Recaps

Zhu Yuntong arrested Lan Yu and Zhang Zhou over their connection to Hu Weiyong, while trying to prevent the Huai-Western Generals from intervening. When Lan Yu’s armed followers blocked the Embroidered Guard, Zhu Yuntong ordered Lan Yu to bring their leader back, and Lan Yu agreed.

• Lan Yu surrendered to Zhu Yuntong, who ordered the Embroidered Guard to take him and Zhang Zhou away, seal the Duke of Liang's Residence, and retrieve Ye Sheng's son.
• News of Lan Yu’s arrest and his link to Hu Weiyong spread, drawing Chang Sheng, Xu Huizu, Fu Youde, Feng Sheng, and Guo Ying to the residence.
• Lan Yu told the Huai-Western Generals to stay out of the affair, and Feng Sheng stopped Chang Sheng from interfering.
• More than five hundred of Lan Yu’s followers, led by Li Liangping, blocked Zhu Yuntong’s party and demanded Lan Yu’s release.
• Zhu Yuntong cut Lan Yu’s bonds and ordered him to bring Li Liangping back; Lan Yu agreed.

Zhu Yuntong arrested Lan Yu over the alleged concealment of Ye Sheng’s son and secured him at the Embroidered Guard headquarters. Zhu Yunwen’s allies saw the accusation as a chance to destroy Lan Yu and weaken Zhu Yuntong, while Zhu Di wondered whether Lan Yu would die.

• Lan Yu submitted to arrest after striking Li Liangping, and Zhu Yuntong ordered Feng Sheng to detain the remaining men.
• Zhu Yuntong returned to the Military Investigations Office and ordered Jiang Jue to keep Lan Yu and Ye Sheng’s son imprisoned, barring anyone from seeing or removing Lan Yu.
• Qi Tai told Zhu Yunwen, Huang Zicheng, and Fang Xiaoru that Zhu Yuntong had arrested Lan Yu over his adopted son’s alleged sheltering of Ye Sheng’s son.
• Zhu Yunwen’s allies planned to impeach Lan Yu and connect him to Hu Weiyong’s faction, and Zhu Yunwen believed his position as Imperial Grandson was secure again.
• Zhu Di asked Yao Guangxiao whether Lan Yu would die, and Yao Guangxiao said he did not know.

Zhu Yuanzhang learned that Zhu Yuntong had brought Lan Yu back and decided to wait and see how he handled the powerful generals. After returning to the Eastern Palace, Zhu Yuntong grew more wary of Lü Shi and resolved to move out when he could.

• Zhu Di told Yao Guangxiao he hoped Lan Yu would die, since Lan Yu's death could leave Zhu Di more room to pursue the succession by force.
• Jixiang reported that Zhu Yuntong had returned Lan Yu and that Zhu Yunwen had helped stir up the rescue attempt; Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Lan Yu held at the Military Investigations Office until the next day.
• Zhu Yuanzhang praised Zhu Yuntong for staying composed when Tang Da arrived with soldiers and looked forward to seeing how he would make Lan Yu and the others submit.
• Zhu Yuntong returned to his quarters, stopped Liu Liu from burning incense sent by Lü Shi, and suspected that she might be poisoning him.
• Zhu Yuntong decided that the Eastern Palace was too dangerous and resolved to move out after Lan Yu's affair was settled.

Zhu Yuntong prepared for the hearing over Lan Yu, while Zhu Yunwen and Lü Shi expected Lan Yu’s death to strengthen Zhu Yunwen’s position. At the joint hearing, Liu Sanwu began by questioning Zhu Yuntong, leaving the test of his ability to save Lan Yu underway.

• Xu Xingzu brought Zhu Yuntong dinner and apologized, and Zhu Yuntong warned him against taking sides.
• Liu Liu told Zhu Yuntong that Dongqing had asked about him, so Zhu Yuntong instructed Liu Liu to report that he felt anxious and nervous.
• Zhu Yunwen told Lü Shi he expected Lan Yu to die and the Huai-Western faction to be uprooted, while Lü Shi warned him not to speak carelessly.
• Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Zhu Yuntong to a joint hearing at the Court of Judicial Review, where Lan Yu, his adopted sons, and court officials had gathered.
• Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the hearing to begin, and Liu Sanwu stepped forward to question Zhu Yuntong.

Zhu Yuntong faced an attack over arresting Lan Yu without an imperial decree, then watched Lan Yu defend himself against charges of harboring a remnant of Hu Weiyong's faction. Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Ye Sheng's son brought in, leaving Lan Yu's fate unresolved.

• Liu Sanwu accused Zhu Yuntong of exceeding his authority by arresting Lan Yu without an imperial decree, but Zhu Yuntong replied that he had been allowed to mobilize the Embroidered Guard.
• Zhu Yuanzhang's silence made Liu Sanwu realize he had targeted Zhu Yuntong instead of Lan Yu, and Liu Sanwu apologized and stepped aside.
• Zhan Hui questioned Lan Yu about harboring a remnant of Hu Weiyong's faction, and Zhang Zhou claimed that he had hidden the man.
• Lan Yu admitted that Zhang Zhou was his adopted son and said he had hidden Ye Sheng's son to steal the credit, not to save him.
• Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Ye Sheng's son brought in.

At Zhu Yuanzhang’s interrogation, Ye Yangde changed his testimony to support Lan Yu’s account, but Huang Zicheng and the other officials demanded further investigation. Lan Yu declared that he would obey Zhu Yuntong without question, and Zhu Yuntong ordered him to kill Zhu Yunwen, leaving Zhu Yunwen pleading for Zhu Yuanzhang to save him.

• Zhu Yuanzhang questioned Ye Yangde about whether Lan Yu and the others had rescued him.
• Ye Yangde first denied being rescued, then claimed Zhang Zhou had acted to claim credit, matching Lan Yu’s explanation.
• Huang Zicheng objected that Lan Yu’s account did not explain why he had submitted to arrest, and other officials called for further investigation.
• Lan Yu declared his loyalty to Zhu Yuntong and said he would obey even an order that meant his death.
• Zhu Yuanzhang told Zhu Yuntong to test Lan Yu’s loyalty, and Zhu Yuntong ordered him to kill Zhu Yunwen.
• Lan Yu took up a sword and approached Zhu Yunwen, who cried out for Zhu Yuanzhang to save him.

Lan Yu nearly killed Zhu Yunwen at Zhu Yuntong’s order before Zhu Yuanzhang stopped the test. Lan Yu then declared his unwavering loyalty to the late Crown Prince and Zhu Yuntong, leaving Zhu Yuanzhang overcome with grief for Zhu Biao.

• Lan Yu thrust his sword at Zhu Yunwen, drawing blood before Zhu Yuntong ordered him to stop.
• Zhu Yunwen collapsed in terror and appealed to Zhu Yuanzhang for justice as civil officials demanded punishment for Zhu Yuntong and Lan Yu.
• Zhu Yuanzhang questioned Zhu Yunwen’s courage and declined to punish Lan Yu or Zhu Yuntong for what he regarded as a test.
• Lan Yu declared that he had prepared his adopted sons and private troops to serve Zhu Biao and would have followed him even into rebellion.
• Lan Yu affirmed his loyalty to Zhu Yuntong as Zhu Biao’s legitimate son, and Zhu Yuanzhang wept and called out Zhu Biao’s name.

During Lan Yu’s trial, he pledged loyalty to Zhu Yuntong and comforted Zhu Yuanzhang by speaking of Zhu Biao watching over them from the stars. Civil officials then used Lan Yu’s soldiers’ disobedience to accuse him of rebellion, leaving Zhu Yuntong to face the next test.

• Lan Yu resolved to support Zhu Yuntong after reflecting on Zhu Biao’s death and his own predicament.
• Zhu Yuntong comforted Zhu Yuanzhang, who accepted his words and told him not to cry.
• Qi Tai tried to prompt Zhu Yunwen to show filial concern, but Zhu Yunwen remained frozen with fear.
• Liu Sanwu accused Lan Yu of rebellion, arguing that his soldiers obeyed him rather than Zhu Yuntong or the emperor.
• Tang Da claimed that the soldiers had acted on their own, but Liu Sanwu argued that Lan Yu had trained them to disregard the Third Imperial Grandson.
• Lan Yu insisted his loyalty to Zhu Biao was genuine, while Huang Zicheng renewed the accusation that Lan Yu was ambitious and dangerous to the Great Ming.

Lan Yu could not refute the charges that his adopted sons had disobeyed Zhu Yuntong and followed only him, so Zhu Yuanzhang declared their actions a capital offense. Zhu Yuntong offered to surrender his status and claim to the succession to save Lan Yu, and Zhu Yuanzhang postponed judgment and summoned him to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

• Lan Yu admitted he had nothing to say when confronted with his adopted sons’ defiance of Zhu Yuntong, while Zhang Zhou, Li Liangping, and Tang Da tried to take the blame themselves.
• Zhan Hui accused Lan Yu and his men of treason, and Zhu Yuanzhang declared the offense punishable by death.
• Zhu Yuntong pleaded for Lan Yu’s life and offered to give up his status as a legitimate son and yield the succession to Zhu Yunwen.
• Lan Yu refused to let Zhu Yuntong sacrifice his future and asked Zhu Yuanzhang to grant him death instead.
• Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Lan Yu and the others confined for the time being, dismissed the court, and told Zhu Yuntong to accompany him to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Zhu Yuntong passed Zhu Yuanzhang’s test by saving Lan Yu, but Zhu Yuanzhang ordered him to kill Lan Yu’s adopted sons and find a way to divide the Huai-Western Generals. Zhu Yuntong left the Palace of Heavenly Purity with the token he could use to leave the palace and arrange the killings.

• Zhu Yuntong admitted he had gambled that Zhu Yuanzhang would spare Lan Yu and that Zhu Yunwen’s side would not force his hand.
• Zhu Yuanzhang explained why he would keep Lan Yu alive but strip him of his title as Duke of Liang, and Zhu Yuntong described the danger of leaving him with influence over the army.
• Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Zhu Yuntong to kill Lan Yu’s adopted sons to weaken Lan Yu’s faction and build his own authority in the army.
• Zhu Yuanzhang gave Zhu Yuntong a second test: divide the Huai-Western Generals without his help.
• Zhu Yuntong left the palace with his token and planned to use it to leave the palace and arrange for Tang Da and the others to be killed.

After Lan Yu was spared death and stripped of his title, Zhu Yuntong recovered from the interrogation and continued building his standing. The chapter ended with him preparing to take charge of Lan Yu’s Sworn Sons and Private Troops, with Feng Sheng asking how he would deal with them.

• Lü Shi urged Zhu Yunwen to keep competing with Zhu Yuntong and maintain his image as a benevolent, filial grandson.
• Zhu Yuntong reassured Zhu Lingxiu, Zhu Lingyue, Zhu Lingyi, and Zhu Linghua, then treated them to a feast.
• Zhu Yuntong told Zhu Yuanzhang he would stop making deliberate daily visits, and Zhu Yuanzhang agreed that such displays of filial devotion seemed affected.
• Zhu Yuntong tried to exercise but quickly became exhausted, then went to Great Ben Hall and left class early using Zhu Yuanzhang’s token.
• Zhu Yuntong gathered Embroidered Guard officers and went with Feng Sheng to take charge of Lan Yu’s Sworn Sons and Private Troops.

Zhu Yuntong took Lan Yu’s Sworn Sons and Private Troops to the Skinning Temple, where he had their crimes announced before a gathered crowd. He personally executed Tang Da, Li Liangping, and Zhang Zhou, leaving the rest of the condemned men awaiting their fate.

• Zhu Yuntong took the bound Sworn Sons and Private Troops from Feng Sheng at the army camp, where Chang Sheng and the Huaixi commanders pledged their support.
• Jiang Jue told Zhu Yuntong there was no room for the hundreds of prisoners at the Military Investigations Office, so they headed to the Skinning Temple.
• Jiang Jue had the prisoners kneel while the Embroidered Guard read out their crimes to passersby, who applauded their punishment.
• An Embroidered Guard brought Li Liangping, Zhang Zhou, and Tang Da from the prison in carts, and Zhu Yuntong ordered them brought forward.
• Zhu Yuntong took Jiang Jue’s saber and killed Tang Da, Li Liangping, and Zhang Zhou with strikes to their necks.

After personally killing three of Lan Yu’s sworn sons, Zhu Yuntong returned to the palace shaken but maintained the authority he had established. Lan Yu was released with a warning to change his conduct, while the Embroidered Guard spread a favorable account of the executions.

• Zhu Yuntong ordered Jiang Jue and the Embroidered Guard to execute Lan Yu’s remaining sworn sons as the crowd cheered.
• Jiang Jue arranged a carriage, clean clothes, and a public account portraying Zhu Yuntong as decisive and just.
• Zhu Yuntong released Lan Yu and warned him that Zhu Yuanzhang would no longer tolerate his old behavior.
• Zhu Yuntong returned to the palace, felt nauseated by greasy food, ate plain porridge and pickles, and fell asleep.

After Zhu Yuntong killed many people, Zhu Yuanzhang praised his courage while Lü Shi urged Zhu Yunwen to kill if he wanted to become emperor. Zhu Yunwen went to pay his respects and met with Fang Xiaoru, while Zhu Yuntong recovered and headed to the Great Ben Hall, where Zhu Pian asked him about the killings.

• Jixiang reported Zhu Yuntong's condition to Zhu Yuanzhang, who ordered him to keep investigating Lü Shi and said Zhu Yuntong needed tempering.
• Lü Shi told Zhu Yunwen that he must kill to establish his authority, and Zhu Yunwen feared Zhu Yuntong might kill him if he became emperor.
• Zhu Yunwen woke from a nightmare about Zhu Yuntong killing people, then went to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to pay his respects while Zhu Yuntong stayed asleep.
• Fang Xiaoru told Zhu Yunwen that the previous day's killings could be put to use and promised he would soon see how.
• Zhu Yuntong rested, struggled to exercise because of his poor health, and went to the Great Ben Hall, where Zhu Pian excitedly asked if he had killed many people.

In the Great Ben Hall, Qi Tai used a story about Han Xin killing a woodcutter to invite a debate on benevolence and righteousness. Zhu Yunwen portrayed Zhu Yuntong as cruel to make himself appear virtuous, and Zhu Yuntong realized they were trying to damage his reputation.

• The princes questioned Zhu Yuntong about killing people, while Zhu Yunwen grew envious of their support for him.
• Qi Tai told the story of Han Xin killing a woodcutter and asked whether the killing had been justified.
• Zhu Gui, Zhu Quan, and several other princes said Han Xin had been right to kill the woodcutter.
• Zhu Yuntong agreed that Han Xin was right, and Qi Tai secretly took this as proof that he lacked benevolence and righteousness.
• Zhu Yunwen condemned Zhu Yuntong as cruel and praised benevolence, while Zhu Yuntong recognized that Qi Tai and Zhu Yunwen were trying to cast him as brutal and inhumane.

Zhu Yuntong dismissed Zhu Yunwen and Qi Tai’s accusations, then listened as Qi Tai taught poetry and assigned a poem about snow. Zhu Yunwen finished first and stood confidently, while Zhu Yuntong had yet to write anything.

• Zhu Yunwen and Qi Tai accused Zhu Yuntong of cruelty, but Zhu Yuntong agreed with them to end the argument.
• Zhu Yunwen asked Qi Tai to teach poetry, and Qi Tai explained how to compose poems and ci verse.
• Zhu Yuntong told Zhu Gui and the others that the woodcutter deserved to die, and Zhu Zhi praised his view that the merciful could not command an army.
• Qi Tai assigned the class to write a poem or ci verse about snow, promising that anyone who finished could leave early.
• Zhu Gui asked Zhu Yuntong to write a poem for him, but Zhu Yuntong declined.
• Zhu Yunwen finished his poem first and stood up, confident that it would impress everyone.

Zhu Yuntong outshone Zhu Yunwen with a majestic lyric at the Great Ben Hall, deepening Zhu Yunwen’s fear of losing the succession. Zhu Yuanzhang praised the poem after hearing it, while remaining angry over efforts to portray Zhu Yuntong as cruel.

• Zhu Yunwen recited a poem he had prepared and received Qi Tai’s praise, then provoked Zhu Yuntong.
• Zhu Yuntong recited a sweeping lyric that stunned Qi Tai and humiliated Zhu Yunwen.
• Zhu Yunwen followed Qi Tai into the rear chamber to discuss how to counter Zhu Yuntong, while Zhu Gui and the other princes celebrated.
• Jixiang told Zhu Yuanzhang about Qi Tai’s smear campaign and recited Zhu Yuntong’s lyric.
• Zhu Yuanzhang condemned the attacks on Zhu Yuntong and praised the lyric as beautifully written.

Zhu Yuanzhang praised Zhu Yuntong’s ambitious poem and summoned him and Zhu Yunwen to dine, while Zhu Di and Yao Guangxiao assessed the succession contest. Zhu Di recognized Yuntong as a serious rival and prepared to return to his fief to build military strength.

• Zhu Yuanzhang copied Zhu Yuntong’s poem, praised his ambition, and summoned both Zhu Yuntong and Zhu Yunwen to lunch.
• Zhu Yunwen heard Zhu Yuanzhang praise Zhu Yuntong’s poem and felt overshadowed.
• Zhu Di learned that Zhu Yunwen’s supporters were spreading claims that Zhu Yuntong was cruel, and Yao Guangxiao argued that this would only strengthen Yuntong in Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes.
• Zhu Di read Zhu Yuntong’s poem and recognized his talent and aspirations.
• Zhu Di concluded he would likely be sent back from the capital and planned to focus on building his military strength.

Zhu Di considered using Yao Guangxiao’s advice to test Zhu Yuanzhang’s attitude toward the vassal kings’ succession prospects. Meanwhile, Lan Yu pledged to obey Zhu Yuntong, who stayed in the palace, exercised, and went to the Imperial Medical Bureau to investigate Ming medical care.

• Yao Guangxiao advised Zhu Di to quote a passage from the Zhenguan Zhengyao to Zhu Yuanzhang and judge whether the vassal kings still had a chance at succession.
• Lan Yu told Chang Sheng that his sworn sons deserved their deaths and instructed the Chang Family to obey Zhu Yuntong and avoid causing him further trouble.
• Zhu Yuntong stayed in the palace, reflected on his ambitions, and exercised with broadcast calisthenics to improve his frail body.
• Zhu Yuntong skipped class and went with Liu Liu to the Imperial Medical Bureau to inspect the state of medical care.

Zhu Yuntong learned that he had accumulated lead and mercury poisoning and realized the Eastern Palace was unsafe. As Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang prepared to return to their fiefs, Zhu Gang warned Zhu Yuanzhang that Lü Shi mistreated Zhu Yuntong and the other children.

• Zhu Yuntong visited the Imperial Medical Bureau, where Xu Shu, Dai Sigong, and Chen Junzuo examined him and diagnosed lead and mercury poisoning.
• Zhu Yuntong suspected that more than the incense had exposed him to the poisons and resolved to find a way to leave the Eastern Palace.
• Xu Shu hurried to report the poisoning to Zhu Yuanzhang while Dai Sigong and Chen Junzuo prepared medicine for Zhu Yuntong.
• Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the princes to return to their fiefs within three days, and Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang came to bid him farewell.
• Zhu Gang warned Zhu Yuanzhang that Lü Shi mistreated Zhu Yuntong and the other children and urged him not to make Zhu Yunwen heir.

Zhu Gang and Zhu Shuang told Zhu Yuanzhang that Lü Shi had mistreated Zhu Yuntong and his siblings, deepening Zhu Yuanzhang’s doubts about the succession. As Zhu Di tested Zhu Yuanzhang with a question about inexperienced young rulers, news arrived that the Third Imperial Grandson had been poisoned, and Zhu Yuanzhang rushed to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

• Zhu Gang recalled seeing Lü Shi neglect Zhu Yuntong and his sisters while favoring Zhu Yunwen, and Zhu Shuang agreed that Lü Shi was unworthy of being their eldest sister-in-law.
• Zhu Yuanzhang admitted he had failed his grandchildren and said he would judge Zhu Yuntong and Zhu Yunwen by their abilities before choosing an heir.
• Zhu Di told Zhu Yuanzhang about Emperor Taizong’s question on why the descendants of founding rulers often fell into disorder, then quoted Fang Xuanling’s answer about young rulers raised in privilege.
• Jixiang reported that the Third Imperial Grandson had been poisoned, and Zhu Yuanzhang hurried toward the Imperial Medical Bureau with Zhu Di following.
• Xu Shu, the director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, hurried toward Zhu Yuanzhang and encountered his fury.

Zhu Yuntong survived a slow-acting poisoning, and Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the Eastern Palace and Imperial Food Service sealed while investigators searched for the culprit. After taking medicine, Zhu Yuntong returned with his grandfather, still hoping the Embroidered Guard would uncover evidence against Lü Shi.

• Xu Shu told Zhu Yuanzhang that Zhu Yuntong's poisoning was not severe, and Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the Eastern Palace sealed.
• Zhu Yuanzhang questioned Xu Shu about the poison and ordered the Imperial Food Service guarded and Xu Xingzu brought in.
• Xu Xingzu denied poisoning Zhu Yuntong and said a eunuch had handled his meals before he personally took charge that morning.
• Zhu Yuntong asked Zhu Yuanzhang not to kill too many people, but Zhu Yuanzhang insisted that anyone deserving death would die.
• Dai Sigong brought Zhu Yuntong his medicine, and Zhu Yuanzhang took him back to the Eastern Palace after ordering Zhu Di to leave and keep the incident secret.
• Zhu Yuntong swallowed the bitter medicine and hoped the Embroidered Guard would find evidence against Lü Shi.

Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the Embroidered Guards to search the Eastern Palace after Zhu Yuntong was poisoned, but they found no evidence. Zhu Yuntong returned to his quarters to check the incense, only to discover it was missing.

• Lü Shi and Zhu Yunwen confronted the Embroidered Guards surrounding the Eastern Palace, and Zhu Yuanzhang revealed that he had ordered the lockdown.
• Zhu Yuanzhang announced that Zhu Yuntong had been poisoned and ordered the guards to search the Eastern Palace and detain its servants.
• Jiang Jue searched the Eastern Palace, including Lü Shi's room, but found no poison or other evidence.
• Xu Xingzu reported that the Imperial Food Service staff and those who had cooked for Zhu Yuntong were taken for investigation.
• Zhu Yuntong went back to his quarters with Liu Liu to inspect the incense, but Liu Liu found that it was missing.

Zhu Yuntong and Zhu Yuanzhang investigated the poisoning, but evidence in the Eastern Palace had disappeared. Jiang Jue identified the cook as the poisoner, and Zhu Yuanzhang ordered mass executions before Zhu Yuntong calmed him; the true extent of Lü Shi’s involvement remained uncertain.

• Zhu Yuntong found the suspected evidence missing from the Eastern Palace, and Zhu Yuanzhang ordered its servants replaced.
• Zhu Yuntong told Zhu Yuanzhang he suspected Lü Shi, but Zhu Yuanzhang doubted she was responsible because the Embroidered Guard had found no evidence.
• Jiang Jue reported that the cook for the Third Imperial Grandson had confessed to poisoning him with blue gold and mercury to avenge the Crown Prince’s past abuse.
• Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the cook executed, the seller’s family punished, and the Imperial Food Service and Eastern Palace servants killed, while sparing Liu Liu at Zhu Yuntong’s request.
• Zhu Yuntong soothed Zhu Yuanzhang with praise and teasing, easing the emperor’s anger.

After Zhu Yuntong recovered from the mild poisoning, Zhu Yuanzhang punished Xu Xingzu for mismanaging the Imperial Food Service but spared his life. Zhu Yuanzhang remained uncertain whether Lü Shi was involved, then arranged houses beside the Imperial College for Zhu Yuntong and Zhu Yunwen to live in.

• Zhu Yuanzhang told Zhu Yuntong to stop hounding Lü Shi, while Zhu Yuntong still vowed to find evidence and asked to move out of the palace.
• Xu Xingzu admitted responsibility for the poisoning and begged for punishment, but Zhu Yuanzhang spared him because he trusted him to manage the Imperial Food Service.
• Zhu Yuanzhang docked Xu Xingzu's salary for two years, ordered him to stop taking kickbacks, and sentenced him to thirty strokes of the rod.
• Zhu Yuntong explained why Zhu Yuanzhang had spared Xu Xingzu, then returned to the Eastern Palace to recuperate.
• Jixiang reported that the eunuch and the Eastern Palace showed no suspicious signs, leaving Zhu Yuanzhang unsure whether Lü Shi had been involved.
• Zhu Yuanzhang ordered two houses beside the Imperial College prepared for Zhu Yuntong and Zhu Yunwen.