In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 997 Duke of Liang Returns to the Capital

The next morning, the October morning mist had not yet dissipated.

A thin veil covered the official road twenty miles outside the capital.
The cement road surface was slightly damp, as if a light rain had just fallen.

Lu Yunyi was clad in black armor, his hands resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist, and he tried to keep his breathing as still as possible.

From the hour of Yin (3-5 AM) until the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), everyone present stood ramrod straight, without the slightest slackening.

"Sir, would you like some hot tea first?"

Basong untied the copper kettle from his horse, keeping his voice extremely low.

Lu Yunyi waved his hand, his gaze still fixed on the end of the official road:

"Wait a little longer. The general is in a hurry and may be arriving soon."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the sound of horses' hooves echoed from the distant morning mist.

At first, there were sporadic tapping sounds.
Gradually, they became denser, like raindrops hitting a concrete surface.

The guards tensed instantly, their hands gripping their weapons.

Only when he saw the black flag rising from the fog, fluttering in the morning breeze, did he slowly breathe a sigh of relief.

Lu Yunyi strode forward, the armor plates clanging together with a crisp sound.

The fog gradually dissipated, and a troop of elite cavalry could be seen galloping towards them.

The middle-aged man at the head of the group was clad in shiny black armor and had a tall, upright figure.
His temples had more gray hair, and the marks of time were etched on his brows, but his eyes were sharper than they had been two years ago.

Upon seeing this person, Lu Yunyi's tense face broke into a smile. He took two steps forward and bowed deeply.
"This humble general, Lu Yunyi, pays his respects to the Great General!"

The two have not seen each other since Lan Yu left Beijing for Sichuan to build a city two years ago.
Now that we've met again, I feel a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex feeling of mixed emotions, including nostalgia and reflection) about the passage of time.

Lan Yu reined in his horse, flipped off, and jumped down with swift movements.

He strode forward and saw that it was Lu Yunyi who had come to greet him.
His tense facial features gradually relaxed, and then he burst into laughter.

Before even getting close, he reached out and grabbed Lu Yunyi's shoulder with considerable force:
"Good lad! You've still looked so young after two years!"

Lu Yunyi straightened up, and the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile:

"The general is quite old; he even has white hair."

Don't give me that.

Lan Yu smiled, her gaze sweeping over the officials from the Five Armies Commandery who had come to greet her, before finally settling back on Lu Yunyi.
"Building a city and clearing land is the most tiring work, but fortunately we have cement, which has made the construction progress much faster."

"If this had happened before, even another year wouldn't have been enough for me to come back."

After speaking, Lan Yu's smile faded, and she lowered her voice:

Is the capital city in turmoil?

Lu Yunyi nodded, then shook his head:
“Some people have ulterior motives, but the situation has now stabilized and the anti-Party faction can’t stir up any trouble.”

Lu Yunyi took the copper kettle from Basong's hand and handed it over.

"General, you must be tired from your journey. Have some ginger soup to warm yourself up first."

Lan Yu took the kettle, tilted her head back, and took a big gulp.

The heavy weight in my heart lifted slightly.
The reason he traveled day and night was precisely because he feared a major upheaval in the capital.

"What happened at the Crown Prince's residence?"

The letters I've received these days are always veiled, and they won't say anything clearly.

Lu Yunyi remained silent for a moment, knowing that Lan Yu was straightforward and couldn't tolerate beating around the bush.
He then suppressed his smile and reported in a deep voice:
"Reporting to the General, His Highness the Crown Prince nearly suffered from food poisoning after eating clams sent by the Imperial Kitchen."

My subordinates later discovered that the clams were mixed with red tide algae.
This algae is poisonous; if it hadn't been discovered early, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"what?"

A fierce glint flashed in Lan Yu's eyes.

He glanced at the crowd who had come to greet him, his eyes full of curiosity.

Such a major plot to murder the crown prince would never have been possible without the covert support of high-ranking officials in the court.

"Is the Crown Prince alright?"

"Reporting to the General, I went to the Eastern Palace yesterday, and His Highness the Crown Prince is currently in good health."

"The Eastern Palace? The Crown Prince is in the palace?"

Lan Yu frowned, her heart skipped a beat, and the heavy burden she had just lifted was lifted again.

He knew that the Crown Prince had always been family-oriented.

The children all lived in the Crown Prince's residence, so why did they suddenly move to live in the palace?

Reminded by Lan Yu, Lu Yunyi also realized something was wrong, his brows furrowed slightly, and he nodded gently:

"She is recuperating in the palace."

"Has the murderer been caught?"

"We have found out about Lianbao Trading Company, which is owned by the Marquis of Jingning. All the people involved have been arrested, but we haven't made it public yet."

Lu Yunyi recounted the ins and outs of the case in detail, without concealing anything.

As Lan Yu listened, his face grew increasingly grim, and his breathing became heavier and heavier.

His fist clenched, and a chilling killing intent instantly spread out, even causing the surrounding morning mist to seem to solidify slightly.

"Great! That's wonderful!"

"The Crown Prince has treated his officials well, yet someone still dares to plot rebellion? This capital is truly in chaos!"

Lan Yu patted Lu Yunyi on the shoulder, her tone softening slightly, but still retaining an undeniable firmness:
"Thank you for your hard work these past few days."

Investigating cases, dealing with court officials, and overseeing the Market and Exchange Bureau—it's not easy.

Lu Yunyi was stunned for a moment, and was about to speak when Lan Yu interrupted him:

"From today onwards, you are no longer responsible for this case."
Weren't you injured too?
Go back to your residence and rest well. I'll keep an eye on the Crown Prince.

Whether they're rebels or nobles, I want to see who dares to stir up trouble in the capital!

"General, is it..."

Lu Yunyi was somewhat anxious; the case involved a wide range of issues, and he was really worried about it.

"Okay, stop talking."

Lan Yu waved her hand, her eyes resolute:
"You are still young and have a bright future ahead of you."
Now that I'm back, you don't need to do these dirty and tiring jobs anymore.

Focus on recovering and don't give anyone any leverage against you.

Lu Yunyi wanted to say something, but felt a tightness in his throat, and in the end only nodded:

"Yes, General!"

"That's right."

Lan Yu patted him on the shoulder.

"Let's go back to the capital! I want to see just how many shady dealings are hidden here!"

Having said that, Lan Yu mounted his horse, ignoring the civil and military officials who came to greet him, and waved his hand dismissively:
"Go back to Beijing!"

This action caused everyone to exchange bewildered glances, their eyes turning to Lu Yunyi with expressions full of inquiry.
His high position at such a young age has sparked much speculation.

As Lan Yu led his army into the city, news of the Duke of Liang's return to the capital spread throughout the city in an instant.

Many people were shocked upon hearing this.

Why are you back so soon? Wasn't it supposed to be next year?

Officials from the six ministries lost interest in their work and began whispering amongst themselves.

They weren't afraid of Lan Yu, but rather they knew he was arrogant and domineering.

His return to Beijing now will surely stir up a storm in the capital.

Moreover, the capital city has been far from peaceful in the past six months.

The atmosphere in the Eastern Palace was more somber than usual at this moment.

The number of Imperial Guards was twice that of usual.
Everyone was clad in armor, their hands resting on sword hilts.
Even though the palace lanterns under the corridors have been replaced with new ones, they cannot illuminate the somber atmosphere inside the hall.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao sat on a soft couch by the window.

Holding a book in his hands, his gaze was not on the pages, but his fingers unconsciously caressed the spine.

His face was paler than yesterday, and his lips were dry.

"Your Highness, please have some water."

The head eunuch stepped forward with a bowl of warm water, speaking very softly.

Zhu Biao took the teacup, and had just taken a sip...
Then, hurried footsteps could be heard outside the hall, mixed with the shouts of the imperial guards trying to stop them:

"General, His Highness is resting quietly; you cannot enter without permission!"

"Go away!"

A deep shout interrupted the imperial guards, the anger in the voice almost bursting through the palace walls.

Zhu Biao's hand trembled, and some tea spilled onto his clothes.
He looked up at the palace gate, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

The palace doors were pushed open with a bang, and Lan Yu strode in.

He hadn't removed his black armor yet, the armor plates clanging together with a piercing sound.
Lan Yu glanced around the hall, her gaze finally settling on Zhu Biao, her brows instantly furrowing into a knot:
"Your Highness, what happened to you? Why do you look like this?"

Zhu Biao put down his teacup, forced himself to sit up straight, and looked helpless.
"Uncle, this is the imperial palace. How can you trespass like this?"

Lan Yu ignored his words, quickly walked to the soft couch, bent down and carefully examined Zhu Biao.

The crown prince was pale, with faint dark circles under his eyes.

Even his voice sounded weak; where was his usual composure?

He reached out and touched Zhu Biao's forehead; it was ice-cold to the touch, without a trace of warmth.
"Don't pretend nothing's wrong with me!" Lan Yu's voice turned serious, her eyes filled with urgency.

"Your Highness, what exactly happened? What did the imperial physician say?"

Zhu Biao avoided his gaze, picked up a book from the table, and tried to change the subject:

"It's just a minor ailment. The imperial physician said that I just need to rest more, so Uncle doesn't need to worry."

"A minor problem?"

Lan Yu snatched the book from his hand and threw it aside.
"Your Highness, you're getting better and better at lying."

"If there's really nothing wrong, why are you staying in the palace? And why have so many imperial guards been brought here?"

Lan Yu turned to look at the head eunuch beside her, her eyes instantly turning sharp:

"You tell me! What exactly happened to the Crown Prince?"
If you dare to conceal even a single word, I'll rip out your tongue!

The head eunuch knelt down with a thud, trembling all over, his head bowed low, his voice trembling with sobs:

"General, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness has been poisoned."

The toxins accumulated in my body, causing frequent headaches and constant thirst. The imperial physician said I needed to rest slowly and avoid getting angry.

Headache? Thirst?

Lan Yu's voice instantly turned cold, her fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and she looked around:
"Where is the imperial physician? Where is the imperial physician?!"

Seeing that he could no longer hide it, Zhu Biao sighed and tugged at Lan Yu's sleeve:

"Uncle, please sit down and listen to me."

Lan Yu sat down, panting, her gaze still fixed on him, waiting for his explanation.

Zhu Biao spoke slowly, his voice very soft:

"The investigation is almost complete. We're just waiting for the joint trial by the three judicial authorities to determine the guilt. Uncle, there's no need to be so agitated."

As for the headache and thirst, the imperial physician said to rest for a while and then see.
If treated properly, the toxins in the body may be eliminated, and the body may recover completely.

Lan Yu instantly sensed the hidden worry in his words, and her face showed a look of absurdity:

"What if it's treated properly? Or what if it's not treated properly? Will the pain just continue like this?"

The crown prince looked helpless, gently rubbing his forehead with one hand, and slowly said:

"My nephew ate those poisonous clams for at least a year."

Although the amount was small each time, the imperial physician said that little by little, it would add up.

Unfortunately, this type of poison was never recorded in the Imperial Medical Academy's catalogues, nor did they have any treatment for it.

We can only proceed cautiously, feeling our way across the river, taking it one step at a time.

Uncle, don't worry, the Imperial Medical Academy is already researching red tide algae.
If a suitable medicine can be developed, perhaps my nephew will recover quickly.

Lan Yu's breathing became increasingly rapid, and the bloodshot in her eyes was almost overflowing.
"Your Highness, who did it? Was it that bastard Ye Sheng? Or those rebels who oppose moving the capital?"

"Uncle, please calm down. The situation in the capital is complicated right now, with various forces entangled. We don't yet have a clue who is behind this."

"What are you waiting for!"

Lan Yu suddenly stood up, her voice urgent and full of anger:
Arrest all suspects.

"Drag him straight to the Meridian Gate and execute him, then exterminate his entire clan! Let's see who dares to harbor any evil intentions then!"

Lan Yu looked at the kneeling eunuch and shouted sternly:
"You! Go get paper and pen! Your Highness, write an imperial edict, and I'll mobilize the troops! Anyone who dares to stop me is a traitor!"

"uncle!"

Zhu Biao raised his voice, trying to calm him down.
At the same time, he waved his hand, signaling the chief eunuch to leave immediately.

He pulled Lan Yu back down to sit, rubbing his head as he said:

Uncle, don't act impulsively.

The Duke of Song was still in Jurong County, while Zhou Dexing held military power in Zhongdu.

Killing Ye Sheng rashly would only cause panic among the nobles, making the situation even more difficult to manage.

"panic?"

Lan Yu sneered, her eyes filled with disdain.
"They dared to rebel, they should have expected this day to come!"
So what if the Duke of Song protects the rebels? So what if Zhou Dexing commands the army?

Just say the word and I'll lead my troops to Zhongdu right now and bring that old bastard Zhou Dexing back!
I refuse to believe that he can cause any trouble on Ming territory.

"Uncle, don't be impulsive!"

Zhu Biao quickly grabbed him, fearing he might actually do something outrageous.
He briefly recounted the events leading up to Zhou Ji's crime and Ye Sheng's arrest, concluding with:

"Now that Zhou Dexing has something to hide, the Duke of Song has no reason to protect him anymore."

"If we investigate slowly, we can eventually find all the traitors. Why rush things?"

After hearing this, Lan Yu's expression softened slightly, but she was still angry:

Even so, I can't let you suffer like this!
You are the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, the future emperor, yet someone dares to tamper with things in the palace!
If word gets out, where will the imperial court put its face?

He grew angrier the more he thought about it, and turned to leave.

"I'm going to see His Majesty! This matter cannot be left like this; you must receive an explanation!"

"uncle!"

Zhu Biao tried to stop him, but couldn't.
He could only watch Lan Yu's figure disappear outside the palace gate and sigh helplessly.

The head eunuch rushed in and took his arm, saying, "Your Highness, please don't be angry. The General is just concerned about you."

Zhu Biao shook his head, his eyes filled with exhaustion:

"Pour me a glass of water,"

On the other side, Lan Yu stormed angrily toward the Wuying Hall.

The guards and eunuchs along the way did not dare to stop him and could only watch him walk by quickly.

Outside the Wuying Hall, Guo Ying was standing on the steps. When he saw Lan Yu coming, he quickly went forward:
"Why are you in such a hurry? What happened? His Majesty is in the hall discussing matters."

"Marquis Wuding, what could be more important than the Crown Prince being poisoned?"

Lan Yu didn't stop and walked straight into the hall.
"I want to see His Majesty!"

Guo Ying couldn't stop him, so she had no choice but to follow him inside.

Inside the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang sat behind his desk, looking at the memorials in his hands.

The officials of the six ministries stood below the hall.

Everyone was taken aback when Lan Yu suddenly entered, and they all looked at Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head, saw Lan Yu, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he said in a deep voice:
"Lan Yu, you just returned to the capital. Instead of going to the military camp for reorganization, what are you doing here?"

"Your Majesty, I demand an explanation!"

Lan Yu knelt on one knee, her voice firm and resonant.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince was poisoned and nearly lost his life."

Now he is physically weak and even his daily life is affected, while the rebels are still waiting for a joint trial in the imperial prison.

Your Majesty, I humbly request that you immediately behead the traitors and display their heads to the public, and exterminate their entire families, as a warning to others!

Zhu Yuanzhang put down the memorial, his gaze falling on Lan Yu, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
"The three departments are investigating this matter and will reach a conclusion soon; you need not say more."

"A settled conclusion?"

Lan Yu suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with confusion and anger.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is the heir apparent of the Ming Dynasty!"
Anyone who dares to plot against the crown prince is committing treason!
Do we really have to wait for a joint trial by the three judicial authorities? What if something goes wrong? Who will be responsible then?

He became more and more excited as he spoke, and his voice rose considerably:

"When I was building the city in Sichuan, I heard that things were not peaceful in the capital."
But to everyone's surprise, someone actually dared to make a move against the Crown Prince!

If we do not severely punish the traitors today, others will surely follow suit in the future.

"At that time, even if His Majesty wanted to protect the Crown Prince, he might not be able to!"

The officials inside the hall all kept their heads down, and no one dared to speak.
Seeing their silence, Lan Yu suddenly stood up, her gaze sweeping over each of their faces in turn:
"I believe that the court should not only eliminate the current rebels, but also guard against future rebels!"

Anyone who harbors rebellious intentions should be killed as soon as possible to end the trouble.
This will save them from occupying their positions and hindering the promotion of young people in the court!

Upon hearing this, many officials from the six ministries lowered their heads even further, while some raised their heads and glared angrily.

Minister of Rites Li Yuanming stepped forward and shouted sternly:

"Duke of Liang, be careful what you say!"

Lan Yu shifted her gaze and chuckled softly:
"So it's Lord Li. You said last year you wanted to resign and go home, so why are you still in office this year? Are you so greedy for power?"

"you!!"

Even with Li Yuanming's good temper, he was so angry that his eyes widened upon hearing this.

He quickly looked at Zhu Yuanzhang behind the imperial desk and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty, the Duke of Liang is disrespectful and speaks arrogantly. We request that Your Majesty throw him out!"

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and slowly spoke:
"Lan Yu, do you know what you're saying?"
"Rashly killing people will only cause chaos throughout the land and panic among the court officials. If Zhongdu and Yingtian fall into chaos, can you take responsibility?"

"I can!" Lan Yu answered without hesitation.

"As long as Your Majesty gives the order, I will immediately lead troops to Zhongdu and guarantee that there will be no trouble!"

"I refuse to believe that anyone in the glorious Ming Dynasty would dare to openly rebel!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the determination in his eyes, then at the officials below the throne, and sighed:
"You're still so impulsive."

"I know you care about the Crown Prince and I know you want to severely punish the rebels, but everything must be done in accordance with rules and regulations, and you cannot act impulsively."

Lan Yu wanted to say something more, but Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand:

"You have just returned to the capital, so go and rest first. Tomorrow I will summon my ministers to discuss this matter."

As for the Crown Prince, I will have the imperial physicians treat him properly, so you don't need to worry too much.

(End of this chapter)