Chapter 6: Bonds of Flesh and Blood

Feng Sheng, originally named Feng Guosheng, was a man well-versed in military classics and strategy. Possessing both courage and intellect, he stood out among the Huaixi nobility as a commander who excelled in both civil and martial arts.

Zhu Yuanzhang suspected that Zhu Yunxun had been hiding his true capabilities for years. However, today’s events felt orchestrated by someone behind the scenes, and after much deliberation, he concluded that Feng Sheng was the most likely candidate. The contrast between the dull, unremarkable Zhu Yunxun of the past and the bold, insightful young man before him today was too stark. It forced Zhu Yuanzhang to wonder if the military generals had long been coaching Zhu Yunxun on how to seize the throne.

"Truly, no one has coached your grandson. During this time, I have had no contact with anyone outside the palace," Zhu Yunxun replied, shaking his head. "Does Grandfather see me as so incompetent? Ah, I suppose you do. In your eyes, there is only ever Zhu Yunwen. No matter how well I perform standing before you, you will never spare me a second glance."

These words resonated with a sense of bitterness and disappointment that caught Zhu Yuanzhang off guard. He had to admit that he had never looked at Zhu Yunxun with an impartial eye; perhaps it was this very unfairness that had driven the boy to such extremes. His remaining anger dissipated, and he decided to drop the matter.

Zhu Yuanzhang studied him for a long moment. "Have you been hiding your true self all these years?"

"If I hadn't, I fear I would no longer be here to stand before you, Grandfather," Zhu Yunxun answered.

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head. "Lady Lü is not as treacherous as you believe. You have a deep misunderstanding of her." He still held a fondness for his daughter-in-law, reflecting on her gentle and virtuous nature.

Before his transmigration, Zhu Yunxun had felt nothing toward Lady Lü, but after inheriting his predecessor’s memories, he realized this woman was far from simple. It was frustrating, however, that he lacked concrete evidence. He would have to find another way; he would not let this woman, who posed such a threat to him, go unpunished.

"Do you truly intend to seize the throne?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked solemnly.

"Yes, I do," Zhu Yunxun affirmed. "If Grandfather were to pass the throne to my second or third uncles, I would be content to live as a carefree prince. But if it is to be passed to Zhu Yunwen, I must fight him for it. By your own logic, the heir must come from my father’s line. Previously, there was no choice, so you were forced to settle for Zhu Yunwen. Now, I am offering you an alternative."

"And I suppose I should thank you for that?" Zhu Yuanzhang scoffed. "Yunwen is diligent and studious, possessing profound knowledge, and is highly praised by the entire court of civil officials. You are mediocre and incompetent, relying solely on that pack of brutes like Lan Yu who only know how to kill. Are you really his match?" He was curious to see how Zhu Yunxun would proceed—whether he was being coached or if he possessed genuine, hidden abilities.

"Call it 'diligent and studious' if you like, but in reality, he is pedantic, rigid, and a bookworm who knows nothing of the world—a total waste," Zhu Yunxun retorted. "The civil officials support him not only because he adheres to their Confucian dogma, but because he is easy to manipulate. The officials of the Great Ming struggle under your iron-fisted rule, Grandfather. They do not want the next emperor to be as stern as you. Zhu Yunwen is their ideal, most pliable puppet. If he becomes emperor, the power of the Ming court will fall entirely into the hands of the civil bureaucracy."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded repeatedly at the answer. Zhu Yunwen was good, but he had many faults—he was far too weak. However, as the second generation of a founding dynasty, the priority was stability. Zhu Yuanzhang had not had many options, and since he favored Zhu Yunwen, he had decided to leave the empire to him to maintain the status quo.

"If I am to seize the throne, I will not rely solely on Lan Yu," Zhu Yunxun continued. "A young sovereign amidst a suspicious court—if I were to rely entirely on Lan Yu and his lot, you might as well just install Zhu Yunwen. Even if you were to name me heir, Lan Yu’s arrogance and the immense power of the Huaixi generals would eventually force your hand to wield the butcher's knife. They would have to die. But I do not want them to perish like that; I want to save them." He raised his voice, "If they must die, let it be on the battlefield, dying for the nation, not in such a pathetic, ignoble manner."

"Well said!" Zhu Yuanzhang clapped his hands lightly. He had underestimated him. He had thought that by exposing his intention to execute Lan Yu and the others, Zhu Yunxun was merely trying to save their lives to use them for his own political ascent. He had not expected someone so young to see the situation so clearly—that regardless of who became the crown prince, Lan Yu and his faction were doomed. Perhaps his grandson wasn't good at his studies, but his insight, vision, and temperament made him far more suitable to be an emperor than Zhu Yunwen.

"If not Lan Yu, then who can you rely on?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"I do not rely on them; I simply use them," Zhu Yunxun said with confidence. "If used correctly, they are a great asset. In truth, it is not the officials who decide the heir, but you, Grandfather. My only true reliance is you, not outsiders."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled. He couldn't deny the truth of that statement. Others thought that gaining the support of the civil and military officials secured the succession, but if he did not approve, all that support was nothing more than empty noise.

"How do you plan to convince me to name you as my successor?" A rare, gentle smile appeared on Zhu Yuanzhang's face. He patted the daybed beside him and said with a chuckle, "Come, sit. Tell me slowly."

As he spoke, he realized he had instinctively reached out to draw closer to Zhu Yunxun. Perhaps it was because this grandson possessed a liveliness that the bookish Zhu Yunwen lacked, or perhaps it was the sympathy he felt for a boy who had lost his parents and lacked affection. He wanted to make up for the love he had failed to show him in the past. He was, after all, a man who valued family deeply.

Zhu Yunxun hesitated. "You aren't trying to lure me over there just to give me a beating, are you?"

Zhu Yuanzhang: "..."

"If I wanted to beat you, would I need to trick you into coming over? Just get over here."

Zhu Yunxun figured that was true enough. He let it go and walked over to sit beside Zhu Yuanzhang. This, too, was a way to bridge the distance in their relationship. To his children and grandchildren, Zhu Yuanzhang had always been a figure of stern authority; even Zhu Yunwen felt a subtle pressure in his presence. Zhu Yunxun, however, ignored that pressure, sitting down comfortably and showing no signs of stiff formality.

Just as he was about to continue, Jixiang, the eunuch by Zhu Yuanzhang's side, knocked gently on the door. "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess requests an audience."

Zhu Yunxun paused upon hearing that Lady Lü had arrived. He understood immediately—she was likely here to test the waters and see if he had been severely punished. She had arrived quickly.

"Send her in!" Zhu Yuanzhang commanded.

Outside, Lady Lü waited, her heart filled with trepidation. Before entering, she had rehearsed what she would say and imagined the scene she would find. She assumed Zhu Yunxun must have been punished—perhaps even hung up and flogged—and she had prepared to play the role of the virtuous, doting mother to plead for mercy.

With these thoughts, she was ushered in. She knelt and bowed, "Your daughter-in-law pays her respects to Your Majesty!"

She looked up, searching for Zhu Yunxun, expecting to see him in a wretched state. Instead, her eyes widened in a daze. She saw Zhu Yunxun sitting right beside Zhu Yuanzhang on the daybed. She even wondered if she were hallucinating from anxiety. Zhu Yunwen, as favored as he was, had never received such treatment. Hadn't Zhu Yunxun committed an act of rebellion by storming the court? Why wasn't he being punished? Why was he sitting next to the Emperor?

She then saw Zhu Yunxun pull a playful face at her. Lady Lü was stunned, thinking to herself, "What on earth has happened?"