My father, Zhu Di, was granted a second life by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Chapter 17 Accidental Fall from Horseback

Since Zhu Youdun made a name for himself at the Xiyuan horse training ground, Zhu Yunwen felt the need to practice riding and archery, and asked Zhu Yuanzhang to find two military generals to accompany him to practice at the palace horse training ground.

The newly arrived generals, including Cao Guogong Li Jinglong, Wei Guogong Xu Huizu, Zhu Yuanzhang's adopted son Ping An, Fu Youde's son Fu Zhong, Jiangyin Hou Wu Gao, and Zhou Wang Shizi Zhu Youdun, were all brave and skilled young military officers. Zhu Yuanzhang allowed Zhu Yunwen to choose any of them.

Zhu Yunwen chose Li Jinglong, Ping An, and Geng Xuan, the eldest son of Marquis Changxin Geng Bingwen.

Following his principle of not showing his emotions, Zhu Gaoxi did not deliberately avoid Li Jinglong after seeing him.

Li Jinglong's father, Li Wenzhong, was Zhu Yuanzhang's nephew.

Li Wenzhong was a fierce general under Zhu Yuanzhang, second only to Xu Da and Chang Yuchun, and was a famous general with outstanding martial prowess.

Zhu Gaoxi disliked Li Jinglong because he knew that Li Jinglong's performance in the Jingnan Campaign was utterly pathetic.

However, on the other hand, if Li Jinglong hadn't been beaten so badly, how could Zhu Di have seized so much grain and equipment for himself?

In fact, Li Jinglong unwittingly shouldered the heavy responsibility of transporting military supplies for Zhu Di.

As Zhu Yuanzhang formed marriage alliances with many meritorious officials and generals, either by marrying off his daughters or taking in his sons, Li Jinglong's kinship with the imperial family gradually diluted.

Back then, Zhu Di and Li Wenzhong had a very close relationship, and Zhu Di learned a lot of real skills in military campaigns from Li Wenzhong.

Before Zhu Di took up his fiefdom, Li Wenzhong was in charge of the reconstruction of the palace in Beiping.

During the renovation, Zhu Di also wrote a letter to Li Wenzhong, asking him to be as frugal as possible.

Later, Zhu Di married Xu Da's eldest daughter as his principal wife, and his relationship with the Duke of Wei's mansion grew closer and closer. In contrast, Li Jinglong's relationship with Zhu Di gradually became more distant.

Zhu Yunwen's birth mother, Lady Lü, did not come from a noble family; her maternal clan was weak, which made it necessary for her to win over relatives like Li Jinglong.

Zhu Gaoxi frequently visited Zhu Yunwen's study in the Wenhua Hall and knew that Zhu Yunwen had practically read through the resumes of every duke and marquis.

Zhu Yunwen wanted to win over military generals to his side, while Li Jinglong also wanted to maintain the status of the Duke of Cao's mansion. The two sides hit it off immediately.

Mastering horsemanship requires talent, and Zhu Yunwen's physical condition was rather weak.

Different people have vastly different talents in martial arts.

Zhu Youdun has extraordinary bone structure and is a natural talent for martial arts. He looks weak and frail, but he is actually exceptionally gifted.

Ping An could see that Zhu Yunwen was far less talented than Zhu Youdun at a glance, but how could he say it out loud?

Since the Crown Prince wants to learn, then teach him diligently.

Li Jinglong's focus was not on horseback archery at all; he was thinking about how to please the Crown Prince in order to consolidate his own power.

Therefore, as soon as Zhu Yunwen mounted his horse, Li Jinglong was amazed and exclaimed that the imperial grandson was exceptionally gifted.

Anyway, these were all things Zhu Yunwen wanted to hear.

Zhu Gaoxi almost vomited when he heard that.

That's disgusting.

I never imagined that the dignified Duke of Cao would lie in such a nauseating way.

Although Geng Xuan was not good at speaking, she taught the most diligently.

He patiently demonstrated all the postures and movements again and again.

Zhu Yunwen also realized that Li Jinglong was trying to please him, but he did not say anything.

Only by actively ingratiating oneself can one be willing to be driven. Zhu Yunwen was very satisfied with Li Jinglong's performance.

Ping An's leg injury had not yet healed, and he did not want to stand out in this kind of setting.

A military general's greatest strength lies on the battlefield, not in his eloquence.

He felt that Li Jinglong was being a bit too noisy.

Zhu Yunwen went horseback riding every day and became quite familiar with the horses in the stables. Finding it boring, he sent Li Jinglong to the Xiyuan Horse Ranch to select some fine horses to replace them.

That afternoon, when Zhu Gaoxi followed Zhu Yunwen to the horse farm, he saw a particularly beautiful chestnut-colored horse.

It is chestnut brown all over, without a single stray hair.

The hair shimmered in the sunlight.

Zhu Yunwen was stunned for a moment, then walked forward and affectionately stroked the horse's head.

"It looks really good," Zhu Yunwen couldn't help but exclaim.

Li Jinglong proudly introduced, "This is one that I personally selected. It not only has great endurance but also strong explosive power."

Zhu Yunwen first used carrots to build rapport, and only when he felt the time was right did he mount his horse.

After circling twice, Zhu Yunwen began to whip the horse, but unexpectedly, the chestnut horse reared up, threw Zhu Yunwen to the ground, and leaped wildly.

Ping An rushed over and pulled Zhu Yunwen over to prevent him from being trampled.

Zhu Yunwen's face was pale.

Zhu Gaoxi grasped his fingers and noticed that he was trembling.

Ping An raised his whip and lashed it fiercely, but Kurima refused to yield.

Li Jinglong immediately knelt on the ground to beg for forgiveness.

Zhu Yunwen, his face pale, raised his hand in a gesture of support, without uttering a sound.

Wu Liang leaned closer to Zhu Yunwen and whispered, "It's just a beast, Your Highness. You don't need to worry about it. Even a person will feel weak if they don't eat, let alone a horse. If it doesn't work, starve it for a few days and it will behave."

Zhu Yunwen gradually calmed down and said coldly, "A good horse is hard to find, it must not be harmed."

Li Jinglong's eyes darted around, and he quickly came up with a way to redeem himself. "Your Highness, why don't you come with me to calm your nerves? My family just hired a theatrical troupe, and the young male lead in the opera sings quite well."

Zhu Yunwen didn't want his grandfather to see his fear, so he nodded mechanically.

Once seated in the carriage, Zhu Yunwen lifted Zhu Gaoxi onto his lap.

He hugged him so tightly that Zhu Gaoxi almost couldn't breathe.

Zhu Gaoxi felt Zhu Yunwen's chaotic heartbeat and thought to himself that he was truly terrified.

Zhu Yunwen's vulnerability was laid bare to him.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Yunwen not only had poor physical fitness but also lacked courage.

For the first time, Zhu Gaoxi vaguely felt that perhaps Zhu Yuanzhang had been too hasty in appointing his grandson as crown prince.

Upon entering the Duke of Cao's mansion, Zhu Gaoxi truly experienced what extravagance meant for the first time since his transmigration.

Compared to this, the Qianqing Palace looks too shabby.

Ordinary porcelain bowls and wooden chopsticks were nowhere to be found in the Duke of Cao's mansion.

Jade bowls, chopsticks, and plates; gold bowls, chopsticks, and plates—the finest Jingdezhen porcelain.

Valuable jade artifacts are everywhere, showcasing the owner's fondness for jade.

The sweet and charming maidservant, observant of the situation, smiled sweetly.

The clown's singing was clear, melodious, and captivating.

In the gentle and luxurious world, Zhu Yunwen gradually forgot his fear, regained his confidence and elegance, and moved his hands rhythmically to the beat.

Seeing that Zhu Yunwen was listening intently, Zhu Gaoxi withdrew his plump hand and placed the maid's smooth, jade-like hand in his.

"You bad guy," Zhu Yunwen whispered a scolding.

Zhu Yunwen immediately stood up and said coldly, "I'm going back now. Duke Cao will enjoy himself."

"Your Majesty, I am humbled. I only wish that Your Highness could relax a bit," Li Jinglong said with a fawning smile.

Zhu Yunwen didn't say anything and walked straight out.

Li Jinglong followed closely behind, saying, "This little clown is a self-purification slave. He's clever and quick-witted. If you want him to do something, just give him a look; you don't need to say a word."

Zhu Yunwen slowed his pace and did not refuse.

Li Jinglong quickly gave the steward a discreet hand signal.

A moment later, the clown, dressed in a eunuch's robe, followed with small, quick steps and his head down.