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

Zhu Di coughed lightly.

"Zhanjun, your grandfather knows you are filial."

"However, having the intention is enough; there's no need to put it into practice."

Zhu Zhanjun had a serious expression on his face.

"Grandpa, what are you saying..."

"Is it because they think I burned the fire too late?"

"Alright, I'll start burning it tomorrow."

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

Zhu Di: "..."

Yang Rong and Huang Huai: "..."

Zhu Di was somewhat embarrassed.

"Zhanjun, there's no need to bring this up earlier."

Zhu Zhanjun patted his chest.

"It's alright, Grandpa, I'll practice first!"

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

Zhu Di: "..."

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

The next day.

Zhu Di got up early.

Although he longed to stay in bed a little longer, as the emperor, there was never a moment of relaxation.

A short while later.

Zhu Di, dressed in formal attire, reviewed the memorials submitted to the emperor.

Soon, light footsteps could be heard outside the hall, followed by Meng Ji's voice.

"Your Majesty, Lord Yang Rong requests an audience."

"Announce it." Zhu Di didn't even raise his head.

Yang Rong strode into the hall, bowed, and said, "Your subject Yang Rong greets Your Majesty."

"What urgent matter brings you to the palace so early?" Zhu Di put down his pen and looked up at him.

"Your Majesty..." Yang Rong took out a report from his sleeve and presented it with both hands. "The Court of State Ceremonies reports urgently that the delegation sent by Shah Rukh of Samarkand, now known as the Kingdom of Khalid, has arrived in Nanjing. They brought ten fine horses from the Western Regions, three chests of jewels, and several exotic beasts, and presented a letter of state, saying that they admire the Celestial Empire and have come to pay tribute, wishing to establish a lasting alliance."

Zhu Di took the report, glanced at it, and a slight smile appeared on his lips: "Heh, quite a few countries have come to pay tribute lately."

"We just arrived in Japan, and now the country of Harleigh has arrived too."

"Our Great Ming Dynasty's northern expeditions and voyages to the Western Ocean have achieved some success, and these people know the prestige of our Great Ming Dynasty."

Yang Rong remained respectful and silent.

Zhu Di pondered for a moment.

"Shaharu... Interesting."

"His father, Timur, once stationed troops on the border, harboring great ambitions and intending to invade our Great Ming Dynasty from the east."

"Now that he has sent envoys to court, he is going against the grain of his father."

Yang Rong pondered for a moment.

"Your Majesty, after Shah Rukh defeated his nephew Khalil and ascended to the throne, although he still dominated the Western Regions, his internal situation was unstable, and the Eastern Chagatai Khanate and the various Persian tribes all needed to be appeased."

"Sending envoys at this time is likely intended to ease tensions between the two countries and appease the people."

Zhu Di stroked his beard.

"Where is the mission now?"

"They are temporarily housed in the Huitong Hall, accompanied by the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies. The tribute has been inspected; the fine horses are all exceptional steeds, the gems are dazzling, and among the exotic animals are lions and peacocks, which are quite rare," Yang Rong said respectfully.

Zhu Di pondered for a moment, then tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "Since they have come to pay tribute, we shall receive them according to protocol."

"I hereby order the Crown Prince to receive the Emperor on my behalf."

Yang Rong said respectfully.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

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

The next day.

Qianqing Palace.

Yang Rong bowed and stood before the imperial desk in the Qianqing Palace, gently placing a stack of documents on it. "Your Majesty, the Khalid delegation was received at a banquet hosted by His Highness the Crown Prince at the Ministry of Rites. The chief envoy, Haji Muhammad, spoke with great respect, reiterating Shah Rukh Khan's admiration for the Celestial Empire, and presented a list of state gifts."

Zhu Di nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the documents: "How was the reception handled by the Crown Prince?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince was dignified and composed, and his interactions with the envoys were lively and engaging, fully displaying the demeanor of a crown prince of our Great Ming Dynasty." Yang Rong paused, then continued, "However... after the banquet, Haji Muhammad privately conveyed a request to me."

"Oh?" Zhu Di raised his eyes. "What request?"

"The envoy said that Shah Rukh Khan has long admired Your Majesty the Yongle Emperor's reputation and long yearned to meet you. Besides paying tribute and establishing friendly relations, he hopes to have the honor of an audience with Your Majesty." Yang Rong carefully observed Zhu Di's expression. "I have heard that there is a special person in this delegation."

"A special person?" Zhu Di turned around.

"Yes. The deputy envoy of the delegation is named Ulugh Beg." Yang Rong lowered his voice, "This man is the eldest son of Shah Rukh, and the future heir to the Khalid Kingdom."

Zhu Di raised his eyebrows.

"Even my son has been sent."

"It seems they have big ambitions."

Yang Rong pondered, "Ulugh Beg is only seventeen years old, yet he is already well-versed in astronomy, mathematics, and Persian literature, and is known as the 'Scholar Prince' in Samarkand."

"He is destined to inherit the Kingdom of Harleigh."

"This trip to my Great Ming Dynasty must have been at the behest of Shah Rukh."

"The Kingdom of Halie has always been quite hostile to our Great Ming Dynasty."

"The reason they were able to set aside past grievances and come here this time is likely for the sake of trade along the Silk Road."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

Yang Rong continued.

"Although the Kingdom of Khali is far in the Western Regions, its territory is vast and it controls a vital route on the Silk Road. If Your Majesty could personally receive them and show them appeasement, it might further stabilize the western border and facilitate trade."

The hall was quiet for a moment, with only the faint sound of water dripping from the water clock.

Zhu Di nodded.

"Tomorrow, hold a banquet in the palace and invite them to come and see me."

Yang Rong replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

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

Several hours later.

Night falls and the city lights begin to twinkle.

The Wenhua Hall on the east side of the Qianqing Palace was brightly lit at this moment, with hundreds of palace lanterns hanging inside and outside the hall, illuminating the entire palace as if it were daytime.

In the square in front of the palace, carriages and horses came and went in an endless stream, and civil and military officials, dressed in court attire, arrived one after another with their families.

Tonight, the Yongle Emperor hosted a banquet for the delegation from the Khalid Kingdom. Officials of the third rank and above, as well as nobles, were all invited to attend, making it a grand occasion.

Zhu Zhanjun followed Prince Zhu Gaoxu into the hall, his princely robes standing out under the lamplight.

He looked up and saw that the hall was already properly arranged, with dozens of sandalwood tables and chairs arranged in a triangular pattern. The throne was high in the center, with the seats for the crown prince and other princes on either side.

The Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi and his family had already taken their seats. Zhu Gaochi was talking quietly with the scholar next to him. This man was elegant and refined, with slightly graying temples. He was Yang Shiqi.

Prince Zhao, Zhu Gaosui, sat below the Crown Prince, chatting and laughing with several military generals.

The hall gradually filled up, with civil officials led by Yang Rong and Huang Huai, and military officers led by Duke Zhang Fu of Yingguo and Duke Zhu Neng of Chengguo, each taking their seats according to their rank.

The family members were seated at the back, and for a time the hall was filled with whispers and the fragrance of clothes.

At this moment, Crown Princess Zhang came over with a smile and took Zhu Zhanjun's hand.

"Zhanjun, come here with your aunt."

"It's quite lively over there. Many ladies from noble families are eagerly anticipating seeing our Prince Jiyang today."

"They're incredibly curious about you!"

Zhu Zhanjun blinked innocently.

"Aunt, I think I'll pass."

"They're all old women like you, how boring."

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

Zhang's eyelids twitched, but she maintained a stiff smile.

That brat!

She said through gritted teeth.

"You're such a straightforward kid."

"There were not only those ladies inside, but also children from other noble families."

"You might know someone among them."

"Oh, and there are also some young ladies from noble families."

"It won't hurt for you to get to know them; who knows, one of them might be your future wife."

Zhu Zhanjun raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Auntie, you have to introduce me to someone."

Zhang smiled faintly.

"Of course, you're my own nephew."

Zhu Zhanjun chuckled.

"Aunt, you'll have to help me choose carefully."

"No need to introduce me to women over eight years old."

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