Chapter 32: Punishment

Zhu Biao smiles and says, "You know you were wrong, then tell me, where was the mistake?"

Zhu Shuang says, "The mistake is… the mistake is skipping class."

"Anything else?"

"Also… catching fish from the Imperial Garden."

"Anything else?"

The two stare at each other, unable to think of anything else.

Zhu Biao stands, walks to them and says, "First, skipping class is disrespecting the teacher. Teacher Song is a great scholar of the age; Imperial Father invited him to teach you, yet you slipped out to catch fish. That is disrespecting elders."

"Second, catching fish from the Imperial Garden violates palace rules; those fish are for display, not for you to grill and eat. That's acting without regard for regulations."

"Third, you make father and mother worry, disappoint the eldest brother. Father is occupied with countless state affairs, mother is in poor health yet still worries about you; the eldest brother handles court matters daily and still finds time to check on your studies. And you? This is how you repay them."

Zhu Biao gazes at them slowly and says,

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang lower their heads.

"Most importantly, you are princes; princes who don't study and lack understanding—how will you assist Imperial Father in the future?"

"How will you govern your fiefdoms?"

"How will you serve the people?"

Zhu Biao sighs and continues, "Lao San, you are thirteen; in a few years you'll be sent to your fief. You can't even recite the Analects fully now; when you reach your fief, how will you govern?"

Zhu Shuang's face turns bright red.

"The fourth, you're eleven, not a child either; you're older than Fifth Prince, yet your learning is still inferior to his. Tell me, how did your older brother become so?"

Zhu Gang feels ashamed and unable to bear it.

Zhu Biao returns to his seat, sits, and says to Zhu Yong, "Second brother, what do you think, how should we punish them?"

Zhu Yong hesitates, "I… I don't know…"

"You are their Second Prince, you have a duty to discipline; you saw today's incident, what do you think the punishment should be?" Zhu Biao says.

Zhu Yong thinks, then earnestly says, "Skipping class is wrong, they should be beaten."

"Where to beat? How many times?" Zhu Biao asks.

"Beat their palms! Ten strikes." Zhu Yong says.

Zhu Biao nods, "Fine, as you said—Lao San, the fourth, extend your hands."

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang, with bitter faces, extend their hands.

Zhu Biao says to Zhu Yong, "Second brother, you strike."

"I…" Zhu Yong widens his eyes.

"You are the Second Prince, you strike… remember, make them feel the pain, but don't break them." Zhu Biao says.

Zhu Yong looks at his own hand, then at his two younger brothers' hands.

His hand, a single hammer blow could kill hundreds, yet to strike palms…

"Eldest brother, my hand is heavy…" he whispers.

"It must be heavy; if it's light they won't remember." Zhu Biao says with a smile.

Zhu Yong has no choice but to walk over and take the Disciplinary Ruler handed by Song Lian.

Song Lian watches nearby, silently nodding in his heart.

The Crown Prince's move is clever: he lets Prince Wu do the beating, which both demonstrates fraternal discipline and prevents the two princes from bearing a grudge. Prince Wu is a simpleton; when he hits, he is neither light nor heavy, making the strike futile.

Moreover, it lets Prince Wu establish authority before these brothers; in the future Prince Wu will surely become the Zongzheng (Imperial Censor) (Imperial Censor).

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang look at the Disciplinary Ruler in Zhu Yong's hand, their legs go weak.

"Second Prince, lighter…" Zhu Shuang pleads.

Zhu Yong says nothing, lifts the ruler.

"Bang!"

The first strike lands on Zhu Shuang's palm.

Zhu Shuang lets out an "Aoo!" and his palm instantly turns red.

Zhu Yong pulls back to ninety‑nine percent of his strength, yet even so it is painful enough.

"Bang!"

The second strike.

Zhu Shuang's tears start to flow.

After ten strikes, Zhu Shuang's hand swells like a steamed bun.

Now it's Zhu Gang's turn.

Zhu Gang trembles in fear.

"Extend your hand." Zhu Yong says.

Zhu Gang shakily extends his hand.

"Bang!"

The same ten strikes leave Zhu Gang's hand swollen as well.

After finishing, Zhu Biao says, "Alright, remember this pain; next time you skip class, it won't be as simple as beating palms."

The two nod repeatedly.

"Also, from today onward, each day you must set aside an extra hour to make up today's missed lessons. Teacher Song, please attend to it." Zhu Biao adds.

Song Lian quickly replies, "Your humble servant, as you command."

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang's faces collapse.

"Now, copy the first five chapters of the Analects ten times and bring them to me tomorrow; if you don't finish, you may not eat." Zhu Biao says.

The two answered with grim faces.

Zhu Biao finally rose and said to Zhu Yong, "Second brother, come with me."

Zhu Yong followed Zhu Biao out of the Great Hall.

When they reached the corridor, Zhu Biao stopped, turned his head to Zhu Yong and said, "Second brother, you did well today."

Zhu Yong scratched his head and said, "I just did as Elder Brother instructed."

"I know your hand is heavy; you restrained your strength, otherwise Third Brother and Fourth Brother's hands would be ruined," Zhu Biao laughed.

Zhu Yong said innocently, "They are my younger brothers; I can't beat them up."

Zhu Biao patted his shoulder and said, "You seem simple on the surface, but you understand well inside."

Zhu Yong said nothing.

He truly understood.

After his past‑life memories awakened, he realized Zhu Biao's place in history—the benevolent but early‑died Crown Prince.

But now, history has already changed.

Chang Yuchun did not die; he returned, and Zhu Biao can also live longer.

Moreover, he found that this Elder Brother truly matches the records: outwardly kind, but actually highly skillful.

Today, Zhu Yuanzhang will beat them with a board—real beating—and after that there will inevitably be a rift between brothers.

Zhu Biao made Zhu Yong strike his palm, both as punishment and to let the two younger brothers know it is Elder Brother's discipline, not Imperial Father's penalty.

After the beating, they must also do extra study copying books; that is the real punishment—physical pain fades in days, but the academic burden remains, a lasting hardship.

"Elder Brother, you're really kind to me," Zhu Yong suddenly said.

Zhu Biao was startled, then smiled, "You're my own brother; if I'm not kind to you, who else would I be kind to?"

"But you're also kind to Third Brother and Fourth Brother; although you punish them, you didn't let Father beat them with a board," Zhu Yong said.

Zhu Biao sighed, "You know Imperial Father's temper; if he really beat them, Third Brother and Fourth Brother would be bedridden for half a month. We are brothers; we discipline when we can, and we must not let outsiders mock us."

He paused, then added, "Second brother, remember, the few of us brothers must support each other in the future; the realm Father secured must be defended together by us."

Zhu Yong nodded, "I understand, I'll help Elder Brother guard it."

Zhu Biao laughed, clasped his shoulder and said, "Let's go to Kunning Palace; mother must be waiting."

The two walked toward Kunning Palace.

The setting sun stretched the brothers' shadows long.

In the Great Hall, Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang copied books while gritting their teeth.

Zhu Di leaned over and said, "Third Brother, Fourth Brother, does it still hurt?"

"No kidding! Let Second Brother hit you ten times and see!" Zhu Shuang glared at him.

Zhu Gang said with a grim face, "Second Brother's hand is too heavy…"

Song Lian said from beside them, "Prince, Prince Wu has already eased his force; if you truly exerted strength, both of your hand bones would be shattered."

The two shivered.

Zhu Di whispered, "Who told you to skip class… you deserve it."

"Fifth Prince, you're looking for a beating, right?" Zhu Shuang raised his swollen hand as if to strike.

Zhu Di quickly stepped aside and said, "I'm speaking honestly! Look at Second Brother, never skips class, always diligent!"

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang fell silent.

They looked at their swollen, painful hands, then at the thick books on the table, and finally understood a principle.

Under Elder Brother's discipline, the price of skipping class is far greater than under Father's.

Father's beating ends it.

Elder Brother's beating is followed by extra study, copying books, and further training…

This black‑hearted dumpling is too cruel!

At this moment, in Kunning Palace, Empress Ma, after hearing Zhu Biao's report, laughed, "Biao handled it well; he punished them but didn't damage the brothers' harmony."

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted, "That was cheap for those two kids!"

Zhu Yong said innocently, "Father, their hands are swollen and it hurts."

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression softened slightly and he said, "It's good they feel pain! If they don't, they won't remember."

He looked at Zhu Biao, then at Zhu Yong, and suddenly laughed, "You two, one playing the angry face, the other the gentle face, you cooperate well."

Zhu Biao smiled, "It's Second brother who cooperates well."

Zhu Yong scratched his head, "I just follow Elder Brother."

Empress Ma held the two sons' hands, her eyes slightly red, "Your brotherly harmony puts mother at ease."

Outside the window, dusk deepened.

The palace lights flickered on one by one.

In the Great Hall, Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang were still miserably copying books.

And this night's lesson kept them from daring to skip class for at least half a year.