Chapter 14: Zhu Yunpu, You're Even More Driven Than I Am
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Ancient nights were truly dull.
There was nothing to do and nothing to see, so Zhu Yuntong went to bed early.
The next morning, Zhu Lingyue came to wake him.
“Yuntong, where are we going?” she asked.
“I’m taking you to see Grandfather Emperor,” Zhu Yuntong reassured her. “There’s no need to be nervous. Grandfather only looks stern. In truth, he’s softer-hearted than anyone. We are Father King’s children, his dearest grandchildren. He won’t be harsh with us.”
He then had them dress and led them together to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to see Old Zhu.
Ancient emperors rose for court extraordinarily early.
Zhu Yuntong had to see Zhu Yuanzhang before court began. When they left, the world outside was still pitch-black.
“You there!” Zhu Yuntong pointed at Liu Liu. “Take the lantern and lead the way.”
Together, they left the Eastern Palace.
Although Liu Liu had been summoned away by Zhu Yuntong, the other eunuchs hurried back to report what had happened.
Meanwhile, Zhu Yunwen rose in an unhurried manner. He too intended to pay his respects to Zhu Yuanzhang early, maintaining the image of a filial son.
Zhu Yuanzhang valued filial piety above all else and placed great importance on family affection.
That was precisely the angle Zhu Yunwen intended to use to win him over. He would come early to pay his respects, then attend lessons at the Hall of Great Learning. By appearing both filial and eager to learn, he would prove himself the most suitable person to become the emperor of Great Ming.
Just as Zhu Yunwen was preparing to finish breakfast before going to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Lady Lu arrived.
“Eat breakfast when you return. Zhu Yuntong has already gone to the Palace of Heavenly Purity,” Lady Lu urged.
“What? He went too?”
Zhu Yunwen was startled.
He went earlier than I did? He’s actually trying harder than me!
He could no longer remain calm. He quickly put on his clothes and hurried out.
“Tomorrow, I’ll go even earlier.”
As he walked, Zhu Yunwen pondered how he could outdo Zhu Yuntong the following day. He could not allow himself to be surpassed.
—
Palace of Heavenly Purity.
“Your Majesty!”
Ji Xiang, the eunuch at Zhu Yuanzhang’s side, hurried in and said, “The Third Imperial Grandson is outside requesting an audience.”
Several palace maids were dressing Zhu Yuanzhang and arranging his hair.
After hearing Ji Xiang’s words and glancing at the darkness outside, he said, “That child came so early? He really is trying to contend for the succession. He’s come first thing in the morning to curry favor with me.”
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Ji Xiang thought for a moment before saying, “This servant does not think His Highness came to curry favor. He has also brought four young ladies with him.”
“Oh?”
Zhu Yuanzhang was completely baffled by that mischievous grandson.
“What does he want this time? Let them in!”
After yesterday’s events, Zhu Yuanzhang had developed a genuine fear of that rebellious grandson, worried that he might perform some other astonishing feat.
Court had not yet begun, and there were still few people around. If something was wrong, it would be best to deal with it at once.
A short while later, Zhu Yuntong arrived before Zhu Yuanzhang with his two elder sisters and two younger sisters.
“Grandson pays his respects to Grandfather Emperor,” they said together.
“All right, all right.” Zhu Yuanzhang waved a hand. “We’re family, so there’s no need for formalities. Why have you all come to see me?”
The four little girls were still somewhat nervous.
Zhu Yuntong, however, had become completely at ease. He walked naturally up to Old Zhu and said, “We came to pay our respects to you. My sisters also said that it had been a long time since they had seen Grandfather Emperor and that they missed you very much, so they came with me.”
“Good, good!”
Zhu Yuanzhang did favor boys over girls to some extent, but he was still very fond of his granddaughters. They were family, after all, bound to him by blood.
Yet after looking them over, he sensed that something was wrong.
“How did you become so thin?”
All four granddaughters were extremely thin.
They looked as though they were often left hungry, like refugees from the years of war.
Something was not right.
“Grandfather Emperor!” Zhu Lingyue said timidly. “We don’t get enough to eat.”
“What?”
Zhu Yuanzhang treated his descendants better than anyone could have asked. Even if their meals were plain, there was no reason they should ever go hungry.
“You rebellious grandson, come here.”
Zhu Yuanzhang finally understood that they had not come merely to pay their respects. He gave a soft snort.
“What is going on?”
“Grandfather Emperor.”
Zhu Yuntong stepped forward again.
“During the first hundred days of mourning, it was only right that my sisters and I eat simple meals while observing mourning for our royal father. But the mourning period ended long ago. We still have only two vegetable dishes and some broth at every meal. Each of us is given less than a single bowl of rice. How could we not become thin? And it isn’t only them—I’ve lost a great deal of weight too.”
Zhu Yuanzhang fell silent.
Compared with his four granddaughters, Zhu Yuntong was in somewhat better shape, but not by much.
He was far thinner than Zhu Yunwen.
The four girls were pale and gaunt. If not for their relatively fine clothing, Zhu Yuanzhang might have mistaken them for refugees fleeing disaster.
He had seen them before while they observed vigil, but he had not paid them much attention, focusing instead on Zhu Yunwen. Only now did he realize that something was amiss.
Perhaps Zhu Yuntong’s resentment toward Lady Lu was not without reason.
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Her image as a virtuous wife and loving mother would no longer hold together.
Only now did Zhu Yuanzhang realize that the small Eastern Palace seemed to harbor secrets of which he knew nothing.
“Lingyue, is this true?”
Zhu Lingyue lowered her head.
“Grandfather Emperor, it’s true!”
She then briefly recounted what had happened the previous day, when Zhu Yuntong had snatched the food from their table.
Zhu Yuanzhang’s expression immediately darkened.
“Have that old fool Xu Xingzu come here at once.”
Zhu Yuanzhang gave a cold snort. Then his voice softened again.
“Come here. Our breakfast is ready. Eat first.”
Ji Xiang immediately sent someone to fetch Xu Xingzu from the imperial kitchen.
Xu Xingzu was the cook who had served Old Zhu for twenty-three years.
“Thank you, Grandfather Emperor.”
Zhu Yuntong had no intention of being polite with Old Zhu. He waved to the girls.
“Come over. If we don’t have anything to eat in the future, we’ll come eat at Grandfather Emperor’s place.”
“You rebellious grandson.”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s expression eased, and he said amiably, “Lingyue, bring your sisters over and eat breakfast first. We’re family. There’s no need to stand on ceremony.”
“Thank you, Grandfather Emperor!” the girls replied timidly in unison.
Seeing that they still seemed rather afraid of him, Old Zhu felt uncomfortable as a grandfather.
It seemed he had paid too little attention to his descendants, especially his granddaughters. And yet he always prided himself on valuing family ties above all else. They were his family too.
“Don’t stand on ceremony with your grandfather. Eat as much as you like.”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s heart softened, and his expression became unusually kind.
Only then did the girls relax somewhat. On the table were meat-filled buns, plain rice porridge, and several small side dishes. Though they had eaten their fill the night before, they still could not help swallowing eagerly at the sight of the food.
Zhu Yuntong made no effort to be polite. He divided the buns among the girls and filled each of their bowls with porridge. Only after seeing them begin to eat did he start eating himself.
Old Zhu watched the scene and nodded in satisfaction once more.
“This rebellious grandson is even better at caring for his family than I imagined!” Zhu Yuanzhang thought.
He was thoroughly pleased.
“Your Majesty!”
At that moment, Ji Xiang rushed in again.
“The Second Imperial Grandson is outside requesting an audience.”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuntong thought, Here he comes. Now I can turn up the pressure on Lady Lu and Zhu Yunwen.
He ate his bun with relish, waiting happily for Zhu Yunwen to enter.
This was precisely the moment he had been waiting for. He had already calculated that, for all his hypocrisy and pretended virtue, Zhu Yunwen would certainly come early to pay his respects to Old Zhu as well.
Zhu Yuanzhang said, “Bring him in.”