Chapter 3: Even If He Comes, He Must Kneel

Zhu Yuanzhang was terrified. He pleaded in a low voice, "Biao’er, I’ve thought it through. I won’t kill Song Lian. I’ll make sure he lives out his days in comfort. But you mustn’t even think about drowning yourself. I’ll have people watch over you, and from now on, you must keep away from the water!"

"Father, I understand. As long as Song Master is spared, everything can be discussed," Zhu Biao replied, showing a sincere and filial smile.

Zhu Yuanzhang gripped his son’s hand tightly and said, "Also, from now on, you mustn’t handle state affairs for more than five hours a day. I’ll have someone watch over you for that as well!"

At this moment, Zhu Biao was essentially the acting emperor. Zhu Yuanzhang had previously decreed that all matters of state were to be handled first by the crown prince before being reported to the emperor. Furthermore, he had purged the ministers thoroughly.

As a result, Zhu Biao reviewed over two hundred memorials and handled more than four hundred state affairs daily, never working less than eight hours a day! Sometimes he even worked through the night. Such intensity, day in and day out for ten years...

Frankly, it was harder than tilling the fields.

"Father, I understand," Zhu Biao nodded honestly, not arguing further, for he truly felt exhausted.

Zhu Yuanzhang, stirred by emotion, spoke his mind: "You must take care of your health. The fourth son is no good—he only passed the throne for sixteen generations. We cannot let him seize the opportunity."

"Yes, Father!" Zhu Biao nodded solemnly.

"...Grandson is guilty!" Zhu Youjian quietly interjected upon hearing their conversation.

"Ah, what are you saying?"

"The fourth son has his merits too. Having a divine grandson like you is his greatest accomplishment!" Zhu Yuanzhang comforted Zhu Youjian kindly.

After a moment of silence, Zhu Yuanzhang grew increasingly angry and thundered, "That rebellious son! Even if anything happened to Biao’er, the throne has nothing to do with him. Where did he find the gall to rebel just four years after I died?"

"Father, please calm yourself. I know the fourth brother is not greedy for the throne; he must have his reasons," Zhu Biao defended him.

"King of Yan did indeed have unspeakable motives," Zhu Youjian spoke for his ancestor. In truth, King of Yan just wanted to survive...

Zhu Youjian calculated the time, and before Zhu Yuanzhang could speak again, he suggested, "Grandfather, Ancestor, why don’t we visit the Jianwen era?"

For no other reason—

If you beat Ancestor Zhu Di, then you can’t beat me.

"Jianwen era!?" Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao exchanged glances, their hearts surging with emotion.

Both were extraordinary men; after a brief thought, their minds sifted through the avalanche of shocking news to grasp the crux—this divine grandson was from the future!

...

The fourth year of Jianwen.

Yingtian Prefecture.

King of Yan, Zhu Di, eyes blazing with murderous intent, rode a tall steed down the palace avenue toward the Golden Throne Hall, followed by armored warriors exuding the chilling aura of the battlefield, causing the gathered ministers to tremble in fear.

Suddenly, a figure burst forth from among the officials, alone blocking Zhu Di’s path.

"King of Yan, please wait!"

Looking closely at his official garb, he was a Hanlin Compiler in his thirties. Despite his frail, scholarly appearance, he faced the rebel King of Yan without flinching, calm and composed.

"Audacious!"

"Insolence!"

"Protect His Highness!"

Clang!

Zhu Di’s generals reacted in shock and anger, drawing their blades instantly, guarding his sides, fearing their chance at nobility might slip away.

"Why do you bar my way?" Zhu Di looked down coldly; this was the first person to dare obstruct him, and the first court official to do so within the palace.

If mishandled, it might spur others to imitate him, causing needless trouble.

Yang Rong, the scholarly official, fixed Zhu Di with a piercing gaze and loudly asked, "Should Your Highness first pay respects at the tomb, or ascend the throne?"

"Of course, I must first pay homage at the Grand Emperor’s Tomb!"

Zhu Di was suddenly enlightened, looked at him deeply, turned his horse and called out, "Proceed immediately to the Grand Emperor’s Mausoleum!"

According to ritual, a vassal prince must first visit the late emperor’s mausoleum before ascending the throne, to show that his rule was inherited. Otherwise, it would be usurpation.

He had not considered this and went straight to the palace, which inadvertently confirmed his usurper’s status.

Zhu Di felt both fearful and grateful.

...

Purple-Gold Mountain.

Grand Emperor’s Mausoleum.

Before the spirit tablet of Ming’s Grand Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, a disheveled figure staggered and fell onto the prayer mat.

"Your Majesty, please hurry! King of Yan has entered the capital; there is no time!" An elderly monk sighed behind him.

"Master, wait outside for a moment," Zhu Yunwen instructed, then turned to bow deeply, his voice choked and despairing, "Grandfather Emperor, I failed to protect the realm and dynasty. Your grandson regrets it deeply."

Now, Zhu Yunwen admitted he never trusted Zhu Yuanzhang and was dissatisfied with his arrangements. To him, these plans only allowed Zhu Yuanzhang’s sons to carve up the emperor’s power.

Thus, upon ascending the throne, he immediately overturned Zhu Yuanzhang’s power structure, plunging the entire empire into anxiety and causing all factions to defect.

Because Zhu Yunwen dismantled Zhu Yuanzhang’s system, powerful lords like the Prince of Ning, Prince of Chu, and even the thirty-thousand-strong Mu family army in Yunnan all stood by, watching King of Yan’s rebellion. The defensive system designed to protect the emperor was rendered useless.

All princes with military power and the court’s regional armies became ineffective. In confronting King of Yan, they were so constrained that Zhu Yunwen uttered the astonishing words:

"Facing King of Yan, do not shoot from concealment, do not use powerful weapons, lest I be known for killing my uncle."

Thus, King of Yan occupied every advantage—timing, geography, and people. He rode through Ming’s camps unhindered, and no one dared strike.

Suddenly.

A voice, cold and oppressive, rang out in the empty ancestral hall: "Fool. You’re not regretful; you’re just realizing you’re about to die."

"Who!"

Zhu Yunwen jerked his head up, then froze, his expression a mix of excitement, terror, and disbelief, his pale lips trembling:

"Grandfather Emperor!?"

Before the ancestor’s spirit tablet, three figures had appeared unnoticed. Among them, the elder in a blazing red dragon robe was none other than Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Get over here!"

...

Zhu Yuanzhang’s icy gaze fixed on Zhu Yunwen, his anger making his beard and hair tremble: No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t fathom why, after ten years, he would choose such a useless heir.

"Grandfather Emperor, King of Yan has rebelled and entered the capital! I... I failed to protect the realm; I deserve a thousand deaths!" Zhu Yunwen, overwhelmed, believed his ancestor had manifested to save the dynasty, and flung himself forward, clinging to his grandfather’s leg, weeping bitterly.

"Useless! Truly useless. You become the Son of Heaven only to cry and complain?" Zhu Yuanzhang, seeing Zhu Yunwen’s weakness, grew even angrier, grabbing his spirit tablet and beating him fiercely.

"You do deserve a thousand deaths! Where is your promised balance of mercy and authority? The moment you ascended, you treated the closest kin as animals, cutting them off at will?"

"Entrusting Li Jinglong was a failure to discern character—utter foolishness. Did you not know Li Jinglong grew up with the fourth son, inseparable since childhood?"

"You viewed my arrangements as obstacles. After Geng Bingwen died, you even placed Qu Neng under Li Jinglong, likely because I appointed him as the city’s defender and you distrusted him! Fool! The greatest fool! I could never have given you the throne if I meant you harm!"

Before arriving, Zhu Youjian had already briefed them on Jianwen’s historical events, so Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao’s impression of Zhu Yunwen was abysmal. Now, inflamed with rage, Zhu Yuanzhang wielded the solid wood spirit tablet mercilessly.

Zhu Youjian sat aside, watching the spectacle with relish.

"Grandson deserves this," Zhu Yunwen gritted his teeth, silently enduring three heavy blows before finally trying to dodge.

"You dare run!?"

The two chased and fled, knocking over several incense burners, filling the hall with drifting ashes. Zhu Youjian clicked his tongue, covered his mouth and nose, and continued to watch.

"Grandfather Emperor, please stop, please stop! Grandson truly knows his mistakes, Father!" Zhu Yunwen darted from side to side, spotting a somewhat familiar figure and, like a drowning man grasping at straws, hurriedly clung to Zhu Biao’s leg.

Even after nearly ten years apart, his tears flowed as he held on tightly.

It wasn’t out of fatherly affection.

Only this way could he avoid Zhu Yuanzhang’s blows; one misstep could hurt Zhu Biao.

"Ah..."

Zhu Biao, disappointment mingling with pity, stroked Zhu Yunwen’s head and sighed deeply without a word.

"You still have the nerve to hide from me!?" Zhu Yuanzhang raised the solid wood tablet, breathing heavily, beard bristling with fury.

At this moment—

"Your Majesty! The rebel King of Yan’s forces are approaching; come quickly with me!" The old monk entered, startled at first, then his face changed drastically.

Swish!

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes. This monk looked familiar.

"From Royal Awakening Monastery?"

Thud!

"Young monk Jueyuan, pays respects to Grand Emperor, and to Crown Prince Yiwen... and greetings to this benefactor!" Jueyuan trembled in fear, desperately wishing to flee, but sensing escape was impossible, he simply knelt and saluted.

As for the rebel King of Yan—

What’s there to fear? Amitabha!

Even King of Yan Zhu Di would have to kneel!

...