Not long after Zhu Yuntong left, an imperial decree was issued.
Lan Yu would be spared death, but he was stripped of his title as Duke of Liang. He retained his post as Great General, though the decree said nothing about when he would be released.
Nor did the decree mention whether Zhu Yuntong had been stripped of everything.
In other words, Zhu Yuntong was still an Imperial Grandson, still the Crown Prince's Legitimate Son. This made Lü Shi cry out that it was unfair.
"Your imperial grandfather is playing favorites again."
Lü Shi gritted her teeth as she spoke.
Zhu Yunwen had recovered from the earlier danger, but the thought of Lan Yu nearly killing him still left him shaken. His voice trembled slightly as he asked, "Mother, must we keep fighting for it?"
He feared that Lan Yu really would kill him.
"Why shouldn't we fight? If you don't fight now, do you think Zhu Yuntong will spare you once he ascends the throne?"
Lü Shi was bitterly disappointed that iron had failed to become steel. She thought Zhu Yunwen was far too cowardly.
Of course she knew that Lan Yu had nearly killed Zhu Yunwen. But giving up the fight after a single fright was out of the question. She had no son so spineless.
Zhu Yunwen said, "You're right, Mother, but he... he's better than me at everything now."
"Then do even better."
Lü Shi felt that following Zhu Yuntong's pace wasn't going to work.
Zhu Yuntong was about to disrupt their rhythm.
"However you behaved before, keep behaving that way."
Lü Shi instructed him, "In your imperial grandfather's eyes, you are benevolent and filial, kind, quick-witted, and eager to learn. Most importantly, you are devoted to him. You must remain filial."
"All right!"
Zhu Yunwen still felt uneasy.
In my current state, I probably can't win, he thought. But whatever happened, he still had to fight.
He also truly felt that Old Zhu was playing favorites.
Once, he had been the little sweetheart. Now he had become Madam Niu.
How could he bear such an enormous fall from favor?
When the civil officials at court received the news, they fell silent as well. With Old Zhu's domineering nature, once he had decided to do things this way, they had no power to change it. No one dared submit a memorial opposing him, and they tacitly accepted the outcome.
After Feng Sheng and the others returned, they did nothing and simply waited.
Zhu Yuntong returned to his quarters and sank weakly onto the couch.
He had needed to keep his nerves taut throughout the interrogation. Only now could he relax.
"Third Brother!"
Just then, an adorable little voice sounded outside.
Zhu Yuntong went out to look and saw Zhu Lingxiu running over first.
Then Zhu Lingyue and the others arrived too.
They must have heard about Lan Yu and come specifically to see how he was doing.
"You're here."
Zhu Yuntong smiled. "Everything's fine now. You don't need to worry."
"Good!"
Zhu Lingyue and Zhu Lingyi spoke in unison.
Once Zhu Yuntong said everything was fine, they believed it must be.
"Are things all right at Granny Guo's?"
Zhu Yuntong asked.
"Yes!"
Zhu Linghua nodded gently. "Granny Guo treats us very well. It's much better than when we lived here. Third Brother, why don't you come stay with Granny Guo too?"
She was sweet and innocent, understanding none of it.
She simply didn't want Zhu Yuntong to suffer here.
Zhu Yuntong rubbed her little head and smiled. "It wouldn't be suitable for me. As long as you're doing well, that's enough. You're all going to get chubby."
After spending some time with them, he sent someone to fetch Xu Xingzu and have a feast prepared, treating them to a meal.
The next morning.
After getting up, Zhu Yuntong went to pay his respects to Old Zhu as usual.
He still couldn't dispense with this way of earning filial credit. But just as he stepped outside, he saw Zhu Yunwen emerging too, with dark circles under both eyes.
To surpass Zhu Yuntong in his studies, Zhu Yunwen had stayed up late memorizing his books again. The dark circles were especially obvious. But he no longer hid his resentment toward Zhu Yuntong, turning away coldly and leaving.
They had torn away the polite veneer. There was no need to keep pretending.
Zhu Yuntong shrugged and followed him, arriving together at the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Old Zhu had risen early and saw his two grandsons coming to earn filial credit. He merely nodded slightly and told them to leave once they had paid their respects.
Zhu Yunwen left readily, but Zhu Yuntong shamelessly stayed behind. Only after cadging two steamed buns did he say, "Imperial Grandfather, I won't come tomorrow. Filial devotion is something you only need to keep in your heart. Coming to pay my respects every day looks far too deliberate and affected."
"You can't even be bothered to come pay your respects now?"
Zhu Yuntong's beard bristled at once, and he gave a light snort as he spoke.
In truth, he agreed with Zhu Yuntong. Someone genuinely devoted to their elders only needed to keep that devotion in their heart and show it in the little details of daily life.
Making a deliberate visit every day was too affected.
He had once thought Zhu Yunwen very filial. Now, after Zhu Yuntong's remarks, he realized it really was terribly hypocritical.
"No, I can't!"
Zhu Yuntong made no pretense and said firmly, "Wouldn't another two hours of sleep be better? I don't have to attend morning court. Running over here at dawn to put on an act would grate on you too."
"Get out, get out, get out! If you don't want to come, then don't."
Seeing that it was nearly time for court, Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and began shooing him away.
Zhu Yuntong obligingly left, but he was in no hurry to go to Great Ben Hall.
He looked over his body. It was still too weak, too thin and small.
He was young to begin with, which made him seem unreliable. There was no way to grow up quickly, but he could first strengthen his constitution and improve his abilities, so those old bastards wouldn't look down on him.
Those military men respected strength above all.
Back at the Eastern Palace, he prepared to run two laps around it.
But after barely a few steps, he was panting and crying that he couldn't go on.
Surely my constitution can't be this poor?
Zhu Yuntong frowned and wiped away the beads of sweat continually dripping down his forehead.
Even someone who stayed home all day and never exercised shouldn't be drenched in sweat after moving for such a short time. Their body shouldn't be this frail either.
There may be something wrong with this body.
Zhu Yuntong thought to himself, but now wasn't the time to investigate.
After hesitating for a while, he had no choice but to end the day's exercise. He returned and rested for a long time before recovering, then changed clothes and headed to Great Ben Hall to put in an appearance. Afterward, he would find Feng Sheng and deal with the captured Sworn Sons.
I'll take the Embroidered Guard along to collect them.
With that thought, Zhu Yuntong soon arrived at Great Ben Hall.
The moment Fang Xiaoru saw him arrive, his expression turned cold, and he gave him no friendly look.
Zhu Yuntong paid this great genius no mind.
After sitting there for a while, he took out Old Zhu's token and left class early. He went out of the palace to find Jiang Jue, collected men through the Embroidered Guard, and sought out Feng Sheng to take charge of the Sworn Sons and Private Troops.
"May I ask how Your Highness intends to deal with them?" Feng Sheng asked.
Zhu Yuanzhang's decree had only stated that Lan Yu was to be spared. It said nothing about whether Tang Da and the others would live or die.
His main intention was to credit Zhu Yuntong with their execution.
Zhu Yuntong would kill them personally.
Only then could he establish his authority.
Zhu Yuntong also wanted to see exactly how people were killed.
Having transmigrated to ancient times, and being an Imperial Grandson of Great Ming and Butcher Zhu's own grandson, he couldn't go without ever witnessing a killing or carrying one out himself. If he were as weak as Zhu Yunwen, he wouldn't be able to keep the others in line.
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