Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

At 9:00 AM, in the main hall of the Duke of Wei's mansion.

There are a few things.

"Your Highness, I would like to ask for your advice."

After listening to Zhu Biao's account of Zhu Di's elopement, Xu Da did not get angry immediately, but spoke calmly.

"Uncle Xu, please speak frankly."

Zhu Biao knew that the calmer things seemed, the more difficult the matter was to handle.

If anything goes wrong with the royal family or the Duke of Wei's mansion, it could cause a huge upheaval in Yingtian Prefecture.

When was the last time His Highness the Crown Prince saw the Prince of Yan?

"At the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), I was handing my twelfth brother over to my fourth brother."

Zhu Biao replied, word by word.

Upon hearing this, Xu Da's eyes showed a thoughtful expression, and he continued, "According to regulations, the palace gates are locked at 3:45 PM."

"That means that when Your Highness last saw the Prince of Yan, the palace gates were already locked."

"Since the palace gates are not closed, they must not be opened without His Majesty's explicit decree; those who disobey will be executed without mercy!"

"Then I would like to ask, did His Highness the Prince of Yan grow wings and fly out of the capital?"

"this...."

Zhu Biao was so stumped by the questions that he didn't know how to answer them.

"Even if he leaves the capital, he'll still be very conspicuous in his princely robes."

"He definitely needed to change his clothes. Who handed him the clothes privately?"

"Also, from last night until now, who exactly has left the capital?"

Xu Da raised several questions in succession, all of which raised doubts about the Prince of Yan's escape.

"Uncle Xu has sharp eyes."

"I'll head back to the palace now."

Crown Prince Zhu Biao could no longer sit still and got up to walk outside.

Xu Miaojin, who had been eavesdropping in the shadows, quickly ran towards Xu Miaoyun's boudoir in the backyard, accompanied by Xu Zengshou.

"Big sister, big sister."

The two rushed into the room.

"Why are you in such a panic? What's wrong?"

Xu Miaoyun embroidered the patterns slowly and deliberately, without even glancing at the two of them.

Xu Miaojin, panting, said urgently, "Prince Yan, Prince Yan has run away from his marriage."

'He did it after all.'

Xu Miaoyun paused in her work, recalling the scene of Zhu Di barging into her boudoir last night, and her mind couldn't help but wander into daydreams.

"Big sister."

"This was told to Father by His Highness the Crown Prince himself."

Xu Miaojin, fearing she wouldn't believe him, added a few more words.

"You're eavesdropping again."

Xu Miaoyun glanced at him, a helpless expression appearing on her gentle and virtuous face.

"Big sister."

"How can you still have the mind to care about this?"

"Even the Prince of Yan has fled."

Xu Miaojin was extremely anxious and didn't care at all whether she had overheard the conversation.

"Don't worry, he can't escape."

"He is a prince."

Xu Miaoyun continued to finish her embroidery, pretending not to know anything about it.

"Big sister, you... I don't care anymore."

Seeing her calm and collected demeanor, Xu Miaojin stomped her foot and ran out.

Xu Zengshou, who remained where he was, hesitated for a while before saying, "Elder sister, I saw the Prince of Yan today."

"Oh?"

Xu Miaoyun quickly looked at Xu Zengshou and asked, "Where did you see it?"

"In Qingliang Mountain."

"His Highness the Prince of Yan injured some of the noble sons of Huaixi Xun Gui, including the second son of Marquis Yongjia, Zhu Liangzu."

"They insulted our family, saying that we were dogs of the Prince of Yan."

Xu Zengshou gets furious whenever this matter is mentioned.

Qingliang Mountain, Qingliang Gate, Qinhuai River...

Xu Miaoyun quickly grasped the important point: Could it be that the Prince of Yan planned to travel north alone?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but clench her hands, feeling worried for Zhu Di.

"Big sister."

"I don't think His Highness Prince Yan is that kind of person."

Xu Zengshou couldn't help but defend Zhu Di: "He must have had something important to do, which is why he had to postpone the marriage proposal."

"Alright, grant me longevity."

Xu Miaoyun quickly stopped him: "Listen to me, no one can tell anyone about this, not even Father."

"Um."

Xu Zengshou nodded earnestly.

..............

Noon, Qianqing Palace.

"Where is the twelfth son?"

Zhu Yuanzhang, with his hands behind his back, asked.

"His son had someone take him to the Fengxian Hall."

"Kneel before the ancestors for three full hours."

Zhu Biao replied.

"Boss, isn't three hours too much?"

"The twelfth brother is still young, and he really doesn't know where the fourth brother went."

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but feel sorry for young Zhu Bai.

"Father."

Zhu Biao bluntly stated, "If there is a mistake, it should be punished."

Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to say a few words on behalf of Xiao Zhu Bai, but his attention was drawn to the sudden sound of footsteps.

"His Majesty."

"The Marquis of Yongjia is away and requests an audience."

The eunuch hurried inside, bowed his head, and reported.

"What brings Marquis Yongjia, Zhu Liangzu, here?"

"pass."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and flicked his sleeve.

"Yes."

The eunuch hurriedly withdrew.

A short while later, Zhu Liangzu, dressed in the robes of a marquis, appeared in the Qianqing Palace, bowed, and greeted, "Greetings, Your Majesty/Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Liangzu, ah."

"Why aren't you resting at home? Why have you come to the palace to see us today?"

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing his old subordinate.

"Smack!!!"

Zhu Liangzu knelt on both knees, his dark face full of grievance: "This humble general begs Your Majesty to make the decision."

"The Prince of Yan..."

"Prince Yan, fourth son!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao exchanged a glance, realizing that Zhu Di was also involved.

"Marquis of Yongjia".

"What did the Prince of Yan do?"

Zhu Biao stepped forward and asked on behalf of Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"The Prince of Yan injured my young son."

"The doctor said that my son is beyond medical help, and even if he is saved, he will be a cripple."

"This humble general joined Your Majesty in the seventeenth year of the Zhizheng era (1357), fought valiantly on the battlefield, and though I have not rendered meritorious service, I have certainly endured hardship. Prince Yan..."

"alright."

Zhu Yuanzhang stopped Zhu Liangzu, saying, "I am already aware of this matter."

"If it was indeed the Prince of Yan who did it, I will give you an explanation."

"Marquis Yongjia, please."

The eunuch serving nearby understood the emperor's meaning and stepped forward to stop Zhu Liangzu.

"This humble general takes his leave."

Zhu Liangzu's eyes were filled with resentment and bitterness as he turned and left the Qianqing Palace.

"Father."

"The fourth brother..."

After he left, Zhu Biao looked anxious.

"Hmph, that Zhu Liangzu."

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly, his face displeased, and said, "How could we not know what kind of person he is?"

"In the sixteenth year of the Zhizheng era (1356), we conquered Ningguo, captured Zhu Liangzu, and put him back in his original position."

"In less than three months, he defected to the Yuan court, defeated our men several times, and established his own regime in Ningguo."

"At that time, we were busy attacking Nanjing and didn't have time to deal with him."

"In the seventeenth year of the Zhizheng era (1357), we sent Xu Da to conquer Ningguo, and he captured Zhu Liangzu once again."

"In that battle, even your Uncle Chang was injured by him. He begged us not to kill him and to serve us to the death."

"Over the years, Zhu Liangzu followed us in our campaigns against Chen Youliang, Zhang Shicheng, Chen Youding, Fang Guozhen and others, and indeed made many contributions."

"In the third year of Hongwu (1370), we enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Yongjia, with a stipend of 1,500 shi of grain, and granted him a certificate of merit, which would be hereditary for his descendants."

"But he was arrogant and conceited, killing military academy students at will, and became infamous."

"His youngest son, Zhu Yu, committed numerous illegal acts in Yingtian Prefecture and was impeached by the censors multiple times."

"Even if the fourth brother kills Zhu Yu, he won't be wronged."