Bonds of Flesh and Blood

Feng Sheng had originally been named Feng Guosheng.

He enjoyed reading military treatises and excelled in strategy. Both courageous and resourceful, he was a general accomplished in both civil and military affairs among the Huai-Western nobility.

Zhu Yuanzhang thought Zhu Yuntong might have concealed his talents for years, yet everything he had done today seemed as though someone had been advising him behind the scenes. After turning it over in his mind, he decided Feng Sheng was the likeliest candidate.

Zhu Yuntong had always been unremarkable, only to suddenly display such courage today. The contrast was too stark. Zhu Yuanzhang could not help suspecting that those generals had long been teaching Zhu Yuntong how to contend for the succession.

"No one truly taught me, Grandfather. I haven't had any contact with anyone outside the palace during this time."

Zhu Yuntong shook his head. "Am I really so useless in your eyes, Imperial Grandfather?"

"Of course. In your eyes, there has only ever been Zhu Yunwen."

"Even when I stand right before you, no matter how well I perform, you won't spare me another glance."

Zhu Yuanzhang heard the hurt and disappointment in those words. He admitted that he had never taken Zhu Yuntong seriously. Perhaps it was precisely this unfairness that had driven Zhu Yuntong to such extremes.

The rest of his anger dissipated, and he no longer pursued what had happened earlier.

Zhu Yuanzhang studied Zhu Yuntong for a long while, then asked, "Have you been hiding your talents all these years?"

Zhu Yuntong said, "If I hadn't, I wouldn't still be alive to see you, Imperial Grandfather."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head. "Lü Shi isn't as bad as you think. You've misunderstood her far too deeply."

Thinking of Lü Shi's gentleness and virtue, he was still quite satisfied with this daughter-in-law.

Before transmigrating, Zhu Yuntong had felt little about Lü Shi, but after transmigrating, the memories he inherited had shown him that this woman was no simple character.

Unfortunately, he had no definite evidence. He could only find a way later. He would not let this woman who threatened him off the hook.

"Do you truly want to contend for the succession?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked the question in earnest.

"That's right. I intend to contend for the succession!"

Zhu Yuntong said firmly, "If you pass the throne to my second or third uncle, Imperial Grandfather, I only want to be a carefree prince. But if you pass it to Zhu Yunwen, I must fight him for it. As you see it, the heir can only come from my father's line. Before, you had no choice but Zhu Yunwen. Now I've given you another option."

"Should I thank you, then?"

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted softly. "Yunwen is bright and eager to learn, with extensive knowledge. Every civil official at court heaps praise on him. You're mediocre and incapable, with nothing to rely on but Lan Yu and his band of brutes who know only fighting and killing. Are you a match for him?"

He wanted to see just how Zhu Yuntong would contend for the succession.

Even more, he wanted to see how Zhu Yuntong would proceed-whether someone had taught him, or whether he possessed considerable ability of his own and had merely hidden it well.

"Calling him bright and eager to learn makes it sound pleasant. In truth, he's hidebound and rigid, a bookworm who does nothing but memorize dead words. A complete good-for-nothing."

"The civil officials all support him not only because he fits the Confucian mold, but also because he's easy to manipulate."

"The officials of Great Ming struggle to survive under your heavy hand, Imperial Grandfather. They don't want the next emperor to be as stern as you. Zhu Yunwen has become their ideal emperor, the easiest one to control."

"If Zhu Yunwen becomes emperor, the power of the Great Ming court will fall into the civil officials' hands."

Zhu Yuntong's answer made Zhu Yuanzhang nod repeatedly.

Zhu Yunwen had his merits, but he also had many shortcomings. He was far too weak.

Still, the dynasty's second emperor would chiefly need to preserve what had been built. Zhu Yuanzhang truly had not had a better choice before, and he was deeply fond of Zhu Yunwen, so he had decided to let Zhu Yunwen carry on his legacy.

"I intend to contend for the succession, but I won't rely solely on Lan Yu."

"When the ruler is young, the realm is uncertain. I'm so young, and ultimately, I'm not my father. If I depend entirely on Lan Yu and the others, you might as well name Zhu Yunwen instead."

"Even if you name me, Lan Yu is arrogant and overbearing, and the Huai-Western Generals hold high rank and great power. In the end, you will still bring down the butcher's blade, Imperial Grandfather. Those who must be killed will still be killed. But I don't want Lan Yu and the others to die like that. I want to save them."

At the end, Zhu Yuntong raised his voice. "Even if they must die, they should die on the battlefield, dying for their country-not meeting such a wretched end!"

"Well said!"

Zhu Yuanzhang clapped softly. He had still underestimated Zhu Yuntong.

He had thought Zhu Yuntong had exposed his intention to kill Lan Yu and the others because he wanted to save their lives while also using them to help him win the succession.

He had not expected someone so young to see matters so clearly, to understand that no matter who became the Imperial Grandson, Lan Yu and the others would have to die.

This little rebellious grandson might not be a good scholar, but his abilities, insight, and ideas made him better suited to be emperor than Zhu Yunwen.

"If you don't rely on Lan Yu, whom can you rely on?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked again.

Zhu Yuntong said confidently, "I won't depend on Lan Yu and the others, but I never said I wouldn't use them. It will be just that-using them. Used properly, they'll be a great asset. In truth, the civil and military officials don't decide who becomes heir. That decision is yours, Imperial Grandfather. My only support is you, not outsiders."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled again, thinking that this was true.

Others thought securing the support of civil and military officials guaranteed victory in the struggle for succession.

If Zhu Yuanzhang did not agree, however much support they had would be useless. It would merely make for a louder show.

"What do you intend to do to make me agree to name you?"

A rare, kindly smile appeared on Zhu Yuanzhang's face. He patted the cushioned couch beside him and said with a smile, "Come here. Sit down and tell me at your leisure."

Only after speaking did he realize that he had unconsciously wanted to draw closer to Zhu Yuntong.

Zhu Yuanzhang thought that perhaps this little rebellious grandson had more spark than the bookish Zhu Yunwen. With neither father nor mother, and no one to cherish him, the boy made his heart ache. He wanted to make up for the familial affection he had failed to give Zhu Yuntong before.

He truly was a man who valued family bonds.

Zhu Yuntong hesitated. "You aren't trying to trick me into coming over so you can give me a beating, are you?"

Zhu Yuanzhang: "..."

"If I wanted to beat you, would I need to trick you into coming over? Get over here."

Zhu Yuntong thought that made sense.

He stopped worrying and went over to sit beside Zhu Yuanzhang.

This was also a way to strengthen his familial bond with Zhu Yuanzhang.

In the eyes of his children and grandchildren, Zhu Yuanzhang had always been stern and solemn. Even Zhu Yunwen could feel a faint pressure in his presence.

Zhu Yuntong ignored that pressure and settled comfortably into his seat, standing on no ceremony at all with Old Zhu.

He was just about to continue when Jixiang, the eunuch attending Zhu Yuanzhang, knocked softly on the door outside.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Princess requests an audience."

Hearing that Lü Shi had arrived, Zhu Yuntong froze for a moment.

But he quickly understood that Lü Shi had probably come to sound things out and see whether Zhu Yuanzhang had punished him severely.

She had certainly come quickly.

"Show her in!"

Zhu Yuanzhang gave the order.

Lü Shi waited outside, uneasy and apprehensive.

Before entering, she had prepared all sorts of things to say and imagined every scene she might encounter. She believed Zhu Yuntong must have been punished, perhaps even strung up and beaten. She would also have to show her virtuous side by putting in a few good words for Zhu Yuntong.

While she was thinking this, Lü Shi received permission to enter. She walked slowly inside, knelt, and offered her greeting. "Your daughter-in-law pays her respects, Imperial Father!"

Afterward, she raised her head and looked toward Zhu Yuanzhang.

At the same time, she searched for Zhu Yuntong, wanting to see how badly he had been beaten. Yet at that glance, Lü Shi went momentarily blank, her eyes widening.

She saw that Zhu Yuntong was actually sitting beside Zhu Yuanzhang. Grandfather and grandson were sharing the same cushioned couch.

Lü Shi even wondered whether she had become so nervous that she was hallucinating.

Even Zhu Yunwen, favored as he was, had never received such treatment. Zhu Yuntong had committed outrageous defiance and forced his way into court. Shouldn't he have been punished? How could he possibly be sitting beside Zhu Yuanzhang?

She could even see Zhu Yuntong making a face at her.

Lü Shi was stunned. What on earth happened?