Two choices, Old Zhu's hesitation

"The vassal princes of Great Ming guard the four corners of the realm and shield the capital."

"Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and Fourth Uncle hold both authority and troops in their domains, and they are brave, seasoned warriors."

"If Zhu Yunwen is named heir, Imperial Grandfather will inevitably move against the meritorious nobles for his sake. My imperial uncles are related to those nobles by marriage, which will drive another wedge between them and Zhu Yunwen."

"Zhu Yunwen cannot even keep the meritorious nobles in check. He certainly will not be able to keep my imperial uncles in check."

"Your nephew would like to ask you a question, Second Uncle."

Zhu Yuntong paused briefly here, his gaze settling on Zhu Shuang beside him.

"What do you want to ask, Yuntong?" Zhu Shuang said. "Go ahead!"

Zhu Yuntong dispensed with the courtesies. "Now that my father is gone, have you ever had designs on becoming heir, Second Uncle?"

"Imperial Father, your son has absolutely no such designs."

The moment Zhu Shuang heard the question, he denied it to Old Zhu, though his expression plainly betrayed a guilty conscience.

As the second son, he had certainly entertained the idea of a younger brother succeeding his deceased elder brother, but he could not admit it.

No one knew a son better than his father.

Zhu Yuanzhang could tell at a glance that this unfilial son absolutely had.

He could also tell that it was not just Zhu Shuang. His third son, Zhu Gang, had such thoughts too, and even his fourth...

Old Zhu's expression slowly darkened.

"I believe you have no such designs, Second Uncle. But does Zhu Yunwen?"

"My imperial uncles command armies, and you in particular, Second Uncle, pose an even greater threat to Zhu Yunwen."

"Zhu Yunwen is not a legitimate son, so he will struggle to win my imperial uncles' allegiance. His relations with you are poor, and he is weak and incompetent besides. He lacks the ability to put you to use, so in the end, he will invoke righteous causes, find excuses, and use every means possible to bring about your deaths."

"Furthermore, Imperial Grandfather will have killed all your fathers-in-law to secure Zhu Yunwen's position."

"Zhu Yunwen will certainly worry that you want to avenge them."

"Only when you are dead will Zhu Yunwen be able to rest easy. Imperial Grandfather will not kill you, but Zhu Yunwen will. Once he becomes emperor, it will be easy for him to invoke righteousness and bring about your deaths."

When Zhu Yuntong finished, Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang were the first to turn pale. The other imperial uncles' expressions instantly filled with fear.

After hearing this and following Zhu Yuntong's reasoning further, Zhu Di's expression also grew grave. He agreed with Zhu Yuntong: even if Zhu Yunwen did not develop murderous intentions in the future, their fates would hardly be any better.

Then they all looked toward Zhu Yunwen and Zhu Yuanzhang, their gazes complicated.

Zhu Yuntong's words had silenced Zhu Yuanzhang as well.

As an emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang knew all too well what an emperor first considered upon ascending the throne.

Especially an emperor like Zhu Yunwen, whose claim lacked legitimacy. What he would fear most were the threats posed by the legitimate son, Zhu Yuntong, and the vassal princes present.

Zhu Yunwen now understood what it meant to have thorns digging into his back. Feeling his imperial uncles' eyes on him, he felt a chill down his spine and hurriedly dropped to his knees.

"Imperial Grandfather, your grandson would never do that."

"My father always told me how important the bonds of blood are. But to dispel Third Brother's and my imperial uncles' fears, I no longer wish to be invested as heir."

"Please give the position of heir to Third Brother, Imperial Grandfather. Your grandson will be content to live as an ordinary man."

Zhu Yunwen's mind was in turmoil, and he was frightened. He had never expected Zhu Yuntong to place him in opposition to his imperial uncles and the meritorious nobles with just a few words. He could only retreat to advance, declaring that he had no such intentions.

At the same time, he recalled what Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng had both said not long ago about the dangers posed by the vassal princes.

Zhu Yunwen believed they were right. Once he became emperor, the vassal princes absolutely could not be allowed to remain. He was already considering how to deal with them, but how had Zhu Yuntong thought of this too?

Not only did he know, he even dared to say it aloud.

Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai both thought, Did Zhu Yuntong eavesdrop on our conversation?

In fact, by the time the reduction of the princes' powers truly began, Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang were already dead.

Zhu Yunwen had not dared to kill his imperial uncles outright, but he had driven the Prince of Xiang Zhu Bai to his death, while several other vassal princes were gradually stripped of their titles.

These events had yet to happen, but that did not stop Zhu Yuntong from bringing them up in advance to strike at Zhu Yunwen. After all, Zhu Yunwen really did harbor such thoughts.

Reducing the princes' powers was the right move; Zhu Yunwen had simply been too hasty.

"Your Majesty!"

Lan Yu asked loudly, "Do you truly intend to kill us all?"

The eyes of these military officers from Huaixi were filled with defiance and indignation.

"Imperial Father!"

Zhu Shuang strode up to Zhu Yuanzhang and pointed at Zhu Yunwen, asking indignantly, "Do you truly intend to let him kill all of us brothers in the future?"

"Your son opposes naming Zhu Yunwen heir."

Zhu Zhen voiced his objection.

"Your son does not fear death, but I do not wish to die at Zhu Yunwen's hands. If you wish me dead, Imperial Father, please do it yourself. If I die at your hands, I will harbor no resentment."

Zhu Su was even more agitated. Imitating Zhu Yuntong's tone, he gritted his teeth and said, "Please grant your son death, Imperial Father!"

"Please grant your son death, Imperial Father!"

The other imperial sons followed Zhu Su, shouting in turn.

"Please grant your servant death, Your Majesty!"

Seeing this, Lan Yu and the other military officers also spoke up together, asking for death.

They all pressed Old Zhu, piling on the pressure until his face turned livid.

Zhu Yuntong picked up the longsword again. "Your grandson does not wish to watch his loved ones leave one by one, only to die at Zhu Yunwen's hands in the end. Imperial Grandfather, you had better kill me first!"

"All of you, shut up!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's scalp prickled.

This unfilial grandson, those unfilial sons, and that pack of old scoundrels really would not leave him even a shred of dignity.

Nor would they leave the imperial family any dignity.

This was the imperial court, with so many people watching. What would happen if word got out?

Yet he genuinely admired Zhu Yuntong's courage.

Was he angry?

Of course he was. This unfilial grandson was utterly lawless. How could he not be angry?

But he was merely angry; it was not enough to make him do anything to Zhu Yuntong.

Beyond his anger, Zhu Yuanzhang began to consider much more.

Zhu Yunwen was too timid and too close to the civil officials. He would inevitably fall under their sway. Zhu Yuanzhang also feared that everything Zhu Yuntong had said would become reality.

If the military officers died, so be it. But the sons and grandsons of the Zhu family must not slaughter one another.

Zhu Yuntong was audacious enough to challenge Heaven, rather like himself, but he still needed shaping. There were also maternal relatives such as Lan Yu and Chang Sheng, who would be difficult to deal with.

Killing Lan Yu and the others now would be hard!

"When did I ever say I wanted to kill you?"

Coming back to himself, Zhu Yuanzhang gave a soft snort. "All you do is listen to that unfilial grandson's nonsense. Do you truly want to die that badly?"

They did not dare speak.

Although these were all Zhu Yuntong's analyses and conjectures, Lan Yu and the others knew he was right. Butcher Zhu truly dared to kill them.

Zhu Shuang and the others also believed Zhu Yuntong was right. Once Old Zhu was gone, their standing and their ties to the meritorious nobles would be enough to threaten imperial authority. They would inevitably meet the blade.

These were all facts, but perhaps exposing the facts was still a good thing.

"Today's matter ends here. No one is to speak of it outside."

"If I hear any idle gossip spreading out there, hmph!"

"Court is dismissed."

"Zhu Yuntong, you are coming back with me."

Zhu Yuanzhang hastily ended the morning court session. It simply could not continue.

As for the imperial edict of investiture, he put it away.

There would be no investiture today.

The heir had to come from Zhu Biao's line. It would be either Zhu Yunwen or Zhu Yuntong.

What had happened today had not made Zhu Yuanzhang dislike Zhu Yuntong. He still needed to weigh these two choices carefully. Thinking over Zhu Yuntong's words that day, he hesitated, wondering whether naming Zhu Yunwen heir was truly right.

At the sight of Zhu Yuanzhang putting away the imperial edict, Zhu Yunwen's heart went utterly cold.