Chapter 20: That Rebellious Grandson Has Shown Off Again

"Very well!" Fang Xiaoru did not stand on ceremony. "Since the Third Imperial Grandson is so confident, I ask that you recite the Four Books in their entirety."

The Four Books—the Great Learning, the Doctrine of the Mean, the Analects, and the Mencius—were the fundamental Confucian classics. Even with Zhu Yunwen’s excellent academic record, he would not dare guarantee he could recite them all. At their current age of fourteen or fifteen, their studies had not yet reached such depth.

"I can do that."

"Start with the Great Learning. The way of the Great Learning consists in manifesting one’s bright virtue, in loving the people, in abiding by the highest good..."

Zhu Yuntong remained calm, reciting the texts without haste or hesitation. Before he had transmigrated, he had memorized a significant amount of traditional Chinese literature, and he still remembered it all. Reciting it now was effortless; he could do it word for word, and even if asked to explain the deeper meanings, it would pose no problem.

At first, neither Fang Xiaoru nor Zhu Yunwen thought much of it. Who couldn’t recite the opening passages? But as time passed and the content grew, the situation changed.

Fang Xiaoru’s expression gradually grew solemn as he listened. Zhu Yunwen, meanwhile, looked dazed. He could not believe that Zhu Yuntong was actually reciting these texts. This was not just a show; he was reciting them more fluently and extensively than he himself could. How was this possible?

*He was hiding his light again!*

Yes, that had to be it. He must have memorized them long ago, just to humiliate him today. Suddenly, Zhu Yunwen broke into a cold sweat. If this continued, he might not even be a match for Zhu Yuntong in his studies. He kept thinking, *What do I do? What do I do?*

"Give me a copy of the Great Learning!"

Zhu Gui was also shocked. He grabbed a book and flipped to the section Zhu Yuntong was reciting, checking it line by line. The other princes crowded around to look as well. When they realized that Zhu Yuntong was truly reciting them flawlessly, their eyes widened. Even with the books in their hands, they could not read as smoothly as Zhu Yuntong was reciting from memory.

Soon, the Great Learning was finished. Zhu Yuntong seamlessly transitioned into the Doctrine of the Mean, then the Analects, and finally the Mencius, one after another, his recitation more fluid than reading from the page.

When the Four Books were finished, Zhu Yuntong felt a bit parched. He looked up and asked, "Master Fang, how was that?"

Fang Xiaoru, who knew the Four Books by heart, felt his face flush as he heard Zhu Yuntong’s flawless performance. He felt as though he had been dealt a resounding slap in the face. He glanced at Zhu Yunwen, who was pale and drenched in sweat, looking panicked and overwhelmed. The contrast was clear: Zhu Yunwen was timid and lacked composure, and now that he had been bested in his studies, he felt he had lost every advantage.

Zhu Yuntong realized that the feeling of playing the fool to catch the tiger—of delivering a crushing, smug-faced slap—was incredibly satisfying.

"Master, well?" Zhu Yuntong asked again, as if landing another blow on Fang Xiaoru’s face.

"It is... acceptable," Fang Xiaoru replied, his voice hoarse and stiff.

Zhu Yunwen stammered, "Master, I... I can do it too."

"Forget it," Fang Xiaoru interrupted. "Go back to your seats; I have assignments for you."

Seeing Zhu Yunwen’s stuttering, Fang Xiaoru knew he wouldn't be able to recite well. Attempting to regain face now would only lead to further humiliation. He felt he had to do something; he could not let Zhu Yuntong continue to perform so brilliantly.

Zhu Yunwen sat there in a daze, casting a resentful glance at Zhu Yuntong, his fingernails digging into his palms.

"Hooray!" the other princes cheered. The sound was agonizing for Zhu Yunwen. This glory should have been his, but Zhu Yuntong had stolen it all. He was filled with resentment and refusal to accept defeat. *I will take it back. Zhu Yuntong, just you wait.*

"Quiet!" Fang Xiaoru barked, silencing them.

Before he could begin the lesson, a young eunuch entered and announced, "His Highness, the Third Imperial Grandson, the Emperor summons you."

"Very well!" Zhu Yuntong replied readily, departing with the eunuch.

Fang Xiaoru felt a sense of crisis once more; he had to restore their advantage as soon as possible. Zhu Yunwen, seeing that his Imperial Grandfather was ignoring him, grew even more resentful. Gritting his teeth, he thought, *Why? Why? Everything is mine—why must you take it from me?*

The events from yesterday to today had driven him to the brink of losing his reason. His heart was filled with nothing but resentment, bitterness, and jealousy. Yet, he dared only scream these things in his heart, never daring to vent them, for he was weak and timid; when faced with real adversity, he was the first to shrink away.

***

The daily office of the Emperor of the Great Ming was in the Wuying Hall.

As soon as Zhu Yuntong arrived, he heard Zhu Yuanzhang say, "You rebellious grandson, you hid yourself so well. Reciting the Four Books without missing a single word—if Fang Xiaoru hadn't pressed you, I wouldn't have known you possessed such ability."

This grandson knew too well how to hide his talents. Had he not been preparing to vie for the throne, he surely would not have revealed his capabilities.

"Grandfather, by summoning me alone, you’ve surely made Zhu Yunwen hate me to the core," Zhu Yuntong said casually, walking over and glancing at the memorials on the desk before quickly averting his eyes. Memorials were for the Emperor alone; he was not yet the Imperial Grandson, and he knew enough to maintain proper boundaries.

"If he cannot even withstand a setback like this, then he is no grandson of mine," Zhu Yuanzhang replied, showing no concern for Zhu Yunwen’s feelings.

A life of constant smooth sailing was not enough; without experiencing setbacks, a man could not grow. If one simply collapsed in the face of failure, they were essentially ruined, and he would not appoint such a person as his successor. In truth, this was a test for Zhu Yunwen to see if he had the mettle to cope. If he could handle it without breaking, Zhu Yuanzhang would still accept him; if not, and he became dejected and lost his fighting spirit, then the future of the Great Ming did not need such an Emperor.

"Why did you summon me, Grandfather?" Zhu Yuntong asked. He had no immediate interest in Zhu Yunwen’s plight. Given his current position, he was pressing the advantage, and now it was a matter of seeing how the Lüs would respond.

"Help me look over these memorials," Zhu Yuanzhang said, pushing the stack toward him. "Your father is gone, and I have to read them all myself. It is exhausting!"

Zhu Yuntong: "..." *Isn't that of your own doing?* By abolishing the Chancellery and handling everything personally, there were both pros and cons. The benefit was the extreme concentration of imperial power.

"I shall look at them then. Don't regret it, and if Zhu Yunwen finds out, his heart will surely break."

Zhu Yuntong opened a memorial and began to read. He was quite interested in the documents of an ancient emperor.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed. "You little rascal, you have no modesty at all. I fear that before I even abdicate, you will have taken my position with Lan Yu and the others."

Zhu Yuntong nodded earnestly. "If I possessed my father’s prestige and capability, I might have done just that. But I have enough self-awareness to know that if I seized it today, you would likely kick me out tomorrow."

Zhu Yuanzhang heard the lack of hesitation in his voice—had it been Zhu Yunwen, he would have been terrified—but he felt no anger, only appreciation. This rebellious grandson was bold but understood boundaries, and most importantly, there was no generation gap between them. They spoke freely, without tension, allowing him to feel a true sense of family.

"This is a memorial from Shandong reporting corruption among officials," Zhu Yuntong said, opening the first one.

"How would you deal with it?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"Execution."

"Well killed!"

...

They continued reading one memorial after another. After a while, Zhu Yuanzhang stepped out for a moment. Zhu Yuntong curiously flipped through the remaining documents and unexpectedly discovered a memorial from Jiang Huan of the Imperial Guards. It concerned Zhang Zhou, the foster son of Lan Yu, and his secret harboring of the remnants of Hu Weiyong’s faction.