The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Li Jinglong stepped off the painted boat, reeking of wine and perfume.

He didn't return to his residence; instead, he rode straight to the Qianqing Palace.

This can't be kept secret.

What are the Embroidered Uniform Guards for? They have spies everywhere in the capital. What don't they know about the pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River? Rather than waiting for Zhu Yuanzhang to ask, they might as well take the initiative to tell him.

Confession is lenient, resistance is strict.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was reviewing memorials, sniffed the air and asked, "Where have you been drinking in broad daylight?"

Li Jinglong replied calmly, "A pleasure boat."

Zhu Yuanzhang stopped writing and looked up.

"And there were beautiful women accompanying me," Li Jinglong reminisced. "The girl playing the zither, her clothes clung to her body in the wind, revealing glimpses of her skin, tsk tsk. I almost didn't want to come back."

Zhu Yuanzhang was furious: "You're in mourning period, and you're out drinking and having fun?"

"Your Majesty, isn't this your decree?" Li Jinglong spread his hands.

Zhu Yuanzhang was taken aback: "When did we ever let you go to those pleasure boats for drinks and entertainment?"

"Have me go to the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works to inquire about the suppliers of materials."

"Then how did the appointment end up on a pleasure boat?"

"Business is best discussed over drinks; I'm doing this to get things done."

Zhu Yuanzhang, barely suppressing his anger, asked, "So what did you ask?"

Li Jinglong gave a brief account of what happened on the pleasure boat.

"Hmph, you said it was free from the start?" Zhu Yuanzhang sneered. "There was indeed corruption involved."

Li Jinglong raised his eyes: "Your Majesty, shall we arrest them?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked down at him.

This guy just finished drinking with someone and hugging a girl, and now he's trying to grab someone.

They can change their minds faster than turning the pages of a book; they have a certain flair for that.

"You betrayed them, and you don't feel any remorse at all?" He smiled meaningfully.

Li Jinglong straightened his back, exuding righteousness: "For Your Majesty, for the sake of the people, what have I to be ashamed of?"

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, "Your righteous air is tinged with an evil aura."

Li Jinglong, unconcerned, pressed further, "Your Majesty, are you going to arrest them or not? If not, can I still buy the goods at cost price?"

"No rush, wait until they've supplied all the materials before making the arrests," Zhu Yuanzhang laughed.

"Your Majesty is wise!" Li Jinglong was overjoyed.

He bowed deeply, then turned and left.

"Wait a minute," Zhu Yuanzhang called out to him, "I have something for you to do."

"What is it now?" Li Jinglong's face instantly fell.

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at him: "We've rewarded you with estates and silver, and this is the attitude you get when we ask you to do something?"

Li Jinglong immediately put on a smiling face: "Please give your orders, Your Majesty. I will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "The Princess Consort of Qin has been captured and brought back. Go and interrogate her."

"Your subject refuses." Li Jinglong did not hesitate for a moment.

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze darkened: "What did you say?"

"Your Majesty," Li Jinglong said helplessly, "this is your family matter. Shouldn't it be handled by the Grand Clan Court?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said helplessly, "The Prince of Qin is in charge of the Grand Clan Court; we can't exactly have him interrogate his own wife, can we?"

"That's not my turn," Li Jinglong said.

Zhu Yuanzhang remained unmoved: "You are suitable. You interrogated Hai Li before. Princess Qin is Hai Li's aunt. You know the situation."

"What if Princess Qin says nothing?" Li Jinglong pleaded in desperation. "How can I interrogate her? I can't very well beat her, can I?"

"You go and interrogate them first," Zhu Yuanzhang said, leaving no room for discussion.

"Your subject obeys the decree," Li Jinglong said, his head drooping.

Li Jinglong emerged from the Qianqing Palace and walked along the imperial road.

The interrogation of the Princess of Qin was just a formality. They would ask her a couple of questions, and if she didn't answer, she would go back and report.

Your Majesty, you see, I went there, but she wouldn't cooperate, and I was at a loss. Surely I shouldn't resort to torture? She's the Princess Consort of Qin, not a prisoner in the imperial jail.

As he was figuring out how to deal with the situation, a man walked towards him, tall and imposing, with a powerful stride.

"Jiujiang!" came the booming voice.

Li Jinglong looked up and was startled: "Your Highness, the Prince of Qin?"

The newcomer was Prince Zhu Shuang of Qin. He looked Li Jinglong up and down, then burst into laughter: "Jiujiang, it's been years! You've grown taller!"

"Your Highness, why have you returned to the capital?" Li Jinglong asked, snapping out of his daze.

Zhu Shuang waved his hand dismissively and said irritably, "My wife has been arrested, so of course I have to come back with her!"

With the Princess Consort of Qin arrested, the King of Qin, as her husband, was naturally summoned back to the capital.

"Indeed," Li Jinglong sighed. "His Majesty just issued an order for me to interrogate the Princess Consort of Qin."

Zhu Shuang's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Li Jinglong was a little confused by his reaction.

Your wife was arrested, and you heard that someone is going to interrogate her. Are you so happy about that?

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will not use torture. I will just go and ask. After all, she is the Princess Consort, and I know what I'm doing," Li Jinglong said with a smile.

Zhu Shuang leaned closer and whispered, "She committed such a serious crime, can't we just kill her?"

Li Jinglong: "???"

Who do you want me to kill? You want me to kill your wife?

"I will certainly repay you handsomely when the time comes," Zhu Shuang said with anticipation.

Li Jinglong was stunned.

Historical records indicate that Prince Zhu Shuang of Qin deeply disliked his principal wife, Lady Wang, and favored his concubine, Lady Deng. Lady Deng encouraged him to imprison the principal wife, depriving her of even food and water.

Is this true? Such a deep-seated hatred between husband and wife?

"This won't do. After all, she's a princess of the Ming Dynasty. How can we just kill her like that?" he said.

Zhu Shuang was not surprised and changed his plan: "Then let's confirm her crime of treason, strip her of her title as a concubine, and sentence her to beheading."

"Your Highness, do you hate him that much?" Li Jinglong couldn't help but ask.

Zhu Shuang sighed heavily: "Jiujiang, there are some things you don't know. Anyway, I want her dead."

Li Jinglong was secretly alarmed.

He doesn't intend to get involved in the affairs between husband and wife; the waters run too deep.

Besides, killing the Princess Consort of Qin? What a joke.

"I cannot do it," he refused decisively.

Zhu Shuang looked disappointed and pouted, "Never mind, I'll go see my father first, and then I'll come find you for a drink later."

"Okay." Li Jinglong bowed.

He watched the King of Qin depart into the distance.

Historical records indicate that the King of Qin acted tyrannically in his fiefdom, severely violating Zhu Yuanzhang's admonitions.

To build a luxurious palace, he plundered the people's wealth, causing them to sell their children. He abused his power in the palace, freezing and burning people to death; he secretly wore a five-clawed dragon robe and commissioned empress's attire for his favorite concubine; and he abducted young boys and girls when going to war.

Midway through, he was recalled by Zhu Yuanzhang, who intended to severely punish him.

Through the mediation of Crown Prince Zhu Biao, Zhu Shuang was allowed to return to his fiefdom.

However, it wasn't long before he became even more outrageous.

Ultimately, he was poisoned to death by three palace servants.

Zhu Yuanzhang's attitude towards Zhu Shuang was extremely complex, containing both fatherly affection and imperial wrath.

In his "Edict to the King of Qin for Sacrificial Rites," he vehemently denounced Zhu Shuang:

"They deserved to die!"

"You despicable scoundrel, indulging in debauchery and wine!"

"Stupid as a beast!"

"To presume upon one's place and act rudely is a grave offense!"

However, in the original owner's memory, Zhu Shuang was a generous and forthright person. When he was in the capital, he would always take the sons of noble families on horseback hunting.

He took great care of his eldest cousin, Li Jinglong.