Volume One, Chapter 20: Just Finished Praising, and Then Pulled Off a Bold Move?

“Your Highness, you cannot take Xiaoxiong’s situation lightly. You must arrange for the imperial physician to examine his health every day,” someone advised.

“Even if he doesn’t contract smallpox, he could fall ill in other ways.”

Faced with Jiang Lin’s solemn expression, everyone present felt a renewed tension in the air. They naturally sensed that his words carried a deeper meaning.

Jiang Lin spoke slowly, “The exact cause of Xiaoxiong’s death is not recorded in history; smallpox is merely a rumor.”

“Your Highness, do you remember what I told you when you entered earlier today?”

“Are you implying…”

Zhu Biao’s breath suddenly quickened.

Jiang Lin nodded, “If I hadn’t intervened, how do you think things would have unfolded?”

After a moment’s thought, Zhu Biao replied, “First, with Lady Chang’s death by poisoning, I would have made Lady Lü the new Crown Princess. Then, after Xiaoxiong’s passing, I would have focused all attention on Yunwen…”

At this point, Zhu Biao’s eyes widened, yet his reason warned him not to jump to conclusions.

“Could it be that…”

Before Zhu Biao could finish, Jiang Lin interrupted, “Your Highness, are you suggesting that all this might be mere coincidence?”

“What if I told you that before Lady Chang died, she left behind a son named Zhu Yunxu, who was entrusted to Lady Lü’s care, only to grow into an utterly dissipated scoundrel?”

“Could that also be a coincidence?”

“This…”

Zhu Biao found himself speechless, unable to find a suitable rebuttal.

With these words, Jiang Lin laid everything out plainly.

He did not wish to see the tragedy of the Ming dynasty repeat itself.

Perhaps, by changing things here, the Ming could embrace a fresh beginning.

“Biao’er!”

Zhu Yuanzhang shouted at Zhu Biao, his hands clenched tightly into fists.

“This is a matter of your Eastern Palace; I will not interfere. I hope you can handle it well and deliver a satisfactory outcome to me!”

“I trusted you enough not to place spies in the Eastern Palace, but I never expected that would indirectly lead to so many deaths…”

At these words, the old emperor’s face showed a trace of regret.

Zhu Biao nodded, his emotions complex.

He never imagined that the seemingly virtuous Lady Lü was such a venomous woman. He had already discreetly investigated the Eastern Palace yesterday and now had a specific target.

The next step would be easier—just find the evidence.

At that moment, Jiang Lin pulled out a miniature listening device from his system space.

“Your Highness, this is a listening device from the future. It can record sounds continuously for seven days.”

“You only need to place it discreetly in Lady Lü’s chamber, and after seven days, bring it back to me. I can let you hear everything she says during that time.”

Upon hearing Jiang Lin’s explanation, Zhu Biao’s eyes lit up with delight.

“I didn’t expect such a marvelous device exists in the future. I will secretly place it in Lady Lü’s room.”

After saying this, Zhu Biao took the device from Jiang Lin and stored it carefully.

Empress Ma, standing nearby, spoke, “Though Lady Lü is cruel, she has taught Yunwen quite well.”

“Jiang Lin mentioned before that the third emperor of the Ming was called the Yongle Emperor by later generations—Yunwen’s son.”

“A prosperous era is never achieved overnight; he must have contributed greatly. It seems Yunwen, like Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing of the Han dynasty, will be a benevolent ruler once he ascends!”

“Hahaha…”

Jiang Lin suddenly burst out laughing.

All eyes turned to him in confusion.

Zhu Biao asked in surprise, “Brother Jiang, why are you laughing?”

“Your Highness, shall I tell you about Zhu Yunwen’s reign after he ascended the throne?”

Jiang Lin ceased laughing and looked at the old emperor and Zhu Biao, who had expressed interest in hearing about the future.

At this question, the old emperor’s expression changed.

From what he knew of the boy, this could not be good news.

Could his grandson have become a mediocre ruler?

After all, by then he was an old man, his energy and willpower diminished, and with Biao’er gone early, Yunwen had no one to guide him in becoming a good emperor.

It was highly likely he had been misled by treacherous ministers.

However!

The old emperor was not particularly anxious.

His grandson Zhu Yunwen was a filial and steady person who conducted himself prudently. At worst, he might be mediocre, but not foolish.

He still had faith in his own judgment.

At that moment, Jiang Lin began slowly, “Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne with the era name Jianwen.”

“He revered Confucianism, appointed great scholars such as Fang Xiaoru, Qi Qin, and Huang Zicheng to government positions, and insisted on restoring the Zhou dynasty’s system, ignoring the current state of the Ming.”

“Such backward and detrimental policies had been abandoned by all previous dynasties but were treasured by Zhu Yunwen!”

“Then, he abolished the northern and southern imperial examination lists and halted official schools in the north, cutting off the pathway for northern scholars and gentry to enter officialdom, causing widespread dissatisfaction among them.”

“Finally, to consolidate imperial power, in the first year of Jianwen, he conspired with trusted officials like Fang Xiaoru, Qi Tai, and Huang Zicheng to reduce the power of the princes.”

Both the old emperor and Zhu Biao’s eyes widened, and they even rubbed their ears, doubting what they had heard.

“Brother Jiang, do you mean… Yunwen reduced the princes’ powers right after ascending the throne?”

Zhu Biao asked incredulously.

Zhu Yuanzhang cursed furiously, “I did say that to prevent the princes from becoming too powerful, future emperors could reduce their domains when necessary.”

“But to do it immediately upon accession?”

“This child is utterly foolish!”

Zhu Biao was speechless.

He truly was at a loss for words about this. Zhu Yunwen had just been praised and then immediately committed such a blunder?

…