Chapter 133: Old Zhu: Zhang Biao! I! Damn! You!
Inside the Huagai Hall, candlelight flickered, casting the gaunt figure of Old Zhu onto the large screen, making him appear somewhat lonely.
He was reviewing a memorial about provisions and pay for the border garrisons, but his brows were tightly furrowed, and his vermilion brush remained unmoving for a long time, clearly preoccupied.
Zhang Biao’s confession had not yet arrived, Fu Youwen and the pure stream faction were making a fuss, and Shen Lang and the other four were suspended…
Yingtian Prefecture was like a pot of oil about to boil over, making him extremely restless.
At this moment, Yun Ming tiptoed forward and reported in a low voice:
“Your Majesty, the Imperial Guard has sent news from the Eastern Palace… His Highness Yunteng and the two Princesses wish to visit the old residence of Madam Chang in the capital tomorrow to pay respects.”
“Hmm?”
Old Zhu’s hand, which held the brush, paused slightly.
Madam Chang, his eldest son’s legal wife, Crown Prince Zhu Biao’s original consort, and the birth mother of his grandsons Zhu Xiongying and Zhu Yunteng.
She was virtuous and gentle, but tragically passed away early, which was a great regret in his heart concerning Zhu Biao’s line.
It was only natural filial piety for Yunteng and his siblings to visit their birth mother.
It was just that they wanted to visit at this time…
A barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes. Without looking up, he said in a low voice, “How has Consort Lü arranged things?”
“Replying to Your Majesty.”
Yun Ming said in a steady tone, “Consort Lü has prepared all the offerings and ceremonial arrangements. Everything has been handled according to regulations, with no negligence whatsoever.”
Having said this, he cautiously glanced at Old Zhu, then bowed again:
“Consort Lü specifically instructed that if His Highness Yunteng and his siblings miss their mother and wish to stay a little longer at the Chang family’s old residence, or even stay for a day or two to see their mother’s former boudoir and remember the glory of the Chang family, it would also be a demonstration of their filial piety and would be acceptable.”
“Hmph!”
Old Zhu let out a barely audible snort from his nose after listening.
Consort Lü’s arrangements were flawless, appearing extremely considerate and thoughtful. They not only showcased her magnanimity and virtue as the current mistress of the Eastern Palace but also honored the filial piety of Yunteng and his siblings, leaving no room for criticism.
However, he knew the subtleties of palace struggles.
The more ‘virtuous’ Consort Lü acted, the more estranged and suppressed Yunteng and his siblings would likely feel.
After all, their birth mother was Madam Chang.
Even if Consort Lü was exceptionally considerate to them on the surface, she was ultimately not their birth mother.
And who knew how much of this kindness was genuine and how much was feigned.
Coupled with the recent events, which involved nobles and high officials, and might also involve the Duke of Kaiguo’s Mansion, they would not only feel unhappy but might also be filled with dread.
My Biao’er… if you and Madam Chang were still here, would the children have to go through this…
An indescribable grief and pity for his eldest son’s direct lineage surged in his heart, dispelling his previous irritation.
He had lost his most outstanding son and his virtuous eldest daughter-in-law, and the grandchildren he had left behind…
Thinking of this, Old Zhu’s mind drifted to the ‘Imperial Grandson in waiting’ on whom he had placed great hopes.
Forget it, if they can show their filial piety, let that be it.
“Yes, Consort Lü’s arrangements are appropriate.”
Old Zhu’s voice revealed no hint of emotion:
“Proceed as she said. Send more reliable people to accompany them and ensure their safety. Do not disturb the children’s filial devotion.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Yun Ming bowed to receive the order but did not leave immediately. After a slight hesitation, he added:
“Your Majesty, should we also instruct them to… keep an eye on the inside and outside of the old residence?”
He implied that they should monitor discreetly to ensure safety and prevent any other incidents.
After all, this was a turbulent period, and it was inevitable that someone might stir up trouble using this matter.
Old Zhu naturally understood Yun Ming’s intention. He was silent for a moment and finally waved his hand: “Approved. Go, keep an eye on things, and do not disturb them unnecessarily.”
“As you command.”
Yun Ming finally set his mind at ease and quietly withdrew to make the arrangements.
Soon, the hall returned to silence.
Old Zhu put down his vermilion brush, leaned back slightly, and closed his eyes.
In his mind, he couldn’t help but recall the face of his eldest son, Zhu Biao, kind yet slightly worried, and the gentle Madam Chang standing beside him.
Biao’er, Madam Chang…
You were both good people. It was I who failed to protect the children you left behind…
All these years, I have focused my attention on Yunwen. Even if Yunteng was not talented, I should have taken better care of him…
Father has failed you…
He had placed immense hope in Zhu Biao and loved him dearly.
The successive departures of Zhu Biao and Madam Chang were an unhealed wound in his heart.
At this moment, the pity he felt for his grandchildren and the remembrance of his deceased son and daughter-in-law intertwined, softening his hardened heart for a rare moment, temporarily setting aside the disputes of the imperial court.
However, just as Old Zhu was immersed in this brief, sorrowful tenderness, a sound of extremely hurried, even frantic footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the hall.
Such an undignified sound of footsteps instantly pulled Old Zhu back from his grief to reality, and he frowned with displeasure.
Imperial Guard Commander Jiang Huan, without even being announced, rushed in as if he had lost his soul.
His face was ashen, his official hat askew, and he was panting as if he had just been pulled out of water, completely lacking his usual cold and steady demeanor.
Several Imperial Guards followed behind him, looking terrified, wanting to stop him but not daring to.
Old Zhu’s heart sank.
Jiang Huan was his trusted subordinate, known for his ruthlessness and composure. What could possibly make him so terrified?!
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”
Jiang Huan knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling violently with extreme fear, even bordering on a sob: “This humble subject deserves a thousand deaths… Zhang Biao, he… he…”
Seeing Jiang Huan’s utterly panicked state, and recalling his recent thoughts of Zhu Biao and Madam Chang, the ominous premonition in Old Zhu’s heart intensified to the extreme.
He sat up abruptly, bloodshot eyes instantly covering his pupils, and sharply demanded:
“What happened to him?! Speak!”
Jiang Huan prostrated himself on the ground, not daring to look directly at Old Zhu. He could only muster all his strength to utter, brokenly and with immense difficulty, the words that would shake the heavens:
“He… he asked about the Crown Prince… how he died back then… and said… if… he just… died of illness…”
Boom—!
Thunder!
Like a deafening thunderclap!
At that moment, it struck Old Zhu’s head with precise force.
That casually spoken, venomous question formed an incomparably cruel and sharp contrast with his recent remembrance of his beloved son and virtuous daughter-in-law.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment.
The expression on Old Zhu’s face instantly congealed.
He seemed to have turned to stone!
He was too stunned!
As if he had misheard!
His eyes, which had just been filled with grief and remembrance, widened to their absolute limit!
The sorrow, fatigue, and forgiveness within them…
All emotions were instantly torn apart and annihilated by an indescribable, immense shock, a profound, bone-deep pain, and a trace of a secretly awakened, deeply feared suspicion!
The vermilion brush in his hand fell onto the memorial with a ‘snap’, staining a large area of text, as if weeping blood.
The entire Huagai Hall fell into a deathly, suffocating silence.
Only Old Zhu’s suddenly harsh, wheezing breaths, like those of a broken bellows, and Jiang Huan’s trembling on the ground, beyond his control, could be heard.
Drip!
Drip!
Drip!
Water droplets from the eaves fell incessantly!
The leaves outside the window rustled in the wind.
The candlelight seemed to flicker with its last breath of air.
It felt as if an eternity had passed.
Old Zhu slowly, extremely slowly, stood up.
His body trembled slightly, the muscles in his face twitched, and his eyes turned bloodshot, staring intently at Jiang Huan kneeling on the ground.
After a moment, his voice, hoarse, low, as if from the depths of hell, filled with infinite killing intent and a near-insane obsessiveness, asked, “That scoundrel Zhang Biao… what else did he say?”
Every word seemed to be ground from between his teeth, carrying the scent of blood.
“Nothing more.”
Hearing this, Jiang Huan trembled even more violently:
“This humble subject dared not let him speak further… I came to report to Your Majesty immediately…”
“Hmph!”
Old Zhu snorted coldly but said nothing more.
He just stood there, like a statue whose soul had been instantly drained, or like a volcano that had accumulated all its grief and anger and was about to destroy everything.
The tender remembrance of his son and daughter-in-law moments before now transformed into the sharpest knives, repeatedly raking his heart.
In the Hongwu 25th year, after Crown Prince Zhu Biao returned from inspecting Shaanxi, he fell ill and eventually passed away.
Although the official cause of his death was determined, whether there were any hidden circumstances has always been the greatest pain and mystery buried deep in Old Zhu’s heart.
And now, Zhang Biao, this madman, this monster!
How could he know?
How much did he know?!
Was he toying with me? Or… did he truly possess something?!
Countless thoughts, suspicions, fears, and anger exploded wildly in Old Zhu’s mind!
“Get out—!”
Old Zhu’s voice was unusually calm, yet more terrifying than any roar.
Jiang Huan felt as if he had been granted amnesty and scrambled out.
The empty main hall was left with only Old Zhu.
He suddenly punched the hard imperial desk with all his might.
The back of his hand instantly split open, blood flowing freely, but he seemed oblivious.
In his eyes, only mad killing intent and an obsession to uncover the truth remained.
“Zhang—Biao—I! Fuck! Your! Mother—!”
A suppressed roar, yet one that could make gods and ghosts weep, echoed through the Huagai Hall.
This stone had not only stirred up trouble but had directly smashed through the most fragile, untouchable forbidden zone in his heart.
How could he not know this was Zhang Biao’s ploy!
How could he not know that Zhang Biao had no concrete evidence to prove that Crown Prince Zhu Biao died for other reasons!
But he simply could not ignore the lingering doubt surrounding his beloved son’s death, he could not ignore it!
This was an undisguised open scheme!
A ruthless, poisonous scheme that had grasped him by the throat!
Therefore, he was incomparably angry, frustrated, and even wanted to go completely mad regardless of the consequences!
“Hahahahaha—!”
An indescribable, mad laughter suddenly erupted from the hall after the curses, causing Jiang Huan outside the hall, as well as the Imperial Guards guarding the hall doors, to turn ashen-faced and involuntarily fall to their knees, trembling.
…
Seeking monthly tickets~
Thoughts are overflowing, so I had to write a chapter on my phone! I might not be able to add more chapters in the next two days!
