Whoever benefited the most was the one who had done it.
By raising this question, Zhu Yuntong pointed straight at Zhu Yunwen and his mother as the murderers of Chang Shi and Zhu Xiongying.
To sabotage today's investiture, Zhu Yuntong had torn away all pretense of civility. With no path of retreat left, he could no longer afford to worry about the consequences.
"Mother and Elder Brother are both dead. Next, it will be your grandson's turn."
Zhu Yuntong held up the longsword in both hands and took two steps forward. "Since you want your grandson dead, Imperial Grandfather, I wish to die by your hand. Please grant my wish."
"Enough!"
Zhu Yuanzhang thundered.
His voice crashed like thunder, making everyone's heart shudder.
It was not as though Zhu Yuanzhang had never suspected anything about the deaths of Chang Shi and Zhu Xiongying. He had even ordered the Embroidered Guard to investigate at the time, but their findings revealed nothing amiss. Only then had he put his suspicions to rest.
Zhu Yunwen was benevolent, filial, and kind. Lü Shi had conducted herself very well over the past few years, gentle and virtuous. She had raised Zhu Yuntong and his two elder sisters, and Zhu Yuanzhang had seen it all. He would not grow suspicious simply because of a few words from Zhu Yuntong.
"Guards, take the third imperial grandson back."
Zhu Yuanzhang was afraid of this grandson now and dared not let him continue.
He feared the boy would run his mouth without restraint, spouting nonsense and daring to say anything. He would have him taken back first, then give this little defiant grandson a proper lesson later.
Several nearby guards obeyed and approached to take Zhu Yuntong away. But seeing Zhu Yuanzhang so casually brush aside the matter of the crown princess, Lan Yu finally lost his restraint and shouted, "Wait!"
Crown Princess Chang Shi was his niece, and Zhu Xiongying was his eldest grandnephew. Since there were doubts surrounding their deaths, Lan Yu refused to let the matter be brushed aside.
Lan Yu demanded, "Until this matter is explained, His Highness the Third Imperial Grandson cannot leave. I wish to know how the crown princess and Prince Yu Huai died, yet Your Majesty ignores the matter. Are you trying to shield someone?"
His voice rang out loudly. Like Zhu Yuntong, he stared straight at Zhu Yuanzhang, without a trace of the deference expected of a subject.
Zhu Yuanzhang's brow twitched. This old brute was courting death!
He had long been displeased with Lan Yu.
And now he dared question him?
He was digging his own grave!
Noticing Zhu Yuanzhang's murderous intent, Zhu Yuntong was utterly exasperated.
He had known Lan Yu was insolent, but had never expected him to dare openly question Zhu Yuanzhang and confront him. This was a sure road to death.
The more arrogant and unrestrained Lan Yu became, disregarding his sovereign, the less likely Zhu Yuanzhang was to give Zhu Yuntong a chance.
The struggle for the succession would become even harder.
Lan Yu and the others would die even sooner.
Even if Zhu Yuanzhang truly was shielding someone, Lan Yu had no right to question him like this before everyone at court.
Zhu Yuntong did not want to see the Lan Yu case unfold again, and he wanted to bring the military officers from Huaixi into his service. But then another thought struck him: was this not precisely an opportunity to show what he could do?
If Zhu Biao were still alive, he could keep Lan Yu and the others in check, and they probably would not have to die.
Now that Zhu Biao was gone, whether Old Zhu chose Zhu Yunwen or Zhu Yuntong as his heir, Lan Yu and the others would have to die.
At that thought, Zhu Yuntong studied the tall, burly Lan Yu for a moment. He was only fourteen, and his body had yet to fully develop. He could not reach Lan Yu's face, so he said, "Duke of Liang, lower your head and come here."
"What is it?"
Lan Yu was puzzled, but bent down and lowered his head anyway.
Yet Zhu Yuntong raised his hand and slapped Lan Yu across the face.
Smack...
The crisp sound echoed throughout the hall.
Feeling the pain on his face, Lan Yu was struck dumb on the spot.
Everyone else was dumbfounded too.
What had just happened?
A grandnephew had dared strike his granduncle?
The very order of heaven had been turned upside down!
"Zhu Yuntong, you dare hit me? You..."
Lan Yu roared in fury, but Zhu Yuntong cut him off before he could finish.
"You're exactly the one I meant to hit!"
Zhu Yuntong said sternly, "You are merely a duke, yet you dare shout at Imperial Grandfather? Even my father never dared do that. How dare you?"
"I..."
Lan Yu came to his senses. His anger had overwhelmed his reason just now, and he had affronted Old Zhu.
"Striking you was letting you off lightly. Not satisfied? I would sooner kill you!"
With a stern expression, Zhu Yuntong said coolly, "Usually, I can overlook your arrogance and insolence. At least you carry on outside. But today, here, before Imperial Grandfather, you dare disregard rank and shout at him. Do you also intend to issue orders in Imperial Grandfather's place? I am an imperial grandson of Great Ming, while you are merely a duke, yet you dare address me by name. This is the imperial court. You will address me as Your Highness!"
His somewhat youthful face was filled with solemnity, along with an imposing air that did not belong to someone his age.
Lan Yu had never seen Zhu Yuntong look so stern. For a moment, he was cowed by him.
"Kneel!"
Zhu Yuntong barked.
Just then, Lan Yu felt an icy gaze settle on him. Cold sweat instantly drenched him, and he dropped to his knees with a thud, kowtowing. "I know my error. I offended Your Majesty and deserve ten thousand deaths. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
Seeing the arrogant, overbearing Lan Yu kowtow and beg for mercy, everyone was astonished. They had never imagined Zhu Yuntong possessed such ability.
Chang Sheng was even more excited. Zhu Yuntong truly was different from before. He thought the boy might have been concealing his talents all along, only forced to reveal them today. This gave them renewed hope.
Even if they could not thwart today's ceremony, and Zhu Yunwen was still invested as heir.
So long as Zhu Yuntong still harbored this ambition in the future, Chang Sheng thought he would unhesitatingly emulate Li Shimin's Xuanwu Gate Succession Method and help Zhu Yuntong seize that position back.
"Enough!"
Zhu Yuanzhang withdrew his murderous intent and looked at Zhu Yuntong again.
He understood at a glance what Zhu Yuntong was trying to do.
The boy wanted to display his ability before him and prove he could keep Lan Yu in check. At the same time, he wanted to save Lan Yu and bring him to heel. His ultimate aim was still to sabotage today's investiture.
Why did I never notice before that Yuntong had this ability?
Zhu Yuanzhang thought to himself, feeling a little guilty. He had paid more attention to Zhu Yunwen in the past and neglected this child.
Zhu Yunwen had always been refined and courteous, resembling Zhu Biao more than anyone else. Seeing his genuine grief while keeping vigil over his father had made Zhu Yuanzhang love him even more.
But now, seeing Zhu Yunwen trembling slightly with fear, he frowned.
Zhu Yunwen did resemble Zhu Biao, but he lacked courage. A few intimidating words from Zhu Yuntong had reduced him to this. How could he keep the civil and military officials in check?
Then he looked at Zhu Yuntong, who had dared force his way in with a sword to disrupt the investiture.
Rather than being angry, Zhu Yuanzhang felt some admiration. This was the courage the sons and grandsons of their Zhu family ought to possess.
Zhu Yunwen would never have dared.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the imperial edict on the desk and no longer felt any urgency, now that he had another choice. "The deaths of the former crown princess and Xiongying grieved me even more than they grieved Yuntong. But I sent men to investigate at the time, and they found nothing amiss. The current crown princess had nothing to do with it either. No more wild talk."
"Yes!"
Zhu Yuntong answered, giving Old Zhu a graceful way to back down.
For now, the matter could only be brushed aside, but Zhu Yuntong would certainly investigate it in the future.
Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang did not intend to blame him, Zhu Yuntong knew his gamble had paid off. Still, he planned to turn up the pressure on Old Zhu and gain another advantage in the struggle for succession.
If possible, he would achieve everything in one stroke, securing the position of heir today and leaving Zhu Yunwen no chance at all.
Zhu Yuanzhang continued, "Go back first. I will speak with you about the other matters later."
"No!"
Zhu Yuntong refused to leave and said firmly, "Your grandson came here to seek death. Please sentence me to death, Imperial Grandfather!"
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed in exasperation. "If I refuse to kill you, will you keep demanding death and refuse to leave?"
"If you will not kill me, Imperial Grandfather, then your grandson asks that you not appoint Zhu Yunwen."
Zhu Yuntong lowered the sword in his hands. This was his ultimate aim. "Your grandson wishes to become the heir. Please appoint me as imperial grandson and heir, Imperial Grandfather. Since ancient times, the heir should be chosen from the legitimate line. I am the second son of the Jingyi Crown Princess, my father's second legitimate son. My claim is rightful and proper. No one is better suited than your grandson to inherit the throne."
Before you continue