In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 980 How could the Crown Prince be unharmed?

In the Market and Exchange Bureau office, Lu Yunyi was seated at the head of the table.

He stared intently at the frontier military documents sent from the Governor's Office, his expression extremely serious.

Zhuolitu Khan, Borjigin Yesuder, is actually dead?

If I remember correctly, Yesudie'er is only thirty-three years old this year, which is the prime of her life.

In previous meetings of the Governor-General's Office, the operational strategy against the Northern Yuan was discussed.

They were all formulated based on the situation during Yesüder's twenty-year reign.

According to the Governor's Office's predictions,

Although Yesuder is currently unable to completely control the Oirats and Tatars,
But thanks to its legitimate bloodline from the Golden Family,
His murder of Tianbaonu will gradually be forgotten, and he will be able to gradually gain control of power in the future.

The Governor-General's Office plans to launch an offensive in the next two to three years.
Gradually undermine his prestige and delay his process of seizing power.

But now, a single document has rendered all previous preparations useless.
However, this is not a bad thing at all, but a great thing!
Because his successor, Enke, was only sixteen years old,

With a young ruler and powerful ministers, the Northern Yuan is bound to fall into chaos.

Lu Yunyi lowered his eyes in thought, a glint of shrewdness flashing in them.
Given the current situation, the various Oirat tribes will certainly not obey the orders of the Northern Yuan court; it would be a mild case for them to act independently.
If another powerful minister emerges, the Northern Yuan court will descend into internal strife.

At that time, it will definitely suffer another major blow and it will take several years to recover.

"hehe."

Lu Yunyi read the document again and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
This is how a unified central dynasty was.

Once you become powerful enough, everything that happens will be to your advantage.

Simply remain still, and the enemy will wither away on its own, gradually weakening.

Immediately, Lu Yunyi smacked his lips.
If this document had been seen a few days earlier, the turmoil in the capital would have been even greater.

Simply put, without the threat of external enemies, the imperial court would naturally focus on its own internal affairs.

They should either investigate corruption or investigate those who betray the Party.

This is the perfect opportunity.

Unfortunately, even if the conflict is amplified now, the number of people who can be traced is limited.

"Just one day short!"

Lu Yunyi muttered to himself, but quickly rallied, picked up a pen and paper, and wrote his suggestions on the document:

"Under such circumstances, we must never wage war against the Northern Yuan, lest they be forced to unite under pressure from an external enemy!"

In this situation, allowing internal strife is the best policy.
If the Ming Dynasty takes the initiative to attack, the enemy will unite against it and form a temporary alliance.

"Someone! Send the document to the Governor's Office and present it to the Duke of Wei."

"Yes!"

The guard at the door, Basong, hurried in and took the document.

But before Basong could even reach the entrance of the Market and Exchange Office,

Then the commander of the Duke of Wei's personal guards rushed in with a solemn expression, not even having time to straighten his crooked headgear.

Basong could even see the panic in his eyes.

Inside the house, Lu Yunyi heard footsteps.

Looking up, he saw the commander of the personal guards rushing in, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.
what happened?
The commander of the personal guards burst into the room, not even bothering to bow, and quickly ran to the table, lowering his voice to a whisper:
"Lord Lu, the Duke of Wei requests your immediate presence at the Central Military Command!"
"It's extremely urgent, not a moment can be wasted, armor must be donned immediately!"

Lu Yunyi frowned, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

Without asking any further questions, he abruptly stood up and shouted:
"Put on your armor! Take your swords!"

The guards standing at the door changed their expressions slightly and instantly rushed into the yamen.

Amidst the astonishment of the eunuchs, they quickly and methodically draped armor over Lu Yunyi.

In less than thirty breaths, Lu Yunyi was already clad in jet-black armor.

His original gentle demeanor was completely gone, replaced by a chilling and composed air!
He grabbed his long sword and walked out of the yamen without saying a word, with the commander of the personal guards quickly following him.

Reaching the door, Lu Yunyi took the document from Basong's hand and instructed him:

"Guard the government office; no one is allowed to enter!"

Stepping out of the Market and Exchange Bureau, one could see the imposing gate tower of the Five Military Commands' Mansion in the distance. Lu Yunyi said in a deep voice:

"What happened?"

The commander of the personal guards shook his head blankly:

"This humble general does not know, but I do know that a message has been sent from the palace, and the Duke of Wei has ordered this humble general to come and invite you, sir, immediately."

A fleeting shadow crossed Lu Yunyi's eyes. He nodded and quickened his pace slightly.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Lu Yunyi entered the Central Military Commander's Mansion.

He immediately noticed the Imperial Guards standing throughout the courtyard, and his doubts deepened.

Inside the main hall, Duke Xu Huizu of Wei, Duke Chang Sheng of the Founding State, and Imperial Guard Li Zengzhi were all present.

All three were clad in armor, their expressions extremely solemn.

Upon entering the lobby, Lu Yunyi sensed the oppressive atmosphere and looked directly at Xu Huizu.

"You've finally arrived! His Highness the Crown Prince has fainted, and His Majesty has ordered the Governor's Office to take over the defense of the capital."

Since you happen to be in the capital, I will transfer one thousand Imperial Guards to your command to guard the Crown Prince's residence.

"what?"

Before Lu Yunyi could even steady himself, a look of absurdity flashed in his eyes, followed by astonishment.
Why so early?

It's only September of the twenty-fourth year of the Hongwu reign, and the summer heat has not yet subsided.

Why did His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly faint?

But he quickly regained his composure and clasped his hands in a fist salute:

"The last general takes command!"

Xu Huizu took the waist token from his waist and handed it over, his face solemn:

"This matter is of utmost importance and must not be disclosed to anyone."

The guarding of the Crown Prince's residence must also be carried out in secret, without being made public.

"Yes!"

Lu Yunyi agreed, and then asked:

"Your Highness, what is the current situation?"

Duke Chang Sheng, the founder of the state, stopped pacing, put his hands on his hips, sighed deeply, and looked worried.

"He is still unconscious; the imperial physician is treating him."

"What exactly happened? Why did His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly faint?"

Lu Yunyi asked in a deep voice, although he acknowledged the current state of medical technology,
However, there are many causes of fainting, and if the wrong treatment method is used, it may worsen the condition.

After a pause, he added:

"Two renowned doctors from the grasslands had previously visited Daning City."

He once taught military doctors how to diagnose and treat fainting spells.

If dizziness and coma are caused by emotional stress, simply wait for the person to regain consciousness.

If fainting occurs suddenly without warning, the situation is serious and immediate first aid is required.

Upon hearing this, all three people present were taken aback.
I never expected that even the city of Daning had such medical expertise.

Soon, both Chang Sheng and Li Zengzhi turned their attention to Xu Huizu.

Seeing that he still didn't speak, Chang Sheng became a little anxious and stamped his foot:
"Yun Gong! What time is it and you're still hiding it?"

Everyone present is trustworthy; there's no need to worry!

If anything happens to the Crown Prince, it will be too late for you to regret it!

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Xu Huizu glared at Chang Sheng and said very quickly:

"It was Du Pingping of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who submitted the memorial."
Upon seeing this, His Highness the Crown Prince was so enraged that he fainted.

"Du Pingping? That bastard! I'll kill him!" Chang Sheng cursed.

Lu Yunyi's brows furrowed suddenly. Oh no!

Coma caused by sudden anger is always a critical condition.

His Highness the Crown Prince does not suffer from diabetes.

This condition could indicate either a brain problem or damage to the heart.

Neither of them is a minor illness, given the current state of medical technology.

Lu Yunyi took a deep breath and asked in a deep voice:
"When His Highness the Crown Prince fainted, did he experience any other symptoms? Such as convulsions or incontinence?"

Xu Huizu answered quickly this time, shaking his head and saying:

"That's not true."

"That's alright, that's alright."

Lu Yunyi breathed a sigh of relief, then said to Xu Huizu:

"Duke of Wei, once His Highness the Crown Prince wakes up, you must watch for symptoms such as headache, vomiting, weakness in the limbs, or slurred speech."

If these symptoms occur, do not move the person unnecessarily, and do not give them water or medication!

A hint of doubt flashed in Xu Huizu's eyes:
"Is this a method used by your unit's military doctors?"

Lu Yunyi nodded emphatically:
"Yes, this is a new treatment method added last year. I have noted it down."

"Very well, I will send someone to the palace to inform the imperial physician. However, the specific treatment will still depend on the imperial physician's decision."

Lu Yunyi nodded. It was enough that the message had been delivered to the palace.

He glanced at the time and said in a deep voice, "Then this general will lead the troops to guard the Crown Prince's residence."

"Go ahead, I will notify you as soon as I have any news."

"I will retire at the end!"

Lu Yunyi hurriedly left the office of the Central Military Commander.
Gazing at the smooth bluestone slabs of the imperial city, my pace gradually slowed, and I turned back to look at the imperial palace at the end of my vision.
At this time, the Crown Prince's accident is definitely not a good thing for him!

This is not a good thing for the entire Ming Dynasty!

The biggest problem emperors have faced in their later years has always been whether their successors can continue the previous policies and follow the established path.
If something happens to the crown prince, no matter who is replaced, the process will be much more difficult, and the course of events may even change.

At this moment, Xu Zengshou, clad in armor, rushed over and stopped in front of him:
"My lord, I am under your command!"

A thousand imperial guards are already on standby at the camp, ready to depart at any time.

As he spoke, a hint of worry appeared on Xu Zengshou's young face, and he asked softly:

"My lord, do you think His Highness the Crown Prince will be safe and sound?"

For the first time, Lu Yunyi lacked his usual certainty, sighed, and said softly:
"Things will work themselves out in the end, don't worry."

Orders were issued that the existing guards at the Crown Prince's residence remain unchanged, and fifty Imperial Guards were to be secretly deployed to guard the residence, while two hundred soldiers were to guard both ends of the main street.

The Crown Prince's residence's defenses should be relaxed on the outside but tight on the inside; everything else remains unchanged!

"Yes!"

Xu Zengshou straightened up, his expression somewhat subtle.

Inside the East Palace's sleeping quarters, the scent of medicine mingled with the aroma of ambergris, and the candlelight flickered slightly.

The shadows of everyone were cast onto the gold brick floor, flickering in and out of focus.

Zhu Biao lay on the dragon bed covered with bright yellow brocade.
His face was as pale as paper, his eyes were closed, and even his breathing seemed weak and feeble.

Three white-haired imperial physicians surrounded the bed.
The head of the court, Judge Li, knelt on the edge of the bed, his fingers resting on Zhu Biao's wrist pulse, his brows furrowed and his face grim.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on a rosewood chair beside the bed, the hem of his dragon robe hanging casually to the ground.

His once dignified face was now filled with anxiety.

He gripped the chair handles tightly with both hands, his veins bulging.

He didn't speak, but stared intently at Zhu Biao's face.

Occasionally glancing at the imperial physician's movements, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

His mind was blank at that moment; he dared not think of anything.
He was all too familiar with this kind of scene.

After a long while, seeing that the imperial physicians were still dawdling, Zhu Yuanzhang finally broke the silence in the hall:
"How is it? Why hasn't the Crown Prince woken up yet?"

These words inexplicably filled the palace with a chilling atmosphere.

The palace maids carrying hot, cold, and iced water at the door kept their heads bowed very low.

The palace eunuchs standing nearby also trembled!
They were all elderly people, and the memory of the Empress's death ten years ago was still vivid in their minds!

At that time, everyone in the entire imperial city lived in fear.

His Highness the Crown Prince is currently unconscious.
An ominous premonition spread through everyone's hearts.

Standing by the window, Judge Li withdrew his hand, slowly rose, bowed, and spoke in a low voice:

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince's pulse is weak and his breathing is labored, which seems to be a fainting spell caused by excessive emotional stress."

I have already administered acupuncture and given the patient a calming decoction.
However, His Highness has not yet woken up; we must wait a little longer.

"wait?"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly stood up, his expression turning violent, as if he could no longer suppress his anxiety:

"We've been waiting for two hours! Are we still waiting? Isn't there any other way?"

The three imperial physicians were so frightened that they immediately prostrated themselves and kowtowed.

"We deserve to die! We will think of another way!"

Li Yuanpan got up and, trembling, took a gold needle from his medicine box.
He heated it over the candle flame and carefully stabbed it into Zhu Biao's Baihui acupoint on the top of his head.

Another imperial physician carried a bowl of freshly brewed ginseng soup.

Scoop up a small amount with a silver spoon, gently blow on it to cool it, and then try to feed it to Zhu Biao.
But Zhu Biao's jaw was clenched, and the ginseng soup flowed down the corner of his mouth, soaking the brocade.

The atmosphere in the hall froze, as if even time had stopped.
Only an indescribable fear permeated the air.

Outside the hall, Du Pingping knelt on the cold blue bricks, her forehead touching the ground.

The back of his official robes was already soaked with cold sweat.

He had maintained this posture for two hours.
My knees were numb from kneeling, but I didn't feel tired; I was just filled with fear.

If he could do it all over again, he would never have rushed that memorial to the throne.
We will patiently wait for the right opportunity, report back gradually, and plan our next move slowly.

But now, he can only suffer the consequences of his own actions!

Du Pingping once again felt that sense of drifting and helplessness, like duckweed.
This time it's even worse; if His Highness the Crown Prince falls ill...
He will surely be beheaded, perhaps even earlier than Mao Xiang in the imperial prison.

Occasionally, palace servants would file past in single file, their footsteps extremely light.

No one dared to look at him; only the palace lanterns under the eaves cast his long shadow.

Inside the hall, a royal physician suddenly exclaimed in surprise:
"Your Majesty! His Highness's finger has moved!"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly moved closer to the bedside.
Sure enough, Zhu Biao's fingers twitched slightly, and his eyelids trembled gently.

Judge Li quickly withdrew the golden needles, holding his breath and focusing intently, not daring to even breathe loudly.

After a moment, Zhu Biao slowly opened his eyes.

First, he glanced blankly at the candlelight in the hall.

Then the sound landed on Zhu Yuanzhang's face, the voice as weak as a breeze:

"father"

"My son, you're awake."

Zhu Yuanzhang quickly reached out to grasp Zhu Biao's hand. His withered fingers trembled slightly, his vision blurred instantly, and his nose felt a little sore.

"My son, how are you feeling? Where does it hurt?"

Zhu Biao shook his head and his throat moved.

Physician Wang quickly handed over the ginseng soup, and this time Zhu Biao was finally able to swallow it in small sips, and his eyes gradually cleared up:

"Your subject is fine."

A hint of doubt flashed in Judge Li's eyes as he stepped forward.
He placed his fingers on Zhu Biao's wrist pulse again, and after a moment, a look of confusion appeared on his face.

He then carefully examined Zhu Biao's pupils, touched his forehead, and finally bowed, saying:

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince's pulse has stabilized considerably, and his breathing is much smoother."
Aside from feeling a little weak, there were no other unusual symptoms.

"No other abnormalities?"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, his tone full of doubt:
"She was unconscious just now, how could there be no abnormalities? Did you not investigate thoroughly enough?"

Judge Li quickly replied:

"We have examined Your Highness's head, chest, and abdomen, and have also tested them with silver needles."
There were indeed no convulsions, no incontinence, and even the tongue coating was normal.

Perhaps His Highness has been overworked recently and then suddenly became angry, which caused the brief fainting spell.

He will recover after a few days of rest and recuperation.

"Overworked? Ridiculous!"

"I have toiled for twenty years and have never been so delirious! Continue the investigation!"

Having said that, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Imperial Physician Li, his eyes sharp as knives:

"The Crown Prince is the heir apparent of the Ming Dynasty; there is no room for the slightest mistake!"

Judge Li bowed deeply.
"Your Highness, we obey! We will conduct a thorough investigation immediately and ensure that nothing is overlooked!"

Immediately afterwards, Imperial Physician Li led two imperial physicians to examine the dragon bed closely, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead and wrinkles.

He held silver needles in his hand and inserted them one by one into the acupoints on Zhu Biao's arms and abdomen.

Each time a needle was pierced, he held his breath and waited a moment.
Seeing that Zhu Biao only frowned slightly and did not twitch or cry out in pain, they moved to another acupoint.

"Your Highness, does pressing here cause a feeling of tightness or distension?"

Judge Li knelt before the bed, gently placing his palm on Zhu Biao's left chest.

I could feel the rise and fall of my chest with my fingertips, moving from my heart to my stomach.
It is stable, without any signs of rushing or stagnation.

Zhu Biao leaned against the headboard of the bed, which was covered with brocade, his face still pale.

However, it has already shed its previous gloomy appearance.
He shook his head, his voice still somewhat weak:
"I only felt heavy, with no other discomfort."

Wang, the imperial physician, stood to the side holding the medical record, his brush hovering over the paper, hesitant to drop it.
Physician Zhang then took a polished silver mirror and brought it close to Zhu Biao's eyes:
"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince's pupils show normal light and dark reactions, and there is no bloodshot in his eyes, which does not seem like a sign of head injury."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood in the hall, his hands behind his back.

He stared intently at the imperial physicians' movements, his brows furrowed in worry.
"Investigate further! I refuse to believe that a perfectly healthy person could suddenly faint without any explanation!"

Judge Li dared not delay and quickly told Zhu Biao to stick out his tongue.

Pale red tongue with a thin white coating, without any yellow or greasy residue or black discoloration.

Even his breath carried the sweet taste of ginseng soup, unlike any signs of damp-heat in the internal organs or poisoning.

He then took a thin cotton thread, wrapped it around Zhu Biao's wrist, and gently tugged at it for a moment.
Seeing that the cotton thread had no discoloration or odor, he bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, we have examined His Highness's meridians, internal organs, and blood, and found nothing abnormal."

Your Highness's fainting spell was indeed caused by excessive emotional distress and disordered blood and qi. There is no physical injury; you should recover after three to five days of rest.

"Disorders of Qi and Blood?"

Zhu Yuanzhang took two steps forward, his gaze landing on Zhu Biao's face:

"When I was young, I also got angry because of war, so why did I never faint like this? Have you overlooked something?"

Another layer of sweat appeared on Judge Li's forehead.
Just as he was about to argue further, Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand to stop him and looked at the chief eunuch beside him:
"Go! Have Du Pingping bring the best craftsman from the Embroidered Uniform Guard to His Highness the Crown Prince for an examination!"

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)