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

Zhu Yunwen stood on the threshold, watching the disheveled figures of Lady Lü and Zhu Yunwen as they were about to leave, and suddenly sneered.

"What's wrong? Why is everyone so quiet? You were all so talkative just now!"

"And you, weren't you just about to punish me?"

"Come on! Come on!"

He took two steps forward, his back straight, his imposing presence like a knife.

"I'll stand right here. If you've got the guts, go ahead and make your move."

Lu stopped abruptly, her back stiffening.

She slowly turned around, staring intently at Zhu Yunwen, her teeth clenched so tightly they gurgled.

But she didn't move in the end.

It's not that I don't want to, it's that I don't dare.

The gleaming imperial edict and the mountain of rewards, box after box, item after item, were all displayed in the courtyard.

His Majesty is currently indulging this wretched child; for her to act now would be tantamount to courting death, like walking into a trap.

Lady Lü took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging anger.

"You just wait."

He uttered each word slowly and deliberately, squeezing them out from between his teeth.

"Walk!"

She abruptly flicked her sleeve, turned around, and left.

Zhu Yunwen glared fiercely at Zhu Yunwen, clutching his still aching stomach, and limped close behind.

The two had just arrived at the courtyard gate...

"etc."

Zhu Yunwen's voice came from behind him, light and gentle, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Lu paused, and before she could turn around, a strong gust of wind was already behind her.

"Bang!"

He kicked her hard in the lower back.

"ah!!!"

Lu fell forward, landing face-first in the dirt, raising a cloud of dust.

"Mother!"

Zhu Yunwen exclaimed in surprise and went to help him up.

However, at that very moment, Zhu Yunwen began to chatter on and on.

"What's your hurry? You're not getting your share!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he kicked Zhu Yunwen directly in the buttocks.

"Bang!"

"ah!!!"

Zhu Yunwen was also kicked away and landed right next to Lady Lü.

The mother and son rolled around in a ball, lying outside the courtyard gate, covered in mud and looking extremely disheveled.

"you--!"

"You...you ...

Lu struggled to lift her head, her face filled with disbelief.

How dare Zhu Yunwen kick her? How dare he lay a hand on her, the mistress of the Eastern Palace?!

She found it incredible, utterly incredible.

Is this still the same Zhu Yuntong who was punished by her and dared not resist?

However, at this moment, Zhu Yunwen stood at the door with his hands behind his back, gently clapping his hands with an indifferent expression.

"What do you mean, 'you'? And you call yourself 'Empress'?"

"Do you really think this yard is a place you can come and go as you please?"

He curled his lips into a cold smile.

"roll."

"Get out of here now! Don't blame me for being rude!"

The words fell.

"Bang!"

The courtyard gate was slammed shut, shutting out all the chaos and resentment outside.

Lady Lü collapsed to the ground, completely stunned.

Having lived half her life as a concubine of the Crown Prince and the mistress of the Eastern Palace, she had never suffered such a humiliation.

Zhu Yunwen scrambled to his feet, his face covered in mud and blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, both shocked and furious.

"Mother! He...he dared to hit you!"

"Mother, let's go to the palace immediately to find our Imperial Grandfather! We must make him pay with his life!"

"This is unfilial! This is extremely unfilial! The Emperor's grandfather dislikes unfilial people the most!"

Madam Lü gritted her teeth, supported herself on the ground, and slowly stood up, brushing the dust off her body.

She stared at the tightly closed wooden door, her eyes brimming with resentment.

But she still shook her head, her voice very low.

"No, absolutely not now! You must not complain to your royal grandfather now."

Zhu Yunwen was so anxious that his eyes turned red. He didn't understand why.

He couldn't stand eating so many turtles today, so he said.

"Why not? He insulted you in public; such a heinous crime cannot be tolerated!"

"Your imperial grandfather is currently favoring him!" Lady Lü almost growled through gritted teeth. "Didn't you see the courtyard full of rewards? Didn't you see the imperial edict?"

"If you go and file a complaint now, do you think your imperial grandfather will listen to whomever he chooses?"

"What's more, now that your grandmother is also biased towards Zhu Yunwen, going to complain now will only bring trouble upon yourself."

Zhu Yunwen was taken aback and was speechless for a moment.

Although he was furious, he knew that his mother was right.

But he was still unconvinced and couldn't swallow his anger.

"Then... then let's just leave it at that?"

Suddenly, Lady Lü gave a cold laugh, a laugh that was chilling and piercing.

"Give up? There's never been such a cheap deal in the world."

She stared intently at the door, her eyes as fierce as a snake's.

"I will make this wretched creature pay a thousandfold, a hundredfold price."

We'll see.

She flicked her sleeves and turned to leave.

Zhu Yunwen turned back and glared fiercely at the tightly closed courtyard gate, gritting his teeth as he quickly followed.

In the courtyard.

Zhu Yunwen's eyes lit up instantly as he looked at the chests and boxes scattered on the ground.

Gold, silver, brocade, jewelry... piled up like mountains, so dazzling that one could hardly open their eyes.

He squatted down, casually opened a box, and neatly stacked white silver ingots were inside.

Opening another box, the gleaming gold ingots were dazzling.

Another box, filled with pearls, agates, jade, and glass, a dazzling array of precious stones.

Zhu Yunwen's grin widened, his heart filled with elation.

They've made it big! This time, they've really made it big.

In his previous life, he was a poor commoner; in this life, reborn as a prince, he has never seen such immense wealth.

That old man was really generous today.

He grabbed a handful of pearls, letting them slip through his fingers, listening to the crisp sound, and felt incredibly happy.

How much silver must that be?

I'll find an opportunity later to quietly sell a batch and get cash in hand.

With money in hand, what big things can't be accomplished?

Zhu Yunwen happily put the pearl back and stood up.

But as soon as I straightened up, my mind calmed down.

That poisonous woman, Lady Lü, and that brat, Zhu Yunwen, will never let this go so easily.

These two kicks today have already offended them to the point of no return.

But he didn't care.

They were mortal enemies to begin with; it made no difference whether you offended them sooner or later.

However, he must accumulate some strength for himself as soon as possible.

Zhu Yunwen narrowed his eyes, and a name surfaced in his mind.

Blue jade.

His birth mother's maternal uncle, his maternal great-uncle, was the most powerful nobleman in Huaixi and the Duke of Liang, who held considerable military power.

Although he is now suspected by his grandfather and no longer holds significant military power.

But he had many cronies within the military.

This person must be won over.

With his cheap father dead, Lan Yu, a core member of the princeling faction, lost his backer and now lives in constant fear.

Zhu Yunwen's faction had long been sharpening their knives, eager to eliminate him as soon as possible.

If we can firmly bind Lan Yu to our ship...

That means you have plenty of confidence.

How do we begin?

If someone comes to your door to befriend you for no reason, the old man will definitely become suspicious.

We must find a legitimate reason that no one can find fault with.

He stroked his chin and strolled slowly in the courtyard.

A moment later, his eyes suddenly lit up.

Have it.

Zhu Yunwen's lips curled into a confident smile.

In this matter, we still have to rely on his grandmother!