The Aftereffects of Killing

Across his past and present lives, this was Zhu Yuntong's first time killing anyone.

He could not quite describe how it felt.

But he was certainly afraid, and nervous too. He could only force himself to remain calm, constantly reminding himself that he was killing to establish his authority today. He could not lose his nerve first. He had to project enough imposing presence to keep the scene under control.

Otherwise, everyone would think he was as weak and incompetent as Zhu Yunwen.

Zhu Yunwen was weak. He would never be!

He took a deep breath and found that the stench of blood surrounded him.

Fighting back the urge to vomit, Zhu Yuntong returned the saber to Jiang Jue and barked, "Keep killing!"

"Yes!"

Jiang Jue replied.

Zhu Yuntong did not need to deal with the remaining men himself. The Embroidered Guard carried out their executions.

"Good riddance!"

Someone in the watching crowd shouted.

Everyone else joined in, shouting that they deserved it. That showed just how deeply the people of Yingtian Prefecture loathed Lan Yu's sworn sons. Seeing them about to be killed, the commoners clapped and cheered.

In the process, they also added a little to Zhu Yuntong's reputation.

With so many people, the killing would take a long time.

Zhu Yuntong stood motionless, his expression unchanged, watching them fall one after another as blood nearly stained the entire ground outside the Skinning Temple red.

He could not help wondering whether the watching commoners were afraid at all.

In fact, they had seen even bloodier scenes.

Back when Butcher Zhu had flayed people here, the residents nearby had often watched. After seeing it enough times, they naturally stopped caring. To them, what lay before their eyes was a trifling spectacle, hardly worth mentioning!

Once everyone had been killed, Zhu Yuntong left some of the Embroidered Guard behind to deal with the bodies and wash the site, while he headed back first.

If he stayed any longer, he feared he would not be able to bear it.

"Your Highness, please get in!"

Jiang Jue had thoughtfully prepared a carriage. He added, "All of you, follow behind. Don't come too close. I'll drive for His Highness."

Once inside the carriage, Zhu Yuntong no longer had to hold himself together. He dropped onto the seat and took deep, forceful breaths.

After all, he had watched so many people being executed and personally killed three of them, their blood splashing onto his clothes. It truly was hard to endure.

He noticed a basin inside the carriage, seemingly placed there for him to vomit into.

Zhu Yuntong instantly understood why Lan Yu had arranged things this way and kept everyone at a distance: he did not want the authority Zhu Yuntong had just established to be undermined.

In the end, Zhu Yuntong did not vomit. "Thanks!"

"You're too kind, Your Highness."

Jiang Jue's voice came from outside. "There's also a change of clothes. Your Majesty's clothes are dirty, so you can change into those."

There really were clothes.

Zhu Yuntong unfolded them for a look. They appeared quite expensive and felt like fine silk.

No wonder Jiang Jue earned Imperial Grandfather's trust and was put in command of the Embroidered Guard. He's a clever man too, Zhu Yuntong mused.

Yet this clever man would be dealt with by Old Zhu after the Lan Yu case.

Now that there was no Lan Yu case, Jiang Jue probably would not die.

Zhu Yuntong thought that if he could ascend the throne in the future, Jiang Jue would still be useful.

After changing his clothes, he sat quietly inside the carriage.

"I've already had men spread the news."

Jiang Jue's voice came from outside again. "People will be saying that Your Highness hates evil as bitterly as an enemy and puts justice above family, personally killing those wicked, lawless sons of the Duke of Liang while the commoners clapped and cheered."

The concept of public discourse did not yet exist, but they already knew some ways to control what people said.

The Embroidered Guard spreading news like this was also a form of such control.

"For the commoners, it spreads Your Highness's good name. But in another respect, it establishes your authority."

"You were the one who killed them, Your Highness."

"It tells certain people that Your Highness isn't weak, that you dare to kill and aren't afraid of killing. Choosing the Skinning Temple was quite fitting."

Jiang Jue was unusually talkative today, mainly because he wanted to leave a good impression on Zhu Yuntong.

Having served at Zhu Yuanzhang's side for so many years, he understood better than anyone that Zhu Yuanzhang cared more about Zhu Yuntong, while Zhu Yunwen was becoming increasingly distant from him.

It was necessary to earn some goodwill in advance.

"Good!"

Zhu Yuntong nodded.

Then silence fell.

Only the sound of the carriage remained.

Upon returning to the Military Investigations Office, Zhu Yuntong got out of the carriage and went to have Lan Yu released.

"Your Highness!"

Lan Yu bowed. "I thank Your Highness for saving my life!"

He asked nothing else.

Being able to leave the Embroidered Guard's prison alive was already good enough.

"Granduncle, there's no need to be so formal."

Zhu Yuntong warned him, "Remember, don't behave as you did before. While Father was alive, you could get away with it. But now that Father is gone, even if I want to protect you, Imperial Grandfather won't allow it."

"All right!"

Lan Yu finally understood. In the past, Zhu Yuanzhang had spared him for Zhu Biao's sake, yet he had never realized it.

If he continued like this, with his temperament, he would lose his life sooner or later.

"Go home first!"

Zhu Yuntong did not mention what had happened to those sworn sons. Those who understood already understood. He added, "I'm returning to the palace."

Lan Yu left the Embroidered Guard, and Zhu Yuntong went straight back to the palace. Once he reached his residence, he took a deep breath. Only then did he recover and finally feel a little better.

Meanwhile, news of the day's events was spreading under the Embroidered Guard's deliberate guidance.

The civil officials would certainly find it repugnant when they heard.

But Zhu Yuntong did not care whether they found it repugnant.

Repugnant or not, the civil officials would never stand on his side.

Zhu Yuntong had no need to please them. Doing what he ought to do was enough.

He lay down for a while after returning, and before he knew it, evening had arrived.

"Your Highness!"

Liu Liu came in and said, "The Imperial Food Service has sent your dinner."

This time, Xu Xingzu finally had not come in person.

That was only natural. He had been coming all this time; an occasional visit was fine, but continuing to come personally would certainly be inappropriate.

"Bring it in!"

Zhu Yuntong felt hungry, his stomach protesting.

Yet when he saw the braised meat brought before him, he suddenly felt nauseated for some reason. His brow furrowed. He could not eat it and had no appetite.

After killing with his own hands for the first time and witnessing such bloody scenes, he had thought he had recovered. Now, however, it seemed it would not be so easy.

"You can eat these!"

"Tell the Imperial Food Service to bring some plain rice porridge and pickles instead."

Zhu Yuntong waved a hand as he spoke.

"Huh?"

Liu Liu froze.

Does His Majesty not want to eat?

"Go!"

Zhu Yuntong waved a hand.

"This servant will go at once."

Liu Liu hurried out.

Yet at that moment, he was once again so moved that he nearly cried.

His Highness seemed to be treating him even better.

He felt all the more ashamed of having helped the Crown Princess frame His Highness, inwardly cursing himself for repaying kindness with ingratitude.

Zhu Yuntong had no idea this fellow had imagined so much. He simply could not stomach anything too greasy.

Once the plain porridge and pickles arrived, he took a couple of mouthfuls and felt much better. Then he did nothing else, merely lying down to rest, and fell asleep before he knew it.