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

As Zhu Di gradually regained his composure, he realized that something was amiss.

He seemed to be deep in thought.

"Zhanjun, where did you get the sugar?"

This thing is an extremely rare luxury item.

Even in the palace, it wasn't something that was available very often.

Zhu Zhanjun chuckled and winked.

"Grandpa, didn't I previously consider a sugar-making business?"

"Recently, my grandson came up with a method for making white sugar, which was a major technological breakthrough. So he opened a shop and workshop on the street to study how to make white sugar himself."

"The sugar in these cakes was made by my grandson himself."

As he spoke, he took out an exquisite brocade pouch from his pocket.

Everyone's attention immediately focused on the bag.

Zhu Di opened it with some curiosity and poured some into his hand.

A smear of white sugar, as white as snow, appeared in his hand.

Everyone was startled and took a breath.

Zhu Gaoxu's eyes, as big as copper bells, widened in surprise.

"This sugar is so white! It's probably even purer than the imperial candy from the palace!"

Zhu Gaosui nodded subconsciously.

"I've never seen such pure sugar in my life."

Zhu Gaochi and Zhang were dumbfounded.

Where did this kid learn these strange and ingenious skills?

Can you even make sugar this white?

Zhu Zhanji clenched his fists, feeling even more disappointed.

How does this kid know so much?

He gritted his teeth and silently comforted himself, thinking that these were just tricks and ingenious techniques, nothing to worry about.

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Zhanjun with some surprise.

"Zhanjun, did you make this yourself?"

"You little monkey, when did you develop such skills?"

The most common sugars in the Ming Dynasty were maltose and brown sugar.

Over the years, countless craftsmen have worked themselves to death trying to come up with a way to make snow-white sugar.

Zhu Zhanjun chuckled.

"Grandpa, it's not difficult."

"Just think about it carefully, and it will be fine."

Everyone looked at each other.

Listen to what people are saying.

Zhu Di's face twitched, and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

This kid's words are truly embarrassing.

If it were that simple, someone would have figured it out long ago.

He stroked his beard and smiled.

"From what you just said, are you going to get into the sugar business?"

Zhu Zhanjun said solemnly.

"Your Majesty is wise! That is exactly what I intend to do!"

"This white sugar is as white as snow, sweet but not cloying, and of much better quality than the brown sugar and maltose on the market. If it could be produced in large quantities and sold throughout the Ming Dynasty, and even exported to foreign countries by sea, it would definitely be a very profitable business!"

"But my grandson is young and has limited resources. The allowance from the Prince of Han's mansion and his own savings are simply not enough to support a big event."

"So, your grandson wishes to ask His Majesty for help!"

He said with a smile.

"First, I would like to ask my grandfather to grant me a few plots of official land near the capital or along the Grand Canal. It doesn't need to be very fertile, just large enough and easily accessible. That way, I can build larger workshops, hire more workers, and increase the production of white sugar."

"Secondly, the sugar cannot be piled up in the workshop after it's made. I've heard that the official granaries of the Grand Canal sometimes have spare rooms. Could you temporarily lend me some storage rooms to store the finished sugar? I promise to pay the rent on time and will never take advantage of the imperial court!"

"Third, for white sugar to sell well and over long distances, transportation is indispensable."

"Your grandson wishes to utilize the Grand Canal's transportation system to transport white sugar along the canals to commercial ports throughout the north and south. Of course, I will pay every penny of the transportation fees and customs taxes due—everything will be done according to the rules!"

"Grandfather, I know that the court has many expenses. We need to guard against the Mongols in the north and control the floods in the south. Money is needed everywhere. Although I am a descendant of the Zhu family, I cannot only think about getting rich myself."

"So, I've thought it through! I'll keep only 30% of all the profits from this sugar business to keep the workshop running and pay the wages of the artisans and workers."

"My grandson is willing to donate all of the remaining 70% of the profits to the national treasury!"

He patted his small chest.

"In this way, Your Majesty's support for your grandson gives me an opportunity to demonstrate my abilities and bring glory to the royal family."

"My grandson has expanded this business and made a lot of money, most of which has gone into the national treasury. This is a way of relieving my grandfather's burdens and contributing to the Ming Dynasty. We, grandfather and grandson, have achieved... a win-win situation!"

"Grandpa Emperor, is this alright?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

Zhang's expression changed, and she quickly gave Zhu Gaochi a meaningful look.

If the old man agrees, it would be tantamount to supporting Zhu Zhanjun from behind the scenes. With shared interests, the grandfather and grandson would be in cahoots, and would their family still have a share in the throne?

Zhu Gaochi gritted his teeth; he certainly understood what his wife meant.

Deep down, he didn't want his father to have too much involvement with the second son's family.

He quickly replied.

"Father, I'm afraid this is inappropriate."

"As a member of the royal family, competing with the common people for profit would likely attract criticism."

Zhu Zhanjun said with a smile.

"Uncle is overthinking it."

"The white sugar I make is unprecedented."

"So, it's not about competing with others for meat from the same bowl, but rather starting anew and expanding the industry."

"I should say that I created more jobs and expanded the market."

"They should be thanking me."

"Besides, I don't make money for my own enjoyment."

Facing the gazes of the crowd, Zhu Zhanjun spoke with righteous indignation.

"Seventy percent of the profits from this business will be donated to the national treasury to support the construction of the Ming Dynasty!"

"Uncle, although you are the Crown Prince, how could you know that the Emperor worked tirelessly day and night for the financial stability of our Great Ming Dynasty, even turning his hair white and his eyes full of wrinkles?"

"I do this business to provide my grandfather with some insignificant help. If it can help him get a good night's sleep, then I will have fulfilled my wish."

"Grandpa, everyone else is thinking about how to succeed you to the throne, but I only see the wrinkles at the corners of your eyes!"

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

Zhu Di narrowed his eyes and subconsciously glanced at Zhu Gaochi.

Zhu Gaochi's face turned green.

I only said one thing: competing with the people for profit. You didn't have to come up with such a big accusation right away!

When did I ever only have my eyes on my father's throne?

Zhu Zhanji swallowed hard, his eyes filled with horror as he looked at Zhu Zhanjun.

This kid isn't even a match for his father, the Crown Prince?!

Zhu Gaoxu opened his mouth, then closed it again.

He initially wanted to support his child, but then suddenly realized that he didn't need to at all.

Fuck!

I'm a military general, and yet I have a son with a belly full of cunning!

That's a really harsh label.

The eldest brother can't handle this.

Zhu Gaosui's lips twitched.

She's only six years old. When she turns sixteen, who can outsmart her?

Damn, that's so sinister.

The princes were practically kneeling before him.

Zhu Zhanhe and Zhu Zhanqi were alright, after all, Zhu Zhanjun was their own younger brother, and they could only admire him.

Zhu Zhanjun, Zhu Zhanyong, and the other grandsons of the Crown Prince were completely dumbfounded.

If this kid plays with them, isn't it like playing with dogs?

Pfft!

Zhu Gaochi knelt directly in front of Zhu Di, his fat body trembling.

"Father, I had absolutely no such intention."

"Your subject knows that Father Emperor has had a difficult time."

"However, the laws of our Great Ming Dynasty prohibit princes and grandsons from engaging in business in principle, which is why I have this concern."

Zhu Di frowned.

Zhu Gaochi's statement seems to make sense.

Zhu Zhanjun leaned closer and said with a grin.

"In principle, it's not allowed, but Grandfather is all about principles."

Zhu Di's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Yeah, isn't the Ming Dynasty his?

Moreover, if they are not allowed to do business on the surface, does that mean that the royal family members really don't do business in private?

Shit!

He can share the money those bastards make.

There's no one better than your own grandson!

Zhu Di felt a sense of relief.

He coughed lightly and said calmly.

"Zhanjun, I am very pleased with your filial piety and ambition in sharing the Emperor's burdens and contributing to the national treasury."

"It is a blessing from our ancestors that our Great Ming Dynasty has such a grandson who cares so much about the country."

He then changed the subject.

"However, what the Crown Prince said is not entirely without reason."

"Our Ming Dynasty's ancestral system and laws do indeed, in principle, restrict the imperial family from competing with the common people for profit and directly engaging in commerce."

"This was designed to prevent members of the imperial family from abusing their power to amass wealth and disrupt people's livelihoods; the intention is good."

"But... rules are rules, people are flexible."

"Especially the rules of my Zhu family, we must know how to be flexible."

"Zhanjun, you are still young, and as my grandson, you naturally cannot appear in public and personally manage things like ordinary merchants, cough cough, do you understand?"

Zhu Zhanjun immediately understood: it's just about finding an agent, right?

He said immediately.

"Grandpa is right."

Zhu Di nodded in satisfaction.

Although he didn't agree directly, anyone who wasn't blind could see what he meant from his attitude.

Zhu Gaochi, Zhang Shi, and the others stared wide-eyed, unable to utter a single word.

Even if they're incredibly stupid, they know that nothing they say can stop it now.

If you keep blocking it, you're blocking the old man's path to wealth!

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui also looked on with envy.

Damn, although this method isn't very clever, the important thing is the old man's support!

Zhu Zhanji felt a bitter pang of jealousy.

In the past, only he could enjoy the Emperor's favor!

But this kid, with just some sugar, managed to make the Emperor treat him like a grandson.

Comparing yourself to others will only make you miserable.

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

One hour later.

Outside the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Zhanjun, who was walking slowly while humming a tune, and finally couldn't help but speak.

"Zhanjun, I have a question that I've never understood."

Zhu Zhanjun glanced at him.

"Go ahead and ask."

Zhu Gaoxu leaned closer, a look of bewilderment on his large, bearded face.

"You've really charmed this old man with your winter melon cakes today, he's practically a grandson to him."

"I've vaguely heard about how my mother made pastries for my father."

"But I really didn't know they liked making winter melon cakes."

"Besides, the days in the Prince of Yan's mansion were long ago. After my father became emperor, he was busy with many affairs of state, and my mother managed the harem, so she had even less time to make pancakes."

"Besides my father, there shouldn't be anyone else who knows about this."

Logically speaking, you shouldn't know either.

"You little rascal, how did you even think of preparing these winter melon cakes in advance?"

Zhu Zhanjun glanced at him and took out several oilcloth bags from his pocket.

Under Zhu Gaoxu's shocked gaze, they were opened one by one.

"Here, these are red bean steamed cake, lotus flower pastry, and osmanthus cake."

"My grandmother was a lady from a prominent family; she would never make things without a purpose."

"There are only a few pastries that represent a woman's longing."

"I added white sugar to it all."

"When I deliberately brought up the topic of my grandmother's favorite pastries for him in front of my grandfather..."

"No matter which pastry Grandpa mentions, I can answer it."

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

Zhu Gaoxu was about to cry.

I made this plate of dumplings just for this little bit of vinegar!

Holy crap, that's awesome.

You are my father!