Chapter 262: Take Action

The thirteenth year of Hongwu, the sixth day of the fifth month.

Early in the morning, Hu Weiyong sent someone into the palace to deliver a notice, stating that a sweet spring had gushed from the well of his old residence, honey‑sweet, a heavenly omen, and inviting His Majesty to the mansion for a look.

Zhu Yuanzhang read the notice and casually handed it to Zhu Biao beside him.

"Sweet spring? Hu Weiyong certainly knows how to find an excuse," Zhu Biao smiled and said.

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted, "Whatever omen it is, we know what's what. Biao, what do you think?"

Zhu Biao set the notice down, his voice gentle, "Father, since they've invited us, refusing would make us seem stingy. But what exactly does this omen look like? I also want to see it for myself."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, looked at Zhu Yong, who was sitting at the lower seat munching a snack, and said, "Yong Er, what about you?"

Zhu Yong shoved the last bite of osmanthus cake into his mouth, clapped his hands and said, "Father, I'm coming along. When you go out, I must bring my hammer."

Zhu Yuanzhang heard that and immediately laughed, "Fine, bring it. I want to see what kind of medicine Hu Weiyong is selling in that gourd."

……

At Shi Jing, at Yuefu.

Hu Weiyong, with a group of family members and servants, waited early outside the mansion gate.

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's imperial carriage approaching from afar, he immediately knelt and shouted "Long live!".

The carriage stopped, Zhu Yuanzhang lifted the curtain, smiling, "Lord Hu, rise! Today you are here to show the omen, no need for excessive courtesy."

Hu Weiyong stood, looked up, and saw a carriage following the imperial one, with two people seated inside.

One was Crown Prince Zhu Biao, the other Prince Wu Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong sat on the carriage pole, with the iconic drum‑jar golden hammers placed beside him.

The two large hammers glimmered with a dark, heavy sheen in the sunlight, looking weighty to the eye.

Hu Weiyong's heart leapt, though his face showed nothing, and he smiled as he greeted, "Crown Prince, Prince Wu, you both have arrived; my humble abode truly shines today."

Zhu Biao stepped down from the carriage, gently saying, "Lord Hu, no need for flattery; I also wish to see the sweet‑spring omen."

Zhu Yong leapt down, hoisted the Double Hammers, and said in a simple tone, "Lord Hu, can your well really gush sweet water? I haven't seen it before."

Hu Weiyong smiled, "Prince Wu, once you go in you'll see, please…"

The party entered Yuefu.

Yuefu occupied a sizable area, with three courtyards, carved beams and painted rafters, very imposing.

Passing through Qian Ting into the central courtyard, indeed a well stood at the courtyard's center, surrounded by a circle of people pointing and gesturing.

"His Majesty, please look, this is the well. Yesterday a servant drew water and suddenly a sweet spring burst forth; I have tasted it myself, it is certainly different from ordinary well water," Hu Weiyong led Zhu Yuanzhang to the well's edge and said.

Zhu Yuanzhang leaned forward to look; the well water was clear, reflecting the sky's light.

He signaled the eunuch beside him to fetch a bucket.

The eunuch filled half a bucket of water, poured it into a silver bowl, and presented it to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang took it, sipped, and his brows twitched slightly.

Indeed sweet.

A few points sweeter than the palace's imperial spring water.

"It truly is an omen, Lord Hu, how long has this well been gushing?" Zhu Yuanzhang set the bowl down and asked Hu Weiyong.

Hu Weiyong respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, it began yesterday and has not stopped since."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, then suddenly asked, "Lord Hu, what do you think this omen is in response to?"

Hu Weiyong was startled, then smiled, "I am foolish and dare not guess Heaven's will, but I think, Your Majesty's dragon body is healthy, the Crown Prince virtuous, Prince Wu brave, Great Ming's fortunes flourishing; this omen naturally corresponds to all that."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, "Lord Hu, your mouth truly knows how to speak."

Hu Weiyong forced a smile, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Zhu Yong, bearing his hammer, stood behind Zhu Yuanzhang, his gaze appearing simple yet taking in everything around.

In the courtyard, besides Yuefu's servants, there were many unfamiliar faces, each broad‑shouldered and round‑waisted, eyes sharp, constantly glancing at others' waists when they looked.

Zhu Yong sneered inwardly.

These people were probably already lying in ambush.

"Lord Hu, your courtyard is quite large; may I wander around?" Zhu Yong suddenly asked.

Hu Weiyong's smile stiffened, then he said, "Prince Wu, feel free, but the rear courtyard has women of the household, Prince…"

"I won't go to the rear courtyard," Zhu Yong waved his hand, hoisted his hammer, and headed toward the eastern Moon Gate.

Hu Weiyong's eyes flickered, wanting to follow, but Zhu Biao called him back.

"Lord Hu, I have heard that you have been getting rather close with several Jiangnan aristocratic families lately?" Zhu Biao said gently.

Hu Weiyong's heart leapt, hurriedly replying, "Prince, you are perceptive; I am merely conducting normal exchanges…"

"Normal exchanges are fine; I was just asking in passing," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

Hu Weiyong's forehead beaded with fine sweat.

……

Zhu Yong, bearing his hammer, passed through the Moon Gate and arrived at the eastern cross courtyard.

The courtyard was small, yet more than twenty Strongmen stood there, each clad in coarse short robes, their waists bulging with pouches.

When Zhu Yong entered, the men tensed; one who seemed to be the leader forced a smile and said, "Sir, this is where the servants rest, you…"

"I am Prince Wu, just looking around," Zhu Yong said coolly.

Prince Wu!

The faces of the more than twenty men all changed at once.

Zhu Yong, bearing his hammer, strolled leisurely past them, appraising as he went.

Hidden at his waist was a short sword.

In his sleeve was a dagger.

There were a few more, their backs bulging, as if they were hiding crossbows.

Zhu Yong walked to the far end of the courtyard, turned, and then sauntered back.

When he reached the side of the leader, he stopped, looked at them with a half‑smile and said, "The things you're hiding on your bodies are oddly unsettling."

The leading big man's face turned ashen, his mouth opened to argue, but Zhu Yong had already walked off, bearing a hammer.

……

In the inner courtyard, Hu Weiyong was conversing with Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, but his heart was restless.

Prince Wu went to the East Cross Courtyard, where more than thirty axe‑men were hidden; if…

"Lord Hu."

A simple‑hearted voice sounded from behind.

Hu Weiyong turned and saw Zhu Yong returning, hammer on his shoulder, his face bearing his characteristic goofy grin.

"Prince Wu, finished your stroll?" Hu Weiyong forced a laugh.

"Finished. Lord Hu, those people in the East Cross Courtyard who hide knives and crossbows—what are they for?" Zhu Yong nodded, then stared at Hu Weiyong with a strange look and said slowly.

The moment those words were spoken, the courtyard fell silent.

Hu Weiyong's smile froze on his face.

Zhu Yuanzhang set down his tea cup, looked at Hu Weiyong, his gaze gradually sharpening.

"Lord Hu, we'd also like to ask, why does your household hide so many axe‑men?"

Cold sweat beaded on Hu Weiyong's forehead; he opened his mouth but could not speak.

At that moment, countless silhouettes surged from the courtyard's periphery—those ambushed axe‑men, seeing the plot exposed, poured out in a wave.

The leading big man shouted, "His Majesty has noticed; strike!"