Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

"Father."

Zhu Biao frowned, his mind filled with doubt: "How did Fourth Brother encounter Zhu Liangzu's son and even get into a fight?"

"Your Majesty, I wish to request the garrison command of the capital to investigate this matter."

"Yes, send someone to fetch Tiande as well."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and gave the order.

"Yes."

Without saying a word, Zhu Biao turned and left the Qianqing Palace.

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

In the afternoon, the sun was blazing.

Inside the Hall of Literary Glory, Zhu Yuanzhang patted Xu Da on the shoulder and assured him, "Hey, old brother, you can put your mind at ease."

"If you return victorious, we'll definitely give you a lively and energetic son-in-law."

"At worst, we can just throw away that good-for-nothing fourth brother."

"Choose any of my sons."

『............』

Xu Da rolled his eyes at the sound of it.

"Your Highness, oh right, Your Highness is married."

"Apart from the Crown Prince, whoever you fancy is yours."

"I'll tie him up and have him marry our eldest daughter."

Zhu Yuanzhang forced a smile to appease Xu Da.

"His Majesty."

Xu Da stated logically and with evidence: "When children from ordinary families run away from home, it's mostly to visit relatives and friends."

"Where will the prince go?"

"hehe."

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled sarcastically.

"Tap tap..."

Just then, Crown Prince Zhu Biao returned, and Zhu Yuanzhang quickly interrupted, "Elder brother, is there any news?"

"Father, Uncle Xu."

Zhu Biao hurriedly entered the hall and said, "The Beijing Garrison Command has already investigated."

"This morning at Qingliang Mountain, Zengshou had a conflict with a group of noble sons."

"The fourth brother happened to be passing by and taught these noble sons a lesson."

"Zengshou, is he involved in this?"

Xu Da glared and puffed out his beard, still preoccupied with his own family matters.

"Father."

"The fourth brother was a bit ruthless."

Zhu Biao hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

"Go on."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't take his words to heart. How could his fourth son, a mere teenager, possibly break the arms and legs of these noble sons?

"Yes."

Zhu Biao continued, "The fourth brother broke the arms and legs of all 17 noble sons present."

What?

Zhu Yuanzhang was almost speechless with astonishment.

How could it be possible that Zhu Di broke the arms and legs of 17 noble sons?

"Zhu Yu, the second son of Marquis Yongjia Zhu Liangzu, was not seriously injured."

"Those present only saw the fourth brother lightly slap him, and he immediately vomited blood and turned deathly pale."

Zhu Biao then added.

"His Majesty."

"This is probably a very sophisticated method of channeling energy."

"His Highness Prince Yan's palm strike delivered force into the body, damaging the internal organs."

"Only a very small number of people in the world can do it."

Xu Da, having fought in numerous battles, was well-informed and quickly gleaned important information from Zhu Biao's description.

"Where did the fourth brother learn that from?"

Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his temples. Things were getting further and further off track, and even he, the emperor, couldn't quite understand what Zhu Di was showing.

The military focuses on cultivating physical strength, while this approach of specializing in internal energy is more like the work of a hermit living deep in the mountains.

"Father."

"The guards of the Prince of Qin's residence have come to report."

"The Prince of Yan went to the Prince of Qin's residence this morning and met with his sister-in-law."

"What is the fourth prince doing going to see the Princess Consort of Qin?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was completely bewildered and looked at Zhu Biao with a puzzled expression.

Zhu Biao said helplessly, "The fourth brother has been clamoring to go into battle and kill the enemy. I'm afraid he's really serious this time. He asked his sister-in-law some questions about the grasslands and Kökö Temür."

"He's gone too far."

Zhu Yuanzhang slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Have someone bring this brat back to me and break his legs!"

Everyone could see that the emperor's intention was not to punish Prince Yan, Zhu Di, but rather to show concern for him.

A mere child, barely out of his teens, ran off to join the army and was even going to fight the Yuan people in the northern deserts. No matter how powerful a prince or nobleman, an ordinary family would not simply let him go unpunished.

"His Majesty."

Xu Da frowned and interrupted, "The ferry is right outside Qingliang Gate. Go north along the Qinhuai River and it will flow directly into the Yangtze River."

"Since Your Highness Prince Yan has already arrived at Qingliang Mountain, why did you turn back to Prince Qin's residence halfway there?"

"Tiande, you mean this brat..."

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately realized that Zhu Di seemed to be deliberately revealing his whereabouts.

"His Highness the Prince of Yan has grand ambitions."

Xu Da said meaningfully, "I'm afraid we won't need to look for him; he will appear on his own."

"That brat."

Zhu Yuanzhang cursed, but his mood had already calmed down.

"Father."

"What about the Marquis of Yongjia..."

Zhu Biao suddenly brought up Zhu Yu's matter.

"A little beast, he's dead, so be it."

"Does he expect my son to pay with his life?"

"Go and tell Yingtian Prefecture to arrest all those noble sons who have violated the law."

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, and he said sternly, "The common people are easy to oppress, but Heaven is hard to deceive. My empire will not allow such people to run rampant."

"Yes."

Zhu Biao's lips curled into a bitter smile.

The son of the Marquis of Yongjia summoned a group of noble sons to surround Xu Zengshou, which was inappropriate in the first place. Zhu Di stepped in to resolve the situation and save face for the Xu family. The Marquis of Yongjia, Zhu Liangzu, personally went to the palace to complain about this matter, which explains why Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry.

"His Majesty."

Xu Da spoke up to remind him, "Zhu Liangzu only has two sons after all."

"Over the years, I've fought countless battles in the north and south, and my age is a factor to consider."

"If the youngest son dies, those nobles will inevitably feel a sense of shared sorrow."

"The army is about to march to the northern desert to attack Kökö Tölö."

After giving Xu Da a deep look, Zhu Yuanzhang calmly said, "Issue an order to the Grand General's Office."

"Zhu Xianjin, Left Commander of the Imperial Guard, was promoted to Deputy Commander of the Left Guard."

"Yes."

The eunuch immediately responded and went to deliver the imperial decree.

"Boss."

"Go tell your mother that the fourth son, that little rascal, has been found."

"Yes."

Zhu Biao turned and left the Huagai Hall, heading towards the Kunning Palace.

"Heavenly Virtue".

"Although the fourth son is unruly, he always acts with a certain method."

"With the second northern expedition imminent, his rash trip to the Prince of Qin's residence suggests there may be more to the story."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Xu Da, his eyes dark and deep.

Xu Da nodded in agreement, saying, "Your Majesty is right."

"I believe there may be some hidden reasons behind the Prince of Yan's elopement this time. This move will likely cause unrest among the nobles, civil officials, and the Yuan people."

"I would like to meet this son-in-law."

"You've taken a fancy to the fourth son?"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and jokingly remarked with great interest.

"If you and I had lived a law-abiding life in the village back then, we would probably still be toiling in the fields for a living now."

"The Prince of Yan is young, but he is bold and decisive, and acts with meticulous care."

"Your Majesty and I, at his age, are not even as old as the Prince of Yan."

Xu Da's words revealed his high regard for Zhu Di. The sons of ordinary families could be mediocre, but princes and nobles could not.

Being Zhu Chongba's son, in particular, means surpassing countless others.

"Okay, okay."

"I entrust the fourth prince to you."

Zhu Yuanzhang patted Xu Da heavily on the shoulder, everything was understood without words.