The fierce grandson of the Ming Dynasty

One hour later.

By the time of Hai (9-11 PM), the night was pitch black.

Under the care of the palace maids, the grandson of the emperor, Zhu Yunwen, returned to his bedroom to rest.

Crown Princess Lü, however, showed no signs of sleepiness and kept looking outside.

It's already this late!

In the past, His Highness the Crown Prince would return from Wenhua Hall long after finishing his official duties.

But tonight is different from usual.

Contact was made last night at midnight, when the emperor urgently summoned him, and he still hadn't returned during the day.

Could it be that something major has happened in the court?

Then there was the adopted son, Zhu Yunwen, who was summoned away by the Empress and has not been seen since!

Could it be Kunning Palace...?

Lady Lü stroked her large belly, her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowing.

Combining my previous thoughts, I couldn't help but feel a lot of concerns.

Tick!

The female official entered with small, quick steps.

She quickly turned to the side, forcing herself to stand up, and asked, "Has His Highness returned?"

"This is to inform the Crown Princess, not Your Highness... It is the Empress who sent word that Your Highness, Yunhu, will remain in Kunning Palace for the night!"

"Her Majesty also said that the Crown Princess should not worry, as she is pregnant and about to give birth, and should take good care of herself!"

"Starting tomorrow, you don't need to pay your respects every day!"

Upon hearing this, Lady Lü leaned back on the couch and let out a long sigh of relief.

The Empress dotes on her grandson and keeping him by her side is not inappropriate.

However, what happened at the main hall today involves the eldest grandson of the emperor, the thirteenth prince, and Consort Guo Hui...

What she was worried about just now.

The emperor and empress blamed her for not properly educating her adopted son!

If the right to raise a child is taken away, gossip will surely follow!

Now it seems she was overthinking it!

After a brief silence, Madam Lü felt a pain in her stomach; it was her child kicking. Suppressing the pain, she said, "Send someone to Wenhua Hall to check! Has His Highness returned to the palace tonight?"

"yes!"

Two incense sticks later, a message arrived from Wenhua Hall: the Crown Prince was busy with important matters and would not be returning to his palace tonight.

In fact.

Around noon, Zhu Biao secretly left the palace and went to the Ministry of Justice prison, where he personally oversaw the interrogation of Guo Huan and others.

In the present moment.

Inside the hall, candlelight shone brightly.

Zhu Biao sat in the main seat, with files, rosters, and letters on his right.

Beneath the desk, Mao Xiang, the usually arrogant and domineering commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was now cowering on the ground like a cat, not daring to raise his head, waiting to be questioned.

Only after getting to know him for a long time will you realize that the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty in front of you is not as simple as he seems on the surface!

Moreover, in terms of methods, they are more meticulous, thorough, and penetrating than the emperor, and prefer to eliminate problems completely...

If these people are afraid of the emperor!

So, for the Crown Prince, it was a deep-seated reverence!

"Commander Mao, are all the accounts seized from the Ministry of Revenue here?"

Zhu Biao's voice wasn't loud, but it was unusually steady and deep, with a hint of coldness.

Mao Xiang bowed his head and said, "Your Highness! All the registers from the past ten years are here, and some others were seized from the residences of Guo Huan and others..."

"Furthermore, through the investigation of confidential correspondence, it was discovered that Guo Huan had close ties and substantial business dealings with the officials of the Six Ministries!"

"Given its wide-ranging connections, this humble official dares not act on his own initiative. I humbly request Your Highness's guidance!"

Zhu Biao put down the unfolded letter, his expression grave.

There's no denying that these people in the court are incredibly audacious!

Even the heads of the six ministries were involved.

The crimes they committed were truly appalling.

We really need to clean everything from top to bottom!

Let the blood flow like a river!

Otherwise, how can we face the people of the world?

But upon closer examination, it reveals the threat posed to the dynasty.

Just as my father said.

The problem lies in the extensive gentry group in Jiangnan and the cumbersome and chaotic grassroots administration since the end of the Yuan Dynasty.

They are the parasites that have seeped into the very marrow of the Ming Dynasty!

Accompanied by the sound of the night watchman's gong.

I glanced at the sky.

Father Emperor has been working hard these past few days, and tomorrow he will be receiving the candidates from this year's imperial examinations...

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment, then stood up and said, "Pass on my order: keep a close watch on the likes of Zhao Mao, the Minister of Rites, and do not alert them for now!"

"As for the situation here, I will explain it in detail when I meet with my father tomorrow!"

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Before Mao Xiang could leave.

Wu Yong, his robes stained with blood, strode forward.

The clerk from the criminal justice department, who hadn't slept for a day and a night, had bloodshot eyes but was full of excitement. He accepted the confession with both hands, bowed, and said, "Your Highness!!!"

"The clerk Zhao Youcai, the inspector Guo Fu... the clerks for the Ministry of Revenue here have already been recruited!"

"They claimed that they were acting on orders from their superiors to falsify figures and fabricate accounts, thereby profiting from it!"

"As for Guo Huan, he's clinging to a sliver of hope and is stubbornly refusing to talk! But Your Highness, please grant me one more day, and I'll surely get him to open his mouth..."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao picked up the confession, reviewed it, and compared it with the evidence obtained by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His expression grew increasingly grim.

How dare you!

Such a blatant conspiracy to deceive the court and mislead the emperor!

How could I possibly spare you?

After half an incense stick's time, he calmed down, his emotions concealed, and nodded, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Judge Wu! I'll give you another day; just go ahead and interrogate him..."

"yes!"

……

Kunning Palace.

Tonight, Zhu Yuanzhang did not stay overnight in the Huagai Palace, but returned late at midnight.

Before even entering the palace, I discovered that the lights were on and a familiar figure was sitting in front of the candlelight.

Seeing that the eunuch was about to go and announce the news, Old Zhu stopped him with a single glance.

Then, this emperor, a ruler of unparalleled talent and enlightened rule, tiptoed inside, worried about disturbing anyone.

As they got closer, he forced a smile, put his arm around her shoulder, and said softly, "My dear sister, you're still awake!"

Empress Ma, with her keen senses, had long noticed her husband's suspicious behavior. After stepping through the palace gate, she quietly approached him.

She put down the half-finished shoe sole, turned her head and said, "I know you, Chongba, are worrying about the affairs of the world. I can't sleep well until I see you come back with my own eyes."

Then, Empress Ma took the food box from the palace maid and said, "The chicken soup is still warm. It was made this evening by Xiong Ying himself, who went to the imperial kitchen and used an old hen, along with longan, poria cocos, and lotus seeds, to make it. He said it would nourish the spirit and promote restful sleep, without harming the body!"

"I've already eaten. You should eat some while it's hot, so as not to disappoint Xiong Ying's kindness!"

"Although he is young, he is very sensible. It's just that his personality is still like yours when you were young—impulsive, stubborn, and headstrong! Sometimes he likes to stick to his own ideas, and nothing can change his mind..."

When talking about the past, especially embarrassing things that happened in his early years.

Old Zhu smiled sheepishly, but felt a sweet warmth in his heart.

No matter how noble he was, he was ruthless and merciless.

Only with a girl can I truly relax.

And the only person in the whole world who understands him best is our sister!

Old Zhu took the bowl of food, gulped down a mouthful, and immediately found it delicious. He said, "Of course! Our grandson is a descendant of the Zhu family!"

"If he doesn't resemble his imperial grandfather, then who else could he resemble?"

"But today, we really couldn't bring ourselves to hit the eldest grandson! Only the thirteenth little one, we slapped him..."

"Girl, do you trust us?"

Empress Ma glanced at it with annoyance and said, "I believe you!"

"Not angry?"

"When did I say I was angry?"

This sentence left Zhu Yuanzhang speechless.

Before Old Zhu could continue speaking...

Empress Ma added, "Don't think about things that have no future. You have to get up early tomorrow, and you've had your chicken soup, so get some rest!"

"I left Yun-hu in the main hall's sleeping quarters. I noticed he was sleepy earlier, so I had Xiong-ying take him to bed. You and I will sleep in the side hall tonight!"

"We'll listen to the girl!"