Daming: I am the Crown Prince

Chapter 62 The Birth of a Wise King
The Eastern Palace was filled with gloom and sorrow, which was like a bolt from the blue and a devastating disaster for Lu and Zhu Yunwen.

It's a complete failure. There is no chance anymore. Some things are completely settled.

Concubine Guo Ning brought some eunuchs and maids to take over the Eastern Palace directly. All the eunuchs and maids who were originally employed here were taken away. Even if they were planning to move the Crown Princess and others to other palaces, they would not use the original Eastern Palace staff.

Lu naturally understood what this meant. She knew that this was the emperor's caution against her. From now on, she could only live in the secluded palace under the supervision of the emperor and the grandson who was about to be enthroned. She also knew that she had no chance.

She hated Zhu Yunwen for his incompetence, as he suddenly suffered a miserable defeat when the situation was going very well.

She also hated Lao Zhu, who was truly merciless and extremely biased.

The person she hated the most was naturally Zhu Yunhuan. That man was so scheming that she was deceived by him for many years!

Zhu Yunhuan had mixed emotions. Two months ago, he could only escape from the East Palace by taking the sword. But when he came back again, he would become the de facto master of this palace.

When the eunuch delivered the report, Mrs. Lu, who had been looking miserable, wiped her face and a kind smile appeared on her face.

In the past, she carefully served Princess Chang and flattered him in every way. In recent years, she has been very gentle in front of Zhu Biao. Making people like her and get close to her is also Lu's forte.

Zhu Yunhuan smiled, bowed and said, "Meet the Crown Princess."

Mrs. Lu was still affectionate and worried, "My prince has lost a lot of weight recently. If you lose weight, how can I explain to my sister?"

After saying that, Lu scolded Zhu Yunwen, "Aren't you going to perform the ceremony yet?"

Zhu Yunxuan was less than ten years old after all, so he couldn't hide his thoughts, and reluctantly said, "Meet the third brother, the eldest sister, and the second sister."

Zhu Yunhuan said directly, "There's no need to get angry with him. The child is young and doesn't understand. The Crown Princess is also busy, so let's go to the study and talk."

Turning to look at Zhu Yourong and Zhu Youling, "Sisters, please help keep an eye on them and don't let outsiders get close. Yunwen, come with me."

Zhu Yunwen, who was standing aside, was filled with humiliation. He wanted to refute, refuse, and even criticize Zhu Yunhuan for his lack of etiquette. However, no matter how dissatisfied he was and how his expression kept changing, he finally just followed him obediently.

Zhu Yourong and Zhu Youling were like door gods, blocking Zhang Fusheng and others who wanted to follow with cold faces. Not to mention at the door of the study, even approaching the study was not allowed.

Zhu Yunxun got straight to the point and said, "It's fine like today. You don't like me, and I won't get close to you. But after all, we are all members of the Zhu family, and we have to save face. There is no private matter in the royal family, and our fight is too fierce and ugly."

Mrs. Lu quickly smiled and said, "My prince, what are you talking about? You grew up in front of me, and you and Yunwen are brothers. How can there be any fight? It's just a play between two brothers when they were young, and no one takes it to heart."

"If that's the case, that would be great." Zhu Yunxun laughed and then said, "It's better to say some ugly words in advance."

Zhu Yunhuan became serious and said, "Our Zhu family is different from other dynasties. We should not fight when the imperial power is transferred. Yunwen and I cannot set this precedent. Otherwise, if our descendants follow our example, we will be sinners!"

Seeing that Lu was about to speak, Zhu Yunhuan interrupted directly, "We are all smart people, so let's not say polite words."

Zhu Yunhuan looked at Lu and said seriously, "You are now the Crown Princess, and you may even be honored as the Empress Dowager in the future. But you have to understand that, firstly, my three brothers are not capable of anything, secondly, you have no help inside or outside the court, and thirdly, I am not a soft-hearted person. Therefore, you have everything you deserve, including fine clothes, delicious food, glory and wealth. Just be more responsible, and you will have everything."

Mrs. Lu's face turned red in an instant. She was very angry, but she didn't dare to refute at all.

Zhu Yunwen glared at Zhu Yunhuan, feeling humiliated and angry, but he dared not speak. Not only could he not beat Zhu Yunhuan, but he was also afraid of this overbearing brother with deep thoughts.

Zhu Yunhuan looked at Lu and continued, "Take good care of the fourth and fifth brothers. After all, they are my brothers. Whether they will be crowned king in the future still depends on my mood. It would be better for you to learn from Yunwen and go to a prosperous place. There are also many bad places. Do you understand?" Lu lowered his head and said "hmm" after a long time.

"Don't say anything resentful, and don't associate with court officials and wives, that's all." Zhu Yunhuan smiled and continued, "The Lu family has no offspring, but there are branches. For the sake of your brothers, you may be able to get a job in the future. But if you don't know your way around, and the Lu family's incense is cut off, then you can only blame yourself."

Mrs. Lu was terrified at this moment, because the future of her sons and her family members could be easily decided by the young man in front of her.

Then Zhu Yunhuan looked at Zhu Yunwen and said, "Don't be so dissatisfied. I have never thought of killing you, even though we had a big fight. After all, we are brothers, and I don't want the world to laugh at me."

Zhu Yunhuan looked at Zhu Yunwen and continued, "I am not Emperor Xiaohui, so I can't protect you all the time. I think that we two brothers can follow the example of Emperor Xiaowen and Emperor Xiaojing. If you really want, I can ride in the same car with you. Liang Xiaowang and Huainan Wang Liu Chang are brothers and sisters. I am not Cao Pi, let alone Hu Hai, do you understand?"

Zhu Yunwen was so angry that he was gasping for breath, but he had no idea how to refute.

Regardless of Zhu Yunwen's expression, Zhu Yunhuan continued, "You are kind and studious. When you go to Hangzhou, you can discuss scriptures and doctrines with your teacher Huang and travel around. I don't care whether you want to indulge in mountains and rivers or enjoy singing and dancing."

Zhu Yunhuan changed the subject and continued, "Don't complain and don't contact officials, that's all. Think about your mother, think about your brothers, and think about the distance between Hangzhou and Yingtian Prefecture. Do you understand?"

Zhu Yunwen clenched his fists and said in a trembling voice, "I understand."

Zhu Yunxun laughed and said, "It's best if you understand. I don't have the personality of my father. The emperor's uncles can be forgiven no matter how much trouble they make. It's hard for me to do those things. It's not easy to discipline my uncles, after all, they are elders. But I can discipline my brothers."

Zhu Yunwen suddenly looked up and thought of what his father had mentioned when he was alive.

His kindness can only be reflected when the uncles are domineering and lawless. He protects the uncles again and again, and everyone only praises the prince's friendship, and even if there are complaints, they are directed at the emperor.

And now, he is likely to become the 'chicken' to be killed to scare the monkeys, and become the target for Zhu Yunhuan to scare his uncles.

Zhu Yunhuan didn't care what Zhu Yunwen was thinking and said, "Normally, a prince who is enfeoffed has three guards, two guard posts, and a ceremonial guard. Since you are not a real prince, one guard post and one ceremonial guard will be enough. You don't know military affairs, I will arrange it for you."

Zhu Yunwen gritted his teeth and mustered up the courage to ask, "Is this under house arrest?"

"House arrest?" Zhu Yunxun was amused. "I don't have the time for that. No one will control you when you travel around, and no one will control you at other times. Just remember, the officials and soldiers in the palace are all from the imperial court."

Zhu Yunhuan smiled and looked at Lu and Zhu Yunwen. "Don't worry about the two of you. Just be good. It's good for you and for me. Don't think too much about killing people. I'm not that petty, and there's no need to argue with you."

Lu and Zhu Yunwen were not so optimistic. They thought they could not do it. At most, the time was not right, so they were so lenient.

Zhu Yunhuan didn't care what they thought, there was really no need.

Zhu Yunhuan, who was about to leave, suddenly remembered something and said to Zhu Yunwen, "Oh, right, you have always been kind to the wise and studious, so you will definitely be a wise king. The court now gives the princes of the royal family 50,000 dan of rice and 25,000 strings of banknotes every year. Not to mention other things, the princes of the counties also get 2,000 dan. The royal family is treated unprecedentedly well, and this is the grace of grandfather."

Zhu Yunhuan continued, "You are a wise king, and you should consider the difficulties faced by the court. Please write a letter to the emperor before you are enfeoffed, asking for a reduction in your annual salary. Grandfather and I will definitely not approve it, but you still have to write a letter, do you understand?"

Zhu Yunwen couldn't help crying for a moment. It was not only a huge humiliation, but also he felt that he would become a villain among the royal family in the future.

He would do bad things, and his overbearing brother would threaten him with the lives of his mother, concubine, brother, and others. He, the prince, would always take the lead in any bad things, doing things that offended the royal family and benefited the court.

Zhu Yunhuan left the study. Anyway, you, Zhu Yunwen, don’t care about the life and death of the royal family. If you offend me, then so be it. We will not have any contact with each other in the future.

Furthermore, as the 'imperial brother', he still has some special role. A living imperial brother is a better role model than a dead imperial brother!
(End of this chapter)