The Great Ming Demon Pill: Your Majesty, please address me as the Crown Prince!

The atmosphere inside the hall froze.

Everyone looked at each other.

Zhu Di's words were clearly directed at them.

The hall was quite quiet.

Zhu Zhanjun suddenly smiled and said.

"Grandpa, don't worry."

"We are a family, and blood is thicker than water. I get along very well with my uncle and aunt. In my eyes, they are just like my own parents."

Everyone's lips twitched.

That little brat is really good at talking nonsense.

Wasn't it you who just said the Crown Princess was ugly?

Zhu Di stroked his beard and nodded in satisfaction.

"You little monkey, you're the one who puts my mind at ease the most."

"They are a constant source of worry for me."

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu looked slightly unnatural.

They knew the old man was referring to the two of them.

Zhu Zhanjun's dark eyes darted around, and he chuckled.

"Grandpa, how can you not cause me any worry?"

"My eldest uncle is in charge of the central government, with countless tasks to handle. How could he not have devoted his time and effort to every single one of them?"

"My father is a man of strong character; in every battle of the Ming Dynasty, he is indispensable in leading the charge!"

"Grandpa Emperor, you were even more amazing! The Northern Expedition against the Mongols, the annexation of Annam, the voyages to the Western Ocean, the compilation of the Great Encyclopedia—which of these wasn't a monumental achievement that will be remembered for all time?"

"Our family, under the leadership of Your Majesty, with each member fulfilling their duties and contributing their abilities, has achieved the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty we enjoy today!"

"It is indeed my eldest uncle who is tall, my father who is strong, and my imperial grandfather who is both tall and strong!"

[Ding! You have obtained a silver treasure chest!]

[Ding! You have obtained a silver treasure chest!]

[Ding! You have obtained a golden treasure chest!]

[Ding! You have obtained a silver treasure chest!]

The entire room fell silent.

Everyone was stunned.

Damn, what is the art of flattery?

They were like greenhorns in front of Zhu Zhanjun.

Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Gaosui, and others had twitching lips.

Zhu Zhanji was so angry he was about to vomit blood.

Another bootlicking attempt?

Grandfather, please don't be fooled by flattery!

All the imperial grandsons were about to wet themselves.

Damn, they're all brats, why are you so outstanding?

They had to study these words day and night, forgetting to eat and sleep.

That's amazing!

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di burst into laughter.

He wasn't unaware that Zhu Zhanjun was flattering him, but his grandson was just too good at talking; every word he uttered hit the nail on the head, and his choice of words was so fresh that it truly pleased him.

He smiled and patted Zhu Zhanjun's head.

"You little monkey, you're so adorable."

"If your great-grandmother were still alive, she would definitely love you very much."

Zhu Zhanjun blinked and suddenly said.

"Grandpa, I heard from my father that Grandmother was exceptionally virtuous, and she loved making pastries for you..."

Zhu Gaoxu scratched his head.

Did Lao Tzu ever say something like this?

Zhu Di paid no attention to the expressions on everyone's faces, as if Zhu Zhanjun's words had suddenly stirred up memories.

He sighed.

"That's right, your grandmother loved making pastries for me the most."

"Especially the winter mushroom cakes."

Zhu Di paused, his gaze shifting.

"In July of the first year of the Jianwen reign, I launched the 'Jingnan Campaign' in Beiping."

"By September, the situation had become critical. The imperial army was pressing in, while the Prince of Ning of Da Ning, who commanded the elite Doyan Three Guards, was acting ambiguously."

"That's a move that will determine life or death... I must go myself, and I must bring almost all of my elite troops with me."

"On the day I left Beiping, the sky was overcast. Inside the city... there were almost only the old, weak and disabled soldiers left."

"I know how dangerous it is to leave an empty city to your grandmother and Gao Chi to face Li Jinglong's 500,000-strong army."

"But I had no choice."

"Before I left, your royal grandmother... she didn't say much, but silently went to the kitchen, took a cloth bag in her hand, and handed it to me. Inside were a few still-warm cakes."

"I asked her what it was, and she only said, 'Take it with you on the road, to have something to eat when you get hungry.' At the time, my mind was entirely on military matters, so I just took it and casually put it in my pocket."

A slight smile appeared on Zhu Di's lips.

"Later, I led my troops and marched day and night to raid Daming."

"I dared not stop, dared not rest. My heart was burning with anxiety, thinking of Beiping, wondering if she could hold on."

"I got hungry on the way and only remembered the biscuits she gave me when I was eating dry food."

"When I took it out, it looked ordinary, even a bit rough. But when I took a bite..." Zhu Di closed his eyes, as if savoring the taste, "Sweet. Exceptionally sweet."

"I relied on those few cakes she made to make my way to Da Ning, accomplish my mission, and subdue the Prince of Ning and the Three Guards of Duoyan. When I led reinforcements and fought my way back to Beiping..."

"Your imperial grandmother, clad in armor, led all the women, the elderly, and the weak of the city, standing firmly atop the city walls and holding off Li Jinglong's hundreds of thousands of troops! Beiping still stands!"

At this point, Zhu Di's chest heaved slightly, clearly indicating that he was still deeply moved.

After a moment, he let out a long sigh.

"Later, after the war was over, I took this throne."

"I have tasted countless delicacies in the world."

"The imperial kitchen has made all sorts of cakes—sweet, savory, flaky, soft… but none of them taste the same anymore."

"I have never eaten such a sweet cake again."

The hall was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone looked at each other.

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaochi exchanged a glance, then looked away.

This was the first time they had heard their father reveal such a secret.

Zhu Zhanji swallowed hard and said dryly.

"Grandpa Emperor's strategic planning and decisive victories are truly... truly a divinely gifted warrior."

"The Empress Dowager remained calm and fearless in the face of danger, and as a woman, she took action to defend the country. She is a rare example of a virtuous empress throughout the ages."

After Zhu Zhanji finished speaking, he breathed a sigh of relief.

This time, he finally managed to flatter Zhu Zhanjun before he could.

Zhu Di glanced at Zhu Zhanji, and was about to say something when suddenly a small hand appeared in front of him, holding an oilcloth bag.

Zhu Di was taken aback, and following the hand, he saw it was Zhu Zhanjun.

Zhu Zhanjun blinked his clear black and white eyes and raised his hand.

"Grandpa, please try the cakes I made."

Zhu Di was taken aback, and subconsciously took it and opened it.

It is winter mushroom cake.

His heart skipped a beat.

Zhan Jun is so meticulous.

Under normal circumstances, he might not have been so moved.

But today is different; today is the day he misses her.

Zhu Di silently took a bite.

Sweet, so sweet!

It tastes just like she made it herself.

Winter mushroom cake, also known as Fu Su.

The husband went away to make a living, while the wife stayed at home. She picked winter melon, rice flour, and maltose to make shortbread, which she kept at home every day, waiting for her husband to return safely so they could eat it together. Hence the name "Fu Su" (妇酥, literally "wife's shortbread").

He ventured into danger alone, and she silently placed her longing in the pancake, waiting for his return.

Now that she is gone, he eats the bread and misses her.

Zhu Di's eyes reddened slightly.

He tilted his head back, took a deep breath, and smiled at Zhu Zhanjun.

"This cake is very sweet, it tastes just like the ones your royal grandmother used to make."

The hall fell silent.

Zhu Gaochi and Zhang Shi looked grave.

Zhu Zhanji was listless.

No, you can't do that.

He finally managed to flatter Zhu Zhanjun, but Zhu Zhanjun actually pulled out a big move?

You make me look silly.

Zhu Gaoxu swallowed.

When did this kid prepare this?

The princes were dumbfounded.

That's too ruthless.

With something like this, who can outmaneuver you?

Zhu Zhanjun chuckled and scratched his head.

"Grandpa, I've figured out a few tricks to make these cakes."

"I made a special trip out of the palace today just for these cakes."

"I got back a little late, and my aunt was a bit upset because she kept me waiting!"

[Ding! You have obtained a Prismatic Treasure Chest!]

Zhang: "???"

She felt like her scalp was about to explode.

No, you little rascal, are you waiting here to trick me?