Zhu Yuanzhang was an emperor in cloth, and before he ascended the throne, he could be described as a tyrant of the great generation, but after ascending to the throne, he became suspicious and multi-minded, killing many ministers who accompanied him from birth to death, and also caused many tragedies. However, no matter how brutal Zhu Yuanzhang was after becoming emperor, the word family affection will always rank first in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart.
When Zhu Yuanzhang was 71 years old, he had a serious illness, and even Zhu Yuanzhang himself could feel that time was running out. Zhu Yuanzhang lay in the deep palace, surrounded by not only the doctors and eunuchs who took care of him, but also his favorite Wang Meiren and the 3-year-old Princess Baoqing. Princess Baoqing looked at her father and emperor lying on the hospital bed all day and asked Zhu Yuanzhang what was wrong, Zhu Yuanzhang said that he was sick, princess Baoqing said obediently: "As long as the father emperor rests well, he will definitely get better." Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said that he couldn't get better. When Princess Baoqing heard this, she cried and cried in Zhu Yuanzhang's arms, saying, "Father Emperor will be fine!" It was these seven words that made Zhu Yuanzhang specifically point out in his will that Princess Baoqing's birth mother, Wang Meiren, should not be buried and would stay to take care of the young Princess Baoqing, while none of the other concubines were spared.
We can imagine how Zhu Yuanzhang, who has been a horseman all his life, was lying alone on the hospital bed at the last moment of his life, feeling the most sincere and pure concern of the innocent and simple Princess Baoqing. Perhaps at that time, Zhu Yuanzhang even felt that only the little angel in front of him might be the one who really cared about his own life and death.
It is precisely because of this that Zhu Yuanzhang may have pardoned Wang Meiren without having to accompany him to the funeral. After all, the emperor is also a man, and a powerful person like Zhu Yuanzhang also has a tender and warm side. At the time of death, feeling the most innocent care from the angel-like princess Baoqing, few people could not be unemotional, and even the rest of the princes even needed Zhu Yuanzhang to be careful.