Volume One, Chapter 8: The Triumphant Zhu Yuanzhang

Zhu Shou’s words seemed to voice the secret thoughts of all the nobles present. Instantly, the gazes directed at Zhu Quan grew even more greedy and unbridled.

However, one man hidden within the crowd frowned slightly. This was the Marquis of Huining, Zhang Wen, the only one among the Huai-Xi generals known as a strategist. His eyes held a flicker of displeasure as he looked at Zhu Quan.

Zhu Quan took in everyone’s expressions, yet he showed no sign of anger. After watching them quietly for a long moment, a sneer suddenly appeared on his face.

"Pfft!"

"What are you laughing at?" demanded Zhang Yi, the Marquis of Heqing.

The others also wore expressions of mounting irritation, as if they felt Zhu Quan was mocking them. Lan Yu stepped forward, looming over Zhu Quan, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he asked coldly, "Does the Prince of Ning have some dissenting opinion regarding what we have said?"

His tone was superficially polite, but his demeanor was thick with menace.

Zhu Quan merely shook his head with a smile. "Not at all. I do not disagree with the words of my uncles and brothers; I simply think that while you are all excellent at war, you are truly abysmal at politics."

"Zhu Quan! What do you mean by that?"

"Prince of Ning, do you dare to insult us?"

"Heh! You dare say we don't understand politics? Where does a brat like you get the courage? Do you really think you can handle us with just those few hundred men outside?"

Zhu Quan’s remark instantly drew the hostile glares of these arrogant, battle-hardened men, and some could not refrain from shouting at him.

Hidden behind the wall, Zhu Yuanzhang watched this scene and suddenly chuckled, muttering to himself, "Ha! You rebellious son, let's see how you handle this now."

"Even I sometimes have to concede to these arrogant, headstrong generals. You dare to insult them like this? I fear I won't even need to wait for tomorrow's morning court; I can just step out now and clean up the mess."

The old emperor believed Zhu Quan was relying on his few hundred personal guards, naively thinking he could achieve great things and disregarding men like Lan Yu. He began mentally preparing how to emerge and take control, and how he would punish his wayward son once it was all over.

***

Yet, at that very moment, Zhu Quan burst into loud laughter. His laugh was filled with disdain, and when he looked at Lan Yu, it was brimming with naked mockery.

He laughed for dozens of breaths before slowly pulling his expression back into a calm mask.

"It seems you uncles and brothers have no self-awareness regarding your own situation! You are already staring death in the face, yet you still intend to support Zhu Yunwen..."

"Very well! Since you have already made your choice, I shall not stand in your way. You are free to leave; my guards outside will not hinder you in the slightest."

With that, he gestured toward the entrance of the Qianqing Palace with an open, indifferent expression.

But the more casual Zhu Quan appeared, the more hesitant those who had been shouting, like Zhang Wen, became. On one hand, they feared Zhu Quan was tricking them—that the moment they moved, countless hidden executioners would rush in to cut them down. On the other hand, it was because of Zhu Quan’s earlier words...

"Prince of Ning, what do you mean? What do you mean when you say we are 'staring death in the face' without knowing it?" Lan Yu lived up to his reputation as the backbone of the group, managing to suppress his rage and look at Zhu Quan calmly.

Zhu Quan spread his hands. "Nothing much. Why don't you go ahead, Duke of Liang, and take your brothers to support the murderer of your niece and grand-nephew? At worst, I shall simply take my guards and my household back to Danning Prefecture tonight. I believe that with my one hundred thousand troops and the Three Guards of Duoyan, even if Zhu Yunwen ascends the throne, he would never dare to move against me first."

"What exactly are you implying? What murderer of my niece and grand-nephew? What do you know?" Suspicion and a faint, simmering anger rose in Lan Yu’s eyes.

The deaths of the former Crown Princess Chang and the Imperial Grandson Zhu Xiongying had always been a thorn in his side. Had those two not died—even if Crown Prince Zhu Biao had passed—Lan Yu would have been certain he would never face exclusion or suppression. After all, everyone knew how much the Emperor had valued Zhu Xiongying; he had been groomed as the third-generation leader of the Ming Dynasty. As Xiongying’s uncle, Lan Yu would have been the first person the boy relied upon once he ascended the throne. Who in the court would have dared to target him then?

"Heh! It means nothing, really. I am just reminding you, Duke of Liang: do you remember how Sister Chang passed away? And why, among the thousands of people in the inspection party back then, only Xiongying alone contracted smallpox?"

"But since you and my uncles and brothers do not wish to hear it, there is no need for me to continue. Let us just act as if nothing happened tonight. Tomorrow, you can go and enthrone your Zhu Yunwen, and I shall return to my fiefdom to live as a carefree prince."

Zhu Quan adopted an attitude of washing his hands of the whole affair and made to turn and leave the palace.

***

He had not taken more than two steps before someone blocked his path.

It was not someone else, but Chang Sheng, his eyes burning red. As the younger brother of the late Crown Princess Chang, Chang Sheng had harbored doubts for years about the deaths of his sister and nephew, though no matter how hard he tried, he could never uncover anything amiss.

But now, prompted by Zhu Quan, it was as if a master had suddenly opened his meridian channels. His voice was low, like a beast growling in suppressed rage.

"Prince of Ning! Are you saying that my sister and Xiongying were murdered, and that the person responsible is Zhu Yunwen?"

Meeting Chang Sheng’s desperate gaze, Zhu Quan shook his head with a smile. "Not at all! I do not mean that Zhu Yunwen himself killed Sister Chang; after all, he was merely a child at the time, still cooing in Lady Lu’s arms."

"Then what do you mean?" Lan Yu asked from behind.

In truth, they had already guessed the answer; asking now was merely to confirm it from Zhu Quan’s own lips.

Zhu Quan did not disappoint them. He laughed immediately. "Duke of Liang, tell me—who was the greatest beneficiary of my sister-in-law's passing?"

"Lady Lu! That poisonous woman! I will skin her alive!" Lan Yu erupted like a lion whose fur had been singed, his voice carrying the threat of a wild beast.

Chang Sheng was no better; he turned to leave the Qianqing Palace, clearly intending to go and seek revenge on Lady Lu. But the moment he turned, he was grabbed by the equally enraged Lan Yu.

Lan Yu, who had been furious a second ago, regained a icy composure. He stared coldly at Zhu Quan and asked, "Why are you telling us this? And what did you mean when you said we are staring death in the face? Even if Zhu Yunwen ascends the throne, would he really dare to kill us?"