Chapter 61: Back to the Fief? Like Hell I Will!

"Father, your son doesn't know what mistake he made. You should at least give me a reason. You can't wrong a good man!"
Zhu Xian protested loudly, his face full of indignation.
"You want a reason from me? When you bullied your attendants, did you ever give them a reason?"
Zhu Yuanzhang, his heart already burning with anger, took off his shoe and hurled it at him, cursing furiously.
"What?"
"Father, hasn't that all passed already? Why are you bringing up old grievances?"
Though Zhu Xian grumbled, he hurriedly picked up the shoe, knelt, and shuffled over to put it back on his father's foot.
His movements were practiced and deft—truly a trait inherited from Zhu Si.
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly, unmoved by this display of obsequiousness from his troublesome son.
"Get out of my sight! I'll deal with you again after we eat."
"Alright, alright, whatever you say."
Zhu Xian was unfazed; his thick skin had weathered many beatings. During the war, his father couldn't bring himself to strike his eldest son, so whenever he needed to vent his rage, Zhu Xian was the one to bear it. He'd long since grown used to it.
Before his father, he was always respectful and obedient, but never afraid—he knew his father's temper well. No matter how outrageous his behavior, he was never going to be killed, only beaten to let off steam. Usually, after a beating, the matter was forgotten, but today was odd—he'd been thrashed and now threatened with another round.
Most likely, this thick-browed troublemaker was behind it all.
Zhu Xian shot a resentful glance at Zhu Youjian, then slunk back to his place.
"Ah, these little rascals only know how to play the obedient son before me and cause mischief behind my back," Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, waving his hand. "Come, grandson, let's finish up this row of sweet potatoes and then we'll go eat."
"Yes, Grandfather!"
Zhu Youjian eagerly buried sweet potato cuttings in the soil. In less than a quarter of an hour, the two of them had finished the row—neither fast nor slow.
"Come on, let's go," Zhu Yuanzhang said, setting aside the farm tools and rubbing his belly with a smile. "Food tastes better after a bit of work!"
"By the way, grandson, are there any good farm tools in the future? It's always best when the common folk are well equipped."
Farm tools?
Would Kunlun slaves count?
Zhu Youjian scratched his head. "I'll ask around for you later."
"Good."
...
Palace of Pure Tranquility.
A large table had been set up in the palace.
On it were steamed pig's trotters and tripe, twice-cooked fried fish, braised pork, hand-pulled noodles, shredded chicken soup, fragrant rice, bean soup, and tea.
There was also a golden, aromatic roast goose.
There weren't many dishes, but each had been prepared by Empress Ma herself.
Empress Ma doted on her grandson, constantly piling food into his bowl. "Eat more, just look how thin you are."
"Grandmother, let me help myself," Zhu Youjian quickly took the bowl from her hands.
Zhu Yuanzhang, his eyes tinged with envy and a hint of jealousy, complained, "Sister, you're so generous. I haven't had more than a bite of those pig's trotters, and you've given them all to our grandson."
Prince Qin, Zhu Xian, and Prince Jin, Zhu Gang, kept their heads down, eating their rice in silence, occasionally exchanging glances.
They couldn't help but mutter to themselves—father was treating this grandson a bit too well.
But both were tactful enough not to say a word.
To them, Zhu Youjian, having saved Empress Ma, had seen his status soar. As long as he didn't overstep his bounds, they had no complaints.
Zhu Gang, tall and imposing, was as robust as his second brother. Though he'd endured hardship in his youth, he'd grown accustomed to rich fare these past years.
He didn't particularly care for the dishes on the table, so after a few bites of rice, he set his bowl aside. After so many days in the palace, he longed to return to his fief and live in comfort. He figured his father was in a good mood today.
He ventured, "Father, my mother's health has improved greatly, and I've brought all my troops. There's much to manage in Taiyuan Prefecture. Perhaps I could return to my fief?"
"Yes, Father, Xi'an Prefecture is too important to be left unattended. It's been over two months—if I don't return soon, there could be trouble," Zhu Xian chimed in, nodding vigorously.
At most, they were just sons here in the capital, subject to scolding and lectures. How much more comfortable it was to be their own masters in their domains.
Trouble?
If you two would just stay put, there'd be no trouble at all!
"Sister, that's enough. Let's get to business," Zhu Yuanzhang said, dabbing his mouth and casting a glance at his sons.
"Alright," Empress Ma replied, puzzled but not pressing the matter, and pulled Zhu Youjian aside to fuss over him.
Hearing that the harem in the Chongzhen era was empty, she immediately wanted to go herself to arrange things for him, startling Zhu Youjian. He quickly waved his hands—his mind was free of women, his sword thus sharper, for women could only hinder his conquest of Eurasia.
Soon, the table was cleared away by the attendants.
Zhu Yuanzhang sat at the head seat, his gaze sharp as a blade. "You two still thinking of going home?"
The atmosphere in the hall froze instantly.
Even Empress Ma fell silent, turning to look on.
"Father, if we don't return, where would we go?" Zhu Gang forced a smile, a sense of foreboding rising in his chest.
This was bad—something was about to happen!
"Father, I've truly changed. I promise you, once I return, you'll never hear of me bullying palace maids or attendants again!" Zhu Xian pleaded desperately.
He decided he'd station men along the route to ensure no news escaped—every time he came to the capital, he lost weight from all the trouble.
"You needn't return to your fiefs," Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly, his voice icy. "You two, along with the tenth prince, are stripped of your titles and reduced to commoners. You'll remain here in the capital and farm the land."
"What?"
Prince Qin and Prince Jin were stunned, unable to react for a long while.
"Chongba," Empress Ma murmured, frowning.
"Sister, stay out of this," Zhu Yuanzhang said forcefully, his eyes resolute as he looked at his two sons, dazed and indignant.
"What did I do wrong? So I got a bit carried away and bullied a few palace maids—does that warrant demotion? I object!" Zhu Xian burst out, leaping to his feet in outrage.
"Father, me too," Zhu Gang muttered, head bowed in defiance.
"Is this mutiny?"
"Kneel!"
With a thud, both Zhu Xian and Zhu Gang fell to their knees, yet even kneeling, their eyes burned with defiance as they looked at their father.
"So you two little wretches think you can rebel? The throne is yours only because I give it to you. Without me, you're nothing!"
Zhu Yuanzhang's angry voice was harsh and cutting.
"Chongba, what's come over you today?" Empress Ma walked over, patting Zhu Yuanzhang's back in an attempt to calm him.
"That Prince Qin, Zhu Xian, died in the twenty-eighth year of the Hongwu reign."
"Do you know why he died?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's face was livid with anger and disgust. "That scoundrel spent his days abusing and killing palace women, oppressing his fief with cruelty, forcing the people to sell their children. In the end, three elderly palace women poisoned him! It was so shameful, I couldn't even bring myself to arrest anyone!"
"Xian'er, how could you do such a disgraceful thing? You've thoroughly shamed your father!" Empress Ma was furious, scolding him at the top of her lungs.
Zhu Xian, knowing well this was the fate foretold by those sages of later generations, felt neither resentment nor fear. Instead, he beamed and said, "Mother, I know I was wrong. When I return, I'll have all the old palace women killed. Don't worry, your son won't die!"
Slap!
"Beast! You're worse than a beast!"
Empress Ma was so enraged she began to cough, clutching her chest as she tried to recover, her anger truly ignited.
"Mother, please don't be angry. Your son is thick-skinned—I hope your hand isn't hurt," Zhu Xian said, anxiously rubbing her hand, regretting his impulsive words. Seeing his mother so stricken, he was truly panicked.
"Excellent. Just excellent," Zhu Yuanzhang was so furious that his beard trembled as he pointed and shook. "There are at least a hundred thousand old women in Xi'an Prefecture. Do you mean to kill them all? My good son Zhu Xian wants to slaughter a hundred thousand of my people—very well, there's no need to reduce you to commoner status. I'll have you executed right now!"
"Father, you can't pin such crimes on me! There are only a dozen or so old women in the palace. Killing them is nothing. Are you saying your son's life is worth less than a few old women?" Zhu Xian shouted indignantly.
"And what about me, Father? I..."
"Wanton slaughter of the people—your crime is the same!" Zhu Yuanzhang cut him off.
Zhu Gang, a prudent man, saw the situation escalating and wisely held his tongue. Better to be a commoner for a while—sooner or later, he'd be summoned back. As the legitimate third son, he was confident of that.
"Attend me!"
"At your command!" The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Mao Xiang, hurried in.
Zhu Yuanzhang cast a cold glance at his sons and ordered, "Send word to the Imperial Clan Court. Issue an edict: Prince Qin and Prince Jin, for their lack of virtue and poor governance, are hereby stripped of their titles and reduced to commoners. They are to remain in the capital from this day forth!"