Will

She pounded the two children on the shoulders, aching for them and furious at once. "I raised you two, yet you only remember his debt of giving you life and forget my love of raising you. Your elder uncle is still lying inside, yet he was already pressing me, asking whether your elder uncle was dead and whether I was unwilling to undergo martyrdom sacrifice..."

Zhu Zihou and Zhu Zifang felt even sadder as they listened. Tears and snot streamed down together, and they turned back to kowtow to Zhu Youjue, begging him not to make any more trouble.

Zhu Youjue truly felt that having these two children was worse than giving birth to a piece of char siu. At least char siu could be eaten—what use were these two things?

Just as the commotion continued, the steward came racing in, eyes shining as he shouted, "Princess Consort! Princess Consort! The Chief Clerk has returned! The Chief Clerk has returned—"

Everyone fell silent.

Princess Zhou lifted her tear-streaked face and asked anxiously, "Did the Chief Clerk return alone?"

Panting, the steward hurriedly replied, "No. Officials from the Ministry of Rites came with him, along with eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial."

Princess Zhou could not help covering her chest as she murmured, "May you live infinitely—"

Was it going to succeed?

She hurriedly said to Zhu Zijin, "Quick, quick, go receive them."

Zhu Zijin agreed and hurried outside.

Princess Zhou wiped away the tears on her face in one sweep, then pulled Zhu Zihou and Zhu Zifang to their feet, one in each hand. "Go quickly and help your elder brother."

Zhu Zihou and Zhu Zifang wiped their faces and quickly chased after him.

Zhu Zijin had spent years confined in the countryside and had missed much of his education. He was likely unable to deal with the Ministry of Rites officials and the Directorate of Ceremonial eunuchs.

Zhu Youjue's chest rose and fell. He suppressed the myriad thoughts in his heart, gave Princess Zhou a deep look, and then followed them out.

Princess Zhou remained standing outside the main chamber, nervously clutching Nanny Qin's hand as she waited for news from the front courtyard.

After sweeping her gaze around Prince Zhou's Mansion, Xuan Miao said, "Prince Zhou's end is near."

Neither Tao Ji nor Pan Yun spoke. Though they had long been prepared, they could not help feeling saddened.

This Prince Zhou had been a rare good and generous man.

Most of Pan Yun's current assets had come from him.

Before long, a servant came to report, "Princess Consort, the Eldest Young Master received the Imperial Decree in the front courtyard. His Majesty has named the Eldest Young Master the Heir. The Chief Clerk quietly told this servant that the name in the Imperial Genealogy has also been changed. The Eldest Young Master is now registered under the Prince and Princess Consort's names."

Princess Zhou let out a great sigh of relief and could not help reciting her Taoist invocation again.

Soon, servants were formally sent from the front to report, "The imperial envoys delivering the decree wish to come pay their respects to the Prince."

At once, Princess Consort looked toward Tao Ji.

Tao Ji took out the needle pouch he carried with him, indicating that there would be no problem.

The Ministry of Rites officials and Directorate of Ceremonial eunuchs had not come merely to proclaim the decree. They also represented the Imperial Court and the Emperor in visiting Prince Zhou, and when they returned, they would have to report everything in detail.

Following them, Zhu Youjue finally entered the main chamber and saw Zhu Youdun.

Zhu Youdun lay there. Other than looking slightly pale, he was not much different from the last time they had seen him.

Yet in the eyes of the Ministry of Rites official and the Directorate of Ceremonial eunuch, this Prince Zhou was far too thin, his complexion pallid, and he looked like a man whose days were numbered.

Having confirmed that the Chief Clerk had not lied and that Prince Zhou was indeed gravely ill beyond cure, the two sighed inwardly but also relaxed. What they hated and feared most was feudal princes stirring up trouble and spinning lies through their teeth.

The official and eunuch immediately changed their expressions, looking at Prince Zhou with grief written all over their faces. They asked whether they could speak with him and personally convey the Emperor's decree.

Prince Zhou had chosen to remain in a coma precisely to await this day, so Princess Zhou did not hesitate. She invited Tao Ji forward to administer acupuncture to Prince Zhou.

Tao Ji first felt Prince Zhou's pulse, had medicine and all the foods the Prince loved prepared, and only then began inserting the needles.

Once this needle went in, Prince Zhou's awakening would be his final moment of clarity. If he slept again, it would be an eternal sleep.

Princess Consort knew this as well. Thus, she had the entire mansion notified. The various ladies, as well as any stewards who might be summoned, were all waiting outside.

When Tao Ji inserted the final needle and lightly twisted it, Prince Zhou's eyelids trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes.

The Directorate of Ceremonial eunuch stared at Tao Ji in surprise. He had not expected there to be such a formidable doctor among the common people, one who could truly use coma to evade death.

Prince Zhou stared with his eyes open for quite some time before his awareness returned. Princess Consort looked at him with concern and softly told him, "My lord, His Majesty has sent people to visit you."

Prince Zhou's spirits lifted. Had the Imperial Court reached a conclusion?

He opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but only a faint sound came out.

Tao Ji slowly removed the needles from his body one by one and said, "Give the Prince some water."

With that, he stepped aside.

Zhu Zijin immediately brought over a bowl of water, gently helped Prince Zhou sit up, and fed him two sips.

Seeing how carefully he fed him, the Ministry of Rites official could not help nodding inwardly. He roughly knew how they should phrase things when they later invested him as Prince Zhou.

Only after Prince Zhou drank some water could everyone hear what he said. "Is His Majesty well?"

The Directorate of Ceremonial eunuch promptly replied, "His Majesty is in sacred health. Your Highness must take good care of yourself. Before we came, His Majesty was even speaking of inviting you to gather in the Capital City when he had the time someday."

Prince Zhou merely listened to the words. If he had awakened, it meant he would only live through today.

On this final day, Prince Zhou did not wish to waste any time. Every moment was precious to him now. For every pointless word he spoke, he would lose the time to speak another pointless word, so he asked directly, "Has His Majesty granted what I requested?"

When facing a dying man, anyone could not help but soften their heart. Thus, neither the Ministry of Rites official nor the Directorate of Ceremonial eunuch quibbled. They directly showed the Imperial Decree to Prince Zhou.

Prince Zhou was both delighted and regretful. "His Majesty's grace is immense. Even as I near death, I may still be reunited with my son, allowing the line of Prince Zhou to continue."

Prince Zhou had Zhu Zijin kowtow northward in thanks to the Emperor.

Zhu Zijin obeyed, solidly knocking his head against the ground three times toward the north. Thud! Thud! Thud!

Only then did Prince Zhou ask, "Is there only this one Imperial Decree? I petitioned that martyrdom sacrifice within the mansion be exempted..."

The official and eunuch exchanged a glance. Before they departed, the Emperor had relented and had already ordered a decree drafted. But with a matter like this, unless it was truly written down and stamped with the Imperial Seal, it could not be considered settled.

Neither could promise Prince Zhou anything. They only said that the Emperor had Prince Zhou on his mind and greatly wished to proceed according to his will.

The moment Prince Zhou heard that, he understood. The Emperor had agreed, but someone at court had not, which was why no decree could be issued.

Prince Zhou ground his teeth, guessing that someone among the imperial clan had objected.

He voiced no complaint, merely gave a bitter laugh. Yet his gaze involuntarily searched the room for Pan Yun.

Pan Yun stood behind the curtains, silently watching everything unfold.

She was young, and her clothes were the common bluish-gray color, so she did not draw attention. Standing there, most people would not even notice her. Even if they did, they would only take her for a maid in the prince's mansion carrying a cat.

When she saw Prince Zhou's gaze moving through the crowd, she quietly shifted, stepping half her body out from behind the curtain so that he could see her.

She gave him a slight nod, signaling him not to worry. There was still room to turn things around.

Prince Zhou temporarily set the matter aside and began concerning himself with his final arrangements.

Seeing Zhu Youjue, he called out, "Fourth brother has come as well."

Zhu Youjue lowered his eyes in sorrow. "Elder Brother..."

Prince Zhou sighed. "There is no need for sorrow. Everyone has this day eventually. Of all us brothers, you and I were closest. After I am gone, take more care of Zijin."

Zhu Youjue choked up as he agreed.

Prince Zhou looked at Zhu Zihou and Zhu Zifang and beckoned them both over.

Like Zhu Zijin, the brothers immediately went forward and knelt halfway before the bed.

Prince Zhou felt his spirits growing better and better. He even had the strength to take the hands of all three children, place them together, and pat them. "After I am gone, you three brothers must watch over and support one another. Zijin, you are older than them, so take better care of them in the future."

Zhu Zijin agreed.

"Your elder brother has endured many hardships. If he makes mistakes or fails to be considerate in the future, remind him. Do not grow estranged over it."

Zhu Zihou and Zhu Zifang nodded repeatedly, tears streaming down their faces.

Prince Zhou smiled. "Why are you crying? I am already content to have lived until today. Zihou, you love making friends and are generous and forthright. Those are good traits, but your heart is too soft. Do not trust people too easily in the future, and drink less alcohol. Wine harms the body."

Zhu Zihou agreed through his tears.

"Zifang, since you love medicine, you may continue living in Prince Zhou's Mansion and studying here. The books and manuscripts your grandfather left behind will depend on you to carry them forward. Your father, your uncles, and I are all useless—not one of us could inherit your grandfather's mantle."

Prince Zhou looked toward Zhu Zijin.

Zhu Zijin said that his younger brother could stay here as before. Whatever he needed for his studies, Zhu Zijin would find a way to obtain it.

Prince Zhou was greatly satisfied. Holding the three boys' hands, he said, "Good, good. I hope you three brothers can always be loving brothers and respectful younger brothers. Do not become like us old men."

Prince Zhou was filled with melancholy as he said this.

Only after making these arrangements did he look at Princess Consort.

Princess Consort wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, went forward to sit by the bed, and took the hand he extended.

For a long time, neither spoke. They simply looked quietly at each other.

After a while, Prince Zhou sighed. "Princess Consort, I have wronged you. I made you suffer grievances throughout this life."

Consort Gong shed tears and shook her head. "My lord has treated me very well. I have no regrets."

Prince Zhou could not help tightening his hold on her hand. "The prince's mansion will be entrusted to you from now on. Madam Shi and the others..."

Consort Gong clasped his hand tightly in both of hers and replied, "Rest assured, my lord. No matter the outcome, I will take good care of them."

If martyrdom sacrifice could not be escaped, she would see them off properly. If they were fortunate enough to escape it, she would treat them well too.

The husband and wife looked at each other and both sighed.

Life was far too bitter. They had both witnessed martyrdom sacrifice with their own eyes.

Their thirteenth brother, Zhu Youxuan, had died of illness at only twenty years old. At the time, Zhu Youdun and Princess Consort Gong had gone to assist with the funeral arrangements.

Their younger sister-in-law, Lady Zhang, had been forced to kill herself as a martyrdom sacrifice. The concubines and servant women attending her were directly executed to accompany her in death. Every time Zhu Youdun recalled it, he shuddered with horror.

How could people be treated like livestock, their lives and deaths decided at will?

Even livestock should only be slaughtered when there was some use for it. Only then could things be put to their full use, without betraying the lives bestowed by Heaven's Way.

But what meaning did martyrdom sacrifice have?

Zhu Youdun admitted that he was timid and weak. He only dared ask for his own household to be exempted from martyrdom sacrifice; he did not dare propose abolishing the ancestral system.

As the woman beside his pillow, Consort Gong naturally knew all this. Therefore, she would do her utmost regarding what worried him most. As for how much she could accomplish, she did not dare guarantee it.

The Ministry of Rites and the Directorate of Ceremonial witnessed Zhu Youdun making his final arrangements. All of this would later have to be reported, and might even be recorded in the registers of the Imperial Clan Court.

Prince Zhou's spirits grew increasingly vigorous. Not only did he get up and eat his favorite foods, he even took a turn around the courtyard and basked in the sun for quite a while.

Taking advantage of this moment, Prince Zhou summoned Pan Yun to speak. "I am entrusting the matter of lifting martyrdom sacrifice to you. You must keep your word."

"Do not worry. If I do not try my hardest, come find me afterward."

Prince Zhou could not help laughing. "Can I still come back after I die?"

"The dead have spirits. So long as you wish to return, you will certainly be able to return."

Prince Zhou said, "All right. Then I will be watching you."

The ten lucky numbers for this chapter are numbers ending in 6. Take screenshots as proof; the screenshot deadline is when the next chapter updates. Add "Sword Going Against the Grain Great Ming" and send the screenshot to claim your prize.