The strongest eldest son of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 72 Arranges two blind dates in one go!

Zhu Yao felt a warmth in his heart, said no more, obediently sat down, picked up his chopsticks and began to savor the food.

The porridge was soft, sticky, and sweet; the pastries were perfectly fluffy; and the side dishes were refreshing and helped to cut through the richness. The taste was just right and the flavor was excellent.

He put down his chopsticks, his face full of amazement, and exclaimed sincerely, "I really didn't expect that someone of your status, Madam, would be so skilled in cooking, with such outstanding culinary skills."

Empress Ma gently wiped her fingertips and smiled calmly, "Cooking skills are one of the skills women use to make a living; it's nothing special."

"In the early years, your father was busy starting his business, wandering from place to place, and his life was poor and difficult... I also personally took care of a lot of the meals for his family."

Zhu Yao nodded slightly upon hearing this, feeling empathy, and said softly with emotion, "I see. It must have been really tough for you and Father to start from scratch back then."

"I used to live a life of hardship with my father-in-law, struggling to make ends meet and build a family business. I also used to cook every day and take care of the food for all the workers. It was really tiring."

After a casual chat, the two felt more empathetic towards each other, and the barriers between them faded somewhat.

After a heartwarming breakfast was finished, Empress Ma's gaze fell on Zhu Yao's collar, and she spoke softly.

"Yao'er, the stitching on your clothes is a bit loose and torn at the cuffs. It doesn't look neat. Take it off and I'll mend it for you."

Zhu Yao waved his hand slightly and declined with a smile, "It's alright, Madam. It's just a minor scratch. The servants can handle it. There's no need for you to do it yourself."

Empress Ma gently shook her head, her tone tender yet carrying an undeniable warmth.

"The sewing done by servants is ultimately rough. I should sew my own underwear. The stitches are fine and the clothes are comfortable to wear. You can leave this to me."

After saying this, she immediately ordered her maid to bring a needle and thread basket, and sat down on the veranda to carefully thread the needle.

Empress Ma's movements were skillful and fluid, her fingers flying across the paper, her stitches neat and fine. In just a short while, she had mended the damaged area perfectly, leaving no trace.

In the following days, the two got along better and better, and the atmosphere was warm and pleasant.

Every morning, Empress Ma would accompany Zhu Yao and Liu Bowen to practice morning exercises, stretch their muscles and chat to relax.

In their spare time, the two would stay together in the kitchen, researching new dishes and improving hot pot broth, living a leisurely and comfortable life.

In a corner of the courtyard, several servants gathered together, chatting quietly. They were filled with emotion as they watched the heartwarming scene unfold in the courtyard.

A sweeping servant sighed softly, "Ever since the madam came to our mansion, the young master's smiles have become much more frequent, and his features have softened considerably."

Chen Zhong stood aside, nodded deeply upon hearing this, and spoke sincerely.

"Young Master has been orphaned since childhood and has no one to care for him. He has always been aloof and reserved."

"Although Madam is not the young master's biological mother, her thoughtfulness, gentleness, and meticulous care are no different from those of a biological mother."

The afternoon sun was shining brightly, and a gentle breeze was blowing. Two wooden rocking chairs were placed side by side in the courtyard, creating a pleasant and leisurely atmosphere.

Zhu Yao and Empress Ma lay side by side on the rocking chair, basking in the warm sunlight, feeling relaxed and comfortable.

Zhu Yao gently rocked the chair while introducing the chair to Empress Ma with a smile.

"Madam, sunbathing like this is called sunbathing. Regular sunbathing can nourish your blood and qi, soothe your mind and body, and is very beneficial to your health."

Empress Ma squinted slightly, feeling the warmth of the sun enveloping her entire body. She felt completely comfortable and her face was full of wonder.

"I never knew there were so many ways to sunbathe. It's quite novel. This warm and cozy feeling is truly wonderful."

After a moment of leisure, Empress Ma looked at Zhu Yao, who was tall, handsome and refined, beside her, and asked softly.

"Yao'er, you now have a stable family business, outstanding talent, and exceptional looks, so why are you still unmarried?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yao sighed softly and replied calmly.

"When my maternal grandfather was still alive in my early years, he arranged many marriages for me and introduced me to many women from prominent families."

"But I'm picky and I haven't met anyone I click with or who understands me, so I've turned them all down."

"Later, my maternal grandfather passed away suddenly, and with so many family matters to attend to, this matter has been delayed until now."

Empress Ma felt a pang of pity upon hearing this and gently offered words of comfort.

"I see. Someone as outstanding as you deserves the best girl."

"Don't worry, if the opportunity comes in the future, I will keep an eye out and look for a suitable match for you, and I will definitely help you find a gentle and virtuous partner."

Zhu Yao felt a warmth in his heart, slightly turned to the side, cupped his hands, and sincerely thanked him.

"Then thank you for your concern, Madam."

.....

Another half month passed in the blink of an eye, and the city of Jinling remained peaceful and prosperous.

During these two weeks, Zhu Yuanzhang lived a very comfortable and pleasant life, and was in a great mood every day.

Zhu Ji Chamber of Commerce's sweet potato business is booming day by day, with no sign of slowing down and daily revenue soaring.

The imperial treasury was overflowing with silver, the treasury was full, the granaries were overflowing, and the national treasury was more abundant than ever before.

With nothing else to do, Zhu Yuanzhang would sit in his study every day, looking through the files and portraits compiled by Erhu.

The files contained information on eligible young women from the families of high-ranking civil and military officials of the third rank or above.

Zhu Yuanzhang patiently reviewed and screened the candidates, selecting the best of the best, and finally settled on a total of twenty women who were all of the highest caliber in character, appearance, and talent.

These twenty women were all from prestigious families, dignified and gentle, well-educated and reasonable, and were among the best young ladies in Nanjing's upper-class circles.

The three most outstanding among them are truly exceptional beauties and elites from prestigious families.

The first one is Xu Miaoyun, the eldest daughter of Duke Xu Da of Wei. She is eighteen years old, with a beautiful and refined appearance and an air of nobility in her eyes and brows.

She was well-versed in literature from a young age, possessed exceptional intelligence, and was known for her composure, poise, and extraordinary demeanor, earning her the reputation of being the most talented woman in Nanjing.

The second was Feng Wanzhen, the eldest daughter of Duke Feng Sheng of Song. She was gentle, quiet, and of pure character. She was proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and had a kind and generous nature.

The third was Deng Shengnan, the second daughter of Duke Deng Yu of Wei. She was slender and graceful, and not only was she skilled in needlework, but she also had some knowledge of military strategy. Her vision far surpassed that of ordinary young ladies.

.....

Zhu Yuanzhang gazed at the twenty neatly arranged portrait documents on the table, his eyes filled with satisfaction, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"These girls were all carefully selected by us. They are all of excellent character and appearance, and come from respectable families. They are all first-class good men."

"Yao'er has very high standards. With so many good girls in front of him, he's bound to find one he likes."

Erhu, who was standing to the side, quietly glanced at the files and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Your Majesty is not just randomly choosing a marriage partner; you are clearly choosing your own daughter-in-law with great care!

These twenty women were flawless in terms of background, appearance, talent, and character; they would be more than qualified to be chosen as princesses for the current emperors.

Zhu Yuanzhang then looked up at Erhu and gave his orders in a deep voice.

"You shall immediately modify all of this information, and conceal the true family background of everyone involved."

"All of them should be changed to ordinary scholarly families or respectable commoner families in Jinling, and their identities as important officials must not be revealed in the slightest."