Chapter 3: What is This Wicked Woman Up To?

Creak... Just as Tang He was about to say something more, the tightly shut doors of the Palace of Heavenly Purity suddenly emitted a sharp sound. Immediately after, a lavishly dressed woman stumbled into the hall, her voice choked with sobs as she cried out, "Father! Father..." However, peering through a hidden mechanism in the wall, Zhu Yuanzhang could not help but frown at the sight of the newcomer. It was his daughter-in-law, Lady Lü, the principal consort of the late Crown Prince Zhu Biao. Though her voice was steeped in grief, enough to stir pity in any listener, Zhu Yuanzhang saw not a trace of sorrow on her face; instead, he caught a faint glimmer of joy. "Forget it! She is but a woman of the inner palace. Why should I bother arguing with her?" Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, shifting his gaze past Lady Lü. Moments later, two more figures crossed the threshold of the Palace of Heavenly Purity. But the moment he saw them, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned again, unable to suppress a rebuke: "Fool! How can he be so pathetic? How will he ever guard the great Ming Empire for me in the future?" Indeed, following Lady Lü into the hall was Zhu Yunwen, the eldest imperial grandson whom Zhu Yuanzhang intended to test tonight. Yet the boy, in whom Zhu Yuanzhang had placed such high hopes, could barely stand without the support of Jiang Huan. As the heir chosen in haste after Zhu Biao's sudden passing, Zhu Yuanzhang's expectations for Zhu Yunwen were not exceedingly high. He had not expected the boy to remain entirely unfazed by a collapsing mountain, only to maintain the basic composure befitting a ruler. Yet Zhu Yunwen's current display was truly disappointing. "Your Majesty! The boy is likely overwhelmed with grief upon hearing the news of your passing. It is a testament to his filial piety," Tang He said, his eyelid twitching as he quickly stepped forward to counsel him. Though he disagreed with Zhu Yuanzhang's charade of faking his death, since matters had gone this far, they had to see it through. One could not simply replace the lead actor just as the grand play was beginning! Perhaps moved by the mention of filial piety, Zhu Yuanzhang, who had always cherished family bonds, calmed down and continued observing through the mechanism. He watched as Zhu Yunwen, supported by Jiang Huan, approached the dragon bed. Taking one look at the exceedingly pale figure of Zhu Yuanzhang lying upon it, the boy collapsed onto the golden bricks, seemingly stripped of his soul, unable to utter even a single cry of grief. It was only when Lady Lü secretly gave him a sharp pinch on the waist that he seemed to snap out of it and begin to wail. "Imperial Grandfather... how could you leave your grandson behind... I haven't even fulfilled my filial duties to you on behalf of my father..."

His weeping seemed genuine, unlike Lady Lü's affected display. Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang finally let out a long breath of relief, a gratified smile appearing on his face. But the next moment, Lady Lü's reaction instantly wiped the smile from his face. Tang He and Feng Sheng, standing behind Zhu Yuanzhang, could feel a faint aura of killing intent. "Commander Jiang, did His Majesty leave behind any imperial edict?" It was but a short sentence, yet it carried immense weight. "What is she trying to do?" "My bones are not yet cold, and she is already so eager to become the Empress Dowager?" For some reason, seeing his daughter-in-law, whom he had always considered honest and filial, stirred a nameless fury in Zhu Yuanzhang's chest. He wished to storm out of the secret chamber and confront her, demanding to know if her past devotion was all an act. Tang He could not help but shake his head with a bitter smile and quickly advised, "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, a state cannot be without a ruler for a single day. Her actions are not entirely unreasonable. In such situations, one must act swiftly to prevent chaos." Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's expression soften slightly, he turned his gaze back outside. Having arrived at the palace only that afternoon, he was unaware of the full extent of Zhu Yuanzhang's fake death plan and was curious to see how Jiang Huan would respond. After all, Jiang Huan's response and Zhu Yunwen's own reaction were the true purposes of Zhu Yuanzhang's test. "Reporting to the Crown Princess, His Majesty succumbed to a sudden and severe illness, passing away before he could leave any instructions. I suppressed the news and notified the Second Prince in advance, considering that His Majesty always kept the Second Prince by his side and constantly nurtured him," Jiang Huan replied with a bow. However, those hidden in the chamber could clearly see the corners of Jiang Huan's lowered mouth twitching incessantly; his acting was not quite up to par, and he was struggling to hold back. Whether Zhu Yunwen was too grief-stricken to hear Jiang Huan's words, he remained slumped by the dragon bed, weeping and sobbing. Lady Lü, on the other hand, immediately revealed an expression of immense delight. She instantly dropped her tearful tone, and her bearing somehow grew even more majestic. Looking at Jiang Huan with great appreciation, she nodded and said, "Well done! Rest assured, Commander Jiang, the day Yunwen ascends the throne will be the day you are showered with glory. We, mother and son, will not be stingy with titles and nobility." Then, casting a disdainful glance at Zhu Yunwen, who was sprawled over the dragon bed weeping like a tearful mess, she barked, "Get up at once! Let Commander Jiang help you secure the palace. Crying, crying, crying! Will crying put you on the throne?"

"Argh! This wicked woman! What is she doing? Does she intend to meddle in state affairs from the inner palace?" In the secret chamber, Zhu Yuanzhang was so enraged he was practically baring his teeth and brandishing his claws, his killing intent no longer concealed in the slightest. The prohibition against inner palace interference in state affairs was a lesson and rule passed down through dynasties. In the Ming Dynasty, it was an ancestral decree personally established by Zhu Yuanzhang. If Lady Lü dared to do this while he was still alive, would the Ming Dynasty not see the rise of a vicious Empress Lü once he was truly gone? Tang He and Feng Sheng dared not speak; inner palace interference was indeed a grave taboo. Moreover, looking at Lady Lü now, they felt she was truly showing the makings of Empress Lü of the Han Dynasty. But the most important concern was Zhu Yunwen. "It infuriates me! It absolutely infuriates me!" Seeing their silence, Zhu Yuanzhang's chest heaved violently with anger. "My favored eldest grandson is so weak and incompetent! He dares not utter a single word of rebuttal before Lady Lü. How can such an heir, even if he ascends the throne, ever keep the court officials in check?" Hearing this, Feng Sheng and Tang He's lower eyelids twitched, and they sighed inwardly. As old brothers who had followed Zhu Yuanzhang from the very beginning to conquer the world, they naturally understood that he was dissatisfied with Zhu Yunwen's performance. And it was not just Zhu Yuanzhang; they too somewhat looked down upon Zhu Yunwen's cowardly nature. But as subjects, there were things they could not say outright, especially regarding the selection of an heir, where they should keep their mouths tightly shut. Oblivious to Zhu Yuanzhang's reaction in the secret chamber, Lady Lü hauled Zhu Yunwen up from the floor. Smiling at Jiang Huan, she said, "Commander Jiang, I trust you heard my promise just now. Assist us, mother and son, and you shall be rewarded with wealth, honor, and a legacy for your descendants. Please send someone out of the palace to summon the Marquis of Jiangxia and Yunwen's tutors into the palace..." Thud. Just as Jiang Huan was at a loss for how to respond, and Zhu Yuanzhang in the chamber, upon hearing Lady Lü's intent to summon outside officials, was about to step out and expose the night's charade, several muffled thuds abruptly echoed from outside the tightly shut doors of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, as if some heavy objects had fallen to the ground.