The strongest eldest son of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 76 Zhu Di: Father Emperor is going to choose a concubine for me?!

The red broth in the pot was boiling and the aroma was strong. The unique aroma of fresh, spicy and numbing flavors instantly filled the entire hall, making people's appetites whetted.

The officials were all very curious and took their seats. At Zhu Yuanzhang's signal, they all started to eat.

A sip of hot soup, rich and fragrant, with just the right amount of spiciness, was incredibly satisfying and everyone praised it highly.

"The delicacies bestowed by Your Majesty are of unparalleled taste; I have never tasted anything so delicious!"

"These dishes are novel, unique, appetizing, and satisfying—truly the finest flavors of the world!"

The officials enjoyed the meal to the fullest, with laughter and chatter filling the room, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Zhu Yuanzhang put down his chopsticks, looked around at everyone, and slowly began to speak.

"My dear ministers, we know that you all have young ladies of marriageable age in your families, who are of good character, gentle and virtuous."

"The reason we've hosted this banquet today is to find these young ladies a wonderful family and a happy marriage."

Upon hearing this, the entire banquet fell silent instantly, and all the officials perked up immediately, secretly speculating among themselves.

The first thing that came to everyone's mind was the royal family, and they were certain that the emperor was choosing a wife for his prince.

Some veteran officials secretly pondered that although Crown Prince Zhu Biao was already married and his marriage was stable, he might still want to take a concubine.

Some people whispered and speculated that perhaps His Majesty was going to choose a principal wife for the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and other princes.

Some officials were thrilled, secretly calculating that if their daughters could marry into the royal family, it would be the highest honor, and their families would rise to prominence.

Some shrewd ministers secretly pondered that His Majesty's summons of more than twenty important officials at once was likely to select a large number of concubines for the royal palace.

Everyone had their own thoughts, their eyes filled with anticipation and trepidation. No one didn't hope that their daughter would be chosen by the royal family and bring glory to their family.

After a moment of silence, Tang He put down his chopsticks and bowl, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and asked a question with a smile.

"Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask, are you looking for a wife for your child and selecting a princess?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded calmly and responded with a resolute tone.

"That's right, it's our child. Today we're choosing a good marriage for him."

As soon as the words were spoken, all the ministers present had their eyes light up instantly, their gazes burning with fervor, and their hearts filled with ecstasy.

Everyone knew perfectly well that if their daughter could marry into the royal family and become the prince's principal wife, she would instantly become a member of the royal family.

In the future, the family's status will rise accordingly, bringing glory to generations and protecting future generations. Their position in the imperial court will also become more and more stable, which is an extremely great opportunity.

Seeing this, Tang He smiled and continued to ask questions, full of curiosity.

He originally wanted to ask directly, but seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang didn't say it directly, he decided to try to find out indirectly.

"Your Majesty, what are your child's talents and abilities like? Is his character and abilities outstanding?"

Zhu Yuanzhang, with a confident air, laughed loudly, his tone full of pride.

"Our child is exceptionally talented, insightful, and possesses a vision and perspective far beyond that of ordinary people. His abilities are also remarkable."

Feng Sheng, who was standing nearby, was intrigued and quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting and curiously asking the key question.

"May I ask Your Majesty, what is the extent of this prince's wealth?"

Although the princes were treated well, there were differences in their family backgrounds, so it was necessary to inquire about this beforehand.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's smile widened, his confidence soaring, and his tone incredibly bold.

"In terms of wealth, he is the richest of all our children."

"His money-making strategies and business methods are unparalleled; ordinary people can only dream of achieving them!"

Upon hearing these words, the ministers in the hall instantly erupted in excitement, bowing their heads and whispering amongst themselves.

Everyone quickly considered the temperament, abilities, and family backgrounds of the current princes, comparing and selecting them one by one.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao was kind and benevolent, diligent in his duties, but not good at business and profit-seeking, so he was excluded by the crowd.

The other older princes either joined the army for martial arts or stayed in their fiefdoms; none of them had such extraordinary money-making skills.

After careful consideration, the group finally settled on two princes who were the right age, intelligent, and best fit the criteria.

They are the fourth prince Zhu Di and the fifth prince Zhu Su!

An official, unable to contain his excitement, stood up and respectfully inquired.

"Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask again, is this selection of a wife for the prince?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded solemnly in reply.

"She is naturally the principal wife, a lawful and proper marriage, and definitely not a concubine."

Upon hearing this, the ministers in the hall could no longer contain their excitement and immediately began to vie to recommend their own daughters.

"Your Majesty! My eldest daughter is gentle, virtuous, well-educated, and reasonable; she is the perfect match for His Highness the Prince!"

"Your Majesty, my daughter is skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and possesses a pure and virtuous character. She is a perfect match for you. I humbly beg Your Majesty's favor!"

The hall was instantly filled with noise as officials vied to recommend themselves, their words earnest, and there was even a hint of contention.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand and gently pressed it down, signaling everyone to be quiet, and then smiled as he reassured them.

"My dear ministers, there's no need for you to fight over this; we know what you're thinking."

"To ensure fairness and give everyone a chance, from now on, we will only arrange for two girls to go on blind dates each time, taking turns to look at each other, without any favoritism."

Upon hearing this, the ministers all showed joy on their faces, repeatedly cupping their hands in praise and wholeheartedly approving of the method.

"Your Majesty is wise! This method is the fairest and most appropriate, and we are completely convinced!"

Zhu Yuanzhang then instructed his two generals to distribute the pre-prepared gift boxes of free points to each minister.

"This is a novel and wonderful item. Take it back to your mansion and give it to your daughters who are of marriageable age."

"The box comes with detailed instructions on how to use it, which is thoughtful and practical, and can relieve women's monthly discomfort."

The ministers, holding the exquisite gift boxes, felt that the royal gift was novel and precious, and they all bowed to express their gratitude, tears streaming down their faces.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty! Your Majesty's compassion for the people and your care for women in their boudoirs are truly a blessing for all!"

As the banquet ended, the officials left the palace one after another, still discussing the matter enthusiastically along the way.

"This prince is highly talented, wealthy, and comes from a rich family. He's also looking for a principal wife; this is truly a perfect match!"

"Not only that, His Majesty is also so considerate of women, giving them such thoughtful gifts. It's clear that this prince is very sincere!"

"If my daughter could be chosen to marry into the royal family, it would be the greatest blessing my entire family has accumulated over several lifetimes!"

Everyone smiled and looked forward to it, hoping that their daughters would stand out and win this perfect match.

.....

As the group of ministers stepped out of the palace gates, they happened to run into the two princes, Zhu Gang and Zhu Di, who were taking a break from their leisure time.

Everyone's eyes lit up, and they quickly stepped forward to surround him, their faces full of enthusiasm.

An elderly minister was the first to bow and ask with a smile, "Third Prince, Fourth Prince, is His Majesty holding this banquet today specifically to select principal consorts for you two?!"

Zhu Gang was stunned upon hearing this, and shook his head blankly.

"I have never heard of this matter. My father has not mentioned anything about marriage to me recently."

Zhu Di, also looking puzzled, chimed in with agreement.

"I know nothing about it either. If my father were to choose consorts for us, he would have given prior instructions and would not have done so so abruptly."