Ming Dynasty: I, Zhu Yunwen, started by resurrecting my grandmother.

Kunning Palace.

Empress Ma looked at the familiar palace as if it were yesterday.

She gently stroked the tables and chairs, looked at the murals on the wall, and a myriad of thoughts welled up in her mind.

She recalled the things she had experienced with Lao Zhu back then, one by one, scene by scene, flashing through her mind.

Now, she has come back to life, but unexpectedly, Old Zhu has passed away, and the two are forever separated by death.

Zhu Di was her son, and Zhu Yunwen was her grandson, yet the two were about to turn against each other with swords drawn. How could she not be heartbroken?

She thought of Zhu Biao again. If Zhu Biao were still alive and had become the emperor, then none of these things would exist.

Unfortunately...

Just as she was lost in thought, Zhu Yunwen walked in from outside and knelt down, saying, "Grandson greets Grandmother!"

For some reason, Empress Ma particularly liked Zhu Yunwen. Every time she saw him, her mood would improve: "My dear grandson, get up quickly."

Zhu Yunwen did not get up, but remained kneeling there: "Grandmother, I have come to beg for forgiveness from you."

"Oh, what crime have you committed?" Empress Ma was quite surprised to hear this.

"I have brought Zhu Gaoxu back," Zhu Yunwen answered truthfully.

"Why did you arrest him?" Empress Ma looked at Zhu Yunwen with a questioning gaze.

Zhu Yunwen then recounted the whole story.

Empress Ma was incredibly intelligent.

She immediately understood that Zhu Yunwen wanted to use someone else to kill Zhu Yunwen.

"That bastard Zhu Yunwen is up to no good, he plays dirty tricks."

Saying one thing to someone's face and another behind their back.

He personally promised me in front of your grandfather's funeral that he wouldn't kill you, yet he resorted to such methods. Empress Ma was furious.

Zhu Yunwen lowered his head and remained silent.

"You were acting on imperial orders, you did nothing wrong," Empress Ma sighed. "When Zhu Di's army was at the city gates, Zhu Yunwen was so frightened that he cried. It was you who saved him from this predicament."

Zhu Di had just withdrawn his troops when he came to harm you again.

He's a wolf cub.

"Grandmother, the problem now is, we don't know how the Emperor intends to deal with Zhu Gaoxu."

For Empress Ma, Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Yunwen, and Zhu Gaoxu were all her own grandsons; they were all her flesh and blood.

What grandmother doesn't love her grandson?

Empress Ma frowned: "People often say that children are no longer under their fathers' control when they grow up. Now that you have all grown up and Zhu Yunwen has become emperor, things are different from before."

What about Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui?

"Currently, their whereabouts are unknown."

"In the end, all of this is the result of your royal grandfather's sins. If I had followed your wishes, I would have only had your father."

He insisted on saying that the more descendants the better.

As a result, she pestered me every day.

Then, Zhu Shuang, Zhu Yi, Zhu Di, and Zhu Su were born.

Tell me, what's the use of having so many wolf cubs?

They argued and fought back and forth.

It would have been better not to have children at all.

"..."

Zhu Yunwen's study.

Zhu Yunwen sat inside the document room.

Qi Tai reported to him.

"Zhu Gaoxu has been captured?" Zhu Yunwen was somewhat incredulous.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I did not expect that Zhu Yunwen would have such ability to actually capture Zhu Gaoxu. It seems that I underestimated Zhu Yunwen." Qi Tai felt his face burning as he said this.

Zhu Yunwen leaned back in his chair, listening with squinted eyes: "Now that Zhu Gaoxu has been captured, killing him will solve the problem."

Upon hearing this, Qi Tai quickly stopped him: "Your Majesty is mistaken. Zhu Gaoxu must not be killed."

"Oh, why?"

"Firstly, although Zhu Gaoxu has been captured, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui have not yet been captured;

Secondly, Zhu Di led his troops back to Beiping, filled with resentment. Sooner or later, he will return with a vengeance. We should take his three sons hostage.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen felt that what he said made sense and nodded slightly: "My dear minister, then, what is your opinion?"

Qi Tai pondered for a moment and slowly said, "Although Zhu Gaochi is not as brave as Zhu Gaoxu, he has superhuman strength, is also good at archery, and is full of good ideas. When the late emperor was alive, he often praised him."

Perhaps Your Majesty could issue another decree ordering Zhu Yunwen to arrest Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu.

We'll see how Zhu Yunwen performs. If he can't handle it, he can still be sentenced to death!

If Zhu Yunwen were killed by Zhu Gaochi, he would be unlucky!

If Zhu Yunwen really captured Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui again, then he and Zhu Di would become mortal enemies, and they would never unite against the court again.

This is a two-birds-with-one-stone strategy.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen revealed a sinister smile: "My dear minister, no wonder the late emperor relied on you so much when he was alive, and even bestowed upon you the name 'Tai'. It seems that the late emperor indeed had a discerning eye for talent."

"Your Majesty flatters me. I was merely acting in accordance with the circumstances."

Dali Temple.

Yu Qian, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, sat behind his desk with a gloomy expression.

Dozens of guards stood on the left and right sides.

Two guards brought Zhu Gaoxu forward, bound hand and foot.

Zhu Gaoxu stood tall and proud, not kneeling.

Yu Qian glanced at him and asked sternly, "Zhu Gaoxu, why do you not kneel before me?"

"I kneel to heaven, to earth, and to my parents, why should I kneel to you?" Zhu Gaoxu said loudly.

Two guards struck Zhu Gaoxu's calves with wooden canes.

Zhu Gaoxu turned around and glared at him angrily.

The two guards were so frightened that they backed away.

Yu Qian waved his hand, and the two guards withdrew.

Do you know your crime?

"What crime has the young master committed?"

"The late emperor has just passed away, yet you go to the Heming Tower on the banks of the Qinhuai River to seek pleasure and indulge in debauchery. This is extremely unfilial and disrespectful."

"In recent years, some scholars have complained that the imperial examinations of our dynasty are unfair and merely a formality, with some people engaging in favoritism and cheating to protect the court from talented individuals."

So, I went to the examination hall to investigate, both openly and secretly, to see if there was any truth to it. In my spare time, I went to Heming Tower to have a bowl of tea, and that was all. Zhu Gaoxu said this with conviction.

"Snapped!"

Yu Qian slammed his hand on the document and angrily said, "You still dare to argue! Who told you to go and investigate?"

Has His Majesty issued an order for you to go?

That's utter nonsense.

"I ask you, did your father, under the pretext of mourning, lead 100,000 troops to besiege the capital? Was this premeditated by you and your father?"

"The court is truly determined to find fault; they will always find a pretext."

My father led the army to fight against the Northern Yuan.

On the way, I heard that my grandfather had passed away, so I came to pay my respects.

However, the court mistakenly regarded the meritorious official as a traitor, and without giving him a chance to explain, led troops to attack my father. Zhu Gaoxu was very angry.

"Zhu Gaoxu, I really didn't realize you were lying through your teeth."

Where is Beiyuan?

"In the northern desert."

"It's a wonder you even know that the Northern Yuan is in the northern desert. If your father was really fighting against the Northern Yuan, how come he's already reached the capital?"

That's utter nonsense!

"this--."

Zhu Gaoxu could not justify his explanation and lowered his head in silence.

"And where are your two brothers, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui?"

"I have no idea."

"you do not know?

You three brothers conspired to be your father's inside men and overthrow the court. How could you not know their whereabouts?

I see you're a spineless coward; you won't remember anything unless you suffer a bit. Guards!

Before he could finish speaking, two burly men walked in from outside the door and bowed, saying, "Sir, please give your orders!"

"Drag Zhu Gaochi out and give him forty lashes, so he'll learn his lesson!"

"promise!"

Without a word, the two burly men dragged Zhu Gaoxu out and started beating him.

Zhu Gaoxu shouted, "Young Master is itchy! Have you all forgotten to eat? Try harder!"

Enraged, Yu Qian pointed and shouted, "Beat them! Beat them to death!"

Zhu Gaoxu was beaten unconscious and didn't utter a single word.

"For now, lock him up in the Dali Temple prison and keep him under strict guard!"

"promise!"

Everyone agreed in unison.

Within the capital city,

Several houses.

Outside the houses, there is a courtyard.

Zhu Gaosui ran in from outside.

He looked around to make sure no one was watching, then closed the gate.

Then, he said in a low voice, "Brother, I've already found out everything."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaochi's eyes, which had been narrowed to slits due to his obesity, immediately lit up: "How is it?"

"My second brother is imprisoned in the Dali Temple jail."

"Oh, are you sure?"

"Absolutely true."

Zhu Gaosui then recounted the information he had gathered to Zhu Gaochi.

After hearing this, Zhu Gaochi remained silent, walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back.

Because of his large size, preference for quiet over activity, and lack of exercise, his legs and feet are somewhat inconvenient.

Now, he has been made heir apparent by Zhu Di.

They were originally four brothers, but Zhu Gaoxi died young, leaving only the three of them.

Zhu Gaosui was innocent and carefree, and he listened to Zhu Gaochi's every word, but Zhu Gaochi did not take him seriously.

What Zhu Gaochi feared most was Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaochi was exceptionally brave and often compared himself to Li Shimin.

Who exactly was Li Shimin?

He was responsible for conquering almost the entire Tang Dynasty.

Later, he launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, killing Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince Qi Li Yuanji, forcing Li Yuan to abdicate, and becoming emperor himself.

Zhu Gaochi wondered if he was destined to follow in Li Jiancheng's footsteps.

Therefore, Zhu Gaochi hesitated, wondering whether or not to save Zhu Gaoxu.

But if we don't save him, who will we rely on to conquer the world in the future?

Without a doubt, Zhu Gaochi was a rare and formidable general when it came to fighting.

After much deliberation, Zhu Gaochi decided to rescue Zhu Gaoxu first.

Let him charge into battle; in the future, when Father King gains the throne and I become the Crown Prince, then I'll deal with him.

Zhu Gaochi was very confident.

He knew in his heart that he was no match for Zhu Gaoxu in terms of martial arts skills;

However, when it comes to strategy, even ten Zhu Gaoxu tied together would be useless.

"Big brother, what are we waiting for?"

"Let's go and rescue Second Brother." Zhu Gaosui was very anxious when he saw that Zhu Gaochi remained silent.

"How can we save him?" Zhu Gaochi raised his eyebrows.

"Tonight, we'll gather dozens of our elite men, storm the Dali Temple prison, and rescue Second Brother!"

Zhu Gaochi sneered: "Are you going to save people?"

That's going to your death!

Do you know what the prison of Dali Temple is?

The area is heavily guarded. Even if we had ten times the manpower, let alone our small force, we might not be able to rescue your second brother.

"What should we do then?" Zhu Gaosui wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"You can only blame your second brother for this. He was too careless. What time is it? He still had the mind to go to the Qinhuai River." Zhu Gaochi said irritably.

"Brother, that's all in the past. Why are you bringing it up now?"

Right now, the most important thing is to rescue my second brother first.

It was the third watch of the night.

Dali Temple prison.

A bright moon hangs in the sky, shining its light on the flat earth.

A bird glides across the sky, its shadow reflected on the ground.

A breeze gradually picked up.

Hundreds of prison guards stood watch around the Dali Temple.

Suddenly, a jailer ran over and reported to Yu Qian: "Sir, there's a fire in the kitchen."

"What?" Yu Qian was also taken aback.

Because the Dali Temple prison was very large, a kitchen was specially set up on its east side.

The kitchen was adjacent to the Dali Temple prison.

"How did the fire start?"

"I don't know."

"How's the fire?"

"Reporting to you, sir, the flames shot several feet high!"

"Ah? Mobilize all available personnel immediately to fight the fire."

Yu Qian was also very nervous. If the Dali Temple's prison was burned down, he would be in deep trouble.

Yu Qian left four jailers to guard the place while the others went to put out the fire.

Just then, a figure jumped out of the darkness; it was Zhu Gaosui.

He wielded the ghost-head knife, hacking down the four prison guards one by one.

Then, they rushed in quickly, searched high and low, and finally found Zhu Gaoxu's cell. They swung their swords and cut the lock off the door.

Zhu Gaoxu was beaten so badly that his skin was torn and bleeding, and he was unable to walk.

Zhu Gaosui carried Zhu Gaoxu out of the house.

Zhu Gaosui said to a large, stout man dressed in the robes of a prince, "Second brother has been rescued. Let's go quickly."

The man nodded: "You did a good job."

Zhu Gaosui first put Zhu Gaoxu on the horse's back, and then mounted the horse himself.

The fat man also mounted the horse.

Just as they were about to leave, they saw two horses approaching, with two people sitting on their backs – Zhu Yunwen and Zhao Ning'er.

Zhu Yunwen, in high spirits and full of vigor, said: "Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaosui, what a brilliant feint! We have been waiting here for a long time. Why don't you dismount and surrender? When will you?"

Zhu Gaosui was furious: "Zhu Yuntong, I've noticed that you've changed. You're completely different from before."

"You little brat, you don't even greet your brother properly when you see him. From childhood to adulthood, when have you ever won against me? Don't be impulsive!" Zhu Yunwen said calmly.

"Pah! Today, I'll fight you to the death!"

As he spoke, Zhu Gaosui spurred his horse and rode straight toward Zhu Yunwen.

They had only run a few dozen meters when they heard a loud "boom" and Zhu Gaosui and Zhu Gaoxu, along with their horses, fell into a large, cylindrical pit, more than two zhang deep.

Because it was covered by branches and leaves, and it was nighttime, they didn't notice it.

The pit was filled with the excrement and urine of cows, horses, and sheep, and it was about ten feet deep.

Zhu Gaosui and Zhu Gaoxu then started thrashing around inside.

Zhu Gaosui wiped the water from his face with his hand: "Zhu Yuntong, you're utterly despicable! You just wait and see, I'm not finished with you! Oops, I can't swim!"

Zhu Yunwen covered his face with his hands: "I already told you not to be impulsive, why did you do this?"

Zhao Ning'er laughed and said, "That's called not believing in superstitions; he wants to experience what it's like down there."

Zhu Yunwen immediately shouted, "Zhu Gaochi, what do you plan to do?"

"Are you going to jump down yourself, or do I have to do it for you?"