Chapter 26: The Eastern Palace! Zhu Biao’s Warning!

The Crown Prince's Mansion of the Eastern Palace.

Zhu Biao, for once, was not buried under mountains of official business. Instead, he sat grim-faced at the head of the hall. As a Crown Prince with real authority, every matter in the empire—from major military and state affairs to the most trivial administrative decrees—passed through his hands. He would rise before dawn to attend to governance and remain at his desk until late at night, his energy entirely consumed by the court.

It was precisely because of this that he had, without realizing it, devoted so much time and focus to the state that he neglected his own home, the Eastern Palace, and even more so, his eldest son by his primary wife, Zhu Xiongying.

The events of today struck him like a heavy hammer, jolting him awake and forcing him to confront a problem he had long ignored. The fact that his own son would rather trust Gaochi than his own father, and even spoke with such resentment, gave him much food for thought.

When exactly had the rift between father and son begun?

Zhu Biao took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling. Memories of Lady Lu’s actions today filled him with a chilling sense of unease. One was his eldest son by his primary wife, and the other was the woman who had borne him two sons. Both were flesh and blood, and as Crown Prince, he had never shown favoritism. In the past, Lady Lu had been gentle, virtuous, and attentive, which satisfied him enough to elevate her status, hoping she would take good care of the children. Yet, at this moment, a sliver of regret surfaced in his heart. Had elevating her merely fueled ambitions she shouldn't have?

As he sat in deep thought, a pair of soft footsteps approached. Lady Lu entered, carrying a steaming bowl of soup. She wore a gentle, tender smile and said softly, "Your Highness, please have some food." After a pause, she added, "Ying'er is still young, and he has been led astray by Gaochi, which is why he is neglecting his studies for mere toys..."

At these words, Zhu Biao’s dim gaze sharpened instantly, like a cold blade flashing in the night. He waved his hand, signaling the attendants to withdraw. Once they were alone, the Crown Prince spoke coldly: "Neglecting studies for toys? You speak of it so lightly!" His voice carried repressed anger. "Ying'er and Chier realized that the Emperor's eyesight was failing, so they put great effort into crafting those magnifying glasses so he could read the memorials clearly. How does that become 'neglecting studies for toys' in your mouth?"

"Not to mention the telescopes they created, which General Lan Yu praised as a formidable tool for the battlefield, capable of greatly enhancing scout reconnaissance and earning great merit for our Ming Dynasty. You call this 'neglecting studies for toys' as well?"

Stunned, Lady Lu stood frozen in place. The soup bowl slipped from her hands, crashing to the floor and shattering into shards.

"This... this is..." A flicker of panic crossed her face as her eyes darted about, desperate to offer an excuse.

Zhu Biao saw right through her. His tone grew harsher as he scolded her, "Do not think I am unaware of what you are calculating! I listened to you and pleaded with the Emperor three times so that Yunwen could enter the Grand Academy to study and cultivate his character. That was normal enough, but it seems it has only fed your ambition, has it not?"

Lady Lu’s face alternated between pale and flushed, her panic becoming more evident. "Your Highness, please understand, I was only worried about Ying'er; I spoke out of turn in my anxiety..."

"Absurd!" The Crown Prince glared, shouting, "Are you still trying to quibble? I will make myself clear today: Ying'er is my eldest son by my primary wife, and he is the only one who will inherit the throne. Abandon those misplaced ambitions immediately, or do not blame me for forgetting our past affection!"

Zhu Biao spoke with absolute finality, leaving no room for negotiation and revealing a ruthless edge. Yet, he knew he had to do this. If he did not force Lady Lu to face reality early, and allowed her to harbor unrealistic ambitions for the supreme position, it would not only ruin her but likely implicate Yunwen as well.

Hesitation brings disaster; to cut when one should, but failing to do so, invites future trouble. How could Zhu Biao, of all people, not understand such simple truths? If he waited for the Emperor to act, the consequences would be far more severe than a mere reprimand.

Lady Lu suppressed her inner terror, her eyes reddening as she adopted a pitiful expression, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Your Highness has truly misunderstood me. I have never had any improper thoughts. I only heard that Ying'er was being led astray, and as a parent, who wouldn't be anxious? That is why I..."

"See that it remains so!" Zhu Biao coldly interrupted her performance. "Otherwise, you will be the ruin of Yunwen!"

Lady Lu tried to speak again, but Zhu Biao waved his hand impatiently. "Enough, leave. I still have state affairs to attend to!"

She looked at the man before her—someone she thought she knew, yet who now appeared as a total stranger—filled with resentment and helplessness. She turned and walked away in bitterness.

Once she had gone, the Crown Prince leaned back against his chair, rubbing his brow in exhaustion. A flicker of memory crossed his eyes as a beautiful figure appeared in his mind.

"Xuan'er, if only you were still here," he murmured, his voice filled with longing and melancholy.

"Ha." A mocking voice suddenly rang out. "If Mother were still alive, she certainly wouldn't let me suffer such grievances. She might even give you a kick in the backside!"

Zhu Xiongying walked in with a stoic expression. He had seen the entire scene of his father scolding Lady Lu from outside the door, which was why he finally chose to enter and speak to the father he hadn't been close to for so long.

Zhu Biao looked at his beloved son, feeling a warmth in his heart. He instinctively reached out, wanting to pull him into his arms to make up for the years of lost companionship. However, Zhu Xiongying stood his ground, unmoved, looking at him with cold detachment.

Seeing this, Zhu Biao felt as if his heart had been struck by a heavy hammer. "Ying'er, Father knows he was wrong. I did neglect your feelings in the past, but as the Crown Prince of Ming, I..."

"Enough." Zhu Xiongying frowned, clearly annoyed. "State affairs are more important than your own son, right?"

Zhu Biao was struck speechless, his mouth hanging open. He looked at this son, who seemed to have grown up overnight and become such a stranger, filled with helplessness and shock. How could the boy have changed so drastically? He even dared to talk back now!

It must be that damned little fatty, Zhu Gaochi!

For a moment, the Crown Prince felt a deep, gnashing hatred for Zhu Gaochi, secretly plotting to find an opportunity to teach that little fatty a lesson!

Father and son stood in silence, the emptiness of the hall stretching between them for a long time. Zhu Biao tried to speak several times to break the awkwardness, but the words died in his throat.

Seeing this, Zhu Xiongying turned to leave, only for his father to call out, "Ying'er, in the future, I will make time to spend with you, alright?" Zhu Biao’s eyes were filled with earnest hope, his tone tinged with a cautious plea.

Zhu Xiongying paused. He, too, longed to be close to his father. After a moment of silence, he turned back, a hint of cunning in his eyes. "That's fine, but you have to agree to one condition!"

Zhu Biao felt a sinking sensation in his heart. "What condition?"

"Choose a new wife!" Zhu Xiongying said the words with such nonchalance that Zhu Biao was left torn between laughter and anger.

"You brat, are you actually trying to manage your own father's affairs?" Zhu Biao scolded with a mix of frustration and amusement.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Xiongying’s attitude was firm. "You must choose a wife, and you need to bring in several at once, or there will never be peace in this Eastern Palace!"

Zhu Biao’s pupils constricted. He grew serious. "Is this another one of Gaochi's terrible ideas?"

Zhu Xiongying nodded honestly. "Gaochi said that as long as Lady Lu remains the Crown Princess, she will never stop causing trouble. So, you need to take more wives and let those women fight amongst themselves. Lady Lu will naturally quiet down, or at least my life will be easier, and I won't be seen as a thorn in her side!"

Zhu Biao was dumbfounded, his mouth agape, unable to utter a word for a long time. What kind of twisted ideas were these? That godforsaken little fatty!

"Oh, right," Zhu Xiongying added with a mischievous grin. "Gaochi has already gone to see Grandfather. I expect Grandfather has already agreed to your taking new wives!"

Crown Prince Biao: "???"

What the hell?

You little fat brat...

Are you trying to turn the world upside down, you little rascal?