Chapter 26: The Dagger Appears When the Map Is Unrolled

"Your Majesty, Prince Zhou is still alive—how do we know he won't change his mind again? And issuing such an edict now carries the suspicion of cursing him. In my view, we should set this matter aside for now and wait until Prince Zhou passes away."

"Perhaps when the edict naming the heir arrives at the Zhou Wangfu, Prince Zhou will be so delighted his illness suddenly improves? Then this edict would become a laughingstock."

The Emperor thought this over and agreed, so he issued only the edict naming Prince Zhou's heir.

Zhao Yuansong wanted to speak but held back, his face grim; the Ministry of Rites officials also looked displeased—they had hoped to issue two edicts at once.

But seeing the Emperor's impatient expression, neither Zhao Yuansong nor the Ministry of Rites officials dared raise it again; the matter was complex, tied to ancestral precedent.

Since Emperor Taizu, through four successive emperors, Ministry of Rites officials had quietly hinted at abolishing the practice of burying slaves alive with the deceased, but reigning emperors either pretended not to understand or were attacked en masse by the Imperial Clan Office, often resulting in dismissal or demotion.

Over time, no one dared speak of it openly anymore.

It was rare for a princely lord to repeatedly mention abolishing the practice of burying slaves alive with the deceased—even if only for his own household—but this was still a good beginning.

In the end, Zhao Yuansong took only one edict and rushed back to Kaifeng.

Knowing Prince Zhou had little time left and fearing delay would bring complications, Zhao Yuansong spent all the money he had left, bribing the accompanying Ministry of Rites officials and the Directorate of Ceremonial eunuchs to hasten their pace.

The party galloped back to Kaifeng as fast as they could, but faster still was Prince Xiangfu, who lived near Kaifeng.

Upon hearing that Prince Zhou was critically ill and unconscious, he immediately brought a physician and stormed straight into the main courtyard.

Since Prince Zhou had decided to feign unconsciousness, only Zhu Zijin and one trusted senior servant had been attending him; apart from Wang Fei, Tao Ji, and three others, few knew of Prince Zhou's condition.

Yet Prince Xiangfu had still gotten word.

Wang Fei bit her lip in silent fury—so long as she lived, after this, she would replace every servant in the mansion.

She hurried with her trusted attendants toward the main courtyard.

Zhu Zijin stood with flushed face, blocking the way before Zhu Youjue.

Zhu Youjue was furious, demanding: "When I left, my elder brother was perfectly well—how could he have fallen into unconsciousness in just over a month?"

"You neither summoned renowned physicians nor reported to the imperial court—what are you trying to do?"

Zhu Zijin stood before the door: "It was Father's wish..."

"Don't call him that so intimately—he isn't your father. Your real father is Zhu Youlan!" Zhu Youjue sneered. "They say like father, like son. Your father was such a man—who knows if this isn't some scheme between you two, aimed at this damned title..."

Pan Yun, holding a cat, stood with Tao Ji and Master Xuanmiao beneath the corridor, listening. At this, Tao Ji couldn't hold back—he clicked his tongue. "That's an interesting remark. Like father, like son—then by that logic, the former Prince Zhou was the father of Zhu Youlan, and Prince Xiangfu is the son of the former Prince Zhou—so does that mean Prince Xiangfu and the commoner Zhu Youlan share the same moral character?"

Pan Yun, holding the cat, nodded vigorously.

Zhu Youjue narrowed his eyes, his gaze dark as he stared at the three beneath the corridor.

"Insolent!" shouted Zhu Youjue's senior servant. "Who are these riffraff to interrupt the Prince while he speaks? Are you all dead? Drag them away!"

Pan Yun straightened her posture; Master Xuanmiao's gaze turned cold as he stepped forward.

Zhu Zijin, sweating profusely, cried: "Stop! Fourth Uncle, these are our guests of honor!"

The Zhou Wangfu servants hesitated, but Prince Xiangfu's men surged toward the three.

Zhu Youjue had long despised them—if not for their return of Zhu Tongqie, his elder brother would never have considered naming an heir; Zhu Zijin would merely be a servant bearing the title of adopted son, and later he could simply grant him some land and be rid of him.

Zhu Youjue said nothing. Prince Xiangfu's men, reassured, charged forward like wolves and tigers to seize them. All three sidestepped at once, swiftly kicking out—each delivered a chest kick that sent the three attackers flying.

Pan Yun applied subtle force; the man rushing at her flew the farthest, crashing with a thump at Prince Xiangfu's feet.

Tao Ji and Master Xuanmiao's kicks sent their targets landing far across the courtyard, well away from Prince Xiangfu.

This made it clear Pan Yun was the strongest—especially since she was so much shorter than the others, barely reaching their necks.

The other two glanced down at her.

Pan Yun flicked a speck of dust from her sleeve, hugged the cat, and returned Prince Xiangfu's gaze with noble, icy disdain, utterly ignoring the two.

Master Xuanmiao calmly looked away.

Tao Ji seethed inwardly, pointing indignantly at the stunned crowd: "Come on again!"

Prince Xiangfu's men all stepped back a pace.

Tao Ji:...

Prince Xiangfu took this as provocation. He clenched his fists, his gaze icy as he fixed on Zhu Zijin: "Zhu Zijin, are you rebelling? This Zhou Wangfu isn't yours yet—and you dare strike your own uncle within the mansion? You're just like your father..."

"Hey hey hey, we're the ones who moved, not Zhu Zijin!" Tao Ji couldn't stand him bullying the innocent. "If you've got guts, come after us—don't falsely accuse others!"

Seeing Zhu Zijin remain silent, Zhu Youjue nodded repeatedly. "Good. Very good. It seems this Zhou Wangfu has been taken over by outsiders. I must see my elder brother myself and ask if he even knows what's happening—how can any stray cat or dog dare insult me here?"

He stepped forward and shoved Zhu Zijin aside: "Get out of the way!"

Zhu Zijin staggered, then rushed forward again to block him. "Fourth Uncle, the physician said Father must not be startled while unconscious. Whatever you wish to say, tell me—beat me, kill me, I'll accept it..."

Pan Yun silently clicked her tongue, hugging the black cat: 【So dramatic~~】

Zhu Zihou could no longer hold back; he rushed forward and grabbed his father's arm. "Father, whatever it is, let's sit down and talk properly. Why make things difficult for Elder Brother Zhu?"

Zhu Zihou could no longer stand it. He rushed forward and grabbed his father. "Father, let's sit down and talk properly. Why torment our elder cousin?"

Zhu Youjue angrily shook him off and kicked him. "You wretched son—how could I have birthed you!"

Seeing his elder brother beaten, Zhu Zifang was displeased. He rushed forward to support Zhu Zihou, then wrapped his arms around Zhu Youjue and dragged him backward. "Father, Grandfather can't be startled now. If you want to see him, just look—wait for Grandmother to arrive, then see him together. Can you please not be so agitated..."

Zhu Zijin, seeing this, gripped Zhu Youjue tighter, dragging him bodily down the steps from the doorway.

Watching the tangled quartet, Pan Yun sighed: "If only they'd started fighting."

No sooner had she spoken than Wang Fei arrived in a rush. Seeing the four men entangled, she roared: "Stop!"

At the sight of their aunt, Zhu Zihou and Zhu Zifang instinctively let go.

Zhu Zijin immediately released his grip and stood straight. Zhu Youjue, suddenly deprived of all support, stumbled and fell flat on his back.

Zhu Zihou and the others hadn't expected this—they rushed to help, and after a moment, all four managed to stand again.

Pan Yun couldn't help letting out a chuckle, watching with keen interest.

Wang Fei heard her laugh and grew angrier. She didn't turn to look at Pan Yun, but glared at the four: "What are you all doing?"

Zhu Youjue, equally furious, shook off the hands pulling him and glared at Wang Fei. "Big sister, Elder Brother is critically ill—and you let him control the mansion, refusing to treat him?"

Wang Fei replied coldly: "Who has poisoned your ears, Fourth Brother? Our mansion now hosts both a household physician and a Daoist physician; all renowned physicians in Kaifeng have been notified—they will not travel far. We need only summon them, and they come immediately."

Since returning, Zijin has personally attended to the Prince, never neglecting him. Since the Prince decided to feign unconsciousness awaiting news from the capital, he has remained by his side day and night—something even a biological son could not achieve."

Zhu Youjue frowned and said, "I think your grace is deceived by his facade—I don't trust him. I must see my elder brother."

The Zhou Wang Fei spoke without expression: "The Wang is currently not to be disturbed. I appreciate your good intentions, Fourth Brother."

Seeing her refuse again and again, Zhu Youjue became even more convinced that Zhu Youdun was dead—that they were secretly withholding the news, waiting for imperial edict.

But the imperial court may not agree to appoint Zhu Zijin as heir apparent. If this matter is exposed now, Zhu Zijin's claim will be illegitimate—and I am the first in line of succession.

Zhu Youjue now needed to see Zhu Youdun even more.

The Wang Fei could no longer contain her anger: "Prince Xiangfu, this is the Zhou Wangfu—this is my home. Our family affairs do not concern you, Commandery Prince. Someone, show our honored guest to the main hall!"

Zhu Youjue narrowed his eyes, gave a glance to his men, and stood his ground. "Aren't you afraid of being buried alive with him? That's why you're hiding your husband's condition, isn't it, Sister-in-Law? This is a capital offense!"

"How dare you!" The Zhou Wang Fei, struck by such an accusation, turned crimson with rage.

Zhu Zijin could not help but speak: "Uncle, watch your tongue! My father is perfectly well! My mother and father have always had deep affection—even if my mother wished to follow him in death, my father has always refused, repeatedly petitioning the imperial court to abolish the practice of burying slaves alive with the deceased in our household."

"Wretched brat, I won't waste words with you. Step aside—or don't blame me for being uncivil."

The Zhou Wang Fei: "How exactly will you be uncivil, Uncle? Prince Xiangfu, shouting for violence inside the Zhou Wangfu—have you not yet become Wang, yet already act as master of this household?"

Zhu Youjue's face flushed red. "I only care for my elder brother—"

"You've already dropped the mask. Stop using your elder brother as an excuse. What you want, we both know. You keep dragging Zhu Youlai into this—but to me, you're no different from him. Both of you stare at what belongs to others, trying to drag it into your own pockets. When things don't go your way, you shout for violence."

"He doesn't even pretend—he's a fool, a true villain. But you, Fourth Uncle, you hide behind pretense—you're clever, you're a hypocrite!"

Zhu Zihou and Zhu Zifang turned pale, both falling to their knees and kowtowing. "Great Aunt, Father meant no harm—he spoke out of worry for Great Uncle. You may beat or scold him, but please don't accuse him like this!"

The Zhou Wang Fei choked back a flood of curses, tears streaming down her face. She hugged the two children's heads and wept bitterly. "How could I wish to speak so harshly to your father? How could I bear to see you suffer like this? But he has forced himself upon me—he bullies us, the widow and orphans, powerless and alone…"

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(End of Chapter)