Chapter 28: Zhu the First, Tang the Second, and Feng the Third
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“Dingchen! What happened in the streets today? Why do they seem so deserted?”
Just as Zhu Yuntong summoned the assembled officials to discuss important matters, Zhu Yuanzhang and his party quietly slipped out of the imperial palace through a secret passage.
Because of his own experiences, Zhu Yuanzhang had ordered the passage built when the palace was constructed. The craftsmen involved had later been quietly disposed of, and now only Zhu Yuanzhang and Jiang Huan, his most trusted attendant, knew of its existence.
Still, Zhu Yuanzhang had probably told Zhu Yunwen about the passage later on. Otherwise, why had Zhu Di been so certain that Zhu Yunwen was still alive after seizing the throne, and why had he gone to such lengths and expense to search the entire country for him?
Yet the moment Zhu Yuanzhang stepped outside the palace, he could not help frowning. The streets of Yingtian Prefecture looked utterly unlike what he was accustomed to seeing.
As the capital of the Great Ming, Yingtian was usually crowded with people, if not shoulder to shoulder, then at least teeming with them. Today, however, although the shops remained open, scarcely a few commoners could be seen.
And even those few hurried along, all heading in the same direction.
“Your Majesty, I suspect word has spread that you have ‘passed away,’” Feng Sheng ventured. “The people must be at home observing mourning and praying for you.”
They had only just left the palace themselves. How could they possibly know what was happening in the streets?
Zhu Yuanzhang was about to nod—and perhaps even boast a little about the achievements of his lifetime—but the words stopped at his lips.
After sweeping his gaze across the surroundings, he shook his head. “That can’t be it. If the people had learned that I had died, the entire city would already be draped in mourning white. Yet there isn’t a single strip of white silk to be seen. How could they be at home mourning and praying for me?”
Utterly certain of his conclusion, Zhu Yuanzhang turned his eyes toward Tang He.
“I’ll go ask around,” Tang He said at once.
He turned and walked toward a shop facing the street. With no customers to attend to, the young shop assistant was dozing at the entrance.
Tang He approached, held out several copper coins, and asked with a smile, “Little brother, what’s going on in Yingtian today? Why are there so few people in the streets? I remember it never used to be like this.”
The shop assistant glanced at the coins but did not reach out to take them. Instead, he pursed his lips listlessly.
“What else could it be? Everyone’s gone to watch the excitement!”
“You fellows must be from out of town, right? It’s only natural you wouldn’t know. The Ministry of Punishments is putting the servants and sworn sons of those powerful nobles on trial today. From what I hear, it’s quite satisfying to watch.”
As he spoke, the shop assistant shook his head in deep disappointment. “It’s a pity the shopkeeper told me to watch the store. Otherwise, I’d definitely have gone to see it myself.”
…
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Tang He was slightly surprised by what he heard, but he did not linger. He immediately returned to Zhu Yuanzhang’s side.
“Elder Brother, I found out what’s happening. It’s Lan the Second and the others…”
“Ha! Who would have thought those fellows would be so well behaved this time? Now that is a rare sight!” Zhu Yuanzhang laughed when he heard the explanation. “Come on, let’s go take a look. I want to see whether Lan the Second and the others will protect their own.”
With that, he set off toward the Ministry of Punishments.
But after only a few steps, he stopped again. After pondering for a moment, he said, “Dingchen, Zongyi! Since we’ve come out, don’t call me ‘Elder Brother’ anymore.”
“From now on, my name is Zhu the Elder. I’m your elder brother. Dingchen, you’ll be Tang the Second, and Zongyi, you’ll be Feng the Third. Understood?”
“Yes, El—Big Brother!”
Tang He had not used that form of address in many years, and for a moment he found it difficult to adjust.
Feng Sheng, on the other hand, was delighted. Back when they had fought to establish the realm, he had envied Tang He and Xu Da for being able to call Zhu Yuanzhang “Big Brother” every day. He had never expected that he would one day get the chance to do so himself.
Zhu the Elder, Tang the Second, and Feng the Third.
Once the three had reached an agreement, they cheerfully climbed into the carriage Tang He had prepared in advance and headed toward the street outside the Ministry of Punishments.
Before they reached it, however, they ran into the same problem as Liu Sanwu and the others. They had no choice but to stop the carriage and continue on foot with the crowd toward the ministry offices.
After nearly half an hour, the three finally squeezed their way to the Ministry of Punishments.
Since none of them had disguised themselves, they could only hide among the crowd and observe in secret.
Kai Ji had set up a public courtroom directly outside the ministry offices. The left and right vice ministers of the Ministry of Punishments sat on either side of him, while Lan Yu and several others had gathered around two separate tables nearby, apparently chatting about something. They showed no concern whatsoever for their own servants and sworn sons.
“Ha! They really aren’t doing anything at all!” Zhu Yuanzhang muttered. “What on earth are those fellows thinking?”
From what he knew of Lan Yu and the others, they were normally the most protective of their own people. Even when Zhu Yuanzhang personally ordered their sworn sons and household servants to be punished severely, they sometimes dared to obey only in appearance while secretly defying him.
Zhu Yuntong had merely mentioned the matter to them, and they had actually gone so far as to shed tears while executing Ma Su?
To hell with shedding tears. Lan the Second and the others were grinning so broadly that even their back teeth were showing.
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The three watched from within the crowd for a long while. They even witnessed several household servants and sworn sons of powerful nobles, whose crimes were simply too numerous, being sentenced to immediate execution. The executioners dragged them aside and dispatched them with a single stroke.
Lan Yu and the others merely showed a trace of regret. None of them stepped forward to intervene.
“Let’s go. It seems they don’t dare play any tricks this time.”
Zhu Yuanzhang waved at Feng Sheng and Tang He with a smile, and the three withdrew toward the back of the crowd.
Once they had climbed back into the carriage, Tang He asked, “Big Brother, where are we going now? Are we leaving Yingtian directly?”
Before leaving the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang had said that he wanted to travel the length and breadth of the Great Ming and admire its magnificent mountains and rivers. That was why Tang He had asked.
Zhu Yuanzhang considered the matter for a moment, then shook his head. “Let’s go to your residence first. You sent everyone back to their hometowns over the years, so I imagine we’ll be quite comfortable there.”
“Besides, we still have to wait for the people that dog Jiang Huan arranged for us. We also need our identities and travel permits prepared. While we’re in Yingtian, I might as well take another look around, just in case that rebellious grandson of mine does something outrageous.”
Although Zhu Yuanzhang claimed to be worried that Zhu Yuntong might commit some treasonous act, the satisfaction on his face was unmistakable. He looked exactly like a grandfather proudly showing off a grandson who had been admitted to Peking University.
Feng Sheng and Tang He curled their lips.
Tang He even teased him. “Big Brother, are you sure you’re not planning to keep an eye on the Third Prince? Aren’t you really hoping to witness him ascend the throne with your own eyes and bask in the worship of all the people?”
“Heh heh! I’m not. That’s just your wild guess.”
Zhu Yuanzhang grinned, stubbornly refusing to admit it.
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The Palace of Heavenly Purity
“Your Highness, all the officials have arrived.” Ma Sanbao entered once more and reminded him in a quiet voice.
At the sound of his voice, Zhu Yuntong rose immediately from behind the imperial desk and rubbed his bleary eyes.
“Let them all come in.”
He was simply too exhausted. He had been thinking about something moments earlier and, before he knew it, had fallen asleep.
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