Chapter 473: I Don

Zhu Huanhuan whispered beside him, "Father, will those people in the court be harmful to you?"

"No. Your great‑uncle is here, and your imperial grandfather is also here; nothing can go wrong." Zhu Rong took a sip of tea and leaned against the pillar.

Guanyin Nu stepped out of the room, sat beside him, and whispered, "Prince, what do you intend to do about the affairs in the court?"

"Nothing much, whatever needs to be done will be done. Those people are just idle; they'll settle down after a while," Zhu Rong said calmly.

Guanyin Nu nodded and said nothing further.

She has followed him for so many years and knows his temperament.

He will speak what should be said, and asking about what shouldn't be said is useless.

A few more days passed, and the discussions in the court gradually subsided.

But the streets became lively; in the tea houses and taverns of Yingtian Prefecture City, people everywhere were talking about the matter.

"Did you hear? Prince Wu has been appointed King of the Realm, and he also commands the capital garrison Longxiang Army, as well as the various European forces."

"That's a lot of power; isn't the court afraid?"

"Afraid of what? Prince Wu is the Crown Prince's younger brother, and the Emperor trusts him; what could happen?"

"One cannot speak so lightly; great achievements can threaten the ruler! Throughout history, many great generals were killed by the Emperor after earning merit. Prince Wu's contributions are so great, and he has troops in his hand; can the Emperor be at ease?"

"Prince Wu is different; he is the Emperor's own son and the Crown Prince's brother. Can he be compared with those generals?"

"What does being a son matter? Didn't Emperor Taizong of Tang also kill his own brother?"

"Shh! Lower your voice, you're courting death!"

The voices of discussion rose and fell, covering every possible topic.

Inside Prince Wu's residence, Zhu Rong paid no heed to these rumors.

He went to the palace when he should, fished when he should, and spent time with the children when he should.

That afternoon, Zhu Rong was reading a military report sent from Europe in his study when Wang Gui entered from outside.

"Prince, someone outside wishes to see you."

"Who…"

"They say it's an Imperial Censor from the Censorate, surname Zhou."

Zhu Rong slightly raised an eyebrow.

Zhou Qing…

The censor who impeached him in the court that day.

"Let him in."

A moment later, Wang Gui brought in a civil official in his fifties.

The man wore a half‑worn official's robe, a single long whisker, a slender appearance, and after entering the study bowed deeply.

"I am the Left Censor‑in‑Chief of the Censorate, Zhou Qing, requesting audience with His Highness the King of the Realm."

Zhu Rong set the military report aside and pointed to the chair beside him, indicating he may sit.

"Censor Zhou, what business do you have with me?"

Zhou Qing did not sit; he stood there, hesitated for a moment, then suddenly knelt.

"Prince, I have a matter to request."

Zhu Rong looked at him without speaking.

Zhou Qing crouched on the ground, his voice trembling, "Prince, that day I impeached you in the court, I was acting on someone's orders."

Zhu Rong's expression remained calm, "Whose orders?"

"The Minister of Personnel Zhang Tingyu said, Prince Wu's achievements threaten the ruler; if not restrained, they will become a great disaster later. I was confused at the moment and went along with that suggestion."

"After returning, I kept thinking it was wrong, so I sent someone to investigate Zhang Tingyu's background."

"It turned out Zhang Tingyu was closely associated with several great families in Jiangnan; those families had previously been suppressed by the court because of Lv Ben's affair, harbored resentment, and sought to use the impeachment to sow discord between the court and you."

Zhou Qing's voice grew softer, and by the end it was almost inaudible.

Zhu Rong looked at him, paused in silence, then said, "Rise."

Zhou Qing scrambled up, neither kneeling nor standing, at a loss.

"Wang Gui, send someone to investigate Zhang Tingyu and see who he associates with," Zhu Rong said, turning his head.

Wang Gui responded with a nod and turned away.

Zhou Qing stood there, beads of sweat falling from his forehead.

"Censor Zhou, you come today to tell me this; aren't you afraid of Zhang Tingyu's retaliation?"

Zhou Qing clenched his teeth and said, "I am an official appointed by the court, not a lackey of anyone. Zhang Tingyu used me; if I continue to cover for him, what kind of official would I be?"

Zhu Rong's mouth twitched slightly.

"Alright, you may return. I'm aware of today's matter."

Zhou Qing was startled, "Prince, you don't blame me?"

"Blame you for what? You were used, and you didn't intend to harm me. Go back and serve properly as your censor, and stop being used as a weapon." Zhu Rong waved his hand.

Zhou Qing knelt, kowtowed three heavy bows, then rose and withdrew.

In the evening, Wang Gui returned from outside.

"Prince, the investigation shows Zhang Tingyu indeed has dealings with several Jiangnan families; those families were once close to Lv Ben, and after Lv Ben's nine‑clan extermination they have harbored resentment, seeking a chance for revenge."

"Which other members of those families hold office in the court?" Zhu Rong asked.

"There are a few serving in the Six Ministries and the Censorate, all minor officials with little real authority."

Zhu Rong nodded and asked no further.

These families cannot become a force.

Early the next morning, Zhu Rong entered the palace and relayed Zhou Qing's words to Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao listened, his expression calm, and his fingers lightly tapped the table.

"Second brother, I'll handle this matter; as for Zhang Tingyu's affairs, you need not concern yourself."

Zhu Yong nodded and replied, "Alright, I won't interfere; I'll leave it all to elder brother."

Zhu Biao looked at him, then laughed, "Second brother, do you know? Those people aren't actually afraid of you; they're afraid of us brothers working together."

Zhu Yong also laughed.

Several days later, a major incident occurred in the court.

Ministry of Personnel Assistant Minister Zhang Tingyu was stripped of his office and investigated, accused of colluding with Jiangnan aristocratic families, forming factions for personal gain, and speaking presumptuously about state affairs.

Zhu Yuanzhang personally issued an edict; without even ordering an investigation, he directly pronounced guilt.

When Zhang Tingyu was escorted out of Wu Men, his complexion was ashen, he shouted "Injustice!" but no one paid him any heed.

The minor officials from those Jiangnan aristocratic families in the court were also dismissed en masse, never to be reinstated.

The whole realm was shaken.

The people who had previously discussed Zhu Yong together with Zhang Tingyu now huddled their necks, no longer daring to speak.

The chatter in the streets gradually subsided.

Zhu Yong sat in the study of Wu Wang Fu, holding the military report that had been sent from America.

Chang Yuchun's handwriting remained as rough and hasty as ever, but its contents were uplifting.

The Inca Empire had been completely annihilated, and its capital Cuzco was under the control of the Ming army.

The gold was being tallied, already packed into several hundred boxes, and was being shipped by sea to Great Ming.

Zhu Yong finished reading and placed the report on the table.

The situation in America was also nearing its end.

After the Inca Empire's fall, the entire American continent had no worthy opponents left; the remaining task was to take city after city.

Guanyin Nu entered carrying a bowl of soup and set it on the table.

"Prince, it's late at night; have a bowl of soup to warm yourself."

Zhu Yong took it, drank a sip.

Outside the window, moonlight was like water.

In the distance, toward the Qinhuai River, the faint clang of a night watchman's gong could be heard.