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

Lan Yu stared intently at Zhu Yunwen, her gaze then falling on the gleaming gold seal of the Empress on the table.

Finally, the gaze returned to Zhu Yunwen's clear yet unfathomable eyes.

He felt a buzzing in his head, as if thunder was exploding in his ears.

This kid... isn't he joking?

This isn't a test, this isn't acting, this is for real?

His Adam's apple bobbed violently as he swallowed, his voice trembling slightly.

"Your Highness... does Her Majesty the Empress truly know about this?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen immediately laughed, a laugh that was open and uninhibited, without the slightest attempt to conceal his feelings.

"Of course. If Grandma didn't know, why would she have personally handed the golden seal to me?"

He casually weighed the gold seal in his hand; it was heavy and its luster was understated.

"Duke of Liang, tell me, isn't this the truth?"

Lan Yu fell silent, her heart churning with emotion that she could not calm down for a long time.

Did Empress Ma know?

Empress Ma... actually acquiesced?

His mind was even more confused.

Throughout her life, the Empress was virtuous and wise. She assisted His Majesty in pacifying the country, appeasing the nobles, and winning the hearts of the people. She was the pillar of strength in the hearts of everyone in the Ming Dynasty court.

How could she... how could she agree to such a treasonous act?

This is illogical, contrary to etiquette, and even more contrary to the Empress's lifelong code of conduct.

But with the golden seal right before his eyes, and Zhu Yunwen's words so certain, he had no choice but to believe it.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his turbulent emotions, and looked up at Zhu Yunwen again, his tone now extremely solemn.

"What exactly is the treason Your Highness speaks of?"

"Is it... a rebellion?"

He paused, his words tinged with an undeniable difficulty.

"But Your Highness is in the capital, without soldiers, generals, a government, or troops. How can you raise an army?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter. His laughter was hearty and showed no fear whatsoever, but rather a hint of disdain for the thinking of mediocre people.

"Raise an army? If I were that reckless, wouldn't I be insane?"

He stopped laughing, leaned forward slightly, lowered his breath, and spoke clearly, each word distinct and distinct.

"Uncle, you have no troops or power anymore. If I were to actually rebel, would I come looking for you?"

Upon hearing this, Lan Yu felt a sudden sinking feeling in her heart, as if she had been stabbed.

These words really hit home.

Back then, he roamed the northern deserts, captured the Yuan emperor, and his power shook the world. No one could match the strength of his military power.

But now?

However, he was merely a Duke of Liang in name only, and his military power had been repeatedly stripped away by His Majesty, leaving him with very few troops that he could openly command.

All that remained were the personal connections and trusted former subordinates he had built up during his time in the army.

But those people are far away, and distant water cannot quench immediate thirst.

If the day of war truly comes, we may not be able to respond in time, let alone stop the imperial guards of the capital.

He gave a bitter laugh, his voice low and somber.

"Without raising an army... without soldiers or horses, how can it be considered a rebellion?"

This was his biggest question.

Without soldiers or power, and with only empty words, can one really change the world with just a mouth?

Zhu Yuntong looked at his puzzled expression and a deep smile slowly crept onto his lips.

"Uncle, you've fought so many battles and killed so many people in your life, but it's made your brain look like a straight line."

"Who says rebellion necessarily requires raising an army? Who says vying for the throne necessarily requires bloodshed in the palace?"

There is never just one way to solve a problem in this world.

As the saying goes, nothing is impossible for a willing heart!

Lan Yu was taken aback, her gaze suddenly freezing.

"Your Highness means..."

Zhu Yunwen leaned back in his chair, relaxed, and crossed his legs, exuding a composure and control that was completely out of character for his age.

"What I mean is very simple."

"Now, Duke of Liang, you only have two paths to choose from."

"One of them is to stand on Zhu Yunwen's side, support Lady Lü and her son, and use them as stepping stones for their rise to power."

"The other option is to follow His Majesty wholeheartedly and become a knife that can be discarded at any time."

His tone was calm, yet every word he spoke was piercing.

"But Uncle, think about it yourself. You're on His Majesty's side. Does His Majesty still have even a shred of trust in you?"

"Your achievements are too great, your military power is too strong, and your seniority is too high. You have always been his number one hidden danger. He hasn't eliminated you yet simply because the time is not right."

"If you stand on Zhu Yunwen's side, then the mother and son have always only recognized civil officials and Confucian scholars, and rejected us military officers."

"Once they've truly secured their positions, the first people they'll purge will be you, Lan Yu, and all the old subordinates of the Chang and Lan factions."

"By then, the destruction of families and the execution of the entire clan will be nothing more than a blink of an eye."

Lan Yu's face turned pale and then red, her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

He had thought about these things before.

I just dare not think about it too deeply, and I don't want to think about it in detail.

But now that Zhu Yunwen has laid him bare like this, he felt a chill run through his body, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Zhu Yunwen watched his changing expression and his tone turned slightly somber.

"But if you're on my side—"

He raised his hand and gently tapped his chest.

"Standing behind me is my grandmother."

"She is the true mother of the Ming Dynasty, the only legitimate empress recognized by all civil and military officials and veteran generals."

"With her here, with this golden seal here, you and I are not plotting rebellion, nor are we causing chaos, but rather upholding the legitimate heir and purifying the court."

boom!!!

Lan Yu felt a sudden boom in her mind, as if a lightning bolt had cleaved through the fog.

understood.

He understood completely.

The grandson of the emperor before us has no intention of recklessly raising an army or rebelling head-on.

What he wanted was to use the Empress's power and the name of the legitimate heir to gradually win over the hearts of the people in the court, win over the nobles, gain a firm foothold, and finally rightfully seize the position of Crown Prince.

How could this be considered treason?

This is using the guise of legitimacy to actually seize the throne.

This is the safest, most ruthless, and least troublesome path!

The way he looked at Zhu Yunwen again had completely changed.

Surprise, fear, disbelief...

Such shrewdness, such calculation, such vision and courage...

Is he really just a fourteen-year-old boy?

Even those powerful and ruthless figures who once dominated the world were no more than this!

But it was at this very moment that the dying fire in Lan Yu's heart, which had been almost extinguished, suddenly burst into flames again.

Yes.

He is now at his wit's end.

To retreat is to die.

Waiting is death.

Dependence on others still leads to death.

Instead of sitting and waiting to be slaughtered, why not take a gamble?

The eldest grandson of the emperor before us has Empress Ma's backing, the empress's golden seal as proof, the title of the eldest son of the emperor, and the ambition to revive the Wuxun clan.

As long as he follows him, he will have a way to survive.

These former subordinates of Huaixi had hope.

Once this thought was made, Lan Yu had no more hesitation.

one second.

two seconds.

three seconds.

He suddenly straightened up, took a big step forward, and with a "thud," knelt heavily on one knee.

The armor clanged softly, its imposing presence carrying the unique resolve of a veteran general.

"Your Highness!"

"I, Lan Yu, am willing to follow Your Highness to the death, and will follow Your Highness's lead without question!"

Zhu Yunwen's eyes suddenly lit up, and he almost immediately stood up, quickly stepped forward, and reached out to firmly support Lan Yu's arms.

"Uncle, please rise!"

He helped Lan Yu up, his face beaming with a smile that almost closed into a slit.

"Hahaha, my great-uncle really didn't disappoint me! He truly lives up to his reputation as my great-uncle!"

He patted Lan Yu's shoulder forcefully, his tone sincere and spirited.

"Don't worry, from now on, with me, Zhu Yunwen, around, I will never treat you unfairly."

Looking at the young man before him, Lan Yu felt a surge of passion, dormant for many years, well up within him once more.

Since the death of the crown prince, he has been like a tree without roots, living in constant fear that disaster will strike one day.

Today, I have finally found my pillar of support once again.

Just as he was filled with excitement, Zhu Yunwen's smile suddenly vanished, his expression instantly becoming extremely solemn, and his voice was lowered to a whisper.

"However, Uncle, there is something I must tell you beforehand."

"What we say today, the secret of the golden seal, the alliance... from this day forward, shall remain a secret, and shall never be known to a third person."

"No one will do."

Lan Yu's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately understood the implications.

If this matter is leaked, let alone vying for the throne, he will probably be branded as a traitor and his entire family will be executed without exception.

He nodded solemnly, his voice steady and each word resounding.

"I understand! I swear on my life I will not divulge a single word!"

Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction on his face.

He straightened his robes and walked slowly toward the door. After taking two steps, he suddenly stopped and turned back to look at Lan Yu.

"By the way, Uncle."

His tone softened, regaining a touch of youthful ease.

"I came to the Duke of Liang's mansion today because I haven't seen my maternal uncle for a long time, and I've been thinking of him, so I came to visit him and catch up."

"We, uncle and nephew, haven't been close for a long time; today we're just having a casual chat."

He blinked, his eyes hinting at something.

"Uncle, you know perfectly well how to explain this to outsiders, don't you?"

Lan Yu was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized what was going on and a knowing smile appeared on her face.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I understand."

"Your Highness's visit to my residence today was merely to pay my respects and reminisce about our uncle-nephew relationship. Nothing else happened, not a single word was spoken."

Zhu Yunwen burst into laughter.

"Uncle is wise!"

He said no more, waved his hand, and strode out with his upright posture.

"No need to see me off!"

Lan Yu stood in the center of the hall, quietly watching the figure disappear through the doorway.

He slowly raised his head and fell into deep thought.

This kid...

Although young, his mind is unfathomable.

Bold, meticulous, resourceful, decisive, and with the strongest backing behind him.

This path, perhaps, really can be followed.