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In the winter of the twenty-fifth year of the Hongwu reign, light snow began to fall in Nanjing.

A thin layer of white covers the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City, making the entire palace appear like a magnificent palace from afar.

Inside the Jinshen Hall, the charcoal fire was burning brightly.

Zhu Yuanzhang was reviewing memorials. His red brush paused on the memorial "Request to Establish the Imperial Grandson as Regent," and his brows furrowed.

Suddenly, a eunuch came from outside the palace to report:

"Your Majesty, Duke Chang Mao of Zheng, Duke Chang Sheng of Kaiguo, and General Chang Sen of Yongyi are requesting an audience outside the palace."

Zhu Yuanzhang paused slightly with his vermilion brush, leaving a bright red ink dot on the memorial.

It was quite unusual for the three Chang brothers to request an audience at the same time.

Since the death of Crown Prince Zhu Biao, the Chang family has kept a low profile. Is this show of force today meant to put pressure on them?
"Xuan."

The three Chang brothers, dressed in ordinary clothes, entered the Jinshen Hall with solemn expressions.

The snowflakes on their shoulders had not yet completely melted, adding to their desolation.

Upon entering, the three of them knelt down in unison and performed a grand salute.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects."

Zhu Yuanzhang put down his vermilion brush, looked at the three kneeling men, and a hint of doubt arose in his heart: "Rise. What brings you three brothers here together today?"

Chang Mao raised his head, his eyes now filled with determination, this once-renowned general who had dominated the battlefield: "Your Majesty, we have come today to resign from our posts."

"Resign from your posts?" Zhu Yuanzhang sat up abruptly, his gaze sharp as lightning. "You want to resign from all your official positions? These are the merits earned by two generations of your Chang family with their blood and sweat!"

"Yes." The second son, Chang Sheng, took out three military tallies and a list from his bosom and presented them with both hands. "These are the military tallies under our command, as well as the roster of our personal guards. Please take them back, Your Majesty."

Chang Sen also took out the golden seal of General Yongyi and respectfully placed it on the ground: "I ask Your Majesty to take back my title as well. The Chang family is willing to live as commoners and return to our hometown of Fengyang to farm and study."

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the three faces.

At that moment, countless thoughts flashed through his mind...

Is this a strategic retreat, or is there another motive?
"Tell me," Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was more solemn than ever before, "whose idea was this?"

Chang Mao readily replied, "It is His Highness the Prince of Wu."

"Yunzhen?" Zhu Yuanzhang's pupils contracted slightly. "When did he give these instructions? He's still on his sickbed, how could he give them?"

“Back when Crown Prince Yiwen passed away,” Chang Sheng replied, his voice slightly choked with emotion. “His Highness Prince Wu summoned us to his residence and told us: ‘If my grandfather does not ultimately choose me as the heir apparent, the Chang family must immediately resign and return to their hometown, never to participate in court politics again. This is the only way to protect the Chang family.’”

Chang Sen added, "King Wu also said that the Chang family's achievements are so great that they threaten the emperor's position. If a new emperor ascends the throne, they will inevitably be suspected. Rather than being disgraced and having their entire family killed, it is better to retire while they are still at the peak of their careers to preserve the Chang family's bloodline."

As expected, Zhu Yuanzhang fell silent at this moment.

He walked to the window, gazing at the swirling snowflakes outside, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

This grandson actually foresaw today's situation half a year ago and even made arrangements for his maternal clan's escape route in advance.

This foresight, this decisiveness...

"Chang Mao," Zhu Yuanzhang turned around, his gaze piercing, "Do you have any requests as you resign today?"

Chang Mao took a deep breath and knelt down again: "Your Majesty, the Chang family has no other request. We only ask... we only ask that you consider the great contributions my late father Chang Yuchun made to the Ming Dynasty, and the affection my late sister Chang Shi had for Crown Prince Yiwen for many years, and allow the Chang family to take Yun Tong away."

This request caused Zhu Yuanzhang to change color in anger: "Absurd! Yuntong is a descendant of the Zhu family, a prince of the Ming Dynasty, how can he leave Yingtian Prefecture with you!"

The second prince, Chang Sheng, immediately burst into tears and said, "Your Majesty, Yun Tong is on the verge of death. The imperial physicians all say he... he won't survive the winter. Can you bear to let him die alone in the cold palace? Let us take him back to Fengyang, at least... at least let him spend his final days with his family..."

"Shut up!" Zhu Yuanzhang shouted sternly. "I have already ordered the Nurgan Regional Military Commission to do everything in its power to collect century-old ginseng, which will surely save Yuntong's life! Are you cursing the prince?"

At this moment, Chang Sen suddenly kowtowed heavily, his forehead hitting the gold brick with a dull thud: "Since His Majesty forbids us from taking Yunhu away, could you please arrange a marriage for him? So that he won't die alone! He's only fourteen years old today, and he doesn't even have anyone who cares for him..."

By the end, all three tough men were sobbing uncontrollably.

Chang Mao prostrated himself on the ground and wept bitterly: "Your Majesty! Yun Tong is only fourteen years old! If he leaves like this, he will have no descendants. How will we face our late father and sister when we go to the underworld!"

The cries of the three brothers echoed in the Jinshen Hall, and even the eunuchs standing to the side couldn't help but turn their faces away.

Looking at the weeping Chang brothers, Zhu Yuanzhang recalled the years he fought alongside Chang Yuchun, his gentle and virtuous daughter-in-law Chang Shi who died young, and his exceptionally intelligent grandson who was now barely alive.

The hardest part of his heart seemed to have been touched.

"Enough!" Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was a little hoarse. "I...understand."

He walked to his desk, picked up his brush, and wrote a decree: "By imperial decree, select a consort for Prince Wu, Zhu Yunwen. Requirements: a respectable family background, upright character, and appropriate age. The Ministry of Rites is to proceed immediately."

After writing it down, he handed the written order to Chang Mao: "Are you satisfied now?"

The three Chang brothers received the imperial edict and kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, we are very grateful for your grace!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand wearily: "Go! After you return to Fengyang, live a good life. I... will take good care of Yunhu."

"I'm waiting to retire."

……

Watching the Chang brothers' retreating figures as they left the hall, Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent for a long time.

He suddenly asked Park Bu-sung beside him, "Do you think Yun-hu made the Chang family resign just to protect them?"

Park Bu-sung cautiously replied, "This old servant is dull-witted, but I feel that His Highness the King of Wu is far-sighted and that this move must have a profound meaning."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, "Hmph! He's making his final arrangements. The Chang family's resignation not only dispels my suspicions but also keeps them away from court intrigues. What a brilliant two-birds-with-one-stone plan! This child, even lying on his sickbed, a living dead, can still scheme against everyone!"

Meanwhile, the three Chang brothers left the palace and immediately began packing their belongings.

Their swift action astonished the entire court.

“Brother,” Chang Sheng said in a low voice, “are we really going to leave Yun Tong alone in Nanjing? He’s in this state…”

Chang Mao's eyes were filled with tears, but his tone was firm: "This is Yunhu's arrangement, and we must obey him. He said that only in this way can the Chang family survive this storm. Haven't you noticed? The Emperor has already decided to kill us. If we hadn't resigned today, I'm afraid..."

Chang Sen said worriedly, "But Yunhu is currently poisoned. If we leave..."

"Don't worry." Chang Mao looked towards the direction of the Wu Prince's Mansion. Snowflakes fell on his face, making it hard to tell if they were snow or tears. "That child is stronger than we imagined. Remember his words: As long as you live, there is hope."

Three days later, the Chang family moved to Fengyang.

When they left the capital, they did not disturb anyone. Only a few simple carriages and a few old servants quietly departed amidst the swirling snow.

When the news reached the Duke of Liang's mansion, Lan Yu, who was already anxious, became even more panicked.

"Why did the Chang family just leave like that? They didn't even want their titles?" Lan Yu paced back and forth in the hall, his face grave.

Lan Chun asked, puzzled, "Father, why do the three Chang brothers insist on resigning from their official posts? Wouldn't they be more helpful to us if they were in the court?"

Lan Yu shook her head and sighed, "You don't understand. The Chang family has sensed that the winds are blowing in the wrong direction and is trying to protect themselves. The court will soon be rife with bloodshed. If the Chang family stays in Nanjing, they will surely die."

"What about our Lan family?" Lan Chun asked worriedly.

Lan Yu stopped and gazed at the snow scene outside the window, letting out a long sigh: "Does our Lan family have any way out? The Chang family has a seriously ill grandson who has softened the Emperor's heart, what do we have? Now we can only take it one step at a time..."

The snow fell heavier and heavier, gradually covering the tracks left by the Chang family's convoy as they drove away.

Inside the Wu Prince's mansion, Su Ning, lying on her sickbed, had a slight, unnoticed smile playing on her lips.

……

In the first month of the twenty-sixth year of the Hongwu reign, Nanjing should have been immersed in the festive joy, but an invisible atmosphere of gloom enveloped the entire capital.

The continuous gloomy weather has added a touch of oppression to this capital city.

The palace was heavily guarded, and the imperial guards' cavalry frequently rode through the streets, their heavy hooves echoing on the bluestone slabs, causing the common people to give way and the merchants to close their shops early.

Late at night on the eighth day of the first lunar month, the mansion of the Duke of Liang was still brightly lit.

The area outside the mansion appears calm, but in reality, it is teeming with hidden sentries, and something unusual is brewing everywhere.

Inside the secret room, Lan Yu and several trusted generals were having a private discussion.

The flickering candlelight illuminated the solemn and uneasy faces.

“My lord, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has been keeping a closer eye on things lately,” said Marquis Cao Zhen of Jingchuan with a worried expression. “I heard that the Emperor is currently investigating the illegal activities of military officers, and even a piece of land that I purchased in Beiping two years ago has been thoroughly investigated.”

Lan Yu sneered and downed the wine in her cup in one gulp: "Hmph! The Emperor is trying to discard us once we've used us all! Don't forget what happened to Li Shanchang and the others! Over the years, how many of the founding heroes have met a good end?"

Marquis Yongping, Xie Cheng, said in a low voice, "But Duke, we still have military power. The Emperor shouldn't..."

"No way?" Lan Yu slammed his hand on the table, causing the wine cup to tip over. "Haven't you all realized it yet? From the death of the Crown Prince to the establishment of Zhu Yunwen as the Imperial Grandson, to the poisoning of the Prince of Wu and the resignation of the Chang family, all of these events are preparations for purging us old ministers of Huaixi!"

He stood up and paced anxiously in the secret room: "Now, only we old brothers are left in command of the army. The Emperor is clearing the last obstacle for his cowardly grandson!"

Earl of Dongguan, He Rong, couldn't help but say, "Lord Duke, since that's the case, why don't we..."

Before he could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the mansion.

The sounds of clashing weapons, shouts, and cries mingled together, growing louder as they approached.

The steward rushed in, his face ashen: "Your Highness! Something terrible has happened! The Embroidered Uniform Guard... the Embroidered Uniform Guard has surrounded the mansion! And the leader is Jiang Huan!"

Lan Yu's expression changed drastically, and she immediately stood up: "Let's go through the secret passage!"

But it was too late.

The door to the secret room was kicked open, and Jiang Huan led a squad of Imperial Guards into the room, their cold blades gleaming in the candlelight.

"Duke of Liang," Jiang Huan said expressionlessly, unfolding the imperial edict, "By order of the Emperor, you are invited to the palace for a discussion."

Lan Yu looked around and saw that all escape routes were blocked. She looked up at the sky and sighed, "What was bound to happen has finally come."

He straightened his clothes and said to Jiang Huan, "Let me change my clothes."

Jiang Huan said coldly, "No need, His Majesty is still waiting."

That night, no one in Nanjing slept. News of the raid on the Duke of Liang's mansion spread like wildfire throughout the city, and everyone in the mansions of the nobles lived in fear.

……

Meanwhile, the Wu King's palace was deathly silent.

A sign reading "Quiet Retreat, Avoid Guests" hung outside the mansion gate, and the courtyard was piled with fallen leaves, making it look particularly desolate.

Inside the dormitory, Su Ning, lying on the hospital bed, was listening to A Fu's report in the darkness.

This intelligent assistant from the future has always been his most reliable support.

"Master, Lan Yu has been taken to the palace. Also arrested at the same time were twelve generals, including Marquis Jingchuan Cao Zhen, Marquis Yongping Xie Cheng, and Earl Dongguan He Rong."

Lying on the hospital bed, Su Ning showed no joy or sorrow, only letting out a soft sigh: "It's begun..."

"Master, why is your human mind so complicated? You can develop together, but you always end up killing each other."

“This is human nature, Afu.” Su Ning’s voice was weak but clear. “The victor is king and the loser is villain! Grandfather wants to clear obstacles for the new emperor, and Lan Yu and his arrogant and fierce generals will be the first to be targeted.”

He paused, then asked in a low voice, "Have all our people been arranged?"

"As arranged by the master, all personnel have completed their infiltration. As long as they are not awakened, they will live and die as ordinary people and their identities will never be exposed."

Su Ning nodded: "From now on, this storm will only get bigger. Tell everyone to continue to remain silent."

"Understood! In addition, the Ministry of Rites has been selecting concubines for you recently in accordance with the orders of the Hongwu Emperor."

Su Ning gave a wry smile: "It must be because no one wants to marry a living dead person like me, right?"

"Indeed! I heard that the Hongwu Emperor was furious and ordered the Ministry of Rites to select a virtuous woman, or else her entire family would be exterminated. Three officials have already been demoted for their poor performance."

"Alas! This is why I didn't kill Bo Ren, yet Bo Ren died because of me." Su Ning closed his eyes, his face showing remorse. "Is there any way to stop it?"

"Based on the analysis, the best solution is for the master to 'improve his condition' and then personally select his concubines."

Su Ning remained silent for a moment, then shook his head: "A petty person who cannot be patient will ruin a great plan."

Some readers may think Suning is too weak, but he is far inferior to the future Yongle Emperor Zhu Di.

After all, the historical Zhu Di pretended to be crazy and ate pig feed in Beiping, while he himself was just pretending to be dead and lying in bed.

……

Inside the Hall of Cautious Conduct, Zhu Yuanzhang stared grimly at Lan Yu kneeling on the ground.

Only a few lamps were lit inside the hall, and the dim light made the atmosphere even more oppressive.

"Lan Yu, do you know your crime?"

Lan Yu stubbornly raised his head: "Your Majesty, I know not what crime I have committed! I am utterly loyal to the Ming Dynasty, and Heaven and Earth can bear witness to that!"

"Don't know?" Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, throwing a stack of confessions in front of him. "Your subordinates have confessed that you spread rumors in the army, saying that 'the Crown Prince is weak and incapable of shouldering great responsibilities.' Is this true?"

Lan Yu's expression changed slightly: "This... this was just a slip of the tongue while drunk..."

"Spoken words while drunk?" Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and walked step by step to Lan Yu. "Then, are hoarding armor and weapons, raising assassins, and befriending vassal kings also considered spoken words while drunk?"

With each sentence, Zhu Yuanzhang's voice rose a notch, until finally it was almost a roar: "Do you think I dare not kill you?"

Lan Yu trembled and finally lowered her head.

He knew that this time, there was no escaping it.

In February of the 26th year of the Hongwu reign, Zhu Yuanzhang issued an edict to establish a special task force for the "Lan Yu Case," which was personally overseen by his grandson, Zhu Yunwen.

This arrangement was significant, serving both as a trial for Zhu Yunwen and as a means for the new emperor to establish his authority.

However, an unexpected situation arose during the interrogation.

"Your Majesty," Zhu Yunwen reported nervously, "Lan Yu has implicated many court officials, including...some highly respected senior ministers. This is his confession..."

Zhu Yuanzhang took the confession, glanced at it briefly, and threw it on the table: "Continue the investigation, investigate to the end. No one involved should be let off the hook!"

"But Grandfather, some of these people are..."

"What are some of them?" Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted him, clearly looking down on this grandson. "Are they founding heroes? Or imperial relatives? Remember, before the laws of the Ming Dynasty, everyone is equal!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As the investigation deepened, more and more officials became involved in the case.

From military generals to local officials, from ministers of the six ministries to members of the imperial family, the extent of the connections is astonishing.

Everyone in the court was in danger, and even daily meetings were filled with an atmosphere of fear.

During a morning court session in March, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly had an attack after listening to a report on a case.

"You all claim to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic, yet behind my back you form cliques, plot against me!" The old emperor slammed a thick stack of confessions down the steps. "Do you all think I'm too old and useless?"

The entire court of officials knelt down, none daring to raise their heads. Even the most outspoken officials, usually the most daring to speak frankly, were now silent with fear.

"Issue my decree," Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was icy cold, "Lan Yu's treason is proven beyond redemption. He is to be executed immediately, and his property confiscated! All other involved personnel shall be severely punished without exception!"

This imperial decree struck like a bolt from the blue, shaking the entire court.

……

Inside the desolate and dilapidated Wu Prince's Mansion, Afu, hidden in the darkness, used high-tech means to shield the entire room before reporting the latest developments to Su Ning.

"Master, everyone in the court is now living in fear. It is said that more than 10,000 people have been implicated. New officials are being thrown into prison every day."

Lying on his sickbed, barely breathing, Su Ning deduced, "Grandfather is using the Lan Yu case to wipe out all potential threats. I'm afraid it will implicate even more innocent people."

"So, do we need to take action?"

“Continue to hold back.” Su Ning’s gaze was profound. “Remember, in this storm, those who survive are often the most inconspicuous. What we need to do now is continue to play the role of ‘the dying man’.”

"Understood! However, according to monitoring, the Embroidered Uniform Guard's surveillance of the Prince's residence is becoming increasingly tight."

Su Ning smiled slightly: "This shows that Grandfather has never been completely at ease. Very good, let's maintain the status quo."

Sure enough, during the subsequent interrogation, many bizarre confessions emerged.

Some people revealed that Lan Yu had said some treasonous things while drunk, some people confessed that Lan Yu had secretly kept the dragon robe and jade seal, and some people even testified that Lan Yu had close ties with Prince Yan, Zhu Di.

The veracity of these testimonies is no longer important.

Importantly, Zhu Yuanzhang took this opportunity to eradicate all the forces that might threaten the position of the crown prince.

In May, Lan Yu was subjected to the punishment of being skinned alive and stuffed with straw, and all members of his family were executed.

Even the human skin that was peeled off was taken away by Lan Yu's son-in-law, the King of Shu, and it is said that it has been offered up by the King of Shu's lineage for generations as a warning to others.

More than 15,000 people involved in the case were either executed, exiled, or demoted to commoners.

Blood was spilled daily at the execution grounds in Nanjing, and the Qinhuai River was once again stained red.

The most surprising thing about this great purge was that Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, who had "put aside past grievances" with Lan Yu in recent years, was completely unharmed.

"Grandpa is playing a long game," Su Ning said meaningfully after learning the news.

When Jiang Huan reported the final investigation results to Zhu Yuanzhang, he specifically mentioned: "Your Majesty, no clues related to His Highness Prince Wu were found in this case. None of the testimonies of the people involved mentioned Prince Wu."

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment: "How has the surveillance of the Prince of Wu's residence been lately?"

"I sent Song Zhong, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to monitor the situation, but he found no one at the Prince of Wu's residence. Apart from the doctor who delivers medicine daily and the necessary servants, the Prince of Wu's residence is almost completely isolated from the outside world."

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Then let him rest and recover."

Jiang Huan hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, if... we could actually just stop the ginseng supply. That way..."

"Huh?" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly looked up, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Jiang Huan, have you forgotten how the former commander Mao Xiang died?"

Jiang Huan was so frightened that he knelt down on the ground: "Ah? I deserve to die! I was confused for a moment!"

"roll!"

"I resign!"

Watching Jiang Huan's disheveled retreat, Zhu Yuanzhang sat alone on the dragon throne, wearily rubbing his temples.

He gazed in the direction of the Wu King's residence and muttered to himself:

"Yunhu, if you really are nearing the end, it would actually put my mind at ease..."

In truth, he felt a little regretful. Choosing Suning would have been quite good, but unfortunately, he still preferred Zhu Di of Beiping.

For a perfect ruler like Zhu Yuanzhang, it was impossible for him to ignore Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, who was far away in Beiping.

Therefore, in Zhu Yuanzhang's prediction, Prince Yan, Zhu Di, was the backup candidate. If Zhu Yunwen was not up to the task, then naturally someone more capable would take his place.

If Zhu Yunwen had grown up and secured the throne, then everyone would have been happy.

Therefore, no matter what the world is like after his death, his Ming Dynasty and the Zhu family can continue.

The "Lan Yu Case" in the 26th year of the Hongwu reign completely changed the political landscape of the Ming Dynasty.

The founding heroes were all purged, and military power returned to the emperor's hands.

The Crown Prince Zhu Yunwen also established his authority in this incident.

However, amidst this bloody storm, the ailing King of Wu maintained a detached attitude throughout.

No one knew that this prince, who was thought to be "dying soon," was secretly watching everything, waiting for his chance.

...(End of chapter)