The Eastern Palace Was Too Dangerous

"Clearly, this is a test His Majesty has set for the third imperial grandson, to see whether he can control Lan Yu and bring him to heel. Otherwise, the third imperial grandson would never have been authorized to take the Embroidered Guard out to arrest anyone."

Yao Guangxiao spoke.

Those who could not see through it were merely watching the spectacle.

Those who could had already guessed the reasons and intentions behind the entire affair. Yao Guangxiao was one of them. He added, "Whether Lan Yu lives or dies depends on how capable the third imperial grandson is. But an imperial grandson who dares to raise a sword and ask for death cannot be all that incompetent. It's just... he's too young."

Precisely because he was so young, he might not be able to win the submission of Lan Yu and the others.

"I, for one, hope Lan Yu dies."

Zhu Di smiled. He made no attempt to conceal these words, saying them outright.

When Zhu Biao was still alive, Lan Yu had told him that Zhu Di was plotting treason. The two had long since become enemies. If Lan Yu died, Chang Sheng and the others would be dragons without a head, and Butcher Zhu would certainly not spare them.

With no military generals left at court, it would be all too easy for him to make a move.

"We'll be returning to Beiping soon, won't we?"

Zhu Di sighed.

He knew he no longer had any chance of winning the succession through normal means. He could only achieve it through abnormal ones.

If Lan Yu and the others died, he would have far more unconventional paths available to him in the future. With his prowess as Zhu the Fourth, who had swept across the grasslands, he still had hope of leading an army back here if the court had no capable generals to deploy.

"Does Your Highness want to return to train troops and prepare arms and supplies?"

Yao Guangxiao understood what Zhu Di meant the moment he heard it.

Since there was no chance of seizing the succession here, he might as well return as soon as possible and create one. Once back in Beiping, there would be plenty of opportunities to create.

Zhu Di shook his head. "Master, don't make wild guesses. I'm merely worried that the Tatars in the north will cause trouble again. Winter is almost here, isn't it? They may head south to plunder again."

Yao Guangxiao smiled faintly and gave him a knowing look.

They would not interfere in Lan Yu's affair. They would simply look forward to the final outcome.

"Your Majesty!"

Jixiang entered the Hall of Martial Valor and bowed. "His Highness the third imperial grandson has brought Lan Yu back."

Zhu Yuanzhang was satisfied that he had managed to take Lan Yu away. "That old brute Lan Yu still knows how to behave. He didn't make things difficult for Yuntong. It seems he took Feng Sheng's warning that day to heart."

He was worried because Lan Yu and the others had both military authority and prestige.

Apart from himself and Zhu Biao, no one else was likely to keep them under control. That could eventually lead to problems such as the imperial in-laws becoming too powerful.

Most of the Huai-Western Generals were Zhu Yuntong's relatives. This group of imperial in-laws was indeed far too powerful.

"I'd like to see how Yuntong deals with them."

Otherwise, Zhu Yuanzhang could only kill them.

No matter how inadvisable or difficult killing them might be, he would have to find ways to take them away, one by one, before he himself departed this world.

"Has anyone else made any unusual moves?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked again.

"Many people are waiting to see how the third imperial grandson performs."

Jixiang hurriedly continued, "They have all sent people outside the Duke of Liang's Residence Mansion to gather information and report back as soon as there is an outcome. But things are a little different on the second imperial grandson's side."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Different how?"

"Spreading word."

Jixiang lowered his head. "The squad of soldiers coming to rescue Lan Yu arrived so quickly precisely because the second imperial grandson set things in motion."

In fact, Tang Da and the others had only been able to bring their private troops into the city because Zhu Yuanzhang had deliberately let them through, making the test harder for Zhu Yuntong. Otherwise, those several hundred men would not even have been able to approach the city gates.

Since this was a test, Zhu Yuanzhang would not let Zhu Yuntong bring Lan Yu back so easily.

"Sure enough, Yunwen couldn't leave it alone."

Zhu Yuanzhang was not surprised at all.

Since he had already declared his intent to compete for the succession, Zhu Yunwen had to do something. All that talk of brotherly affection and respect was merely for show!

Still, Zhu Yunwen was rather hypocritical, and Zhu Yuanzhang looked down on him for it. Zhu Yuntong was better. If he said he disliked Zhu Yunwen, he openly disliked him. He did not put on a show of brotherly affection while stabbing him in the back.

"Hand me the detailed report. I'll read it myself."

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke again.

Jixiang had prepared it long ago and handed Zhu Yuanzhang the most detailed written account.

After opening it and reading through it, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly.

"Good!"

"Steady and composed. Any other imperial grandson might have gone weak in the knees at the sight of Tang Da leading troops to intercept him. Yuntong kept his cool."

"Leave Lan Yu at the Military Investigations Office for now. Don't concern yourselves with anything else. Wait until tomorrow."

Zhu Yuanzhang gave his final instructions.

They would wait until tomorrow and see how Zhu Yuntong made Lan Yu and the others submit.

After all, the name "Hu Weiyong" was practically a death warrant. He also wanted to see how Lan Yu and the others would fight to survive.

He was truly looking forward to what would happen tomorrow.

His eldest grandson was indeed capable. Even without anyone advising him, he could face danger without fear.

Unlike Zhu Yunwen, who had so many civil officials around him devising strategies, yet still made a complete mess of things.

Leaving Lan Yu with the Embroidered Guard, Zhu Yuntong used his token to enter the palace and returned to his quarters.

Only then did his heart settle a little.

Despite his calm appearance, as though he had not been nervous, he had actually felt uncertain inside. Especially when he saw Tang Da arrive with troops. If fighting really broke out, people would inevitably die, and once things reached that point, there would be no way out.

Fortunately, no fighting had broken out, and Lan Yu had been willing to listen to him.

As a modern man, he had rarely had any opportunity to see soldiers steeped in iron and blood, bristling with murderous intent. Lan Yu's adopted sons and those hardened soldiers had felt quite terrifying to him.

Even with the Embroidered Guard present, he had felt he could not rely on them.

Tomorrow, the stage will be mine! Zhu Yuntong thought.

However, Consort Guo had taken both his older and younger sisters away, leaving him alone in the entire courtyard. It felt strangely dull and rather empty.

For the moment, he still had no idea how to move out and live elsewhere.

When Liu Liu saw Zhu Yuntong return, he instinctively took out that incense and placed it in the burner, ready to light it.

"No need."

Zhu Yuntong waved a hand to stop him.

Who would believe that the expensive goods Lü Shi had sent were harmless?

He had even considered whether this body of his had already been poisoned. There might not be any potent poison in him, but a poison that slowly accumulated over time was another matter.

There were doubts surrounding the deaths of Zhu Xiongying and Chang Shi. Zhu Yuntong believed that if Lü Shi had dared go that far, she certainly would not spare him. She was bound to do something, then deliver a vicious final blow once she could no longer control him.

When that happened, Zhu Yuntong would also die without a sound.

I have to move out!

Zhu Yuntong believed the Eastern Palace was far too dangerous.

Still, he would have to wait until Lan Yu's affair was over before considering how to move out.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not yet intend to act against Lü Shi, mainly because there was no evidence. So many years had passed that even if evidence had once existed, it would all have been erased. Lü Shi was still the one controlling the Eastern Palace, so he had to remain on guard.

Without evidence, even Zhu Yuanzhang could not easily kill the Crown Princess.

After all, she was the Crown Princess whom Old Zhu himself had elevated to that position.