I, Zhu Yunwen of the Ming Dynasty, resurrected Empress Ma at the start.

Inside the Fengtian Hall, you could hear a pin drop.

When Zhu Yuanzhang saw who it was, his already gloomy face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Zhu Yunwen?

Wasn't he sick?

This morning, someone from Lady Lü's side reported that Zhu Yunwen was too ill to get out of bed and unable to attend the investiture ceremony. He was still thinking of sending an imperial physician to check on him later.

The results of it?

The boy stood lively and energetic at the palace gate. Apart from being a little out of breath from running, he didn't look sick at all.

Zhu Yuanzhang's temper flared up instantly.

What does he hate most? He hates being lied to.

Especially his own grandson.

"Yunhu!"

Zhu Yuanzhang slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne, his voice so deep it could crush a person.

"Today is the ceremony for the investiture of the Crown Prince, and you, a member of the royal family, dare to be so disrespectful! Weren't you ill? Weren't you unable to come? What are you doing now!"

All the officials bowed their heads, wishing they could bury their heads in their chests.

No one dares to interfere in His Majesty's family affairs.

Zhu Yunwen knelt on the spot, his eyes lowered, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.

Good timing!

I initially felt that winning too easily was a bit lacking.

Now Zhu Yunwen has delivered himself to the emperor's doorstep, angering his grandfather in front of the entire court. Isn't he courting death?

He tilted his head slightly and glanced to the side.

Zhu Yunwen! He's nothing but a good-for-nothing! He poses absolutely no threat to Zhu Yunwen!

So what if he's a legitimate son? He is a legitimate son now! And he's deeply favored by his grandfather.

At this moment, Zhu Yunwen seized the opportunity and spoke with a worried expression.

"Third brother!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it was just loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear.

"What are you doing? How can you be so disrespectful in the imperial court, before your grandfather?"

As he spoke, he even crawled forward half a step, appearing to be pleading for his younger brother.

"Grandfather, please calm your anger. My third brother is young and doesn't know any better. I apologize on his behalf. Third brother, quickly apologize to Grandfather and leave!"

Zhu Yunwen looked at Zhu Yunwen's face.

Gentle and refined, yet filled with worry, he resembled a kind older brother.

He suddenly laughed.

"Shut up."

Zhu Yunwen was taken aback.

"you……"

"Who do you think you are?" Zhu Yunwen interrupted him, his voice not loud, but every word clear and distinct. "You dare to yell at me?"

The gentle smile on Zhu Yunwen's face cracked instantly.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and continued to maintain the demeanor of a good older brother.

"Third brother, is this your manners? I'm your second brother, and this is how you talk to me?"

"Second Brother?"

Zhu Yunwen laughed, but it was a cold laugh.

"I only have one older brother, Zhu Xiong Ying. Where did this second brother come from?"

He stared at Zhu Yunwen, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"A son of a concubine dares to call himself my second brother? Who gave you the audacity?"

boom!!!

The entire hall erupted in uproar.

A son born out of wedlock.

These two words were like a knife, stabbing straight into Zhu Yunwen's heart.

His face flushed red instantly, then turned deathly pale.

What does he hate most? He hates it when people mention his background.

His mother, Lady Lü, was the Crown Prince's secondary wife, not his primary wife, so he was born out of wedlock, even though he has now been elevated to the position of primary wife.

But this will always be a stain on his reputation, and no one dares to mention it to his face.

But Zhu Yunwen brought it up.

He brought it up in front of the entire court.

Zhu Yunwen trembled all over, his fingers clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh.

But he couldn't get angry; he had to endure it. He had to maintain an image of benevolence, filial piety, respect, and frugality in front of his imperial grandfather.

He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his anger, turned around, and kowtowed to the dragon throne.

"Grandfather!!!"

His voice trembled, and it sounded like he was about to cry.

"My third brother has slandered his grandson so severely; I beg my imperial grandfather to do justice for me!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression was beyond just looking ugly.

"Zhu Yuntong!"

His sharp shout sent shivers down the spine of the entire Fengtian Hall.

"Is this how you talk to your second brother? Where did you learn your royal etiquette?! Do you even know what day it is today?!"

Zhu Yunwen stood there, facing Zhu Yuanzhang's wrath, his back ramrod straight.

"Grandfather."

He spoke, his voice perfectly steady.

"Since you've brought up etiquette, then I have a question for you."

He raised his head and looked directly at the old man on the dragon throne.

"Grandfather, what about your manners? What about your moral principles?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's pupils contracted.

"What did you say?"

"My grandson says, 'Grandfather, where have your moral principles and ethical codes gone?'"

Zhu Yunwen took a step forward.

"Zhu Yunwen was a son born out of wedlock, while his grandson was the legitimate son. The grandson's mother was the Crown Prince's principal wife, Lady Chang; the grandson's maternal grandfather was Prince Chang Yuchun of Kaiping; the grandson's maternal uncle was Duke Chang Mao of Zheng; and the grandson's elder brother was the eldest grandson of the Emperor, Zhu Xiong Ying."

He spoke slowly and deliberately.

"My grandson isn't dead yet."

"On what grounds?"

"Why should Zhu Yunwen be made the Crown Prince?"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word struck like a hammer blow to the hearts of everyone present.

"If Grandfather insists on doing so—"

Zhu Yunwen paused, his gaze sweeping over the civil and military officials before finally settling on Zhu Yuanzhang's face.

"The Ming Dynasty is doomed to perish."

A catastrophe.

The moment those four words were uttered, the entire Fengtian Hall became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly stood up.

"Zhu Yunwen! What do you mean?!"

Zhu Yunwen stood firm, meeting his gaze.

"The fundamental principles of morality and ethics have been corrupted, and the rites and laws have collapsed. What's the difference between this and the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period, or the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period?"

"Grandfather, the one you are choosing to establish is not the Crown Prince, but the root of disaster for the Ming Dynasty."

"The distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children is blurred, the order of seniority is lost, and the patriarchal system has ceased to exist!"

"How many more years can such a court and such a country last?"

The hall was deathly silent.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood in front of the dragon throne, staring at the young man below.

Zhu Yunwen stood there, panting heavily, his eyes red-rimmed, but his spine ramrod straight.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly felt somewhat dazed.

That look, that posture, that stubbornness that disregards everything...

Like.

so similar.

He resembles his father, Zhu Biao, but even more so his mother, Chang Shi.

Zhu Yunwen knelt on the ground, his face deathly pale.

The fireworks in his heart had long since gone out.

Completely wiped out.

After Zhu Yunwen finished speaking, he was panting heavily, his chest heaving.

The hall was eerily quiet.

He turned his head and glanced at the civil and military officials on both sides who had their heads bowed.

Each of them had their heads drooping almost to their chests, wishing they could shrink into a ball and disappear on the spot.

Zhu Yunwen suddenly laughed.

"OK."

He took a step forward.

"My lords, all is well."

No one dared to look up.

"You are all pillars of our Great Ming Dynasty, the backbone of the court, and the cornerstones of the nation."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a mocking tone, piercing the heads that were bowed.

"Today, in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, stands the Crown Prince, and the foundation of the nation is established."

"My lords, you are all well-versed in the classics, you have all passed the imperial examinations, and you are all full of knowledge."

"The distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, the order of seniority, and the rites of the patriarchal clan system."

"Don't you understand?"