Those Adopted Sons Truly Should Not Have Existed

Lan Yu knew he had said the right words.

As long as he remained loyal to Zhu Biao, he could basically pass the test.

Yet he did not say this deliberately just to stay alive; rather, he truly missed Zhu Biao deeply. His loyalty to Zhu Biao was also real, and he was likewise willing to extend this loyalty to Zhu Yuntong.

That slap the other day had shocked Lan Yu back to his senses.

Having been captured yesterday and locked within the Military Investigations Office, he had pondered for an entire night. Recalling Feng Sheng's warning from that day, Lan Yu thought of many things and saw through a great deal.

Zhu Biao was gone, and no one could protect him.

Thinking back to how Zhu Biao had cared for him in the past, he choked up with sobs.

Since that was the case, Lan Yu believed what he needed to do next was to take good care of Zhu Biao's son and faithfully help his own maternal grand-nephew seize the imperial succession. As long as it benefited Zhu Yuntong, he would have no regrets even if Zhu Yuanzhang executed him right now.

"Imperial Grandfather!"

Zhu Yuntong hurried over and comforted him, "Father has actually never left, and Grandmother has never left either. They have always been up in the heavens, watching over us. At night, when Imperial Grandfather looks up at the starry sky, the brightest stars are them."

Such comforting words were extremely common before his rebirth.

Yet placed in the Great Ming, they appeared for the very first time.

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang felt much more at ease. Thinking of the stars in the heavens, he felt as though he could harbor a few more drops of anticipation once again.

"Your Highness!"

Qi Tai constantly exchanged glances with Zhu Yunwen.

Zhu Yuntong was currently displaying filial piety, so how could the filial Zhu Yunwen remain indifferent?

Alas, Zhu Yunwen was still shaken to his core, frightened out of his wits and completely soul-lost.

To make matters worse, Zhu Yuanzhang was not helping him stand out, leaving him in a daze. Despite Qi Tai's reminders, he had yet to recover.

Nor could Qi Tai's reminders be made too obvious.

Seeing Zhu Yunwen remain thoroughly out of it, as if he had forgotten where he was, Qi Tai sighed inwardly that this imperial grandson was truly far too cowardly.

Yet what they desired was precisely this kind of cowardly imperial grandson.

If someone were too forceful like Zhu Yuntong, they civil officials would not be able to control him.

At this moment, Qi Tai and the others could not help but feel a sense of exasperation that iron could not be turned into steel. At the very moment when filial devotion needed to be displayed the most, Zhu Yunwen had yet to snap out of his fear-what was to be done about this?

While comforting Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Yuntong also made his eyes turn red.

At a time like this, failing to put on a good performance meant missing out on building favor.

"Yuntong."

"Everything you said is perhaps right. They have never left us; they have always been up in the heavens watching over us."

"Your comfort comes from the heart, and I am finally at ease."

Zhu Yuanzhang gently patted Zhu Yuntong's hand.

Only, Lan Yu was still kneeling on the ground below, and certain matters had yet to be properly dealt with.

"Continue!" Zhu Yuanzhang said once more.

Noticing Zhu Yuntong's reddened eyes, however, he added, "Don't cry, child. You still have your grandfather."

Zhu Yuntong nodded gently.

During the period around Zhu Biao's fatal illness, it had always been Zhu Yunwen displaying filial piety. Zhu Yuntong was finally able to build up some filial credit as well, and over these past few days he had won back a portion of their family affection.

These were no longer Zhu Yunwen's exclusive advantages. Looking at Zhu Yunwen's current vacant expression, he knew that this piece of trash basically posed no threat; at most, the civil officials backing him might prove somewhat troublesome.

The true threat is Fourth Uncle.

I must get Second Uncle and Third Uncle to deal with Fourth Uncle together. They cannot die, yet at the same time they can let Fourth Uncle keep Second Uncle and Third Uncle in check.

This matter flashed rapidly through Zhu Yuntong's mind once more.

The last time he met with them, Zhu Yuntong had planned it precisely like this.

"Shall we continue?"

Zhu Zhan Hui hesitated for a moment, temporarily uncertain of how they could proceed.

It seemed that as for Lan Yu's affair, was it simply going to be let go like this? Once the late crown prince was dragged into it, His Majesty apparently had no wish to punish Lan Yu further, and their faction of civil officials seemed destined to see their plans fall through.

What was left unhandled in today's trial?

Just as Zhan Hui, the chief magistrate, found himself at a loss for what to do, Liu Sanwu proclaimed in a ringing voice, "Your Majesty, Duke of Liang's arrogance, tyranny, and lawless behavior are known to all. That is the first point. Secondly, he lacks respect for superiors and inferiors, commits outrageous acts of defiance, and holds the imperial court in contempt. As for the third..."

He cast a cold glance at Lan Yu and continued, "Earlier, Lan Yu stated that he was formerly loyal to the late crown prince and is now loyal to His Highness the Third Imperial Grandson. Then I would like to ask Lan Yu this: when His Highness the Third Imperial Grandson went personally to make an arrest, who was it that obstructed him? When they were about to take Lan Yu away, who was it that led troops to block them?"

"Furthermore, whose private soldiers were those precisely?"

"Whose orders do they all obey?"

"Your minister believes that Lan Yu harbors the intent to rebel."

No sooner had Liu Sanwu finished speaking than the other civil officials found another breakthrough, expressing their agreement one after another.

This final point was the most fatal of all.

As long as they seized firmly upon this, they could still slap a new charge onto Lan Yu and have him executed.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned. Mentioning the late crown prince just a moment ago had indeed caused him to drift off somewhat, but now that he savored it, the matter truly was not so easily resolved.

His brow smoothed out in an instant, however.

As for this final question, he would leave it entirely to Zhu Yuntong to see what he prepared to do.

After all, this time it was a test for Zhu Yuntong; he could hardly do nothing and let them resolve everything themselves.

"This was our own personal action, and has nothing to do with the Duke of Liang," Tang Da stated first.

"Nothing to do with him?"

Liu Sanwu sneered, "I have long since heard that the soldiers in the army only recognize the Duke of Liang, and not the imperial court. You are Lan Yu's men. Lan Yu just claimed to be loyal to the Third Imperial Grandson, yet the Third Imperial Grandson stood right before you and you remained completely indifferent, obeying only Lan Yu's commands."

"Might I interpret it this way: in your hearts, Lan Yu is more important than the Third Imperial Grandson, or even than His Majesty?"

"The loyalty of which Lan Yu speaks is merely idle talk."

"He may not necessarily be loyal to the Third Imperial Grandson, but you are all unquestionably loyal to Lan Yu."

"In your eyes, the Third Imperial Grandson is merely a child who can be manipulated by you."

"Such a mindset was certainly not formed in a single day; it must have been instilled in you by Lan Yu until habit became second nature."

"There is a well-known saying: if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beams will be crooked. I fear that even Lan Yu's professed loyalty to the late crown prince may not necessarily be true."

His words struck directly at Lan Yu, carrying a fatal sting.

Just as Lan Yu had used Zhu Biao to recover his advantage, Liu Sanwu was now using Zhu Biao to counterattack Lan Yu. After all, Tang Da, Zhang Zhou, and Li Liangping had truly committed acts of failing to take Zhu Yuntong seriously.

Zhu Yuntong felt a dark line cross his forehead; those adopted sons of Lan Yu truly should not have existed.

"You spout nonsense!"

Lan Yu shouted, "My loyalty to the late crown prince is absolute and unwavering."

His feelings for Zhu Biao were undeniably genuine.

As for Zhu Yuntong, he had neglected him in the past, but now he believed he needed to make amends to this child, and he was truly willing to treat him sincerely, support him in ascending to that throne, and protect their lives at the same time.

"Being loyal to the late crown prince means you are not necessarily steadfastly loyal to His Highness the Third Imperial Grandson."

Huang Zicheng immediately chimed in, "Your Majesty, Lan Yu is fiercely ambitious with a rebellious heart. His military prestige is far too high, which bodes ill for the Great Ming!"