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

Wuying Hall.

Behind the imperial desk, Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright like a mountain, his vermilion brush hanging in mid-air, not falling for a long time.

He was waiting for someone.

The footsteps outside the hall were light and heavy, neither hurried nor slow, clearly the steps of someone who had practiced martial arts.

Jiang Huan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, bowed deeply as he entered, prostrated himself on the ground, and kowtowed, his voice as steady as cold iron.

"Your subject Jiang Huan pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly put down his pen, raised his eyes and swept them around, his gaze sharp and piercing.

"Get up. Have you figured it out?"

Jiang Huan stood bowing and replied with his head lowered.

"Your Majesty, Prince Zhu Yunwen's recent behavior is completely different from his usual self."

"Completely different people?"

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyebrows slightly and his expression darkened.

"Tell me in detail."

"Yes."

Jiang Huan cleared his throat slightly and continued in a deep voice:

"In the past, His Highness Yunheng rarely left his residence and made many movements. But since the disturbance in the court the other day—"

He paused briefly, his tone becoming more serious.

"It's as if he's become a completely different person."

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them.

"They changed the person?"

"Yes." Jiang Huan lowered his head. "Yesterday, Your Highness struck Prince Yunwen in the Eastern Palace."

Zhu Yuanzhang was taken aback.

"You hit Yunwen?"

"Yes. And...and kicked Lady Lü."

Zhu Yuanzhang's lips twitched suddenly.

That brat, he really dares to do it.

Although he did not like Lady Lü, she was still the mistress of the Eastern Palace and the successor to the prince's wife. Yunhu could just kick her out whenever he wanted.

"besides."

"Today, His Highness left Kunning Palace and went straight to the Duke of Liang's residence."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes suddenly narrowed.

"The Duke of Liang's Mansion? Lan Yu?"

"Exactly."

"What is he going to do?"

Jiang Huan raised his head slightly, glanced quickly at Zhu Yuanzhang, and then quickly looked down again.

"His Highness... went there carrying the Empress's golden seal."

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression changed drastically.

The Empress's Golden Seal?

The girl actually handed the golden seal to Yunhuo?

His mind raced with calculations.

Lan Yu was Yun Tong's maternal uncle, and their interactions were quite ordinary.

But this child never used to visit, yet he went now...

It also carried Empress Ma's golden seal...

An indescribable undercurrent surged within him.

What exactly does Yun-hu want to do?

What is the purpose of seeking the blue jade?

Could it be...

He dared not think too deeply, took a deep breath, and looked at Jiang Huan.

"Has the matter of the girl's resurrection been clarified? What exactly did Yun-hu do to bring her back to life?"

Jiang Huan lowered his head even further and continued speaking.

"Your Majesty, we have found nothing yet. We have no clue what Prince Yunheng did to resurrect the Empress, nor have we found out what he did to do."

"Moreover, according to intelligence reports, most of the things circulating among the people about resurrection are fake, and there are no accurate cases."

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent for a moment, lost in thought.

He was incredibly happy and excited that the girl had been resurrected.

However, this plunged him into deep confusion.

What exactly did Yun-hu do? He managed to revive the girl.

He was completely baffled, then waved his hand.

"I understand. You may leave."

"Remember, keep a close watch in secret, and don't leave a trace."

"Furthermore, this matter must not be discovered by anyone. If it is discovered, you know what to do, right?"

Jiang Huanxuan immediately replied respectfully, "Your subject understands!"

Jiang Huan kowtowed and bowed as he withdrew.

Inside the Wuying Hall, deathly silence returned.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright before his desk, surrounded by piles of memorials, yet he could not concentrate on reading a single word.

Why did the girl hand over the golden seal to Yunhuo?

What exactly is Yun Tong plotting in searching for Lan Yu?

He suddenly stood up.

No, I have to find out the truth.

Kunning Palace.

Empress Ma leaned back on the couch, holding an embroidery hoop in her hand, her silver needle moving gently up and down, her expression serene.

Zhu Yuanzhang pushed open the door and entered, but she didn't even raise her head.

"They're here."

Zhu Yuanzhang walked to the edge of the couch and sat down, his gaze fixed on her.

"Girl."

"Um?"

"You gave the golden seal to Yunhu?"

Empress Ma paused, slowly raised her eyes, and her gaze was calm.

"You sent someone to investigate him?"

Zhu Yuanzhang paused for a moment, then hesitated to speak.

"We...we were just asking."

Empress Ma looked at him and suddenly chuckled.

"If you're going to investigate, then investigate. Why try to cover it up?"

Zhu Yuanzhang gave an awkward smile.

"Girl, I'm just curious. What does Yunheng want with your golden seal?"

Empress Ma lowered her eyes, continued her needlework, and spoke softly.

He said he was going to recruit soldiers.

Zhu Yuanzhang was shocked.

"What?"

"Recruiting soldiers and buying horses?"

What is he going to do?

Empress Ma didn't even raise her head, her voice soft and indifferent.

"They said they wanted to enthrone us as the female emperor of the world."

Zhu Yuanzhang was completely stunned.

Empress?

Should a woman be enthroned?

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word for a long time.

Empress Ma glanced at him, a faint smile on her face.

"What's wrong? Are you scared?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's throat bobbed as he spoke with difficulty.

"Sister, Yun-hu...did he really say that?"

"Not a single word is different."

"So...how will you answer him?"

"Let's say, okay."

Zhu Yuanzhang: "..."

He suddenly realized that his eyes, which had seen through half a lifetime of power struggles, could not see through these two, grandfather and grandson.

Zhu Yuanzhang was completely bewildered, utterly bewildered.

Then he looked at Empress Ma and said, "Sister, stop joking with us. Just tell me, what really happened?"

Empress Ma chuckled and then said, "I'm not joking with you. Yunwen has indeed gone to recruit soldiers."

Zhu Yuanzhang: "..."

……

The Eastern Palace.

Inside Lady Lü's sleeping quarters, the candlelight flickered.

Zhu Yunwen sat at the lower end, his face still bearing the marks of his injuries, a mixture of blue and purple.

At this moment, he disregarded the pain, his eyes burning as he stared intently at Lady Lü.

"Mother, have you come up with a solution?"

A cold, sharp smile curled at the corners of Lu's lips.

"I have my own way of dealing with that wretched child."

Zhu Yunwen's eyes suddenly lit up.

"How do I do it?"

Lu Shi twirled his prayer beads, speaking slowly and deliberately, each word dripping with malice.

"Order the court officials to jointly impeach him."

"Impeach?"

"Exactly. He was accused of disrespecting his elders, beating his stepmother and elder brother, and behaving strangely, as if possessed by an evil spirit."

She paused, a cold glint appearing in her eyes.

"Once he's tainted by this stain, he can forget about ever getting a chance at the position of Crown Prince."

Zhu Yunwen was taken aback at first, then overjoyed.

"Brilliant! Your Majesty's plan is brilliant!"

He stood up and paced back and forth, his expression agitated.

"Your subject will take care of it immediately! Your subject knows several censors and senior officials; they will surely be willing..."

"What a panic."

Lu interrupted coldly.

"This matter needs to be handled slowly and carefully, and we must not let anyone know that it was you or I who instigated it."

First, find trusted confidants to secretly coordinate, and then submit a memorial together once the number of people is sufficient.

By then, even if His Majesty wanted to suppress it, he wouldn't be able to silence public opinion.

Zhu Yunwen nodded repeatedly.

"Your Majesty is wise! Your son will make the arrangements immediately!"

He turned to leave, but was stopped by Madam Lü.

"stop."

Zhu Yunwen turned around.

Lady Lü stared at him, her eyes filled with a chilling coldness.

"Remember, this time, you must crush him into the mud."

"We must not give him even the slightest chance to turn things around."

Zhu Yunwen's expression hardened, and he nodded solemnly.

"Don't worry, Mother."

He strode out of the bedchamber.