Volume One, Chapter 11: Great Fortune and Great Fate

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Zhu Yuanzhang’s brows drew tighter and tighter, his fists clenched so hard they creaked. “You mean… someone is using this opportunity to set a trap? They mean to harm not only our grandson, but Biao’er as well?”

“That is only my suspicion, but it is not without foundation.” Empress Ma raised her eyes and met Zhu Yuanzhang’s gaze directly.

“Your Majesty, think carefully. Though the Crown Prince’s position has remained secure all these years, his status as heir apparent is bound to make him the target of envy and resentment.”

“Biao’er is generous and mild by nature. He does not quarrel with others, yet there are inevitably those who fear him.”

“If Yingying were to meet with disaster, no matter how innocent the Crown Prince might be, someone could seize upon it and make an issue of it. They would say that the Eastern Palace was incapable of managing its own household, that it could not even protect the eldest legitimate grandson. How, then, could anyone expect him to govern the empire?”

At these words, Zhu Yuanzhang’s back stiffened slightly. The anger in his eyes gradually gave way to deep thought.

Each of Empress Ma’s words was like a small knife, cutting painfully into his heart while forcing him to confront the matter.

“But…” Zhu Yuanzhang said heavily, his voice still thick with suppressed rage. “Are we supposed to stand by and watch Yingying suffer this injustice?”

“We must get to the bottom of it. We cannot let that pack of wolves have its way!”

Empress Ma nodded, her gaze resolute. “Of course we must investigate. But some matters should be dealt with by the women of the inner palace. Your Majesty need not intervene personally.”

“If you act yourself, you may only give others an opportunity to use the matter against you.”

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes and studied her expression, as though trying to discern something hidden in her words.

After a moment of silence, he finally asked in a low voice, “Do you know something?”

Empress Ma gave a faint smile. “I would not dare make wild assertions. But I shall investigate the matter in secret. Your Majesty need only wait and see how events unfold.”

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at her, his gaze sharp as an eagle’s. “You mean to take full charge of this?”

“Yes.” Empress Ma’s tone was firm. “Your Majesty, if you truly wish to restore Yingying’s good name, then heed me this once.”

“Some matters of the inner palace should be resolved within the inner palace.”

A trace of doubt lingered in Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes, but he knew that Empress Ma had always been meticulous. She had never mishandled affairs within the palace. After pondering for a moment, he finally nodded.

“Very well! We shall leave this matter to you. But there is one thing…”

“We do not care who is responsible. We want only the result. If we discover that anyone dared harm Yingying, we will show no mercy!”

Empress Ma inclined her head, her tone gentle. “I understand. I shall give Yingying an explanation—and give you one as well.”

Zhu Yuanzhang was about to ask another question when a report suddenly came from outside the door.

“His Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess request an audience.”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s brows furrowed. His gaze swept toward the doorway like a blade. After a moment, he said coldly, “Let them enter.”

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Though his voice was no longer roaring, it remained deep and harsh, radiating immense authority.

A moment later, Zhu Biao entered at a measured pace.

He wore a pale-gold round-collared robe. His features bore the steady gentleness for which he was known, but anxiety was plainly visible in his expression.

Lu followed close behind him, worry written across her face.

Beside them was a little boy in a blue-green jacket. It was seven-year-old Zhu Yunwen.

Young Yunwen’s face was filled with bewilderment, and his eyes wandered around the room.

At last, they settled on Zhu Xiongying lying on the sickbed, and a trace of fear appeared in them.

“Your son pays his respects to Father and Mother.” Zhu Biao stepped forward and bowed respectfully, his voice heavy with suppressed concern.

“I heard that something happened to Yingying at the hunting grounds. I was frantic with worry and came at once to see him.”

Lu followed him in bowing, her voice trembling faintly. “This concubine greets Your Majesty and Your Highness. I heard that Yingying had been injured and have been terrified with worry. How is His Highness?”

Hearing his mother speak, Zhu Yunwen hurriedly imitated her. “Grandson… pays his respects to Grandfather and Grandmother.”

“Yunwen heard… heard that Elder Brother was hurt, so… so I came to see him.”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s expression eased slightly at Zhu Biao’s arrival.

He gave Lu a long look, then let out a cold snort and waved for them to rise.

“It is good that you have come, Biao’er.” Zhu Yuanzhang lifted a hand, his voice carrying a measure of restrained fury.

“Look at your son! A perfectly good hunting ground nearly became his grave!”

Zhu Biao’s heart clenched at those words. He hurried to the sickbed and bent over to look at the unconscious Zhu Xiongying.

When he saw the boy’s pale little face and the faint traces of blood seeping through, Zhu Biao’s eyes immediately darkened. His voice was filled with unmistakable self-reproach.

“It was my failure. I did not protect Yingying properly and caused Father to worry.”

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him, his anger seemingly impossible to contain.

“So you know it! Yingying is our eldest legitimate grandson, the one who will inherit our family’s foundations in the future. What were those guards at the hunting grounds doing?!”

“How could they have allowed Yingying to become separated from everyone else? If we do not investigate this to the very end, where is the justice in this world?!”

Zhu Biao lowered his head without speaking, his back tensing slightly.

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He had always been broad-minded and mild-tempered, but at that moment he could clearly feel his father’s fury pressing down upon him like a storm-laden sky, making it difficult to breathe.

Lu quietly interjected at the appropriate moment. “Your Majesty, please calm yourself. This concubine believes that the incident must have been caused by negligence on the part of the guards, which allowed His Highness to suffer such a terrible ordeal.”

“Yingying is blessed with great fortune and will surely come through this safely.”

Her tone was exceedingly cautious, and her expression carried an air of reassurance.

Yet beneath her words lurked a hint of unease.

“Hmph.” Zhu Yuanzhang gave a cold snort and fixed his eyes on Lu. “Blessed with great fortune? Do you know how serious Yingying’s injuries are? If this truly was negligence on the part of the guards, then those worthless brutes deserve to be executed!”

“But why do we feel that the matter is not so simple?!”

His sharp gaze swept over Lu like a knife, forcing her to lower her head.

Empress Ma stepped forward and took hold of Zhu Yuanzhang’s sleeve, her gentle voice carrying a note of persuasion.

“Your Majesty, Biao’er and the Crown Princess came here because they are worried about Yingying.”

“The child is still unconscious. Why not let the Crown Prince remain here to keep watch, and question him after he wakes?”

“As for your anger, it would be better to reserve it until the truth has been uncovered. That way, you will not frighten the physicians and palace attendants.”

After hearing Empress Ma’s words, Zhu Yuanzhang’s expression slowly settled.

He remained grim-faced as he gave a cold snort. “We do not want to hear any more of this nonsense! Biao’er, remember this: we will uncover the truth!”

“If we discover that someone plotted against Yingying, then no matter who it is, we will show no mercy!”

Zhu Biao hurriedly clasped his hands and answered respectfully, “Your son understands. Father, you may rest assured.”

Young Yunwen stood nearby and quietly tugged at Lu’s sleeve.

“Mother, will Elder Brother really be all right? Does he hurt very much?”

Lu lowered her head and glanced at her son, forcing a faint smile onto her face.

“Do not be afraid. Your elder brother is under Heaven’s protection.”

Yet as she spoke, a complicated emotion flashed through her eyes.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Xiongying on the sickbed, then at Zhu Biao and Lu. He waved his hand.

“Enough. There is no point in our remaining here.”

“Biao’er, you stay here and keep watch over Yingying. We are going to uncover the whole truth behind this affair!”