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

The hall remained silent for a long time.

Zhu Di gave Zhu Zhanjun a strange look several times, and finally realized that his eldest grandson seemed to be a little too smart.

Is this something a six-year-old child should say?

He was silent for a while.

He's still just a child.

Children have no sense of right and wrong.

But this spirit of exploration is still commendable!

He coughed lightly.

"You little brat, what you said does make a tiny bit of sense."

Everyone: "..."

This works too.

Zhu Zhanjun shook his head.

"Grandpa's insight is brilliant!"

Zhu Di chuckled to himself. This kid really has a big heart; he's not afraid of anything.

He waved to Zhu Zhanjun.

"Don't do this kind of thing again."

"If you have any questions or doubts in the future, you can ask Grandfather for guidance."

"You little rascal, you're not behaving yourself. Don't go to school this afternoon. Just stay by my side today."

"Grandpa Emperor will teach you to read and write."

Zhu Zhanjun stared with his innocent-looking big eyes.

"Grandpa, I don't think that's necessary."

Zhu Di was both annoyed and amused.

Damn it, so many people want this kind of treatment but don't even get it normally.

This kid actually started to decline.

He puffed out his beard, glared, and looked very serious.

"You brat, don't you want to keep Grandpa Emperor company?"

Zhu Zhanjun pursed his lips.

"What's the point of staying with an old man?"

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

Zhu Di: "..."

Damn, if you really want to talk about it...

What this kid said doesn't seem to make any mistakes.

However, his stubborn streak kicked in.

He could conquer the vast land of the Ming Dynasty.

A group of princes and grandsons worshipped him as if he were a god.

How could I let this kid see me as a decrepit old man?

Zhu Di coughed lightly.

"Zhanjun, are you aware of the Northern Expedition our Great Ming Dynasty launched against the Tatars last year?"

Zhu Zhanjun nodded.

He was naturally aware of this.

Zhu Di was immediately quite pleased with himself, but he said it casually.

"Last year's battle was truly breathtaking."

"Last year, my grandfather led his army on a northern expedition and encountered the main force of the Tatars at Ulanhushiwen."

"Na'arutai personally led 30,000 elite cavalry, known as the Eagles of the Steppe, and deployed his troops in front of the mountain. His banners covered the sun and his hooves thundered."

"But is Grandfather afraid?"

"Grandfather Emperor personally led three thousand elite cavalrymen straight towards Arutai's central army banner!"

"They fought from Chen Shi (7-9 AM) to Shen Shi (3-5 PM)."

"I changed my steeds three times, arrows clattered on my armor, and blood stained my battle robes!"

"In the end, Arughtai fled with only a dozen or so horsemen. More than 7,000 of his followers were beheaded, and 200,000 cattle, sheep, horses, and camels were captured!"

After Zhu Di finished speaking, he stood tall and proud, clearly very satisfied with the outcome of the battle.

Zhu Zhanjun stared at Zhu Di with his big, dark eyes, which pleased Zhu Di greatly.

He was quite pleased with himself.

Now you'll be completely smitten, kid.

"Grandpa Emperor, you fought from Chenshi (7-9 AM) to Shenshi (3-5 PM)?" Zhu Zhanjun asked incredulously.

"Yes," Zhu Di smiled calmly, "Although my grandfather is old, he can still easily handle a mere five hours of warfare."

"Grandpa, won't you need to use the toilet for five hours?" Zhu Zhanjun suddenly asked in a clear voice, "What if you need to poop or pee?"

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

Zhu Di: "..."

I said I kill without blinking, and you ask me if my eyes are dry?

Zhu Di met his grandson's innocent and naive eyes and smiled.

"On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes; how dare you concern yourself with such trivial matters?"

"Back then, my imperial grandfather... cough cough, naturally he had a way to solve it!"

Zhu Zhanjun was about to ask another question when Zhu Di quickly changed the subject.

"Zhanjun, have you ever heard of the Yongle Encyclopedia?"

Zhu Zhanjun's eyes lit up.

The Yongle Encyclopedia?

Of course he had heard of it.

He said with a grin.

"The Yongle Encyclopedia, commissioned by my grandfather, is said to be complete in every aspect, and I have naturally heard of it."

Zhu Di smiled and said.

"Zhanjun, this completeness of everything is not just a saying."

"The Yongle Encyclopedia, compiled by my imperial grandfather, is an unprecedented masterpiece!"

"The book comprises 22,000 volumes and compiles more than 8,000 kinds of ancient and modern classics, covering everything from astronomy and calendar systems to agriculture, medicine and various crafts."

"All the knowledge in the world is contained within!"

He became more and more smug as he spoke.

"Even if Confucius and Mencius were to be reborn, they would be impressed upon seeing this book."

"I have ordered people to make a copy of the original and store it in the Wenyuan Pavilion. In the future, I will make another copy to pass on to future generations."

"For all eternity, people will remember this great achievement of mine!"

Zhu Zhanjun blinked.

"Grandfather, is the compilation of the Yongle Encyclopedia really that important?"

Zhu Di stroked his beard.

"Of course it is important! My compilation of the Yongle Encyclopedia is to bring together the literary traditions of thousands of years."

"With frequent wars and chaos throughout the world, countless classic texts have been lost. If they are not compiled in time, the wisdom of our ancestors will be forgotten."

"I hereby order Xie Jin and Yao Guangxiao to lead three thousand scholars to search through all the lost books in the land, categorize them, and copy and proofread them—this is a meritorious act that will benefit the present and future generations!"

"Moreover, this book is not meant to be hidden away in a famous mountain, but rather to be passed down to future generations! Court officials can use it to understand the laws and regulations, scholars can use it to study, doctors can use it to consult prescriptions, and craftsmen can use it to test their skills."

"I will make my Ming Dynasty the most prosperous and civilized era in history!"

Zhu Zhanjun stared with his innocent-looking big eyes.

"But, even if you compile the Yongle Encyclopedia into the greatest book of all time, the history books will not record that you are the heir apparent."

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

Zhu Di: "..."

Damn, why does this kid say such hurtful things?

His expression changed several times.

Zhu Zhanjun's words really struck a chord with him.

He has been in power for so many years and worked so diligently, wasn't it all to prove that he was no less capable than Jianwen and deserved the chair?

When I pass away, I will be able to see my father again.

However, no matter what he did, Zhu Zhanjun was right, and historical records would not indicate that he was the successor in order of succession.

For a moment, Zhu Di felt quite frustrated.

He sighed, his face ashen.

Zhu Zhanjun said.

"Grandpa, what's wrong?"

Zhu Di frowned and spoke in a low voice.

"Can't all the good deeds I've accomplished in my life clear away my sins?"

"For half my life, I have never dared to dismount. For decades I have been living in fear and trembling, trying to prove myself. I have never had a day of peace. I am always afraid that future generations will write a bad name for me, Zhu Di."

"Zhanjun, can you understand this feeling?"

Zhu Zhanjun looked up at his face.

"Grandpa, this feeling of excessive worry about the future is called anxiety!"

Zhu Di was taken aback, lowered his head, and carefully examined his grandson.

He was simply touched on a vulnerable spot deep within his heart by Zhu Zhanjun, and thus, in a moment of emotion, he casually uttered a remark. He never expected that his grandson would so accurately capture his emotions.

Zhu Di's eyes held a complex expression.

"anxiety?"

"That's a good description."

"Grandpa was just overly anxious."

Zhu Zhanjun said solemnly.

"Grandpa, a doctor friend of mine once said that anxiety is not an enemy or a demon. It's like an overprotective friend who has seen you get hurt before and wants to protect you. Don't treat it harshly. Prove to it that you are strong enough to handle things and protect yourself, and it will leave."

Zhu Di was taken aback upon hearing this, and seemed to be deep in thought.

After a while, he nodded slightly.

"Your doctor friend has a rather philosophical point."

"The doctor has such insight in addition to treating illnesses."

"What does he treat?"

Zhu Zhanjun said solemnly:

"Cures impotence, Your Majesty."

"Would you like me to introduce you to someone?"

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

Zhu Di: "..."