The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Li Jinglong stood in front of the gate of the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters, looking up at the plaque.

Black background with gold lettering exudes a chilling, murderous aura.

"Young Duke, please." The Imperial Guard leading the way bowed.

Li Jinglong stepped inside. Several old locust trees in the courtyard blocked out the sun, making the place seem gloomy even in broad daylight.

"The infamous Embroidered Uniform Guard doesn't look like much at all," Li Jinglong said, looking around.

It wasn't what he had imagined.

He imagined that the Embroidered Uniform Guard's office would be guarded every three steps and sentries every five steps, with the air filled with the smell of blood and occasional screams.

The result was similar to that of an ordinary government office, and even less lively than the Six Ministries.

After passing through the front courtyard, we entered the main hall. Mao Xiang, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was sitting behind his desk, frowning at a stack of documents.

"Commander," Li Jinglong greeted.

Mao Xiang raised his head: "The Young Duke has arrived? Please have a seat."

"You're not scary at all," Li Jinglong said as he sat down.

"How about I take you to the imperial prison?" Mao Xiang asked with a smile.

"No, no, I'm squeamish about blood." Li Jinglong smiled. "Commander, look at how worried you are."

Mao Xiang snorted: "If you were in my position, you'd have your worries too."

"What are you worried about?" Li Jinglong asked, puzzled. "Which official isn't afraid of you Imperial Guards? They break out in a cold sweat or even wet themselves when they see you."

Mao Xiang sighed: "Do you know how many court officials are impeaching our Embroidered Uniform Guard? His Majesty has also reprimanded me many times, saying that my methods are too cruel and contrary to the principles of Heaven."

Li Jinglong frowned.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was responsible for investigation, arrest, and prison administration. In other words, they were skilled in both arrest and trial, which gave them too much power and made them prone to getting out of control. Even Zhu Yuanzhang was wary of them.

Now, Zhu Yuanzhang has used the Embroidered Uniform Guard to handle the Hu Weiyong case and the Blank Seal case, abolished the Prime Minister, and dismantled the Grand General's Office. All that needed to be done has been done; it's time to sheathe this sword.

The blade of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is too sharp.

"If we don't use some tricks, how can we do a good job for His Majesty?" Mao Xiang said with a wry smile.

Li Jinglong smiled slightly.

Commander Mao Xiang knew too many of Zhu Yuanzhang's secrets.

They will surely die in the future.

Damn it, I need to learn my lesson.

"Commander, I've come to see you today to inquire about the situation of the Scouts." He changed the subject.

Mao Xiang nodded: "Chief Scout, we've been fighting them for many years, ever since we were inspectors."

"Tell me more," Li Jinglong leaned closer.

Mao Xiang pondered for a moment and said, "They are well hidden. They could be officials, soldiers, merchants, peddlers, beggars, etc. They are all specially trained and their greatest skill is concealment. Moreover, even if you find them, it will be very difficult to capture them alive."

"So, you haven't been able to find their Darughachi all these years?" Li Jinglong asked.

Mao Xiang nodded: "We actually had a lead on the Darughachi in the south wing before. We guessed that it was the Princess Consort of Qin, and later Princess Haili. His Majesty didn't order an arrest because he wanted to use a counter-strategy. We can intercept some of the messages they send. Sometimes, we can even deliberately send them some false information."

"However, with the Prince of Yan's great victory in the northern desert and the seizure of the Princess of Qin's handwritten letter, the evidence was irrefutable and His Majesty decided not to wait any longer and thus made the arrests."

Li Jinglong was secretly alarmed.

Old Zhu knew all along, as expected.

That old geezer is quite the actor.

"What about the Darughachi of the north house?" he asked.

Mao Xiang shook his head: "I really don't know."

"Not even a single clue?"

"The North and South houses are not under each other's jurisdiction, and the people on both sides don't know each other. Even if you arrest someone from the South house, they won't know about the North house. The South house is hiding in our court, while the North house is out in the wild, mixed among the common people, making them even harder to find."

Li Jinglong frowned: "So all these years you've worked for nothing?"

"It's not like we worked for nothing; we still have some leads."

"What clue?"

"The beggars' quarters at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain, the Darughachi of the northern house, and their elite troops should be hiding here."

Li Jinglong almost fainted.

Isn't that the place where Zhu Yuanzhang bestowed upon me an estate?

That old geezer, no wonder he's so generous, rewarding people with estates and silver.

They're setting me up again.

Why did he contact me? Because I'm useless?

"Young Duke, let me explain in detail," Mao Xiang said.

Li Jinglong focused his mind.

……

As Li Jinglong emerged from the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters, his brows furrowed.

He hadn't walked far when a carriage stopped in front of him.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Zhu Shuang waved to him: "Jiujiang, I knew you'd be here. Come on, let's go for a drink."

Li Jinglong was taken aback: "Your Highness, didn't you just receive thirty lashes?"

"Big brother can't bring himself to do it." Zhu Shuangman laughed loudly. "Hurry up and get on, stop dawdling."

Li Jinglong promptly boarded the carriage.

Soon, we arrived at Taibai Tower.

"Waiter, a private room, please."

"Gentlemen, please come upstairs."

The private room was on the second floor, and you could see the Qinhuai River from the window. The waiter was quick and efficient, and soon a table full of food and wine was served.

Looking at the table full of dishes, Li Jinglong asked, "Just the two of us?"

Zhu Shuang shook his head: "And the twelfth prince."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door was pushed open, and Zhu Bai strode in.

"Second Brother!" Zhu Bai exclaimed in surprise.

"Twelfth Brother!" Zhu Shuang stood up. "You're almost as tall as me now. Last time I saw you, you only reached my chin."

"That was two years ago," Zhu Bai said. "Second brother, you've lost weight."

"You're not thin, you've gotten more muscular," Zhu Shuang greeted. "Have a seat, have a seat, we've been waiting for you."

Zhu Bai sat down and glanced at Li Jinglong: "Second Brother, we're brothers drinking, why call him?"

Li Jinglong picked up the wine pot on the table: "Let me pour the wine, okay? Here, Zhu Twelve, let me fill it up for you."

"Twelfth Brother, I'm asking Jiujiang to have a drink with me today because I have something to ask him," Zhu Shuang said.

"What's wrong?" Zhu Bai asked curiously.

Zhu Shuang shrugged: "Please, have him kill my princess."

Li Jinglong: "..."

Zhu Bai: "..."

"Your Highness, please don't worry about this. His Majesty said he will spare her life and we'll just find her a separate residence to settle her in later," Li Jinglong said.

"What?" Zhu Shuang exclaimed in disappointment. "This isn't like Father Emperor at all! Colluding with the enemy—such a grave crime—and he's not even executed?"

Zhu Bai sighed, "Second brother, she is, after all, second sister-in-law."

"A prince who breaks the law is subject to the same punishment as a commoner!" Zhu Shuang declared righteously and sternly.

Li Jinglong glanced at Zhu Shuang and said irritably, "If that's really the case, Your Highness, the things you did in Xi'an are enough to warrant several deaths."

"Does Father Emperor want you to persuade me?" Zhu Shuang snorted.

Li Jinglong nodded: "His Majesty said that you should be a good vassal king."

"Be a good vassal king? If I become a prestigious vassal king, it won't be a good thing for my elder brother." Zhu Shuang smiled.

Li Jinglong felt a chill run down his spine.

What does that mean?

It seems there's more to the story than meets the eye regarding the King of Qin's outrageous behavior in Xi'an?

"Second brother, you're overthinking it," Zhu Bai said.

Zhu Shuang sighed softly: "I'm overthinking it? Do you know why Father Emperor made me marry a woman from a foreign tribe as my principal wife?"

"Wasn't it to recruit Wang Baobao back then?" Zhu Bai asked.

"Forget it, there's no point in arguing with you two little brats." Zhu Shuang raised his glass. "Come on, let's drink."