Did You Kill a Lot of People?

"After His Highness returned, he had little appetite. He only drank some plain rice porridge before resting."

Jixiang briefly reported Zhu Yuntong's condition to Zhu Yuanzhang.

There were undoubtedly people working for Jixiang inside the Eastern Palace.

Finding out how Zhu Yuntong was doing was easy enough. Jixiang added, "However, we have found no further problems concerning the Crown Princess for now."

At present, they could uncover nothing about Lü Shi.

So many years had passed. Even if something truly had been amiss back then, Lü Shi would have wiped every remaining trace clean long ago, leaving nothing behind. Only now trying to get to the bottom of it would be difficult.

"Keep investigating!"

Zhu Yuanzhang had no intention of letting it go. He believed that anything done was bound to leave traces.

"Yes!"

Jixiang nodded.

"That unruly grandson finally learned what fear is?"

Only when Zhu Yuanzhang thought of Zhu Yuntong returning without even an appetite for dinner did he smile.

That was more or less how someone reacted after killing for the first time.

"I was still the braver one. Back in those days of war and chaos, what cruelty hadn't I seen?"

"I remember the first time I killed someone. I only frowned, then raised my blade again and charged in to fight the Tatars."

Recalling those early days, Zhu Yuanzhang was filled with emotion.

Of course, he knew that fighting a war back then was different from what had happened now.

Either you killed the enemy, or the enemy killed you. If he had been afraid even to kill, there would have been no Zhu Yuanzhang today.

"The Third Imperial Grandson still needs tempering."

Jixiang lowered his head and said, "But when the Third Imperial Grandson killed, and when he watched those people being killed, he remained perfectly composed. He witnessed everything without the slightest fear. He has the same courage as Your Majesty."

"Really?"

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily, then said, "He certainly knows how to put on an act. He was clearly afraid, but to establish his authority, he insisted on pretending nothing was wrong. Hahaha... that child does take after me, though he's still a far cry from what I was back then."

Jixiang flattered him. "Since ancient times, there has never been another person who could compare with Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved a hand. "Enough. Stop patting me on the backside."

Still, he thought the same himself. Since ancient times, there truly had been few emperors who could compare with him.

At that thought, he smiled happily.

The Eastern Palace.

"He really killed that many people?"

Lü Shi had also received word of what had happened that day, and she was rather shocked.

Dongqing nodded. "That is what our inquiries revealed. The ground outside the Skinning Temple was almost stained red with blood."

Lü Shi's expression turned ugly. Gritting her teeth, she said, "His Majesty sent him to kill people to help him establish his authority. His Majesty is treating him better and better. Not only has he spared Lan Yu, he is even helping him like this. Damn it..."

"Yunwen, if His Majesty lets you establish your authority, you must kill too."

"Do you understand?"

Lü Shi looked toward Zhu Yunwen, who was still reciting his lessons.

"But my teacher said I must practice benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. I am a gentleman. How could I do such a thing?"

Zhu Yunwen shook his head.

"Do you want to become emperor or not?"

Lü Shi countered with a question.

Of course Zhu Yunwen did, but in his heart he loathed fighting and killing, and he looked down on those who knew nothing else.

"Think carefully. Zhu Yuntong is so cruel. If he succeeds, would he be willing to spare you?" Lü Shi said coldly.

At those words, Zhu Yunwen trembled slightly.

"He... he might want to kill me with his own hands too."

Zhu Yunwen stammered, "I can't let him succeed!"

Yet he truly did not dare kill anyone. He could not help imagining the savage expression Zhu Yuntong must have worn while killing that day, and the thought gave him a fright.

That night, Zhu Yunwen dreamed. His dreams were filled with scenes of Zhu Yuntong killing people with a blade in hand.

The edge was covered in blood, and blood dripped from its tip.

"Ah..."

In the end, Zhu Yunwen suddenly woke in terror and bolted upright. It had only been a fright.

"Your Highness, what is wrong?"

The eunuch outside came in and asked.

"Nothing."

"What time is it?"

Zhu Yunwen asked.

"It is almost time to rise and pay your respects to His Majesty."

The eunuch said.

Zhu Yunwen no longer felt sleepy. He wiped away the cold sweat running down his cheeks, sat on the bed to calm himself for a while, then summoned people to help him dress.

He knew himself well enough to realize that he had little courage.

But he had never expected to be so timid that he would wake from a dream in terror. He could only blame how frightening the scene of Zhu Yuntong killing hundreds of people that day had been.

After getting up, he headed toward the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

He noticed that Zhu Yuntong had not risen yet, and no lamps had been lit over there. Secretly delighted, Zhu Yunwen thought Zhu Yuntong had forgotten to pay his respects and would have no chance to display his filial devotion. Hadn't his own opportunity arrived?

He quickly picked up his pace toward the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

"Imperial Grandfather, your grandson has come to pay his respects."

After his arrival was announced, Zhu Yunwen went inside and spoke first.

"Mm..."

Zhu Yuanzhang had originally thought these greetings were quite nice and showed filial devotion. But after hearing what that unruly grandson had said, he now found Zhu Yunwen terribly affected and had little interest. "Enough. You may go back!"

"Your grandson takes his leave."

Zhu Yunwen did not notice Zhu Yuanzhang's displeasure. Seeing that Zhu Yuntong truly had not come, he withdrew in secret delight.

The corner of Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth twitched. He could not resist grumbling, "That unruly grandson said he wouldn't come, and he really didn't. No one in this entire palace is more lawless than he is!"

Those words sounded angry, but they were nothing of the sort. They sounded more like affection for that unruly grandson.

Having finished grumbling, he prepared to attend court.

Zhu Yunwen arrived at the Great Ben Hall and saw that Fang Xiaoru had come early.

"Your Highness!"

Fang Xiaoru said, "I believe you have heard about what the Third Imperial Grandson did yesterday. We discussed it and believe this matter can still be put to use."

Zhu Yunwen asked, "How?"

Fang Xiaoru said, "Your Highness will find out shortly."

Zhu Yuntong truly had no desire to put on a show by hypocritically going to pay his respects. Such false filial devotion was entirely unnecessary.

Since he had gone to sleep particularly early, he woke feeling comfortable all over and recovered.

He planned to exercise again, but after walking outside for a while, he was out of breath once more. His body really could not keep up.

There must be something wrong with this body of mine!

Zhu Yuntong thought to himself.

He had stopped using that incense lately, but his health was still poor.

He did not know whether it had anything to do with the incense.

Whenever he remembered that Lü Shi had sent it, he felt certain there was a connection. Lü Shi was no good.

After pondering for a while, he had rested enough. It was time to go over to the Great Ben Hall and take a look.

"Zhu Yuntong, you're really something!"

As soon as he reached the Great Ben Hall, he saw Zhu Pian, the Prince of Min, wave at him and ask excitedly, "Did you kill a whole lot of people yesterday?"

Zhu Yuntong: "..."

The Embroidered Guard had gone far overboard. They had already spread word of his killing until everyone knew about it. Even Zhu Pian, this little brat, had heard.

Zhu Pian was a year younger than Zhu Yuntong.

In Zhu Yuntong's eyes, this eighteenth uncle of his was younger than him and still a little brat. His eighteenth uncle seemed deeply interested in the fact that he had killed people-and a great many of them.