even those who feared Zhu Yuanzhang were now all astonished and pale as they looked at the figure in the high position, filled with confusion, surprise, and shock.

Did I hear that right?

"The Emperor said his grandson is still alive?"

"Could the grandson he's talking about be His Highness Zhu Xiong Ying, the eldest grandson of the emperor?"

"No way?"

"Although I was only a fifth-rank official back then, I still saw the Empress and the eldest grandson off from afar when they were buried in the imperial mausoleum, and I personally witnessed the eldest grandson being buried in the mausoleum."

"Yes."

"Back then, the eldest grandson of the emperor contracted smallpox and died. The imperial physicians declared that there was no cure."

"The dead cannot be brought back to life. Could it be that His Majesty has misspoke?"

"I do not know."

"Something truly terrible has happened here..."

Even those ministers who feared Zhu Yuanzhang were utterly astonished at this moment, and many of the neighboring officials began to whisper among themselves.

The entire courtroom suddenly became incredibly noisy.

To the uninformed ministers, Zhu Yuanzhang's words sounded like uttering nonsense.

But for those in the know, it was a mixture of elation and profound sorrow.

"Hahaha." "That's great."

"We've finally made it to this day."

"U.A.'s identity is finally going to be restored, and we won't have to hide it anymore."

"It seems His Majesty has found the truth he seeks." Lan Yu laughed heartily, unable to hide his excitement.

"Uncle."

"I've been waiting for this day for a long time." Chang Mao was also extremely excited.

Both of them were laughing loudly.

The courtiers around them looked at the two of them with great confusion and astonishment.

Clearly, they didn't understand it.

"Could it be that Lan Yu and Chang Mao know something?"

"They're both so happy?"

Many court officials looked on in bewilderment.

Compared to Lan Yu and the other two's triumphant laughter, Xu Huizu appeared much more composed.

"The eldest grandson of the emperor."

"Finally, I'm going to see the light of day again," Xu Huizu thought to himself.

But the one who suffered the most was someone else.

That is naturally Lü Ben.

"The imperial examination is about to end today."

"His Majesty is about to announce news of Zhu Xiong Ying."

"Could it be that they're going to attack me today?" Lu Ben was filled with unease, and even his hands inside his sleeves were trembling.

If Zhu Yuanzhang had ordered his capture at that moment, all his preparations would have been in vain.

"Zhu Xiong Ying is still alive?"

Zhu Ying looked on in astonishment.

"impossible?"

"Is the butterfly effect I created really that big?"

"How could someone who's been dead for so many years come back to life? Are you kidding me?" Zhu Ying was secretly shocked and completely dumbfounded.

Perhaps those involved are too close to the situation to see clearly.

Even though Zhu Ying was intelligent, he never imagined that he was Zhu Xiong Ying.

After all, Zhu Ying had thought about it for a long time. He must be a descendant of Zhu Wenzheng. There was no other possibility, right?
Is he Zhu Xiong Ying?
Zhu Yingzhen had never thought of that.

There seems to be no reason for this, does there?

but.

After Zhu Ying pondered for a moment,

Zhu Ying suddenly turned his head and looked at Lan Yu and Chang Mao, who were laughing uncontrollably. His heart started pounding again.

"Something's not right."

Zhu Ying was startled, vaguely sensing that something was wrong.

Recalling how Lan Yu suddenly softened towards him, recalling Lan Yu's original arrogance and confrontation, he suddenly became a different person.

then.

The emperor issued an edict to marry the daughters of the Xu and Mu families to him.

These are all baseless and almost impossible.

Just like when Zhu Ying first saw Lan Yu admit his mistake and soften his stance, he almost thought he was seeing a ghost.

I can't think of any reason at all.

but now!
It seems the answer has already been found.

"Am I Zhu Xiong Ying?"

"No way?"

Zhu Ying thought to himself, his heart pounding with anxiety.

after all.

He had no fear of Lan Yu and the others in terms of power or position.

Lan Yu and his group only feared imperial power, the emperor and the crown prince. Apart from that, they dared to offend and oppose anyone else.

However, since returning to Yingtian, Lan Yu has been extremely respectful to him, even to the point of trying to please him.

Then came the daughters of the Xu and Mu families, both from prominent families and holding military power. It was impossible for them to marry another foreign official with military power.

"Could it be that I really have some kind of connection with Zhu Xiong Ying?"

"No way?"

Zhu Ying was thinking frantically, and his expression became complicated.

It wasn't that he was overthinking things; at that moment, it really seemed to be true!
It wasn't just Lan Yu and his group.

And Zhu Yunwen!
When we first met at the East Palace, he actually called me "elder brother"?

Could it be that they really do look very alike?

He also had his own son, whom both Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao said looked like Zhu Xiong Ying.

Putting all of this together, the answer seems clear.

And this time!
"emperor."

"Did this old minister not understand, or did this old minister misunderstand?"

Zhao Mian came out and asked respectfully.

This time.

The court fell silent once again.

Everyone awaited Zhu Yuanzhang's answer.

"Let's talk."

Feeling the gaze of the entire court, and glancing out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zhu Ying, who was already in a daze. Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said loudly again, "Our eldest grandson is still alive."

"Don't think I'm just senile and talking nonsense."

"today."

"It is we who are informing you all."

"The Crown Prince knows about this, and many others do as well," Zhu Yuanzhang said loudly, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

"Your Majesty."

“Father can’t explain it clearly in a short time, so let’s let those who know the truth about what happened back then speak up,” Zhu Biao said with a smile.

Subsequently.

A clap.

"Xuan!"

Yun Qi was prepared and shouted loudly.

All the courtiers turned their gazes toward the outside of the main hall.

Zhu Ying was also slightly dazed and subconsciously looked towards the entrance of the main hall.

Several elderly people were seen walking briskly into the hall.

One of them was dressed in the official robes of a royal physician, while the others were dressed in the robes of eunuchs and palace maids.

"who are they?"

Many ministers stared blankly, not recognizing the person at all.

However, some of the old ministers recognized Chen Yi, who was walking in the lead, at a glance.

"Doctor Chen."

"The chief imperial physician who treated the Empress back then."

"But ever since that smallpox outbreak, when the Empress and the eldest grandson of the Emperor died, this Physician Chen has disappeared."

"and many more."

"The palace maid behind Physician Chen looks very familiar. She seems to be a palace maid from the Empress's palace. Although she has aged, her appearance is still recognizable."

"That's Cao Fu, the chief eunuch serving the Empress."

"And those old palace maids..."

……

Just a glance.

Many veteran officials who had experienced what happened back then recognized them all after a moment's thought.

However, most people don't recognize him.

"Grandpa Chen?"

When Zhu Ying, who was standing in the line of military officials, saw Chen Yi at the head of the group, a look of joy and surprise appeared in his eyes.

Chen Yi.

How could Zhu Ying not recognize him?

Back when my grandmother was still alive.

Chen Yi would come to Beiping every year to see himself and take his pulse to check his health.

However, Chen Yi never saw his grandmother again after she passed away.

Several years have passed since then.

But Zhu Ying had quite an impression of him.

After all, they are elders.

……

(End of this chapter)