Chapter 253: Watching the Monkey Show

After passing through the Moon Gate, I saw Chang Wan sitting on the corridor doing needlework, and Zhu Xiongying squatted by the flowerbed, looking at something unknown.

"Xiong Ying," Zhu Yong called.

Zhu Xiongying looked up, saw his second uncle, his eyes lit up, and he ran over, stomp‑stomp‑stomp.

"Second uncle!"

Zhu Yong bent down, lifted him, hefted him and said, "He's heavier, grown sturdy."

Zhu Xiongying clutched his neck, and, with some anticipation, said, "Second uncle, I want to go see my younger brother Qiong Jiong."

"Alright! Tomorrow second uncle will come fetch you," Zhu Yong said with a smile.

Chang Wan walked over, took her son, and scolded, "This child, all day he's only thinking about running away."

Zhu Biao said from beside, "Let him go, it's good when the two children play well together."

Chang Wan gave him a cold look, "You're the one who only knows how to say nice things."

Zhu Biao sneered.

Zhu Yong watched his elder brother being kept obedient by his sister‑in‑law, and felt delighted.

The elder brother is imposing outside, but once home he's a henpecked husband.

Still, that's quite fine.

In the days that followed, Hu Weiyong still bounced around the court.

Every few days, an official would submit a memorial, defending Prince Wu, claiming the court mistreated the meritorious vassal.

Occasionally someone hinted that Prince Wu's merits were too great, and the Crown Prince should win him over more, lest friction arise.

Each time Zhu Yuanzhang heard it, he merely nodded, said "Understood," and then went on with whatever he was doing.

Zhu Biao was even more composed, his face forever bearing a gentle smile, leaving no flaw to be found.

As for Zhu Yong, he simply claimed illness to avoid court duties, staying in the residence to accompany his wife and children.

"Minister, Prince Wu has claimed illness," the aide reported.

Hu Weiyong furrowed his brow, "Claimed illness? When did that happen?"

"Three days ago, he said he fell off a horse and is recuperating at home."

"Fell? What a coincidence," Hu Weiyong squinted.

The aide whispered, "Minister, could Prince Wu have sensed something and is deliberately hiding?"

Hu Weiyong paused, shook his head and said, "No. If he had sensed anything, he would have come to settle accounts with me long ago. With his temper, whoever provokes him he would act on the spot.

Now he's hiding, which shows he never intended anything of that sort."

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the sky outside.

"Continue... if he doesn't come out, we'll force him out."

At the end of October, another disturbance erupted in the court.

Minister of Revenue Chen Ning submitted a memorial, stating that Prince Wu's previous conquest of the South Sea and his recent suppression of the rebellion yielded countless Gold and Silver treasures, which should be proportionally turned over to the state treasury rather than all belonging to Wu Wang Fu.

The words caused an uproar in the hall.

Everyone could see this was sowing discord between Prince Wu and the court.

Those treasures were taken by Prince Wu's own troops; by custom, spoils are partially turned over, the remainder belonging to the soldiers.

Prince Wu gave most of them to his subordinates, keeping little for himself.

Now demanding he turn them over to the treasury is plainly picking a fight, isn't it?

Zhu Biao stood among the civil officials, his face still bearing a gentle smile, but his gaze had grown cold.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the Dragon Throne, expressionless, looking down.

"Chen Ning, what do you mean by that?" Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly.

Chen Ning forced himself to speak, "Your Majesty, I am merely discussing the matter. Prince Wu, Your Highness, captured the South Sea and suppressed the rebellion, gaining abundant spoils; if all go to the Wang Fu, it may damage the court's prestige."

"Then how much do you think should be turned over?"

Chen Ning gritted his teeth and said, "I think at least half."

The hall fell silent.

Everyone looked toward Zhu Yong's seat... empty, Prince Wu had claimed illness and did not come.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao, expressionless, and said, "Crown Prince, what is your view?"

Zhu Biao stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Father Emperor, I, your son, think Minister Chen's words are inappropriate. According to military regulations, Prince Wu's spoils have already turned over thirty percent to the storehouse, the remainder is divided among the soldiers.

The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue both have accounts to verify; if Minister Chen is uneasy, he may send someone to audit."

Chen Ning's complexion changed.

Zhu Biao continued, "As for harming the court's prestige, Minister Chen, Prince Wu expanded Great Ming's frontiers, the soldiers fought in blood, so what if they receive some rewards? Should we make the soldiers bleed and weep?"

The remark was weighty; sweat beaded on Chen Ning's forehead.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, looked at Chen Ning and said, "Chen Ning, do you have anything else to say?"

Chen Ning fell to his knees, "I... I misspoke."

"Misspoke? I think you're not misspoken, but have ulterior motives," Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, though his smile was cold.

He stood, his voice low, yet caused everyone in the hall to hold their breath.

"Attendants, seize Chen Ning, hand him over to the Brocade Guard for interrogation; we shall see who ordered his nonsense."

"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me!" Chen Ning was dragged away, his wails fading into the distance.

The hall was dead silent.

Zhu Yuanzhang scanned the ministers, his gaze lingering a moment on Hu Weiyong's face.

Hu Weiyong lowered his head, his expression calm, but his back was already soaked through.

"Dismissed." Zhu Yuanzhang flicked his sleeve and left.

……

Wu Wang Fu.

Zhu Yong reclined in the rocking chair, listening to Zhang Wu's report to the throne.

"Chen Ning was captured?" he asked.

"Yes, the emperor seized him on the spot and handed him over to the Jin Yi Guard."

Zhu Yong nodded, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

This old Zhu, finally ready to act.

"What about Hu Weiyong?"

"Hu Xiang showed no reaction and returned to the residence after the dismissal," Zhang Wu said.

Zhu Yong chuckled, "Of course he showed no reaction; if he had, wouldn't his cover be blown?"

Zhang Wu scratched his head, not fully understanding.

Zhu Yong waved his hand and said, "Alright, go down! Tell the brothers to stay indoors these days and not cause trouble."

"Understood."

After Zhang Wu withdrew, Zhu Yong leaned back in the rocking chair, watching the clouds above.

Hu Weiyong, Hu Weiyong, you've been leaping around for so long; it's time to end it.

You thought you were scheming, but you were a monkey in your father's and elder brother's eyes from start to finish.

The higher you leap, the worse you fall.

I'm not saying this in jest.

"Father!"

Zhu Huanhuan's voice came from the backyard.

Zhu Yong turned his head and saw his daughter pulling his three‑year‑old son Zhu Qiong Jiong, stumbling as they ran over.

Zhu Qiong Jiong marched with his short legs, his face flushed red as he ran, but his eyes shone brightly.

"Father! Little brother says he wants to test his strength with you!" Zhu Huanhuan shouted.

Zhu Yong laughed, sat up, and looked at his younger son with interest: "Oh? You want to test strength with dad?"

Zhu Qiong Jiong nodded vigorously, his baby voice saying, "Match! Qiong Jiong is strong!"

Zhu Yong extended his hand and poked his son's little belly with a finger.

Zhu Qiong Jiong stepped back from the poke, but immediately lunged forward, grabbing Zhu Yong's finger and pulling hard.

That earnest little demeanor made Zhu Yong burst into hearty laughter.

This kid, already this strong at three, will surely be fiercer than his father when he grows up.

"Alright, when Qiong Jiong grows up, dad will teach you warfare." Zhu Yong lifted his son and planted a kiss.

Zhu Huanhuan pouted beside him, "Dad is favoring, only teaching the younger brother."

"You learn too; aren't you always dancing with knives and guns?" Zhu Yong laughed.

Zhu Huanhuan only then became happy.

Guanyin Nu stepped out of the backyard, watching her husband and two children tumble together, a smile curling at her mouth.

Days like these are truly wonderful.

In the distance, the setting sun sank slowly westward.

The myriad lights of Yingtian Fu lit up one after another.

In the twelfth year of the Hongwu reign, autumn seemed calm on the surface.

But some people won't be able to leap around much longer.