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

Chapter 219 Chongba! Your sister was lying when she said it was incurable! [Seeking monthly votes]

Inside the Hall of Literary Glory, not long after Zhu Yunwen left, the air seemed to still carry a lingering echo of the witty banter between grandfather and grandson.

Just as Old Zhu picked up his teacup, Song Zhong returned.

He reported in detail the 'farce' that had just happened in Zhang Biao's courtyard, as well as the 'clues' that had sprung up like mushrooms after rain, pointing to several vassal kings.

When he heard Zhang Biao angrily shouting "I can't do this anymore," "Your whole family is a den of thieves," and even directly asking for "more money," Old Zhu's hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air. Instead of showing anger, his face curled into a cold and amused smile.

"Ah."

He chuckled softly, slowly setting down the teacup, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

"Giving up? Asking for more money? This madman... is trying to outsmart us."

Song Zhong lowered his head and said, "Judging from Zhang Biao's words and actions, although there is some exaggeration, his surprise and uncertainty in the face of a sudden influx of clues do not seem to be entirely fabricated."

"The surprise and doubt are real, but the exploitation of the situation is even more so!"

Old Zhu snorted coldly, tapping his fingers on the armrest:

"Is Zhang Biao a coward? He dares to point his finger at us and curse us, why would he be afraid of a few vassal kings? He just realized that the waters are too murky, and someone is stirring things up behind the scenes!"

After saying this, Old Zhu turned his gaze to the 'clues' that Song Zhong had brought back.

The secret accounts of the Qi King's residence, the bribery by the Chu King's residence, the testimony of a former servant of the Zhou King's residence, and even the vague involvement of the Shu King and the Yan King...

The evidence came too easily, was too concentrated, and was too clearly directed, like a jigsaw puzzle that someone had carefully prepared and was eager to stuff into Zhang Biao's hands.

“Look, look!”

Old Zhu pointed at those things, his tone laced with sarcasm:

"Just a few days ago they were hiding things, checking things like they were thieves. But today, everything's out in the open!"

"Zhou, Qi, Chu, Shu, even the fourth son is dragged into it! They're just hoping Zhang Biao's fire will burn all our sons down!"

He was almost certain that this was a smokescreen and a shield deliberately thrown out by the person behind the scenes as Zhang Biao's investigation approached the core of the matter.

The purpose was to confuse the public and muddy the waters, putting Zhang Biao and the emperor in a predicament of being enemies with many vassal kings.

They either retreated in the face of difficulties, or they lost their way in the intricate relationships between the feudal lords, thus covering up the real mastermind.

"You want to use someone else to do your dirty work? You want to incite our sons to distrust each other and even kill one another?"

Old Zhu's eyes flashed with a cold light, his killing intent palpable: "A brilliant plan! A truly brilliant plan!"

The wickedness of the person behind this and the depth of their scheme made him feel a chill.

"Your Majesty, what about... Zhang Biao's request for more money?" Song Zhong asked.

"Add money?"

Old Zhu chuckled: "Tell him, if you want more money, you can have it!"

"Make him offer solid evidence in exchange! Offer him irrefutable, irrefutable proof! You think you can get money out of our treasury with these dubious 'clues'? Dream on!"

"but."

He suddenly thought of the 'anti-corruption fund' that Zhang Biao had mentioned. If he could 'add money' now, it might be a good opportunity.

Because he felt that Zhang Biao had investigated the key issues and forced the other party to make a move, which meant that Zhang Biao would respond to each move and use his crazy energy to forcefully recover the stolen money.

In this way, he further increased his investment and received dividends according to his previous shareholding.
"Doesn't that mean the more you add, the more you earn?!"

Old Zhu felt incredibly 'clever,' a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes, then disappeared in an instant, followed by an expression that said, 'I understand him perfectly,' and he said calmly:

"Now that madman has spoken, we can't just leave without saying anything. Yunming!"

"The servant is here."

“Take another five thousand taels from the imperial treasury… no, ten thousand taels! Send it to Zhang Biao!”

"Tell him this is compensation for the injuries to his men, and that he should spend it sparingly! If he can't find out the truth, he won't get another penny!"

"Yes."

Yunming looked puzzled, wondering why the emperor, who was always so stingy, was becoming increasingly generous to Imperial Censor Zhang. But he dared not say anything and could only bow in agreement.

Old Zhu, however, looked at Song Zhong as if nothing had happened and said, "Song Zhong!"

"The humble position is here!"

Song Zhong immediately accepted the order.

But then Old Zhu pondered for a moment and said, "Have your men secretly investigate the source of these 'clues'."

“Keep a close eye on that old man who delivered the account books, the merchant complaining in the teahouse, and that former servant of the Prince Zhou's mansion… see if we can follow the clues and find out who's behind these things!”

"I understand!"

Soon, Song Zhong withdrew.

Silence returned to the main hall.

It was unclear how much time had passed before Old Zhu finally stood up from his seat and slowly walked to the "Map of the Ming Dynasty's Territory," his gaze deep and thoughtful.

In the imperial court, Yunwen's thoughts were unfathomable.
Undercurrents were surging among the feudal lords.
Danger lurked everywhere along the canal transport route.
There's also a hidden force lurking deep within, constantly stirring up trouble...

The Ming Dynasty's empire, though seemingly stable, was actually fraught with internal crises.

"Come on, let this storm rage even more fiercely!"

Old Zhu stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an aura of domineering arrogance.

"Let's see if your demons and monsters are more powerful, or if the blade of the Hongwu Emperor is sharper!"

He had made up his mind to use Zhang Biao's sometimes mad, sometimes sharp blade to completely cleave through the heavy fog that shrouded the Ming Dynasty!

No matter who it will involve in the end, no matter how big the waves it will cause, he will not hesitate!

"Your Majesty."

A thin eunuch cautiously entered to report:

"This servant has just received some information about His Highness the Third Prince and the Crown Prince!"

"Ok?"

Old Zhu frowned, then asked without turning his head, "What is it?"

"Your Majesty, Princess Mingyu just went to the Northern Fifth Palace and brought news of the Duke of Liang's return to the capital to His Highness the Third Prince."

The thin eunuch gave a detailed report on the situation inside Zhu Yunwen's side hall, including the conversation between the siblings.

Old Zhu listened quietly. When he heard Zhu Yunwen sternly refuse to use Lan Yu's power, calmly analyze the pros and cons, and even utter such insightful words as "a sword hanging over one's head," a slight ripple finally appeared on his usually calm face.

“Yun Tong has also improved.”

Old Zhu muttered to himself, his tone unreadable, neither praising nor sighing:

"He has a clear understanding of the situation, knows how to weigh the pros and cons, and knows what can and cannot be done... He is far superior to his reckless great-uncle."

This clarity and restraint he maintained in adversity far exceeded his age, and he even understood things better than some veteran officials in the court.

In terms of mental fortitude and instinct for danger, Old Zhu felt that Zhu Yunwen was superior to Zhu Yunwen.

However, when the thin eunuch recounted Zhu Yunwen's almost religious trust and concern for Zhang Biao, saying that "Master Zhang has me, his worthless student, in his heart," and even placed his hopes for finding out the truth on Zhang Biao, Old Zhu's eyes instantly darkened, and his breathing became rapid and forceful.

[Zhang Biao! It's Zhang Biao again!]

[She's only been following that madman for a few days? And he's already so devoted to her?!]

What's so good about that madman? He acts erratically, has no respect for the emperor, and causes trouble everywhere!

[If Yunheng values ​​him so much, isn't she being led astray and learning that lawless behavior?!]

A strong sense of displeasure and apprehension rose in Old Zhu's heart.

He instinctively abhorred anyone who could occupy an important place in the hearts of his descendants but was not himself.

Especially foreign officials who might influence the thinking of his descendants.

Zhang Biao, with his unconventional and unorthodox ways, was someone he was extremely wary of.

Zhu Yunwen's respect for Zhang Biao was, in his eyes, nothing less than a dangerous form of 'contamination'.

"The hatred is too great, and the mind has become biased!"

Old Zhu snorted coldly, his tone clearly showing dissatisfaction: "His mind is filled with nothing but hunting down the murderer and seeking revenge, and he's even been bewitched by that Zhang Biao. Is this the mindset a crown prince should have?!"

In his ideal portrait of a successor, one could be cunning and resourceful, but must know how to maintain balance and safeguard the overall stability of the Zhu family's rule.

Instead of being swayed by personal hatred or the will of a certain 'master'.

Zhu Yunwen's behavior struck him as extreme and uncontrollable.

Therefore, he once again tipped the scales in favor of Zhu Yunwen as the heir apparent.

"Without a tongue."

"The slave is here!"

The thin eunuch quickly accepted the order.

"Keep staring."

Old Zhu instructed Wu She, "See what he does next. Report back immediately if there are any unusual movements."

"Yes."

Immediately afterwards, Wu She reported on the situation after Zhu Yunwen returned to the Eastern Palace.

"After His Highness the Second Grandson returned to the palace, he had a brief private conversation with the Crown Princess. Afterward, the Crown Princess looked sad. Afterward, His Highness the Second Grandson went about his studies as usual, and the Crown Princess continued to tend to her flowers and plants, without making any special moves."

"First sadness, then normalcy?"

A glint flashed in Old Zhu's eyes, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips:

"The Lü family... has become increasingly composed. They don't show their emotions on their faces; they're quite a character."

The more 'normal' the mother and son acted, the deeper the suspicions became in Old Zhu's mind.

He certainly knew the reason for Lady Lü's grief; it was simply that Zhu Yunwen had told her that Zhu Xiong Ying's death might not have been an accident.

However, he absolutely did not believe that Lady Lü would remain indifferent after learning that her son might regain the emperor's favor. Such deliberate calmness, on the contrary, indicated that her schemes were even deeper.

Constantly watching over them is like holding a fish to the bottom of the water; it won't move. Only when the water flows will the fish swim and leave its mark.

He knew that in order to expose Lü's true colors, he had to create a seemingly safe space for her to operate.

But how to create is a science in itself.

If it were too obvious, given Lü's cunning, she would immediately see through the trap and become even more cautious.

His gaze slowly swept across the hall, finally settling on the memorial tablet of Crown Prince Zhu Biao, which was enshrined on the incense table in the corner.

His eyes dimmed for a moment, a genuine pain flashing through his heart, but it was quickly replaced by a deeper calculation.

Next month... will be the anniversary of U.A. High's death.

A seemingly reasonable plan, yet one fraught with hidden dangers, took shape in his mind. "Pass on our decree."

Old Zhu calmly gave the order to Wu She, his voice devoid of any emotion:
"The fifth day of next month is the anniversary of the death of the eldest grandson of the Emperor, Xiong Ying. The Crown Princess, Lady Lü, is hereby instructed to take the second grandson of the Emperor, Yun Wen, the third grandson of the Emperor, Yun Tong, and the two princesses to Zhongshan Xiaoling Mausoleum to pay their respects."

"All ceremonial regalia should be carried out according to usual practice. There is no need for extravagance or deliberate simplification; simply follow the established procedures."

He deliberately emphasized that the trip should be conducted according to routine and established procedures, in order to make it appear as a perfectly normal royal sacrificial ceremony and to avoid giving Lady Lü any hint of 'special treatment' in order to lull her into a false sense of security.

As for the purpose of doing so...

Old Zhu narrowed his eyes slightly and added to Wu She, "Have Jiang Huan... select a few capable but unfamiliar subordinates to blend into the entourage of guards, palace maids, and eunuchs."

"Tell them to open their eyes wide and listen carefully!"

“Look around, see who has ‘bumped into’ the Crown Princess, who has spoken to her, and who has made eye contact with her!”

"But we must not reveal our identities and startle her."

"I understand, I will make the arrangements immediately."

Wu She understood immediately, bowed, and went to deliver the decree.

Inside the empty Huagai Hall, Old Zhu stood alone, watching the setting sun gradually sink in the west. The afterglow stretched his shadow long, making him look like an old lion lurking in the shadows.

The chess game he set up became increasingly complex.

Zhang Biao made rapid and unbridled progress in the open, stirring up the storm in the Grand Canal transport. His influence even penetrated into the palace, causing Zhu Yunwen to worry about him.

The Lü family secretly harbored their henchmen, patiently waiting.

Zhu Yunwen strives to embody benevolence, virtue, and filial piety.

He himself remained firmly in the center, observing coldly, constantly throwing out bait and adjusting the threads in his hand.

【Yunheng, if you could let go of your obsession with Zhang Biao and restrain that intense hatred, perhaps… alas!】

[Mrs. Lü, we've set the stage for you, now it's up to you... whether you're willing to put on this show!]

Before this Xiaoling Mausoleum, under the watchful eyes of the spirits of Biao'er and Xiong Ying, let us see just how many treacherous schemes are still hidden within the Zhu Ming palace!

Old Zhu's eyes appeared particularly deep and unfathomable in the twilight, revealing an emperor's most profound scrutiny and calculation of power, bloodline, and truth.

In fact, if Zhu had any doubts about Lady Lü, given his temperament, he could have simply arrested her, tortured her severely, and forced her to reveal her secrets.

He also believed that Jiang Huan's methods would definitely make Lady Lü talk.

However, he cannot do that.

Because once that's done, Zhu Yunwen will be finished.

Perhaps from an outsider's perspective, if Zhu Yunwen had not been chosen, Zhu Yunwen could have been chosen instead, or Zhu Di.

But from Zhu Yuanzhang's perspective, he would not have chosen Zhu Yunwen and Zhu Di unless he was forced to.

One reason, perhaps, is a common flaw among founding emperors: they hope their successor will be a 'virtuous' ruler.

Neither Zhu Yunwen nor Zhu Di were the 'virtuous' rulers that Zhu Yuanzhang envisioned.

Moreover, and most importantly, choosing Zhu Yunwen or Zhu Di contradicts the "Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty" he compiled.

He needs to set a good example of respecting elders and juniors for the Ming imperial family.

For two reasons, he always felt that there was a mastermind behind the Lü family.

If we directly target the Lü family, we risk alerting them.

Even if Lady Lü speaks up, the information she reveals might not be enough to catch the real culprit. It would be better to use Lady Lü as bait, which would be the best of both worlds.

Because he not only wanted to find out the truth about Zhu Xiong Ying's death, but also to ensure that the future of the Ming Dynasty was firmly in the hands of a successor he considered 'suitable'.

Any destabilizing factors must be identified, controlled, or eliminated if necessary.

On the other side, inside the Buddhist hall in the inner palace.

The woman, always dressed in plain clothes, stood before the Buddha statue, devoutly chanting Buddhist scriptures, as if everything outside was irrelevant to her.

"Crench--!"

The door to the Buddhist hall was pushed open by the old woman who always had a hunched back.

"Your Majesty."

The old nanny called out softly.

The woman did not respond; she simply twirled the prayer beads in her hand, her lips moving constantly.

After an unknown amount of time, as a piece of incense ash slowly fell, the woman uttered a very soft syllable from her throat: "Speak."

The old nanny immediately stepped forward and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, reported clearly and steadily, point by point:
"Your Majesty, news has come from the previous court that Censor Zhang Biao is still investigating the Grand Canal transport case."

The woman's fingers, which were fiddling with the prayer beads, paused almost imperceptibly, but she did not speak.

The old nanny continued, "It seems that his men have already gotten close to the Zhou Prince's Mansion and have found a clerk surnamed Liu and a fat man surnamed Wang who works at the docks."

Upon hearing "Prince Zhou's Mansion," the woman's eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly, as if a tiny pebble had been thrown into a calm lake, but the ripples vanished instantly.

"also!"

The old nanny continued in the same tone:
"In the past two days, Zhang Biao has suddenly received a large number of clues from unknown sources, all pointing to Qi, Chu, Shu, and Yan. All four princes are involved in corruption related to the Grand Canal transport."

"Now, the attention of the court and the public has been drawn to several vassal kings, and Zhang Biao seems to be becoming the target of everyone's criticism."

Upon hearing this, a faint, yet knowing smile finally appeared on the woman's usually placid face.

She even let out a barely audible sneer.

My son's counterattack has begun.

If you place yourself on the chessboard, no one will doubt that you are a piece.

[They could even muddy the waters, letting that arrogant madman bite and offend everyone... What a clever scheme.]

The old woman paused briefly, and seeing that the woman did not respond, she delivered the third piece of news:
"Furthermore... recently, His Majesty seems to be secretly reopening the old case of the death of His Highness the Crown Prince in the fifteenth year of the Hongwu reign. The activities of the secret guards are frequent, vaguely... pointing to Lady Lü of the Eastern Palace."

boom!
This message was like a boulder thrown into a still lake!
The woman's hand, which was turning the prayer beads, suddenly stopped.

Her eyes, which had been slightly closed, suddenly opened, and an uncontrollable surprise and sharp light flashed in them.

That radiance was completely different from her usual calm demeanor.

"Oh?"

She finally spoke, her voice slightly hoarse from not speaking for so long, yet unable to conceal her excitement: "Your Majesty... is investigating the Lü family? Investigating the death of Xiong Ying?"

She almost burst out laughing, forcibly suppressing the smile on her lips, but the light in her eyes was astonishing.

[Heaven has helped my son! Heaven has truly helped my son!]

If Lady Lü and Zhu Yunwen fall from power because of this...wouldn't my son's chances of winning the succession battle increase significantly?!

A thought flashed through her mind in an instant.

Should we take this opportunity to secretly 'help' the Emperor?
To fabricate evidence to substantiate Lu's crimes?
Or, find a way to 'accidentally' expose the Lü clan's plot to murder the eldest grandson of the emperor?
In this way, even if the emperor wanted to investigate secretly, he would be unable to continue.

Furthermore, he could not bring up the matter of establishing Zhu Yunwen as the imperial grandson until the Lü family case was thoroughly investigated.

The temptation is immense.

She pondered, her fingers unconsciously tightening, causing the prayer beads to rattle slightly.

The hall fell silent, with only the sandalwood incense burning silently.

However, in just a short while, the fervent light in her eyes gradually cooled down and was replaced by a deep calm.

No.

Making a move at this time is too risky.

The Emperor is meticulous and deeply suspicious.

If overly specific evidence suddenly appears, he might suspect a frame-up, and if he follows the trail, he might find my informant.

After all, there aren't many people who can grasp the secrets of the palace.

She slowly shook her head, suppressing the dangerous thought in her mind.

But then, another, deeper, more hidden thought, like a hidden reef at the bottom of the water, slowly surfaced in my mind.

[Zhu Xiong Ying... Ma Xiu Ying...]

She thought of the long-deceased Empress Ma.

Back then, Empress Ma, while diligently caring for the ailing eldest grandson of the emperor, Zhu Xiong Ying, also contracted a serious illness herself, which proved incurable by any medicine...

Rumors circulated that Empress Ma was terminally ill and, in her dying moments, filled with compassion, refused to take any more medicine, thus harming the imperial physicians…

But what is the real situation?
A cold and eerie smile curved the corners of the woman's mouth.

It was a condescending mockery born of possessing absolute secrets.

【Zhongba, oh Chongba, you've been deceived by her…】

She whispered silently to herself, carrying a complex emotion that had accumulated over the years, a mixture of hatred and pleasure:

[Your sister... refused to take the medicine back then. How could that be considered compassionate or sympathetic to the people's plight?]

That was just something she... had no choice but to do...

This secret, like a poisonous seed, had been buried deep in her heart for many years.

Those who knew the inside story back then, except for her, have almost all been swallowed up by time or by conspiracy.

Compared to the possibility that Lady Lü might have been involved in the murder of the eldest grandson of the emperor, the secret she possessed about the true cause of Empress Ma's death was the deadly weapon that could shake the mind of Emperor Zhu and even affect the fate of the Ming Dynasty!

Moreover, in her view, this secret was safer and more difficult to verify than the matter concerning the Lü family.

She slowly closed her eyes again, and began to turn the prayer beads in her hands once more, the rhythm returning to its previous steady pace.

"understood."

She said calmly to the old nanny, her voice devoid of any emotion: "Keep an eye on things, especially... the movements of the Lü family."

"Yes."

The old woman bowed and, just as she had come, quietly withdrew from the Buddhist hall.

The Buddhist hall returned to silence.

Only the sandalwood incense remains, wafting gracefully.

The woman knelt amidst the interplay of light and shadow, like a silent statue, but behind her closed eyes churned the deepest schemes and storms, enough to overturn the entire Ming Dynasty's inner palace and the previous dynasty.

But she hid herself better than Lady Lü, waited longer, and was more patient.

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(End of this chapter)