In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 995 The Strange Emperor and the Strange Crown Prince
After several thorough checks, Lu Yunyi finally stepped into the main hall of the East Palace.

Upon entering the hall, the layout is almost identical to that of the Wuying Hall.

The large hall was spacious, with tables, chairs and benches, and decorated in a simple and ancient style.

A similarly large desk was placed at the head of the table.
His Highness the Crown Prince was sitting behind the table.
He held a yellowed book and quietly flipped through it, a faint smile even playing on his lips.

Seeing this, Lu Yunyi's expression became somewhat strange.
Judging from the Crown Prince's complexion, he doesn't look like someone who has been poisoned at all.

"Your subject, Lu Yunyi, pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Upon hearing the voice, Crown Prince Zhu Biao looked up from his book, glanced at the prince's hand, and said with a smile:
"Sit down, sit down, bring some tea quickly."

The head eunuch beside him quickly bowed in agreement and quietly walked to the side.
He handed a cup of cool tea to Lu Yunyi and said softly:
"Lord Lu, please have some tea."

Lu Yunyi took the iced tea, sat down in a chair near the window, and placed the teacup on the square table.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao descended from the seat of honor and sat down beside him, his face showing emotion:

"Thanks to you this time, if it weren't for you discovering the problem with the red tide algae..."
Perhaps I will continue eating in a daze, not knowing when I will die.

"Your Highness, please be careful with your words. It is best to avoid saying such unlucky things."

Even if I hadn't discovered it, the Three Departments, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the palace eunuchs would have noticed something sooner or later.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao shook his head.

He exuded a calm demeanor, completely unlike the somber air he had when seriously ill.
"Not necessarily. There are plenty of people in this world who want me dead."
Even if some people discover a problem, they will remain silent and let things continue to develop.

Now that you've found the red tide algae and saved me, many people will surely be disappointed.

Lu Yunyi pursed his lips, sighing inwardly.

Such acts of going with the flow or turning a deaf ear were not uncommon in the Ming Dynasty.

Even though some people know that red tide algae are poisonous,

They might pretend not to know, but they know perfectly well what's going on in their minds.

"Your Highness, if that is the case, we must be even more vigilant in the future."

Food and other necessities are subject to strict inspection.
If feasible, Your Highness may also follow His Majesty's example and eat the vegetables grown in the palace.

Lu Yunyi knew that the bean sprouts and some of the green vegetables in the palace were grown by the imperial harem.
The agricultural administration was managed by officials from the Agricultural Administration Bureau, and sometimes His Majesty would personally go to sow and cultivate the fields.

Upon hearing this, Crown Prince Zhu Biao chuckled softly and sighed.
"I have few things I truly love in my life."
My love for seafood is one of the few hobbies I have.
To now intend to sever all ties completely is utterly absurd.

"Your Highness, the Market and Commerce Bureau may open a trading company to specialize in the business of aquatic and seafood products."

At that time, some imperial guards or soldiers who had left the army due to injuries or illnesses could be recruited to handle the affairs.
This would ensure their safety on the one hand, and give them a way to survive on the other.

Wen Cheng mentioned this matter yesterday.

His intention was to have the Imperial Palace Administration and the Palace Attendants Administration jointly establish a trading company.
Arranging for those elderly eunuchs from the palace to go there is not much different from what you expected.

Lu Yunyi thought for a moment and nodded:
"Your Highness, this method is also excellent."
As long as the manpower is trustworthy and safety can be guaranteed, it's worth spending more money.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao waved his hand:

"Alright, discuss this with Wen Cheng and draft a set of rules."

It wasn't just me in the palace who loved seafood.

Some of the concubines in the harem also loved it, so we shouldn't let a minor setback deter us from enjoying it.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Crown Prince Zhu Biao picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and asked calmly:

"You went to see the Duke of Song yesterday?"

Lu Yunyi nodded:
"Your Highness, the Duke of Song was in a village outside Jurong County at the time."

Besides several guards, there was also a woman with him.

Zhu Biao put down his teacup and nodded almost imperceptibly with a calm expression:

"What did he say to you? Did he advise you to stop investigating?"

"Your Highness is wise. The Duke of Song means that there are not many founding nobles left."

As one of the few dukes, he had to protect certain people.

They also said that this would reduce His Majesty's reputation.

"hehe."

Crown Prince Zhu Biao chuckled and sighed deeply:
"The distinction between right and wrong is always difficult to determine, so there's no need to worry too much about it."

Upon hearing this, a hint of doubt flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes.
Why did His Majesty and the Crown Prince change their attitudes so quickly?

They seem completely unconcerned about any follow-up investigation, instead appearing remarkably magnanimous?
Lu Yunyi couldn't understand, so he stopped being polite and pressed for an answer:
"Your Highness, has something happened?"

Your Highness seems to be in an exceptionally good mood today.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao seemed surprised by his direct question and laughed heartily.
"You young man, you're quite bold. Can't I be in a good mood?"

"That's not what I meant. I just feel that Your Highness doesn't seem to care much about the Marquis of Jingning's rebellion."

"Oh? You can tell that?"

Zhu Biao looked at Lu Yunyi with some surprise, then waved to the head eunuch standing not far away:

"Go and bring over that red memorial on the table."

"Yes."

The chief eunuch quickly brought the memorial, which Zhu Biao took with one hand and handed to Lu Yunyi:
"Look, this is really good news."

Lu Yunyi took the memorial, his eyes filled with doubt.

A quick glance after opening reveals only a few simple sentences:
“Zhou Ji, son of the Marquis of Jiangxia, relied on his father’s merits and honors and disregarded the palace rules.”

He secretly consorted with palace maids within the forbidden palace, and his scandalous behavior gradually became known.

On October 11th, the matter came to light, and the authorities, in accordance with the law, arrested him and punished him.

How dare Zhou Ji cause trouble in the palace?
A look of bewilderment flashed across Lu Yunyi's eyes. How could Zhou Ji be so bold?

Moreover, what is the connection between this matter and the current case of the anti-Party member?

But soon, Lu Yunyi froze, as if a bolt of lightning had cleaved the fog in his mind.

He instantly realized what was happening, and abruptly looked up, his face filled with shock:

"Is this a 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao' strategy?"

Seeing his expression, the crown prince laughed again, picked up his teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and said with a smile:
"The Imperial Medical Academy said that the toxins from the red tide algae have accumulated in the Empress's body."

You need to drink plenty of warm water to help with bowel movements, and I should drink at least ten cups of tea every day.

After speaking, the Crown Prince handed the empty teacup to the head eunuch.
She spoke softly only after the eunuch went to refill the water:
"Ye Sheng, who has no soldiers and no power, is not worth the trouble of the entire capital city running around like this."

The person the Duke of Song truly wanted to protect was Zhou Dexing, who commanded troops in Zhongdu.
This move was akin to "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao" and "borrowing a path to attack Guo".

Now look what's happened! I never imagined Zhou Dexing would have such a stupid son.
With this memorial in hand, no one can protect him now.

After hearing the Crown Prince's explanation, Lu Yunyi immediately understood.
In an instant, I understood many things.
Why weren't he and Du Pingping killed in the village?

On the contrary, they made a great show of it on the official road but were completely unharmed.

It turns out all of this was a ruse!

The goal was to draw everyone's attention to Ye Sheng.
This ignores the fact that Zhou Dexing spent money to speculate on land.
In fact, this was done to make the imperial court think twice.

The fact that even punishing Ye Sheng for treason can cause such a huge uproar

If we were to take action against Zhou Dexing, whose charges are unclear, wouldn't that cause even bigger trouble?

This is both a deterrent and a warning, but it's all a show of weakness.

If one truly possesses sufficient strength, why resort to such roundabout methods?

"Your Highness, I understand."

"As long as you know."

Zhu Biao nodded with great satisfaction, having no doubt about his quick wit.

He beckoned again, and the head eunuch quickly brought over a memorial with a blue cover:

"Look at this again."

Lu Yunyi took the memorial, opened it, and was once again shocked. It contained only one line of text:

"The Imperial Guards captured Marquis Jingning, Ye Sheng, in Luzhou and brought him back." "The Marquis Jingning has been captured?"

Lu Yunyi gasped in surprise, his eyes filled with astonishment.

What shocked him was not Ye Sheng's arrest, but the speed at which the palace had acted.

He absolutely did not believe that Zhou Ji's matter was a coincidence.
It must have been intentionally arranged for it to be discovered "coincidentally."

The capture of the Marquis of Jingning was carried out with remarkable speed.
Perhaps the Imperial Guards had already set off on the very day they received the news.

As for why Du Pingping was unaware of this...

Lu Yunyi already had a guess in his mind that Da'erma must have deliberately concealed it.

"Your Highness, now that the traitor has been captured, I am relieved."

Zhu Biao smiled and pointed to his chest:
"How's your injury?"

Lu Yunyi blinked, then suddenly remembered that he was still injured.

Upon realizing this, a sharp, tearing pain shot through my chest:

"Your Highness, I am fine. My injuries have almost healed."

"Don't be stubborn. I only realized what was happening after I fell into a coma."
Even if you have a thousand ambitions in your heart, you must first live.

You are young now, so don't take these injuries lightly. Be extremely careful.

It just so happens that there have been quite a few memorials impeaching you recently.
You should rest at home for the next couple of days.
"I will send someone from the Imperial Medical Academy to your residence to treat you."

Crown Prince Zhu Biao's voice was calm, yet his words carried a hidden meaning, causing Lu Yunyi's brows to furrow:
"Your Highness, is the situation... that tense?"

Lu Yunyi's expression was grave; the Marquis of Jingning, who had plotted to harm the Crown Prince, had been arrested.
Jiang Xiahou has been found guilty again; what should have been a very favorable situation has turned out to be a disaster.
Why should he stay at home to avoid suspicion?

Crown Prince Zhu Biao's face darkened slightly, a hint of melancholy and helplessness appearing in his eyes. He sighed.
"Qi De, the chief clerk of the Ministry of War, submitted a memorial to the Emperor."
He bluntly stated that the Ministry of War should suspend its investment in flintlock muskets and other military equipment.
Yan Zhenzhi and some officials from the Ministry of Works also raised the same idea, but their reasons differed.

Zide's reason was that the world is at peace now.
Spending a lot of money to research such powerful weaponry would be a losing proposition.

Yan Zhenzhi and his colleagues, however, believed that such workshops required too much investment.
This already accounts for 30% of the silver allocated by the Ministry of Works to the workshops.
It's like a bottomless pit; very few people actually see any results.

Both of these interpretations were endorsed by many court officials.

At this point, Crown Prince Zhu Biao curled his lip and sneered:
"In my opinion, they were frightened by the power of the flintlock musket."

I've heard that nowadays they go out with guards and wear soft armor, only daring to take it off once they reach the palace.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi frowned deeply, unable to comprehend the thoughts of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works.

Advanced weaponry should not be developed during times of peace.

Are we supposed to wait until chaos and turmoil before rushing to finish the work?

How can we make it in time?
Moreover, this matter has been going on for two years.
Although a lot of money has been invested, it has indeed yielded results. How can we give up because of a few bad experiences?

Are these two government offices using this matter to blackmail us?

He took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice:
"Your Highness, even during the chaotic Yuan Dynasty, when the imperial court's tax revenue was reduced to less than one-tenth of its original amount..."

They also continued to invest heavily in military equipment and firearms, improving many cannons and muskets.

Our Great Ming Dynasty is currently enjoying a period of peace and prosperity, with a full national treasury.

How can we halt arms development?

If the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works feel that the funds are insufficient...
The Market and Exchange Bureau can allocate some funds as support.

These workshops could even be allocated to the Five Military Commands.
The Governor's Office devoted all its efforts to the research, and no matter how difficult or tiring it was, they could not stop the pace of military equipment research and development.

Our Ming Dynasty's weaponry must be far ahead of our foreign enemies; only by being far ahead can we secure lasting peace.

Zhu Biao nodded:

"I know all that you've said, and the court officials are also aware of it."

Although the world is at peace now, the imperial court is in an uproar.
The palace cannot stand idly by either, so this matter will need to be debated for some more time.

Lu Yunyi held his teacup, staring blankly at the young Crown Prince, his eyes filled with disbelief.

At this moment, that strange feeling reached its peak.

In the end what happened?
Why do His Majesty and the Crown Prince both seem so unusual to him today?
One should not be happy when one should be, but should yield when it comes to important matters such as military equipment.

This made Lu Yunyi suspicious.
Could there be someone even more important involved in the case of the traitorous party?
Could it be something that even the palace would fear?
But the Duke of Han is dead. Who in the world can the palace fear?
That leaves only the Duke of Song and the Duke of Ying. Who else could it be?
Lu Yunyi thought about it for a long time, but still couldn't figure out the key point.

At this moment, Crown Prince Zhu Biao spoke with a smile:
"You should rest at home for the time being. Once the turmoil has passed, an imperial edict will be delivered to your residence."

Regarding your official appointment, the Hanlin Academy and the Six Ministries still need to debate it for a while; it can't be rushed.

"Official position?" Lu Yunyi was somewhat bewildered.
"May I ask Your Highness, do I also have to take on other duties?"
"It is not that I am shirking my duty, but the tasks at the Market and Exchange Bureau are already quite numerous, and I am temporarily unable to leave."

Zhu Biao suddenly laughed:

"Don't worry, I won't assign you a demanding real job."

"You will remain the Director of the Market and Commerce Bureau in the capital, and even after returning to the north, you will still be the Commander-in-Chief of Beiping."

Hearing this, Lu Yunyi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As officials of the imperial court, it was of utmost importance to safeguard their own territory.
Those who are in the military should serve in the military.

His stepping into the Commercial Office's territory is now an overstepping of boundaries, which has already drawn considerable dissatisfaction from many people.

If he were to step into the territory of civil officials again, he would likely die an unexplained death.

The last person to hold a high position across both civil and military affairs was Li Wenzhong, the Duke of Cao, who served as both Grand Commander and Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, but died under mysterious circumstances.

"Then I will return to my residence to rest."

Zhu Biao glanced at him in surprise, then smiled and nodded.

"Your Highness, please take good care of yourself and get plenty of rest. I shall take my leave now."

"Go ahead, I'm getting a little tired too."

After Lu Yunyi left, Crown Prince Zhu Biao stared blankly at his retreating figure.

Until the palace doors were completely closed,

He slumped back in his chair as if deflated, breathing heavily, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Upon seeing this, the head eunuch hurriedly stepped forward.

He grabbed Zhu Biao's arm and handed him a large glass of warm water, his face showing urgency.

"Your Highness, how are you feeling? Should we summon the imperial physician?"

Zhu Biao took the water glass and drank it all in one gulp.

Even so, I still felt unbearably thirsty, my lips were dry, and my throat felt like it was being scraped by a razor blade.

The ease and composure I felt just moments before vanished instantly.

Instead, he appeared sickly, pale, and with tired eyes.

He leaned his head back in the chair and gently shook his head:

"I am fine, there is no need to make a fuss."

"Shall I help you to the inner palace to rest?"

Zhu Biao shook his head again, but this simple action instantly contorted his expression into a ferocious grimace.

It felt like two tendons were twisted together in my mind, pulling at each other with the slightest movement, causing excruciating pain.

"Please massage my head; it hurts a bit."

The chief eunuch felt his lips were dry, so he quickly went around to the back of the chair and gently massaged the prince's head.

He knew in his heart that people of such resolute character as the Crown Prince and His Majesty...
Unless the pain is unbearable, I would never easily admit weakness.

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, and he even lost control of the pressure he applied while massaging.

"Your Highness, please summon the imperial physician. A few acupuncture treatments will make you feel better."

Zhu Biao's eyes were slightly closed, his voice weak and weary:
"The judge said that the method of forcibly boosting morale cannot be used for a long time; using it too much will make one's mind confused."

"I am the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty; I cannot be confused."

"Your Highness, but you are ill."

"Alright, pour another bowl of water."

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)