Chapter 279 You have signed so many contracts, now is the time to pay them back.

"The old man didn't say anything, did he?"

"Do you and your son have any blame?"

"Is the second child really paralyzed? I heard it's so severe that he can't even move."

At the gate of the East Palace, Mrs. Zhang, who had long known that her son's husband would be coming back today, and her daughter-in-law Tageylis, who had just entered the palace, looked in the direction of the door and looked forward to it.

When they saw Zhu Pangpang and Zhu Zhangui walking in, they hurriedly greeted them. With their mouths like machine guns, they asked several questions.

Zhu Pangpang looked at his wife's expectant eyes, shook his head helplessly, and walked into the house with his hands behind his back.

"Hey! What's wrong with you!"

"The food is ready and you can eat!"

"Also, if my eldest grandson comes back tomorrow, would you like to prepare some more lesson preparation content and teach him tomorrow?"

Unfortunately, no matter what Zhang asked, Zhu Pangpang ignored her and just walked into the study silently and closed the door.

"What happened to your dad?"

Seeing that her husband ignored her, Ms. Zhang thought something had happened, so she came to Zhu Zhangui and asked in a low voice.

"Maybe my dad was in such a good mood that he didn't come back to his senses for a while!"

"I'm in such a good mood. Although it's a good thing that my second child is paralyzed, you can't show it on your face. If your grandpa sees it, he'll be angry again."

Zhu Zhangui shook his head, looked around, and saw that Tageylis was the only one beside him, so he whispered into his mother's ear.

"It's not just about my second uncle. When I came back in the morning, my grandfather said in front of a few of us that he would be the head of the family for another year next year, and my father would succeed the year after that."

"That is to say, my dear mother, my son can call you my queen in the year to come."

Mrs. Zhang covered her mouth in surprise, looked at Zhu Zhangui in disbelief, and asked in the lowest voice.

"Is your grandpa really going to retire?"

Zhu Zhangui nodded seriously, holding his mother's hand with one hand and Tageylis with the other, and whispered while walking to the restaurant.

"My second uncle's incident has greatly stimulated my grandfather. Coupled with my grandfather's great achievements during his reign, my grandfather has no regrets in his heart."

"Actually, grandpa mentioned this matter a few years ago, but we never talked about it again. My dad and I thought that the old man ignored it on purpose, and we didn't dare to think about it."

"I didn't expect that grandpa said it directly today. Many palaces and guards around heard this. It seems that grandpa means it this time."

"call!"

After hearing her son's analysis, Ms. Zhang breathed out a heavy breath. After more than ten years and nearly 20 years, her husband finally came to his senses.

After understanding the reason, her little unhappiness about her husband's ignoring her just now was completely forgotten by her.

After being husband and wife for so many years, she fully understands how hard her husband is. Now that all the hard work has come to an end, it is normal for her not to be able to accept it for a while.

Arriving at the restaurant, Mrs. Zhang asked the maid to take the dinner plate. While picking up the dishes, she said to the two of them: "You guys eat first. I'll bring some food to your father. You've traveled such a long way and you don't want to eat anything."

How's that?"

Zhu Zhangui nodded, and with Tageylis's service, he sat down and had dinner.

After eating a few mouthfuls, and waiting for his mother to pretend, Zhu Zhangui looked at Tageylis who was waiting for him next to him, and winked at his mother who was about to leave.

It's been almost a year, so it should be almost done.

At first, Ms. Zhang didn't understand what her son meant, but when she saw her son's eyes, which kept looking away from Tageylis, she instantly understood the meaning.

Rolling her eyes angrily, Zhang reached out and poked Zhu Zhangui on the forehead.

"Just like your father!"

"Although it is possible, you must also pay attention to moderation. Your health is the most important thing."

After saying that, he glanced at Tageilis who didn't understand what he meant next to him, and walked out of the study with a smile while holding the dinner plate.

Today is really a good day for the East Palace.

The second child who had always been against Dong Gong became paralyzed, the son who had been fighting abroad also came back, the husband finally got through it after more than ten years, and the family had a new member. It was simply a blessing in disguise.

When she learned that her second child was paralyzed, Ms. Zhang, who was still very worried about the old man punishing her husband and son, instantly felt relieved.

"By the way, mother, the second aunt and the others will be coming from the fiefdom in a few days. Then you can go over and comfort them. After all, the matter has come to this point, and the previous grudges have been settled."

"And when you are talking, be sure not to burst out laughing without holding back, otherwise everyone will be embarrassed."

Zhang, who was about to walk out the door, nodded.

"Don't worry, my mother has been managing the harem for so many years. She is not the kind of person who has no brains. I know what to do."

In the next few days, just as Zhu Zhangui expected, the news that Zhu Pangpang would inherit the throne the year after next quickly spread throughout the capital.

After hearing the news, many people had very complicated emotions.

If it were not for Xinxue, the civil service group would definitely rejoice.

However, since the New Learning threatened the status of Confucianism, the civil servants became slightly dissatisfied with the prince who did not oppose the establishment of the New Learning and even vaguely supported it.

But what if you are dissatisfied?

This is the national policy set by the old man, a century-old cause promoted by the grandson, and His Royal Highness also implicitly supports it.

Three generations have worked together, and unless the civil servants have the ability to change dynasties, this national policy cannot be shaken at all.

Originally, some officials had planned to join the King of Han, thinking of increasing the power of the King of Han to fight against the prince and see if they could turn the tables.

But now that the King of Han is paralyzed and has withdrawn from the duel for the throne, His Highness the Crown Prince has no competitor at all.

As for Prince Zhao, okay.

Many people don't think highly of him, and no one even thinks about him at all.

Zhu Gaosui: I am also a prince after all, can’t you have some confidence in me?

Now that the old man has planned to abdicate, the prince's intention to become a new generation of emperor has been completely determined.

Although all the officials have their own thoughts on this, they can no longer change it. They can only hope that their own influence can influence the prince and not pay too much attention to the newcomers.

There are many people who want to go to the East Palace to pay their respects these days, so come and pay your respects in advance.

It is impossible to provide help in times of need, they still have to catch the last bus that is the icing on the cake.

Faced with the visits of these officials, Zhu Pangpang did not meet any of them, and they all found various reasons to postpone.

Finally, he directly announced to the public that he was going to fast and meditate in the ancestral temple to prepare for the big sacrifice at the end of the year.

Zhu Pangpang even told Zhu Zhangui before going to the ancestral temple to try not to have contact with officials unless necessary.

At this time, we need to be more cautious, otherwise the old man will feel that the father and son think that the matter is a done deal and start to drift.

Although the old man didn't say anything about Zhu Pangpang's actions, it can be seen from the fact that the old man provided Zhu Pangpang with warm green vegetables that he was very satisfied with his eldest son's actions.

Zhu Zhangui has not seen the ministers in the past few days. Except for greeting his second aunt and his family when they came, Zhu Zhangui spent most of his time in the craftsman camp, studying steam engine problems with the masters.

After several years of research and experience with ironclad steam engines, the fourth generation of Ming Dynasty train locomotives was officially finalized.

The appearance and structure of the locomotive are exactly the same as the locomotives in the industrial era materials that Zhu Zhangui read.

The reason why it is the fourth generation is because the first three generations were only experimental products at short distances, and the fourth generation is officially on the road.

The first three generations were not used due to various reasons.

The first generation was useless at everything, it needed speed but not speed, it needed transportation capability but had no transportation capability. Apart from being a bit novel, it was just the same product.

The second generation was equipped on armored battleships. However, due to lack of experience in air pressure, the cylinder could easily explode if not operated properly. It was too dangerous and was not produced on a large scale.

The third generation was prepared for testing some time ago. However, during the first two days of the trial, the craftsman camp discovered another problem during inspections.

The 4th generation is the current generation.

After hundreds of masters studied day and night and spent more than a month, they finally decided on the fourth generation steam locomotive.

The locomotive weighs 22 tons, and the maximum peak speed when empty can reach 60 kilometers per hour. If it transports people, the speed is about 50 kilometers per hour. If it is full of goods, it may drop to more than 30 to more than 40 kilometers per hour.

But Zhu Zhangui was also satisfied with this.

Everything is studied from generation to generation, and you can't eat a big fat man in one bite.

With the current level of these masters, there is no problem in playing with steam engines. If they were given an internal combustion engine, they would definitely be confused.

"Your Highness, how have you considered what I told you?"

Xia Yuanji, who was betting on Zhu Zhangui today, looked at the steam engine that was gradually taking shape on the track while the masters were busy, and asked in a low voice. He held the drawing in one hand and pointed at the Zhu Zhangui assembled by the masters.

Zhu Zhangui turned his head at this guy in displeasure.

"Lao Xia, don't even think about it. I will not merge the Craftsman Camp into the Ministry of Works."

At the beginning of this year, Song Li, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, was recovering due to illness. Zhu Pangpang could not find a replacement for a while, so he let Xia Yuanji take the lead.

Therefore, Xia Yuanji became the first person to receive two ministerial posts in the Yongle Dynasty.

The reason why this guy is allowed to take charge of both is because since the rise of the Craftsman Camp, the Ministry of Industry has become dispensable.

Most of the craftsmen in the country were recruited by Zhu Zhangui, and almost all of them were poached from the Ministry of Industry.
To be continued...