Chapter 19: Deliberate Targeting

As soon as the stern voice sounded, Zhu Gui and the others immediately straightened up and returned to their seats.

Zhu Yunrong glanced back curiously and saw a man with a straight posture, dressed in Confucian robes, striding in. Following him was Zhu Yunwen, who looked at the scholar with great respect and straightened his own posture as he followed behind.

It was clear that Zhu Yunwen admired this man very much.

Earlier, when he was driven out of the East Palace by Lady Lü and was headed to the Grand Hall to find Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai, he happened to meet this scholar along the way and came back together with him. It seemed as if he had found a pillar of support; with their help, he had nothing to fear.

“Who is he?” Zhu Yunrong whispered to Zhu Gui.

“Fang Xiaoru,” Zhu Gui answered softly. “A man more foul than a cesspit stone. Our father the emperor granted him authority in the Grand Hall; they can use the disciplinary ruler to beat us. Fang Xiaoru truly dares to strike!”

“Fang Xiaoru, huh?” Zhu Yunrong took another look at the Confucian scholar.

The three fools of the Jianwen era had finally gathered. If it weren’t for their incessant scheming, Zhu Di wouldn’t have so easily been at the gates of Jinling. Zhu Yunrong couldn’t judge these three so-called great minds, but they were indeed clever.

Fang Xiaoru had been recommended in the fifteenth year of the Hongwu reign; Zhu Yuanzhang had seen him but wanted to keep him for Zhu Biao. It wasn’t until the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu that Fang Xiaoru was again recommended and remained at the Grand Hall.

Zhu Yunrong had yet to meet Fang Xiaoru himself. Recently, with Zhu Biao’s death, Zhu Yunrong had been observing the mourning rites and had no chance to attend classes. But seeing Zhu Yunwen’s reverent demeanor, it was obvious they had met and had a good relationship—possibly even that Zhu Yunwen had long since become his disciple.

Fang Xiaoru approached the podium and had just steadied himself when he overheard Zhu Yunrong whispering.

“What’s the proper way to address that prince?” Fang Xiaoru inquired.

Before Zhu Yunrong could answer, Zhu Yunwen spoke first: “Sir, he is my third younger brother, Yunrong.”

“Third Imperial Grandson, do you know your faults?” Fang Xiaoru’s tone instantly shifted, as if activating an automatic mode of reprimand upon hearing Zhu Yunrong’s identity.

“Oh? What fault have I committed?” Zhu Yunrong understood this was a deliberate provocation.

The intent was clear: to help Zhu Yunwen restore his reputation, regain lost advantages, and counterattack.

“You don’t know your faults?” Fang Xiaoru continued. “Whispering during Grand Hall lessons is disrespectful to the sages. Drawing swords to confront the emperor and demanding the position of crown prince is treasonous—unfilial and ungrateful. Insulting the second Imperial Grandson and disrespecting your elder brother—tell me, aren’t these your faults?”

From the moment Fang Xiaoru arrived, he began accusing Zhu Yunrong, disregarding all context, eager to cement a negative reputation for him. The goal was to label Zhu Yunrong so that whenever his name came up, the first impression would be that of a traitor and an unfilial son.

“Yes, yes, you’re right, I admit my faults,” Zhu Yunrong nodded repeatedly. “Sir, I was wrong.”

Fang Xiaoru was silent; though Zhu Yunrong was admitting guilt, it sounded perfunctory.

His face darkened, and he scolded, “If you do not repent, Third Imperial Grandson, you must memorize all Four Books by day’s end, or you shall not leave here.”

To recite all Four Books within a single day was nearly impossible.

Zhu Gui and the others gasped. Fang Xiaoru’s deliberate difficulty was so blatant it required no pretense.

After finishing, Fang Xiaoru took Zhu Yunwen to the back chamber.

“Yunrong, that old fellow is deliberately making things difficult for you,” Zhu Yan said angrily. “He wants to help Zhu Yunwen take charge. The entire Grand Hall is no longer the emperor’s—it’s almost become Zhu Yunwen’s Grand Hall.”

At this, everyone nodded in agreement.

They all thought the same: initially, they disliked Zhu Yunwen for his polished excellence and pretense, but after yesterday’s events, their disdain only grew. No matter how they looked at it, Zhu Yunwen was insufferable.

“No matter,” Zhu Yunrong replied calmly. “He cannot trouble me.”

In the back chamber, Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai had also arrived.

Zhu Yunwen briefly recounted this morning’s events, anxiously asking, “Gentlemen, what should I do?”

“The Crown Princess is confused!” Qi Tai said wearily.

They had every advantage; the Crown Princess was virtuous and kind. Now, with all this turmoil, the East Palace seemed cold and heartless.

Huang Zicheng remarked, “The Crown Princess is just anxious, mainly because she sees the threat from the Third Imperial Grandson as too great.”

Fang Xiaoru said coldly, “The Third Imperial Grandson is disrespectful of elders, treasonous, and disregards proper rites. No court official recognizes him; we all support the Second Imperial Grandson.”

“Thank you, gentlemen,” Zhu Yunwen said, finally finding a glimmer of hope here.

“What we must do next is help the Second Imperial Grandson regain the emperor’s favor,” Fang Xiaoru solemnly declared. “The Third Imperial Grandson has turned his weaknesses into strengths, and with the Crown Princess’s rash actions, all the emperor sees now is him.”

From yesterday until now, Zhu Yunrong had undergone a dramatic reversal.

Zhu Yunwen, who had never witnessed such maneuvering, was almost frightened and quickly asked, “Sir, what can I do?”

“Study!” Qi Tai responded.

“Exactly!” Fang Xiaoru agreed. “This is the Second Imperial Grandson’s advantage. The emperor values scholarship greatly. Studying will earn the emperor’s renewed attention and further win the support of the court officials. The late Crown Prince was exactly like the Second Imperial Grandson—keen and studious, refined and gentle. That’s why the princes gradually changed their opinions, believing the Second Imperial Grandson would not be cruel to them, and the emperor could rest assured.”

Zhu Yunwen suddenly brightened, as if finding a new purpose in life, and eagerly said, “Please, gentlemen, help me!”

A great wastrel and three great minds now officially began a serious discussion on how Zhu Yunwen could study and regain the emperor’s favor.

Outside, Zhu Yunrong showed no intention of memorizing.

This left Zhu Gui and the others, who had grown fond of Zhu Yunrong, quite anxious.

Zhu Yunrong remained calm and waited patiently until Fang Xiaoru and Zhu Yunwen emerged.

Zhu Yunwen appeared refined and composed as he returned to the front row.

“Third Imperial Grandson, how is your memorization coming along?” Fang Xiaoru asked first.

They needed to help Zhu Yunwen study while also crafting an image of Zhu Yunrong as a lazy, unlearned prince. The contrast would highlight who was good and who was bad, further elevating Zhu Yunwen.

Zhu Gui couldn’t help but say, “Sir, you just went in and came out so quickly. How could Yunrong have memorized all that?”

Fang Xiaoru’s voice was stern: “The Four Books are that important. If the Third Imperial Grandson cannot recite them, it proves he is unlearned and idle.”

“You…” Zhu Gui felt Fang Xiaoru had gone too far.

“Thirteenth Uncle!” Zhu Yunrong shook his head and shrugged. “Mr. Fang, I have memorized them well. Feel free to quiz me; I have no problem with that.”

Seeing his calmness, Fang Xiaoru and the others inexplicably felt a touch of unease.