The First Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Prince Ning's Mansion.

Gongsun Jin appeared before Zhu Chenhao with the "list of traitors" given to him by Zhu Yigang.

"...Only two more people were mentioned: Yan Shun, the master of ceremonies, and Liu Liang, the eunuch. Including Eunuch Chen Xuan, the three of them are said to be going to betray the Prince of Ning's mansion in the future."

Gongsun Jin was extremely excited and full of energy.

It wasn't just because he had gained Zhu Yi's trust and obtained the list from him, but also because the people Zhu Yi mentioned all had conflicts of interest with him within the Prince's residence.

In his view.

What kind of loyalty to the country or reporting treason is this?

There are only sellers seeking personal gain due to unequal distribution of profits.

The History of Ming records: "...In the twelfth year of Zhengde's reign, the ceremonial official Yan Shun, along with eunuchs Chen Xuan and Liu Liang, secretly went to the capital to report a treasonous plot. Qian Ning, Zang Xian, and others protected them and did not investigate. Emperor Chenghao suspected that the plot was orchestrated by the court attendant Zhou Yi, and killed Zhou Yi's family and several hundred people, including the guards officer Cha Wu..."

Zhu Chenhao was very shrewd. Even though he trusted his son very much, he only looked gloomy after receiving the list and did not lash out on the spot.

"What did my son say?" Zhu Chenhao asked.

"The young master mentioned that these three have not yet shown any signs of rebellion. Perhaps we can transfer them to less important positions so that they don't ruin the grand plan," Gongsun Jin said.

"My son is still too kind-hearted. He knows they will betray the Prince's Mansion in the future, yet he still pleads for them?" Zhu Chenhao said in a fit of anger, but after calming down a bit, he added, "However, since my son has already spoken, let's do as he says and take away their jobs first, then observe how things develop."

Gongsun Jin thought to himself, "Your son is kind and benevolent?"

If he were kind and benevolent, he wouldn't have handed over the list so quickly!

"Understood, we will not let them get away."

……

……

In the secluded courtyard.

Upon returning, Zhu Yi locked himself in his study. He was faced with a very difficult problem: whether or not to join Prince Ning in the rebellion.

It seems like an unsolvable dilemma.

But from the perspective of a time traveler, he did have other options. At least history records that after Zhu Chenhao's defeat, only his third son was left to wander among the common people. He even named himself Zhu Xue and only surrendered himself due to poverty during the Jiajing era. He was eventually imprisoned until his death.

If Zhu Chenhao were to ask him for a strategy to rebel in the future, he could volunteer to go to the Americas with the ship, since no one knows corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes, and only he could solve many geographical problems.

"To rebel, you need manpower. The entire Ning Prince's mansion is a pack of wolves and tigers. Gongsun Jin and Liu Yangzheng alone have eight hundred cunning schemes, and someone like Tang Yin would rather harm himself than join. If I were to join the Ning Prince's camp, would we achieve a qualitative leap in our rebellion?"

"Even if the rebellion succeeds, so what? Even if Prince Ning values ​​me, I still have an elder brother above me. In the end, will I become Zhu Gaochi or Li Longji?"

Zhu Yi felt he was in a dilemma.

"Master, have I disturbed you?" Xiao Tang appeared at the door of the study.

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: 20 ...

"What's wrong?" Zhu Yi glared at him.

She has a pretty face, but for some reason, she just seems an eyesore.

Stupid and clumsy.

Xiao Tang said, "The people in the front yard said that Madam has arrived and they want you to come over."

"Which lady?" Zhu Yi asked casually, then realized that it was likely his mother, Lou Suzhen, the talented woman who was famous in the history of the Ming Dynasty.

Surely she's not coming to settle scores with me because I took a box of her rouge?

"I don't know," Xiao Tang replied crisply.

Zhu Yi was somewhat annoyed.

What kind of servants did they choose for themselves? They don't seem to have any brains at all.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. For the first two days, they needed to conceal their identities, so of course they had to find servants who were not related to the Prince Ning's mansion to serve them. And it seemed that they were only responsible for trivial things like serving tea, water, and chamber pots, and did not need to use their brains.

Zhu Yi then realized that he could do whatever he wanted to the two sisters.

He immediately dismissed the idea.

It seems my injury has healed, and I'm starting to overthink things!

He also failed to gain mutual trust with the two sisters!

This made Zhu Yi realize that if he needed helpers to do things, he didn't necessarily need intelligent people. His own mind, which was hundreds of years ahead of its time, was the best advisor. He could make plans for himself, so why not find some insignificant people like Xiao Tang and Xiao Mei, who had no historical background, to help him?

"I understand. Help me change my clothes," Zhu Yi said.

……

……

The main hall of the Prince Ning's Mansion.

A serene and beautiful middle-aged noblewoman stood before Zhu Yi. When Zhu Yi saw her face, he felt as if he had been transported to another world.

It's so similar, so incredibly similar!

She was just more beautiful, and looked more dignified and elegant than his mother.

"Greetings to Mother." Zhu Yi didn't even need to ask any more questions; just by looking at her face, he could guess who the woman in front of him was.

Lou Suzhen nodded slightly, walked up to Zhu Yi, and asked with concern, "Your father said that you have suffered a lot outside recently and need to rest after returning. Are you feeling better?"

"I'm much better," Zhu Yi said. "I just bumped my head, and I can't remember many things from before. Please forgive me, Mother."

It's not that I'm deliberately trying to seem distant.

I honestly can't recall any blood relation between us, and it's still uncertain whether I am your missing son.

After all, I have a scar on my arm from the BCG vaccination, and I've always considered my body to be my own.

"I visited your aunt a couple of days ago. Although she was bedridden, she still mentioned you and talked about many things from your childhood," Lou Suzhen said with a touch of emotion. "Over the years, you've been studying outside the Prince's Mansion, and we've rarely seen each other. It really is... unfair to you."

At this point, Lou Suzhen's maternal heart stirred, and she made a gesture as if to wipe away tears.

According to Zhu Yi, the "aunt" mentioned by Lou Suzhen should be Princess Jutan, Zhu Chenhao's half-sister.

The epitaph of Princess Jutan of the Ming Dynasty records:

"The Princess was the eighth daughter of Prince Ningkang. She was of pure and honest nature and did not indulge in extravagance. She was born on the fifth day of the seventh month of the fifteenth year of Chenghua. In the fourth year of Hongzhi, she was exonerated by the court and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, she was granted the title of Princess Jutan. After coming of age, she was married to Li Tingyong, a Grand Master of the Palace and a member of the Imperial Clan Court. Tingyong died before her and had no children. On the nineteenth day of the eighth month of the tenth year of Zhengde, the Princess also died of illness at the age of thirty-seven..."

In other words, his capable aunt died back then.

If Princess Jutan hadn't died, it might have greatly helped Zhu Chenhao's rebellion.

Zhu Yi said, "Mother, it's nothing. I haven't even had a chance to pay my respects to you yet, and it's my fault as your son to let you come first."

What else can be said?

We'll acknowledge his identity as the son of the Prince of Ning.

It's not that I want to admit it, it's that you're forcing me to.

Lou Suzhen spoke a few more words, and after confirming that her son was not seriously ill, she revealed the main purpose of her visit: "Your father brought Mr. Tang to see you earlier, and after returning, he placed Mr. Tang in a secluded place, saying that during their meeting, Mr. Tang, due to hysteria, offended you. Is this true?"

Zhu Yi pondered for a moment.

Should we say it exists, or does it not exist?

Lou Suzhen didn't seem too keen on getting an answer. She said, "Mr. Tang has come from afar as a distinguished guest of the Prince's Mansion. I never imagined that he would fall ill due to his advanced age. We should treat him properly."

If someone feigns illness in Nanchang, does that mean it has to be considered a work-related injury? And they have to be held fully responsible?

Mom, you can't side with outsiders! If it weren't for Tang Yin's slovenly and unkempt appearance, people would really think you and him had something going on.

The princess's reputation needs to be carefully protected, right?

Zhu Yi said, "Mr. Tang is renowned and exceptionally talented. If he recovers, I would like to learn more from him."

He can't leave!

If he could "face reality" and join the Ning Prince's side, his illness would be cured immediately.

Otherwise, this person probably wouldn't exist in this world!

Of course, if you want to go to the Americas to explore new lands, take Tang Yin with you and make sure he never comes back. If you apply to Prince Ning, he will most likely agree.

So it's like exiling Tang Yin, right?

"Yi'er, can you help him?" Lou Suzhen looked at her son with eager eyes.

"Mother, why don't you go and talk to... Father?" Zhu Yi was also puzzled.

What kind of conflict has arisen between you and your husband? If you want to help Tang Yin, you can talk to your husband. What's the point of pleading with your son?

Lou Suzhen sighed, "I don't know why, but your father has been placing high hopes on you lately, and even intends to entrust you with important responsibilities. Even Mr. Tang's matter today is related to you. If you could step forward and plead for him, perhaps... it would be more useful."

This also made Zhu Yi realize what it means to talk to smart people easily.

Even though Lou Suzhen knew nothing about his conversation with Zhu Chenhao, she could still tell that Tang Yin's current predicament was entirely caused by Zhu Yi.

Lou Suzhen also realized that the only person who could save Tang Yin from the fire was her son.

"Mother, let me be frank. A heart ailment requires a heart remedy. This heart ailment isn't just in Mr. Tang, but also in Father. Unless Mr. Tang sees the error of his ways, otherwise..."

This was to inform Lou Suzhen that Zhu Chenhao already knew about Tang Yin's feigned illness and was certain of it.

But Tang Yin himself refused to admit it!

Tang Yin wouldn't turn back, and no amount of help from anyone could change that.

Tang Yin couldn't overcome his inner conflict.

If he wanted to achieve great things and rebel, he wouldn't have pretended to be crazy and jumped into the lake in the dead of winter.

Lou Suzhen said calmly, "Since you know everything, Yi'er, then I'll leave this matter to you. I thank you in advance."