My father, Zhu Di, was granted a second life by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Chapter 52 Seeking a Title

"Grandpa, Grandpa!" Zhu Gaoxi shouted as he walked to the Qianqing Palace.

Huang Liang stood at the door and gestured a few times with his hands, indicating that the old emperor was heartbroken and shedding tears.

Zhu Gaoxi immediately understood what he meant, went inside, and asked, "Grandpa, did you miss me so much that you cried?"

Zhu Yuanzhang hurriedly wiped away his tears and turned his back so that Zhu Gaoxi wouldn't see them.

"You clearly missed me, but you won't admit it," Zhu Gaoxi said, taking off his shoes and climbing onto the kang (a heated brick bed). "Grandpa, guess where I went just now?"

"Where can you go?" The old emperor wiped away his tears, turned around and sat down. "Not the vegetable garden, but at most, a trip to your own palace."

"Grandpa, I didn't leave the palace. I went to find Geng Xuan and asked him for a promise that he must treat my sister well," Zhu Gaoxi's voice was filled with a sense of accomplishment.

"He'll listen to you?" the old emperor asked, adopting a condescending attitude.

"Even if he doesn't listen to me, he has to listen to Grandpa. He has to know that although my sister is carefree and doesn't have any guile, she still has her family backing her up. She's not a pushover that anyone can easily manipulate," Zhu Gaoxi's tone and demeanor revealed his sharpness, which suddenly reminded the old emperor of his childhood when he led his companions to steal and eat the landlord's cow.

"Ha, quite the boast," the old emperor said, deliberately trying to make things difficult for him. "What if he doesn't listen to you?"

"Then I'll treat him the same way he treats me. I'll repay him tenfold or a hundredfold for how he mistreated my sister. I'll make him understand that in front of my sister, being able to sing and dance and speaking softly is the wise way to protect himself," Zhu Gaoxi boasted, his bragging almost reaching the sky.

"You little rascal, you're quite the braggart."

The old emperor liked to hear this, as it suited his temperament.

In return for the favor, the old emperor also did something for Zhu Gaoxi: "We asked Guo Ming, and he said he was willing to go to your place."

Zhu Gaoxi's eyes lit up with joy, "Grandpa, you're amazing!"

Just as the old emperor was about to ask his eldest grandson for some benefits, Huang Liang came in and reported: "Your Majesty, the eldest son of the Prince of Chu, Meng Wan, and the eldest son of Princess Anqing, Ouyang Hao, have arrived."

"Come in," the old emperor nodded.

Zhu Mengwan was the third son of Zhu Zhen, the King of Chu. His two older brothers were born out of wedlock.

Princess Anqing was the fourth daughter of Zhu Yuanzhang, the second daughter of Empress Ma, and the younger sister of Princess Ningguo. She married in the fourteenth year of the Hongwu reign, and her husband was Ouyang Lun.

Ouyang Lun was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and did not come from a noble family, so Zhu Gaoxi couldn't help but be curious about Ouyang Lun's appearance.

Princess Ningguo's husband, Mei Yin, has grown into a man of unparalleled beauty. Could Ouyang Lun be even more handsome?

Mei Yin's uncle was Marquis Mei Sizu of Runan, so Ouyang Lun, who came from a commoner family, must have some merits to be considered.

"Grandpa, Mengwan is here to talk to you."

"Grandpa, Ouyang Hao greets Grandpa."

Zhu Gaoxi had already gotten off the kang (heated brick bed) and stood on the ground, greeting his two elder brothers in his usual voice, "Hello, elder brothers."

Zhu Mengwan pretended not to hear, and Ouyang Hao turned around and gave him a cold look without replying.

"Meng Wan, Ouyang Hao, come here. I'm very happy. Gao Xi just called you brothers. Didn't you hear him?" The old emperor looked displeased.

Zhu Mengwan is thirteen years old, three years younger than You Dun. Ouyang Hao is about the same age as Zhu Mengwan, but may be slightly younger.

"Grandpa, Zhu Gaoxi was disrespectful to my grandson before, and Mengwan originally did not want to associate with him," Zhu Mengwan said clearly. "After Grandpa's reminder, Mengwan realized that brothers should value kinship. Mengwan was abrupt, please forgive me, Grandpa. However, Mengwan feels that Gaoxi should apologize to my grandson."

"Grandpa, Ouyang Hao agrees with Meng Wan's opinion. If Gao Xi can apologize, I am willing to let bygones be bygones."

"Xi'er, when have you ever disrespected your elder brother, the Crown Prince? How come we didn't know?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked with a stern face.

"Grandpa, Gao Xi has never been disrespectful to the Crown Prince. Brother Meng Wan and Brother Ouyang Hao must have misheard," Zhu Gao Xi replied confidently.

"Since it's a misunderstanding, it's best to clear it up," Zhu Yuanzhang said, determined to side with Zhu Mengwan and Ouyang Hao, raising his hand to stop them from arguing further. "You two must remember to cherish your younger brother. Brotherly love and respect are paramount; the elder brother's affection comes first, understand?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was undeniably stern.

The two boys who had been deliberately picking a fight had no choice but to admit defeat.

"Meng Wan understands."

"Ouyang Hao understands."

"This is wonderful. Come on over here and keep us company," a smile finally appeared on the old emperor's face.

"Mengwan, tomorrow we will host a banquet for you and your father in the Huagai Hall. Has your father told you about it?" the old emperor asked kindly.

"Father said, thank you, Grandpa," Meng Wan replied obediently.

"Ouyang Hao, is your mother feeling any better? Should we send the imperial physician to take a look?" The old emperor turned his gaze to Ouyang Hao.

"Thank you for your concern, Grandpa. My mother is much better now," Ouyang Hao said, somewhat politely and reservedly.

Although the princess's residence was in the capital, he did not visit the palace frequently.

The old emperor did not like his father, Ouyang Lun, because he thought Ouyang Lun was too boastful and lacked the ability to govern the country and benefit the people.

Zhu Gaoxi probably noticed something amiss.

Zhu Mengwan and Ouyang Hao saw that the old emperor was getting on in years and wanted to curry favor with the crown prince to gain benefits.

As expected, Zhu Mengwan shamelessly began to make demands: "Grandpa, back then, Brother Youdun was made the Crown Prince of Zhou when he was only twelve years old. Mengwan is thirteen now. Has Grandpa forgotten my age?"

A cold smile flashed across the old emperor's face before disappearing.

"How old was Gao Chi when he was appointed as the heir apparent?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked up at Zhu Gaoxi.

"Grandpa, my eldest brother was made heir apparent when he was seventeen," Zhu Gaoxi answered truthfully.

"Why was You Dun able to be named heir apparent at the age of twelve?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked again.

"Grandpa, Brother Youdun was made the heir apparent because Uncle Wu left his fiefdom and returned to the capital without permission and was punished by you. The Zhou Prince's Mansion was then entrusted to Brother Youdun's management. Brother Youdun lived up to the trust and managed the affairs of the Zhou Prince's Mansion in an orderly manner, winning praise from the officials of the Prince's Mansion and the local officials of Kaifeng. That's why he was made the heir apparent," Zhu Gaoxi said in one breath, feeling extremely relieved.

The position of heir apparent is not something that can be obtained by simply offering rice and flour, empty words, or by acting cute.

"Mengwan, you see, rewards and punishments are clearly defined, and even Grandpa cannot show favoritism," the old emperor said with difficulty.

Zhu Mengwan was both angry and embarrassed, his face immediately turning red, and he couldn't say a word.

Ouyang Hao saw this and was anxious, but his knowledge was limited, and he was powerless to help.

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head in disappointment.

They were dismissed with just a few words.

The eldest son of the sixth son only knows how to flatter, fawn, and maliciously ostracize others.

Zhu Gaoxi was extremely pleased.

It's no good to have nothing in your mind; you need to read more books and broaden your horizons.

Acting cute and charming is a pet's way of life, not something a real man would do.

In life, when you're navigating the world, you still have to rely on your own abilities.

You are more likely to reap more rewards; there is an absolute positive correlation.