Chapter 160

He kept his distance from Zhu Gang.

Ever since the passing of Crown Prince Yiwen, Zhu Biao.

Zhu Yuanzhang had, whether intentionally or not, begun to sow discord between the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Yan.

He deliberately drew the boundaries of the pastures outside the passes for the Jin and Yan fiefs in an ambiguous manner, causing the men of both fiefs to quarrel with each other.

It escalated until, in the thirtieth year of Hongwu, the two brothers sent spies at each other to look for signs of rebellion.

And in the original history, Prince of Jin Zhu Gang was also the most important piece Zhu Yuanzhang had left for Zhu Yunwen.

Only Zhu Gang suddenly passed away two months before Zhu Yuanzhang's own death.

Clearly, born into the imperial family, whether Zhu Di or Zhu Gang, both knew what Old Zhu's intention was in doing this.

Past Wumen, and ahead lay the Inner Court.

The two brothers had to begin keeping their distance from each other.

A moment later.

The two brothers paid their respects to Zhu Yuanzhang at Qianqing Palace.

Looking at the two sons standing before him.

The smile on Zhu Yuanzhang's face could no longer be concealed.

"You've grown sturdier."

"How are Gao Chi and Jixi doing now?"

Zhu Di said with a smile,

"Father, Gao Chi has already finished his studies and can help your son handle some of the affairs of governance."

Zhu Gang, meanwhile, coughed twice and said with a smile,

"Jixi is a little younger — he only just finished his studies this year, and he can already draw a one-stone bow now."

Hearing the news of his two elder grandsons.

The wrinkles on Zhu Yuanzhang's face all creased into a smile.

He then turned to look at Zhu Yunwen behind him and said,

"Yunwen, go take these two younger brothers for a stroll around Jin Ling city. You brothers have yourselves a good time — your father is going to have a couple of drinks with your two uncles."

"Zhu Yunwen receives the decree."

Zhu Yuanzhang still wore the look of a doting old father.

But the two sons before him both knew.

Ever since their eldest brother's passing.

This family could never again be as harmonious as before.

At the banquet.

Only Zhu Yuanzhang drank until his eyes were bleary, gazing at the two sons before him.

Zhu Yuanzhang let out a long, contented sigh and said,

"Enough. I'm old now — you two should rest early as well."

Zhu Di and Zhu Gang rose mechanically to their feet, cupped their hands, and said,

"Your sons take their leave."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, watching his two sons' backs disappear into the night.

Old Zhu's tears could no longer be held back as they fell.

As a father, he strained with all his might to hold this family together, to keep it from falling apart.

But as an Emperor.

He had no choice but to personally drive a wedge between these two sons.

Who was Zhu Yuanzhang, after all?

How could he fail to see the constraint these two sons felt in his presence?

A chill swept in.

Zhu Yuanzhang gazed at the portrait of Zhu Biao in the corner behind him.

He abruptly hurled the wine cup in his hand violently at Zhu Biao's portrait.

He kept muttering under his breath,

"Eldest, oh eldest — did you see? What a fine family we had, and look what your death has done to it!"

"You're the unfilial one!"

After hurling the wine cup.

Zhu Yuanzhang then tenderly pulled a handkerchief from his bosom and gently began wiping the portrait clean.

"How I wish I could hear you chatting with me in that group chat, telling me what the Great Ming under your rule looks like…"

……

……

On the long palace road.

The two brothers walked the whole way in silence.

They parted at Wumen, observing propriety to the letter, but with not a trace of human warmth.

They were merely going through the motions of bowing.

By Ming regulations, once an Imperial Prince came of age, he would reside at his capital mansion.

The so-called capital mansions were the Ten Princes' Mansions.

The Ten Princes' Mansions did not refer to exactly ten mansions — that "ten" merely meant "many."

The so-called "Ten Wang Fu" was actually the collective dormitory for Ming dynasty imperial princes in the capital.

After Zhu Di moved north, he also built a Ten Wang Fu in the new capital, though people were more accustomed to calling this place Wangfujing.

Not long after Zhu Di returned to the Wang Fu.

A bald man hiding in the shadows quietly approached.

"Your Highness."

Zhu Di was momentarily stunned upon seeing Yao Guangxiao.

"Why are you, this Monk, here at my Wang Fu at this hour instead of chanting scriptures?"

Yao Guangxiao spoke in a low voice.

"Your Highness, someone has come from the Donggong."

The moment the words fell.

Zhu Di immediately became alert.

"Who?"

"Huang Zicheng or Qi Tai?"

Yao Guangxiao shook his head and sighed.

"Neither; it is someone named Su Qiao."

"Su Qiao?"

A look of confusion appeared on Zhu Di's face.

"Why has this name never reached my ears before?"

Yao Guangxiao spoke in a low voice.

"He is the Zhuangyuan of this examination cohort."

"It is said he possesses some talent, but is arrogant due to his learning; he offended the Son of Heaven's countenance several times. Originally appointed as a Dongge Xueshi to serve near the Son of Heaven, he was later demoted to the Donggong."

Hearing this, Zhu Di immediately let out a bitter smile.

"Old Monk, can you not see through such matters?"

"This person is nine times out of ten truly talented; the Old Master is recruiting talent for his grandson."

"Whether it is fortune or misfortune, please, Great Master, invite this young Master Su over."

Yao Guangxiao smiled without speaking.

He merely closed his eyes slightly and clasped his hands together, saying.

"Amitabha, this old monk obeys."

Zhu Di could afford to disregard Su Qiao's face.

Because Su Qiao was merely a sixth-rank companion reader.