Chapter 52: Grandfather Resigns, Grandson Rejoices! I Carry the Banner for My Grandmother!

Inside the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, warm sunlight filtered through the carved wooden window lattices, casting gentle, shifting patterns of light and shadow across the floor.

Empress Ma stood before a glazed glass mirror, unusually adorned in magnificent attire. The delicate silk caught the sunlight, emitting a soft sheen that only served to heighten her majestic and regal bearing, while bursts of laughter escaped her lips from time to time.

"Imperial Grandmother, as expected, you are truly the most beautiful woman in all the realm!"

Zhu Gaochi buttered her up with a shameless, ingratiating grin, his chubby face plastered with an eager, flattering smile as if he desperately wished to pour out every melodious word of praise in the world and lavish them all upon the Empress.

Zhu Xiongying refused to lag behind either. Darting around the Empress like a clever little monkey, he kept himself busy attending to her. At that moment, he was carefully adjusting the position of the glazed mirror, his bright eyes fixed on it with intense concentration as he chanted praises under his breath, "Look at this profile, Imperial Grandmother—it is simply stunning! A celestial fairy descended to the mortal realm..."

Hearing the adulatory remarks exchanged between her two precious grandsons, Empress Xiuying curved her lips into a smile, her eyes narrowing into gentle crescents. Her laughter echoed through the grand hall like silver bells, "You two little rascals, the only thing you know how to do is butter up your Imperial Grandmother."

That smile overflowed with doting affection for her grandsons. Although the corners of her eyes bore the fine lines carved by the passage of time, they were currently suffused with the warmth of a blissful smile, making her appear exceptionally kind and gentle.

Crown Prince Biao had just reached the outer chamber of the residential palace when he heard the Empress's laughter, prompting a gratifying smile to naturally surface on his face.

*At least these two little scoundrels have some filial piety, knowing to come and keep their Imperial Grandmother company.*

However, upon stepping into the hall and taking in the scene before him, the smile on his face instantly froze, locking into place as if suddenly petrified.

There stood Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Xiongying, acting precisely like a pair of consummate flatterers, tightly encircling the Empress while gushing compliments like an uninterrupted chain of artillery fire.

Right before the trio of them stood a glazed mirror towering as tall as a person. The surface of the mirror was as smooth as ice and astonishingly clear, as though it could reflect every minute detail of everything in the world without a single reservation.

"What are you two..." Crown Prince Biao forced down the astonishment and confusion churning within his heart, his brow furrowing slightly as a trace of interrogation tinged his tone. His gaze remained locked onto the mirror, his eyes brimming with utter incomprehension.

Seeing this, the Empress smiled and explained, "Ying'er and Chi'er managed to dig up such a precious treasure from somewhere. It is truly a rare sight!" Her voice was soft and gentle. As she spoke, she reached out to gently stroke the edge of the mirror, her eyes gleaming with novelty and fondness.

Upon hearing this, Crown Prince Biao nodded slightly and said, "As long as Mother likes it."

Despite his words, his inner misgivings were not the least bit diminished.

As Biao spoke, he slowly walked over to the side of the two youngsters, coming to an abrupt halt and glaring fiercely at Zhu Gaochi.

"Tell me the truth, where did this thing come from?"

Glazed glass was already scarce enough, let alone a glazed mirror of such massive proportions; calling it priceless would not be an exaggeration in the least.

Where did these two little scamps get the money? Could they have resorted to some crooked, underhanded schemes?

Zhu Gaochi glared right back at Zhu Biao with an attitude, his eyes dripping with disdain, before lazily drawling, "None of your damn business, Biao the Wretched!"

As he spoke, he intentionally puffed out his round little belly with an utterly care-free expression. "Let me tell you, the two of us brothers spent a fortune to get our hands on this. You want it? Not a chance in hell!"

Hearing this, Zhu Biao was momentarily stunned, and then laughed out of sheer anger.

*Very good, very good. You cheeky brat, getting more and more lawless, aren't you?*

With that, he raised his hand as if intending to teach Zhu Gaochi a lesson. But right at that moment, a hurried and furious sound of footsteps echoed from outside the hall, instantly followed by old Zhu's deafening roar.

"Where are those two little bastards?!"

"Today I'm going to skin them alive!"

This voice struck like a sudden clap of thunder, instantly shattering the tense and delicate atmosphere within the palace.

The moment the words fell, Zhu Yuanzhang stormed in aggressively, brandishing a rattan switch. His eyes bulged round with a raging fury seemingly blazing within them, and the veins on his forehead throbbed violently—the picture of fierce intimidation, ready to beat someone to a pulp.

Yet Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Xiongying showed not the slightest hint of panic. They stood boldly behind Empress Ma, completely unafraid.

Zhu Gaochi even deliberately poked his head out and pulled a face at old Zhu, his mischievous expression practically taunting Zhu Yuanzhang.

*You old bastard, what can you possibly do to me?*

Empress Ma had been thoroughly enjoying admiring herself in the mirror with a delighted smile plastered across her face. But with old Zhu causing such a ruckus, her good mood vanished into thin air in an instant. Her face darkened, her once-gentle gaze sharpening as she fixed her eyes on Zhu Yuanzhang and sternly demanded, "Zhu Chongba, what are you doing?"

Hearing that particular form of address, Zhu Yuanzhang froze as if struck by an immobilization spell. His furious expression instantly stiffened, and the muscles on his face twitched unnaturally.

Old Zhu stood frozen for a moment, then squeezed out an awkward, ingratiating smile and explained sheepishly, "Mai-zi, didn't I just miss you, so I came over to check on you..." As he spoke, he frantically tried to conceal the rattan switch behind his back like a child caught doing something wrong.

"You came to check on me while brandishing a rattan switch?" Empress Xiuying arched her brows in anger, fire flashing in her eyes as she chuckled coldly. "Very well, very well! Today I would like to see precisely what you, Zhu Chongba, are trying to pull!"

With that, the Empress swiftly reached out and grabbed Zhu Yuanzhang by the ear, applying a very substantial amount of force.

"Ouch, ouch... Mai-zi... it hurts, it hurts... let go quickly!" Zhu Yuanzhang grimaced and bared his teeth, his face contorted in agony as his body twisted and turned in a futile attempt to break free from the Empress's grip. "Your old man was just driven out of his mind by those two little brats, I wasn't aiming at you, let go..."

Witnessing this scene, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Xiongying instantly burst into gales of laughter, doubling over with tears nearly spilling from the corners of their eyes.

Zhu Gaochi laughed so hard his stomach ached. Clutching his midsection, he pointed a finger at Zhu Yuanzhang and wheezed intermittently, "Ha... haha... The dignified Emperor of Great Ming, founding sovereign Zhu Yuanzhang, actually getting his ear twisted by his wife! Who would ever believe this if word got out?"

Zhu Xiongying was laughing so hard he could not straighten his back either, stamping his feet repeatedly while his face beamed as brightly as a blooming flower.

Crown Prince Biao raised a hand speechlessly to cover his eyes, unable to bear the sight of this somewhat comical and awkward spectacle.

A short while later, the entire family was seated together in an orderly fashion.

Old Zhu sat with his ear flushed bright red, glaring furiously and locked in a fierce staring contest with the two youngsters, his eyes still lingering with unquelled wrath.

"Speak! Was this your doing?!" Old Zhu slammed his palm heavily against the table, demanding loudly. His voice reverberated through the hall, causing the teacups on the table to rattle slightly.

Zhu Gaochi shrugged with utter nonchalance and replied indifferently, "What's wrong with simply placing an advertisement in the Fengtian Hall? Is there any need to make such a mountain out of a molehill..." As he spoke, he even purposefully shook his head with an irreverent air.

*So I ran an ad, what about it?*

*You old bastard, aren't you being just a bit too petty!*