Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 214 The Family Banquet Hosted by Zhu Zhanhe
Soon, Zhu Zhanhe, along with his younger brother Zhu Zhanqi, arrived outside the Chengyun Hall.

From afar, Zhu Zhanhe saw his wife, Xia, standing at the door to greet him, and he was taken aback, wondering why his wife had come.

"Your Highness, Brother Qi." As soon as they approached, Princess Xia greeted them, bowing slightly to Zhu Zhanhe and Zhu Zhanqi.

"No need for formalities, what brings you here?" Zhu Zhanhe spoke first.

"Greetings to my sister-in-law," Zhu Zhanqi said respectfully to the Crown Princess Xia.

"Brother Qi, there's no need for such formalities. Let's go inside quickly." Princess Xia told Zhu Zhanqi to dispense with the formalities and followed half a step behind Zhu Zhanhe as they walked inside.

"His Highness has summoned my sisters. They can't possibly sit with all the uncles, so I took the liberty of setting up another table. I will keep them company." The Crown Princess Xia glared at her husband, annoyed.

The saying goes that boys and girls should not sit together after the age of seven. Some of the younger girls are already quite old and are about to be betrothed. This young prince is really something, not even thinking things through before holding a family banquet.

"What the Crown Princess says is very true!" Upon hearing his wife's words, Zhu Zhanhe instantly understood, took her hand, and expressed his gratitude.

Zhu Zhanqi, standing behind him, stared blankly at his elder brother holding his sister-in-law's hand, then ran away in a flash.

Xia, whose hand was suddenly being held, was stunned for a moment, feeling a surge of shyness and affection.

The many younger brothers and sisters who were waiting inside saw their eldest brother and sister-in-law walk in, and they quickly stepped forward to greet them.

"We have met our elder brother and sister-in-law!" Prince Zhu Gaoxu of Han had ten sons, the eldest being Zhu Zhanhe, who was seventeen years old.

Zhu Zhanqi was fifteen years old.

Zhu Zhanyan was fourteen years old.

Zhu Zhanyu was twelve years old.
Zhu Zhanzhi, eleven years old

Zhu Zhanyi was nine years old.

Zhu Zhanping, eight years old

Zhu Zhantao was five years old.

Zhu Zhan was four years old

Zhu Zhanfeng is two years old.

There are also seven daughters, Zhu Yushu is fifteen years old.
Zhu Yuxuan is fourteen years old.

Zhu Yuji was eleven years old.

Zhu Yuquan is ten years old

Zhu Yuheng is eight years old

Zhu Yuyang is six years old

Zhu Yuyao is four years old.

The oldest among them, Zhu Zhanhe, is seventeen years old this year, while the youngest, his younger brother Zhu Zhanfeng, is only about two years old and was brought over by a nanny.

"Get up, everyone, take your seats." Zhu Zhanhe took the lead and sat down in the main seat. Then he waved his hand to let his many younger brothers and sisters sit down.

"Thank you, elder brother!" Zhu Zhanqi, dressed in military armor, led the way in thanking Zhu Zhanhe before taking their seats. Everyone looked at their second brother in his military uniform with envy in their eyes.

Even the younger sisters, separated by a curtain, bowed deeply to Zhu Zhanhe before taking their seats.

"It's called a family dinner, but actually I have something to tell you all." At the beginning, Zhu Zhanhe bluntly told everyone that he had called you all here today because he had something to say.

"I will follow your teachings, elder brother!" Zhu Zhanqi spoke first, as he was now his elder brother's number one fan!
"Hmm." Zhu Zhanhe nodded in agreement to his perceptive younger brother. This further shattered Zhu Zhanqi's confidence.

"Since my grandfather passed away, a lot has happened in our family."

First, the eldest uncle succeeded to the throne.

Later, my father and third uncle raised an army.

Then, after I marry your sister-in-law, the matter of settling down in my fiefdom will take place.

Now, our whole family has just arrived in Yunnan, and things are all intertwined and complicated!
Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and we didn't cause any embarrassing incidents at home. Zhu Zhanhe recounted the many recent events, feeling a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, a feeling of deep emotion or reflection).

"Especially the second brother, your second elder brother, has become much more restrained and steady in his actions." Zhu Zhanhe then praised his second younger brother, Zhu Zhanqi, who had just been assigned to the military camp.

"Hehehe..." Zhu Zhanqi laughed a little shyly after being praised by his older brother.

"Given the current situation at home, I have decided to establish two rules for the family." Zhu Zhanhe looked around, but no one dared to object, because everyone present knew that with their father, Prince Han, not at home, his elder brother's words were the rules.

Even when our father, the Prince of Han, is home, my eldest brother's words often carry weight with the rules! He's there to give instructions, not to discuss them!

"We will follow your teachings, elder brother!" Without hesitation, everyone chimed in.

"Starting tomorrow, classes will begin at the Prince's Academy. All children of the Prince's family, regardless of gender or whether they are legitimate or illegitimate, will be enrolled to study. Those who need enlightenment will begin their education, and those who need to study the classics will study them."

In the morning, all students entered the school; in the afternoon, the men practiced martial arts and military drills, while the women learned housekeeping.

When a boy reaches the age of fifteen, I will arrange for him to lead troops or govern.

"When a girl is fourteen, she will learn to manage the household from your sister-in-law." Zhu Zhanhe ignored the astonished looks of his younger siblings and stated his request.

"Presumably, Chief Steward Hu already told you yesterday that your second brother entered the army camp for training yesterday."

As for where my palace's soldiers came from, you don't need to know.

"As long as I know these soldiers are enough to protect my whole family, that's enough." Zhu Zhanhe did not explain the source of the soldiers to his younger siblings.

As for why I made this arrangement?

As you all know, if Father and Third Uncle's uprising succeeds, that would be the best outcome, as you are all future princes and princesses.

"But if we fail, our whole family will surely suffer calamity." Zhu Zhanhe's words immediately filled everyone with terror. They knew very well that if the rebellion failed, their entire families would be implicated.

"Third brother." Zhu Zhanhe looked at his younger siblings and sighed inwardly. They were still too young and useless.

"Big brother!" Fourteen-year-old Zhu Zhanyi hurriedly got up upon hearing his older brother's call.

"Third brother, I have too many things to do, and your second brother is going to the military camp again."

"You've been steady and composed since childhood. You're the eldest in the school, so you need to take good care of your younger brothers and sisters." Zhu Zhanhe had a very good impression of this third brother. He was calm, reserved, and unflappable in the face of adversity, and was destined for great things.

"Yes, elder brother!" Zhu Zhanyi replied with a serious expression.

"Yu Shu." Zhu Zhanhe called out to his younger sister through the curtain.

"Big brother." All they heard was a low, mournful voice coming from behind the curtain.

"Don't be in a hurry. Starting tomorrow, you will follow your sister-in-law and learn how to manage the household."

"Your marriage will be arranged by your elder brother!" Zhu Zhanhe naturally understood the reason for his younger sister's worry.

She was already fifteen years old. In ordinary families, a girl of this age would likely already be married. But she was born into the family of the Prince of Han, and at this most suitable age for marriage, she happened to encounter the Prince of Han's rebellion!

If the Prince of Han's rebellion succeeds, she will be the eldest princess, enjoying boundless glory. But what if he fails? Wouldn't marrying her be life-threatening?

Therefore, no one has come to propose marriage to this younger sister. Everyone is waiting for the outcome of the Prince of Han's uprising, but how can a girl of her age afford to wait?
It would be fine to wait a year, but the process of proposing marriage, exchanging betrothal gifts, and paying the bride price would take at least a year. By then, she would be seventeen years old, which is also the age for marriage.

But if she waits two or three years, she'll be a twenty-year-old spinster! Even if she's a noblewoman, what good family can an old spinster find? That's the reason for her worry.

"Thank you, elder brother." Zhu Yushu's voice was still filled with deep sorrow.

Princess Xia, with a look of heartache, held the hand of her younger sister, whose face was full of sorrow, and gently comforted her.

She understood her younger sister's sadness best; how similar it was to her own past! Fortunately, she met her destined soulmate.

But where is the right match for my younger sister?

(End of this chapter)