The strongest eldest son of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 69 Come on, let's do morning exercises together!

Seeing this, Zhu Yao stopped what he was doing, turned to look at the two of them, and explained with a smile.

"Father, Madam, this is morning exercise. Getting up in the morning to stretch your muscles and improve blood circulation, and persisting every day can strengthen your body, reduce illness, and greatly benefit your health."

After saying that, Zhu Yao waved enthusiastically in invitation.

"The morning air is just right, so don't just wander around aimlessly. Why not join us and get some exercise? You'll feel refreshed all day long."

Before the two could refuse, Zhu Yao had already stepped to the front, his posture upright, and volunteered to lead the exercise.

With a smile on his face, he called out a clear and rhythmic chant, his movements precise and graceful.

"Come on, follow along with me, it's simple and easy to learn."

"A big watermelon, cut in half—"

"Half for you, half for him—"

Everyone stood there, stunned, watching Zhu Yao's childish yet orderly movements. They were both amused and exasperated, yet they couldn't help but raise their hands and start twisting along.

After completing a simple set of morning exercises, everyone felt relaxed and refreshed, with their blood and energy flowing smoothly, and the fatigue from the past few days completely dissipated.

Liu Bowen exhaled a long breath, his brows and eyes relaxed, and he sincerely exclaimed that he had never felt so light and refreshed before.

Zhu Yuanzhang moved his wrists and shoulders, feeling refreshed and invigorated. He smiled and admitted that the strange exercise was indeed very effective.

Empress Ma also gently raised her hand to rub her shoulders and neck, feeling relaxed and free from the vexation and depression of the past few days.

Seeing the relaxed expressions on everyone's faces, Zhu Yao smiled and suggested that he take them to the dining room to enjoy a refined morning tea.

As they walked, Zhu Yao noticed that Empress Ma's complexion was pale and her health was poor, and he couldn't help but whisper some words of advice to her.

"Madam, you seem to be overthinking and stressed, which has caused you a lot of fatigue."

"In the future, when you have nothing to do, practice this set of morning exercises more often, go out for walks to relax, and your complexion will naturally recover gradually."

Empress Ma felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing this, and gently nodded in agreement, repeatedly praising Zhu Yao for his thoughtfulness and consideration.

Time flies, and three days have passed in the blink of an eye. The leisurely days are peaceful and comfortable, and everyone is at ease.

That morning, Zhu Yuanzhang, accompanied by Empress Ma and Zong Yonghe, went to find Zhu Yao. With a somewhat helpless expression, he frankly explained his purpose.

"Yao'er, your father has been here for many days, and now it is time for me to depart."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yao's smile vanished instantly, replaced by obvious disappointment in his eyes, and his tone carried a hint of reluctance.

"Dad, why are you leaving again? You've come all this way, can't you stay a few more days?"

Seeing his dejected appearance, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a deep sense of reluctance and truly longed for the peace and tranquility of this place.

However, as the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he was burdened with court affairs and could not leave the capital for an extended period of time; the court could not be without a ruler for even a day.

Zong Yonghe, standing to the side, was even more eager. Ever since he learned Zhu Yao's new business methods, he had been itching to return to Jinling to put them into practice.

Zhu Yuanzhang understood perfectly well that if the business didn't operate for a day, there would be one less day of profit; if it remained idle for a day, there would be one day of financial loss.

Weighing the pros and cons, even though he was extremely reluctant, he had to return to the capital immediately.

Zhu Yao lowered his eyes and fell silent, his eyes filled with loneliness. He did not try to persuade him to stay, and the atmosphere became somewhat somber.

Just then, Empress Ma stepped forward, looked tenderly at the dejected Zhu Yao, and softly offered words of comfort.

"Yao'er, don't be disappointed. Your father is very busy and really has no choice but to stay. I will stay."

"I'll stay in Chenzhou with you for a while longer."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yao immediately looked up, his eyes instantly brightening with joy, the disappointment vanishing.

"Really? If Madam is willing to stay, then I will not stop Father from leaving. It would be good for Madam to accompany me."

The matter was settled, and soon Zhu Yuanzhang, along with Erhu and Zong Yong, were fully prepared to set off on their return journey.

As they were about to part, Zhu Yao stood with Empress Ma in front of the manor, personally seeing off Zhu Yuanzhang and his entourage.

Zhu Yao looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, who was about to embark on his journey, with a serious expression and a tone full of sincere admonition.

"Father, the journey is long and arduous. Please be careful on the road, travel slowly, and do not be impatient."

"Also, money is ultimately just an external thing. You must not think about making money all day long. Your own health is the most important thing."

Hearing these heartwarming words of advice, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He smiled and nodded in agreement, repeatedly promising that he would definitely keep them in mind.

Zhu Yao pondered for a moment, then asked curiously, "Father, you usually stay in Jinling. Where do you live? If I have time in the future, I can visit you."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's heart stirred. He secretly thought to himself that his residence in Jinling was the imperial palace, and he absolutely could not reveal the slightest bit of it.

He hesitated for a moment, then casually made up a plausible explanation and replied calmly, "My father has acquired an elegant manor in the suburbs of Jinling City, where he lives in peace and quiet."

Zhu Yao had no doubts, nodded slightly to note it down, and asked no more questions, quietly watching everyone set off.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not linger. He waved goodbye to the two men and, with Erhu, Zong Yong, and others, set off on horseback, galloping towards Jinling.

As soon as the group drove out of the compound, they saw layers of tight security along the way, with hidden traps everywhere.

Along both sides of the road, there were neatly arranged patrol posts, with squads of guards carrying equipment taking turns to patrol, maintaining a high level of vigilance.

Hidden traps and mechanisms can be vaguely seen in the roadside bushes and dark woods, their seals concealed without a trace, making them virtually undetectable without close inspection.

The closer you get to the Pentagon, the tighter the security measures become. The massive reinforced concrete building is surrounded by high walls, creating a cold and solemn atmosphere.

Several heavy iron gates surround the building, arranged in a staggered pattern. The gate panels are thick and sturdy, and the locks are precise and robust. At this moment, they are slowly rising to make way for passage.

Looking at the impenetrable layout, Zong Yonghe couldn't help but marvel and murmur his admiration.

"Young Master Zhu's mansion is truly impregnable, with layers of defenses and dangers at every step. Ordinary people would find it impossible to enter, let alone leave quietly."

The two guards nodded repeatedly, their eyes serious. As martial artists, they knew that such tight security would be difficult for even elite troops to break through.

Looking at the formidable defenses before him, Zhu Yuanzhang felt immense relief and secretly sighed with gratitude.

Fortunately, Zhu Yao was willing to let him go this time, and Empress Ma mediated and calmed people's hearts. If I were still thinking of sneaking away as before, there would be no way I could have done it.

The group dared not delay, and they rode at full speed, traveling day and night, and returned to Jinling City safely in a few days.

Upon entering Nanjing, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately issued an edict to Zong Yonghe beside him.

"You shall immediately begin preparations and strictly follow the new business methods taught by Yao'er to reorganize the sweet potato business of Zhu Ji Chamber of Commerce, without making the slightest mistake."

Zong Yonghe immediately bowed and accepted the order, his tone respectful yet urgent: "Your subject obeys! I have already memorized the strategies you imparted, my lord, and will implement them immediately!"