Chapter 164: Swords Drawn, Tensions High

The seventh year of Hongwu, November.

A winter rain had just ceased, and the Imperial City of Yingtian Prefecture seemed shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.

Consort Sun had passed away.

This woman, who had followed Zhu Yuanzhang since his uprising, lingered on her sickbed for over a month, but ultimately could not survive this winter.

When the news reached Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was reviewing memoranda.

The vermilion brush in his hand paused midair, ink droplets fell onto the memorandum, staining it.

"When did it happen?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked, his voice a bit hoarse.

The eunuch knelt on the ground, trembling, "Your Majesty, at the third quarter of the Yin hour, the Consort…has passed away."

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent for a long while, set down his brush, and slowly rose to walk to the window.

Outside the window, rainwater ran down the eaves, striking the stone steps with clear, distinct sounds.

He recalled many years ago, in a dilapidated courtyard in Chuzhou, Consort Sun brought in a bowl of hot soup and softly said, "Brother Zhong Ba, have a sip to warm your body."

Later, when he became Emperor, he elevated her to Consort and granted her residence in the Changchun Palace.

These years, she remained dutiful and unassuming, never contending or vying, only occasionally coming to Qianqing Palace to deliver a bowl of soup she had personally stewed.

The only regret of her life was never bearing a child for him.

"Issue an edict ordering the Ministry of Rites to conduct the mourning rites for the Consort according to protocol, with the Crown Prince and other princes mourning for the Consort," Zhu Yuanzhang turned, his voice returning to calm.

The eunuch was stunned.

According to protocol, Consort Sun was a secondary mother, and Crown Prince Zhu Biao, as the legitimate eldest son, had no need to mourn.

"Your Majesty…the Crown Prince…" the eunuch whispered, reminding.

"Proceed as I have said," Zhu Yuanzhang cut him off, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Yes…yes," the eunuch hurriedly stepped back.

…

At noon, the edict reached the Eastern Palace.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao was discussing matters with officials of the Censorate when he heard the edict's content, and his brows furrowed.

"Your Highness, although Consort Sun is an elder, according to rites you need not mourn; the Emperor's action may be incongruous with protocol," whispered Grand Scholar Zuo Chunfang of the Censorate.

"I shall go to see Imperial Father," Zhu Biao said, setting aside the document and pondering briefly.

He rose, changed into court robes, and headed to Qianqing Palace.

Inside Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was reviewing the mourning regulations submitted by the Ministry of Rites.

"Imperial Father," Zhu Biao saluted.

"Zhu Biao, come in, sit. The Ministry of Rites has drafted the mourning protocol for Consort Sun; take a look," Zhu Yuanzhang said, gesturing to the chair beside him.

Zhu Biao did not sit, standing in place, he clasped his hands and said, "Imperial Father, I have come to inquire about the mourning matter."

Zhu Yuanzhang lifted his head and asked, "How so?"

"Imperial Father, although Consort Sun is an elder, according to the Rites of Zhou and Tang Code, the Crown Prince as heir only mourns for his sovereign father; the legitimate mother observes mourning.

For a secondary mother, mourning is not required."

Zhu Biao continued slowly, "Imperial Father, you ask me to mourn for Consort Sun, which conflicts with rites; I dare not obey."

The hall fell silent.

A few standing eunuchs held their breath, not daring to speak.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his son, his gaze gradually darkening, "Zhu Biao, Consort Sun has followed me for over thirty years; she has no achievements but has endured hardships.

You are the Crown Prince, my son; mourning for her is purely filial piety."

"Imperial Father, rites are the foundation of the state and must not be lightly discarded; if I, today, mourn for a secondary mother, the rites will erode, and how can we govern the realm?"

Zhu Biao persisted.

"Bang!"

Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table hard, stood up, "Zhu Biao! Have you become so obstinate that you won't even heed my words?!"

Zhu Biao fell to his knees, yet his spine remained straight, "Imperial Father, calm your anger; I am not defying, merely speaking reasoned truth. The rites were set by our ancestors; as Crown Prince I must set an example and cannot abandon justice for personal feelings."

"Fine, fine—one who cannot abandon justice for personal sentiment! Consort Sun has served me for so many years; in my heart, she is no different from your mother!"

"Making you mourn is that hard!" Zhu Yuanzhang said, his face turning ashen with anger.

"Imperial Father! Imperial Mother is still alive; you ask me to mourn for a secondary mother, what of the Imperial Mother? How will the people of the realm speak of the Imperial Mother!"

Zhu Biao lifted his head, a hint of anger appearing in his eyes.

Those words struck a sore spot for Zhu Yuanzhang.

He knew well that making the Crown Prince mourn a secondary mother would indeed be disrespectful to Empress Ma.

But Consort Sun had just passed; his heart was grieving, and in a moment of impulse he issued the edict, now his son openly rebukes it, making it impossible for him to step aside.

"How dare you! I am not dead yet! This household is still under my rule!" Zhu Yuanzhang shouted angrily.

Zhu Biao also went all out, thrusting his neck forward, "If Imperial Father insists, I would rather not be this Crown Prince!"

"You…traitorous son! I will cut you down today!" Zhu Yuanzhang, trembling with fury, drew the treasured sword hanging on the wall and said.

The sword's blade gleamed with a chilling light.

The eunuchs, terrified, knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, calm your anger! Crown Prince, calm your anger!"

Zhu Biao knelt on the ground, looking at the sword in his father's hand; there was no fear in his eyes, only sorrow.

Father and son faced off, swords drawn and tensions high.

…

Kunning Palace.

Empress Ma was embroidering a small jacket, a winter garment for Zhu Xiongying.

A palace maid hurried in and whispered the matter of the Qianqing Palace.

Empress Ma's hand trembled, the needle pricked her finger, and a bead of blood seeped out.

She set down the needle and thread, stared blankly at the blood on her fingertip, then suddenly laughed, her smile full of bitterness.

"Zhong Ba, Zhong Ba, are you this eager to embarrass Biaoer?"

She stood up and told the maid, "Prepare the sedan chair, go to the Qianqing Palace."

"Your Highness… the Emperor is in a rage, you should…" the maid began, then stopped.

"Go." Empress Ma said only that one word.

……

Outside the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang's angry roar came from inside: "Kneel before me! If you don't agree today, don't even think of leaving this door!"

Zhu Biao's voice was calm: "If Imperial Father wishes to kill, he may, but for a son to violate propriety is absolutely impossible."

Empress Ma hurried into the hall and saw exactly this scene.

Zhu Yuanzhang brandished his sword at Zhu Biao, who knelt on the ground with his spine straight.

"Zhu Zhong Ba!" Empress Ma's angry voice rang out.

Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head, saw his wife, and lowered his sword a bit: "Sister, why are you here?"

Empress Ma walked to his side, looked at the sword in his hand, then at her son kneeling on the ground, and tears suddenly fell.

"Zhong Ba, Sun Sister has left, I am as sad as you, but she was a concubine, Biaoer is the legitimate eldest son, the Crown Prince; if you make him mourn for the concubine and it spreads, how can I, this Empress, live as a person?"

Her voice choked: "I am not dead yet, and you are already so eager to let someone else become the Crown Prince's mother?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned: "Sister, that's not what I mean…"

"Then what do you mean! Zhu Zhong Ba, Husband and Wife for over thirty years, when have I ever stopped you? When you wanted to take a consort, did I stop you? When you wanted to grant a title, did I stop you? But this matter today, no!"

Empress Ma unusually raised her voice.

She stepped in front of Zhu Biao and said, "If you want to strike, strike me first!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his wife's tear‑streaked face, and the sword in his hand clanged to the ground.

He sagged back into his seat, hands covering his face.

After a long while, he said, "Everyone out, let us have some peace."

Empress Ma helped Zhu Biao to his feet, and the mother and son left the Qianqing Palace.

Outside the hall, Zhu Biao whispered, "Imperial Mother, today I defied Imperial Father; it was indeed improper, but regarding rites, I cannot yield."

Empress Ma patted his hand: "Biaoer, you did right; your Imperial Father is momentarily confused, and once he calms, he'll understand."

Even so, she knew in her heart that, given Zhu Yuanzhang's temperament, this matter was probably not over yet.