The Ming Dynasty is currently the largest and most powerful country in the world. Its capital palace is not only grand in scale, but also a master of palace architecture.

The Imperial Palace of the Capital pioneered a model in which the central axis from south to north coincides with the axis of the whole city. This model of integrating the palace and city axis is not only due to the special geographical conditions of Nanjing, but also a masterpiece of construction that follows etiquette, responds to celestial phenomena, and conforms to nature.

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It also has a great impact on most tributary countries.

For example, the layout and shape of palace buildings such as Gyeongbokgung Palace to be built behind Goryeo, Annam-Hue Forbidden City, and Ryukyu Kingdom Shuri Castle.

In the first year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed himself emperor, made Yingtianfu the capital, and built the central capital in Fengyang the following year.

Since all manpower and material resources were concentrated on the construction of the Zhongdu city and palaces, the expansion work of the Nanjing palace was stopped again. In the following years, only necessary repairs were carried out on the existing palaces.

In the eighth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang gave up his plan to build Zhongdu and concentrated on building Nanjing...

During this construction, two more gates were added to the left and right of the Meridian Gate, the east and west corner gates were added to the left and right of the Fengtian Gate, and buildings such as the Wenhua Hall and the Wuying Hall were added.

This year, in the 25th year of Hongwu's reign, the city was built again. A palace wall was added outside the imperial city. The inside of the new wall was called the imperial city. The original imperial city was renamed the palace city.

Duanmen, Chengtianmen and Jinshui Bridge were built in front of the palace city, forming a T-shaped square, reaching Hongwumen in the south.

On the east side of the square are the Five Departments, the Punishment Department is outside the Taiping Gate in the north of the imperial city, and on the west side is the Five Army Governor's Mansion.

This is not Zhu Ying's first time here, but last time he just passed Chengtianmen and went to Jinyiwei Yamen.

"Where is this going?"

Zhu Ying opened the curtain on the carriage and looked outside and asked.

"Your Highness, ahead is Fengtianmen. After passing Fengtianmen, you will reach Da Nei." Liu He replied softly.

Zhu Ying nodded and watched as the Fengtian Gate opened in front, and then the carriage drove directly in.

After entering Fengtian Gate, you will find Fengtian Square. The carriage did not travel far before it stopped.

Liu He stepped off the carriage first, then stood aside respectfully while Zhu Ying stepped off the carriage.

The first thing that caught the eye was the little lights, the candles in the stone pillars were all lit, and the width of Fengtian Square was vaguely visible in the dark.

Zhu Ying turned around. There was a relatively long step ahead, and the path was clear under the light.

Looking further up, there are three gates.

This is the place where civil and military officials gather.

Zhu Ying did not expect that his first stop when he came to the Daming Palace would be Fengtian Hall.

I originally thought I would go to Renzhi Palace to see my father’s coffin first.

"Your Highness." Liu He next to him called out softly, which brought Zhu Ying back from her reverie.

Looking at the steps in front of her, Zhu Ying took a deep breath.

Here is the most powerful place in the Ming Dynasty, and even in the whole world. Even a person like Zhu Ying can't help but feel a little pity in the background of the towering buildings around here.

Zhu Ying raised her feet and walked up the steps step by step.

In his previous life, he had never been to the Forbidden City, although it was said that the Forbidden City was based on the Forbidden City in Nanjing.

Such a wonderful feeling can only be experienced when you really walk on it.

Soon, Zhu Ying walked to the entrance of the hall.

Now the three gates are closed tightly. At the central gate, two eunuchs are waiting respectfully. When they see Zhu Ying, they immediately fall to the ground and worship, saying "Your Highness."

"Get up."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

After the two eunuchs got up, they walked to the middle door in small steps and opened the door together.

Among the three gates of Fengtian Hall, only members of the royal family with sufficient weight, such as vassal kings, or civil servants and generals who have made great achievements, can enter the middle gate when commending it.

As the eldest grandson of Huang Ming, Zhu Ying naturally entered through this door.

After entering the door, the scene inside Fengtian Hall came into Zhu Ying's eyes.

Because of the illumination of the candles, even if they are all lit, some corners will still be dark. Coupled with the solemn decorations around, it makes people feel a sense of solemnity.

In the front, Zhu Yuanzhang is wearing a military uniform, with his back to Zhu Ying.

In the entire Fengtian Hall, there are only two people, Zhu Ying and Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Grandpa, what are you doing, making it so formal?"

Zhu Ying was quite speechless. What did the old man mean by this gesture of turning his back to everyone?

Zhu Yuanzhang's body trembled slightly, and he turned around helplessly. The majesty on his face immediately disappeared the moment he turned around.

"We just want you to feel the feeling of being in the palace. How is it? Does it feel particularly majestic?"

When Zhu Yuanzhang faced his eldest grandson, his face was always that of an amiable grandfather.

Today, Da Sun was asked to attack. After finishing the memorial, Zhu Yuanzhang changed from the regular clothes he originally wore to military uniforms, just to give Da Sun a different version of himself.

Let you take a good look at the majesty and domineering power of our Ming Emperor.

Young and old, Zhu Yuanzhang, who is about to turn sixty-five, puts aside the aura of the Emperor of the Ming Empire. In fact, deep down in his heart, he is no different from an ordinary grandfather.

At such an age, it is normal to have a child-like mentality that likes teasing.

Of course, for Zhu Yuanzhang, for now, only Zhu Ying can appreciate such a gesture.

Only in front of Zhu Ying can he open his heart, let go of everything, and be the Zhu Chongba he once was.

"Very majestic, domineering, and beautiful."

Hearing this, Zhu Ying agreed with the old man and said with a smile.

When Zhu Yuanzhang came over and saw the white plain clothes Da Sun was wearing, a flash of relief flashed in his eyes.

At the same time, he pointed to the dragon chair in the Jinluan Hall and said to Dasun, "Would you like to go up and sit on it for a while?"

Zhu Ying raised her head and looked at the dragon chair, without any nostalgia in her eyes, and replied: "The future will be long."

He didn't know if the old man was taking exams for school or something.

But it's just a dark thing, how can you feel when you sit on it? Besides, the real representative of power is not this dragon chair, but the emperor himself.

He cannot truly control the civil and military ministers, or even the military power. Even if he sits on it, it is no different from a puppet.

"Yes, my grandson will be sitting on this dragon chair for a long time in the future. Let's go, let's take you to visit your father first."

Zhu Yuanzhang said.

No matter what he thought in his heart, Da Sun's attitude towards the dragon throne made him feel very gratified. Only by truly understanding the power can he master it.

Rather than relying on superficial majesty.

Zhu Ying nodded and followed the old man towards the back hall.

When he was approaching the door, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly stopped, turned around and pointed at the dragon chair and said: "On the back of the dragon chair, I wrote a posthumous edict."

After Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, he paused and said with some emotion: "After all, we are old and cannot accept old age. If there is any accident, the eldest grandson can use the imperial edict to rectify his name."

"What are you talking about, grandpa? With your current body and bones, you must be a hundred years old, and there are still several decades left." Zhu Yingying said angrily.

"Our eldest grandson is right. I have to live to be a hundred years old. Not only do I want to hold my great-grandson in my arms, I also want to see my great-grandson grow up."

Speaking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly remembered and said to his eldest grandson in a somewhat unhappy tone: "Do you know that for someone as big as you, other people's children can run around everywhere, but you don't even have a wife now?

How dignified is it?"

Zhu Ying was speechless, she didn't expect to be urged to get married again.

However, facing the old man's words, Zhu Ying turned around and said: "My parents' orders, the matchmaker's words, this marriage matter, I still rely on grandpa, how can you blame me?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was at a loss for words. He hesitated for a long time and finally found that he was unable to refute, so he said: "We will find you a wife tomorrow."

After finishing speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang picked up a lantern next to him and walked forward without looking back.

Zhu Ying raised the corners of her mouth, smiled proudly, and followed closely.

Renzhi Hall passes through the middle right gate of Fengtian Hall, is located to the north of Wuying Hall, and is adjacent to Fengxian Hall.

Even when the emperor died, the coffin was parked here, so it was relatively close to Fengtian Hall, making it convenient for the officials to pay their condolences.

During this short period of time, Zhu Yuanzhang was like a guide, and there were no eunuchs following him. He introduced every detail of the palace to his eldest son, and even the patrolling guards could speak a few words.

While chatting, we soon arrived at the entrance of Renzhi Hall.

When he arrived at the entrance of the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang's voice lowered and then became silent.

Zhu Ying didn't say anything and followed silently into the hall.

The hall is brightly lit, with more than a dozen eunuchs waiting, and several eminent monks chanting scriptures. There is a strong Zen fragrance after entering.

"Everyone, please step back."

"According to the decree."

Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly after entering, and everyone retreated in turn.

Zhu Ying walked slowly to the coffin, knelt down, lowered her head and kowtowed.
To be continued...