I, Zhu Yunwen of the Ming Dynasty, resurrected Empress Ma at the start.

The 25th year of the Hongwu reign.

Sighs echoed from a simple house.

Zhu Yunwen sat by the window, looking at the sky outside, and sighed for the three hundred and eighty-first time.

"well!!!"

It's not that he doesn't want to stop, it's that he really can't stop.

Today is a big day.

His fourth uncle, Zhu Di, should still be eating sand in Beiping right now.

His second uncle, Zhu Shuang, is probably still in Xi'an figuring out how to live a life of debauchery.

And he, Zhu Yunwen, the grandson of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and the eldest son of Crown Prince Zhu Biao, was holed up in this small room, waiting for what was about to happen.

The matter of establishing the Crown Prince.

It wasn't him who stood there.

It was Zhu Yunwen.

As a time traveler and a history buff who specializes in studying the history of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yunwen knew all too well what was going to happen next.

When Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne and began to reduce the power of the princes, his fourth uncle rebelled. As a result, he, the "former crown prince's legitimate son," was imprisoned and eventually died quietly in some dark corner.

Historical records about him consist of just a few dry lines, with even the cause of death remaining vague.

"well!!!"

The three hundred and eighty-second sound.

He was Zhu Yuanzhang's eldest grandson, yet he was denied the position of Crown Prince.

Instead, Zhu Yunwen became the crown prince.

He leaned back in his chair, slumped down, stared at the roof beams, and began to mutter to himself.

"Isn't that because I have nothing now?"

"If my mother were still alive, how dare Madam Lü bully me like this?"

His mother, Lady Chang, was the daughter of Chang Yuchun, the Prince of Kaiping, and the Crown Prince's principal wife.

If she were alive, would those sycophantic palace servants dare to give her attitude? Would Lady Lü dare to act arrogantly in front of her?

"If my grandma were still alive, how could grandpa be so confused?"

Grandma, Empress Ma, also known as Big-Footed Lady Ma, was his grandfather's first wife and the only person in the entire Ming Dynasty who could make his grandfather submit.

If Grandma were alive, would she have stood by and watched Grandpa skip over the legitimate grandson and establish a son born out of wedlock?

"If my maternal grandfather were still alive..."

Chang Yuchun.

A fierce man who took the head of a general from an army of 100,000, and one of his grandfather's most trusted brothers.

If Chang Yuchun were alive, and stood in front of his grandfather, asking, "Your Majesty, what's wrong with my grandson?", his grandfather would probably have to think about it carefully.

"If only my brother hadn't died young..."

Zhu Xiong Ying, his elder brother, the eldest grandson of the emperor. If his brother were alive, what chance would Zhu Yunwen have? Who would Zhu Yunwen be?

but.

They are all gone.

My mother died, my grandmother died, my maternal grandfather died, and my elder brother died.

He was the only one left.

Footsteps came from outside, and the eunuch's high-pitched voice could be faintly heard relaying a message.

Zhu Yunwen knew that was the direction to Fengtian Hall.

The investiture ceremony is about to begin.

And you ask him why he, as Zhu Biao's eldest son and Zhu Yuanzhang's eldest grandson, hasn't gone now?

Because he had sent a eunuch to tell Zhu Yuanzhang early in the morning that he was seriously ill and unable to attend the ceremony to establish Zhu Yunwen as the imperial grandson.

In any case, Zhu Yunwen was not favored by Zhu Yuanzhang from a young age, and the two were not that close.

Even if Zhu Yuanzhang gets angry or loses his temper, so what?

He clenched his fists.

What is Zhu Yunwen, the historical emperor, doing right now? Is he crying? Or is he resigning himself to his fate?

he does not know.

But he knew he wouldn't admit it.

To hell with history, to hell with destiny.

He finally got to travel through time and become a prince, was he just going to wait to die?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

He will absolutely not sit idly by and wait to die; he will absolutely not be like a fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.

"bite!!!"

But at that moment, a sound suddenly exploded in my mind.

Zhu Yunwen almost jumped off his chair.

[The Resurrection of Relatives System has been successfully bound.]

[Ding! New player quest issued: Rage at Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Yunwen, and their ministers. Completing the quest will randomly resurrect one deceased relative.]

[Ding! The following deceased relatives have been resurrected, including but not limited to.]

Empress Ma, Crown Prince Zhu Biao, Crown Prince's principal wife Chang, eldest grandson of the Emperor Zhu Xiong Ying, Lady Chang Lan, wife of the Prince of Kaiping Chang Yu Chun, Duke of Zheng Chang Mao...

Zhu Yunwen was stunned.

He stared at the list of names, looking at them one by one.

Mrs. Ma, his grandmother.

Zhu Biao, his father.

Chang, his mother.

Zhu Xiong Ying, his brother.

Chang Yuchun, his maternal grandfather.

And his uncle, his maternal grandmother...

Holy crap!!!

If he could resurrect these people, then Zhu Yunwen would not be able to become the Crown Prince.

[Ding, mission countdown: one hour.]

One hour.

An hour later, Zhu Yunwen will be officially appointed as the Crown Prince.

By then, it will be too late.

Zhu Yunwen stood up.

He took a deep breath and glanced out the window again. In the direction of Fengtian Hall, he could vaguely see flags fluttering.

"OK."

He clenched his fists and walked out.

"Then let's see if Zhu Yunwen, this imperial grandson, can truly become the imperial grandson!"

……

Fengtian Temple.

The civil and military officials stood on both sides, each with their heads bowed, eyes downcast, not daring to even breathe loudly.

On the dragon throne, Zhu Yuanzhang had a stern face, revealing neither his joy nor anger.

This guy is in a bad mood today; anyone can tell.

Indeed, it's a tragedy for the elderly to outlive their children. Crown Prince Zhu Biao has been gone for almost half a year, and today they are establishing a new imperial grandson, Zhu Biao's son.

This should have been a joyous occasion, but the old man's face was even more somber than the overcast sky outside.

Zhu Yunwen knelt below the imperial steps, his brand-new formal attire making his fair face appear even more gentle and refined.

He knelt with his eyes lowered, looking completely unfazed by praise or criticism.

But in my heart, fireworks were already going off.

Crown Prince.

The crown prince of the Ming Dynasty.

The future emperor.

Finally, it's his.

He turned his head slightly and glanced at his side out of the corner of his eye.

It's empty.

Zhu Yunwen did not come.

Yeah, what's the point of coming? Just to watch your dreams shatter? He wouldn't come either.

Zhu Yunwen's lips twitched slightly, but he quickly suppressed it.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand.

The eunuch holding the imperial edict stepped forward, holding a bright yellow scroll, unrolled it, and cleared his throat.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees!"

All the civil and military officials knelt down in unison.

"Since ancient times, emperors who succeeded to the throne always established an heir apparent to strengthen the foundation of the state..."

Zhu Yunwen listened to those literary words, his ears were ringing, and he couldn't hear anything except the words "Imperial Grandson" and "Zhu Yunwen" echoing in his mind.

"...You, Yunwen, are my grandson. You are kind, virtuous, benevolent, filial, and modest..."

Zhu Yunwen lowered his head, but he could no longer suppress the smile on his lips.

Kindness, virtue, benevolence, and filial piety are all qualities he embodies.

Zhu Yunwen, the Crown Prince.

His fingers clenched slightly, then relaxed, his palms slightly damp.

It's done, it's finally done.

"...He should inherit the throne, assume the proper position in the Eastern Palace, uphold the weight of the ancestral temple, and unite the hearts of the people throughout the land..."

The eunuch's voice continued, but Zhu Yunwen could no longer hear it.

He started thinking: what expression should I use when I express my gratitude later? Too much joy would seem frivolous; too calm would seem insincere. It had to be just the right amount of gratitude, enough to bring tears to my eyes yet maintain dignity…

"So be it..."

The eunuch dragged out the last syllable.

Zhu Yunwen took a deep breath, preparing to kowtow and express his gratitude.

"etc!!!"

A shout came from outside the hall.

Zhu Yunwen was taken aback, and so were all the officials.

Even Zhu Yuanzhang, sitting on the dragon throne, raised his eyelids slightly.

Everyone turned their heads in unison to look at the entrance of the hall.

Sunlight streamed in from outside, and a figure strode across the threshold.

Zhu Yunwen.

He was panting heavily, and sweat was beading on his forehead; he had clearly run there.

The hem of his robe was still covered in dust, which seemed out of place in the solemn and dignified atmosphere of the hall.

Zhu Yunwen's expression froze.