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In the autumn of the twenty-sixth year of the Hongwu reign, an invisible layer of dark clouds shrouded the city of Nanjing.

The weeping willows along the Qinhuai River remain the same, but the merchants coming and going no longer have the composure they once had.

The once bustling Ming Dynasty money shop has now been replaced by a gilded plaque for the Royal Bank, but the interior is a completely different story.

Zhao Mian, the Minister of Revenue, has been worrying himself sick these days.

At this moment, he was kneeling tremblingly in the Hall of Diligent Conduct, beads of sweat from his forehead sliding down his cheeks and spreading a small dark patch on the bluestone floor.

"Your Majesty," Zhao Mian's voice trembled uncontrollably, "banks across the country are reporting that their check inventory... is depleted. If new checks cannot be replenished soon, I fear... I fear there will be great chaos!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's face was so gloomy it seemed like water could drip from it.

He slammed a stack of memorials onto the imperial desk, scattering the papers all over the floor with a clattering sound.

"A year! A whole year has passed!" The old emperor's voice was like thunder, echoing in the hall. "I allocated the best craftsmen from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works to you, and even transferred the firearms engraving masters from the Ordnance Bureau. Is this the result you give me?"

Zhao Mian kowtowed, making a deep, resounding sound: "Your Majesty, I deserve to die! But Your Majesty, the printing process of that check is simply too exquisite. The paper is neither silk nor brocade, as thin as a cicada's wing yet exceptionally tough, impervious to water and fire. The patterns on it are incredibly detailed, and there are numerous anti-counterfeiting measures. Let alone counterfeiting, it would be difficult to even see the patterns clearly!"

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and paced anxiously in the hall.

The hem of the dragon robe swept across the ground, stirring up fine dust.

He recalled the high spirits he felt last year when he personally issued the decree to take over the Daming Money Shop.

At that time, the account books submitted by the Ministry of Revenue showed that the deposits in money shops reached eight million taels, and the circulated checks were spread throughout thirteen provinces.

Who would have thought…

"Summon Ma He!" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly shouted, his voice carrying an undeniable determination. "Bring Ma He to me immediately!"

Half an hour later, Ma He knelt before the hall, his expression as calm as a still well.

“Ma He, I ask you,” Zhu Yuanzhang stared intently at him, his gaze piercing, “where did those checks come from?”

Ma He kowtowed and replied, "Your Majesty, all the checks were provided personally by His Highness Prince Wu. Each time, His Highness ordered people to retrieve them from the Prince's treasury. As for their source, this servant truly does not know."

"Don't know?" Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and slowly walked down the steps. "You've been by Yuntong's side for so many years, you're his absolute confidant, how could you not know?"

“Your Majesty is wise,” Ma He said calmly, his expression unchanged. “Your Highness is always cautious in his actions, and he never lets anyone else handle such confidential matters. Every time he goes to collect checks, Your Highness goes into the storeroom alone and comes out with boxes of checks. I have asked you about it before, but Your Highness only said, ‘This is a secret of heaven and cannot be revealed.’”

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "The storehouse? Where is the storehouse of the Prince of Wu's residence?"

“It’s in a secret underground chamber on the west side of the Prince’s mansion. However…” Ma He hesitated for a moment, then looked up at the Emperor’s face, “Since His Highness fell seriously ill, no one has been able to enter that storeroom. The key has always been with His Highness.”

A glint of light flashed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes: "What if we force it open?"

Ma He immediately kowtowed, his forehead touching the cold ground: "Your Majesty, please reconsider! His Highness is still recovering from his illness. If we forcibly open the treasury, I'm afraid... I'm afraid it will disturb His Highness's recovery. Moreover, the treasury door is said to have been specially made by His Highness. Without the key, it would be difficult to open even with knives and axes."

"Enough!" Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand impatiently. "You may leave!"

After Ma He left, Zhu Yuanzhang instructed Jiang Huan, who was standing to the side, "Go and summon the Minister of Works and the Minister of Revenue to me!"

"Yes! Your Majesty."

Soon, Qin Kui, the Minister of Works, and Zhao Mian, the Minister of Revenue, knelt together in front of the hall, both of them pale-faced.

"Qin Kui," Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly, "I'm giving you one last chance. If you can forge the checks, you'll be promoted three ranks and receive a reward of a thousand taels of silver. If you can't..."

Qin Kui trembled with fear, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty, I...I am utterly powerless! The paper used for that check...I sent men to search the entire country, but we could not find a similar material. The patterns on it are exquisite; some lines are as fine as hair, yet the layers are distinct, and the colors transition naturally. Even the most skilled embroiderers could not achieve such an effect. What's even more peculiar is that when viewed against the sunlight, a hidden watermark can be seen. Such craftsmanship is unheard of!"

Zhao Mian added with a mournful face, "Your Majesty, merchants everywhere are starting to panic. There are rumors that checks will be voided, and everyone is rushing to cash them. If this continues, I'm afraid it will trigger a run on the banks! Yesterday, the Yangzhou branch reported that it cashed more than 50,000 taels of silver in a single day. At this rate, the treasuries in various places won't last more than half a month."

Zhu Yuanzhang slumped back onto the dragon throne, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrests.

At this moment, he finally understood that although he had taken over the Daming Bank, he had never truly grasped its core.

"You... may leave now." The old emperor's voice suddenly sounded much older.

After the two men left, Zhu Yuanzhang remained alone in the hall, lost in thought.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window lattice, casting a long shadow of him.

He recalled all the amazing things Suning had done over the years…

Those ingenious machines, those cutting-edge ideas, and those methods that are forever unpredictable.

"Yunhuo, oh Yunhuo," Zhu Yuanzhang murmured to himself, "how many secrets are you still hiding?"

……

Meanwhile, the crisis in money shops had already begun to fester in various regions.

On the bustling banks of the Qinhuai River in Nanjing, a long queue had already formed in front of the main branch of the Daming Royal Bank.

Merchants and ordinary people held their checks, anxiously waiting for them to be cashed.

"We've been waiting for two hours already, why can't we cash the check?" a silk merchant complained, wiping his sweat from the corner of his check.

"I heard the checks are almost gone and we won't be able to use them anymore!" Someone whispered the rumor, causing a stir in the crowd.

The bank manager was frantic, and could only repeatedly reassure everyone, "Don't worry, everyone, the checks will definitely be cashed, it just will take some time..."

The same scene is playing out across the country.

Even more seriously, many merchants have begun to refuse to accept checks and only accept cash.

This led to a sharp shortage of silver in the market, and prices began to soar.

The news quickly reached the Wu King's Palace.

Zhao Ling'er was reading poetry to Su Ning in the courtyard when she suddenly saw Steward Wang hurrying over.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened outside!" Steward Wang said breathlessly, his forehead covered in sweat. "I heard that the Royal Bank's checks are almost gone, and the whole city is scrambling to cash them!"

Zhao Ling'er put down her book, her delicate brows furrowing slightly: "How could this be? Didn't the imperial court take over the money shops?"

"Alas, they say they've taken over, but they haven't learned the skill of printing checks!" Steward Wang lowered his voice. "This old servant heard that the Emperor was furious about it and scolded all the officials in the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works. The market is in chaos now, and rice prices have already risen by 30%. If this continues, I'm afraid there will be trouble."

Zhao Ling'er subconsciously looked at Su Ning on the recliner.

Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves of the pear tree, casting dappled shadows on his face.

For some reason, she felt that the corners of her husband's mouth seemed to turn up slightly.

“Your Highness, we have quite a few checks in our household, would you like to…” Steward Wang asked tentatively.

“No need.” Zhao Ling’er shook her head decisively. “The prince is seriously ill, and it is inconvenient for us to get involved in these matters. The expenses of the manor will be covered by cash for now. Go to the treasury and take stock to see how long it can last.”

"Yes." Steward Wang bowed and withdrew, but before leaving, he couldn't help but turn back and say, "Your Highness, if this old servant may be so bold, there's a lot of talk in the city right now, everyone's saying that only His Highness can resolve this crisis, but His Highness..."

Zhao Ling'er gently waved her hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.

After Steward Wang left, Zhao Ling'er walked to Su Ning's side, gently straightened his clothes, and whispered, "Your Highness, was all of this within your expectations?"

Naturally, she received no response.

Only the autumn wind rustles through the pear trees.

……

Meanwhile, inside the Jinshen Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang was listening to urgent reports from various regions.

"Your Majesty, a report has come from Yangzhou Prefecture that salt merchants have gone on strike, demanding a guarantee of check payment!"

"Urgent report from Suzhou Prefecture: Silk trade has almost come to a standstill, and merchants are only accepting cash!"

"Urgent report from Hangzhou: Tea farmers refuse to sell their new tea, claiming their checks are worthless!"

One bad news after another arrived, and Zhu Yuanzhang's face grew increasingly grim.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"Issue the decree," he finally made up his mind, his voice hoarse, "effective immediately, all Royal Banks shall suspend check cashing, and those who disobey shall be executed!"

This decree was like pouring cold water into a pot of boiling oil, immediately triggering even greater turmoil.

Merchants went on strike, the people panicked, and even the army's payroll was affected.

Even more seriously, the remnants of the Northern Yuan took the opportunity to stir up trouble on the border, spreading rumors that "the Ming Dynasty is doomed."

In the autumn of the twenty-sixth year of the Hongwu reign, the Ming Dynasty was plunged into an unprecedented financial crisis.

The root of all this points to the bedridden King of Wu.

"Your Majesty," Jiang Huan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, reported late at night, the candlelight flickering on his face, "should we ask His Highness Prince Wu again? Perhaps... he has a solution?"

Zhu Yuanzhang stood by the window, gazing in the direction of the Wu Prince's Mansion, remaining silent for a long time.

The moonlight shone on his profile, revealing deep wrinkles.

Suning is now on its last legs and naturally cannot answer its own questions. It can only search the Wu Prince's Mansion.

At that moment, he finally understood: some things cannot be taken by force.

The soul of the Ming Dynasty Bank was always in the hands of his seemingly dying grandson. "Tomorrow," the old emperor finally spoke, his voice filled with unprecedented weariness, "I will personally go to the Prince of Wu's residence."

……

In the late autumn of the twenty-sixth year of the Hongwu reign, Nanjing was shrouded in a somber atmosphere.

Early that morning, the sound of heavy, orderly footsteps suddenly broke the usual tranquility outside the Wu King's Palace.

Zhao Ling'er was taking care of Su Ning in the courtyard when she suddenly saw Chief Steward Wang running over, stumbling and crawling: "Your Highness! Something terrible has happened! The Emperor has arrived in person, and he's brought a large number of Imperial Guards with him!"

Before he finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang strode into the courtyard, followed by Jiang Huan and dozens of Imperial Guards.

The old emperor's face was gloomy, and his gaze swept across the courtyard like lightning, finally settling on Su Ning, who was sunbathing on a recliner.

"Granddaughter-in-law greets Your Majesty." Zhao Ling'er quickly knelt down to pay her respects, but her voice trembled slightly.

Zhu Yuanzhang ignored her and walked straight to Su Ning, bending down and staring at her for a long time.

Su Ning's eyes were closed, his face was pale, and he showed no reaction to the commotion around him.

"Yunyi," Zhu Yuanzhang leaned down and called softly, his voice unusually gentle, "I've come to see you."

Naturally, there was no response.

The old emperor straightened up and gave Jiang Huan a wink.

"Search!" Jiang Huan gave the order, and the Imperial Guards immediately scattered.

"Grandpa Emperor!" Zhao Ling'er jumped up in alarm. "This is..."

"I am looking for something," Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly, his gaze never leaving Su Ning's face. "Something that concerns the fate of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhao Ling'er bit her lip, but in the end she retreated to Su Ning's side and used her body to protect her husband: "In that case, please allow your granddaughter-in-law to take care of the prince here."

Zhu Yuanzhang gave her a deep look and suddenly asked, "Has Yuntong shown any unusual behavior these days?"

Zhao Ling'er's heart tightened, but she forced herself to remain calm: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Prince has been unconscious. What is there to say about something unusual?"

"Is that so?" Zhu Yuanzhang gave her a meaningful look. "I heard that Yunhu's fingers were moved a few days ago."

"That's just what the imperial physician called a normal reaction," Zhao Ling'er replied, her head bowed, her voice trembling involuntarily.

Zhu Yuanzhang stopped asking questions and turned to Jiang Huan, saying, "Jiang Huan, take me to the secret chamber on the west side."

"Yes! Your Majesty."

The door to the secret room was securely locked with iron locks.

Jiang Huan looked to Zhu Yuanzhang for instructions, but the old emperor waved his hand without hesitation: "Smash it open!"

With a loud crash, the iron lock fell to the ground.

Zhu Yuanzhang was the first to enter the secret room, where dozens of wooden boxes were neatly arranged.

Upon opening the box, it was found to be filled with brand-new checks from the Ming Dynasty Money Shop.

"Your Majesty!" Jiang Huan exclaimed in delight, "There are at least a million checks here!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression darkened further: "Only checks? Where are the printing equipment?"

The Imperial Guards searched the secret room thoroughly, but found nothing but checks and a few ledgers.

"Keep searching!" Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was filled with suppressed anger. "Even if you have to turn the Prince of Wu's residence upside down, find him for me!"

In the next two hours, the Wu King's Palace experienced an unprecedented catastrophe.

Zhao Ling'er stayed by Su Ning's side the whole time, listening to the sounds of destruction coming from all directions, her nails digging deeply into her palms.

This was also the first time she had noticed Zhu Yuanzhang's favoritism and tyranny; such a grandfather was indeed suffocating.

"Your Highness," she whispered in Su Ning's ear, her voice choked with sobs, "if you have any knowledge, please show yourself..."

Suddenly, she felt Su Ning's fingers twitch almost imperceptibly.

Zhao Ling'er was shocked and quickly looked up, only to see that her husband was still unconscious.

"Your Majesty!" A commander of the Imperial Guard rushed in to report, "The entire Prince's residence has been searched, but no printing equipment has been found!"

"Where is the original headquarters of the money exchange?" Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was already a little hoarse.

"We've searched it! We did find a huge secret room, but apart from some ordinary accounting tools, there was nothing else."

Zhu Yuanzhang staggered and grabbed the stone table beside him for support.

At that moment, he seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.

As the sun set, the Imperial Guards gathered dejectedly in the courtyard.

The search yielded disheartening results; they found nothing except the million-dollar check.

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly walked up to Su Ning and gazed at this grandson who had once been his greatest source of pride.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on Suning's face, outlining a soft contour.

"Yunhuo, Yunhuo," the old emperor's voice was filled with unprecedented weariness, "tell your imperial grandfather, where did those magical things come from?"

Naturally, he received no answer.

Zhao Ling'er knelt and kowtowed: "Grandfather, the Prince is already like this, I beg you..."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand to interrupt her, his gaze still fixed on Su Ning's face: "Do you know that if these checks cannot be circulated, it will shake the foundation of the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhao Ling'er raised her head, tears welling in her eyes: "Your granddaughter-in-law doesn't understand these important political affairs, she only knows that the prince has always been thinking about sharing the burdens of the emperor."

"Share the burden?" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly sneered. "He's undermining the very foundation of the Ming Dynasty!"

At this point, the old emperor's tone suddenly softened: "But if he is willing to wake up and tell me where these checks came from, I... can forgive and forget."

Zhao Ling'er was startled, but saw that Su Ning still did not react.

"Return to the palace." Zhu Yuanzhang finally turned around, his voice filled with deep helplessness.

The Imperial Guards felt as if they had been granted a pardon and quickly regrouped and left.

Looking at the ransacked mansion, Steward Wang wept uncontrollably, "What a tragedy... what a tragedy..."

Zhao Ling'er remained kneeling until the emperor's entourage completely disappeared around the street corner, at which point she collapsed to the ground.

"Your Highness!" A maidservant rushed forward to help her up.

Zhao Ling'er waved her hand, struggled to crawl to Su Ning's side, and gently took his hand: "Your Highness, they've all left... Can you hear me?"

Under her gaze, Su Ning's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.

"I know you can hear me," Zhao Ling'er said, her voice trembling with tears. "Please, stop pretending... Ling'er is scared..."

A tear fell onto the back of Suning's hand; it was scalding hot.

Meanwhile, inside the imperial carriage returning to the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang closed his eyes and fell into deep thought.

Jiang Huan knelt to the side and asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, those checks..."

"Distribute them to banks across the country," Zhu Yuanzhang said without opening his eyes. "Hold them out for as long as possible."

"Then, Your Highness, the King of Wu..."

Zhu Yuanzhang finally opened his eyes, his gaze complex: "Send more imperial physicians and use better medicine. I cannot lose this grandson."

"According to the order."

Jiang Huan hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Your Majesty, what if Prince Wu remains unconscious..."

Zhu Yuanzhang gazed at the deepening twilight outside the window, and after a long while said, "Then let him sleep forever. At least... that way I can spare his life."

That night, the Wu King's Palace was unusually quiet.

Zhao Ling'er dismissed all the servants and stayed by Su Ning's bedside alone.

“Your Highness,” she said softly, “when the Emperor came today, your finger moved three times. The first time was when the Imperial Guards broke the lock, the second time was when they searched the study, and the third time was when the Emperor questioned you.”

She leaned down and whispered in Su Ning's ear, "If you can hear me, could you move your finger a little more?"

In the flickering candlelight, Su Ning's right index finger bent slightly.

Zhao Ling'er covered her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes.

Meanwhile, inside the Jinshen Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang let out a long sigh as he looked at the empty hall.

"Yunhu, I never expected that you, a living dead man, could still defeat me."

These words echoed in the hall, carrying with them an unprecedented sense of defeat for the emperor.

...(End of chapter)