The Eldest Grandson of the Great Ming

Zhu Xiongying?

As soon as this name was spoken, everyone present froze for a moment.

Qin Fei couldn't help but ask, "You said your name is Zhu Xiongying? Your father... couldn't be Zhu Biao, could he?"

"You know my royal father?" Zhu Xiongying looked at her.

"Your grandfather is Zhu Yuanzhang? Your grandmother is Ma Xiuying?" Qin Fei asked again.

But question marks seemed to appear on Zhu Xiongying's face.

Obviously, he was still very young and couldn't remember so many names. Besides, he had always called them Imperial Grandfather and Imperial Grandmother. He hadn't actually had much exposure to the names Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying, so he couldn't react immediately.

"Grandfather is Imperial Grandfather, and Grandmother is Imperial Grandmother," he said.

At this moment, Jiang Yanran walked in from outside. Qin Ning had just sent her a message, telling her to come over immediately.

Seeing Zhu Xiongying, Jiang Yanran also looked confused. "Is this Li Zhi?"

Familiar with history, she knew that Li Zhi in the sixth year of Zhenguan was about four years old. The little boy dressed as a prince in front of her looked to be about four, so it was no wonder she mistook him at first glance.

"This is Zhu Xiongying," Qin Fei said, and then briefly explained what had just happened.

"The eldest imperial grandson of the Great Ming, Zhu Xiongying?"

Hearing this, Jiang Yanran clicked her tongue slightly and looked at Qin Ning. "How come people from the Great Ming are here too?"

Qin Ning shrugged, obviously unable to give an answer.

"Little Xiongying, how old are you this year?"

Jiang Yanran leaned in and asked with a smile.

"I'm four years old." Compared to Little Sizi's immediate friendliness, Zhu Xiongying appeared much more introverted, but his pronunciation was much clearer than Little Sizi's.

After all, in terms of age, he was currently one year older than Sizi.

"Four years old..."

Jiang Yanran pondered slightly, as if carefully thinking about something. Then she frowned and said, "According to historical records, Zhu Xiongying turned four in the eleventh year of Hongwu, and in this year..."

Saying this, she looked at Zhu Xiongying again and continued to ask, "Little Xiongying, is it the eleventh year of Hongwu where you are now?"

"Yes." He nodded obediently.

"Is it winter or summer?"

"Summer."

Listening to their conversation, Qin Fei couldn't help but be curious. "Sister Yanran, why are you asking this..."

"According to historical records, Crown Princess Chang passed away in the winter of the eleventh year of Hongwu. Little Xiongying said it's summer there now, which means Lady Chang is still alive, but shortly after giving birth to Zhu Yuntong..."

"Wait, this Great Ming you are talking about... why has We never heard of it?" At this time, Li Shimin finally couldn't help but speak up.

Qin Fei explained, "The Great Ming is a dynasty that came after the Great Tang. It's completely normal that you wouldn't know about it, Second Uncle."

"So that's how it is." Li Shimin nodded.

Empress Zhangsun asked, "Did the Great Ming come immediately after the Great Tang?"

Jiang Yanran shook her head. "No, it goes Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing. Between the Great Tang and the Great Ming, there are still the Song and Yuan dynasties. They are separated by nearly eight hundred years."

Saying this, she couldn't help but smile and continued, "But speaking of it, there are some bizarre coincidences between your Great Ming and Great Tang."

"I remember the one who ended the Tang was Zhu Wen, and the one who ended the Ming was Li Zicheng. That means the Zhu family destroyed the Great Tang, and the Li family destroyed the Great Ming. Tell me, isn't that a coincidence?"

"Father, Mother, the dumplings are ready. Sit down, eat, and chat."

At this time, Li Lizhi walked out of the kitchen carrying a large bowl of boiled dumplings.

Everyone quickly sat down.

Zhu Xiongying was a bit timid and kept holding onto Empress Zhangsun's clothes tightly, as if he had decided she was his Imperial Grandmother.

Or rather, he had recognized the phoenix robe Empress Zhangsun was wearing.

"This is my mother! You are not allowed to touch Sizi's mother."

Little Mingda became a little unhappy. She quickly jumped down from Qin Fei's arms, ran to Empress Zhangsun's side, and glared angrily at Zhu Xiongying, wanting to claim sovereignty.

"Be good, Sizi, come over to your older sister," Li Lizhi coaxed.

"No, I want my mother! This is Sizi's mother," the little girl said, starting to cry.

"Waah!"

Zhu Xiongying had just been scolded by her and was already on the verge of tears. Now seeing Little Sizi crying, he couldn't hold it in anymore and also burst out crying.

Suddenly, the living room descended into a chaotic mess of crying and wailing.

Empress Zhangsun held Little Sizi with one hand and gently pulled Zhu Xiongying with the other, feeling both amused and helpless. Qin Fei, Li Lizhi, and the others coaxed them for quite a while before finally getting the two little ones to stop sobbing.

"Delicious."

Little Sizi started eating the dumplings, seemingly having completely forgotten about what had just happened.

Zhu Xiongying looked at the dumplings in the bowl in front of him and couldn't help but swallow his saliva. Then he poked one with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. Instantly, his eyes lit up.

"Xiongying, do you know how you came here?" Qin Fei asked at this moment.

With his cheeks bulging as he chewed the dumpling, he shook his head.

After eating several more in a row, Zhu Xiongying still had half a bowl of dumplings left, but he stopped and showed no intention of continuing to eat.

"Why aren't you eating anymore, Xiongying? Are you full?" Qin Fei asked.

He shook his head again. "I want to take them for Imperial Grandmother to eat."

Looking at his obedient and sensible appearance, Empress Zhangsun beside him couldn't help but smile. "Xiongying is so good. There are still many dumplings. You eat your fill first, and we will take some to Imperial Grandmother later, okay?"

"Okay."

He looked at Empress Zhangsun and then nodded seriously.

Soon, after finishing the remaining dumplings in his bowl, Zhu Xiongying seemed to be truly full.

Qin Fei filled another bowl for him.

The little guy held the bowl with both hands and looked around. His face seemed a bit confused, as if he wanted to find his way home, but it was only then that he realized he had no idea where he was or how to get back.

"Let's go, I'll take you back."

Qin Ning stood up, walked to Zhu Xiongying's side, and gave Jiang Yanran a look, signaling her to follow. Then he said to Qin Fei and the others, "You guys go ahead with your own things. Yanran and I are going to make a trip to the Great Ming."

After saying that, Qin Ning waved his hand, and Zhu Xiongying and Jiang Yanran disappeared from the spot, taken away by him.

The eleventh year of Hongwu.

Kunning Palace.

The ailing Empress Ma lay on a bed, her face full of haggardness, coughing slightly from time to time.

Beside her, Crown Prince Zhu Biao was keeping her company.

Not long after, Zhu Yuanzhang walked in from outside the door.

Empress Ma hurriedly asked, "Chongba, has Xiongying been found?"

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, his face also appearing somewhat haggard and filled with worry. "I've had people search everywhere, but there is absolutely no sign of Xiongying. It's as if he has vanished from the face of the earth."

Hearing this, Zhu Biao and Empress Ma fell silent for a while. After a long moment, Empress Ma said to Crown Prince Zhu Biao, "Girl Chang is about to give birth. Biao'er, you absolutely must not let her know about this matter."

"Rest assured, Imperial Mother, your son understands." Zhu Biao nodded heavily.

"Buzz!"

Just then, a faint tremor seemed to ripple through space itself. Immediately after, at a spot not far from them, three figures materialized out of thin air. It was none other than Qin Ning, Jiang Yanran, and Zhu Xiongying.