Volume One, Chapter Three: Old Zhu’s Disappointment

“Over the years, haven’t we treated her well? How could she... how could she cry with such insincerity?”

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang’s angry voice, Fu Youde and Tang He exchanged puzzled glances and peered through the hole toward the outside.

With just one look, their brows furrowed involuntarily.

In their field of vision, Lady Lü was almost collapsed beside the dragon bed where the ‘Zhu Yuanzhang’ lay, her cries piercing and heart-wrenching.

Yet on Lady Lü’s face, there was not a trace of genuine sorrow; instead, a faint glimmer of joy flickered in her eyes.

In contrast, Zhu Yunwen, also collapsed beside the dragon bed, wept with sincere grief, appearing like a dutiful and filial grandson.

Just as Fu Youde was about to speak, they heard Zhu Yunwen suddenly stop crying inside the Qianqing Palace. He looked toward Lady Lü and asked, “Mother... Mother Consort! The Emperor Grandfather has passed away. What... what should we do now?”

Upon hearing this, Lady Lü immediately ceased her crying, narrowing her eyes as if contemplating something.

“Foolish! To ask such a grave matter of a deep palace woman is utterly foolish.”

Behind the wall, Zhu Yuanzhang muttered low curses, his aged face full of anger and embarrassment.

His original intention in staging this fake death was to test the heir he had chosen, Zhu Yunwen, and also to boast to his old comrades. Yet he never expected that the heir he selected would be so indecisive.

Fu Youde and Tang He, having fought alongside Zhu Yuanzhang for years, knew his temper all too well, so they held their tongues tightly and dared not utter a single word at such a moment.

In truth, they themselves did not understand Zhu Yuanzhang’s decision to select his grandson as heir. Even if the crown prince had died, the successor should have been chosen from among the princes, not Zhu Yunwen, a mere grandson.

Most crucially, Zhu Yunwen was only the crown prince’s illegitimate son; according to Zhu Yuanzhang’s own rules that favored legitimate and eldest sons, Zhu Yunwen should not have been eligible.

Of course, they would never voice this, but seeing Zhu Yunwen’s performance now, they could not help but shake their heads.

Just as Zhu Yuanzhang, disappointed with Zhu Yunwen, was about to open the secret door in the wall to end this test, Lady Lü’s expression suddenly changed. She stood up with a look no one had ever seen before.

Her once beautiful face was now filled with cruelty and malice. Pointing at Zhu Yunwen, she scolded, “What do you mean, ‘what should we do?’ You should pull yourself together and think about how to seize that position first. Otherwise, when your uncles find out, it will be over.”

“Ah?” Zhu Yunwen seemed stunned, then after a moment, nodded slightly. “Mother Consort is right. I understand!”

He stood and bowed deeply to Lady Lü.

Behind the wall, Zhu Yuanzhang finally smiled. “Good! Good! Truly my worthy eldest grandson. Surely he was unsettled by news of my death, but now he’s finally come to his senses.”

“A ruler must have the composure of Mount Tai collapsing before him yet remaining unmoved—that is the heir I have chosen!”

…

But just as Zhu Yuanzhang’s smile blossomed, it froze, his mouth agape and unable to close for a long time.

Inside Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yunwen, who had just looked so resolute, bowed once more to Lady Lü, his demeanor meek and submissive. “Please, Mother Consort, teach me.”

“I... I... I...” Even the Hongwu Emperor took a long time to recover from seeing his chosen heir so utterly weak.

He opened his mouth several times but couldn’t form a complete sentence. After a long while, he looked to Fu Youde and Tang He. “Have I truly misjudged him this time?”

Neither Fu Youde nor Tang He dared to respond; they bowed and offered consolation, “Ascending the throne, perhaps we should observe a little longer. Maybe the Second Prince is just too nervous.”

Zhu Yuanzhang said nothing, merely nodding and turning his gaze outward again.

At that moment, Lady Lü spoke, “As expected of my son, truly filial!”

Patting Zhu Yunwen’s shoulder, she displayed a look of teachable promise. “First, we must suppress the matter, then swiftly send for your mentors to enter the palace. With their help, you might stand a chance to ascend the throne.”

After a pause, a cruel expression crept over her face. Gritting her teeth, she said, “And immediately notify your maternal uncle to bring the Huaixi nobles into the palace, then...”

“What... what does she intend to do?”

Finally, Fu Youde and Tang He’s mouths fell open in shock.

It wasn’t that they were impatient, but Lady Lü’s words and the ferocity on her face terrified them.

She planned to lure all the Huaixi nobles into the palace and then slaughter them.

Both Fu Youde and Tang He were among the Huaixi nobles, many of whom were their sworn brothers or nephews.

If Lady Lü intended to wipe out all the Huaixi faction, how could they not be alarmed? How could they not be fearful?

Even when Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne, he never betrayed these loyal Huaixi meritorious officials. How could a mere crown prince’s consort dare such a thing?

Though Zhu Yuanzhang’s face showed little emotion, his eyes flashed with a strong murderous intent.

Whether this was aimed at Lady Lü, the Huaixi faction, or both, was unclear.

“We... when ascending the throne, we...”

“Dingchen (Tang He’s style name), don’t panic. I’m not dead yet! I won’t stand by and watch my old brothers and nephews be harmed. I’ll go out now and have her arrested.”

Seeing Tang He and Fu Youde’s faces visibly pale, with Fu Youde nearly collapsing in fright, Zhu Yuanzhang could bear it no longer.

He reached out to push open the secret door and go out to have Lady Lü taken away to reassure his old comrades.

Thump—

But just as his hand touched the door, a heavy sound suddenly echoed outside Qianqing Palace.

The sound halted Zhu Yuanzhang’s movement; he frowned deeply.

“So late at night, who could be coming to my Qianqing Palace?”

“I ordered no one to come near. How could Jiang Di be so careless?”

Not only Zhu Yuanzhang heard the voice; Lady Lü and Zhu Yunwen inside also heard it.

In the vast Qianqing Palace, with flickering lamplight and a ‘dead man’ lying nearby, the sudden noise made mother and son tremble all over.

Zhu Yunwen, like a frightened child, hid behind Lady Lü, trembling as he said, “Mother... Mother Consort! Could it be that Emperor Grandfather heard what you just said and has come back to punish us?”

Compared to Zhu Yunwen’s weakness, Lady Lü, though fearful as well, was more intent on securing the position of Empress Dowager. She forced herself to remain calm and called out to the door, “Jiang Di, what is happening outside?”

“Heh heh! You want to see Jiang Di...”