The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang and his son Zhu Biao were discussing matters related to military settlements in the north.

Li Jinglong entered, walked up to the two men, lifted his robe, and knelt down.

"What's wrong? Did you get into trouble?" Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him.

Li Jinglong raised his head: "I have beaten your grandson."

Zhu Yuanzhang stopped: "Yunwen? You beat him up?"

Zhu Biao looked over as well, frowning. "Is he not listening to you?"

"I spanked him, I spanked him until his buttocks were swollen, I made him cry." Li Jinglong lowered his head, waiting for the two big shots in front of him to get angry.

To everyone's surprise, Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily: "We thought you had broken Yunwen's legs, but it turns out you only spanked him a few times? What a small matter!"

Li Jinglong: "..."

Zhu Biao shrugged and said, "He's still young, a spanking is enough. When he gets older, you can whip him if you want."

Li Jinglong: "..."

If I had known you two would act this way, I should have slapped him across the face earlier.

That little bastard has a really foul mouth.

The Zhu family's educational philosophy is indeed different.

Zhu Yuanzhang himself never spoiled his children; several of his sons, who were princes, were beaten so badly by him that they couldn't get out of bed when they were young.

When Zhu Biao disciplined Zhu Laosi, he also used a whip.

"Alright, alright, get up." Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand. "Tell me, why did you hit him?"

Li Jinglong stood up and gave a brief account of what happened at the Lü residence.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao's faces both turned cold.

"Has my father-in-law lost his mind this time too?" Zhu Biao frowned.

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled coldly: "Heh, he's not stupid. Biao'er, we reckon Yunwen has probably already returned to the Eastern Palace. Go back and check, then call the imperial physician to administer the medicine. Getting beaten is nothing to worry about, just learn from it."

"Yes." Zhu Biao withdrew.

Only two people remained in the main hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang leaned back on the dragon throne, while Li Jinglong stood below.

"Your Majesty, the evidence in Lü Yang's case is conclusive. The confessions, account books, and witnesses all match up perfectly; the evidence is irrefutable. Just arrest him directly." Li Jinglong smiled. "I don't need to get involved, do I?"

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at him: "Then you have to find out the truth too, don't just look at what they found out."

"Your Majesty, what is your purpose? Speak plainly," Li Jinglong said bluntly.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "I'll let you investigate the case. It'll give you some experience. I think highly of you and plan to use you for important tasks in the future."

"You're kidding me, Your Majesty."

Li Jinglong earnestly pleaded, "Please, don't give me important positions. Really, if you do, something terrible will happen. I just want to lie down, have beautiful wives and concubines, get up late every day to walk the dog, eat some good food, and just wait to die."

"You wish!" Zhu Yuanzhang glared angrily.

Li Jinglong shrank back: "Your Majesty, then I will not do it."

"Alright then. Forget about the title of Duke of Cao, and forget about the salary. We'd like to see how you manage to lie low," Zhu Yuanzhang said.

Li Jinglong: "..."

These days, without a title or a salary, what does he live on? Does he starve?

Looking at his dejected appearance, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled knowingly: "I sent you to investigate this case so that you could establish a relationship with Yunwen. He is the son of the Crown Prince, understand?"

"Understood," Li Jinglong said calmly. "It's about cultivating talent for the future ruler."

Zhu Yuanzhang shrugged: "Didn't you see it clearly?"

Li Jinglong rolled his eyes.

You're kidding me!

Others may not understand you, Zhu Yuanzhang, but I do! Are you the kind of person who only buries one person in a pit?

Killing three birds with one stone is your usual tactic; you might even manage to kill four or five.

This time, I'm in charge of investigating Lü Yang's case.

You're probably going to test Zhu Yunwen at the same time, right?

And then there's the Lü family.

Zhu Yunwen was only seven years old when his grandfather placed him on a chessboard as a chess piece.

How pitiful.

"Your Majesty," he began, "you have more than just this one grandson."

If we're talking about the eldest grandson, it should be Zhu Yunwen.

"They're all still young. Let's not rush them, we'll take it slow." Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand.

Li Jinglong sighed: "It's not that I'm criticizing you, but at your age you love to worry about things that aren't your business. His Highness the Crown Prince will handle this himself from now on; you've overstepped your bounds."

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted: "What do you know? This is called strategic planning."

You've set up a complete scheme.

The Crown Prince is going to die, do you know that?

Zhu Yunwen has ascended the throne, but your fourth son will try to seize it from him, do you know that?

"Your Majesty, please don't make any arrangements for me," he said.

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at him, annoyed: "We're thinking about your future, and you don't even appreciate it?"

Li Jinglong was speechless: "Your Majesty, may I then choose the Prince of Yan?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment: "What do you mean?"

Oops, I let it slip.

Li Jinglong quickly waved his hand: "Your Majesty, what I mean is that I wish to leave the capital and go to Beiping to help Prince Yan."

"Get lost!" Zhu Yuanzhang glared. "What good can come of you hanging out with the Fourth Prince?"

Li Jinglong sighed inwardly.

Forget it, I'll try to get in touch with the Prince of Yan later.

The Prince of Yan is the future of the Ming Dynasty, the Yongle Emperor chosen by Heaven.

"Your Majesty, the imperial grandson Zhu Yunwen requests an audience," the eunuch Wang Jinghong announced as he entered.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand: "Bring him in."

Not long after, Zhu Yunwen entered, his legs spread apart, taking one step at a time.

Reaching the center of the main hall, he knelt down respectfully: "Grandfather, your grandson has come to beg for forgiveness."

"What mistake did you make?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

Zhu Yunwen straightened up, looking regretful.

"It is wrong for my grandson to obstruct the Junior Chamberlain from enforcing the law."

"It's wrong to blindly protect your relatives."

"It is wrong to blindly listen to your grandfather's words."

"It is wrong to lack one's own opinions."

"It is a mistake to lack the demeanor expected of a grandson of the emperor."

Five sentences, five mistakes.

Zhu Yuanzhang was somewhat surprised: "Recognizing the five mistakes means you truly know you're wrong."

"I will never do it again," Zhu Yunwen said earnestly.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Alright, then we won't punish you this time."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Yunwen stood up, turned around, bowed to Li Jinglong, and said, "Yunwen knows his mistake and hopes that the Junior Chamberlain will guide him in the future."

Li Jinglong cursed inwardly.

Keep pretending.

How can a seven-year-old kid have such acting skills?

"Your Highness is too kind." Li Jinglong cupped his hands in greeting. "I am a useless subject and cannot teach you."

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand: "Jiujiang, you go back first. Continue investigating the case; we trust you."

Li Jinglong bowed and said, "Your subject takes his leave."

He turned to leave, but behind him came Zhu Yuanzhang's voice: "Yunwen, come to your grandfather's side."

Zhu Yunwen, with his short legs, limped over.

"Does it still hurt?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"Grandpa, I don't love you." Zhu Yunwen was very obedient.

Li Jinglong sneered inwardly.

What a beautiful scene of a family enjoying the company of their grandchildren.

We must not act impulsively in the future; after all, Zhu Yunwen is Zhu Yuanzhang's grandson.

What a damn grandson!

……

P.S.: It's the end of the month, so I'm humbly asking for your monthly votes.