None of the women in the palace were simple

Lü Shi could not believe the scene before her eyes.

It had to be an illusion!

How could Father Emperor treat Zhu Yuntong so well? Even Zhu Yunwen had never had the chance to sit beside Old Zhu. For a moment, Lü Shi looked utterly lost, kneeling on the floor and forgetting what she was supposed to do next.

How could Zhu Yuanzhang fail to see that this unruly grandson was showing off in front of Lü Shi?

But Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Yuntong, then at Lü Shi, and briefly sank into thought.

This unruly grandson held a deep prejudice against Lü Shi. Thinking it over now, it did not seem as simple as a misunderstanding.

Yuntong lost his mother when he was little. Lü Shi is his stepmother, but he isn't her own flesh and blood, after all. Naturally, she would devote more care to Yunwen. Perhaps that made Yuntong feel she was terribly unfair, and resentment took root!

Zhu Yuanzhang supplied a reason for Zhu Yuntong in his own mind. According to his investigation, there really was nothing seriously wrong with Lü Shi. She was virtuous and dutiful, and had done her utmost to raise Chang Shi's children. That was commendable indeed.

Perhaps she had failed to satisfy Zhu Yuntong in certain small matters. Add his desire to compete for the succession, and some resistance was only natural.

Soon, Zhu Yuanzhang set those conjectures aside and asked, "Rise and speak. What brings you here?"

His deeply authoritative voice snapped Lü Shi out of her daze.

"Thank you, Father Emperor!"

Lü Shi rose cautiously. She, too, could feel a faint pressure in Zhu Yuanzhang's presence. Lowering her head, she said, "Your daughter-in-law heard that Yuntong behaved disrespectfully today. It was my failure to teach him properly. I have come to beg forgiveness. Please punish me, Father Emperor!"

Zhu Yuntong had thrown all the words she had prepared into disarray.

In her urgency, her first thought was to admit fault of her own accord.

She would take all the blame upon herself.

That was how a proper stepmother should behave. It would also reinforce the image she had cultivated and give Zhu Yunwen an advantage.

Good!

After hearing Lü Shi's words, Zhu Yuanzhang gave a slight nod of approval.

"There is also..."

As Lü Shi spoke, she hesitated. "Your daughter-in-law does not know whether she should say this."

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Say whatever you wish. I won't blame you."

"Forgive your daughter-in-law's impertinence."

Lü Shi lowered her head and said softly, "Sister Chang was the crown prince's principal wife, and Yuntong is her legitimate son. Your daughter-in-law thanks Father Emperor for his great favor in granting Yunwen such a rare opportunity, but I cannot wrong Sister Chang. Yuntong is still the more suitable choice. Please rescind your decree, Father Emperor."

With that, she bent forward and bowed again.

She presented the very picture of someone whose Yunwen wanted no part in the contest, only to yield graciously, with affection between brothers and respect from the younger to the elder.

She had to adopt the right attitude, cater to Zhu Yuanzhang's preferences, and coax him into a good mood.

Zhu Yuntong thought Lü Shi truly knew how to put on an act.

Unfortunately, this was precisely what Zhu Yuanzhang liked. They had also grasped the key to reaching him: the importance he placed on family affection.

By starting with family affection, they could effortlessly claim the moral high ground and build their carefully crafted image.

Zhu Yuntong could not help muttering inwardly, No wonder Old Zhu likes Zhu Yunwen so much and thinks Lü Shi is so good. They're both such accomplished actors.

"You're overthinking it."

Zhu Yuanzhang was not angry. He nodded and said, "There are matters I will consider myself. You needn't tell me. If there's nothing else, go back and look in on Yunwen. That child must be feeling quite upset today."

He had been on the verge of becoming the Imperial Grandson, only for Zhu Yuntong to suddenly wreck everything before he could take that final step.

The imperial decree was gone, and so was the title of Imperial Grandson. There was no way Zhu Yunwen would not be upset.

Zhu Yuanzhang understood Zhu Yunwen's thoughts very well. No matter how modest and harmonious he appeared, his spirits could hardly be good right now.

"Thank you for your concern, Father Emperor. Your daughter-in-law will take her leave."

Lü Shi paid close attention to Zhu Yuanzhang's tone. He still showed no intention of blaming her, and had even expressed concern for Zhu Yunwen. She knew her performance had hit the mark and earned plenty of goodwill.

Since he had told her to leave, she could not shamelessly insist on staying.

Yet the moment she stepped out of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, her gaze turned cold, and her nails nearly pierced her palms.

No matter how much concern Zhu Yuanzhang showed for Zhu Yunwen, it could not compare to Zhu Yuntong being allowed to sit beside him. And Zhu Yuntong was a legitimate son, at that.

This legitimate son posed an enormous threat to Zhu Yunwen!

Lü Shi did not linger. She had come in haste and left in haste, soon disappearing.

"Yuntong, what do you think?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

Zhu Yuntong said, "A pretty convincing act."

When she saw that he could sit on Zhu Yuanzhang's cushioned couch, Lü Shi had first panicked, then decisively retreated in order to advance. On the surface, she claimed she did not want to contend, but in reality, she was fighting for the succession.

None of the women who lived in the palace were simple, indeed.

Without a few tricks up her sleeve, Lü Shi could never have become the Crown Princess.

Zhu Yuanzhang offered no further assessment of Lü Shi. He was pleased, certainly, but that did not mean he could not see what she had been thinking. He simply chose not to expose her.

By neither reading out the imperial decree nor punishing Zhu Yuntong today, he was signaling a decision to the outside world: they were permitted to compete for the succession and win the position of heir through their own strength. Whoever had the ability would get the position.

It was only natural for Lü Shi to come and sound him out.

As long as she stayed within reasonable bounds, Zhu Yuanzhang would allow Lü Shi a little hypocrisy on Zhu Yunwen's behalf.

"Back to what we were discussing."

Zhu Yuanzhang continued, "You said you could do without relying on Lan Yu. How will you persuade me to name you heir?"

Zhu Yuntong had given him a pleasant surprise today.

Previously, he had paid more attention to Zhu Yunwen. Now, he wanted to pay more attention to Zhu Yuntong, and was even more eager to see what he could do.

"By making use of Lan Yu."

Zhu Yuntong was blunt. "Your grandson laid everything out openly today precisely to save Lan Yu. Even if Imperial Grandfather still wants to kill them later, it will be difficult to find a reason."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly. That was indeed the case. To save Lan Yu, this unruly grandson had maneuvered him into his scheme as well.

"Whether you choose your grandson or Zhu Yunwen, in Imperial Grandfather's eyes, Lan Yu and the others are doomed to die."

"Your grandson saved them now so that he can make use of them in the future."

"At the same time, I want to prove something to Imperial Grandfather. This is also the key to my bid for the succession."

Seated beside Old Zhu, Zhu Yuntong confidently laid out his plan.

"What is it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked with interest.

Zhu Yuntong replied, "Your grandson has the ability to keep Lan Yu and the other Huai-Western Generals in check. When Father was alive, they did not dare step out of line. With your grandson in his place, they still won't dare. They will obey me completely. With me holding them down, they will never become imperial in-laws who disrupt the affairs of state."

"Well said!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up.

Zhu Yuntong had even put his own thoughts into words.

Lan Yu was arrogant, domineering, and resistant to discipline, while the Huai-Western Generals enjoyed immense prestige.

With Zhu Biao gone, no one would be able to keep them under control in the future.

That was why Old Zhu had thought of taking them all away in one sweep before he himself departed.

If the Huai-Western Generals could be kept in check, Zhu Yuanzhang now had another option for the position of Imperial Grandson.

Zhu Yunwen's strengths lay in his benevolence, filial piety, and kindness. The civil officials were willing to support him, and he resembled Zhu Biao. In truth, Zhu Yuanzhang also knew that the resemblance was only on the surface. In substance, he fell far short of Zhu Biao.

Looking again at Zhu Yuntong, Zhu Yuanzhang felt that this outrageously bold, unruly grandson seemed more like himself.