Chapter 296: What a Sin!

That night Feng An drank too much wine, brandished his sword and stormed into the steward's quarters, slashing the steward down, then rushed into the Lu family's room and cut down the Lu family and the child as well.

Zhu Biao continued, "The next morning, after sobering up, he went to the government office and turned himself in."

Zhu Biao felt a lingering fear; this Lu Chan had once almost become his concubine.

A brief hush fell over Qianqing Palace.

Empress Ma shook her head, sighed, and said, "What a sin."

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression remained calm as he said, "Feng Sheng entered the palace yesterday, knelt before us and pleaded, saying Feng An is his only nephew, begging us to spare his life."

"Father, what did you decide?" Zhu Yong asked.

Zhu Yuanzhang replied, "We had it investigated; indeed, as Feng An claimed, the Lu family did not uphold a woman's virtue, had an illicit affair, and even bore a wicked offspring."

"Feng An killed a person; though guilty, there are mitigating circumstances, so we fined him five thousand taels of silver and sent him back to his hometown to stay."

Zhu Yong nodded.

This punishment was neither severe nor light.

Five thousand taels of silver meant little to the Feng family.

Returning home was merely a period away from the court.

Compared with a death for murder, this was already a lenient sentence.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him and said, "Yong Er, what do you think of our judgment?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said earnestly, "Father's judgment is fair; the Lu family was undisciplined, so it's no wonder Feng An killed someone. Still, Feng An did kill a person, so a fine and a return home for reflection is appropriate."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said nothing more.

Zhu Biao said beside him, "When Feng Sheng left yesterday, tears streamed down his face, saying his Feng family had wronged His Majesty; Imperial Father comforted him briefly, telling him not to overthink it."

Zhu Yong listened, but his mind recalled another matter.

Lu Chan is dead.

The woman who almost became empress in history and bore the Jianwen Emperor ended her life in this world in this manner.

She was given in marriage to an unloved man, had an affair, bore a wicked child, and was then hacked to death by her husband.

Along with that innocent child.

He lifted his head and looked toward the hall's exterior.

The sunlight was bright, shining on the courtyard's accumulated snow, dazzlingly bright.

……

Leaving Qianqing Palace, it was already Shi Jing.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong walked side by side along the palace corridor.

"Second brother, what do you think of Feng An's case?" Zhu Biao suddenly asked.

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "Feng An did it splendidly."

Zhu Biao nodded, "I think the same. As for the Lu family… sigh, to put it plainly, it was Lv Ben who harmed her, teaching her those things from childhood, making her think that entering the Eastern Palace meant something, but in the end she met this fate."

Zhu Yong gave no reply.

He knew Zhu Biao harbored a lingering grudge over Lu Chan's matter.

Back then, Lu Chan danced at the Wan Shou banquet, deliberately falling toward Zhu Biao to attract his attention.

Zhu Biao appeared gentle on the surface, but his mind was sharp.

Later Lv Ben was exterminated along with the Nine Clans; Lu Chan should have died with him, but Feng Sheng's pleading saved her life.

Zhu Biao said nothing at the time, but Zhu Yong knew his elder brother was aware.

"Elder brother, is Feng An's matter just to be let go?" Zhu Yong asked.

Zhu Biao glanced at him and laughed, "What else? Imperial Father has already ruled; it can't be changed. Moreover, Feng An killed someone and was terrified himself. Feng Sheng wept like that; could Imperial Father have slashed him?"

Feng Sheng wept like that; could Imperial Father have slashed him?

Zhu Yong nodded.

The two reached Fengtian Gate, and Zhu Biao halted.

……

Returning to Wu Wang Fu, it was already noon.

Guanyin Nu took the children to rest, and Zhu Yong sat alone in the study.

He pulled the stack of blueprints from his bosom and flipped through them page by page.

Lathes, milling machines, planing machines, drilling machines…

Each blueprint was drawn clearly, every component labeled with dimensions and material, and each process detailed.

He closed his eyes, and images of the machines operating floated in his mind.

With these, one could machine more precise parts.

Precise parts would allow the creation of better steam engines, better generators, better artillery.

Steam engine efficiency could rise, and service life could be extended.

Generator rotors could turn more steadily, and coils could be wound tighter.

Barrel rifling could be straighter, and bullet accuracy higher.

Step by step, everything was on the right track.

He opened his eyes and carefully put the blueprints away.

These items must be handed to the Ministry of Works promptly.

But they cannot be given all at once; it must be done gradually.

First give the lathes so they can learn to use them.

Once they master the lathes, give them the milling machines.

Learned the milling machine, then also the planer and the drill press.

Step by step, digest it slowly.

He stood up and walked to the window.

In the courtyard, the sunlight was just right.

Zhu QiongJiong was holding that fifty‑jin Stone Lock, running back and forth across the open ground, shouting something.

Zhu Huanhuan sat under the corridor, cradling a book in their hands, occasionally looking up at the younger brother, a smile on their face.

In the distance, the sound of cooking came from the kitchen, and curling smoke rose.

Zhu Yong watched all this, a smile lifting at the corner of his mouth.

With family by his side, the world was at peace.

Enough.

……

In the evening, Zhu Yong went to the Ministry of Works.

Inside the Ministry of Works Office, the on‑duty official saw Prince Wu, jumped in surprise, and hurriedly paid his respects.

Zhu Yong waved his hand, telling them to summon the few old craftsmen in charge of machinery.

The old craftsmen came trembling, not knowing what Prince Wu wanted.

Zhu Yong said little more, took out the lathe Blueprint and spread it on the table.

"Take a look at this; how much can you understand?"

The old craftsmen crowded over, glanced for a moment, and their eyes lit up.

"Prince, this thing… this thing is great!"

"This rotating shaft, this tool holder, this lead screw… I've pondered all my life and never conceived such a delicate structure!"

"Prince, who drew this?"

Zhu Yong said with a smile, "It was given by the White-bearded Old Man; study it at your leisure, first build this lathe, and once it's done, there are other things."

The old craftsmen nodded repeatedly, their hands trembling with excitement.

Zhu Yong watched them, and a complex feeling suddenly surged in his heart.

These people, who have spent their lives dealing with iron lumps, are happier seeing a good Blueprint than seeing gold.

They will not know what these Blueprints represent.

Nor will they know what these things will become a hundred or two hundred years later.

But they know this is a good thing.

That is enough.

……

Leaving the Ministry of Works, the sky was already dark.

The street was quiet, occasional lanterns lit up, casting vague outlines.

Zhu Yong rode his horse, slowly heading toward Wang Fu.

Passing a lane entrance, he suddenly heard crying coming from inside.

He tightened his reins and glanced into the lane.

Deep in the lane, beneath a dim lantern, a woman cradling a child squatted on the ground, crying.

Next to her stood a man, head lowered, silent.

Zhu Yong frowned and said to the Chen Heng beside him, "Go take a look."

Chen Heng dismounted and entered the lane.

A moment later, he reported, "Prince, it's a Husband and Wife; the man said their child is ill and they have no money for medicine. He asked the landlord for a loan, and the landlord drove him out."

Zhu Yong was silent for a moment, then took a silver coin from his bosom and handed it to Chen Heng.

"Give it to them."

Chen Heng took it and went back into the lane.

The woman received the silver, stared blankly for a long while, then, holding the child, knelt toward the lane entrance and kowtowed a few times.

Zhu Yong had already turned his horse and was slowly moving away.

Chen Heng caught up to him and couldn't help asking, "Prince, how do you know that's true?"

Zhu Yong glanced at him, smiled, and said, "I don't know, but if it were true, the child could live."

Chen Heng was stunned for a moment and said nothing further.

The sound of hooves echoed on the stone‑paved road.

In the distance, the lanterns of Wu Wang Fu were already lit.