Could Lü Shi Really Be That Kind?

The meaning behind those words was obvious: Zhu Yunwen wanted to know whether Zhu Yuntong had composed it.

He had voiced his challenge in a roundabout way, without making it look like jealousy between brothers.

Hearing the question, Zhu Yuanzhang also wanted to know whether Zhu Yuntong had composed it. He wanted proof that this rebellious grandson really possessed such fine scholarship.

"Your grandson didn't compose it."

Seeing Old Zhu brimming with curiosity, Zhu Yuntong could only answer honestly.

But if he hadn't composed it, then where had it come from? They had never heard those words before, nor found them in any classic. However hard they thought, they could not identify their source.

It came from Zhu Xi's Family Instructions of the Qing Dynasty. This was the Ming Dynasty, so of course they could not have heard of it. Zhu Yuntong, however, would not explain that. He merely admitted it was not his own work.

Zhu Yuanzhang had once been uneducated, but after taking the throne, he had crammed his way through a great many books. He searched his memory of their contents and still could not recall those words. Smiling, he said, "You're being modest, Yuntong."

Since there was no identifiable source, it had to be original. And if he denied composing an original line, that could only be modesty.

This child even knew how to be humble.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled in satisfaction. For Zhu Yuntong to come up with such a line, he must have cared for the common people, remembering past bitterness to appreciate present sweetness, just as he did.

"Yuntong takes after me. Hahaha..." Zhu Yuanzhang laughed.

Zhu Yunwen felt deeply bitter.

The sourness radiating from him threatened to turn the Hall of Martial Valor into a vat of vinegar. His imperial grandfather had never praised him so highly.

"Your grandson doesn't take after you," Zhu Yuntong said. "Nor do I take after anyone else. Only then can I live with a brilliance of my own."

"Well said!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was not angry. He merely felt that Zhu Yuntong was far better than Zhu Yunwen by comparison.

Zhu Yunwen was now reduced to part of the backdrop. Lunch had already tasted awful, and now it was even harder to swallow. Once the meal ended, he used studying as an excuse to leave first.

Zhu Yuntong also took the opportunity to leave the Hall of Martial Valor and return to the Great Ben Hall for his lessons.

As soon as he reached the Great Ben Hall, Zhu Yunwen sought out Fang Xiaoru and asked about the line Zhu Yuntong had just recited. Even Fang Xiaoru could not identify its source.

For a moment, Zhu Yunwen panicked.

Scholarship was no longer an advantage he alone possessed. What was he supposed to do? He could only study himself half to death. He hurried off to memorize the Four Books, determined to stay up tonight memorizing them too. He would grind Zhu Yuntong into the dust through sheer effort. He absolutely would.

At last, afternoon lessons ended.

Zhu Yuntong returned to the Eastern Palace, only to find his surroundings empty and desolate.

Consort Guo had taken both his older and younger sisters away, leaving him alone here. In his eyes, servants such as Liu Liu no longer counted as people.

Ever since leaving the Hall of Martial Valor, Zhu Yuntong had been thinking about Lan Yu. He was certain that Lan Yu was Old Zhu's test for him, but how was he supposed to handle that test?

Contending for the succession truly was no easy task. Zhu Yuntong felt as though his brain could no longer keep up. For the moment, he could think of no concrete, workable solution.

Yet amid his helplessness, he caught a faint, delicate fragrance nearby, refreshing both his mind and spirit.

"What's that smell?"

Zhu Yuntong asked.

"Your Highness, it's incense!"

Liu Liu replied.

"Incense?"

Puzzled, Zhu Yuntong looked at a nearby table. Sure enough, an incense burner sat there with wisps of white smoke drifting from it. That was where the fragrance came from.

The scent was fresh and cleared his head. He rather liked it.

"Where did the incense in my quarters come from?" Zhu Yuntong asked curiously.

"The Crown Princess had this servant bring it."

Liu Liu bowed. "The Jingyi Crown Princess used to be very fond of this incense, and Your Highness liked it too. But the old supply ran out. The Crown Princess recently had this servant bring more back. It's quite expensive."

"Oh?"

Zhu Yuntong wondered whether Lü Shi could really be so kindhearted.

It was not that he was narrow-minded. Lü Shi simply was no decent person. The former Crown Princess had liked this incense, and now he liked it too.

Lü Shi could not even bear to give him enough food to fill his stomach. Why would she send him incense? This was clearly high-grade stuff. Even if she had some, she would never let him use it.

Since she had sent it over for him to use, there had to be something wrong with it.

Some methods of killing without a trace came from the inconspicuous objects around a person.

Zhu Yuntong stared at the incense burner, wanting to throw it straight outside. But since Liu Liu was Lü Shi's man, he could not make his suspicions too obvious. He could only leave it alone for now. Even if it was poisonous, its effects would not manifest so easily.

It was probably a poison that needed to accumulate over time. Otherwise, if Zhu Yuntong died so quickly, Lü Shi would certainly have to join him in the grave.

Save Lan Yu and win him over.

And prove my abilities!

Zhu Yuntong kept turning it over in his mind. What could he do?

By the end, the outline of an idea slowly took shape in his mind. He decided to speak to Old Zhu again tomorrow.

"Your Highness!"

Liu Liu came in again. "Xu Xingzu of the Imperial Food Service is outside requesting an audience."

"Let him in!"

As Zhu Yuntong spoke, he figured it must have something to do with that morning's incident.

A moment later, Xu Xingzu hurried inside and bowed in greeting. "Your servant Xu Xingzu pays his respects to Your Highness, the Third Imperial Grandson. I had no choice before, and I offended you greatly. Please punish me, Your Highness."

"That's enough!"

Seeing that he still held his position in the Imperial Food Service, Zhu Yuntong understood that Old Zhu would not pursue the matter too harshly.

Sometimes a little kindness could make someone trust you more deeply and open his heart to you. A good cook needed the same treatment.

"Old Xu, I won't hold the past against you either."

Zhu Yuntong said.

"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you!"

Xu Xingzu had come specifically to apologize. That morning, he had already seen that Zhu Yuanzhang favored Zhu Yuntong. If he did not establish a good relationship now, he would surely be cast out in the future.

"Your Highness!"

Xu Xingzu continued, "To make amends, I paid out of my own pocket to prepare a feast especially for you. I don't know how to do anything else, only cook feasts. Please enjoy it."

He clapped his hands, and the people behind him came in carrying all manner of dishes, each a delight of color, fragrance, and flavor.

This apology was quite sincere.

"I can't eat that much."

Zhu Yuntong waved a hand and added, "Take some over to Consort Hui so she can try it."

His main intention was to feed his older and younger sisters.

"Your Highness is benevolent and filial!"

Xu Xingzu seized just the right moment to praise Zhu Yuntong and make his own presence felt.

After that, Zhu Yuntong dismissed him rather than let him stay here getting in the way.

Xu Xingzu hurried off with his people to deliver the dishes to Consort Guo.

Looking at the table full of delicacies, Zhu Yuntong knew he could not finish everything himself. After some thought, he glanced at Liu Liu, portioned some food onto a plate, and set it aside before taking his time over his meal.

When he finished, he pushed the plate forward.

"Liu Liu, this is for you."

With that, Zhu Yuntong extinguished the incense, turned, and went back to his room to rest.

Liu Liu hesitated, and then his eyes suddenly reddened.

Servants like them in the palace had no dignity at all. Normally, they ate whatever the palace masters left over.

If there were no leftovers, they could generally only go hungry.

Now His Highness had set aside a separate portion of clean, untouched food for him. Liu Liu, who had long since lost his dignity, felt as though he had recovered a little of it.

"This servant thanks Your Highness!"

Liu Liu hastily dropped to his knees and kowtowed hard.

Hearing the sound of his kowtows, Zhu Yuntong sneered inwardly. How hard could it be to turn your own man against you?

He could not drive Liu Liu away, nor could he move out for the time being. His only option was to make Liu Liu his own man, then deal with that incense. Otherwise, remaining in the Eastern Palace would be dangerous.

The Eastern Palace was like a dragon's pool and a tiger's den!