Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 110 Lady Lü: Let them go! They're courting death! [Seeking monthly votes]

Just as Zhang Biao proposed 'auditing the imperial treasury,' which was rejected by Zhu Yuanzhang, he then reviewed the Ministry of Revenue. At the same time, news of him arrived from the Eastern Palace.

After all, the Ministry of Revenue and the Crown Prince's Palace have always had connections.

This connection already existed when Zhu Biao was the crown prince.

Therefore, Zhu Yunwen was completely stunned when he heard the news.

"Mother! Zhang Biao... isn't he courting death?!"

"Ah!"

Lady Lü chuckled softly, her voice like silk gliding across ice, carrying a hint of mockery:

“Wen’er, if you only see this step, then all the teachings I’ve given you over the years will have been in vain.”

Zhu Yunwen looked puzzled: "Mother? Does the Emperor really think Grandfather would let Zhang Biao off the hook?"

He couldn't understand how there could possibly be any room for maneuver for such a heinous act.

"Spare him? Of course not."

A cold smile curved at the corners of Ms. Lü's lips:

"At this moment, His Majesty probably wishes he could tear them to pieces. But why didn't His Majesty immediately issue an order to kill them? Why did he only send Jiang Huan to monitor them?"

As she spoke, she slowly put down the round fan in her hand, her fingertips tapping gently on the smooth rosewood table, as if she were deducing a delicate game of chess:

"Because of Zhang Biao, that madman, he has once again turned himself into a 'problem' and thrown it to the Emperor."

"What he threw this time was a branding iron that could burn anyone who touched it."

"Auditing the Emperor? Ha! That's an unheard-of and outrageous statement."

"But precisely because of his madness and absurdity, if the emperor were to kill him immediately, he would be at a disadvantage, appearing weak and insecure, as if this madman had truly hit a nerve."

"What kind of person is the Emperor? What does he value most? His face, his authority, and the ironclad rules and regulations of the Hongwu Dynasty!"

“He can kill people and confiscate their property, but he cannot be forced to kill people in this way by a subject! That would make it seem like he is being manipulated by a subject.”

Zhu Yunwen seemed to understand, but not quite; his brows were furrowed.

"But...but if we don't kill him, are we just going to let him run rampant like this? What will become of my imperial grandfather's authority?"

"Of course we won't let him run rampant."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Lady Lü's eyes: "His Majesty's decision to give him the cold shoulder is the most brilliant move. It is both a thunderous warning, drawing a red line that cannot be crossed, and a strategic retreat."

"Retreat in order to advance?"

"good."

Lady Lü nodded slightly: "His Majesty is telling everyone, especially Zhang Biao: We have heard your crazy talk, but we disdain to pay attention to it."

"Your provocation is like a dog's bark, it can't sway us in the slightest. We're not sparing you, not because we dare not, not because we can't, but because..."

She paused, a slight smile playing on her lips: "You're not worthy of our anger; you've thrown things out of control."

"At the same time, this is also forcing Zhang Biao, forcing him to continue going crazy, forcing him to bite others. The emperor has confined him to the range of 'being able to go crazy,' but will never allow him to touch the forbidden zone of 'not being able to go crazy.'"

"In this way, Zhang Biao's knife can still be used, but it will not harm the person wielding it."

After saying this, she looked at Zhu Yunwen and said in a deep voice, "Wen'er, you must remember that the most skillful political maneuvering is sometimes not a storm, but a silent and subtle approach."

"His Majesty's move may seem like a concession, but in reality, he has a firm grip on the situation. Zhang Biao's life or death still rests entirely in His Majesty's hands."

"And now, keeping him alive is more useful than killing him."

Zhu Yunwen felt a chill run down his spine. He realized that he had greatly underestimated his grandfather's imperial cunning and also felt more deeply the terrifyingly calm calculations of his mother.

"Then... what should we do?"

Zhu Yunwen asked in a low voice, his voice carrying a hint of dependence and confusion.

Lady Lü picked up her fan again, gently waving it. Her phoenix eyes narrowed as she looked out the window, as if she could see through the palace walls to the crazed figure being 'escorted' by the Imperial Guards: "Us? We will naturally help the Emperor play this game more steadily and ruthlessly."

"Zhang Biao wants to audit the accounts at the Ministry of Revenue, doesn't he? Very well. Let him audit. The deeper he investigates, the more people he implicates, and the more chaotic the court will become."

"Isn't the Emperor planning to use someone else to do his dirty work? Then let's secretly sharpen that knife even more."

"Have our people 'accidentally' reveal some clues to Zhang Biao, especially those clues about people who were involved in the Hu Weiyong case but managed to escape, or those who are not of one mind with us."

"Let him bite, let him tear!"

"Ideally, he should be able to find out if certain vassal kings have close ties with court officials, or if certain old men who have long since lost power but still hold positions... such as those who have connections with the Chang family..."

Lu's voice grew softer and softer, yet every word was like a knife, precisely slicing through the veins of power.

She wanted to steer the storm caused by Zhang Biao in all directions that might threaten Zhu Yunwen's future succession.

Zhu Yunwen's eyes gradually brightened, and he finally understood his mother's intention.

This is not only using one enemy to devour another, but also using someone else to do one's dirty work.

Let Zhang Biao's "mad knife" clear away the obstacles for them.

"As for Yunwen's side..."

Before Lady Lü could finish speaking, a report came from outside the door:

"Your Majesty, news has come from the Fifth Palace in the North... It's from an old nanny from the Chang family, delivered through the eunuch in charge of purchasing..." The little eunuch's voice was extremely low:

"It is said that His Highness Yunhu and the two princesses are deeply saddened by the loss of their mother, and since Lady Chang has recently appeared to them in a dream, they are feeling uneasy. Therefore, they wish to request Your Majesty's permission to allow the three siblings to leave the palace together to visit the Chang family's old residence to pay respects to their mother's memorial tablet, in order to fulfill their filial duty..."

After the young eunuch finished speaking, he held his breath and lowered his head, not daring to look at Lady Lü's face.

This involves the former Crown Princess Chang and her family, which is one of the most sensitive topics in the Eastern Palace.

However, the expected displeasure did not occur.

Lady Lü was slightly taken aback at first, and then an unbelievable, almost uncontrollable ecstasy suddenly burst forth in her deep, phoenix-like eyes.

But she quickly lowered her eyelids, using her long eyelashes to conceal her loss of composure.

God help me too!

She was worried about how to further sow discord between Zhu Yuanzhang and his sister Zhu Yunwen, and how to solidify their crime of 'colluding with traitors'!

These siblings actually handed over such a huge piece of leverage against them!
Missing his deceased mother? Paying respects at the Chang family's old residence? Or was it at a sensitive moment when Zhang Biao, that "traitor," had just proposed "auditing the imperial treasury," incurring the emperor's wrath and causing widespread panic in the court?

This is simply walking into a trap, courting death!

Lu's heart pounded with excitement, but her face quickly contorted into an expression of profound kindness, even tinged with a hint of empathetic sorrow.

She sighed softly, wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, her voice so gentle it could melt water:

"Alas, these three poor children... their filial piety is truly commendable, it breaks my heart..."

As she spoke, she glanced at Zhu Yunwen, who was still clueless, and her tone was full of maternal concern:

“Wen’er, look at how much Yunhu and her brother miss their mother. Their filial piety is evident to heaven and earth. Although palace rules are strict, how can we disregard human relationships and moral principles? They lost their mother’s protection at such a young age. It is only natural for them to want to visit their mother’s old residence and pay their respects…”

Zhu Yunwen was stunned. Looking at his mother's compassionate expression, he didn't react for a moment.

Weren't you just talking about how to scheme against Zhu Yunwen? How come you're suddenly...?

Lady Lü gave him no time to think and continued her performance, her tone becoming increasingly understanding: "Although the Chang family is an old noble family, things are not what they used to be. The siblings will go there partly to fulfill their filial duty, and partly to feel some of their maternal family's former glory and find some comfort. As their mother, how could I possibly refuse?"

She turned to her trusted palace maid and instructed, "Go and report back. Tell them that I have given my permission. Let the siblings prepare with peace of mind. I will have the Imperial Household Department arrange all the sacrificial offerings and ceremonial regalia properly. After all, she is the grandson of the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty and a princess. When she goes out to pay respects to her mother, she must not lose her dignity."

"in addition……"

Lady Lü's tone became even more considerate: "Tell the old nanny from the Chang family that the children are young and going to the old residence, so it's inevitable that they will be sad. If they want to stay at the old residence for a while after the memorial service to reminisce about their mother's life, that's fine too. There's no need to rush back to the palace."

The young eunuch was extremely surprised, feeling that the Empress's kindness today was somewhat unusual, but he dared not ask any further questions and quickly agreed and withdrew.

After the young eunuch left, Zhu Yunwen finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice, full of doubt:

"Mother! Why...why did you agree to their request? Why did you let them stay? Isn't this condoning their contact with the Chang family's old clans? What if..."

"What if?"

The gentle kindness on Madam Lü's face vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling calculation and mockery: "Wen'er, don't you understand? The more readily I agree and the more meticulously I arrange things, the faster they'll die!"

Her eyes gleamed with a venomous light:

"His Majesty was just furious about Zhang Biao's audit of the imperial treasury. What is he most afraid of right now? It is forming cliques for personal gain, collusion between insiders and outsiders, spying on the inner palace, and using the pretext of sacrifices or old ties to do illicit things!"

"At this critical juncture, Yunhu and her brother proposed to visit the Chang family's old residence to pay their respects and even stay there? What does this mean in the Emperor's eyes? It means they harbor resentment!"

"This is using the pretext of honoring one's mother to actually contact one's maternal clan and spy on the political situation!"

"What is the Chang family? They are the family of Chang Yuchun! They are noble families whose former military subordinates still have influence! The blood of the Chang family flows in their veins! The Emperor has long harbored suspicions about Lan Yu, so how could he not be wary of the former subordinates of the Chang family?"

"With a little more thoughtful planning, I'll make it a bit bigger, the procession a bit more conspicuous, and the stay a bit longer..."

"What will it look like in the eyes of someone with a keen eye, especially in the eyes of that madman Zhang Biao?"

Zhu Yunwen gasped, instantly understanding his mother's wicked scheme:

"It will be interpreted as Yun Tong and her brother secretly colluding with former officials of their maternal clan, plotting something sinister! It will be interpreted as Zhang Biao being questioned for his slickness; if he doesn't investigate the Chang family, it will confirm his relationship with Yun Tong and her brother!"

"Not bad!"

Lady Lü smiled with satisfaction, a smile that was cold and cruel:
"At that time, we won't even need to report them ourselves. The Emperor's suspicion, Zhang Biao's madness, and the siblings' 'self-destructive' behavior will naturally form a combined force to strangle them!"

"We just need to do what they want and then quietly watch the show."

Zhu Yunwen looked at his mother and felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet, but it was quickly replaced by a sinister sense of pleasure.

He rubbed his hands together excitedly:
"Your Majesty is wise! Now, Yunhu and the others are truly in a situation where they can't clear their names even if they jump into the Yellow River!"

Madam Lü picked up the cup of cold tea again, took a sip with elegant grace, as if the wicked scheme she had just devised had not come from her mouth.

"So, Wen'er, don't think about anything now. Study hard and be filial to your parents. Your mother will take care of everything for you. Since the Emperor has already decided to entrust the country to you, it's only a matter of time before he makes you the Crown Prince. Let Zhang Biao's life be a congratulatory gift for your ascension to the throne..."

"Your subject understands! Your subject will go to study now, and will bring the ginseng soup to Your Majesty later!"

Zhu Yunwen's eyes flashed with an excited yet sinister light as he quickly got up and left.

Lady Lü sat alone in the hall, the incense from the censer wafting softly.

A moment later, a smile that was both incredibly comforting and incredibly cold appeared on her lips.

“Sister Chang, if you have a spirit in heaven, please watch carefully how your children gradually walk towards you and reunite with you.”

(End of this chapter)