Chapter 37: The Lu Family’s Desire to Turn the Tide

"Dingchen, Weixue, come, come! Let's drink!"

Zhu Yuanzhang lifted his wine cup, his mouth still rambling incessantly.

"Let me analyze for you the intent behind my dear grandson's actions. Do not think that by establishing the Cabinet, he is merely restoring the Chancellor system; that is not the case at all... Especially that election system—it not only offers low-ranking officials a hope of rising to the top in one leap, but it also ensures that the imperial court can maintain normal operations even if a foolish ruler sits on the throne in future generations."

"With five Grand Secretaries, all elected by the votes of all officials, it eliminates the possibility of factionalism leading to a Chancellor oppressing the Emperor. Even if the court divides into multiple factions, their mutual struggle will prevent them from joining forces to bully my descendants. Instead, they will be forced to perform more actions that benefit the nation and the people in order to win the support of the majority."

"And the Censorate... I had thought about abolishing their right to report on rumors long ago..."

The more Zhu Yuanzhang spoke, the more excited he became. Although Tang He and Fu Youde felt a bit annoyed by the old man's boasting, they could not help but feel immense admiration for Zhu Yunsheng's maneuvers. They even felt a faint sense of regret, as if they had lived these past decades in vain.

"Your Majesty, what you say is indeed true, but this humble minister has a question."

Just as Zhu Yuanzhang stopped his boasting in satisfaction and raised his cup again, Fu Youde couldn't help but speak up.

"Hmm?" Zhu Yuanzhang took a light sip of wine, his brow furrowing slightly. The implication was clear: *Are you, old man, questioning my dear grandson's policies?*

Fu Youde shrank his neck and said with a fawning smile, "Your Majesty, I also believe the Third Prince's reforms are excellent, especially the military reforms—they are a stroke of genius. It is just that I worry about Lan Xiao'er and the others..."

He stopped halfway through his sentence, trusting that Zhu Yuanzhang understood his meaning without him needing to elaborate.

Sure enough, the moment the words left his lips, Zhu Yuanzhang slammed his cup onto the table with a heavy thud and scoffed, "Hmph! Lan Xiao'er—if he dares to oppose, let's see how I deal with him! If he, as the maternal great-uncle, dares not support my dear grandson, I will personally take his head off, and we shall see who else dares to disagree."

In that moment, a murderous aura radiated from Zhu Yuanzhang, perfectly illustrating the saying that an emperor's wrath leaves a million corpses in its wake. Fu Youde couldn't help but tremble, his eyes filled with a trace of sympathy.

Tang He, however, did not show such emotional fluctuations. Instead, he raised his cup and smiled at Zhu Yuanzhang. "Your Majesty, let's drink! Regarding the matter we discussed earlier, what do you think..."

"Hahaha! You!" Zhu Yuanzhang was quite pleased. He didn't say much, but he didn't deny it either. He had previously joked about betrothing Tang He's granddaughter to Zhu Yunsheng, and he seemed to have no intention of going back on his word.

After the three men laughed and chatted for a while, they began to analyze the specific methods of Zhu Yunsheng's reforms one by one.

With Zhu Yuanzhang's insight and strategic vision, the more they analyzed, the more terrifying they found Zhu Yunsheng's intentions to be. Old Zhu even felt a faint sense of the waves behind the Yangtze River pushing the waves ahead.

***

Meanwhile, in the Qianqing Palace.

"Your Highness, there is a situation."

"Hmm?" Zhu Yunsheng, who was hunched over his desk reviewing memorials, raised his head in confusion.

Yun Qi, standing below the dragon desk, quickly bowed and reported in a low voice, "It is about the Eastern Palace."

"What has happened at the Eastern Palace?" Zhu Yunsheng put down his vermilion brush, a flash of curiosity in his eyes.

Due to their status, Lady Lü and her son Zhu Yunwen were not directly imprisoned in the dungeon or the imperial prison, but remained under the surveillance of Chang Sheng within the Eastern Palace. What Zhu Yunsheng couldn't understand was what kind of trouble could arise in the Eastern Palace, which was being strictly monitored by Chang Sheng and his men. Had Lady Lü and her son, unable to bear the humiliation or accept reality, chosen to end their own lives?

Clearly, Zhu Yunsheng had underestimated the mother and son.

He heard Yun Qi report again in a low voice, "It concerns the Marquis of Jiangxia. According to reports from our men, a personal maid of Lady Lü in the Eastern Palace secretly left the palace via a secret passage and went to the residence of the Marquis of Jiangxia..."

"The Marquis of Jiangxia, Zhou Dexing?" Zhu Yunsheng's eyes grew more puzzled. "Isn't he locked in the imperial prison?"

"Yes, Zhou Dexing is indeed in the imperial prison. However, it was reported that the maid met with the wife of the Marquis of Jiangxia and handed her a letter. Shortly after, a servant from the Marquis's residence quietly left Yingtian Prefecture and hurried straight toward Qingzhou Prefecture."

After finishing, Yun Qi pulled out a sealed letter from his person and respectfully held it above his head with both hands. Ma Sanbao immediately stepped down from the imperial steps, took the envelope, and hurried to present it to Zhu Yunsheng.

Zhu Yunsheng took the envelope and, after a single glance, narrowed his eyes. On the envelope were written the four large characters: "To be opened by the Prince of Qi."

"Heh! To think they still dare to collude with a feudal prince. It seems Lady Lü and Zhou Dexing have not yet given up hope!"

Zhu Yunsheng let out a scornful laugh, then tore open the wax-sealed envelope and pulled out the letter to examine it closely. The content of the letter was exactly as he had expected—a plea for aid written personally by Zhou Dexing's wife to Zhu Fu.

To call it a plea for aid was not quite accurate; it was more of an incitement to conspiracy. In the letter, Zhou Dexing's wife explicitly stated that Zhu Yuanzhang had passed away, that the throne had been stolen by Zhu Yunsheng through illicit means, and that Zhu Yunwen was currently being held under house arrest in the Eastern Palace. Furthermore, she conveyed Lady Lü's message: if Zhu Fu were to lead troops into the capital and capture Zhu Yunsheng, he would be enfeoffed as the Prince of Wu, or perhaps even share the empire with Zhu Yunwen.

Of course, this alone would not be enough to persuade Zhu Fu, so Zhou Dexing's wife, in an attempt to sway him, had taken the liberty of adding that they were willing to act as internal agents.

"Heh! What unkillable cockroaches! Even in such a desperate plight, they still dream of turning the tables..." Zhu Yunsheng slapped the letter onto the dragon desk and couldn't help but sneer.

"The Prince of Qi! This seventh uncle of mine..." Zhu Yunsheng rubbed his chin in thought for a moment, then suddenly burst into a loud laugh.

"Hahaha! Sanbao, put the letter back."

"Yes, Your Highness." Ma Sanbao immediately folded the letter and returned it to the envelope.

"Yun Qi, you will make the trip to Qingzhou yourself and deliver this letter to my seventh uncle," Zhu Yunsheng said, turning his head to look down with a smile.

Yun Qi bowed to accept the order, but then looking at the already opened envelope in his hand, he asked with some hesitation, "Your Highness, does this servant need to find a master of imitation to forge a new copy?"

Although he did not know what Zhu Yunsheng intended, he understood that if a letter that had already been opened were delivered to the Prince of Qi, it would certainly arouse suspicion. That might disrupt Zhu Yunsheng's plans.

However, to Yun Qi's surprise, Zhu Yunsheng waved his hand and said, "No need! Send it just as it is. I want my seventh uncle to know that I have already read this letter..."

"Yes, Your Highness! This servant will hasten with the letter to Qingzhou Prefecture."