Chapter 53 Moving Out

Zhu Yunluo's counter-question left Huang Zicheng feeling rather unconfident.

Could it be that some major event had occurred yesterday, something even he was not allowed to know?

Yet it seemed no gossip had leaked out from within the palace walls.

Zhu Yunwen hastily shook his head, signaling Huang Zicheng not to probe blindly, knowing about it might genuinely cost someone their life.

"Very well!"

Noticing Zhu Yunwen's reaction, Huang Zicheng realized that a momentous event must have taken place yesterday. He immediately dropped the matter, not daring to ask further, and said with a helpless sigh, "Let us begin the lesson!"

Seeing Huang Zicheng back down so quickly, Zhu Yunluo found it rather dull.

He had intended to set a trap for Huang Zicheng, but since it failed, he had no choice but to settle down and listen to the lecture.

"What happened yesterday?"

Zhu Gui leaned over, his face full of curiosity.

Zhu Yunluo pushed him away, shaking his head as he said, "Thirteenth Uncle, you wouldn't want to know. If you do, Imperial Grandfather might just hang you up and thrash you!"

That single remark made even Zhu Gui shrink back in fright.

However, Huang Zicheng's classes were exceedingly boring. In truth, the lessons taught by the "Three Fools of Jianwen" were all uniformly tedious.

Under normal circumstances, the three tutors simply told Zhu Yunluo and the others to recite their texts freely, allowing them to ask questions only if they encountered something they did not understand.

Aside from giving Zhu Yunwen special instruction and tutoring him separately, the other imperial princes and grandsons were required to do nothing more than recite texts, occasionally listening to lectures on Confucian virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness.

Zhu Yunluo did not care, and Zhu Gui and the others cared even less.

Those imperial princes were hopeless at their studies, wishing for nothing more than for Huang Zicheng to stop bothering them.

Reluctant to study, they simply waited for the day they would be enfeoffed as princes and dispatched to their respective fiefs. Once they left the capital, the world outside would be vast and boundless, and shielded by their status as imperial princes, they could do whatever they pleased.

Zhu Yunluo also yearned for the outside world, pondering how he could manage to leave the Grand Secretariat and venture out into the world.

Only outside could he accomplish many of the things he wished to do.

---

Wuying Hall.

Ling Han, the Right Censor-in-Chief, and Liu Sanwu, an Imperial Academician, stood before Zhu Yuanzhu with a degree of apprehension.

For the moment, they could not fathom why Zhu Yuanzhu had kept them behind.

At that moment, Zhu Yuanzhu was reading a book.

He was reading the *Essentials of Governance of the Zhenguan Era*, which Jixiang had just brought back from the Grand Secretariat. Besides serving as a schoolroom, the Grand Secretariat was also the imperial library of the Great Ming dynasty.

Having listened to Zhu Di's words, Zhu Yuanzhu actually understood what Zhu Di was thinking, yet he chose not to respond. Instead, he felt that the quote cited by Zhu Di made a great deal of sense, so he had someone fetch the book to examine it thoroughly.

Zhu Yuanzhu turned the pages for a long while until he finally found the passage Zhu Di had referenced.

Ling Han and his companion were even more at a loss as to what Zhu Yuanzhu intended to do, yet they did not dare to voice their questions, having no choice but to wait for him to speak. After waiting a little longer, Zhu Yuanzhu finally broke the silence.

"As I was reading the *Essentials of Governance of the Zhenguan Era*, I came across a sentence written remarkably well. Emperor Taizong of Tang asked: 'Since ancient times, founding monarchs often saw their descendants fall into chaos, why is that?'"

"What are your thoughts on this?"

As soon as Zhu Yuanzhu posed this question, both Ling Han and Liu Sanwu were startled.

Naturally, they had read the *Essentials of Governance of the Zhenguan Era* and remembered this exchange between Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling.

What did His Majesty mean by this?

Exchanging glances, the two men felt a secret shudder of apprehension, wondering if His Majesty had decided against appointing an imperial grandson as heir.

Mulling over the implications of the words further, it sounded as though he wished to invest the princes with fiefs.

It was Ling Han who spoke first, saying, "Your Humble Servant recalls that Fang Xuanling later replied: 'Young sovereigns grow up deep within the palace, accustomed to wealth and nobility from an early age, and have never experienced the falsehoods of human nature or the perils of governing the state. Consequently, their governance frequently leads to chaos.'"

"Precisely!"

Zhu Yuanzhu nodded slightly.

Liu Sanwu pondered and ventured, "Could His Majesty be contemplating the investiture of the vassal princes? Your Humble Servant believes this should not be done. For the direct imperial grandson of the primary lineage to inherit the throne is in accordance with propriety."

"That is not my meaning either."

Zhu Yuanzhu continued, "The crown prince must come from the lineage of my Biao."

Hearing this, Liu Sanwu finally set his mind at ease.

Yet, what could be His Majesty's intention in raising such a question?

"I merely feel that the imperial grandsons are perhaps leading lives that are far too comfortable remaining cooped up within the palace."

"To say nothing of possessing the ability to guard a region like the vassal princes, they do not even fully understand the city of Jinling itself. Just as Fang Xuanling observed, what do you think of this?"

Zhu Yuanzhu had begun to seriously consider the request that a certain rebellious little grandson had repeatedly put forward: to move out of the palace.

However, what he was considering now was not merely allowing Zhu Yunluo to move out, but also preparing to let Zhu Yunwen do the same. Since this was about the struggle for the succession, it would be a fair contest. While he favored Zhu Yunluo more, he would not deny Zhu Yunwen an opportunity.

They were both his grandsons, and he could grant them the chance to vie for it.

At the same time, having Zhu Yunwen around would serve as a stimulus to Zhu Yunluo, making that rebellious grandson feel a sense of urgency.

Moreover, the East Palace was no longer safe. His own grandson had been poisoned right under his nose without anyone realizing it. Fortunately, the poison had not been fatal, but it forced him to reconsider the issue of safety.

"Does His Majesty mean to have the two imperial grandsons leave the imperial palace?"

Ling Han seemed to have guessed the Old Emperor's mind. The reason he spoke of two was because everyone knew that the two imperial grandsons were contending for the succession.

Since they were moving out, it would certainly be both imperial grandsons leaving together.

"Indeed!"

Pondering further, Zhu Yuanzhu added, "I am thinking of having them move out. Not to say they can experience the battlefield firsthand like the vassal princes, but at least they can witness the hardships of the common people and walk about more in the outside world. What are your views on this?"

Having been consulted on such an important matter, they suddenly felt a sense of being valued, and their postures unconsciously straightened.

Ling Han said, "Your Humble Servant believes His Majesty's consideration is correct, but with the imperial grandsons outside, I foresee two potential problems."

Zhu Yuanzhu prompted, "Let's hear them."

Ling Han replied, "First, with the imperial grandsons outside and lacking supervision, I fear they might become slack and idle. Second, safety."

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhu nodded in agreement.

Inside the palace, with attendants watching over them, neither of these two concerns needed to be addressed.

"Your Humble Servant believes that for the time being, safety need not be considered. Jinling is the capital of the Great Ming; where would any danger come from?"

Liu Sanwu chimed in, "However, with the imperial grandsons unmonitored, it will be a test of their self-discipline. A truly self-disciplined person fears nothing, and this will incidentally serve as a test to see who is more suited for the role."

He felt this arrangement was rather fitting.

Based on his understanding of Zhu Yunwen, that boy was bound to be exceptionally self-discipline. On the other hand, Zhu Yunluo was particularly unrestrained and audaciously bold; in terms of self-discipline, he surely could not match Zhu Yunwen. Once Zhu Yunluo inevitably gave in to depravity and corruption, he would no longer pose a threat.

"So you both agree to let the two imperial grandsons move out?"

Zhu Yuanzhu asked.

"Your Humble Servants have no objections!"

They answered in unison.

They also understood that since Zhu Yuanzhu had brought this matter up separately, he had already made up his mind—the move was mandatory.

"Then let it be done thus!"

Having made his decision, Zhu Yuanzhu decreed, "Issue an imperial edict: starting tomorrow, the Second Imperial Grandson and the Third Imperial Grandson shall move out of the imperial palace. As for their specific residences, I have already arranged them."

Since even their residences had been arranged, the move was absolute.

Ling Han and Liu Sanwu exchanged glances, secretly congratulating themselves on having correctly guessed the Old Emperor's intentions.

In truth, once Zhu Yunwen moved out, they, as civil officials, would have more opportunities to interact with him, which would be all the more advantageous for assisting him in seizing the succession. It was a most favorable development, and they rejoiced inwardly.

This imperial edict was swiftly finalized and then promulgated.

It was first sent to the Grand Secretariat for the two grandsons.

Following that, it was spread throughout the imperial court and officially proclaimed so that everyone would know. For a time, the court was struck with astonishment, and officials vied with one another to guess why Zhu Yuanzhu had taken such a step.