Chapter 199: The Feng Family Scandal

……

September, the weather gradually cooled.

Guanyin Nu's belly grew larger and larger, making movement inconvenient.

Zhu Yong stayed home, accompanying her every day.

He occasionally visited the Longxiang Army, but came and went quickly.

Xiao Zhu and Xiao Ying tidied the backyard neatly; the osmanthus was dried and stored, the pomegranates were ripe and harvested, and the persimmons hung in the corridor waiting to soften.

Zhu Huanhuan spent each day learning characters with her mother and practicing boxing with her father; the little days were fulfilling.

At the end of September, news came from the Eastern Palace: Zhu Xiongying was forced by the Crown Princess to study, got so angry he ran around the courtyard, and was finally dragged back by the Crown Prince and made to write large characters for two hours.

Zhu Yong heard it and burst out laughing.

"Just like when I went to Dabentang, I also don't like studying or writing; now Teacher Song still wants me to study!"

Guanyin Nu smiled and asked, "Has the Prince finished writing?"

"No, I'm still writing badly now."

……

October, a scandal broke out in Yingtian Prefecture.

Feng Sheng's nephew Feng An married Lu Chan.

Since the Lu Family was exterminated along with the Nine Clans, Lu Chan should have been executed, but she had already married into the Feng family. Feng Sheng pleaded, and Zhu Yuanzhang, remembering the Feng family's merits, spared her life, only ordering her to be confined in the Feng household for reflection.

These years she has been obedient.

Yet at the beginning of October, Feng An's two newly taken concubines—one three months pregnant, the other two months—suddenly died violently on the same night.

Feng An, furious, rushed to the main chamber to question Lu Chan.

It is said that Feng An roared so loudly the whole street could hear: "It's you! It must be you! They're carrying my children, getting in your way, isn't it!"

How Lu Chan answered, no one knows.

It is only known that Feng An later beat her up, shouting that he wanted a divorce.

But in the end, somehow the matter was swept under the rug.

The two concubines were hastily buried, and the Feng family announced to the public that they had succumbed to sudden illness.

Yet throughout Yingtian Prefecture's streets and alleys, rumors of all kinds spread.

"Did you hear? Those two concubines of the Feng family died under strange circumstances."

"Indeed, dying on the same day—how could it be such a coincidence?"

"If you ask me, it has to be that Lu Qian did it; the Lu family was annihilated, only she survived—what kind of virtuous person could she be?"

"Shh, lower your voice; how dare you gossip about the Feng family's affairs?"

"...."

On the tenth day of the tenth month, the news reached the palace.

Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang leaned on the couch, and after Zhu Biao finished recounting the matter, remained silent for a long while.

"Biao'er, what do you think?"

Zhu Biao's face was calm as he said: "Father, I think this matter is mostly the work of the Lu clan; Feng An's two concubines were both women from good families, healthy, and their sudden deaths without cause are inexplicable.

Moreover, dying on the same day is too coincidental."

"Then what do you think should be done?"

Zhu Biao pondered briefly and said: "Father, the Feng family has reported a sudden illness; if we pursue this, we must investigate thoroughly. If a thorough investigation reveals that Lu did it, should we kill her or not? After all, she is a member of the Feng family; Feng Sheng has rendered service to the court, and killing his daughter‑in‑law again might chill the hearts of meritorious officials."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, "So we won't investigate?"

Zhu Biao replied, "My suggestion is not to investigate, but remember, Lu must not be kept alive; after some time, find a pretext and let her die of illness."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at his son and slowly nodded.

"Your temperament now is different from when we were young; back then, we would report a grudge on the spot, but you can endure."

Zhu Biao bowed and said, "I only think some matters cannot be rushed; the Feng family cannot be acted upon now, so we wait until we can."

"Fine, as you say."

Zhu Yuanzhang paused, then said, "This incident also made us see clearly that women from aristocratic families are ruthless; that old Lu Ben schemed what, we now fully understand.

Sending a daughter into the Eastern Palace to bear a Crown Prince's grandson, then manipulating state affairs; fortunately we didn't let them succeed back then."

Zhu Biao nodded, "Father, you are wise."

"It's not my wisdom, but that simpleton Yong Er; do you remember? That Wan Shou Festival, Yong Er told you that woman had a problem, and you took note."

Zhu Biao laughed, "I remember, second brother said, 'I don't like this woman,' and I noted it."

Zhu Yuanzhang also laughed, "That simpleton, watching people, is actually quite accurate."

……

Eastern Palace.

Zhu Biao told this matter to Chang Wan.

Chang Wan, after listening, remained silent for a while.

"Wanmei?" Zhu Biao called her softly.

Chang Wan lifted her head, her eyes slightly red, and said, "Prince, I recall that back then, if second brother hadn't been vigilant, if you hadn't protected us, I and Xiong Ying would have…"

Zhu Biao grasped her hand and said, "It's all in the past; the Lu family is gone, the Lu clan won't rise again; after some time, she will also die of illness."

Chang Wan nodded and leaned on Zhu Biao's shoulder.

"Prince, in this life, the luckiest thing for me is marrying you."

Zhu Biao whispered, "Me too."

……

Wu Wang Fu.

Zhu Yong also heard about this matter from Wang Gui.

Wang Gui is now the deputy Commissioner of Longxiang Army, often traveling outside, and well‑informed.

"Prince, have you heard about the Feng family's matter?"

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "Heard about it."

"Tsk tsk, the Lu Clan really are ruthless, even a pregnant woman they can get rid of." Wang Gui shook his head.

Zhu Yong fell silent for a moment and said, "She was never a good person. Back then I personally heard in the Imperial Garden her father say that once she entered the Eastern Palace and bore a great‑grandson, she would control the court."

Wang Gui inhaled sharply and said, "Is there more to it?"

"Yeah, I told my elder brother, and he already knows." Zhu Yong said.

Wang Gui sighed, "Fortunately, Prince, you heard it, otherwise…"

"Otherwise it would be fine; my elder brother wouldn't fall for it, he's much smarter than me." Zhu Yong said in a simple voice.

……

October passed quickly.

The disgrace gradually faded from memory, and Yingtian Fu returned to peace.

Zhu Yong still spends each day accompanying Guanyin Nu, occasionally strolling around Longxiang Army, and his days are leisurely.

Early November, the weather turned completely cold.

When the first snow fell, Zhu Huanhuan ran excitedly around the courtyard, scooping snow and throwing it at Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong let her make a fuss, laughing dumbly as he dodged.

Guanyin Nu stood in the corridor, wrapped in a thick cloak, watching the father and daughter play, a smile at the corner of her mouth.

Xiao Zhu carried hot tea over and said softly, "Princess, it's cold outside, come inside."

"Take another look, it's rare to see Huan Huan so happy." Guanyin Nu said.

Zhu Huanhuan ran over, her little face frozen red, "Mother! Mother! It's snowing! Can we build a snowman tomorrow?"

"Sure, I'll let your father help you build it." Guanyin Nu patted her face.

"Dad, let's build a snowman tomorrow!" Zhu Huanhuan turned back and shouted at Zhu Yong.

"Alright!" Zhu Yong laughed dumbly.

Snowflakes fluttered down, landing in the courtyard, on the eaves, and on the shoulders of the father and daughter.

From afar came a faint bell, the evening bell of Fengtian Hall.

Another day passed.

December, about the time Zhu Yong's second child was born.

Guanyin Nu had already been taken by Empress Ma into the palace to be looked after; not only a nanny attended, the imperial physician stayed in the side hall every day, fearing any day she might go into labor.

Seeing this, Zhu Yong also moved into the imperial palace, never leaving, staying inside the palace to accompany Guanyin Nu.

The two's cloying demeanor made Zhu Biao cringe every time he visited.

Back then he made Zhu Yong eat dog food; now he eats dog food every day.