Chapter 16: At Court, Someone Can No Longer Sit Still
“His Highness the Third Prince has arrived, everyone remain silent.”
As Zhu Yunxu paced into the Hall of Heavenly Reverence, Yun Qi, already standing on the imperial steps, gathered his strength and shouted into the hall.
The civil and military officials hurriedly sealed their lips, not daring to utter a single sound, as they always did in the presence of the stern discipline imposed by Zhu Yuanzhang.
But barely a few breaths after the silence settled, the court erupted like water hitting a hot pan.
“The Third Prince? Which Third Prince? Why is His Majesty not presiding over court today?”
“Where is His Majesty? Why is he absent from court?”
“Could it be that the Prince of Jin has returned? His Majesty favored the Crown Prince as heir; why is the Prince of Jin presiding in his stead?”
…
Yun Qi’s expression darkened upon hearing some officials mistake Zhu Yunxu for the Prince of Jin.
He immediately summoned his inner strength again and bellowed downwards, “Silence! Anyone who disturbs the court again shall be flogged forty strokes.”
The Hall of Heavenly Reverence was specially designed acoustically to carry sounds from the throne down to every corner. Yun Qi’s booming command thundered through the ears of all officials like a clap of lightning.
Perhaps intimidated by the laws established by Zhu Yuanzhang, or for some other reason, the hall fell silent once more.
Yet when the officials lifted their eyes to the imperial steps, many could not help but murmur.
“Hiss~ Who is this person? Isn’t he the Prince of Jin?”
“The Third Prince? I know who he is—it’s the Eastern Palace’s Third Prince!”
…
This revealed just how little presence Zhu Yunxu had held in court over the years; very few officials even recognized him.
Only a handful among the civil officials, having served in the Grand Secretariat, immediately identified Zhu Yunxu.
Yet their surprise was immense. The Third Prince who once cowered timidly in the Secretariat and skirted around others now appeared so dignified and handsome, even exuding a faint aura of Zhu Yuanzhang’s imposing majesty.
But their true astonishment lay elsewhere: why was the Third Prince presiding over court instead of Zhu Yunwen, who had recently been closely tutored by Zhu Yuanzhang and was the favored Crown Prince?
Zhu Yunxu ignored the gazes of the officials. His eyes lingered momentarily on the area in front of the military generals, acknowledging Lan Yu and others with a nod. Then he walked steadily to a chair placed beside the dragon throne and stood there.
Only then did the officials get a clear look at Zhu Yunxu’s face, causing a small stir once again.
---
After a brief pause, Zhu Yunxu sat down heavily in the chair.
“Kneel.”
Yun Qi’s voice rang out again, heavy with oppression.
Though confused, unwilling, and perplexed, the officials, bound by etiquette, obediently bent their knees and knelt on the golden bricks of the Hall of Heavenly Reverence.
Seeing everyone kneel obediently before him, Zhu Yunxu sighed with relief, then spoke aloud with a faint sadness, “Gentlemen, last night, the Emperor Grandfather passed away.”
Boom.
His words struck like a thunderbolt from the heavens, petrifying the officials kneeling on the ground.
The Emperor… has passed away?
The hall remained silent for nearly half an incense stick’s time before someone regained composure and began to weep loudly.
The death of the Emperor grieved heaven and earth alike. Even those whose minds wandered to other matters could only weep first.
Sorrow spread throughout the palace.
Half an incense stick of time passed.
Seeing some officials growing restless, Zhu Yunxu addressed them, “Gentlemen, do not grieve further! Our late father’s passing grieved the Emperor Grandfather so greatly that his demise was sudden; our hearts are equally heavy.
Yet the departed are gone, and the Ming must carry on. The foreign enemies remain undefeated, and the people have yet to truly prosper. We must unite our efforts…”
After a lengthy speech expressing his sorrow and clarifying the stakes, the officials quieted once more and looked up at Zhu Yunxu seated on the chair.
“Present your business.”
Yun Qi’s voice followed naturally.
“May I ask, Third Prince, where is the Crown Prince?”
As Yun Qi’s words echoed, a short, stout man stepped forward from the ranks of court officials.
He did not even hold his bamboo tablet respectfully, glaring angrily at Zhu Yunxu without a shred of deference.
This man was Huang Zicheng, an Imperial Academy reader and Zhu Yunwen’s appointed tutor, personally assigned by Zhu Yuanzhang.
Though Huang’s official rank was not high, his position in the Imperial Academy and his role as tutor to the favored heir had earned him a strong network within the court.
As he spoke, several officials quickly followed his lead.
---
None dared to be as brazen as Huang Zicheng; after respectfully holding their tablets, they voiced their support.
Zhu Yunxu calmly observed them with a faint smile, showing no intention to reply.
Seeing this, Huang’s face brightened, likely believing Zhu Yunxu feared him, and he spoke loudly again.
“Zhu Yunxu, since ancient times, order between elders and juniors, respect between ranks, has been the norm!
You, as the Emperor’s third grandson, how can you appear in the Hall of Heavenly Reverence?
To sit so close to the imperial throne is a grave disrespect…”
His words stunned the accompanying civil officials.
Clearly, they had not expected Huang to be so forthright, but as facts stood, they had no choice but to follow suit.
“Indeed, we respectfully request the Third Prince to summon the Crown Prince to preside over court.”
“The Third Prince has clearly overstepped.”
Though their tone was less severe.
Zhu Yunxu’s gaze swept across their faces, and suddenly an inexplicable powerful aura radiated from him, enveloping Huang Zicheng and the others in the hall.
Moments later, they felt a chill down their spines and an unexplainable unease.
As they silently wiped their brows, Zhu Yunxu’s voice finally rang out.
“Rites and rules?”
“Huang Zicheng, do you dare lecture me on rites and rules?”
“Setting aside questions of legitimacy, I am still the Crown Prince’s legitimate son, a prince personally ennobled by the Emperor Grandfather. Whether in court or everyday life, I hold the rank and dignity of a prince, a sovereign.
You are my subjects, my family’s retainers.”
“To be subjects who refuse to bow before their lord, and to question so arrogantly—was this the ethical code you learned after years of scholarly study?”
“The sages say: ‘Do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself.’ Yet I see, Lord Huang, you impose upon others what you yourself would not endure!”
…