Chapter 110: Li Zhen is the only outsider who can wear the five-clawed dragon robe in the Ming Dynasty.

When Zhu Yuanzhang stepped into the bedroom, a strong smell of medicine hit his nose.

His gaze immediately fell on the familiar yet slightly weak figure on the sickbed. His eyes couldn't help but well up slightly and he felt mixed emotions.

"Brother-in-law."

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly came to the bedside and sat down, then called softly.

"Hey, Your Majesty."

Hearing the sound, the old man on the sickbed barely opened his eyelids, his eyes revealing a light that seemed a little turbid due to old age and illness, but he still forced himself to get up.

"Brother-in-law, please don't move. We just came to see you."

Upon seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang hurriedly supported the old man's slightly trembling hands, gently helped him adjust his posture, and even personally took a soft cushion and placed it behind the old man to ensure that he could lean comfortably.

"Don't call me Your Majesty anymore. Just call me Chongba like before."

After the old man had leaned back, Zhu Yuanzhang continued speaking.

The voice was different from the usual strong voice. Instead, it was much softer, as if he was afraid of startling the old man in front of him.

And in this whole world, there is no one else who can make Zhu Yuanzhang like this except the old man in front of him.

After all, with Zhu Yuanzhang's temperament, sometimes he would dare to yell even at Empress Ma, but for the old man in front of him, Zhu Yuanzhang had nothing but respect.

This is Li Wenzhong’s father, Li Zhen.

In the first year of Hongwu, he was appointed as the commander of the imperial concubine's family and the general of the state, and was granted the title of Marquis Enqin.

In the third year of Hongwu, he was appointed as the Special Advancement Ronglu Doctor, the Founding Assistance to the Country, the Loyal and Dedicated Military Minister, and the Right Pillar of the State, and was granted the title of Duke of Cao.

He was also the second brother-in-law of the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang.

Let’s put it this way, if there was no Li Zhen, there would be no Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang.

What do you mean?
As we all know, Zhu Yuanzhang came from a poor family, so poor that he didn't even have a decent name.

The reason why he was able to become a founding monarch was that he conquered that vast empire entirely by himself. It can be said that "he started with nothing but a bowl, and all the equipment was acquired through fighting."

For Zhu Yuanzhang, Li Zhen was not just a relative, but more like a benefactor in his life.

Because Li Zhen was considered a wealthy man at the time, he later married Zhu Yuanzhang's second sister Zhu Funu, and he did not treat his wife harshly just because the Zhu family was in poor financial condition.

On the contrary, Li Zhen often helped her father-in-law's family, sometimes with some silver and sometimes with some food.

Especially when Zhu Yuanzhang was a child, whenever he had a fight with someone over a meal, Li Zhen would always appear when she was supposed to.

Furthermore, there was Li Wenzhong, who was like a divine soldier sent from heaven and made great military achievements for the establishment of the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, if there had been no Li Zhen, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty today, would have starved to death in the countryside back then, and how could he have the glory he has today.

"The etiquette cannot be abolished."

Li Zhen let out a long sigh and then spoke softly.

"We are blood relatives, so why should we not abandon the etiquette?"

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke in a complicated tone while stroking Li Zhen's back.

"You are the emperor after all."

Li Zhen gently patted the back of Zhu Yuanzhang's hand and smiled.

"But he is still your brother."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said, "We don't want to listen to Your Majesty, we want to listen to Chongba."

In this world, the only people who could call Zhu Yuanzhang "Empress Ma" were Li Zhen.

Only when these two people shouted "Zhongba" would Zhu Yuanzhang not be angry.

"You are still as stubborn as you were when you were little."

Li Zhen looked at the somewhat stubborn Zhu Yuanzhang and smiled helplessly again.

"If I wasn't stubborn, how could I be here today?"

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed softly.

However, this stubbornness did teach Zhu Gang a lesson, so Zhu Yuanzhang's temperament really changed and he was not as stubborn as before.

"These days, the only one who can call us father and child is my uncle."

Zhu Gang, who was standing at the door, glanced at Zhu Biao beside him and smiled.

"The eldest brother is the father, and he is also the uncle who has loved our father since childhood. It is not an exaggeration to call him a child."

A hint of emotion flashed across Zhu Biao's eyes, and then he nodded.

After all, no matter how old Zhu Yuanzhang was, he was still a child in front of Li Zhen, and this could never be changed.

"His Royal Highness."

At this moment, Wang Jinghong trotted to the door of the bedroom, looked at Zhu Biao, who was breathing heavily, and bowed.

"Ok?"

Zhu Biao turned his head and looked at Wang Jinghong.

"Your Highness, the Emperor has ordered you to take this box in."

Wang Jinghong waved his hand again, and the eunuch beside him lowered his head and presented the box, then said.

"Ah."

Zhu Biao took the box and walked into the bedroom.

"What's in the box?"

Seeing Zhu Biao walk into the bedroom, Zhu Gang looked at Wang Jinghong and asked in a low voice.

"Dragon robe."

Wang Jinghong swallowed and said.

"Dragon robe?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhu Gang frowned, but in an instant, his brows relaxed.

In the third year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang granted Li Zhen special permission to "exempt himself from regular court attendance" and "to pay homage without using his name".

They were even allowed to wear dragon robes with a five-clawed golden dragon on them.

But Li Zhen had always been frugal and simple. Although he did not reject Zhu Yuanzhang's kindness, he never passed on the dragon robe.

After all, Li Zhen himself said, "My clothes and hats have been shining for three generations, and my grace and favor have been abundant in one family. Judging from the current family of food and salary, there is no one who is better than me."

However, Li Zhen was always uneasy about his sudden wealth and honor.

He said: "A gentleman will not forget his poverty and humbleness once he becomes rich and noble."

Therefore, Li Zhen usually only wears clothes that fit her body and not fancy, and only eats food that is palatable and not extravagant.

Even though Zhu Yuanzhang often gave Li Zhen clothes, Li Zhen would always mend the ones that were torn before wearing them again.

Li Zhen often earnestly recounted to his descendants the times when he was an ordinary farmer.

Among Zhu Yuanzhang's remaining relatives, Li Zhennian was the oldest, and he believed that he should set an example for his descendants.

He even said: "Now the emperor is promoting thrift and diligence throughout the country. I am the head of my family. If I indulge in extravagance, how can I persuade my family members to do so?"

"No, absolutely not, we can't wear it."

Just as Zhu Gang was thinking, Li Zhen's voice in the bedroom suddenly became louder, and her words were full of rejection.

"Brother-in-law, this is not our grace, I really want to see it."

In response to this, Zhu Yuanzhang's helpless voice was rang out.

One of them coaxed the other into wearing the dragon robe, while the other refused to wear it. It was like an extreme struggle between two old men.

"Only the emperor can wear this. I can't. I will never wear it."

Li Zhen's firm voice sounded again.

In the bedroom, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Li Zhen with vigilant eyes and a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"Uncle."

"If my nephew gets married and wants you to present the gift, will you wear it?"

At this stalemate, Zhu Gang also stepped into the bedroom, looked at Li Zhen and smiled.

"Tan'er?"

Li Zhen was slightly stunned and thought for a moment before asking.

"Well, nephew greets uncle."

Zhu Gang nodded slightly, then bowed together with Zhu Chong and Zhu Di.

"You are finally back, kid."

Seeing this, Li Zhen quickly waved his hand again, with joy in his eyes.

In the sixth year of Hongwu, Zhu Gang left the capital, and Li Zhen naturally knew about it.

For this reason, Li Zhen even went to the palace in person to admonish Zhu Yuanzhang.

After all, Zhu Gang was still young at that time.

"Since my nephew returned to Beijing, he has been busy with government affairs and has not come to visit his uncle. This is my fault."

A look of joy appeared on Li Zhen's face, but Zhu Gang felt a little guilty and bowed again.

As a son or nephew, I have been back to Beijing for almost a year, but I have never come to see Cao Guogong. This is really wrong. "Brother-in-law, don't blame the third brother, blame me if you want to blame someone."

"We made a bit of a mess and need our son's help to clean it up. Even our marriage has been delayed for a long time."

Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang quickly looked at Li Zhen and spoke.

But this is not to excuse Zhu Gang, it is the fact.

After all, if Empress Ma had not agreed this time, Zhu Gang might not have been able to get married until next year.

"How can we blame you for sharing the country's worries?"

Li Zhen waved her hands, smiling with satisfaction, and said, "Your children have all grown up, and I am very happy too."

“It’s your child too.”

In response, Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head again.

"Yes, our child."

Li Zhen gently patted her confused forehead, and asked with a smile on her face, "Whose girl is she?"

"Xie family."

"One of the twenty-four generals from Huaixi who followed us was also given a title of Marquis this year, Marquis Yongping."

"And this girl from the Xie family is a childhood sweetheart of our third son. She has been waiting for him for several years and is a good child."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Li Zhen and smiled without even thinking.

"Then we really can't let them down."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhen stroked his beard with satisfaction.

"So my nephew would like to ask my uncle to propose marriage for me."

In response to this, Zhu Gang laughed and spoke again.

"it is good."

Li Zhen agreed without even thinking about it.

"Thank you, uncle."

Zhu Gang bowed slightly again.

"But do I have to wear this dragon robe?"

But there was a hint of hesitation in Li Zhen's eyes before he spoke.

"It's natural."

"This will also show the importance our royal family attaches to the third son's marriage."

Zhu Yuanzhang took Li Zhen's hand again and smiled.

"Forget it. I am an old man who is about to die, and I don't have many years left to live."

"Besides, since it's for the sake of our own children, I'll overstep my bounds once."

Li Zhen sighed lightly and smiled again.

"It is never an act of usurpation for you to wear it."

Zhu Yuanzhang patted Li Zhen's hand and said seriously.

"Chongba, when are we going to Yongping Marquis's Mansion?"

Li Zhen imagined Zhu Yuanzhang's sincere gaze, and a warm feeling rose in his heart, so he opened his mouth and asked.

"Tomorrow is an auspicious day."

Zhu Yuanzhang took out the birth certificate from his bosom and placed it on the bedside of Li Zhen, saying, "This is the birth certificate of the third child, and there are also gifts to be sent to the Yongping Marquis' Mansion tomorrow. We have already sent them over."

"Then let's go to the Yongping Marquis' Mansion tomorrow to arrange the marriage."

Li Zhen picked up the birth chart, flipped through it, and then smiled.

"Nephew thanks uncle."

Zhu Gang bowed slightly again.

"Why thank you? It's not unreasonable. We are still a family, and it's you who got married. Your uncle is very happy."

Li Zhen rolled her eyes at Zhu Gang, then smiled with emotion and said, "Ah, in the blink of an eye, the children of the past have all grown up and are about to get married. I hope the Zhu family will prosper."

In response to this, Zhu Gang scratched his head embarrassedly again.

"Brother-in-law, as long as the Zhu family exists, the Li family will exist."

"Even if our descendants rebel in the future, we will establish ancestral precepts to leave a bloodline for the Li family and enjoy wealth and prosperity."

"Of course, we are not talking about Wenzhong and Jiujiang, but about the future."

"This prosperity is not just for the Zhu family."

Zhu Yuanzhang patted his brother-in-law's hand again, his eyes full of respect.

Once these words were spoken, it basically gave the Li family a talisman, and as long as the Ming Dynasty did not perish, the Li family would coexist with the Zhu family and enjoy wealth forever.

After all, this ancestral precept does not involve the emperor's own interests. It is nothing more than a favor, so almost no emperor dares to violate it.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

Li Wenzhong in the bedroom quickly pulled Li Jinglong beside him to kneel down and kowtow, his eyes full of excitement.

As the saying goes, good deeds will bring good results, and this is the result of the deeds that Li Zhen planted.

"Your Majesty is not here."

Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head and glanced at Li Wenzhong.

"Thank you, uncle!"

"Thank you, uncle."

When the voice was heard, Li Wenzhong and Li Jinglong quickly changed their words.

"Chongba, thank you."

Li Zhen's eyes turned red and she said the same thing.

"Brother-in-law, that's too much."

Zhu Yuanzhang still smiled and shook his head.

"Cousin, Dad hasn't eaten yet. I'll ask you to make some food so we can have a few drinks."

Zhu Biao helped Li Wenzhong up and said with a smile.

"Yes, yes, let's drink with our brother-in-law."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up again, but then he turned around, looked at Li Zhen, and shook his head again, saying, "Forget it. Let's have some tea."

Zhu Yuanzhang has always been worried about Li Zhen's health, so he decided not to drink alcohol, as drinking is harmful to the body. That's why he wanted to replace alcohol with tea.

After all, it is God's blessing that the brothers can still sit together.

"Why, do you think we can't drink?"

Li Zhen frowned and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Drink less."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head.

"I'm happy today, so I have to drink a few cups."

In response, Li Zhen simply waved his hand and looked at Li Wenzhong and said, "Wenzhong, go get our treasured wine."

"it is good."

There was a hint of hesitation in Li Wenzhong's eyes, but he still nodded.

Because Li Zhen also has his own stubbornness, Li Wenzhong also understands this, so this meal of wine must be drunk.

"do not."

Zhu Gang grabbed Li Wenzhong, then looked at Zhu Di beside him and said, "Go to my house in person and get a few jars of my precious medicinal wine."

"it is good."

Zhu Di nodded without hesitation, then looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and Li Zhen, bowed, and left the bedroom.

"Dad, when I was in Taiyuan, I found someone to brew some medicinal wine. When Deng Zhen returned to the capital, he brought all of it back to me. They were all sealed and treasured top-grade products."

"So drinking some is good for your body. You can let your uncle have a taste."

Zhu Gang turned to look at Zhu Yuanzhang and Li Zhen again, and chuckled, "Just don't drink too much. After all, medicinal wine is also wine. Drinking too much will do no good."

"You're thoughtful, little brat."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Gang with satisfaction and nodded.

"By the way, Wang Jinghong."

"You should also go there. In addition to the medicinal wine, there are also a few jars of good wine. Bring them over as well."

Hearing this, Zhu Gang patted his forehead again, then looked at Wang Jinghong who was waiting on the side and said, "These are all the good wines I brewed in Taiyuan."

"As ordered."

After saying this, Wang Jinghong bowed and left the bedroom.

(End of this chapter)