Chapter Summaries

Zhu Yuntong recognized that Zhu Yuanzhang had deliberately left a memorial about Lan Yu for him to see, then joined Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yunwen for lunch. His frugal words about remembering the hardship behind food delighted Zhu Yuanzhang, who planned to add them to the imperial instructions, while Zhu Yunwen grew jealous and challenged him.

• Zhu Yuntong realized Zhu Yuanzhang had left the Lan Yu memorial where he could see it to test how he would respond, so he returned it without comment.
• Zhu Yunwen apologized to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yuntong for the morning’s events, accepted blame for Lü Shi, and joined them for lunch.
• Zhu Yuanzhang watched Zhu Yuntong and Zhu Yunwen eat plain porridge, greens, pickles, and griddle cake, and noticed Zhu Yunwen’s displeasure and Zhu Yuntong’s appreciation.
• Zhu Yuntong quoted a saying about remembering how hard food and material goods were to obtain while gathering crumbs from the table.
• Zhu Yuanzhang praised Zhu Yuntong’s words and said he would add them to the Ancestral Instructions of the August Ming.
• Zhu Yunwen, consumed by jealousy, asked Zhu Yuntong whether he had come up with the polished saying himself.

Zhu Yuntong won Zhu Yuanzhang’s approval with a line of verse, then suspected that Lü Shi had sent poisoned incense to his quarters. After deciding to seek Zhu Yuanzhang’s help with Lan Yu, he began trying to win Liu Liu’s loyalty and ended the chapter viewing the Eastern Palace as a dangerous place.

• Zhu Yuntong denied composing the verse, but Zhu Yuanzhang praised his scholarship and said he took after him, leaving Zhu Yunwen bitter.
• Zhu Yunwen asked Fang Xiaoru about the verse’s source, then resolved to study harder to surpass Zhu Yuntong.
• Zhu Yuntong found incense sent by Lü Shi and suspected it might be a slow-acting poison, while considering how to save Lan Yu and win his support.
• Xu Xingzu apologized to Zhu Yuntong and brought him a feast, which Zhu Yuntong shared with Consort Guo and Liu Liu.
• Zhu Yuntong gave Liu Liu a clean portion of food to build his trust, then decided he needed to turn him against Lü Shi and deal with the incense.

Zhu Yuntong took Zhu Yuanzhang’s command token and led the Embroidered Guard to arrest Lan Yu, while Lü Shi waited for her plan to kill Zhu Yuntong to take effect. Zhu Yunwen, exhausted and unsettled by his rival’s success, heard from Qi Tai that a new opportunity had arisen.

• Lü Shi learned Xu Xingzu had apologized to Zhu Yuntong and privately hoped the incense she arranged would kill him.
• Zhu Yuntong ignored Zhu Yunwen on the way to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, where he asked Zhu Yuanzhang for authority to act against Lan Yu.
• Zhu Yuanzhang gave Zhu Yuntong a command token for the Embroidered Guard but no imperial decree, and canceled morning court.
• Zhu Yuntong showed the token to Jiang Jue, assembled the Embroidered Guard, and set out to arrest Lan Yu.
• Zhu Yunwen missed his morning audience after fainting from exhaustion, then went to Great Ben Hall and heard Qi Tai announce that a new opportunity had appeared.

Zhu Yunwen and his advisers plotted to sabotage Zhu Yuntong’s apparent test to control the Huai-Western Generals, while Zhu Di and Yao Guangxiao chose to wait and watch. Zhu Yuntong led the Embroidered Guard to Lan Yu’s residence and ordered his men to seize a man who challenged him.

• Qi Tai told Zhu Yunwen, Huang Zicheng, and Fang Xiaoru that Zhu Yuntong had taken the Embroidered Guard toward the Huai-Western Generals, and they concluded Zhu Yuanzhang might be testing him.
• Fang Xiaoru and Huang Zicheng urged Zhu Yunwen to prevent Zhu Yuntong from passing the test by spreading the news among the military commanders and Lan Yu’s adopted sons.
• Zhu Di asked Yao Guangxiao what to do, and Yao advised him to stay out of the succession struggle and wait for an opportunity.
• Zhu Yuntong and Jiang Jue arrived at the Duke of Liang’s Residence, where Zhu Yuntong ordered the gates broken and the compound surrounded.
• A man confronted Zhu Yuntong at the residence, and Zhu Yuntong ordered the Embroidered Guard to seize him and slap his mouth.

Zhu Yuntong confronted Lan Yu at his residence over the secret sheltering of Ye Sheng’s son, a remnant of Hu Weiyong’s faction. After Zhang Zhou admitted he had hidden the man, Lan Yu attacked his adopted son, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Zhu Yuntong struck a man who shouted his name and ordered the Embroidered Guard to seize him.
• Zhu Yuntong accused Zhang Zhou of sheltering Ye Sheng’s son and ordered him to summon Lan Yu.
• Zhang Zhou blocked Zhu Yuntong, arguing that he had no imperial edict to arrest Lan Yu, and his soldiers faced off against the Embroidered Guard.
• Zhu Yuntong ordered his guards to fight their way in, but Lan Yu arrived and stopped the standoff.
• Lan Yu questioned Zhang Zhou, who admitted sheltering Ye Sheng’s son, and Lan Yu kicked him to the ground.

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.