Chapter 16: I Want to Move Out

Xu Xingzu hurried off to continue delivering breakfast, leaving only Zhu Yunwen kneeling before Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yunwen’s clothes rustled in the still air, and his heart turned cold once more. He knew full well what his mother, Lady Lu, had done. Now that Zhu Yuanzhang was aware of it all, the Eastern Palace would likely never regain his trust. The position of Imperial Grandson, he feared, would no longer be within his reach.

"Imperial Grandfather, Grandson... Grandson..."

Zhu Yunwen tried to speak, hoping to offer some excuse, but his courage was failing him. He stuttered, unable to form a coherent sentence, his voice trembling violently.

Zhu Yuntong had finished his steamed bun, but that didn't stop him from enjoying the spectacle. In his memory, Zhu Yunwen had always been spineless, and he was certainly proving it now. Furthermore, the petty schemes of Lady Lu were truly clumsy. If she had wanted to control him, there were countless ways to do so; instead, she chose this foolish approach of skimping on their food.

"What a bunch of geniuses," Zhu Yuntong thought to himself. "I should take this opportunity to ask Imperial Grandfather to let me move out."

Zhu Lingyue and her sisters felt a flicker of relief. With the Emperor backing them, they would finally be safe from bullying. Seeing Zhu Yunwen trembling like that actually brought them a sense of satisfaction. In the past, Lady Lu had tormented them incessantly, calling them "money-losing goods" and denying them decent food. While their father was alive, Lady Lu had restrained herself, though she still employed underhanded tactics in the shadows. Once their father passed, she became even more ruthless. Now that her facade was crumbling, they felt a sense of vindication. Only the two little ones, Linghua and her sister, remained oblivious, watching the scene with wide, confused eyes.

"Did you know about what Lady Lu was doing all along?" Zhu Yuanzhang felt a sudden, deep disappointment toward Zhu Yunwen.

"Refined and studious, kind and filial"—these were the labels always attached to Zhu Yunwen. But in light of today’s events, they seemed nothing more than a hypocritical veneer.

"Grandson... I knew!"

Zhu Yunwen had wanted to deny it, but under Zhu Yuanzhang’s icy gaze, he dared not.

"You knew, yet you never told me? Hmph." Zhu Yuanzhang sneered. Knowing the truth but failing to report it—was this the "brotherly love and respect" he had boasted of? It was all just a hollow act.

Zhu Yuanzhang began to reassess his grandson. He might not be overly attached to family, but he was certainly cold-blooded. Perhaps that insolent, daring grandson of his was right: if Zhu Yunwen were to ascend the throne, his own brothers might not survive the purge.

"Yuntong is right!" Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang sighed. "Yunwen, you have disappointed me."

Zhu Yuntong listened, wondering which part of his words had been "right." Zhu Yunwen couldn't recall, either, but the word "disappointed" hit him like a thunderbolt. He kowtowed and said, "Imperial Grandfather, Mother is my own flesh and blood. If I told you, I would be unfilial. If I did not, I would be unkind to my third brother. Caught between filial piety and benevolence, I struggled, and in the end, I chose filial piety."

His mind raced, and he finally managed this explanation, deciding to cast all the blame onto Lady Lu. He painted himself as a pathetic soul trapped between duty and kindness.

"He shifts the blame fast," Zhu Yuntong thought. He didn't believe for a second that Zhu Yunwen was a passive player in this; he was surely more active than anyone, having targeted him plenty of times. However, Zhu Yuanzhang’s expression softened slightly, as if he found the logic plausible.

"Enough!" Zhu Yuanzhang commanded. "Go back. Do not forget your lessons today."

"Grandson will withdraw."

Zhu Yunwen dared not linger. He bowed, his heart filled with trepidation, cast one last glare at Zhu Yuntong, and retreated from the Qianqing Palace. As the cold wind hit him outside, he broke into a cold sweat and shivered. He felt like weeping; the position of Crown Prince, which had been so close, seemed to be slipping away just as it was within his grasp.

"Zhu Yuntong, this is all your fault!" Zhu Yunwen gritted his teeth. He burned with thoughts of revenge, but he dared not show his hatred openly, keeping his resentment trapped within his heart.

Shortly after he left, Xu Xingzu returned with two baskets of steamed buns, followed by eunuchs carrying steaming bowls of porridge and noodles.

"Your Majesty!" They set the food down, and Xu Xingzu knelt, kowtowing. "This servant was blinded by greed. I deserve to die."

"You dog, get out of my sight. Don't be an eyesore; I’ll deal with you later." Zhu Yuanzhang had no intention of replacing Xu Xingzu; a good chef was too valuable. Xu Xingzu had served him for years and was trusted; a minor punishment would suffice to keep him loyal and grateful.

"As you command!" Xu Xingzu kowtowed and scrambled away. Before leaving, he glanced at Zhu Yuntong, realizing that the Emperor favored him and the power structure of the palace was shifting. Having served the Emperor for so long, he knew how to read the wind; he would have to change his allegiances and stop listening to Lady Lu.

"Lingyue," Zhu Yuanzhang said, his voice filled with guilt. "It is Grandfather’s fault for not taking better care of you all. Sigh."

The children had suffered much, losing their parents, and he, their only living elder, had been negligent.

"Imperial Grandfather," Zhu Lingyue said sensibly, "You are the Emperor of the Great Ming; you have to care for all the people under heaven. A little hardship for us is nothing."

"Good child!" Zhu Yuanzhang thought to himself how wonderful they were.

"Imperial Grandfather, eat!" Little Linghua picked up two buns and placed them in front of him.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily. "Good, good, good. I will eat."

After taking a bite, he looked at his daring, rebellious grandson and asked, "What do you intend to do now?"

Zhu Yuntong realized his chance had come. "Imperial Grandfather, the entire Eastern Palace is under Lady Lu’s control. I cannot stay there anymore. I am grown; I want to move out."

"Absolutely not!" Zhu Yuanzhang refused flatly. He was already daring enough while living in the Eastern Palace; if he were allowed to move out, wouldn't he turn the world upside down? That would never do!

"But!" Zhu Yuntong pressed, anxious. "Imperial Grandfather, surely you don't want me to keep being bullied by that poisonous woman? It’s miserable! If you don't pity me, you should at least pity my sisters."

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent.

"Stop with the act!" Zhu Yuanzhang thought. "I see right through you. As long as you want to deal with Lady Lu, how could she possibly bully you? You hid your talents before, which is why you allowed it, but now that you've stopped hiding and brought this to me, hmph!"

"As for you, Lingyue... Jixiang, go summon Lady Guo."

Zhu Yuanzhang was immovable on the issue of moving out. Zhu Yuntong was left speechless. He truly did not want to remain in the Eastern Palace; it felt unsafe. Moreover, outside the palace, there was so much he could do, whereas here he was shackled by constraints. But since the stubborn old man wouldn't budge, he had no choice.

Zhu Yuntong turned his frustration into appetite, devouring two more meat buns.

"Still eating?" Zhu Yuanzhang scolded. "Leave some for Lingyue and the others."

At that moment, the eunuch Jixiang hurried toward the inner palace to summon Consort Guo.