Ming Dynasty: I, Zhu Yunwen, started by resurrecting my grandmother.

Seeing that Zhu Yunwen was about to lose his temper again, Qi Tai quickly persuaded him to stop.

Seeing that Xu Huizu was loyal to the court and unwilling to rescue Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui, Zhu Gaochi went to find Xu Zengshou instead.

Xu Zengshou was Xu Da's third son.

He thought differently from Xu Huizu, and wholeheartedly protected the three brothers Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui.

Xu Zengshou went to see Zhu Yunwen and said that releasing Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui back to Beiping would put Zhu Di at ease, and from then on, there would be no more war in the world.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Yunwen actually believed his endless lies and released the three brothers, Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui.

Beiping.

The Prince of Yan's Mansion.

Zhu Di sat in the center.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that all three of his sons had returned safely.

Zhu Di had been so worried about his three beloved sons being trapped in the capital that he couldn't even sleep.

If Zhu Yunwen were to kill his three sons in a fit of anger,

Even if he seizes the throne, what is the point?

Zhu Gaochi recounted the events to Zhu Di.

Zhu Di stroked his beard and listened quietly.

Zhu Gaoxu retorted indignantly, "That brat Zhu Yunwen only knows how to use schemes and tricks. If he were to fight me in a real fight, he would be no match for me at all."

Zhu Di shook his head: "You're wrong. If all you know is fighting and killing, that's just reckless bravery. You need to learn from your elder brother. This time, if it weren't for him, would you have been able to come back?"

Zhu Gaoxu felt very uncomfortable when he heard his father praise Zhu Gaochi again.

He wondered where he was inferior to his elder brother, and why his father always sided with his elder brother.

Zhu Gaosui gritted his teeth in hatred: "Father, you don't know, Zhu Yunwen is really too wicked. He dug a big latrine in advance, and then covered it with some branches and leaves. If you don't look closely, it looks just like the ground."

My second brother and I weren't careful, and we both fell off the horse. I almost drowned. For several days afterward, my stomach was full of acid, and when I burped, the smell was so strong that it almost made me faint.

Zhu Di's face darkened: "Nonsense! It was your own carelessness that led you to blame others for being cunning. Next time you encounter Zhu Yunwen, you'd better be more careful."

"Yes, Father."

Zhu Gaochi said, "Father, I have seen my grandmother."

"what?"

Zhu Di was also taken aback when he heard this.

He stood up, looked up at the south, tears welling in his eyes, and slowly said, "So, the Empress Dowager really didn't die. How did she manage to get through all these years?"

I am an unfilial son.

"Father, there is no need to blame yourself too much. Grandmother is in good health."

This time, the three of us brothers were able to escape safely thanks to her advice.

However, it seems our eldest uncle isn't on our side. He submitted a memorial to the Emperor requesting that Gao Xu be detained. It was our third uncle who helped us.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di was furious: "That Xu Huizu! I knew he was stubborn all along, always siding with outsiders and unable to distinguish between insiders and outsiders."

"Father, what should we do next?"

Zhu Di stroked his beard and said, "Don't rush. I need to discuss this with Yao Guangxiao first."

night.

Zhu Yunwen was sitting at his desk writing a book. He was thinking that now that he had lost his title as the Prince of Wu, he had to find a way to survive.

"Squeak!"

The door opened, and Zhao Ning'er walked in hurriedly.

Zhu Yunwen put down his pen, looked at her, and noticed that her face was filled with worry.

"What's wrong? Who made you angry?"

"I have two pieces of bad news to report to you." Zhao Ning'er gently wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief.

"Oh, what news?" Zhu Yunwen asked, looking puzzled.

"Did you know that Zhu Yunwen has already released the three brothers, Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui, and sent them back to Beiping?"

"I've already heard about it," Zhu Yunwen said calmly.

Zhao Ning'er crossed her arms and said, "You finally managed to capture Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui, but he just said one thing and let them go. Tell me, has Zhu Yunwen lost his mind?"

Zhu Yunwen patted the dust off his clothes and said slowly, "Zhu Yunwen thought this would reassure Zhu Di, but he was being too naive."

If he could keep Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui under his control, then Zhu Di would not dare to act rashly, after all, the three of them were Zhu Di's own sons.

However, he was misled by Xu Zengshou and released the three brothers. This relieved Zhu Di of his worries, and with Zhu Gaochi's exceptional strategy and Zhu Gaoxu's unstoppable bravery, Zhu Di was now even more formidable.

"you do not say.

Zhu Yunwen said something else: Zhu Di was his uncle, family. How could people of the same family turn against each other?

"If you had known this would happen, why did you waste your energy trying to capture Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui for him?" Zhao Ning'er said, her anger rising.

"Let's not talk about that now. Didn't you say there was another piece of news?"

"It's that Empress Dowager Lü who has turned the entire harem into a mess."

"The Lü family?"

Zhao Ning'er gently stroked her temples: "Yes, she is the daughter of Lu Ben, the Minister of Ceremonies. She used to be your father's secondary wife. Later, after your mother passed away, your father made her his official wife."

She gave birth to three brothers: Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Yunxuan, and Zhu Yunxi.

Now that Zhu Yunwen has become emperor, she is naturally the empress dowager.

But she's too much of a troublemaker.

"What exactly did she do?"

"I heard that she selected twenty burly women to be her maids and bodyguards, and those women looked even fiercer than the men."

Zhu Yunwen found this strange and couldn't help but ask, "What is she supporting those people for?"

"Don't you understand?"

She's trying to establish her authority.

"What are you trying to prove?"

"Once, a maid brought over a bowl of bird's nest."

She tripped and fell, spilling the soup from the bowl all over herself.

She immediately ordered two strong maids to beat the maid to death on the spot! Zhao Ning'er's eyes were filled with resentment.

"Oh, is that so?" Zhu Yunwen was also taken aback.

"Yes, that's a minor matter."

Let alone a maidservant, even if it were a concubine favored by Zhu Yunwen, she would still dismiss her if she didn't like her.

They even strangled someone to death on the spot.

Upon hearing Zhao Ning'er's words, Zhu Yunwen's hair stood on end: "Could she be Empress Dugu?"

"I'm afraid it's even worse," Zhao Ning'er paused, "Isn't May the anniversary of your father's death?"

"Yes." Zhu Yunwen picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Recently, she invited dozens of monks from Jiming Temple on the banks of the Qinhuai River to perform rituals for your father, claiming that it would take forty-nine days to help him pass on to the afterlife."

Moreover, it is said that among them is a young monk named Xuanfa, who is handsome with clear features, white teeth, and red lips, and often stays overnight in the palace.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen spat out the tea in his mouth with a "pfft": "What did you say? You mean she can't stand being alone and is going to cheat on my father?"

Zhao Ning'er smiled and looked at Zhu Yunwen: "Why are you so nervous?"

I wouldn't dare say that, but her actions inevitably raise suspicions.

Zhu Yunwen thought to himself, "The harem is full of women. How can I let those monks stay in the palace?"

Isn't this just playing the piano haphazardly?

"Moreover, she now has to manage not only the affairs of the harem, but also matters of the court."

She also intervened, and the promotion or demotion of many officials was decided by her.

She appointed people she trusted.

If Zhu Yunwen dared to disobey her, she would not eat.

This reminded Zhu Yunwen of several famous empress dowagers in history, such as Empress Lü, Empress Dowager Dou, and Empress Wang Zhengjun.

In particular, Empress Wang Zhengjun valued and promoted members of the Wang family.

In the end, Wang Mang overthrew the Western Han Dynasty.

Zhu Yunwen thought to himself that the "Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty" clearly stipulated that women should not interfere in politics, so it seemed that Lady Lü had not taken this to heart.

If her mother, Lady Chang, were still alive, how could she be allowed to act so arrogantly in the harem?

At this moment, the system's voice rang in Zhu Yunwen's ears again:

"Ding! Congratulations, host! Your Resurrection of Relatives System has been upgraded to level two."

"Currently at 3 luck points, when luck points reach 6, one immediate family member can be resurrected;"

"Task issued: Remove those monks from the harem. Luck points will be added by 3."

What? You can resurrect a direct relative?

Zhu Yunwen's heart pounded. Could it be that he would have a chance to see his father, Zhu Biao?

No no no,

Zhu Yunwen shook his head again.

In Zhu Yunwen's memory, Zhu Biao's favorite person was Zhu Xiong Ying.

He always looked down on himself, always feeling that he was no match for his brother in any way.

This time, he felt it was better for him and his son not to meet.

It was the second watch of the night.

Zhu Yunwen went to Kunning Palace to pay his respects to Empress Ma.

This is his daily routine, which he does every morning and evening.

The grandfather and grandson chatted for a while.

Zhu Yunwen left Kunning Palace and arrived outside a palace.

Sure enough, a mourning hall for the father was set up inside that palace.

He kept quiet, secretly observing the monks who came to perform the rituals for the deceased.

Zhu Yunwen discovered that the monks were chanting scriptures on the surface, but he couldn't understand what they were chanting. In short, it sounded worse than crying.

Dozens of monks, their clothes disheveled and chests exposed, some sitting, some standing, appeared utterly lifeless.

Whenever a palace maid passed by, their eyes would gleam with a thieving light, as if they wanted to see right into her flesh.

Where is the appearance of a monk?

Zhu Yunwen thought to himself that rather than saying these monks were performing a ritual to help his father pass on, it would be more accurate to say that they were a chaotic mob of demons.

Zhu Yunwen wandered around for a while and suddenly noticed a light on in a side hall.

He held his breath and listened intently.

The lewd laughter of a man and a woman could be heard coming from that room.

Ok?

Zhu Yunwen wondered what was going on.

Because it was summer, the weather was very hot and humid.

The windows of the side hall weren't closed very tightly either.

Zhu Yunwen changed his perspective and looked around. He saw a man and a woman sitting in the side hall.

The man was a young and handsome monk, and the woman was none other than Lady Lü.

Lady Lü was dressed very beautifully tonight; her clothes were as thin as cicada wings.

Looking at her face, it was covered in makeup, and her cheeks were flushed.

Although she is middle-aged, she still retains her charm.

Lady Lü gazed at the monk, her eyes sparkling: "Master Xuanfa, thank you for inviting you here to perform a ritual for my deceased husband."

Xuanfa quickly stood up, clasped his hands together, and said, "Your Majesty, you flatter me. Crown Prince Yiwen is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and his virtuous reputation is widespread. I greatly admire him."

It is a great pity that such a talented person died young. It is an honor for us to be able to offer prayers for him.

"You don't need to be so polite. Please sit down and come sit next to me."

"This—," Xuanfa hesitated, "the Empress Dowager's status is so noble, how dare this humble monk sit on equal footing with her?"

"There are no outsiders here, so please sit down. It will be easier to talk this way," Madam Lü gestured to her.

"promise!"

So Xuanfa sat down next to Lu Shi, turning sideways.

Empress Lü reached out and grabbed Xuanfa's hand.

Xuanfa was so frightened that he withdrew his hand.

Zhu Yunwen witnessed this scene clearly and thought to himself, "You, Lady Lü, are indeed a frivolous person."

Lady Lü also seemed a little awkward: "You look a little embarrassed."

"How old are you this year?"

"Twenty years old."

"That's a good age, about the same age as Yunwen."

Zhu Yunwen heard everything clearly from outside and thought to himself, "So you know that he's not as old as Zhu Yunwen?"

"Have you encountered any shortages since you arrived in this palace?" Lady Lü asked, grasping Xuanfa's hand again.

"No... nothing was lacking." Xuanfa's heart was pounding.

He also knew that if the matter were exposed, it would be a crime punishable by the confiscation of his property and the extermination of his entire family.

However, this Lady Lü looks quite good; she seems to be well-maintained and doesn't appear that old.

"If you lack money or anything else, just tell me, and I will definitely meet your needs."

"Furthermore, tonight you will stay in my palace and keep me company." Seeing that no one was around, Lady Lü threw out whatever came to mind.

"Your Majesty, this humble monk dares not!"

"What, do you think I'm old?" Lady Lü said, feigning anger.

"No, it's just..."

"Just what?"

"But this seems a bit inappropriate, what if...?"

"There's no 'what if'," Lady Lü interrupted him. "The Emperor is my son. What can anyone else do to me?"

Xuanfa was about to decline, but Lady Lü plopped down on his lap: "As long as you serve me well, I will promote you, and you will enjoy endless wealth and honor in the future."

Besides, this is not the first time something like this has happened to me:

in those days,

Empress Lü kept a male favorite named Shen Shiqi.

He served Empress Lü as a retainer for several years.

Furthermore, Wu Zetian had many male favorites around her, such as the Feng Xiaobao, Zhang Yizhi, and Zhang Changzong brothers, as well as the imperial physician Shen Nanqiu.

Especially Feng Xiaobao, didn't he later become a monk?

He simply changed his name to Xue Huaiyi.

How old was Wu Zetian then, and how old was I? How could I possibly endure that long night?

Why can Wu Zetian do it, but I cannot?

Upon hearing this, Xuanfa thought to himself, "None of the people you've mentioned have had a good ending."

Am I going to follow in their footsteps?

Thinking of this, he quickly and gently pushed Lady Lü away: "Your Majesty, please allow this humble monk to think this matter over."

Tonight, this humble monk must go to the mourning hall to offer prayers for the deceased Crown Prince Yiwen. Farewell!

"Come back here right now, or I'll accuse you of harassing me and sentence you to death!"

"..."