Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

"Your Highness, I greet you!"

"Greetings, Your Highness, Prince Yan!"

Just then, a group of palace maids escorted a gentle young woman into the sight of Zhu Biao and Zhu Di.

The Crown Prince's concubine, Lady Lü, stepped forward and bowed to greet him in turn.

"Greetings, sister-in-law."

Zhu Di dared not underestimate the dignified and virtuous beauty before him and immediately returned the greeting.

Lady Lü can be said to be a carefully selected concubine of the crown prince by Zhu Yuanzhang. Her father, Lü Ben, was the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Her family was an official family, and her family, together with the maternal family of the crown prince's principal wife, Lady Chang, formed a civil and military pair to jointly assist the crown prince, Zhu Biao.

He was dignified and discreet, perfectly in line with royal norms.

Historically, the Crown Prince's principal wife, Lady Chang, passed away in November of the eleventh year of the Hongwu reign (1378). Lady Lü was promoted from the secondary wife to the principal wife and subsequently gave birth to Zhu Yunxuan and Zhu Yunxi, thus firmly securing her position as the principal wife.

After the early death of the Crown Prince's eldest son, Zhu Xiong Ying, his son Zhu Yunwen became widely known for his virtue. On the contrary, Zhu Yunwen, the Crown Prince's second eldest son, was known for his many absurd acts, which gradually became known to the court officials as a mediocre and useless person.

Anyone who sees Lady Lü as a plain-looking woman is truly blind.

"All you do is play around. Have you finished your homework for today?"

Lady Lü looked at Zhu Yunwen, her gentle demeanor vanishing, and reprimanded him coldly.

Zhu Yunwen timidly hid between Zhu Biao's legs, remaining silent.

"The Lü family."

"Yunwen is young, so we shouldn't be too harsh on him."

Seeing this, Zhu Biao felt a pang of pity and tried to persuade them.

"Your Highness."

"Jade that is not carved cannot become a useful object."

There's a folk saying: "You can tell what a child will be like at three, and what they will be like in life at seven."

"Yunwen is a prince and grandson of the emperor, so naturally he has more responsibilities than ordinary people."

"As his birth mother, I have no reason to indulge him."

Lu's reasoned and well-founded answer left Zhu Biao at a loss for how to stop her.

Zhu Di, standing to the side, sneered inwardly. These words sounded like a criticism of him, after all, he was notoriously unruly.

"I, your humble servant, believe that Yunwen truly does not need to be so restrained."

Fourth brother.

Zhu Biao couldn't help but turn around and look at Zhu Di.

Zhu Di stepped forward and said directly, "The natural order of heaven and earth, and the cycle of the four seasons, all have traceable patterns."

"As for the future, Xiong Ying, as the eldest brother, will share the burden with Father."

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if Yunwen were a happy and virtuous king!"

"Yay! I want my second brother to play with me."

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at Zhu Yun Wen with eager anticipation. The two had grown up together since childhood and had a deep bond.

"Fourth brother is right."

Zhu Biao smiled slightly and agreed.

Lady Lü's watery eyes grew even deeper as she bowed to Zhu Biao once more: "Your Highness."

"It's getting late, so I'll take Yunwen back now."

"Go."

Zhu Biao patted Zhu Yunwen's head gently.

"Son takes his leave."

Zhu Yunwen looked somewhat reluctant, but still bowed to Zhu Biao and left with Lady Lü.

"U.A., you come back too."

"Yes."

Zhu Xiong Ying also bowed.

"This concubine takes her leave."

Lady Lü glanced at Zhu Di, then led her two grandsons back to where they had come from.

Zhu Di naturally knew what she meant, and turned to Zhu Biao to complain: "Elder brother."

"Your family has been officials for generations, and those pedantic ways of scholars and intellectuals cannot be applied to the children of our Zhu family."

"The way a prince governs the world is completely different from how an official governs the people, so it's inevitable that some people will use Yunwen as a pretext."

"A wise and virtuous ruler who does not strictly govern his subordinates and governs by doing nothing has always been admired by civil officials."

"Although Xiong Ying is still young, the distinction between the eldest son and the youngest son has existed since birth."

"I dare to speak frankly, but there are some things that need to be clarified as soon as possible, so as to prevent others from having any improper thoughts."

"Um."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao's expression changed slightly, and he secretly kept these words in mind.

"Little sister-in-law, we still have plenty of fun to do!"

Zhu Di caught Zhu Biao's subtle expression and smiled coldly to himself.

What is Zhu Yunwen? He's the son of a concubine of the Crown Prince. Zhu Yunwen is more qualified to inherit the throne than him.

In this world, if Zhu Yunwen still dares to covet the throne, then let him know even sooner just how tough his fourth uncle's iron fist of justice is.

"Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother."

"Oh dear, Your Highness, don't run so fast."

Xiao Zhu Bai appeared like a whirlwind, followed by a middle-aged eunuch.

"How could you..."

Zhu Di gave him a warning look.

"Big brother, fourth brother."

Little Zhu Bai's face turned serious, and he quickly bowed and greeted him.

"Your Highness, I have invited the young prince."

The middle-aged eunuch personally reported the matter.

"Twelfth brother, I'm entrusting him to you."

Fourth Brother.

Before Zhu Biao could finish speaking, little Zhu Bai rushed into Zhu Di's arms, the two of them very affectionate.

"I still remember how naughty you were when you were little, how you didn't like to study, and how you used to climb trees to catch fish."

"When Father finds out, he gets angry and punishes me."

"If you corrupt Little Twelve, I'm going to beat you up."

Zhu Biao pointed at Zhu Di, his voice carrying a fatherly tone.

"understood."

Zhu Di deliberately drew out his words, took Zhu Bai's little hand, and turned to leave the Eastern Palace.

He sighed inwardly, thinking, "He still wants to beat him up? Even if Zhu Biao only had one hand, Zhu Biao probably couldn't beat him."

"Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother."

"I want to go play in the Imperial Garden."

Little Zhu Bai shook Zhu Di's large hand, looking at him with anticipation.

Looking at his clever twelfth brother, Zhu Di couldn't help but recall the historical description of Zhu Bai: "The Prince of Xiang had great ambitions from a young age. He always encouraged himself to assist the country and save the people. After taking up his fief in Jingzhou, he recruited scholars, edited and published ancient books and classics, treated the virtuous with respect, and governed his fiefdom."

Yet this dutiful prince was ultimately forced by Zhu Yunwen to prove his innocence.

Moreover, Zhu Bai and his wife had no children and their lineage ended.

Thinking of this, Zhu Di's hatred for Zhu Yunwen grew stronger and stronger, a hatred that even the waters of the Three Rivers could not wash away.

"Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother."

Seeing Zhu Di standing there in a daze, his expression constantly changing, and a hint of fear appearing in his eyes, Xiao Zhu Bai called out softly.

"Twelfth Brother."

"Could you do me a favor, Fourth Brother?"

Zhu Di half-squatted on the ground and asked in a gentle voice.

"Hurrah."

Xiao Zhu Bai agreed without even thinking.

"Hmm, good girl, your fourth brother will take you to play."

A broad smile immediately appeared on Zhu Di's face.

"Let's go play in the Imperial Garden."

Little Zhu Bai excitedly led Zhu Di towards the Imperial Garden.

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

That day and night.

Zhu Di hunched over his desk, writing furiously. He placed the completed letter close to his body by Xiao Zhu Bai's bedside, changed into his usual black outfit, and quietly left the palace. With his mastery of internal energy, he could leave without a sound.

Over the years, Zhu Di would often leave at night and return at dawn, without the palace guards knowing.

Under the cover of night, the Jinling Imperial Palace resembled a colossal beast, crouching like a tiger and coiling like a dragon. A lithe figure climbed and scaled the walls, heading southwest towards the Wei State Duke's Mansion.