Chapter 25: Old Zhu: I Shall Go and Behold the Rivers and Mountains of Great Ming

Qianqing Palace.

Just as Liu Sanwu and his two companions were filled with astonishment and confusion, Song Zhong hurried into the room.

At this moment, Zhu Yunxi was already seated before the dragon-patterned desk, busily reviewing the mountainous piles of memorials.

Song Zhong stepped forward, bowed, and cupped his hands. "Your Highness, all members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard have been brought under my control. According to reports just received from below, the Duke of Liang and the others have personally delivered their servants and foster sons to the Ministry of Justice."

"Hmm!" Zhu Yunxi looked up from the memorials, gave a slight nod, and asked, "Were all those involved in the offenses sent over?"

"Yes," Song Zhong replied.

"Very good. It seems my great-uncle still knows how to read the situation well." Zhu Yunxi rose with a hearty laugh, paced a few steps, and then his expression settled back into composure.

After a moment of thought, he continued, "How is the task I assigned to you progressing?"

"I have already dispatched men to the Anding Guard and other such regions. I believe we shall have news before long," Song Zhong answered.

A smile returned to Zhu Yunxi’s face, but the tone of his voice was exceptionally grave.

"Tell all the Embroidered Uniform Guards: the moment they find any trace of it, they are to have it sent back by an eight-hundred-mile express courier immediately. Regardless of who it is, whoever makes the discovery will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and promoted three ranks."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"By the way, where is Jiang Huan?"

Song Zhong, who had previously been smiling, suddenly stiffened. He bowed his head in shame and replied, "Replying to Your Highness, I sent men to search for Commander Jiang during the morning audience today, but after combing through almost the entire Imperial Palace, we could not find him."

Hearing that Jiang Huan had vanished into thin air, Zhu Yunxi frowned slightly, though he was not overly surprised.

He sought Jiang Huan primarily for the secret intelligence network held in his hands—the network of agents known only to the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Emperor himself. If he could secure this channel, it would certainly make governing the Ming Empire and controlling its information flow much smoother.

Of course, it was not a major setback if he could not; he had already instructed Yun Qi to begin establishing the Eastern Depot.

As the former commander, it was hardly strange that Jiang Huan could disappear from the palace without a trace; otherwise, he would hardly have been worthy of the title of commander.

However, what Zhu Yunxi did not know was that in a secret chamber just a wall away from him, Jiang Huan was currently kneeling before Zhu Yuanzhang, his face full of shame. Gone was any trace of his former prestige as the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard; he looked as dejected as a defeated rooster.

"Your Majesty, it is all my incompetence. It is because of me that you have been forced into this predicament. Please, Your Majesty, punish me."

"Hmph! You truly deserve to die." Zhu Yuanzhang kicked Jiang Huan in the chest, knocking him flat to the floor.

Jiang Huan scrambled back up and knelt respectfully before Zhu Yuanzhang once more.

As the chief of intelligence and head of the imperial bodyguards, he had been easily subdued by Zhu Yunxi, forcing Zhu Yuanzhang’s plan for a "faked death" to become a "real" one. Even if Zhu Yuanzhang were to execute his entire clan, Jiang Huan would not dare to utter a word of complaint.

Thus, he offered no defense. If his death could turn back time, Jiang Huan would have gladly torn himself to pieces.

After Zhu Yuanzhang delivered a few more kicks, he did not react further. Instead, he stared at Jiang Huan, studying him as if weighing a significant decision.

Seconds ticked by.

Just as Jiang Huan felt his legs were going numb, the voice of Zhu Yuanzhang finally reached his ears.

"Get out!"

These two simple words fell upon Jiang Huan’s ears like a thunderclap from the heavens.

He looked up at Zhu Yuanzhang in disbelief, then stammered in panic, "Your Majesty... do you... do you not want me anymore?"

Indeed, Jiang Huan was not concerned with his own survival; he was concerned with whether Zhu Yuanzhang still required his services.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard were the Emperor's personal troops. Especially during the era of Zhu Yuanzhang, they were a force more loyal than even the most devoted death-sworn warriors.

"I am telling you to get out at once! Did you not hear that my grandson is having people search for you?" Zhu Yuanzhang cursed with a darkened face.

Jiang Huan was stunned for a moment, then looked toward the wall he had built with his own hands. As if realizing something, he bowed again and said, "I obey your command, Your Majesty. I will do everything in my power to remain by the Third Highness's side. If there is an opportunity in the future..."

*Thud.*

Before Jiang Huan could finish professing his loyalty, he was interrupted by another kick from Zhu Yuanzhang.

Scrambling up once more, Jiang Huan could only kneel obediently and wait for Zhu Yuanzhang to speak.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced toward the Qianqing Palace and admonished, "When did I ever tell you to stay by my grandson's side as a double agent? I am telling you to take the initiative to hand over the secret networks in your possession to him, and then use everything you have learned to protect him at all costs. You dog, if there is a next time, I will personally see you torn limb from limb..."

"Yes, yes! I will do my utmost to protect the Third Highness," Jiang Huan bowed and promised.

A flash of joy crossed his lowered face. To be able to live and continue serving the new monarch was an outcome he had never dared to imagine.

Of course, as the former commander, Jiang Huan could see from Zhu Yuanzhang’s order just how satisfied the old Emperor was with Zhu Yunxi—so much so that he was willing to let his most loyal subordinate leave his side.

The most crucial thing, however, was that Zhu Yuanzhang was willing to relinquish the throne—a feat no previous emperor had ever accomplished.

"Your Majesty, I am ready. Let us depart."

As Jiang Huan felt this inner shock, Tang He stepped into the secret chamber and whispered a reminder.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and stood up.

He looked at Jiang Huan and commanded, "I am going to take a good look at the vast mountains and rivers I won with my own hands. You are to dispatch a few men you trust to follow me. Furthermore, you must report to me daily on everything that happens with my grandson. Do you understand?"

"I understand. But, Your Majesty..."

Jiang Huan replied instinctively, then his eyes widened in shock, unable to believe that Zhu Yuanzhang could walk away so freely.

Without a shred of lingering attachment, he had handed over the vast empire to Zhu Yunxi, without giving a single further instruction.

"But what? Do as I have commanded."

Zhu Yuanzhang scolded him once more before turning and walking out of the secret chamber with Tang He.

After they left, Jiang Huan’s strength left him, and he slumped to the floor.

A long time passed before he slowly recovered from the profound shock. He looked toward the Qianqing Palace, pondered deeply for a long while, and finally stood up.

The moment he rose, the dejected Jiang Huan was gone, replaced by the confident man he had once been.

"The Highness already believes I may have fled. If I simply appear now, I will not easily gain his trust. To stay by his side and serve the former Emperor’s interests, I must find a way."

"But how can I earn the trust of the Third Highness?"