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

Chapter 47 School

Zhu Yuanzhang has recently become particularly keen on strengthening his relationship with his crown prince, Zhu Gaoxi, who always felt that the old emperor had ulterior motives.

Although I can't pinpoint the exact reason, something just feels off.

Could it be that Zong Le secretly conveyed some message to him?

What the old emperor got from Zong Le was nothing more than a psychological comfort. He hoped that Zhu Gaoxi was the reincarnation of Zhu Biao, but even with Zong Le's solemn assurance, he would not change anything for that reason alone.

The most crucial point was that the old emperor needed to figure out which of his three most outstanding grandsons was the most suitable to inherit the throne.

I urge Heaven to rouse itself once more and send down talents without regard to convention.

If that's the case, why did the old emperor insist on choosing Zhu Biao's biological son as his successor? There were other ways.

The adoption of Zhu Gaoxi opened up new avenues of thought for the old emperor, presenting him with endless possibilities.

If someone is exceptionally talented, they can be adopted as heir apparent.

Zhu Youdun is undoubtedly the most suitable candidate in terms of both age and ability, but he lacks a particularly outstanding achievement that can command respect.

Although Zhu Gaoxi was young, he successfully cultivated sweet potatoes. Grain is the core of the nation's stability, which is far more significant than his father's northern expedition against Nairbuqa.

Zhu Yunwen, as the eldest son of the legitimate wife, had the right to claim the position and received strong support from civil officials such as Liu Sanwu.

You can conquer the world on horseback, but how can you govern it on horseback?

The imperial court will inevitably have to make good use of civil officials in the future, and Zhu Yunwen has a natural advantage in this regard.

His maternal grandfather, Lü Ben, once served as Minister of Rites and Minister of Personnel, and his students and former subordinates were spread throughout government offices at all levels.

Zhu Yuanzhang was indeed very conflicted.

He hoped that the Crown Prince could bring Youdun and Gao Xi under his command and make them truly serve him, which would save him a lot of trouble.

However, the old emperor had no confidence in this.

The grandson is clearly closer to Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai.

Zhu Gaoxi and the old emperor, each lost in their own thoughts, lowered their heads to read.

"Grandpa!" Zhu Jingyi burst in cheerfully, breaking the silence of the room. "Zhu Gaoxi, you're here too?"

"My school opens tomorrow, Grandpa, why don't you come and support it?" Zhu Gaoxi affectionately patted Zhu Gaoxi's chubby face, "You come too."

"You're running a school?" The grandfather and grandson were both surprised.

"Yes, that's right. I asked you for money a couple of days ago to start a school," Zhu Jingyi said with a sense of accomplishment and a confident gleam in her eyes.

This was the first time Zhu Gaoxi had ever seen Zhu Jingyi so radiant and full of life, as if she had become a different person.

"What kind of students does your sister's school accept?"

Great minds think alike; Zhu Gaoxi was also planning this, but unexpectedly, Zhu Jingyi seized the opportunity first.

Zhu Jingyi smiled sheepishly, "Actually, it's a shelter. We called it a school to make the name sound better. It's a place that takes in abandoned babies and homeless children. I've hired a few teachers to teach them to read and write."

"What are these almshouses for? Why don't they care about abandoned babies and orphans?" Zhu Yuanzhang frowned.

"Grandpa, I'm not here to... lodge a complaint with you!" Zhu Jingyi was so anxious that she could hardly speak. "Granddaughter just wants to... do some good deeds within her power."

"The orphanage not only takes in infants and toddlers, but also the disabled, the elderly, and beggars. The people are a mixed bunch, and it's hard to say how many people and how much money can be spared to run a school. Grandpa, the school that my sister runs can give many poor children a place to study. It's a great act of kindness, and you'll definitely support it, right? Grandpa, let's go take a look."

Zhu Gaoxi quickly spoke up to help, and Zhu Jingyi gave him a grateful glance.

"Then let's go take a look."

Zhu Yuanzhang was very pleased to see that his granddaughter had such insight and kindness.

Zhu Jingyi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

With her grandfather's approval, her school could continue operating indefinitely.

She was in a hurry to get this done before getting married because she was worried about having to follow all sorts of rules and regulations in her husband's family.

Zhu Jingyi presented the invitation, which was considered a formal invitation.

"How many children are inside now?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"There are fifty in total, more than twenty of whom are able to read, while the rest are still young," Zhu Jingyi explained.

"Is there a dedicated residence?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked again.

"Of course, Grandpa, the gold you and Zhu Gaoxi gave us was for buying houses. Uncle and Yunhu also gave us some. The old house was small, so we bought two houses nearby. I'm also planning to build a special schoolhouse..."

As Zhu Jingyi was speaking with great enthusiasm, Zhu Yunwen strode in, bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang, and said calmly, "Grandfather, please advise my elder sister. A woman should follow her husband after marriage. There is no reason for her to show her face in public again. It would be better to entrust the school to Yingtian Prefecture. Although my elder sister is a princess, she should still abide by the rules of the Three Obediences and Four Virtues."

Is this even human language? Zhu Gaoxi was furious.

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes and looked at Zhu Yunwen. "Do you think princesses shouldn't run schools?"

Zhu Yunwen replied neither humbly nor arrogantly: "After a woman gets married, her main responsibility should be to support her husband and raise her children. These ethical principles are related to the stability and order of the family, and these rules should not be violated."

"Does your brother believe that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent?" Zhu Gaoxi asked earnestly, his expression unreadable.

Zhu Yunwen said calmly, "Knowing some characters, reading more of 'Admonitions for Women,' cultivating virtue, and serving one's husband and taking care of one's children better are naturally worthy of praise."

Zhu Gaoxi retorted, "I've heard that the Crown Princess is well-versed in poetry and history, and possesses exceptional insight. Does this not conform to your moral standards, brother?"

Zhu Yunwen was furious: "You have already been adopted, so my mother is your legal mother." Zhu Yunwen turned to Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Grandfather, my brother is disrespectful to our legal mother and should be punished."

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent for a moment, then said to Zhu Gaoxi, "I'll fine you a month's salary. Do you intend to explain?"

Zhu Gaoxi bowed and said, "I have no intention of being disrespectful; I am merely stating the facts."

Zhu Yunwen argued vehemently, "Grandfather, my elder sister married into the Marquis of Changxing's household. As the eldest daughter-in-law, shouldn't she help her mother-in-law with household chores? Shouldn't she bear children for the Geng family as soon as possible, serve her husband, be filial to her parents-in-law, and raise her children? Aren't these a woman's duties?"

Zhu Yuanzhang turned his gaze to his granddaughter.

Zhu Jingyi's eyes were wet, and she couldn't say a word.

She'd always been a bit of a simpleton, never having her own opinions. All she wanted was to start a school, so she'd have a place she could go whenever she wanted after getting married.

She lost her biological mother and her biological father, and she had no home she could return to at any time.

Her younger brother, Yunhu, was a timid and submissive man who dared not disobey the Crown Prince and his mother in the slightest.

The debate was about her life, but she had no say in it and could only follow orders.

"Yunwen, go ahead and get busy. Grandpa is tired," Zhu Yuanzhang said, waving his hand.

Zhu Yunwen bowed and took his leave.

Zhu Gaoxi listened quietly to the footsteps, and when he guessed that Zhu Yunwen had gone far away, he asked, "Grandfather, when will Xie Jin arrive in the capital?"

"It should arrive around tomorrow," Zhu Yuanzhang said, looking down at the dragon pattern on his clothes. "Just say what you want to say."

"Grandpa, let me continue running the school. Consider it the property of the Prince of Wu's mansion. After Xie Jin arrives in the capital, let him take charge of the school," Zhu Gaoxi said, turning to Zhu Jingyi. "Sister, if you want to do anything or have any ideas, just tell your brother. Sister can't show her face in public, but brother can. The school will always belong to you, and you can go there anytime. If anyone asks, just say you're going to see your brother. There's no reason in this world that siblings can't meet."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jingyi burst into tears.