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

Zhu Yunwen's eyes were filled with murderous intent as he stared angrily at Zhu Yunwen, thinking to himself.

It's all because of him, it's all because of this Zhu Yunwen!

If it weren't for him, the ceremony would have already ended, and he could have successfully ascended to the position of Crown Prince.

But because of him, none of this can be done now.

However, at this moment, Zhu Yunwen did not take him seriously at all.

He walked to Empress Ma's side, reached out, and gently took her hand.

"grandmother."

His voice was soft and gentle.

"Grandma, please don't cry."

Empress Ma looked down at him, tears still streaming down her face.

"Yunwen...your father...he..."

"Yes, Grandma." Zhu Yunwen held her hand. "Father has passed away. He's been gone for half a year."

"But I still have you. Now that you're back, my grandson has family again."

He raised his hand and awkwardly wiped away Empress Ma's tears.

"Grandma, don't be too sad. If Father were watching from heaven, he certainly wouldn't want you to cry like this."

"He certainly wants you to be well, and to see his son doing well."

"Don't you think so?"

Empress Ma looked at him, at this grandson.

Like.

so similar.

Those eyebrows, those expressions, that tone of voice...

He looks just like his father, Zhu Biao, when he was a child.

She hugged Zhu Yunwen tightly.

"Good boy..."

"Good boy..."

She patted his back, tears still streaming down her face, but the deathly coldness in her heart slowly began to warm up.

Correct.

The mark is gone.

But she also has grandchildren.

And then there's this silly grandson who wipes away her tears.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood aside, watching the grandfather and grandson, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

All the civil and military officials knelt down, and no one dared to move.

Zhu Yunwen huddled in the corner, his face ashen, as if he had swallowed a fly.

He secretly glanced at the imperial edict of investiture next to the dragon throne.

That thing is still there.

But his heart had already turned cold.

Zhu Yunwen knelt on the ground, the fire in his heart burning ever brighter.

No.

We can't just let this go.

If this continues, today's plan will fall through.

He quietly raised his head and glanced at the assembled officials.

Among the crowd, the Minister of Rites nodded slightly.

understood.

Zhu Yunwen lowered his eyes and twitched the corner of his mouth.

The Minister of Rites stepped forward and bowed.

"His Majesty."

His voice was loud and clear, full of energy.

"Today is the auspicious day for the investiture of the Crown Prince. The auspicious time is approaching, Your Majesty, please do not miss it."

As soon as he finished speaking, several ministers who were on good terms with him echoed his sentiments.

"What Lord Zheng said is absolutely right."

"Your Majesty, the foundation of the nation cannot be abandoned, and the ceremonies cannot be neglected."

……

But many people remained silent.

Zhu Yunwen's tirade, coupled with Empress Ma's sudden appearance, woke many people up, or rather, made them afraid of being scolded.

Choosing sides at this time could cost you your head if you choose the wrong one.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood there, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.

His mind was in turmoil.

Today was indeed the day for Zhu Yunwen's investiture; the edict had been written, the ceremony was prepared, and all the civil and military officials had arrived.

But what Yun-hu said just now...

The distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, the order of seniority, the rites of patriarchal clan law... and then there's the younger sister suddenly coming to life...

What the hell is this?

He looked up at Empress Ma, then at Zhu Yunwen kneeling on the ground, and then at Zhu Yunwen standing to the side.

One head and two big.

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang did not speak, Zheng Jiucheng took another step forward.

"Your Majesty, the appointment of the Crown Prince is a matter of great importance to the nation and the stability of the country. It cannot be delayed because of other matters."

Other things? Zhu Yunwen raised an eyebrow.

"Lord Zheng."

He spoke, his voice not loud, but clear and distinct.

"What are you referring to as 'other things'?"

Zheng Jiucheng was stunned and immediately at a loss for what to do.

Zhu Yunwen took a step forward.

"It's my grandmother, the founding empress of the Ming Dynasty, who came back to life. Is that what you call 'other things'?"

"Or is it that in your eyes, Lord Zheng, my grandmother's life or death is less important than Zhu Yunwen's investiture ceremony?"

Zheng Jiucheng's expression changed, and he immediately spoke.

"Your Highness! That's not what I meant! With His Majesty present, Prince Zhu Yunwen is slandering me. That's not what I meant!"

"Then what do you mean?" Zhu Yunhua stared at him. "You keep saying 'we can't let other things interfere,' so let me ask you, isn't my grandmother coming back to life a big deal?"

"Yes or no!"

Zheng Jiucheng opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

"besides."

Zhu Yunwen gave him no chance to catch his breath.

"As the Minister of Rites, you are in charge of all etiquette in the realm. Don't you understand the distinction between嫡子 (legitimate sons and illegitimate sons) and 庶子 (illegitimate sons and daughters) and the order of seniority?"

"The rule of primogeniture, which dynasty or era is this?"

"You, Minister of Rites, have you completely forgotten about etiquette, or do you simply not take it seriously at all?"

Zheng Jiucheng's face turned pale. How could Zhu Yuntong be so eloquent?

"Your Highness, minister..."

"What do you mean, 'you'?"

Zhu Yunwen interrupted him.

"You just said I slandered you?"

"Then tell me, which sentence did I say wrong?"

"If you can give me a clear and convincing explanation, I'll apologize. If you can't..."

"That's you, Minister of Rites, who knowingly broke the law, deliberately violated it, and deceived the emperor!"

Zheng Jiucheng's legs went weak, and he knelt down on the ground with a "thud".

"Your Majesty! I...I misspoke! That's not what I meant! I..."

He was incoherent and sweating profusely.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, about to speak.

"Shut up."

Empress Ma spoke, glancing at Zhu Yuanzhang before looking at Zhu Yunwen.

"Let our good grandson say it."

Zhu Yunwen was overjoyed; having his grandmother backing him up made all the difference!

He was about to continue speaking when he caught a glimpse of Empress Ma's expression out of the corner of his eye.

Wait, why is Grandma's face so pale?

"grandmother?"

He stepped forward, and Empress Ma swayed.

"grandmother!"

Zhu Yunwen quickly helped her up.

Empress Ma leaned against him, her eyes closed, her lips devoid of color.

"Girl!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he rushed over in three steps at a time.

"Hey girl! What's wrong?"

He hugged Empress Ma tightly, his voice trembling.

"The imperial physician! Summon the imperial physician immediately!"

"quick!"

The entire Fengtian Hall was in complete chaos.

Zhu Yunwen supported Empress Ma, feeling both anxious and flustered.

Grandma was perfectly fine just now, how could this happen...?

correct.

His cheapskate father.

Grandma was so shocked when she heard the news of Dad's death that it's amazing she's managed to hold on until now. Plus, she just came back from the brink of death, so her health must be much worse than before.

He looked up at Zhu Yuanzhang and said bluntly.

"Grandma just came back from the brink of death, she's weak, and she's been through a shock; she needs to rest!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, yes! Rest! Rest!"

He held Empress Ma in his arms and roared at the civil and military officials.

"The morning assembly is adjourned for today! All dismissed!"