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

Chapter 444 For the Children
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Everyone knew that the time for the palace examination could not be delayed, so they all stood up.

"It's getting late, let's begin the palace examination." Zhu Zhanhe wasn't going to waste any more time, so he waved his hand and immediately ordered people to prepare the formalities for the palace examination.

Immediately, all the officials obediently left the Fengtian Hall, leaving the hall to the scholars who needed to take the palace examination.

Soon, only the students from the Imperial Academy and the Military Academy remained in the Fengtian Hall.

Furthermore, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were placed in front of the group of students from the Imperial Academy.

In front of the twenty students of the Military Academy was a sand table!
Around the palace examination hall, a large group of imperial guards completely surrounded the Fengtian Hall. Besides maintaining order, they also served as proctors.

"The exam question for the Imperial Academy students this time is: On accelerating the comprehensive and in-depth integration of the Dragon Kingdom!" Zhu Zhanhe looked at the group of Imperial Academy students and gave them the topic for this imperial examination.

The title itself reveals Zhu Zhanhe's intention to comprehensively accelerate the integration of multiple ethnic groups within the Dragon Kingdom. In other words, Zhu Zhanhe aims to fully promote Sinicization within the Dragon Kingdom! It remains to be seen whether these scholars can understand his intentions!

After Zhu Zhanhe finished speaking, a group of eunuchs carried a handful of snow-white examination papers and distributed them to the students of the Imperial Academy.

Afterwards, Zhu Zhanhe briefly checked the situation of the scholars, and then, together with his son Zhu Qiyu, came to the students of the Military Academy.

The students of the Military Academy and the Imperial College were separated only by a screen. Clearly, they did not want the two sides to interfere with each other.

"Very good, as expected of students from the Military Academy, each one is very spirited!" Looking at the twenty students of the Military Academy standing respectfully, Zhu Zhanhe couldn't help but praise them.

"..." Upon hearing Emperor Longwu's words, the students of the Martial Arts Academy were filled with excitement and were about to respond.

"Don't speak, listen to me."

Although we are a military academy, we are called soldiers by outsiders.

However, I believe that our students at the Military Academy are not only knowledgeable in military affairs, but also have excellent character!

"The students at the Imperial Academy next door are taking their exams; let's not disturb them." Zhu Zhanhe raised his hand to stop the students from speaking and encouraged them. Hearing the Emperor's encouragement, all the students at the Military Academy were filled with excitement.

"The three precious swords are placed on my Sumeru pedestal. Whoever can obtain them will have to rely on their own abilities."

Our students at the Military Academy are destined for the Army and Navy, so this assessment will focus primarily on combat scenarios.

To simulate a realistic situation, all students will need to engage in pairs on the sand table, and after determining the winner, they will switch and continue the match until all twenty students have arranged the ranking order.

"Do you all understand what I'm saying?!" Zhu Zhanhe explained the requirements for the assessment of the students at the Military Academy.

"We understand!" A low voice burst forth from the throats of the students of the Military Academy before him. Zhu Zhanhe, however, heard the suppressed excitement in their voices.

"Let's begin." After saying that, Zhu Zhanhe turned and left, leaving behind only the group of spirited and bloodshot-eyed students of the Military Academy.

Afterwards, Zhu Zhanhe inspected the students of the Imperial Academy and the Military Academy twice more before turning and leaving. Only his eldest son, Zhu Qiyu, remained to guard the entire vast Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Zhanhe discovered that wherever he went, the scholars there would become tense. Therefore, Zhu Zhanhe felt that rather than putting pressure on the scholars, it would be better for him to leave as soon as possible.

Zhu Zhanhe didn't stand on ceremony and turned to leave, leaving his eldest son to supervise the construction.
Just then, Zhu Zhanhe returned to the Qianqing Palace with Xiao Xizi, only to find his Imperial Noble Consort Mu and Consort Mu, each carrying a food box, eagerly awaiting his arrival. Seeing this, Xiao Xizi, quick-witted as ever, retreated hastily, inviting the two consorts inside before promptly closing the gates of the Qianqing Palace.

"Alright!"

"These two clingy little devils are here again." Zhu Zhanhe felt a headache coming on as he watched his two wives walk gracefully toward him. He knew that these two wives were here because of the matter of his second and third sons being granted the title of prince. However, the two wives just wouldn't bring it up directly, and would come to cling to him every day at mealtimes.

Even recently, Empress Xia has repeatedly told Zhu Zhanhe that his two younger sisters have become increasingly sensible and clingy, urging him to quickly find a way to resolve this issue! Clearly, Empress Xia is also finding her two younger sisters' clinginess unbearable.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects!" The two Imperial Noble Consorts, the Mu sisters, each carrying a lunchbox, approached Zhu Zhanhe and bowed respectfully.

"Ahem, my beloved concubine, please rise." Zhu Zhanhe coughed awkwardly twice, trying to cover his embarrassment. This was understandable; he was in his prime, and his two wives were meticulously dressed, their alluring and voluptuous figures truly captivating.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" After the two sisters respectfully expressed their gratitude, they looked at their emperor with delight before diligently approaching the table and beginning to set out the meal. Zhu Zhanhe looked up at his two wives' alluring figures, and then at the rather lavish lunch the sisters had prepared, with its many different dishes.

"Your Majesty~, you've been busy all day. Let me serve you your meal." At this moment, Consort Mu Ke'er, with a shy expression, came to her husband, gently took his hand, and walked towards the dining table.

Seeing Mu Ke'er's shy and nervous appearance, Zhu Zhanhe couldn't help but want to bully her!
"Okay~!" Zhu Zhanhe gently pinched his wife's blushing face before following her to the dining table and sitting down.

"Your Majesty, how about trying this dish I made?" As soon as she sat down, Imperial Noble Consort Mu Ping'er eagerly brought a small bowl and fed it to her husband.

"Okay!" Zhu Zhanhe didn't hesitate and ate it right away.

"Not bad, Ping'er's cooking is very good!" Zhu Zhanhe knew that his wife's cooking was good, but he still praised her earnestly.

"I'm glad Your Majesty likes it!" Upon hearing the Emperor's words, Mu Ping'er's beautiful eyes narrowed with a smile. Her radiant smile made Zhu Zhanhe's appetite increase, and he let his wife feed him continuously.

Consort Mu Ke'er wasn't idle either, obediently serving Zhu Zhanhe wine. Zhu Zhanhe even saw her secretly take a couple of sips herself. Her rosy cheeks looked incredibly alluring!

"Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask of you!" Seeing that the meal was almost over, Imperial Noble Consort Mu Ping'er took the wine from her sister and continued to feed the Emperor, speaking with a face full of eagerness.

"You've finally spoken up. I thought you two sisters were going to keep quiet for ages!" Zhu Zhanhe muttered to himself, taking a sip of wine and letting out a sigh of relief.

"Ping'er, what's wrong? Tell me!" Zhu Zhanhe immediately pretended to be stupid and asked the Imperial Noble Consort Mu.

"Your Majesty~" Seeing her Emperor pretending to be stupid, Imperial Noble Consort Mu looked a little resentful, and her beautiful big eyes were full of sorrow.

However, soon, Imperial Noble Consort Mu turned her attention to her older sister, whose face was flushed after secretly drinking a couple of sips of wine.

"Sister~~!" Imperial Noble Consort Mu Ping'er called out to her sister Mu Ke'er with a mournful and somewhat anxious expression.

Upon hearing her sister's call, Mu Ke'er visibly trembled, but still looked at her husband with a flushed face. When she met her husband's eyes, she lowered her head as if shy.

Then, Mu Ke'er slowly moved to her husband's side, gently squatted down, placed her beautiful chin on her husband's lap, and looked at her emperor with slightly dazed eyes.

(End of this chapter)