I Want to Move Out

Xu Xingzu hurried out to continue bringing in breakfast, leaving only Zhu Yunwen kneeling before Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yunwen's robes fluttered despite the lack of wind, and his heart turned ice-cold once more. He knew very well what his mother had done. Now that Zhu Yuanzhang knew too, those of them in the Eastern Palace might never regain his trust.

The position of Imperial Grandson would probably never fall to him either.

"Imperial Grandfather, your grandson... I..."

Zhu Yunwen had wanted to offer a few words in his own defense.

Unfortunately, he simply lacked the courage. After stammering out a few words, he could say nothing more. Even his voice shook terribly.

Zhu Yuntong had finished his buns, but that did not stop him from enjoying the show.

The Zhu Yunwen he remembered had always been useless, and his performance now certainly lived up to that.

Besides, Lü Shi's little tricks were truly foolish. If she wanted to keep him under her thumb in the Eastern Palace, Zhu Yuntong could think of countless methods. Yet she had chosen to cut back on his food.

What a bunch of geniuses!

Zhu Yuntong thought, I can take this opportunity to ask Imperial Grandfather to let me move out.

Zhu Lingyue and the others felt somewhat reassured. With Imperial Grandfather backing them, they would hardly have to worry about being bullied again. Seeing Zhu Yunwen trembling now even gave them a little thrill of satisfaction.

After all, Lü Shi had bullied them plenty in the past.

She had always called them money-losing burdens and refused to give them decent food.

While their father was alive, Lü Shi had shown some restraint, though she had still used plenty of filthy tricks behind the scenes. After he died, she had only grown worse. Now that her carefully crafted image was about to crumble, they all felt immensely satisfied.

Only Linghua and the other little darling were too young to understand much, watching in bewilderment.

"Did you know all along what Lü Shi was doing?"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly felt deeply disappointed in Zhu Yunwen.

Quick-witted and eager to learn, kindhearted and devoted to filial duty.

Those were all labels attached to Zhu Yunwen, but after what had happened today, they seemed utterly hollow.

"I... knew!"

Zhu Yunwen had wanted to deny it, but under Zhu Yuanzhang's icy gaze, he did not dare.

"You knew everything, yet you never told me? Heh..."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered.

He had known, yet never reported it.

Brotherly affection and respect?

That was a sham too, nothing but an act.

Zhu Yuanzhang began to change his opinion of Zhu Yunwen. He might not value family bonds, but he was certainly cold and mean-spirited.

Perhaps that outrageously bold grandson of his had been right. If Zhu Yunwen took the throne in the future, even all his sons might not be enough to satisfy his appetite for killing.

"Yuntong was absolutely right!"

At that thought, Zhu Yuanzhang sighed. "Yunwen, you've disappointed me."

Listening, Zhu Yuntong had no idea which of his remarks had been absolutely right.

For the moment, Zhu Yunwen could not recall what Zhu Yuntong had been right about either.

But the word "disappointed" struck him like a thunderbolt. He kowtowed and said, "Imperial Grandfather, my mother is the woman who gave birth to me. If I told you, I would be unfilial. If I did not, I would be unkind to my third brother. Faced with being either unfilial or unkind, I struggled to choose. In the end, I could only choose filial duty."

His mind raced, and he finally came up with an explanation.

He decided to push the blame onto Lü Shi.

He cast himself as a pitiful child caught between filial duty and kindness.

That was a quick toss of the blame.

Zhu Yuntong did not believe Zhu Yunwen had been a passive party in this matter.

He had surely been more eager than anyone. This fellow must have done plenty to make his life miserable.

Still, as Zhu Yuanzhang listened, his expression finally softened a little. He thought the explanation had some merit.

"Enough!"

Zhu Yuanzhang added, "Go back. Don't forget your lessons today."

"I shall take my leave."

Zhu Yunwen did not dare stay. He bowed, shot Zhu Yuntong another glare, then left the Palace of Heavenly Purity with an uneasy heart.

Outside, a cool breeze swept over him. Drenched in cold sweat, he shuddered and suddenly felt like crying. The position of heir apparent seemed to be slipping farther and farther away. His investiture had already been in preparation, yet all at once, it was gone.

Zhu Yuntong, you're the one who wronged me!

Zhu Yunwen gritted his teeth.

He kept thinking that he had to make Zhu Yuntong pay the price he deserved. He had to take revenge. Yet he did not dare show such a hateful expression openly, so he could only scream a few words in his heart.

Not long after Zhu Yunwen left, Xu Xingzu came in again.

He carried two baskets of steamed buns. Behind him, eunuchs carried porridge, noodles, and other dishes, all sending up clouds of hot steam.

"Your Majesty!"

They set the food down, and Xu Xingzu knelt again. Kowtowing, he said, "I was possessed by folly. I deserve death."

"You dog! Get out of my sight. I'll deal with you later."

Zhu Yuanzhang had no intention of replacing Xu Xingzu. A good cook was especially important.

Xu Xingzu had served him for so many years, knew his tastes well, and was trustworthy. A little punishment was necessary, but it would not make Xu Xingzu resentful. He would only be filled with gratitude.

"As you command!"

Xu Xingzu kowtowed again and hurried out.

Before leaving, however, he stole a glance at Zhu Yuntong and thought that His Majesty had his eye on him. The balance of power in the palace was about to change.

After so many years at Zhu Yuanzhang's side, he understood very well how the emperor thought. He would have to change his allegiance from now on. He could no longer obey Lü Shi.

"Lingyue."

Zhu Yuanzhang said guiltily, "Your grandfather failed to take proper care of you. Ah!"

These children had suffered so much. Both their parents were gone, yet he, their only elder, had been so irresponsible.

"Imperial Grandfather."

Zhu Lingyue said sensibly, "You are the emperor of Great Ming. You have to answer to all the people under heaven. A little hardship for us doesn't matter."

"Good child!"

Zhu Yuanzhang thought they were such wonderful children.

"Imperial Grandfather, eat!"

Zhu Linghua picked up two buns and placed them before Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled happily. "All right, all right. I'll eat."

After taking a bite, he looked at his rebellious grandson and asked, "What do you intend to do?"

Seeing his opportunity, Zhu Yuntong quickly said, "Imperial Grandfather, the entire Eastern Palace is in Lü Shi's hands. I certainly can't stay there any longer. I'm grown up now, and I want to move out."

"No!"

Zhu Yuanzhang refused outright.

He was already outrageously bold while living in the Eastern Palace. If he moved out, would he not turn the heavens upside down?

That would never do!

"No, listen!"

Zhu Yuntong grew anxious. "Imperial Grandfather, surely you don't want that poisonous woman Lü Shi to keep bullying me? I've suffered so much! Even if you don't pity me, you should pity my sisters."

Zhu Yuanzhang: "..."

"Keep pretending!"

"I've seen right through you. As long as you want to deal with Lü Shi, how could she possibly bully you?"

"You used to hide your abilities, so you were willing to be bullied. Now that you've stopped hiding, you've brought the whole affair before me. Hmph!"

"As for you, Lingyue, and the others... Jixiang, summon Guo Hui."

No matter what, Zhu Yuanzhang would not let Zhu Yuntong move out.

Zhu Yuntong was immediately left speechless. He truly did not want to remain in the Eastern Palace. He felt far too unsafe there.

Besides, once he left the Eastern Palace, there would be countless things he could do. Staying here meant being hemmed in at every turn, unable to accomplish anything. But with this old geezer refusing permission, he really had no way around it.

Zhu Yuntong could only turn his indignation into appetite and fiercely devour two more meat buns.

"You're still eating?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Leave some for Lingyue and the others."

Meanwhile, the eunuch Jixiang hurried to the rear palace to summon Consort Guo.