I Can Keep Him Under Control

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang put away the imperial edict, Zhu Yuntong knew the investiture was over. His plan had gone smoothly.

Zhu Yunwen would not become the Imperial Grandson. Next came their struggle for the succession.

As long as he won, Zhu Yuntong could escape a future of being penned up and raised like a pig.

This was not what the civil officials wanted to see, but they could do nothing. No one dared question Zhu Yuanzhang's decision, so the investiture had to be set aside for now.

"Imperial Grandfather, please wait."

Before leaving, Zhu Yuntong looked at the two guards behind him, their arms still bleeding, and walked over to them. "You were carrying out your duties faithfully. Your loyalty and courage deserve praise. I was in the wrong just now. Imperial Grandfather, your grandson would like them to leave the palace now and see a physician as soon as possible. May they?"

Barging in and wounding people with his sword had been an outrageous act of defiance that damaged his reputation.

Since he had decided to contend for the succession, he needed to apologize for his rashness and salvage whatever he could.

"Someone, take them to the Imperial Medical Office."

Zhu Yuanzhang understood what his little rebellious grandson intended and was willing to cooperate.

He had been brazenly reckless just moments ago, yet now he was taking responsibility for his actions and trying to wash the stains from his reputation.

Though it would not change the civil officials' attitude toward him, it could strengthen the military generals' regard for him.

Zhu Yuntong's backing came from the generals, not the civil officials.

"Come back with me."

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression turned stern again.

Zhu Yuntong could only follow, thinking that Old Zhu would not let him off easily. He had no idea what awaited him, but he was certain that his performance today had already won Old Zhu's approval.

He figured the worst he would suffer was a beating, with no other unpleasant punishment.

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Highness, Third Imperial Grandson!"

The two wounded guards dropped to their knees and kowtowed, tears of gratitude streaming down their faces.

Once Zhu Yuanzhang had taken Zhu Yuntong away, silence soon returned to the hall.

"Uncle, what should we do?"

Chang Sheng asked.

"We'll discuss it when we get back."

Lan Yu spoke after some thought.

Of all the military generals, Lan Yu was currently the most formidable in battle.

The Huai-Western Generals were led by Lan Yu. Willing to follow his lead, they were the first to leave the palace.

Now, they also had something more to hope for.

No matter what, they had to push Zhu Yuntong into that position-not just for their own interests, but to stay alive.

Once the military generals left, the civil officials followed.

Zhu Shuang and the other princes wore grave expressions. They, too, needed to return and discuss what to do.

"Teachers, what should I do?"

Zhu Yunwen felt as though the sky were falling and immediately fell into a fluster.

Zhu Yuntong had laid bare so many things just now, dealing a heavy blow to his advantages and leaving him with the uneasy feeling that Zhu Yuanzhang might no longer appoint him.

"Your Highness, do not panic."

Huang Zicheng said, "We will certainly help you. His Majesty has postponed the investiture to placate the regional princes and military generals. It does not mean he will no longer choose Your Highness."

Qi Tai agreed. "Lord Huang is right. We will go back and consider how to deal with His Highness, the Third Imperial Grandson. Once we have a plan, we will come to discuss it with you immediately. We civil officials are all on your side."

"Sorry for the trouble, Teachers!"

Zhu Yunwen hurriedly replied.

Huang Zicheng had told him not to panic, but that was easier said than done. He was rather timid by nature.

Today's investiture should have been a mere formality, but Zhu Yuntong had forcefully wrecked it. The gulf between expectation and reality was so vast that Zhu Yunwen had yet to recover.

Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai then left as well.

Zhu Yunwen's thoughts grew ever more tangled, like a snarled skein of hemp. Unable to calm himself, he hurried back to the Eastern Palace.

"Mother, I might not be able to become the Imperial Grandson."

The moment he returned and saw Lü Shi, Zhu Yunwen felt as though he had found his anchor. He could not help sobbing out his grievances. "Zhu Yuntong wants to fight me for it. Imperial Grandfather no longer trusts me. Mother, what should we do?"

"Hold it in. Don't cry!"

Lü Shi already knew what had happened that day.

Secrets often could not stay hidden within the imperial palace.

Some of the palace maids and eunuchs Lü Shi had bribed had already sent word of what had happened in the hall.

Hearing that Zhu Yuntong had disrupted the investiture and that Zhu Yuanzhang had not even read the edict, Lü Shi had been furious. Now she regretted it. Had she known this would happen, she would have found a way years ago to ensure Zhu Yuntong never lived to see this day.

Back then, to cultivate the image of a virtuous wife and loving mother and gain Zhu Yuanzhang's regard, Lü Shi had chosen to raise Zhu Yuntong to adulthood.

Before today, Zhu Yuntong had been utterly unremarkable. No one could have imagined that he would stun everyone with a single cry today.

Lü Shi was convinced that Zhu Yuntong had spent years pretending right under her nose, making her lower her guard, only to step out and ruin things just as that position was within their grasp.

She was angrier than anyone, wishing she could tear Zhu Yuntong to pieces and bitterly regretting her past choices.

"I am now the Crown Princess, which makes you the legitimate son. Every civil official at court supports you. That position is destined to be yours, and no one can snatch it away."

Seeing Zhu Yunwen's pale face and helpless manner, Lü Shi was exasperated that her iron would not turn to steel. "All this panic and weeping-how will you ever be emperor? Go to your room, calm down, and reflect on yourself."

"Yes!"

Zhu Yunwen was about to leave when another matter occurred to him. "Mother, Zhu Yuntong seems to know a great deal about those things we did."

Lü Shi's gaze chilled. "What things we did? Remember this: we have nothing to hide. We are open and aboveboard and have never done anything."

She was certain Zhu Yuntong merely harbored suspicions and could produce no evidence.

Since he had no evidence, there was nothing to fear.

"I am the Crown Princess. As long as he still returns to the Eastern Palace, I can keep him under control and in the palm of my hand. What could he possibly use to fight you for the succession?"

Lü Shi softened her tone. "Go back and rest first. I'll go to the Palace of Heavenly Purity and take a look."

As Zhu Yuntong's stepmother, Lü Shi felt that after such an incident, she needed to show her face before Old Zhu, continue maintaining her image as a virtuous wife and loving mother, and sound him out while she was there.

Zhu Yuntong followed Zhu Yuanzhang all the way to the emperor's residence, the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

"Where's that boldness you had just now, demanding that I make you heir apparent and telling me to kill you?"

Seeing Zhu Yuntong keep a certain distance from him, as though frightened, Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Afraid of me now?"

Zhu Yuntong admitted frankly, "Because your grandson knows Imperial Grandfather will not kill me, but you might give me a beating. I'm afraid of pain and don't want to be beaten."

"You're so certain I won't kill you?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

Zhu Yuntong's performance today had made him see the boy in a new light, as though he had become an entirely different person.

He had been ordinary and unremarkable before, and with Lü Shi's interference, Zhu Yuanzhang had often overlooked his existence. Thinking about it now, he felt guilty. They were both his grandsons, yet he had favored one over the other. He could hardly blame this rebellious grandson for what he had done today.

"Imperial Grandfather and your grandson are bound by blood. Blood is thicker than water."

Zhu Yuntong said, "During the turmoil at the end of the Yuan dynasty, when the people could barely survive, Imperial Grandfather watched your loved ones pass away one after another. That is why you cherish family so deeply and would never stain your hands with your grandson's blood."

Those words left Zhu Yuanzhang silent for a long time. Since Empress Ma had died of illness, this was the first time anyone had spoken to him about those years. Recalling the past filled him with boundless emotion, and his anger toward this rebellious grandson had all but faded.

Seeing Old Zhu's expression change, Zhu Yuntong knew his words had worked. He probably would not be punished.

Bringing up the bonds of flesh and blood with Zhu Yuanzhang at the right moment earned a great deal of favor.

"Those words struck me right in the heart."

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, but he had not yet let today's events go. "Tell me, who taught you? If it wasn't Lan Yu, was it Feng Sheng? Of that bunch of old ruffians, Feng Sheng has read the most books. He must have taught you, right?"