Chapter 43: Zhu Di’s Ambition

Page 1/3

“This child is just like me!”

Zhu Yuanzhang recited the poem twice more, utterly delighted, and said, “Bring paper and brush!”

Jixiang hurriedly fetched paper and brush, noticed the ink was running low, and carefully ground some ink. Zhu Yuanzhang then picked up the brush and wrote the poem on the paper.

The more he looked at it, the grander and more majestic it seemed.

If this poem had appeared before the founding of the Ming Dynasty, during the turbulent warlord era, Zhu Yuanzhang thought he might have liked it even more. But appearing now, it was certainly fitting.

“This rebellious grandson has some ambition!”

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily, “He must be eyeing my position. No wonder he wants to seize the succession, but his talent is genuinely good.”

The old Zhu family had been illiterate peasants for generations.

Now that a rebellious grandson could compose poetry, Zhu Yuanzhang was naturally pleased and cheerfully said, “If he has the ability, I’ll allow him to have such ambition.”

Beside him, Jixiang put down the ink stick and quietly said, “Your Majesty, the second prince has written a poem. Would you like to hear it?”

“Read it aloud!”

Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to see what kind of poetry this diligent and studious student had written.

Jixiang began to recite.

“Not bad!”

After listening, Zhu Yuanzhang pondered a moment. Compared to Zhu Yunxu, it was far from perfect, but he had to offer some encouragement.

So, it was acceptable.

It was proper and much better than Zhu Gui and other unruly sons who had been at the main hall so long they couldn’t even write characters properly. They had to be sent away from Jinling to govern the frontier.

“Send for them!”

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment and added, “Have the second and third princes come at noon to dine with me.”

He initially wanted to summon only Zhu Yunxu, but since it was the time of succession struggle, he couldn’t let that rebellious grandson get too arrogant. He needed Zhu Yunwen to spur him on.

Besides, Zhu Yunwen was also vying for succession. He couldn’t be allowed to despair just yet. Old Zhu simply disliked the Lü clan; regarding Zhu Yunwen, it wasn’t hatred.

After getting to know him better, his fondness for Zhu Yunwen was not as strong as before, finding him somewhat insincere, yet he wouldn’t distance himself from him.

He wanted to create a competitor for that rebellious grandson so he could grow quickly and eventually take over his position.

Becoming emperor often meant one couldn’t act purely on personal likes; there were many considerations and balances to maintain.

Old Zhu was no exception; he had to consider these matters too.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Jixiang hurried off to deliver the orders.

At the main hall, it was exactly the lunch break.

Page 2/3

Zhu Yunxu and Zhu Yunwen received the order and had no choice but to go to the Wuying Hall.

Being able to see Old Zhu again made Zhu Yunwen very happy. He kept thinking that the emperor grandfather had truly not forgotten him.

But just as they arrived at Wuying Hall, hearing Zhu Yuanzhang repeatedly praise Zhu Yunxu’s poem made Zhu Yunwen feel his world was collapsing again; he was becoming mere background.

Zhu Yunxu: “......”

So quickly, the poem had spread to Wuying Hall.

How many secret police had the Butcher Zhu secretly placed in the main hall?

——

That afternoon, at the Prince of Yan’s residence.

“People outside are spreading rumors that Yunxu is cruel and heartless, unjust and ruthless, only knowing how to kill—just like my father, the Butcher Zhu.”

Zhu Di naturally had some spies in Ying Tian Prefecture, so he quickly learned what was happening outside.

Moreover, the matter of killing was no secret.

After a whole noon, Zhu Yunwen and his faction had repeatedly helped spread the label of cruelty and heartlessness onto Zhu Yunxu.

“Clearly the work of His Highness’s eldest nephew.”

Yao Guangxiao smiled slightly, “They are quite foolish.”

Zhu Di also smiled and asked, “How foolish?”

Yao Guangxiao said, “Foolish in everything. For example, this time, they spread that the third prince is cruel and heartless. They think His Majesty doesn’t know? He definitely knows. Not only does this not work well, but it also makes His Majesty think the second prince is hypocritical.”

“The master is right!”

Zhu Di agreed and added, “Besides, my father is the Butcher Zhu!”

Yao Guangxiao smiled, “Therefore, His Majesty may prefer the third prince, who is just as decisive and ruthless. The second prince’s scheme backfired. There is one more thing they all overlooked.”

“What is it?”

“His Majesty’s approval!”

Yao Guangxiao said, “No matter how many support you get, it is not as important as one word of approval from His Majesty. The real decider of the crown prince is not the entire court of ministers, but His Majesty alone! The third prince seems to have grasped this point and deeply won His Majesty’s favor. That alone gives him enough advantage in the succession struggle.”

“My nephew is not simple!”

Zhu Di did not regard Zhu Yunwen highly, but in these few days he had realized Zhu Yunxu was the greatest threat: “He used to be low-key and unobtrusive, but when he strikes, it’s with a shock.”

“Just self-preservation!”

Yao Guangxiao seemed to have seen through something else and continued, “If he doesn’t fight for succession, and if Zhu Yunwen succeeds, he will likely have a very hard life.”

As the true legitimate son, if he cannot ascend the throne, he will inevitably be feared by the illegitimate sons who do. Moreover, this legitimate son has a huge military backing.

To survive, he must fight for succession.

Page 3/3

“He’s not having it easy either!”

Zhu Di sighed, “But I have it even harder. Since Father has no intention of naming me heir, why did he say I resemble him most before? He gave me some hope, then dashed it… ha…”

He laughed bitterly.

He always felt Zhu Yuanzhang was unfair, toying with his feelings.

At that moment, a close attendant returned and whispered quietly into his ear for a long while.

Zhu Di’s expression suddenly brightened, saying, “Bring brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.”

The attendant left and soon brought the scholar’s four treasures.

Zhu Di ground the ink himself and picked up the brush to write down Zhu Yunxu’s poem. He had some informants in the palace, and some news had already come out.

However, his informants had long been uncovered by the secret police—only Zhu Yuanzhang was too lazy to act.

“Master, please have a look. What do you think?”

Zhu Di handed the paper to Yao Guangxiao.

“Majestic and grand!”

Yao Guangxiao looked for a while, his eyes shining, and sighed, “A fine poem, but I’m not qualified to comment.”

“I’m not qualified either, but wish I were!”

Zhu Di said, “I like this poem. ‘To count the heroes of the age, look to the present.’ Could it be me?”

“Where did the poem come from?”

“Written by Yunxu.”

“The third prince has such talent? Such ambition?”

Yao Guangxiao was amazed and thought they needed to reassess Zhu Yunxu.

This third prince was far more complicated than they had predicted.

“With this poem, Father should like him even more.”

Zhu Di folded the paper and had it sent back to his study, then said, “My elder brother has been buried. There’s nothing else in the capital now. Father should soon summon us back. Once we return, the succession struggle will be over, and we can only focus on commanding troops.”

Yao Guangxiao said, “With troops comes power!”

Power is usually seized through military might. Zhu Di could only take this route. Once Old Zhu was gone, he could boldly try.

Returning to build up his forces was also Yao Guangxiao’s plan.