Chapter 56: Slapped Straight Against the Wall

After the morning court session, Zhu Xiongying skipped and ran all the way toward the Eastern Palace.

Today, by beating Lin Wannian and putting the oblivious Zhang Quan and Chen Ying in their places during court, Big Brother System had rewarded him with nearly three years of lifespan.

His remaining lifespan was now twenty-five years.

Added to his current age, it was already enough for him to live until the age of thirty-two.

With the strength of ten thousand catties, his strength stat had directly skyrocketed to ten thousand points!

That was a hundred times that of an ordinary person!

With this kind of power, he could practically walk sideways across the Great Ming from now on!

"Xiongying!"

Just as the little fellow ran into the back garden, Zhu Biao's displeased voice rang out from behind.

However, Zhu Xiongying pretended not to hear and kept moving his short legs as fast as he could, running forward.

If only the system could provide the "Swaying Willow Micro-Steps" technique next.

That would let him move so fast that Zhu Biao wouldn't even be able to catch a glimpse of the back of his head!

"Great Grandson, slow down!"

Immediately following, Old Zhu's voice sounded.

Judging by the sound, distance, and direction, it was about the same as Zhu Biao's.

They must have been together!

Only then did the little fellow turn his head. "Imperial Grandfather?"

With Old Zhu around, even if Zhu Biao wanted to throw a tantrum, he wouldn't dare!

It would be a miracle if Old Zhu didn't use a rattan switch to bloom blossoms on his backside!

"Imperial Father, just look at this little rascal! When this minister called him, he pretended not to hear! As soon as Imperial Father shouted, he turned right around!"

His little schemes had been seen right through by Zhu Biao, who immediately went to complain to Old Zhu.

The little fellow simply stopped hiding and admitted it outright, "Isn't it because you, Daddy, always want to spank my bottom the moment you see me?"

Old Zhu backed him up immediately, "That's right! If you ever dare to beat our great grandson again, we'll tie you up to the roof beam and thrash you!"

"Imperial Grandfather, I've remembered your words!" The little fellow stuck out his tongue and made a face at Zhu Biao.

"What did you remember...!"

Zhu Biao gave him a fierce glare. "You brat, if you behaved and listened, would I beat you? Aren't you just asking for a thrashing?"

"If Imperial Grandfather had listened and behaved, he'd still be herding cattle for the landlords!"

"..." Zhu Biao was left speechless.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining three months of lifespan!]

"Slap..."

Zhu Yuanzhang directly delivered a palm strike to the back of Zhu Biao's head. "Our great grandson is right! The men of our Zhu family must have minds of their own! Those who blindly obey never achieve greatness!"

Zhu Biao rubbed the back of his head with a wronged expression, muttering softly, "When I was little and didn't listen, you used a rattan switch on me every time!"

"What did you say?"

Old Zhu raised his voice immediately, his beard and hair bristling in anger.

"N-nothing! This minister... understands!"

Zhu Biao lowered his head, rolling his eyes incessantly at the little fellow.

To his dismay, the little fellow immediately tattled without a moment's hesitation, "Imperial Grandfather, my dad is glaring at me!"

Gritting his teeth, Old Zhu delivered another blow to the back of Zhu Biao's head with a crisp smack.

"Ouch! Father, go easy! There are so many palace attendants around!"

I am a dignified crown prince, after all. Don't I have any pride?

"Hmph! See if you ever dare to glare at my great grandson again!" Old Zhu snorted coldly, not giving him a single pleasant look.

The little fellow rolled up his sleeves, raised his chubby little palm, and asked, "Imperial Grandfather, should I do it instead?"

"No, no, no! My good grandson, although this son of ours is useless, he's still somewhat usable!"

Old Zhu hurriedly stopped him.

Back in the court, he had already seen Lin Wannian, whose face had been beaten into a pig's head by this boy's two slaps.

Although Zhu Biao's hands were itchy, his crimes didn't warrant death!

Especially not being beaten to death by his own biological son.

If word got out, their Zhu family would become a laughingstock!

"That's right! Great grandson, was Lin Wannian really beaten by you?"

"Didn't that old beast already admit it himself? Besides, the artisans at the Hongwu Winery all saw it too!"

The little fellow put down his small hand and rubbed his wrists as he spoke.

"Hongwu Winery?"

"What Hongwu Winery?"

Father and son Zhu Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang asked in unison.

"It's the winery I use to brew wine! The plaque has already been hung today, and the artisans have started working. In a few days, we'll have strong liquor to drink!"

Distilled liquor might not compare to the Five Grains Liquid rewarded by the system, but it was just as clear and pure.

Those ignorant bumpkins wouldn't be able to taste the difference at all!

"Xiongying! You're acting up again! Hongwu is the era name; how can you use it for the name of a winery?"

Zhu Biao scolded while rubbing the back of his head.

"Daddy, I'm doing this entirely for the sake of Imperial Grandfather!"

"For us?"

"Yes..."

The little fellow said with a completely earnest expression, "Imperial Grandfather, just think: once the strong liquor goes on sale, it will definitely become popular throughout the Great Ming and be passed down for generations! From then on, whenever anyone drinks strong liquor, they will think of the prosperous era of Hongwu, and naturally they will think of you, Imperial Grandfather! Wouldn't that mean your name and great achievements will be passed down for generations and praised by the common people?"

Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it for a moment, and it seemed to make sense. "Haha! Our great grandson is truly thoughtful! Even when naming a winery, he's thinking of us!"

"Of course!"

Having won Old Zhu's praise, the little fellow once more cast a provocative look at Zhu Biao.

"Right! Grandson, why is your strength suddenly so great?"

This was something Zhu Yuanzhang had never figured out.

"Imperial Grandfather, your grandson's strength has always been great, you just didn't notice!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

"That's right! There's plenty to eat and drink in the palace, and I never had a chance to show it! If that old beast hadn't come knocking to provoke me today, I wouldn't have used it!"

With that, the little fellow walked into the pavilion and lifted the stone table, which weighed several hundred catties, right off the ground.

He even played with it effortlessly in both hands!

Both father and son of the Zhu family were left staring in absolute shock!

[Ding! Sensing Zhu Yuanzhang's shock, rewarded with half a year of lifespan!]

[Ding! Sensing Zhu Biao's fear, rewarded with half a year of lifespan!]

Zhu Biao swallowed hard, gulping down his saliva.

So all that fear this kid showed toward him before was just an act!

If he had ever fought back, the boy could have plastered him against the wall with a single slap, and nobody would have been able to pry him off!

Placing the stone table back in its original spot, Zhu Xiongying flashed a grinning smile at the two of them. "Don't worry, Imperial Grandfather, grandson can control his strength and won't easily hurt people!"

Seeing with his own eyes that his great grandson possessed divine strength, Old Zhu was so astonished his jaw dropped wide open.

When he finally recovered, he burst out laughing, "Hahaha! Grandfather was still worried that you'd be harmed by the remnants of the former Yuan when you went outside the palace! Now it seems that if you really run into any former Yuan remnants, it'll be their bad luck!"

Zhu Xiongying nodded. "Then... Daddy won't beat me anymore for exposing my identity in the future, right?"

"You brat went out of the palace twice, and when did you *not* expose your identity?"

Zhu Biao still replied with a huff.

"Hehehe... that couldn't be helped!"

The little fellow flashed a cheeky grin, and Zhu Biao really had no way to deal with him.

Who told him to have that protective talisman of his own father backing him up!